Happies

Naturally, with  a title like that, this post will include references to chocolate. (Naturally.)

I have a hunch that the Lord is compensating for me hating to leave the States and come back to London by helping me to be quite a bit happier than usual now that I'm here. It's been sunny (for a day or two right when I got back it was actually a little too warm to be comfortable, but now it's cooled off to where I can have the window open all day (with nifty improvised screening!) and snuggle cozily in my bed at night. SO. NICE), I've managed to get a little work done, I've stopped feeling bad about staying up late, and I've done a few really fun things.

Today I ran a quick errand to the school, then bused-and-Tubed up to a movie theatre I hadn't tried before in the hopes of catching the first showing of the day of Thor (evidently, sometimes the first showing has a little better matinee discount) ((also, don't mock - it's getting good reviews and you know you're going to go see it, too)). I was trying for the 2D version, as the 3D doesn't seem to have much point. The cineplex is in a London "village" called Muswell Hill, and it's actually right on the bus route I take to get to church. Turns out the online movie times were wrong, and the first showing wasn't until 3:30... so I took the opportunity to walk around, check out the charity shops, and have lunch at a pub/pizza place I'd been eyeing every time the bus drove past it on Sundays. I had a couple of books with me (surprise) and at least one of them was even a school book - so I ate pizza and read and felt productive and it was good.  A few more shops, then a stop at a cafe for a hot chocolate (sunny, but the breeze today was a little chilly) and check it out...

... IT'S SO PRETTY. Still not the greatest hot chocolate (Stephen's owns me) but it's not bad and I'm getting used to it and everything's easier when it's pretty. (Amen.) Happy!

Then I headed over to the movie; it wasn't advertised as 3D, but that's what it ended up being. (Grumble.) I bought the glasses (apparently I could have brought my own - now I know) and headed in. People: this right here is a good time.

Not my favorite poster ever, but I wanted to make sure you recognized the main character. You do, right? Kirk's dad from Star Trek! Who saves everybody and then dies in the first 10 minutes! Who is totally hot and loveable and noble and stuff! And who also (as evidenced by Thor) is incredibly ripped as well as a solid, charismatic actor. I'm good with all of those choices, personally. I'm also good with this movie. It was directed by Kenneth Branaugh, which is a little left field but really really works. The script is smart, the whole thing looks good, and the chemistry is off-the-charts. (Okay, the one plot-transitional flashback is choppy and the fight scenes are - literally - shaky, but other than that... Who knew?)

Everybody sold their characters, the feeling of the whole was consistent with the other pre-Avengers movies (Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk ((?)) ), and it was really a lot of fun. I didn't mind the 3D, though I wouldn't recommend it, and I could have easily sat through another 20 minutes. (Psst - stay through the end credits.) I may not see it again in the theatre, but that's only because movies here are so expensive, not because I wouldn't. I still might. First, though, I have to go re-watch Star Trek.

Another happy for the day:

That's right - not only do they have Bounty bars over here, they have ICE CREAM Bounty bars. Seriously seriously happy.




And, because it's law or something that nothing written this week may not mention a particular event that's happening on Friday, here's this:

Yes, those are corgies munching on the wedding cake, which I feel is only too appropriate. And funny. Apparently, people are knitting dolls of the wedding party (you should be able to purchase patterns next week!) so it's fortunate this cake topper didn't go that route. I don't know that this makes me happy, but it does make me giggle! Close enough.