The Review - The Concert

So a few weeks ago now (read a couple of months), my sister-in-law Bex came over and we watched The Concert. And I enjoyed it so much I just had to share it with you.

The story is about an ex-conductor called Andrei Simoniovich Filipov. Thirty years ago he was the renowned conductor of the Bolshoi orchestra, but was fired because he hired Jewish musicians.  As fate would have it, he is now a mere cleaning man at the Bolshoi and by chance he learns that the Châtelet Theater in Paris wants the Bolshoi orchestra to play there.

This inspires Andrei with a crazy plan to gather together his former musicians and to perform in Paris in the place of the current Bolshoi orchestra. He wants Anne-Marie Jacquet, a young virtuoso, to be a solo violinist to accompany his old Jewish or Gypsy musicians. What ensues is a movie of beautiful scripted story, full of heart, laughter and tears. Definitely a must see.

Here is the trailer for your viewing pleasure:

Until next time :)

The Dress - She Means Business

Okay, so when digging through my "style archives", as I like to call them, I found some photos to share with you. 

For some reason the outfit below got quite a few comments at the office. The most common one was from the guys: "Why would you voluntarily wear a tie?"

This has actually reminded me that although I just bought the cutest white shirt ever (no really, wait till you see it), I would like to buy a shirt with a colour. Because let's face it, girls in ties - it's just cool.

 

Shirt: Taiwan

Sadly, I recently threw out this shirt as I had worn it to death. And it's just my luck that rounded collars and puffed sleeves are not in at the moment.

Vest: Thrifted

This vest actually came from a dear friend of mine (thanks Tess). Although it's really more waitress than corporate, I really love wearing it as it's lovely and fitted.

Tie: Luke's

Yep. If all else fails for fashion inspiration, try your husband's wardrobe! :)

Skirt: Glassons

I bought this like a bazillion years ago. Well okay, probably around 2007, but that is actually a long time ago in our fast-moving fashion world. 

Shoes: Overland

Birthday present from Luke a few years back. They have lasted well.

Hope you enjoyed that. And now come on girls, get those ties on and show the fellas how it's done.

Until next time :)

Trip to Europe - Paris Part 1

Okay I know, I know. I went to London and Paris with my sister 10 months ago. But do you know what, it's my blog and if I want to reminisce and look at my travel photos... well that's what I'm going to do. And of course, as always you're welcome to join! :)

 I heart Christmas markets. :)

 My sister and I - because we're insane - went on one of those sightseeing double decker buses. I know what you're thinking - so what? So do heaps of other tourists and sightseers. Yes I know, but do they sit in the open air top level of the bus when it's like zero degrees outside? - No they don't. 

 We eventually did go inside because Laura's lips started to turn blue.

 I remember being struck by the detail in all the buildings when I first got to London. They're really just exquisite. And then I went to Paris. Wow - just wow! The buildings there are works of art in themselves.

Quite happy with the fluttering of the flag in this photo.

 Laura making friends with a llama

 Laura and John at the Christmas market.

 In a word: Deliciousness!

Until next time :)

The Verse - Luke 5:17-26

¹⁷ On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. ¹⁸ And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, ¹⁹ but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. ²⁰ And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” ²¹ And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” ²² When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? ²³ Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? ²⁴ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” ²⁵ And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. ²⁶ And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”

(Luke 5:17-26 ESV)

Luke and I were reading this passage in our daily devotion the other day. Luke was reading out of the C.S. Lewis bible, which has little excerpts from C.S. Lewis's writings; he read out one of these excerpts, and what it said really made me think, "huh, I've never thought of that." So I thought I might share it with you so you can think, "huh, I've never thought of that either."

C.S. Lewis, in his wonderful work Mere Christianity (if you haven't read it you really must) writes concerning the passage above: 


"We can all understand how a man forgives offences against himself. You tread on my toes and I forgive you, you steal my money and I forgive you. But what should we make of a man, himself unrobbed and untrodden on, who announced that he forgave you for treading on other men’s toes and stealing other men’s money? Asinine fatuity is the kindest description we should give of his conduct. Yet this is what Jesus did. He told people that their sins were forgiven, and never waited to consult  all the other people whom their sins had undoubtedly injured. He unhesitatingly behaved as if He was the party chiefly concerned, the person chiefly offended in all offences. This makes sense only if He really was the God whose laws are broken and whose love is wounded in every sin. In the mouth of any speaker who is not God, these words would imply what I can only regard as a silliness and conceit unrivalled by any other character in history.

