I don’t particularly like going to the cinema as I find it very hard to see such a big screen and can only take in part of it at a time. However, I really like watching films on my television. I normally watch one film every afternoon, when I go for a rest. I am probably the same as most people, and I have my favourite films to watch, which I will explore in this blog.
I love musicals of any type. I particularly like going to see musicals in the theatre. When I am in Edinburgh and there is a musical on in The Festival Theatre, which is part of the Capital Theatres Group (https://www.capitaltheatres.com/), I love to go and see it. The problem is that sometimes it is difficult to find someone who is happy to come with me and help me to navigate through the buildings and people.
However, I am part of the most amazing organisation called Artlink Edinburgh (https://www.artlinkedinburgh.co.uk/). This means that if I want to go and see a musical, show or other performance, I am able to contact them. Artlink will then buy you a ticket in the most suitable seat for you. You are then invoiced for the ticket, which you pay for – however, they also buy you another ticket completely free of charge to you.
Artlink have numerous volunteers on their records and the volunteer contacts you to make arrangements for the day. Normally the volunteer will come and collect you from your house in their car and drive you to the venue. You then watch the performance together and then they take you back to your house. The service users, like myself, have the most wonderful time, as they are able to get out and about, which they wouldn’t be able to do without support – however, the volunteers also have a wonderful time as they get a free ticket to go to a performance. So, it is a win-win situation.
So, what are my favourite films?
MARY POPPINS
I love all the different musicals – from Cats, Sound of Music and The Lion King to Sister Act, Grease and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; however, my most favourite musical of all time is Mary Poppins. I love the storyline of Mary Poppins and all the songs that are in it – from a Spoonful of Sugar, Jolly Holiday and Lets Go Fly a Kite to Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. I also think that the cast of Mary Poppins is amazing, with Dick Van Dyke, Julia Andrews, David Tomlinson and the children.
The only problem is that my Mum and Dad DON’T like me watching Mary Poppins, as they know that the only time that I like to watch it, is when I am feeling very ill with my headaches.
When I started this plate, I didn’t know what I wanted it to look like. I started by printing a template of an umbrella from the internet and tracing around it on the star plate. I then wrote Mary above the umbrella and Poppins below it. Then I was undecided on what to do next – and so I decided to keep it quite plain and just write the catchphrase “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” using all 5 points of the star. I am extremely happy as to how this plate turned out.
THE SECRET GARDEN
I have 2 films that I really enjoy watching, before I go to bed, as they help me to relax. The first of these is The Secret Garden. I think that Frances Hodgson Burnett was incredibly clever in the way that she has written the storyline of this book. I don’t particularly like the start of the film, when the main character, Mary Lennox, is in India, but as the story progresses, it becomes so lovely. I love the thought of Mary finding the key in her bedroom and the robin showing her where the door is.
I am inspired by Mary Lennox, the way that she then finds Colin Craven and then sets her goal on helping him to get out and then eventually to walk again, despite Mrs Medlock being quite fierce and saying that he is to stay in his bed and not go outside.
I think that the ending of this film is so lovely, when Lord Archibald Craven goes through the door into the secret garden and is greeted by Colin walking blindfolded towards him. Colin then finds his father, thinking that it is Dicken, but when he takes off his blindfold and see his father standing before him, both of them are so happy to see each other.
In the end, everyone is so happy, including Mary Lennox, who worries that she has done the wrong thing, but when her uncle, Lord Archibald Craven, goes to comfort her, she gives him the biggest hug. All three of them, Mary Lennox, Colin Craven and Lord Archibald craven go running and jumping through the gardens.
Despite this plate being relatively simple, I am really pleased with how it turned out. I discovered this new pattern with flowers and the leaf diamonds, which I am so happy with. I also love the few little animals along with writing.
DOLPHIN TALE
I think that this is a very inspirational film, adapted from a true story. I love the way that Sawyer Nelson, played by Nathan Gamble, who is quite a shy, reserved boy, who doesn’t have many friends at school, falls in love with the dolphin, called Winter, and befriends her.
While swimming free in the ocean, Winter the dolphin gets caught in a crab trap and severely damages her tail. Though she is rescued and transported to the Clearwater Marine Hospital, her tail cannot be saved, and the prognosis is dire. What the dolphin, now named Winter, needs is a miracle.
She gets that miracle in the form of the fisherman who finds her and Sawyer. While the fisherman is on the phone trying to get help, Sawyer sets about trying to remove Winter’s tale from the crab trap. They then enlist the help of a marine biologist (Harry Connick Jr.) and a prosthetics designer (Morgan Freeman), who find a way to help Winter swim again. Sawyer talks and whistles to the Dolphin, who in return makes a “tweety-bird” sound.
After school, Sawyer then goes straight to The Clear Water Marine Hospital, where he sneaks into the building through the back door which is open. He is then met by Hazel Haskett, the daughter of Clay Hasket, played by Harry Connick Jr. r
I am inspired by this film because by the way Sawyer uses the experiences of his life, seeing how his cousin has an amputated leg, and sets his sights on getting a prophetic tail for the Dolphin and in turn, creates a whole new experience for the Clearwater Marine Hospital and in the end, saves it from being closed down.
When I first started this plate, I wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out, because I started it off with a yellow background and a blue dolphin. The problem with this is, is that you can’t add light colours on top of a light background. However, I then drew the dolphin in an outline of dark blue, coloured it in in light blue and then did the scales in yellow. All-in-All, I am very happy with how this plate has turned out.
PAINTS
One of the problems I had whilst painting these plates, was that the company who supplies the paints, one of their manufacturers changed hands and as a result, some of the paints changed as well, including one of my most favourite paints, which was called Light Nautical blue, which they changed to something completely different called Bright Aqua blue.
It took me a while to get used to the new paints, but I am getting much better at remembering which ones have changed, and their new numbers and colours.
CONCLUSION
All–in–all I am particularly happy with the way that all three of these plates have turned out. The only problem I have, is that I don’t know which one I like the best and what to do with them next?! Thoughts welcomed!.