I thought about that a lot is one of my favourite advent calendars.

13 Assassins, 2010 - ★★★★★

There’s just something about how samurai films contrast stillness and silence with absolute carnage that no other action films can rival.

I’ve not been this engrossed in a film for some time. So glad I made the effort to go see this at the cinema in 35mm.

Nope, 2022 - ★★★★

Very enjoyable indeed. Had me keeping an extra careful eye on the weather all day today 👀

Nocturnal Animals, 2016 - ★★★

Mixed feeling an about this, and the longer it goes the more conflicted I feel. The acting is undoubtedly top notch. And there was enough suspense to keep me engaged. I even enjoyed the stylistic cuts between the different stories and times. But there’s something off. I’ve best seen it described elsewhere as “needlessly provocative”.

Beautiful day to have the afternoon off

Sunshine bursting through trees in an urban park on a cold but crisp day.

Gladiator II, 2024 - ★★

Heavy handed. Corny. Lacking drama and emotion. It lost me at the arrival of baboons on steroids, which is unfortunately only about 20 minutes in 😴

Hey @seimoon.bsky.social, here’s a potato for you 🥔

Finished reading: The Sentence by Louise Erdrich 📚

This was so much more than a story about a haunting in a bookstore and it took me entirely by surprise. Now I’ve read Erdrich’s two latest novels where shall I go next in her back catalogue?

Starting this seasonal read today: The Sentence by Louise Erdrich 📚

Finished reading: Tokyo Express by Seicho Matsumoto 📚

Enjoyable mystery to solve alongside the detectives. This short book has reset my desire to read after a drought of decent stories.

Finished reading: The Binding by Bridget Collins 📚

Meh. I struggled to get into this, got drawn in a little in the middle but then had to make myself finish it. Not really my cup of tea.

Finished reading: The Bee Sting by Paul Murray 📚

Took too long to get into and by then it was too late to stop reading. It was fine, but not award shortlist level. And can someone explain why the full stops disappeared in Imelda’s story?

Finished reading: Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino 📚

Abandoned reading: Milk Teeth by Jessica Andrews 📚

Just couldn’t get on with the main character. Or the repetition of certain words - not sure if that was intentional or I just became fixated on it.

Bank Holiday fun helping a friend decorate her flat before selling. We were here 8 years ago decorating before she moved in too

Finished reading: The Gallows Pole by Benjamin Myers 📚

Continuing to work my way through everything Benjamin Myers writes.

it’s a sign

Played a pre-season friendly today - first time I’ve picked up a hockey stick in 5 months. I didn’t embarrass myself and it didn’t break me 🏑

back to work tomorrow, head still up the coast

First day back from holiday and it has completely run away from me. Don’t feel like I’ve stopped and yet have little to show for it 😏