After a mammoth Harry Potter marathon, I wanted something completely different to read. Non-fiction, check. Historical, check. Time-travelling? Sold! It started off well, and I thought the idea of approaching history from the perspective of living it, rather than blandly discussing what it might have been like, was a great one.

I really loved this. It had a great story, and was incredibly well acted from all involved. The children were believably innocent and yet mixed up, and everyone had their own little journey to take. The scenery was beautiful, the direction moving and captivating at the same time. My only complaint was the over-use of the music. Some nice Hawaiian music is great, and it helped with the setting and the pacing. However, at times it felt like it was there constantly and I could have just done with a bit of silence instead. Endless Hawaiian music is not so great. Mild niggle, though, not a major complaint.

I don't watch the Graham Norton show. I don't mind him in small doses but a whole show would be pushing it. However, I saw this clip with Will Smith and Gary Barlow, and loved it! Everyone knows the words to the theme tune, it's just one of those cultural things. I particularly love Gary's input to the rendition though.

I can only really hark back to my review of the 2011 edition, as it is the same - just with a few added characters and a few taken away. I did notice a few things in this one I hadn't picked up on previously - for example, I didn't know that Neil and Hayley kept chickens together. And then a few episodes after I read that, they mentioned their eggs in the show itself.

Interestingly, I think this film had exactly the opposite problem of the first. The story was great - I thought it got off to a bit of a slow start, didn't really need the Irene Adler bit, but once it was going, it was fantastic. The stuff on the train was epic, and the ending was genius. Sadly, it felt like there was less time to explore the relationship between the two, with just fun bits and pieces here and there - the wedding and, again, the train being two that spring to mind.

I've dabbled in internet radio for a long time, never a religious listener but always happy to give it a go. I wrote previously about how much I was enjoying Absolute's variety of online streaming options - select your preferred musical decade and listen away, safe in the knowledge you'll get none of that "noise" of today. A new station has crossed my path over the last few weeks, and …

I was a bit late posting the last update, so it feels like only five minutes ago I was writing about being rubbish at running. But here I am back again to talk some more! This week I managed three runs, so we're back to the minimum that I should be doing, although I still want to do more. It has been three shorter runs this week, though. As mentioned …

After my first tea tasting post, I finished the box of apple & ginger and the tea really grew on me. I bought a second box as well, and started to wonder if I hadn't found the very tea I've been looking for at my very first attempt. Nevertheless, I browsed the tea aisle of the supermarket for a while, marvelling at the number of different brands and flavours there …

This book, the epic ending to seven years of Harry Potter at Hogwarts, is long. It's so long that halfway through, when our trio were wandering aimlessly around the countryside without a clue what they were supposed to be doing, I couldn't understand why I was still reading it.

I gave up my Franck blog because there was just no information about him out there. However, every now and again, something so fabulous comes along that I wish I still had the dedicated space to write about him. Good content makes it easy to forget the long periods of silence. But hey, I already have a blog and this will do very nicely indeed. After Peugeot unceremoniously quit their …

Two runs in a week, this is progress! What I am finding now is that as the 10k program I'm working through gets harder, the runs get longer. Which is fine physically, because I am just about keeping up (if getting ridiculously slower as the distances get longer). It's just timewise. I've said it before, but it's tricky to justify more than an hour of running in an evening, unless …

I quite liked it, which comes as a surprise to me because in the first few minutes I wondered what I'd let myself in for. There's plenty of stuff that goes against the grain, and all the characters drop the F-word ever three seconds, and that's only once you get in the zone and start understanding what they're saying. But, it was laugh out loud funny in places, had a great cast of characters and a good ending. Plus, it made me want to go to Ireland again.

My poor car is starting to get a bit worn around the edges. It's been in and out of the garage over the past few months and is costing a few pennies to keep running. I can't complain as it has been a reasonably well behaved vehicle for the majority of its life and it was bound to start racking up some repair bills at some point. Whilst I'm sure …

I'm fascinated by how this book is crafted. It's almost the calm between two storms, with a brief scuffle of action at the end. We're into the sixth book now, so we know all there is to know about the lessons at Hogwarts. This time we're interested in the new lessons with Dumbledore, rather than the school curriculum. It's filling in all the details and backstory that we need to know before the final installment hits.

Now, I like a short film probably more than the next person but the ending to this was so abrupt, it just left Mr C and I full of questions. The concept for this is brilliant, I was fascinated throughout, loved it. The ending just raised a billion questions and opened up even more plot holes. I felt a bit deflated after enjoying the rest of it so much. I also didn't think the bad guy was particularly good, he was better before we knew he was evil.

It's actually more silly than I remembered it being, and even more unbelievable than you would expect. Despite that, it's got some beautiful shots in it, and some great disaster stuff which is really well made. This is probably one of those films I could watch over and over, like Armageddon. Didn't cry though.

