Motivational Monday #002

Having fallen off the gym-wagon, due to illness and exhaustedness and excuses, I'm quite excited to be returning to boxing tonight. There is just something really satisfying about accidentally landing a punch on Staci's nose. Jokes!

In all seriousness the routine that comes with going to gym, whether it's to learn how to kick butt or fall over and land face-first into a kettlebell (only me?) all in all is a satisfying experience.

Not to mention all the health benefits too... And with Spring only 13 days away it's time to get my butt in gear! For Real!

I Simply Remember My Favourite Things & Then I Don't Mind This Crappy Weather So Much

1) And Yes, one of them includes The Sound of Music and other cheesy musicals like Mama Mia, and then just movies in general, everything from Fightclub to The Notebook to Despicable Me and Finding Nemo. Any genre really... except things with dead children, evil clowns, clowns, birds, evil birds, dead evil children, hospital horrors and anything with Jim Carrey.

2) Paper that has been fully handwritten on. I love the crinkly sound it makes and the used, bumpy feeling it has.

3) THAT "Good Morning" text :)

4) A small child playing with my hair

5) New Shoes

6) Landing a punch that winds and sends a grown man stumbling

7) Watching Manchester United win (especially if I can watch with my gran and mom and we scream like hooligans to annoy my father)

8) Cinnamon doughnuts, lemon cheesecake and hot chocolate on the beach...

9) Being Right.

10) Being sad when finishing a particularly good book and now excited to re-read the Harry Potter series...

11) Re-watching the entire FRIENDS series.

12)When my delivery / order / anything arrives on time and in good condition.

And Then My Not So Favourites:

1) Sad People - "Forever Alone" "Whoa is me" "My life is so sad" blah blah blah get a shrink!

2) Bad service - if there was an award for the worst service in a restaurant, at a store, anywhere really South Africa would win hands down - if they bothered to even show up!

3) Chelsea FC (with the exception of Lampard)

4) An uncomfortable PJ pants.

5) Bad photos, not necessarily  of me but in general...

6) Bland food

7) Stupid spelling errors...

Keep warm and hopefully you can indulge in some of your favourite things this weekend, I know I am! ;) 

REVIEW: The Wolverine

I hadn't watched an X-Men movie in years, I vaguely remember being a fan of the cartoon when it still aired on television so it was with a little trepidation that I "allowed" Le Boyfriend to choose the last movie we went to see. (Not entirely true - I've always been a sucker for a topless Hugh Jackman - about the only good thing to come out of Australia besides Quade Cooper.)

Luckily for me the plot was basic enough to follow without having had to watch the previous films, although it would be recommended for the subtle references and "secret" after the credits ending.

Wolverine's life of self-imposed isolation and detachment is interrupted when someone from his past sends a messenger to summon Wolverine to the dying man's bedside. Wolverine makes the journey to Japan where he discovers the old man is now one of the richest and most powerful men in the country and intends to make his granddaughter his sole heir, placing her in mortal danger. Wolverine is conflicted when he has the opportunity to do something he has only ever dreamed about - is this the end of his suffering?

The director, James Mangold (Girl Interrupted, Walk the Line) did the best with what he was given it seems - a superhero movie with a hero trying to find himself again - but something just feels amiss with the final product. Originally, Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan) was supposed to be at the helm. I can't help but think that this would've given the movie that darkness it needed to shake off the PG-13 Age Restriction...

The movie had a good storyline it just gave the feeling that it wasn't "going to go all the way" and be jump-out-your-seat amazing. The focus on martial arts and sword-fighting was a welcome relief from these days over-used CGI fighting scenes. Also, the predominantly unknown Japanese cast held their own alongside Jackman.

All-in-all it is an ok-ish film, avid fans will probably disagree and love it completely, especially since it apparently sticks very closely to the original comic book story. It's not a bad film, it's just not that particularly great either. 

#NP - La La La - Naughty Boy ft. Sam Smith

 

 

On the 4th Day Before the EPL Moyes Said To Me...

A while ago a good friend of mine said to me "Tarryn! I don't know Man Utd without Ferguson!!! How will this new era be?". Unfortunately, my friend Tafadzwa passed away at only 25 years of age and he will never know this era. This era where there is no gum being chewed or boots flying at Beckham's head...

In Moyes We Trust? Mmm... maybe... If he manages to get some midfielders, banishes Welbeck to the reserves to learn some skills and maybe after title no.21 is in the bag... I guess we'll see on 11 May 2014...


