So it's 2010 and I'm getting married this year. Yeah.....that's not weird!! It'll take some getting used to. Thankfully, I have an awesome lot of family to help me deal with everything. Mum has already been phoning the hotel where we're having the reception. Not embarassing at all. Still, I have contacted the lady at church who's head of the flower team, tried to get hold of my friend who could DJ for us and emailed our hotel contact about booking the mobile bar. A good start.

A nice breath of fresh air to look forward to: a trailer of the upcoming Matt Smith era of Doctor Who - both he and his companion look adorable and interesting and energetic, colour me excited! - and David Tennant regenerating into Matt Smith (yes, I cried!).

Check out this Lord of the Rings fan film, called Born of Hope. It's the story of Aragorn's parents, adapted from the appendices of the books. And it's stunning.

I have finally emerged from the glorious goodness of Kung-Fu: The Legend Continues. Since David Carradine's death in June, I have been making my way through all four series of the show and loving every minute of it. It's an action cop show, yet is also a study and exploration of spirituality, of how we live our lives. It's full of questions and challenges and it's pretty stunning. Also I adore the cast of reoccurring characters. Kermit Griffin is my favourite - ex-mercenary with a very mysterious past, possibly has a son, and never takes off his dark green sunglasses. If this show had come out after fandom exploded, it would be HUGE and Kermit would be everyone's favourite to fanfic. But the others are all so good too. There's so many to write about and explore. This quote made me cry in the final episode. It's poignant, especially after Carradine's death:

Peter: (to his precinct colleagues) When I was a very young boy, my father came and told me that my mother had died. I ran to the pond to look for her reflection standing over me. But it wasn't there and I learned to swim alone. As a cop, whenever I was in danger, I'd look for a reflection and I'd always see one or all of you standing behind me and that gave me the courage to go on. I'll be around, but if you ever need somebody, look for my reflection.

I urge you, look this show up on hulu or youtube. All the episode are there and they are made to be enjoyed. I cannot recommend this show enough, really I can't. Also a young David Hewlett is in the reoccurring cast and is a delight.

Fave fics I've found so far:
A Day in the Life - a day of Paul Blaisdell's life and all he faces as Captain of the 101st Precinct and Peter's foster father. Captures the squad room so perfectly.
Promises to Keep - another dragonswing is formed, with Kermit and Peter looking to rescue Blaisdell. Intense and really nails the feel of the show, especially the dragonswing episodes.

Caine: Try to think of tonight as its own remembrance.
Peter: Why?
Caine: Because it is all that separates us from tomorrow.

Yay, it's December! Happy Advent, everyone! I can feel myself crawling closer to Christmas, which makes me very happy. Best time of year ever. Si claims to be coming home purely for Christmas dinner, I think he really missed it last year whilst in Thailand.

It's spookily quiet at work today. It has been for the past week or so. It's nice not to be overrun with students, but it does make things a mite creepy, especially as I go past the mortuary at the end of my shift. It would be worse at Halloween methinks.

St Trinian's was as wonderful as promised. Seriously fun. A great big dollop of Britishness, fighting for a cause with anarchy and awesome teamwork. Gemma Arterton knows how to work a pencil skirt! I'd dress like that at work if I thought I could get away with it. Offered an article on the film to my Damaris editor and he said he'd like something brief. Um....oops? It's not long, just not brief either. Am hoping to get it done and polished for the week of the sequel's release (18th). I am channeling Miss Fritton's fantastically barmy and supportive spirit, only without the whiskey, smoking, and dog.

Am very much intrigued by Guy Richie's take on Sherlock Holmes. The film comes out on 25th December and am hoping to persuade my family see it with me. Richie is a tad hit and miss for me, I very much enjoyed Snatch though. And the trailer was very much inticing. I do like me some Robert Downey Jr. I've still got to see Iron Man. Bad geek girl! Anthony is a big Sherlock Holmes fan so maybe we can go see it in January. He may not appreciate the rough and ready reimagining though.

Happy Turkey Day to all my American friends! I really hope you had an amazing day, spent loads of time with your families, and had a gorgeous meal!

I am hoping to get St Trinian's out on DVD tomorrow. I've got the biggest girlcrush on Gemma Alterton and it needs sating til Prince of Persia: Sands of Time comes out next year - trailer looks amazing for that too. Got a thing for big fun adventure films, though there has to be some substance there too. I draw the line at Michael Bay!!

