Today was a good day. The sun shone and I woke up before it had set, which is always a good thing. It was a lovely day for a walk, and as I suspected that the rest of Edinburgh would also think so too, I went to the cinema.

I haven't been to the cinema in years. Usually when I go, it's with someone else. This time I was on my own. Nearly entirely on my own; the fine weather and the fact that the film had been showing for some time meant that the place was only lightly peppered with mums and dads with their (thankfully very well behaved) children. So when the lights went down and the film began, I was able to be drawn into that magical world and be transported away without any distractions, safely blanketted by the comforting dark.

I prefer children's films, or at least family films, and fantasy. There's enough fighting and realism out there in real life without me having to come up close and personal to every explosion, every blow. I like to become immersed in worlds that become more beautiful the larger you see them, the closer you can look, not more ugly and graphic. I want to be uplifted, warmed, heartened. As I felt confident that the movie will be a good one, I could open myself to the experience fully and for the hour or so that I sat there, I regained the wide eyed wonder of a child.

I guess most people would think that going to the cinema on your own is a rather sad and sorry thing to do. People I know often think that experiences like these are best shared. I disagree. So often in our busy lives the voices of others become so loud that we can't hear ourselves. In that comfy warm seat today, I heard the delighted chuckle of the little me inside; the one who so often gets pushed aside so that 'things can get done'. I felt her cheer and gasp and gaze in awe as the story unfolded. For once, she was out in the world unfettered, free from adults getting in the way. It wasn't sad at all to be alone. It was wonderful to be with her.

Afterwards I wandered around the old town, bought myself a fridge magnet about courage and some pretty cards with inspiring messages. I wandered into shops and cafes I've not had time to explore since I moved here, still bouyed by the colours and the sounds of the story I'd been told.

Yup, today was a good day.

Number the First

Oh for goodness sake...

I love computers and all they do, I really do. But having just spent an hour trying to work out how to spell check what I've written so far in the 'layout' bit, my enthusiasm is wearing a bit thin. I guess I have to resort to the manual method, just as soon as I find my dictionary. Please excuse any faux pas in the spelling department until I've found it...

I'm also not sure where to put everything. Does one just write, willy nilly, about all and sundry? I'm hoping I'll be able to cut and paste things as I go along, or this whole thing is going to end up one big mess... oh well, onward and upward.