Paid off the £31,000! BUT - still scrimping!

Seasidegal58

Oh @milann - I really didn't like the adaptation!☹️  Basically I sat and watched a film that was based on the premise of the book - new wife intimidated by the memory of her husband's brilliant, beautiful dead first wife - plus most the characters were called by the correct names - and that was it!  All the nuances of who Rebecca was seemed to have been railroaded - there was so much excellent dialogue from the book that hadn't been included and it was very one dimensional. I had brunch with my friend today who also loves the book and she agreed. Having said that she said her DD and DGD had watched it and really liked it but have never read the book. So I suppose if you take it as a stand alone psychological, glossy drama it's probably ticked quite a few boxes for people.  As you wrote in your diary we're all different in our tastes. 

Anyway Rebecca rant over - I'll move on. 🤣

It was sunny first thing today and then when I was having brunch the monsoon started again!☔️ Luckily it had stopped by the time we finished and I didn't get drenched!  I popped into one our shops on the way home and bought a Xmas stocking filler for DD - a ceramic pen holder.  I always buy her a Xmas tree bauble each year as they usually have a big tree.  This was in the shape of a glass octopus as she nagged me into watching a Netflix wildlife documentary called 'My Octopus Teacher' a few weeks ago, which I was a bit sceptical about - a bloke and an octopus - how interesting could that be?  My word though, it was one of the best wildlife documentaries I've seen - beautifully filmed and quite sad. 🦑

Housework wise today bedclothes were changed and half my sofa cushions washed!

Didn't appreciate the early darkness tonight - still it'll be a bit brighter in the early mornings for a bit!

badmemory

I make a habit of never ever watching films (etc) of books I have enjoyed, it never ends well.  The problem is when you read a book you envisage the characters as a certain look & personality, that is if the author is good at showing that. If they aren't good at that then you probably wouldn't have enjoyed the book so much.  So you start to watch the programme & the main character turns out to be played by the usual blond instead of the brunette in the book & right away you feel almost cheated & then it is downhill all the way.  I do know that whichever I do first whether it is watching the film or reading the book, the second is almost always a disappointment.

Back in the 60s when I used to commute mostly by train, I used to read, when I didn't nap, luckily terminus to terminus.  I still have all the Agatha Christie paperbacks from those days.  Then they started appearing on TV OMG.  Margaret Rutherford playing them as a comedy - how did AC agree to that?  I finally learned to enjoy them by ignoring the original source.  But it has taught me never to say that a book I have enjoyed has been turned into a film - oh great cannot wait to watch it.

I think it is to do with the way our brains work.  Reading for most of us puts pictures in our minds.  Once we have seen those pictures they are there, stuck, we can't erase them. 

milann

I read the book many many years ago....and watched the old black and white film of Rebecca. I remember the storyline roughly....so watching Rebecca passed a pleasant afternoon. I don’t like to watch any film though if I know I’m going to read the book as I don’t want the visuals in my head to mess with my imagination as I’m reading.
The dark nights are not welcome at all. We nipped into Home bargains yesterday and I didn’t appreciate a section selling de-icer and scrapers.....not looking forward to that.....

Sun_Addict

It's interesting that you didn't enjoy Rebecca. I like to read the book first if there's a film out as I usually enjoy the book more and am often disappointed with the film. I didn't manage to watch all of it, kept falling asleep, not the film's fault, I was really tired. Mr SA really enjoyed it but then he hasn't read the book. I'll attempt it again one afternoon this week when hopefully I won't fall asleep. I've read the book and seen the original film that many times I'm preparing myself for disappointment.

doingitanyway

Rebecca is one of my favourite books and the first adaptation one of my favourite films. I wouldn't dare watch a new adaptation for fear of disappointment! My Octopus Teacher was being discussed on the radio and now you have given it the thumbs up too. I will have to give it a go too. Thanks. Love the chat on here.

redofromstart

I hadn't realised there was a new version of Rebecca till I read your thread and SAs.  I always want to like these things but so rarely do.  I am still muttering about the abomination that was The Pale Horse.  
My strongest No! reaction ever though was the late 80s BBC adaption of Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe and the total destruction of Lucy, who until then was one of my favourite characters.
Joan Hickson for Miss Marple, still watch the DVDs with the ironing.  I saw them first, then read the books which helps.  I am sure I read somewhere that she was the one AC approved of.
I agree with you Bad Memory, I don't do pictures but I do do voices and I particularly hate when they are acted 'out of character'.  

