A Time Machine... Out of a Delorean?

By now this will have been sitting in my drafts folder for quite some time.

I was already a little naughty and snuck my phone in with me for the main event but I couldn't ruin it further by insta-sharing the 35mm photographs I was able to take too. With today marking the end of Secret Cinema's Back to the Future, I'm finally setting these photos free into the universe.

Hidden away in one of the bars was a stall selling these disposable 35mm cameras, after seeing others with disposables and asking them where they were from only to be told they were from Boots, I was so happy to find it. I guess it's the photographer in me and yes, I'll agree that it's nice to switch off but seriously, there were so many good things to photograph and shamefully, I get a little tetchy in situations like that.




I think the main reason there were no cameras allowed was down to spoiling the secret but given that there was so much press prior to the day we went due to all the mishaps, I can't say I feel too guilty about it.

We visited on the 2nd August and had wonderful weather for it. It was such a great event and despite early criticism, Secret Cinema totally pulled this off. It was so nice to see so many people made so much effort too, sometimes it was difficult to tell the cast members from us normals.



After my previous immersive experience with The Drowned Man, I wasn't sure what to expect but was more than impressed to see that a mini construction of Hill Valley was right in front of me when we entered. From the McFly house to the Clock Tower, so much attention to detail had been put in, it's understandable as to why there was so much faff before the opening night. If nothing else, looking around all the houses, shops and even the high school, was a neat way to kill some time before the sun set and we could watch the film.















Not quite Doc..


It was such a fun movie-going experience, I loved that everyone cheered the first time we saw Marty on screen, that we booed Biff and mostly, that we laughed together. The live-action performances that went along with the film were really well done especially the clock tower abseiling finale (and seeing the Delorean for the first time). I'm sure there are things I've missed out but it was just a really good night out, my highlight was dancing along to Johnny B. Goode, and actually just dancing a lot throughout the whole evening.

Yes, it was pricey and paying for extras once we got in was quite a big ask, but you can forget about that when you've had a really, all-out great time full of references for one of your favourite films.

Being Next and Making a Leap.

A couple of weeks ago Moon's brother got engaged to his long term girlfriend. I'm happy for them but I guess there are a few things that make it strange for me - not in an out of turn way and not at all in a bitchy way like that first part makes it sound.

Knowing Moon's brother from when he was 15 and seeing him grow into the 23 year-old man he's become, particularly seeing him make such a huge 'grown up' step is quite strange to watch. I don't mean that in the sense that he shouldn't be doing it, I guess it's more of a self-conscious thing about someone younger doing something before me, it's like when you find out an actor or singer are 18 and you look at your own life and wonder what you've accomplished.
Before you go there, I'm not the kind of person to make comparisons like this really, although I know it's only human, I also think it's weak as hell and comparing myself to others by way of caring what other people think has never really been my bag. I'm more likely to get anxious over something I've done rather than something I haven't.

Do people in long-term post-teen relationships feel like they're missing out?

I often wonder whether people in long-term puppy-love relationships such as mine, who haven't 'made that step' feel like they're missing out on something. When Moon and I first got together, I was 16, if you'd have told me almost 8 and a half years down the line that we'd still be together, I reckon 16 year-old me would expect to have had a wedding and at least be on to planning on having a baby by now, 25 seems so old when you're that age.
Now that I am 25, I see that it's not old at all, there are so many things that I've yet to achieve, not from lack of experience or desire but just because I'm not ready. It's not something that's easy to explain because not being ready for something is so subjective but I'm not ready to jet off round the world or buy a house or have a baby or get engaged. I want those things at some point in the future, but I don't want them now, I'm still getting over figuring the day-to-day stuff out.

I figured that with the news of Moon's brother's engagement travelling around his family that questions about our relationship would arise. Moon and I have been together for over double the time they have, and that's not a 'big I am', it's just how time works. Being realistic, in the same timescale Moon and I were 20 years old by that point in our relationship and still at university, were we really ready for anything at that stage? Now we're 8 years in and I don't see myself with anyone else, I see myself buying a house with him and setting up a real home, we'll worry about weddings later.

We've never even been to a wedding together before.

Out of our close-knit (and wonderful) group of 10 friends, we are one of four couples and even the couple that seems to be at a wedding together every other week don't seem like they're going to be putting a ring on it anytime soon. As stupid as it sounds, peer pressure is a thing and there just isn't any here. Our friends in couples are long term and happy, just like us but don't seem to be ready either. Maybe it's our generation, maybe (hopefully not) they're being courteous to the fact Moon and I have been together the longest and therefore should 'go first' but, and this is probably going to be my canned response if I end up having this talk with Moon's Nana, it is what it is and we're happy so everything else can come after.

In the last two years, venturing outside of my 'peer group', I've seen a couple who aren't married but have been together for 25 years with a mortgage, a cat and no TV while on the flip-side, I've met a lady who was married by the time she was my age, separated before giving birth to their first child and divorced before she turned 30.
It would be a very boring place if we all did things in a regimented way at the same time, as I grow (and I always feel like I am doing just that), the differences I see never fail to amaze me.

Admittedly, I would be sad if I didn't see a ring on my finger in the future, it's silly, sentimental, girly and not really me but it's true. Put it this way, I'm not actually sad right now and I'm not in a rush. I feel like with each year we're happier and more comfortable with each other and we're just so lucky to have each other - sometimes I could burst - it comes down to each to their own.

Beaky interference and the stress that comes with comparison is tricky but all we can do is continue to celebrate life events in our family, and I'm happy for Moon's brother and his new fiancé.

End of Season.

Our 'Pick Your Own' at Cobbs Farm Shop has now run out of everything, but their autumn raspberries are thriving and we took full advantage of this last Sunday. It's a little ridiculous that it's August and Moon and I were bundled up like it was autumn but it's appropriate for autumn fruit, I guess.


I'm never really sure what to do with raspberries and usually just end up eating them as they are, very easy when they're this good. I'm determined that if we're able to go back before the season is out that I find at least a few fun raspberry recipes beforehand.

These were far more reasonably priced than I had been expecting, under £2 for more than we really needed, a much better deal than the pre-picked £3.50 packs they were selling in the farm shop and much more fun too!












I personally can't wait for blackberry-picking season to get into full-swing, it's so nice to be able to eat seasonally and ever so slightly more rewarding when it's free.

Surrey Hills :: Saturday Adventure.

Just a few snaps from our quick stopover visiting our friends, Tom and Matt, at the beginning of the month. Matt was poorly due to a few too many birthday shandies the previous night but Tom, Moon and I had a lovely walk along the Surrey Downs and around Silent Pool after a delicious pub lunch at The White Horse in Shere. (feat. beef rib, oh my!)