Skip to main content

Their Finest

I was down at the farm last weekend when I took this photo. I was about to make the 45 minute walk from the farm to the airport. The farm is only minutes out of the town and on the airport side, so quite lucky, really.  
I could of course have taken a taxi, which I used to do, but what a waste of money when I have legs that are working. Plus I fly carry-on most of the time, so its not like I'm trudging along country roads with a wretched suitcase in tow. That would be a drama in itself plus its a reasonably busy road where you're constantly having to walk through grass so you don't get run over. The times I've flown down there at night, I've had to navigate the roads in the dark and that is pretty dodgy, I can tell you. Plus you wouldn't believe the rubbish that ends up on country roads, quite disgusting. Last time I did have a suitcase so I went to the airport as soon as check-in opened to check it in, then drove back to the farm, and walked back to the airport. Timed to the minute and not without some drama, I tell you, but I made it. Anyhoo, as I was leaving the house this past weekend, and thinking how I should ask my brother to drive me down to the end of the drive on the ride on lawnmower to save myself that bit of the walk, I took this picture. FYI he doesn't drive, hence all the walking, and of course I'm not going to ask him to get out the lawnmower to drive me down the drive. But I like this image. Rural New Zealand in winter.
While I was there I watched a movie called Their Finest. Set in World War Two, it was a terrific story  about a woman who ends up writing propaganda films for the British government. There were some good relatable bits about the creative process, about brainstorming together and plotting, but it had a quite surprising bit near the ending. In fact, when that particular bad moment hit, I immediately thought, how are they going to get out of this one, so that the film ends on a positive note because it has to end on a positive note. It truly must.
Well, they managed it, and in a quite unexpected way.  Maybe others had the happy ending figured out, but I didn't, and without ruining the film if you haven't seen it, the ending to me was all about just how important optimism and hope are in creative work, in the story itself.
I read somewhere that in moments of great peril such as war time, entertainment like movies are even more important because we, the people, need to see something that maybe takes us away from the bad time we are in, some escapist entertainment, but also something that gives hope.
A movie well worth watching, I thought.
~ Joanne

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Two new books coming soon

It's been a while since I posted but I've been busy. I've been working on two new books. Shock! One is the next book in the Dating Daisy series, and also the next book in the Clearlake County series. Two new books!! I can hardly believe it myself, and I am enjoying them both. I'll reveal the cover for the new Daisy book soon!! In the meantime, well and truly into winter here in New Zealand. Even now, I'm got super warm socks on, and a scarf. If the nights are freezing, its out with the hot water bottle. And how good is a hot drink on a cold day? Life's simple pleasures.

Dating Daisy

 FREE BOOK ALERT Yep, this weekend and until Monday, I am running a free book promotion for Dating Daisy . Meet Joel and Daisy in this second chance, professor hero, third time's the charm, romantic comedy.  So, what's it about? Daisy's a bookseller who goes on a TV dating show to drum up business for her ailing store. Not to win or anything like that, heaven forbid! Just to get her store's name mentioned on national TV a few times, since her beloved book shop is only weeks away from going under and she is desperate to do anything to stop that happening. Joel is a history professor who owes his best mate, the show's host, Rob, one massive favour, and Rob is calling that favour in: Be a contestant on the inaugural celebrity episode of Mystery Date . Except Joel Benjamin is no celebrity, and he sure isn't looking for love, not to mention his career is on the up, and going on a show like Mystery Date is simply, well, simply frowned upon . It could do his career mor...

Wet weather

It is starting to get cooler, praise be. There was a heap of rain one day this week, and by the time I got to work I was damp, to put it mildly. Soaked is overstating it but uncomfortably wet. Have you ever tried to dry off your trousers with a hair dryer?  I would have been there forever! If only, I thought, I had a spare anything at work, like a skirt even, but no. Nothing to change into. There was only a pair of pantyhose in case I ripped them, although I had stuffed spare socks and boots in my bag so I could have dry feet at work. It is worth noting that the very next day I went to work, I had completely forgotten that thought about spare clothes altogether and did not take spare anything for future weather events. In fact, I only remembered as I was thinking about writing this blog post. Hopeless. Given I’m trying to keep up my walking part-way to work to get in a good 40 minutes/steps, I should take along spare clothes to keep in my locker just in case. It really was uncom...