A Little Bit of Madness

Those of my readers who know me, may recall that as a nurse I enjoyed (really) my days and nights working in psychiatry.  It was a weird, weird world trying to tread lightly through some amazing situations as my ill patients walked through their strange world.  I did find it fascinating - but in the end left as I felt that many of the staff were also succumbing to creating a world that was not the 'norm'.  When doctors and nurses not only cross the divide between doctor/nurse and patient relationships, you know you are in weird company.  I digress a little - I would have liked to stay working there but it was getting too weird for me.

One of my friends who has Bipolar has written about her experiences as a patient - and I was unable to attend her launch, but did buy the book from her. And yes, she has signed it for me.

I am about a third of the way through the book and I am so impressed with her writing and the openness of telling her story - warts and all.

I hope to finish it in the next few days (between other big commitments), but already I am recommending it to anyone who will listen.  It is called "Me and Her" - "One woman's story of manic dreams and her two personas. ME - wife, mother, writer and teacher.  HER - manic, psychic, healer to the living, telepathic to the dead, and she's very psychotic."

The book is called "Me and Her" and the author is the delightful Karen Tyrrell.

Salmon Fishing in Yemen

It was a long weekend here (May 5th, 6th, 7th) and I had some vague plans which fell through, so off to the movies.

Bulimba is a quaint place which is old, with many shops dotted throughout the main street, and plenty of restaurants and they appeared to be doing a roaring trade as I drove in.  There is a Cineplex theatre there - a very old theatre which looks a little worse for wear but is hugely popular - I think there are some 6 theatres within the old complex, and with some car parking.  Luckily I found a park there - I think the last space - and headed in to the theatre.

Timing was awesome, as I had only found my preferred seat and settled in when the theatre darkened and the in-house messages, ads from sponsors, and previews started.

I had seen a preview of Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and it seemed a strange topic, though clearly there was a romance involved.

I loved the movie - and loved watching the behaviour of the bureaucrats and others as they tried to sort out the Sheik's strange request for the British government to help set up a salmon fishing program in the deserts of Yemen.  Money talks of course - and it SHOUTED at all involved.

One aspect that thrilled me was the photography - the scenery around the Yemen in particular was extra ordinary.There was much intrigue when the boyfriend was declared lost in Afghanistan - and that part of the story had a surprise (albeit a bit silly) ending.

Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt and Amr Waked star.  The cast is stunning.

I loved the movie.

It is a MUST SEE movie.