Bubblesmum

Joan Hickson as Miss Marple gets my vote... but I must admit I loved Geraldine McEwan but not Julia McKenzie.... and we’ll the latest BBC adaptions 😮😮😮😮

Seasidegal58

Thanks for your comments guys. It's interesting to read other people's perceptions. 

@badmemory @Sun_Addict and @milann - you're right in that if you read a book you have an idea in your head on characters' looks and personalities - I watched the 70s BBC production of Poldark back in the day - really enjoyed it and the series led me into reading all the novels - which are still some of my favourite books. The characters' personalities and looks in the books took over from the original series - although the 70s series kept pretty well to the novels. Fast forward to the latest TV series and I only watched one episode because it felt so different to the novels - Elizabeth as a tallish brunette in the series when she was a fragile looking blonde in the books. She looked more like my idea of Demelza!  I also have a problem with Call the Midwife as I was brought up in Poplar in the 50s and 60s which is where and when the series is set and it didn't look like anything I remember!🤣

@redofromstart and @Bubblesmum - totally agree with you about Joan Hickson as Miss Marple (and agree with @badmemory about Margaret Rutherford!).  I like ironing to Joan Hickson or David Suchet!  And my particular abomination was the last adaptation of 'The ABC Murders' with John Malkovitch as Poirot!  So wrong on so many different levels - both character and story line!😱
@doingitanyway - I do hope you enjoy 'My Octopus Teacher' - when I bought the octopus bauble the woman wrapping it up for me asked me if I had watched it. She said she thought it was wonderful and was crying at the end of it!

I met up with two of my friends in the week - one that I hadn't seen for a while - it was lovely to catch up. I had a really good vegan pizza and we all enjoyed some Pinot Grigio blush!

Main payout this week was to the guy who came round to put my new TV on the wall. I already had the channelling done in the wall from my last TV and the brackets still fitted as both the old and new TV are Samsungs, but it still cost me £117!  The majority of this bill was comprised of the call out fee plus a couple of extra bits needed. The guy said he had loads of work on since the lockdown what with people working from home. I think he will be able to retire soon!🤣
Also finally managed to get my blood pressure checked at the doctor's surgery after a battle. I was told on the phone by the surgery 'care navigator' that I could 'buy a blood pressure monitor for £25' which I thought was pretty poor seeing that some people are on a low wage and she doesn't know my financial circumstances. Anyway to cut a long story short I pushed the matter, got to speak to a doctor and said as I am on medication for high blood pressure I want my blood pressure taken by a professional and didn't think much of the 'care navigator's comments!  Anyway I got an appointment with the nurse and it's ok!
Today I got up a bit earlier and did the housework and popped out to the shops - bought some extra veg and Oatly milk and picked up £5 from the dress agency. I wanted to get out early as the forecast was winds and torrential rain here later in the day - well it started at 11.30ish and is truly torrential. Glad I haven't got to go out again today!☔️☔️☔️☔️  I think some ironing whilst watching Miss Marple might be on the cards later.........😀

doingitanyway

I'm gobsmacked that a NHS response to someone on BP meds with a concern is to be blocked by a 'Care Navigator'??? and directed towards a BP monitor for £25. What is happening to our NHS?

Glad you enjoyed pizza and wine with friends. Very civilised

I haven't watched 'My Octopus Teacher' yet. This weekend it is on my list of chill-out activities.
Have a good weekend.

badmemory

To be honest I think buying a blood pressure monitor is a good idea if you do have the spare cash.  I have developed white coat syndrome ever since a practice nurse told me a few years ago that giving up smoking over 30 years ago does not help your lung health (that's computer algorithms for you).  I could feel my blood pressure going up.