Many of the films scheduled for Hethersett Village Hall had to be cancelled earlier this year when the virus struck, but now the group has announced a run of monthly films from September until the end of the year - with social distancing etc being observed, obviously.
It all kicks off with the latest adaptation of the Jane Austin novel "Emma" on Sunday 6th September. Now this announcement almost led me to hide behind the sofa and cry with rage (I did say almost). I know most people love Jane Austin's novels but I've tried to like them (I really have) but just can't. Emma is the one I particularly dislike, although the others aren't far behind.
When I was doing A' levels (you have to be of a certain age to remember those) I delved into the richness of literature for my English exam. As a result I love the work of the Bronte sisters and the poetry of W.B Yeats. Charles Dickens and a smattering of Shakespeare (primarily Hamlet, Othello and King Lear) all met with my approval and I couldn't get enough of the Metaphysical Poets. But Jane Austin I'm afraid was just a step too far. I forced myself to read one of the set books which just happened to be "Emma". I read it about three times and it didn't seem to get any better. I re-read all the Austin novels a couple of years ago and still didn't understand their popularity (heathen I hear you shout).
Nevertheless 3 pm on 6th September will see me with a cup of coffee in the village hall because, even if I hate the film, it's a good social occasion and I do so want to support what the organisers are doing. And that is why I will grin and bear Emma in the same way that I put up with Downton Abbey which I believe was the final film before lockdown stopped most of our fun.
Other coming films include "The Personal History of David Copperfield," "1917" and "Harriet."
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I have to admit that I'm struggling to get the next Hethersett Herald out on time. It's not a problem with getting it finished or anything like that. The problem is the amount of news in the village at the moment. Every day seems to bring another story. It proves that even with lockdown restrictions still in force and with the summer holidays upon us there is so much going on in the village.
I'm aiming for a Friday publication and it's going to be another bumper edition - and I know how all of you love a bumper edition! I have a feeling that when we celebrate our fifth birthday in November we might just see the publication tipping the scales at over 150 pages. Perhaps it's just my way of trying to bore everyone to death.
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A lot of my blogs over the past few months have looked back and included photographs of events I was either involved in or attended.
But all too often I think I just see life through a lens. Take for example the cycle race that I described yesterday. It literally took about a minute to pass through. I never really saw it pass. I was too busy looking through a lens and taking photos. I call it doing a Ron. Let me explain.
Many years ago we went on a cruise up to the Fjords of Norway - and lovely it was too. One of our stops was in Flam. Flam is very picturesque but there isn't a lot to do there apart from getting a train up into the mountains where, for some unexplainable reason, an opera singer suddenly appears and warbles away. Basically you get off the train, marvel at the singer, have a quick squint at the scenery and then get the next train down.
In Flam itself there is very little apart from a Lakeside hotel where you could get an overpriced cup of coffee but why would you when the cruise ship is just a few hundred yards away with unlimited free tea and coffee?
But I digress. On our trip was a guy called Ron. I never saw him without a video camera and he must have seen the whole trip through a tiny eyepiece. Great for showing family and friends at home but not a lot of use when they ask you what the trip was like because basically all you have seen are very small images through a viewfinder.
So I now call that doing a Ron.
Anyway enough of this drivel.