It was more like a gentle brain jerker than a tear jerker that made me ask the question, how many more kids out there, who, if rescued from their reality, could be great stars too?

The story is about a young eighteen year old black boy from the projects, Michael Oher (Quinten Aaron), who was given a second stab at life through the generosity and charity of a wealthy Christian family. The mother, Leigh Anne Touhy (Sandra Bullock), her husband Sean (Tim McGraw), ultimately become his legal guardians and refers to him as their son. The film is based on a true story, the book The Blind side: Evolution of the Game.

It was discovered that, Michael, who fails in just about every other area of his life, has an innate gift for ball games and protective intuition, which basically means, can move extraordinarily quickly to protect a person in a given situation.  This gift especially kicks in for those he cares for.   As such, it was discovered that this innate quality could be transferred into the very important position of protecting the key ‘Quarter Back’ player, in an American football game.

So many hidden gems inside us eh?

I didn’t want this film to end.  Not because of any high drama moments and not because it was a real tear jerker. But because it had a rhythm to it that weaved through me. Despite some very moving moments in the film, it was like lying in a bath and reflecting on life.  It stripped you of your ego and transported you elsewhere.

We all have our own maps of the world – the way we view things.  It’s so easy to think that what we see, what we know is all that there is.  But there’s more than what we know.  On a day to day basis, we can choose to ignore it. Like some of the middle class friends of Leigh Anne friends who chose to ridicule her attempts to make a change. People from the projects too, ignore that another world exists and therefore other choices.

The film taught me about charity.  Real charity. Not just the £2 a month I’ve been giving for the last ten years to the NSPCC and feel that I’m doing my bit. But real hard core sacrifice to make a difference.

It taught me about egos and how it drives so many of us including myself. How many of us get wrapped up with the ego and think it’s the true self.  It made me ask how many of us would rescue another at the risk of damaging our image.

I always ask myself, how a film relates to every day life.  In this case it did.  The following day.

The film made me reflect on the make up of my sons’ new football team.  He is the only black kid on the two teams that make up the entire under nine squad. I don’t think there are more than two white working class kids amongst them either.  The Boden Mums are the new soccer mums.  They wear Hunter wellies and their children’s names are Sebastian, Harry and Thomas.  Many are also privately educated and in between the football sessions they attend rugby and hockey practice too.  The matches are organised by the parents with military efficiency. The training sessions are second to none.  One of the matches today was against a team with a more multicultural make up than ours.  In truth, despite being one player down, (initially three, two eventually turned up) our team struggled.  I heard our coach shout to our team, for goodness sake, you are one team member up.  Our military precision came through in the end and we won 3-0, but it wasn’t a walk in the park!

It made me reflect on the film and remember something someone said to me once.  The best athletes and football players are in the prisons.  I feel quite emotional as I write this, because it certainly was true that if Michael had not been rescued by this family, he too would either be in jail or dead.

How many others are there with the wrong leadership and poor role models who could benefit from being rescued.  How many more Michael Ohrs are there?

And save me the racism lark, because if they’re good, they’re good. Coaches are far too passionate about winning to be concerned about the colour of their skin.

Spare me too from the excuse that the snooty parents have driven them out.  These Mums and Dads are lovely people.  Their reality is this.  Self belief and Practise.  Practice, practice and practice some more.  Dedication, Self Belief and practise.  Self belief is the difference between the winners and the losers. Between those in the prisons and the greats on the football team.

So the question I ask again is this. How many others would benefit from being rescued from the reality that they’ve adopted?

4 STARS

The film is based on the 1964 novel written by Christopher Isherwood, about George Falconer (Colin Firth) and his unhappy single day as a single man following the death of his partner Jim (Matthew Goode).

Colin firth plays George, who is a fine Englishman professor based in Los Angels teaching English. His partner Jim dies very early on in the film but continues to be featured through flash backs.

Colin Firth’s acting is phenomenal and effortlessly transforms you through all the emotions one experiences as the result of the untimely death of a loved one. As someone who never has enough hours in the day and always chasing my tail,  of all the emotions that exist, loneliness, is the one I least understood – until now.

The film is directed by fashion designer John ford and his creative style is evident in the tempo of the film and the smoky, surreal camera work. Although beautiful, it’s what prevents the film from having mass appeal.

There are some great moments along with some thought proving topics.  One of those is our preconceived ideas about gay relationships.  His best friend Charlie, played by Julianne Moore who is also his ex-lover, talked about the prospect of them getting back together again now that Jim had died, after all, she  rationalised, his relationship with Jim was simply a substitute for the real thing.

At that point I remembered a female friend who was in love with her gay friend and ow I struggled to get my head around it. When I asked her why she was in love with a man who clearly wouldn’t be interested in her,  she said she felt men were only gay because they hadn’t found the right woman yet.  So this part of the film made me realise that this peculiar thinking was more widespread than I  initially thought.