Below we relive some of the biggest Man-Utd title wins (All pictures and captions courtesy of the Daily Mail)

(1907-1908 - No.1) Ernest Mangnall (far left) led Manchester United to their first title success - it is truly remarkable to think that only Mangnall, Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson have led United to the title.

 

(1966-1967 - No.7) Sir Matt Busby led United to a second title in three seasons in 1966-67, with the Reds winning by four points from both Nottingham Forest and Tottenham. The club's legendary 'Holy Trinity' of George Best, Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton were at their imperious best and United were champions of England for a seventh time.

(1992-1993 - No.8) The sheer emotion that greeted United's title success in 1992-93 can't be overestimated. The Reds had gone an amazing 26 years without finishing top of the pile. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson signed Eric Cantona from Leeds midway through the season, in what must rank as one of the most significant transfers in English football history. United, Villa and Norwich were all going for the title. A scintillating win at Norwich in April was followed by an iconic match against Sheffield Wednesday at Old Trafford. United were 1-0 down in the closing stages, but came back to win 2-1 thanks to two goals from Steve Bruce. Here, Bruce celebrates his winner in the 97th minute. United had the impetus to go on and win the title

(1995-1996 - No. 10) Alan Hansen famously said: 'You win nothing with kids' as United's youngsters lost to Aston Villa on the opening day of the 1995-96 season. United were 12 points behind Kevin Keegan's Newcastle at the end of January. As Newcastle floundered in the spring, United fought back. This picture shows United's mercurial Frenchman Eric Cantona firing home the only goal in a 1-0 win. Cantona and goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel were both in amazing form during the final months of the season. Keegan was driven to his infamous television rant directed at Ferguson, and United clinched their 10th league title with a 3-0 win at Middlesbrough on the final day

(1996-1997 - No.11) United's youngsters had gained tremendous confidence from winning the Double the season before, and the Reds successfully defended their league crown in 1996-97. A fourth title in five seasons showed that the power of balance had swung firmly away from Anfield and to Old Trafford

(1998-1999 - No.12) If ever there was a fantasy season for any club in English football, it came for Manchester United in 1998-99. Their bid for the Treble featured one extraordinary match after the other and, of course, ended on a wondrous night in Barcelona. Andy Cole, here, scores the goal which won the title.

 

(1999-2000 - No.13) United's most dominant title success under Ferguson came in 1999-2000, when they won the league by 18 points. Buoyed by the incredible Treble success of 1999, United were rampant.

(2002-2003 - No.15) Arsenal moved eight points ahead of United with three months of the 2002-03 season remaining, but United showed impressive resilience to claw their way back in the title race and eventually overhaul the Gunners. The Reds played some impressive football at the end of that season, never more so  than when they brilliantly beat Newcastle 6-2 in April. Here is a picture of Paul Scholes scoring the first of his three goals for United in that match.

(2006 - 2007 - No.16) United wanted the league title so badly in 2006-07, having not won it for three seasons. Jose Mourinho's Chelsea had won the two previous titles, and were truly formidable opponents. United had their noses in front for virtually the whole season, and were always only a few points clear. On the most dramatic of spring afternoons at Goodison Park, United went 2-0 down against Everton, but rallied in glorious fashion to win 4-2. Here is a picture of Wayne Rooney celebrating after scoring United's fourth goal. The following weekend, United beat neighbours Manchester City, and Chelsea drew with Arsenal, as the Reds clinched the title

(2008-2009 - No. 18) The 2008-09 title race was a dramatic one indeed, with Liverpool at one stage in a very good position at the top and United having to come from behind.

(2010 - 2011 - No.19) Many critics suggested the Manchester United team of 2010-11 was not among their finest, but it was certainly good enough to finish top of the pile again, despite strong challenges from two London clubs, Arsenal and Chelsea. A 2-1 victory for United against Chelsea in May virtually wrapped the title up.

(2012-2013 - No.20) Sir Alex Ferguson and United were determined to win the title back, having lost it so dramatically to neighbours Manchester City in the final seconds of the 2011-12 campaign. And they effectively had the title wrapped up for months. This picture shows a pivotal moment in the campaign, with Robin van Persie's deflected free-kick in the final seconds giving United a dramatic 3-2 derby win over City.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2312525/Manchester-United-win-20th-league-title--Picture-special-20-triumphs.html#ixzz2brAPLCn7
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