February In Review

And then it was March. I know February is the shortest month but holy jeez how is it MARCH already!!

Lived

Highlights

I have a new flat to move into! After several viewings, most of which were just ‘not good’ the first one I saw was the best option. Cheaper, and a lot smaller, than my current place, I am midst mass declutter as I type.

Still going along to guided meditation and have started doing a little at home (using the Buddhify app to help). I’m not sure if he’s helping in the day-to-day much yet, but the sessions do leave me feeling lighter.

Stepcount: 279,086.

Also
I’ll just mention the Scottish Rugby team here and leave it at that.

Read

Highlight – The Sudden Appearance of Hope by Claire North
My choice for book club, largely because I enjoyed her last novel – The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August – and a slightly surreal one. Set in current times, the story follows Hope Arden, a woman who no-one remembers, as she lies, cheats, thieves her way through her life before being given a chance at, finally, being remembered. Clever concept which touches on elements of Autistic/Aspbergers syndromes, the current reliance on smart phones, and the prevailing ‘be better/be more’ lifestyles that we are supposed to aspire to. Left me wondering about how people will remember me and challenging my own desires to ‘be better’ (shouldn’t I just be ‘me’?).

Also good

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying by Marie Kondo
Previously mentioned last month, it’s proven timely in my desire to declutter. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a life changing book but reaffirms some basic notions and helped me get through some of the more emotional decisions I’ve had to make (see previous blog post)

Watched

Highlight – T2: Trainspotting

I had tried to avoid the trailers and the hype, and set my expectations low as there is no way they could’ve hoped to revisit the iconic first movie. That said, it’s great. An intelligent, sophisticated update of the storyline, letting the characters age and the resulting chaos feels apt without being over wrought. Great performances throughout, but Ewan Bremner was the stand out for me.

Have to admit I am very intrigued to find out what non-Scottish audiences took from the “1690” scene though, having grown up in the West of Scotland it was pitch perfect in a hilariously scary way.

Note: The scene with the cash line machines, I work about 200m from there!

Also good

John Wick 2 – Utterly violent nonsense but delivered with a knowing sense of style, a simple story line and an excellent physical performance by Keanu Reeves. He’s never gonna be considered a great actor in terms of delivery, but if you do watch this, compare his portrayal of Wick versus Neo from the Matrix. Neo is smart, light, fluid, almost perfect. Wick is heavy, solid and formidable (watch as he clumsily pets his beloved dog). Subtle stuff.

The People v O.J. Simpson (Netflix)
Finally got around to watching this dramatisation and it made me realise how little I knew about what actually happened. I was aware of elements of it but more by osmosis than being tuned in to it at the time. Some good acting mixed with the jarring Travolta.

OJ: Made in America (iPlayer)
I watched this after the dramatisation (above) and seeing the facts laid out… how did he get off? Interesting following on if you picked up on my documentary recommendation from last month too (13th on Netflix).

Listened

Highlight – Pinegrove

Nothing new this month (not really had time) but Pinegrove have been on heavy rotation, largely due to the fact I saw them live last weekend. Lyrically interesting, musically very mid-America feeling (think Band of Horses) but live they come across with much more of a punk attitude than their albums convey.

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