I'm getting a bit fed up of saying "well, this week I didn't run much" but it turns out to have been another fortnight of frustration. What with family things, work things, and trying to find the right combination of time, weather and energy, I'm just about getting back on top of it. So, last week there was just one run on Monday, and this week I also went out …

I quite liked it. Much of it was totally unbelievable but if you assume that the government really could get themselves together like that, it was a fun ride. I wasn't a huge fan of the ending, it did seem unfair that these people thought they were just training and ended up in that massive fight. Neverthless, it was good and fun and made me just a little bit paranoid. What else can you ask of a film?

I remembered this book as my least favourite, although not specifically. It was a vague recollection of 'the book where Harry is stroppy.' Turns out that was this one. It's completely understandable, given the horrors that he has already seen, the difficult summer he must have had, and the continuing frustrations around him. Plenty of people don't believe him and those that do aren't telling him anything. And above all that, he's also now a stubborn teenager so you can't blame him for that.

This month, I've gone day by day again. I like to do it occasionally, because it makes me realise just how much does go on in Ambridge, despite the fact it doesn't feel like it! 1st - Tom needs Jazzer to do some extra hours because of all the dreaded paperwork. A glimpse at what being an adult is really like! More on Amy's new boyfriend. They dropped in all …

Thus proving that it wasn't what I thought at all. I really enjoyed it. I laughed quite a lot, even in places where I wasn't supposed to, which I think annoyed Mr C but it was out of enjoyment more than anything. The animation of the ED things was rubbish, and I docked Terminator quite a lot for that, but it didn't feel quite so bad in this one. Additionally, the special effects of RoboCop when his helmet was removed were brilliant! Overall, very good, much enjoyed.

I've got a special affection for Jason Mraz, who I first heard of a few months after Mr C and I met. Back then, we found a live concert album available on Archive.org stacked with catchy songs and listened to it over and over and over again. As with lots of artists, subsequent albums haven't lived up to that first one, although I've enjoyed a few singles peppered over the …

This time last year, I was busy relaxing, writing, and pondering the future. Six months ago, I wrote about my return to work after a sabbatical that involved not finding my dream job but doing something just as worthwhile instead. I’m on a fixed term contract, and thus the future is still relatively uncertain. But for now, I’m glad I can get back to something of normality. Equally, I’m incredibly …

Harry Potter's fourth outing was, if I recall correctly, my favourite on my first pass at reading them. On this re-read, so far, I think that is true once again. It's also borne out by the fact the book is fifth on my Big Read list, whereas the others are nestled somewhere around twenty or so. (I'm also intrigued that only the first four are on the list, I guess people think this is the pinnacle and it went rapidly downhill after that.)

I really enjoyed this, from beginning to end. It's one of those that I dread because it's long but the time just flies by. I loved that Erin was doing these great things, but ultimately wasn't a completely do-gooder character. There was plenty about her to rub people up the wrong way, and her shouting matches were just incredible to watch. The dedication though, that was the thing. Even though everything was falling apart, it was all about the greater good. Fab acting from Julia and those around her. I didn't really want it to end.

This week, the one run I've got up on Runkeeper isn't quite fair, but it has been a rather pitiful seven days. Monday, I went out for a run but after about ten minutes, I knew my calves weren't having any of it. A further few minutes on and my app cut off midway through a pace update and when I checked, the time had gone all weird. I decided …

This episode begins with David Tennant as a science teacher. He writes physics on the board and then struts around muttering a little bit. I absolutely detested science at school because they managed to make it as hideous as possible despite potentially being one of the most fascinating subjects. However, if I had a science teacher like DT, things could have been a lot different! Despite a story about facing …

The third book in the Harry Potter series does not follow the same pattern as the ones that go before it, and it's a very timely departure, avoiding the series becoming formulaic. It's not so drastically different - there is still a year's worth of lessons and exams to deal with, alongside Quidditch, and unravelling a mystery that leads to an end of year showdown, but this time it's not about Voldemort.

This film seems to have gone down the same way the previous Cage one did and that is not well. I didn't mind it. I found the story intriguing enough, although there were some irritating plot holes in terms of character reactions. It wasn't particularly thrilling, did not get the adrenaline going, but I was curious how the story was going to turn out, so it at least had something going for it. I thought January Jones play-acted her role the same as her 1950s housewife, and a review suggested Cage 'phoned it in' which I can understand.

Mr C and I discovered something through this film. We couldn't really figure out why I liked it so much and then we saw Paul Rudd and I practically squealed and the answer was obvious. I could actually die, I like him so much. So, that explains a lot but I do also love the film as a whole. Oddly, I hadn't made the Emma connection up until this point, but now I have read the book, it's more obvious.

It was just as good as we remembered. Funny, a heartfelt little romantic comedy, with plenty of slapstick laughs in there too. The bath scene really is as good as expected, although I managed to mould two scenes together in my mind. I had him in the bath trundling down the garden, which would be weird because I've never seen a bath with wheels as yet. Great movie, love it.