Hard to believe that Christmas is less than a month away. I still have presents to buy, a railcard to renew, train tickets to pick up.....
Can't wait though. I can't believe I'll get to see Si! It's gonna be chaos but amazing too.

Mum and Dad are off to the O2 Arena in London this weekend to see the tennis. I am hugely jealous that they'll get to see Roger Federer play. But I'm also so glad that they're using the extra money they no longer have to spend on their kids on themselves in wonderful ways. Go parentals!

Anthony's Mum and stepdad have bought a new dog, from the same rescue centre where they got Hannah. Spike is a black spaniel and is adorable. I can't wait to meet him after Christmas :) That house would feel so empty and strange without a dog and they all miss Hannah so much. We're definitely gonna end up getting at least one dog. I've definitely come round to the idea.

*le sigh* The wedding reception venue can't hold as many as we thought it could. But we shall muddle through and decide if it's what we really want. We'll take a good hard look at the wedding guest list again and decide who we really want to be there for the fun and games in the evening.

Meanwhile, I've been plunging head first into Puck/Rachel and here's some favourites of what I've found

Fic
Don't Do Sadness by hariboo_smirks 'Every big change starts with a small one. That's just how it is. Thing is, nobody usually sees it coming' Massively wonderful Glee as a fabulous team fic too.
In a Giddy Whirl by waldorph 'Puck is a badass motherfucker'
and the companion piece The Ones that Entertain by waldorph 'Kurt is going to make this fabulous' Yay for girlie bonding and the wonder of Kurt. I want to go shopping with him!
sin tetas, no hay paraiso by dress without sleeves. 'The girl has the grip of a damn beartrap and she's not letting him go. He sighs. "What do you want, Crazy?"'

Music Video
I'd Come for You by Natih1986. Pure awesome.

A happy Halloween to all who celebrated. I stayed in, lit a candle, and watched The Crow. As is my tradition. I try not to watch it too often, I don't want it to lose its power, you know? And the closing narration made me cry, as always:

"When the people we love are stolen from us, the way to have them live on is to never stop loving them. Buildings burn, people die, but real love is forever"

Continuing the Halloween theme:
Rama Lama - the infamous Emmy-winning routine from So You Think You Can Dance? season 2. Creepifying and perfect. Seems like the right mood.

I have discovered White Collar, thanks to a positive review from marcicat . It's a delightful show, with great charm and wonderful interesting characters and fun twisty plots. And Matthew Bomer is wonderful, as he was in Chuck. Seriously, check it out.
My favourite White Collar fic so far is: Kate, Short for Kevin by moonythestrals
Barty is getting sicker. He is at the vets, possibly suffering from anemia. He hasn't been eating and looks miserable, sitting in his cage as he heals. I am worried.

Yay! Wedding reception venue booked. A hotel less than five minutes from the church. Hurrah. We hammered out many wedding details as my parents visited. Mum and I had one magnificent disagreement about my brother being an usher and then when I told Anthony about it later, he took offence, believing Mum was inferring that his friends who are gonna be ushers aren't good enough. That's not what she meant. We'll get there in the end.

Very awesome Merlin fic rec. I don't watch the show, but I appreciate the fiction.
I've Still Got Your Face (Painted On My Heart) by thisissirius Merlin/Arthur, Gwen/Lancelot, AU, reworking of Gone in Sixty Seconds, R.

The autumn season of TV has begun in earnest, which leaves me cramming in hours of awesome new episodes and being grateful for a very tolerant fiance! Supernatural's new series is giving me much joy so I thought I'd share it:

( spoilery spoilers for 5x01 & 5x02 and speculation )

And for your edification and delight, one of the best Supernatural fics I've read:
A Wincest Story by trinityofone Dean/Castiel, Sam, futurefic

RIP Patrick Swayze (1952 - 2009)

"Patrick was a rare and beautiful combination of raw masculinity and amazing grace. Gorgeous and strong, he was a real cowboy with a tender heart" - Jennifer Grey

Dancer. Actor. Singer-songwriter. He fought cancer heroically and honestly. I admire him for that more than anything else.

Empire have summed him up nicely with this notification of his death.
And also provided a wonderful article and list of Why Patrick Swayze Kicked Ass, which is just perfect and really makes me want to experience more of his films.

Also RIP Keith Floyd, TV chef.

My first real experience of TV cookery and a firm favourite of my Dad. I have many memories of sitting by our living room fire and watching his show, my hair drying after swimming. I feel actually really emotional thinking about him gone, even though I haven't watched any of his shows for years. He's such a part of my childhood and I know he inspired so many people.