Cool Manchester

I moved to Manchester about 8 years ago a week after failing my first driving test. Failing wasn't an issue, I planned on returning to my lessons and take a retest when I moved back to Bury. What was intially mean't to be a four week temporary move changed in to an 8 year permanent move which put "extras" such as driving on the back burner.

I have never minded not being able to drive, however this Christmas I decided I would take a block of lessons using my Christmas Bonus from work and pass my test. I did, I managed to pass on March 1st 2011 with only 4 minors, it was great. The issue then arose when I was trying to get insured on our car.

Whilst I was learning, I attempted to be put on Matthew's insurance so I could drive as "extra credit", the insurance company wouldn't allow this as I didn't have a full license () - well no, I don't  - I'm learning idiots! Never mind, Mum tried to get me on hers to drive her car when I am in Bury (every two weeks), her insurance company doesn't insure anyone under the age of 30! So, when I passed my test, the first thing we did was call up Matthew's insurance company who said no, they don't insure anyone who hasn't had a full license for 2 years  (See how that changed from when I was learning), so the plan has been since then to change providers when the insurance renewal comes up so I can drive.

That happens on July 1st! In 4/5 days (depending on how you count days). From Friday July 1st I am legally allowed to drive the car. I am so looking forward to it! As a "new" driver, I don't have any restrictions, but I have got an extra excess on our policy for me only, for the first year of my license I have an additional £150 to pay if I am in an accident (total £400) - suffice to say I don't plan on being in any, but it will be very expensive if I do 

I always said when I learned to drive, I would pay the difference between the policy price of Matthew on his own and then adding me on the policy. This turned out to be £20 difference for the whole year - in my favour! The policy was actually cheaper with me on it!  So, I was generous and paid the deposit on the insurance instead.

I understand how insurance prices have increased over the years and some insurers are trying to cover their backs but how are people expected to learn to drive (lessons aren't cheap) and practice their driving if you won't insure learner drivers? I wouldn't have minded paying a little extra excess, or only being able to drive between certain hours, but an outright stop on them? That is ridiculous! And to not accept new licensees as additional drivers (again with restrictions or extra excesses) is a bit daft. How exactly am I mean't to improve my driving, if I can't drive?!

A lot of couples have "issues" when they can both drive (and only have one car) - who takes the car and when etc,. I am lucky as I work from home so I will have the car most days. I will be taking Matthew to the tram stop and he can go off from there. As for going out, I have said that I will drive *to* places and then Matthew can drive back. This might seem unfair to some people, but as Matthew doesn't drink... why waste a good night out!

Anyway, as I have said, from Friday I will be insured, I really am excited about it. Already planning on going to Bristol, although I am not sure if I will be driving there yet - we'll see. I hope I haven't bored you and you have enjoyed my post.

Joe

Can you believe were nearly six months into the year already? You may have noticed this, but I'm a huge fan and this year has been no different mainly thanks to my wonderful Cineworld pass (thank you Cineworld)

Because I've had this pass I've been able to see many films this year - some good, some ok and some that were a bit disappointing. To be honest from the films I have seen so far this year there have been no real stinkers, just a couple which could have been better than they were.

Out of all the films released so far this year though, I'd thought I'd share with you my top five favourites so far this year.

In reverse order....

5.  Submarine

I think its fair to say that not many people went to see this film. When Joe and I went there was only one other person in the auditorium! There are however lots of people who have seen the IT Crowd and will be aware of  Richard Ayoade, Moss from the IT Crowd.

Submarine was Richard's directorial debut and it was rather fantastic. A really sweet love story about two teenagers in 1980s South Wales designed just to put a big smile on your face. Rather notable as well Doctor Who geeks like me as one of those teenagers was Yasmin Paige, also known as Maria from The Sarah Jane Adventures!

4. Black Swan

Don't get me wrong, The King's Speech was a worthy winner of this year's "Best Picture"  but to me there were a couple of better films in the running for the same award and this was one of them.

Black Swan can best be described as a psychological thriller, but it's much more than that. The one word that came to my mind while watching this was “claustrophobic”. Practically every camera shot of the film is close up and its extremely effective as the film completely creeps into your brain and sticks there long after it has finished. There are so many discussion points about this film so PLEASE watch it on Blu Ray/DVD so I can discuss them with someone!

3. Source Code

Jake Gyllenhaal had his work cut out to please me when i went to see this one as I had just seen Love and Other Drugs and genuinely hated it.  So here's the premise, a man wakes up on a train and 8 minutes later a bomb goes off... I don't want to tell you much more than that because I didn't know much more than that when I went to see it and was blown away by all the twists and turns in this action thriller.

Steven Moffat said it best though when he said "wibbly wobbly timey wimey"...

2. X Men: First Class

Let me first say that I'm not a big fan of X Men movies, I appreciate the production values, effects and all that but I just found the original trilogy self important and dull... sorry about that but its true. I am however a huge fan of Kick-Ass, so when a movie comes out from the same director and writing team I would want to see it. I'm SO glad I did!

First Class is another reboot/origins movie pretty much like Batman Begins enabling a struggling movie franchise to wipe the slate clean and start again, even the least cynical movie goer would pretty much realise that. Doing this though has made the X Men franchise more interesting as we learn much more about how the "mutants" gained their powers/abilities and as a result the characters are much more accessible and likeable. In particular Magnito played by the brilliant Michael Fassbender is a much more interesting character.

1. Bridesmaids

I don't think I have been so enthused about a film like this in a long time.  All the critics are spot on about this one, its BLOODY BRILLIANT! One thing that has been missing from the films released this year is a comedy that is genuinely funny all the way through, thinking about it the last film to make me laugh all the way through was Date Night 12 months earlier and Bridesmaids is even funnier.

The best thing about the film is the film's star and co-writer Kristen Wiig,  she's pretty well known in the US for brilliant performances on Saturday Night Live and this year's Paul. She is truly stunning in this film and gives one of the best comedic performances in a movie I have EVER seen. To see how good she is all you need to do is watch a scene in the film where she is given a sugared almond to eat, it’s hilarious!

There are many, many, many other things to rave about with this film including the film's male lead Chris O'Dowd, US Air Marshalls,Wilson Phillips, puppies and a crisp white bridal shop! I don't think its possible for a film to be completely faultless but this film comes very, very close indeed!