Another great moment in the film was when during a college lecture they talked about the issue of fear.  The fear of gays, the fear of black culture, the fear of the unknown.  It was simply phenomenal with the issues relating to fear covered in more depth than you could ever imagine.

I describe this film as a Fine Earl Grey, not only because of  Colin Firth’s brilliant portrayal of the stiff upper lip Englishman, rigid on the outside, with the same fears as everyone else on the inside but also for his fine acting. And just like Earl Grey, it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.  But for those who do have a taste for something differnt, it’s great.

3.5 stars

Remember the skin on your hands is thinner than the skin on your face, so needs extra special care.  It is also a sure sign of ageing.  Check out Madonna’s hands next to her face – they really are a give away!

It was something one of my toy boy admirers said to me once and it has  stuck with me ever since.

‘You can always tell the age of a woman by her hands’!

Moisturise 4 times a day and always have some lush, indulgent, thick hand cream by the bathroom sink. Remember too, to slap loads on before you go to bed.

Share this info with a friend using the boxes below. X

Fun thing to do to get your groove back consists of reviews of the things to do to help get that spring back in tour step, that magic back in you mojo and have you looking and feeling absolutely great again.

Click here for tips and advice on fun things to do.

I review films that aim to deliver a message and I let you know what a fine job they did or did not do for that matter.  I also review performances and fun things to do to yourself to help you feel groovy again.

Remember if you keep doing the same thing you get the same results.  I try to encourage you to do fun things that you wouldn’t ordinarily do to get true GROOVE. 

And not everything costs tons of money either – oh no.  Much of what I review is for free.

If you have any fun ideas don’t forget to submit your idea here.  After reviewing in we’ll decide if it truly is a fun thing to do.

Another fun thing to do is to have a girly chat with your mates.  So check out and listen to our WOMEN TALKpodcasts on the topics us ladies just love talking about.

There’s also a lot of Fun things to read in our Parenting Articles, with keeping it real, laid back advice.

The most fun thing to do is to make sure you check out the getting your groove back show, every Friday between 1-2 and every Wednesday at 10pm.

Take  Your  Own  Needs  Off  The  Back  Burner!…

Top Tip From Mummy For One, West Dulwich.

Oh how I would so love a salon day! I am a busy mum though and typically put my own needs on the back burner. I do however, take time for myself on occasion by making my own little spa at home.

I just soak my cares away in a nice hot bath, wrap hot wet towels around my feet and once they are soft I use my pumice. This feels great but has to be ended with my Topricin foot cream.

My feet are always tired and achy and as soon as rub some on..my feet are in a whole world of their own. It is great for inflammation and calluses too (yea, my feet are gross) and best of all it is natural! Thanks, for posting this…and maybe my sharing will help others who cannot afford a pedicure or find one for free! They can just make their own!

Mummy for one – West Dulwich

One minute we can fly and the next, we’re riddled with insecurities and think of only what is not possible.

You don’t have to bring the kids with you to appreciate this one.  Oddly enough, despite the 3pm start and glorious sunny day, kids only represented around 30% of the audience. Throw in the fabulously decorated pavilion serving wonderful champagne,  fine wines and a story line that with mouth watering food for thought, it was a great day out.

The very moving ending reminded me of how we loose our groove once we get older.  When Wendy became an adult, Peter Pan re visited her and reminded Wendy that in order to fly, all she had to do was think happy thoughts.

She was unable to do so, because now, she was living the life representative of the life many of us are living today.  The spring in her step (the groove) was no more. Instead she was in a dreary Job that didn’t fill her soul.  A predictable  life with little difference between the days.  A life with no colour and only greys.  The happy thoughts, dreams and aspirations which were now weighted with issues.

When we left the performance  we walked through the long grass in Hyde Park.  My friends’ 7 year old daughter Georgia, who was happily skipping ahead like a scene from Little House of the Prairie, quipped,

‘Mummy, I’m thinking happy thoughts but I’m still not flying’.

To me, Georgina is the perfect child.  She has a beautiful care free spirit! Always springing around.  Full of innocence and not a care in the world.

I only hope in years to come that life doesn’t strip that spirit away like it did to Wendy…. and a many of us too for that matter.

Getting your Groove back Tip:

Think happy thoughts!

A fab venue that for £22.50 for the day, you can chill out and escape the kids.  Whats great too is that it’s based in Central London, so you haven’t got to hot foot it across Country to get there.

Once your there however, you’ll feel like your in the middle of nowhere as it’s calm, tranquil and beautiful.

They also offer all the usual manicure and massage treatments at an additional cost at great prices.