The Real Ale Shop

Last week we went to the Real Ale Shop near Wells. I had no idea that it was there or that there are 18 brewaries in Norfolk! Amazing!

We got 6 ales between us - here are mine and the boyfriends choices:

First I tried the Reedcutter from Humpty Dumpty Brewary in Reedham, Norfolk and the boyfriend had Black Beauty Coffee Porter from Wagtail Brewary, Old Buckenham, Norfolk.

I don't really know alot about Ales, but the Reedcutter was delicious - very fresh and light with a malty taste that sat delightfully in the throat. Wagtail's Black Beauty was alot tastier than I expected - very smooth with only a hint of coffee which was intriguing rather than overpowering. Although not as throaty as the Reedcutter, the taste sat comfortably at the back of the tongue. Both the boyfriend and I felt very smug sitting in Norfolk supping on Norfolk Ale's, it must be said :)

P.S. I really wanted this ale from the Elveden Brewary. 1. because it is made by Elves (obviously) and 2. because I love the bottle! Was £6 though - doh!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! I now have an extended weekend, so won't be back until Tuesday. Hope everyone enjoys some nice chocolate - I'm making easter cupcakes yeay!

p.s How cute is the easter tree? it was in a dentist of all places...

Waiting for Godot - with Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen

Its not very often that you sit and watch something knowing that you are enjoying a once in a lifetime experience. Something that you will never smell, see, or hear ever again, something like Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen as Vladimir and Estragon in Samuel Beckett's 'play about nothing' Waiting for Godot at the Norwich Theatre Royal.

I first read Waiting for Godot 6 years ago whilst studying English Literature at College. I loved it - I loved reading it, analysing it and writing essays about it. I never once saw it performed though... which was silly really, with hindsight, but there were no shows of it on and I don't think it would have worked as well on video.

Being a total geek I have loved Patrick Stewart since the first series of Star Trek - The Next Generation (totally love it!) I also went to the University where he is Chancellor (Huddersfield) yet I never once saw him - he didn't even do my graduation... In fact I'm still a bit put out I had to pay to see him, but thats not the point of this post...

The point is that with all the expectations I had of knowing and loving the play and the actors, still did not prepare me for how wonderful and amazing Waiting for Godot is when performed. It was funny, captivating, enchanting and endearing, the time seemed to fly by. Simon Callow was perfect as Pozzo, as was Ronald Pickup as Lucky and the friendship that Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen have translated so well into the characters that you really felt for Vladimir and Estragon's plight, even though you knew it was helpless.

We saw the play on Monday and I've only just written this as I still can't really believe that I saw it... Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen as Vladimir and Estragon in Samuel Beckett's 'play about nothing' Waiting for Godot... enough said really.

Aliens Vs Monsters 3D (Movie)

First I will admit that I have what my boyfriend terms as 'a lowbrow sense of humour' - though I don't think thats entirely accurate... just because I find some silly things really really funny, doesn't mean I'm lowbrow... Anyway, due to my sense of humour I found Aliens Vs Monsters extremely funny and really good fun. I laughed so hard I was crying at parts. It was Finding Nemo all over again - I was the only person laughing and the cinema was full of kids - the shame!

The cast of this film was ridiculous - Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie (I love him!), Seth Rogan, Keifer Sutherland - to name a few... and each one was brilliant at portraying likeable and funny characters. Stephen Colbert was also a treat as the President - he had the best scene of the film!

Aliens Vs Monsters was also the first film that I saw in 3D and it was amazing! It turned a good, funny film into a great, funny film. I looked a bit silly with the 3D glasses over the top of my normal glasses, but it was worth it, I even flinched when a ball came flying towards me. Overall the film was great - despite the simple plot it was funny, endearing and very enjoyable - I giggled all the way home!