"Yet (and this is the strange, significant thing) even His enemies, when they read the Gospels, do not usually get the impression of silliness and conceit. Still less do unprejudiced readers. Christ says that He is ‘humble and meek’ and we believe Him; not noticing that, if He were merely a man, humility and meekness are the very last characteristics we could attribute to some of His sayings."

It's very true, isn't it? The only way Christ could have the authority to forgive everyone for the offences they had committed against other people is if He is God Himself, and if all human beings are primarily wronging Him when they commit sin, because they are breaking His laws. Also, it's interesting that not even non-Christians consider Jesus to be proud or conceited, despite the fact that He made claims which could only be regarded as incredible and megalomaniacal, if He were not who He said He was - the claim to be God, for instance. The reason we believe Jesus when He says He is humble is that He is telling the truth. He is indeed God Himself, exalted above any other name in the universe, and yet He became a lowly human being in order to save us from our sin by dying on the cross. This is the true meaning of humility.

The Introduction - Sammy

I can't believe I've already written two blog posts and I have failed to mention the biggest, fluffiest and cutest event that has happened in our life of late.

Introducing Sammy!!!

Yes, Luke and I are now proud (or should I say purrroud?) cat owners, and as such we must post ridiculous amounts of cat photos everywhere.

 Isn't he beautiful? 

 Luke and I got Sammy from the SPCA. He is 2 years old and was given up by his previous owners due to health reasons. As soon as we entered the shelter we knew he was the cat for us. He has already very much made himself at home in our house and our hearts.

 LIKES: Sammy likes having his bottom patted... I don't know why...

LIKES: He also like having his tummy rubbed. Again no idea why, we just think he is "special" and he loves the love. 

DISLIKES: Sammy does not like sharing his armchair.

You can almost hear him thinking: "Get off my chair. MY chair."

That's all for today.

Until next time :)

The Review - Stage Door Canteen

Luke and I borrowed this movie from his parents and it was just really fun to watch. If you ever get a chance to watch it and feel in the mood for some ol' fashioned light entertainment, then this is a goodie.

Stage Door Canteen (1943) is a musical film featuring many cameo appearances by celebrities. From one poster I saw, apparently there are 62! The majority of the film is a filmed concert, although there is some storyline thrown in for good measure. But let's just say you're not really watching it for the plot.

This WWII film celebrates the work of the "Stage Door Canteen", which was actually a real phenomenon created in New York City as a place for both American and Allied servicemen on leave to socialise with and be entertained or served by theatrical celebrities.

The real Stage Door Canteen on 44th Street could not be used for the filming as it was too busy receiving real servicemen, which is kind of neat when you think about it.

Until next time :)

I'm back... Japanese Style

Hello, my fellow internet friends. I'm back. Did you miss me? I'm so terribly sorry for deserting you. But I haven't completely fallen off the edge of the internet. It's just that, you know, life got a bit busy (as I'm sure you can all understand). However, the craziness seems to have died down, at least for the moment, and I've decided to pick up my blogger pen (or should that be keyboard???) again.

So much has happened I don't know where to start! But I have lots of lovely new pieces of clothing, travel photos, movie reviews, Bible verses, and more to share with you.

This post is a "Dress" with an oriental twist. You see, recently Luke and I went to Kyoto, Japan. And when in Japan, do as the Japanese do and buy a kimono!

So here we are, for your viewing pleasure. :)

 After purchasing a second hand kimono at a Kyoto market (it was a real steal, like NZD$50!) Luke and I went back to Kankaso, the traditional Japanese ryokan (guesthouse) where we were staying in Nara, and I put it on with a little bit of help from the staff there.

 Of course once it was on, I didn't want to take it off. They are so elegant!

 How absolutely heavenly is this garden? Yes, this is also part of the guest house. Seriously, if you ever go to Nara, or even Japan, you must stay at Kankaso. It's worth every penny.

 Our host Aiya looked after our every need while we were at the guesthouse, and was so lovely. I couldn't understand much of what she said (Luke speaks more Japanese than I do), although when she saw me in the kimono she exclaimed "Kawaii!!!", which means "Cute!!!"

 Just to prove Luke was really there.

Hope you enjoyed that. :)

Until next time 

(which hopefully isn't too far away!)