My top three tipples

I'm not a big drinker and when I do drink, I'll often opt for a glass of wine. Now that the nights are getting colder and darker it's the season for something a little bit stronger. These are my favourites:

1. Amaretto

I first started drinking this with apple juice when I first lived in Germany. Overly sweet for some tastes, I much prefer it to harder tastes.

2. Ouzo

Another drink I picked up during my time in Oldenburg, we started drinking this at our regular Greek restaurant. I like to drink it with water which minimizes the hangover.

3. Irish Mist

Nico is something of a whisky connoisseur. I've never enjoyed whisky but we did discover this blend which is the perfect mix of whisky and sweet.

Christmas Bonus: Baileys

This is my traditional Christmas drink, sweet and creamy on ice - perfect for getting into the festive spirit.

Top 5 Childhood Films

1. The Little Mermaid

This was the first film I ever saw at the cinema, aged about 5. It's always been my favourite Disney even though I cried all the way home that day, heartbroken that Ariel had to leave her family for her prince. Already got this one lined up for Isabella.

2. E.T. 

I loved this tale of friendship even though it was another tearjerker. It's such a classic. Some films lose effect over time but not this one.

3. Back to the Future

All three of these bring back such happy memories of fun films that I didn't cry over! I loved all three but especially the second as it hardly ever seemed to be on. The actors were brilliant as was the concept (even if it is disappointing that we have no hoverboards here in 2015).

4. Three Men and a Little Baby

Another fun 80s one with a happy ending. This was also the start of my following the avuncular Tom Selleck. Watching three single men try to bring up a baby...brilliant. Again, the sequel somehow seemed better as it was more elusive.

5. Labrynth

This was one that scared and thrilled me in equal measures. I always wanted to watch the riddle scene again to figure it out. I bought and watched this again a couple of years ago but it wasn't the same.

Special mentions: Flight of the Navigator, Batteries not Included, Crocodile Dundee, Home Alone

The Notebook

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We were watching an episode of How I Met Your Mother a while ago and I was gobsmacked when Nico had to ask me what a Ryan Gosling storyline was all about.  I guess I should be relieved - it is clearly a woman thing after all.  I mentioned at the time that my all time favourite film is the Notebook which is also, I believe, the reason all women fall in love with Ryan Gosling.

While stocking up for our new blu-ray player, Nico 'accidently' ordered the German version of the film and we watched it this weekend.  It turned out that he had seen it before but I have to say, I watched it with totally different eyes as a married woman and, of course, cried my eyes out more than ever at the end.
     

I think it's the kind of story that has something for everyone - or for every woman at least.  I say story on purpose since I also read the book and as ever, the book is even better, although for once, there's not much in it.
     

If you haven't seen it, welcome back for wherever you have been locked away, go out and get it immediately.  *Warning!*  Women - You will fall in love with Ryan Gosling!  Men - You might do too...

The Timekeeper

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This novel was in the group I ordered with my Christmas money.  I first read a Mitch Albom novel while I was at university.  Although he is American, I was travelling at the time and picked it up in German.  Tuesdays with Morrie was the first, and I believe only, book that I have read in German that has made me cry.  It was amazing.  However, that's for another review.  I read another of his novels - The Five People You Meet in Heaven and wondered whether it really lived up to the first.  I didn't connect with it as much.  So when I heard about this new release, I was kind of on the fence, however, it had rave reviews so I gave it a go...and I'm so glad I did.

The novel is based on the story of Father Time - the man who invented time and how he was punished by God for doing so.  The book also details the stories of two modern characters - a teenage girl and an octogenarian man.  The connections between the characters were really clever and they were really easy to connect with.  I think anyone can relate to the evil of time and how we usually feel that we are short of it.  I identified with the book so much that I wanted to do away with the whole principle of time by the time I was finished (two days), if only my boss would agree!

The message of the novel struck a chord with me in the worst of ways on Friday when the tram I was travelling in struck a pedestrian.  She was running across the road without looking, to catch another tram.  I've seen it almost happen so many times but it was still a nasty shock when it did.  I know I am guilty of it at times too but it really pains me to see people put themselves in such danger for the sake of not being late.  The trams in Bremen are so regular that there is normally another one after five minutes!  I hope the lady is alright.

In the meantime, I'm making a promise to myself to focus more on the here and now, and spend more time with those I love.