I didn't write an update last week because I got a bit mixed up with the days, given the two bank holidays. Before I knew it, it was Tuesday, and I figured it could wait for a double update today. I've also not been running as much as I would have liked, after some rather busy days followed by some more reluctant days. I'm still working through the 10k class, …

If you haven't heard about Caine's Arcade and haven't already seen the video, then you must watch this. I found it a bit slow starting but you have to stick with it because a) this boy is a genius and b) people are brilliant. I love the arcade, although I think it could do with a little bit more colour to distinguish one game from another. Then again, this is …

Harry's second year at Hogwarts is much the same as his first. He starts by being imprisoned unfairly by the Dursley's before being rescued and whisked away for a taste of life with the Weasleys. This is a great introduction for us, the reader, to what life would be like living at home with a wizarding family. We've seen what it's like being a wizard amongst non-wizards, and being a wizard at a wizarding school, but this is new and brilliantly entertaining.

I have read all the Harry Potter books before, and very much enjoyed them (although I vaguely recall getting frustrated with a couple of the books). Getting them on the Kindle was the step I needed to be able to read them all over again. I've been looking forward to this, they are part of my Big Read challenge, and all the stars are aligned for me to rattle through the series in one go.

For a new fan of the Archers, these books are invaluable. I read the 2009 version and was instantly caught up on the characters I was just getting to know. It's a quick start guide for anyone who wants the important back story of each villager, but without it being too detailed. It also brings you up to speed on recent events, so that if you're diving into the soap after some time off, you'll be able to catch up what you've missed.

I couldn't see how the format would work ebook style - getting to the end of each chapter and having to skip forward to a designated page, depending on your choice. The Kindle isn't famed for having page numbers, so it needed a bit of a rethink. The problem has been easily solved with links, instead of scanning through pages, you just jump through the book by tapping/clicking the link of the choice you desire.

Advertising doesn't work on me. Not really. Except for when it does. Many, many adverts on TV are irritating, depressing, stupid, or a mixture of all three. This, however, is the cutest thing I have seen in a long while.

I almost missed the Boat Race this year. I love it enormously, and tweeted a reminder to others (and to myself) earlier in the week. I even had it in my mind to make a live commenting thread for the event. However, then I lost track of what day it was. I didn't realise it was Saturday and the Boat Race couldn't have been further from my mind. Thankfully, the …

My Archers roundups get later and later, it seems, but it's okay because the goings on never stop in Ambridge. This month, we've had misplaced compliments, completely pointless handshakes, and the never-ending saga of John/Rich, the long-lost grandson. Why on earth Sharon gave in and allowed the boy to find out about his extended family I do not know. That visit from Helen was about as disastrous as they get. …

I wanted to like it, but I didn't. I got very confused in the middle, so that I didn't know who was good, who was bad, what was going on, and what the entire point was. I didn't particularly like any of the people, and it all felt a bit weird. It had some good lines, but went on too long. Not a fan, I'm afraid.

Mostly, the film was exactly what I expected. I didn't understand very much of it, and as politics is about my least favourite subject in the world, I didn't particularly enjoy much of the story. They was some pretty great acting, though, and I did like the direction. It was a very pretty film in all senses, and well directed by Mr Clooney.

Everyone knows that War and Peace is the prime example of a long book. It's top in most minds when you talk about an epic novel. I knew it was long, but even so, I still wasn't prepared for the two months it took me to get through it. That's nothing compared to some other people's experiences I have heard, but considering how I was getting through the books beforehand, two months was a surprise.

I managed a quick visit to my parents over the weekend - something long overdue. We've had some unseasonably hot weather recently (although what is seasonable these days?) and it really felt like spring and summer were here to stay. Of course, today it's cold, but that makes looking at these photos all the more pleasant. It's always nice to visit my mum and dad's garden as they put a …

It doesn't take long before my attention span wanders. I had that plan, run thirty minutes in the evening, a long run at weekends. Then the clocks changed, and there was all this daylight in the evening, and I wanted to do something a bit more focused. So, I went and signed up for another Runkeeper Fitness Class. Actually the same one I did before, the 10k one. I could …

For another long film, I actually really enjoyed it. The island concept is great, there's always something about islands that I find intriguing. The dialogue was great, the story fab and characterisations also good to watch unfold. My biggest complaints were the car chase which was rubbish and the scene with the daughter which was equally bad. They could have cut that out and shortened the movie to a more manageable length.

A while ago, I tagged on the end of a mish-mash post a paragraph about Being Human. The fourth series had yet to start, and I was speculating on whether it would be any good - given that significant cast members were going to change. I've always liked the show, watched it since the beginning, and been impressed with how they have embraced the online world. The blog, in particular, …

I had heard very good things about this film, and although my knowledge of baseball and other such American sports always makes me a little bit wary of this type of movie, the addition of Brad Pitt was definitely a selling point. The casting even managed to gloss over the fact that it was over two hours long!

I have been waiting for Harry Potter to be available on the Kindle since I first heard about the concept of an eBook and this crazy device from Amazon. I understood that JK Rowling wanted to do it properly, in her way, but the waiting wasn't good for me. The Harry Potter books that I already own are some of the very few that I have kept hold of. I …