This one's for you....

No one who reads this blog on a regular - or even irregular - basis can be left in any doubt as to my feelings regarding my beloved sister-in-Australia, Esther.

I love her more than anything, miss her every hour that I'm not with her. She's my best girlfriend as well as being an amazing mother to her 3 beautiful children and a full-time ICU nurse. She holds everything together despite not being in the best of health and in pain most of the time, and her outlook on life is always optimistic and practical. She's not a saint (thank goodness....) Her Monica-from-Friends qualities are well known! But she's a person that so many love for her loyalty, strong principles and kindness.

As it's her birthday this weekend, I thought I'd celebrate the run up with two of her favourite subjects: movies and actors.
She writes a fabulous, funny movie review blog called Half Sweet, Half Salty which is testament to her absolute love of film. She goes to the cinema at least once a week, watching bad as well as good - it's her way to relax and unwind. It's a passion we share and one of our great joys is watching a movie together, because we usually feel the same way about them and love discussing the nuances of plot and performance. Occasionally we disagree - but never on the important ones. Sometimes, if I've seen a particularly powerful or emotional film (I generally go on my own) I really can't bear to talk about it for a while afterwards. I prefer just to digest it, to let it settle in my mind first. Esther is the only exception, because I know without a doubt that if I feel that way about it, she will too.

Another way in which we're similar is in our....how shall I put it...admiration and, yes, lust for certain actors. Sometimes it's the man himself, sometimes it's just the role he's in. We each have a Top 5, and  Top 10.The Top 5 never differ,although the others in the 10 may come and go and I know better than to encroach on any of Esther's special loves!! But there are several that we share....quite happily and amicably! Just for her, I list some of them below...remember they're ours!!!

Harrison - most especially in 'Witness' and the first 'Raiders' movies. Serious, moody, capable...and when he finally smiles....!

Frank, oh Frank. The voice, the cheekbones, the eyes. The naughtiness - especially in 'Pal Joey'. You know he'd break your heart...but you'd have such fun before it happened!

Ralph Mighty Fienne-s! The back of his neck in The English Patient alone is enough to melt us. But there's usually something to swoon at in all of his appearances. The Constant Gardener, Maid in Manhattan....oh yes!

Mr Hanks. You just know he's a wonderful husband and father....so kind, so sweet, so funny. Everyone marvels at Sleepless in Seattle. Yes it's good - but to our minds, You've Got Mail is supreme. His movies are always worth watching. A Jimmy Stewart for our times.

This one's really mine. But Esther loves him in The Fabulous Baker Boys, so we share that performance. Jeff Bridges, great actor and gorgeous man. And happily married for over 30 years - got to love that! A keeper.

Liam Neeson. Big, handsome bear of a man. You know you'd be safe and protected enfolded in those arms. The soft Irish accent helps too....

Ok, deep breath. This is the big one. He's really MINE. My No 1. I'm not being mean in saying this, because Esther has a No1 of her own (I won't reveal his name here...she wants to appear nonchalant when she finally meets him, as we're sure she will one day) and no one, but no one encroaches on him! However, as Esther introduced me to this actor (filmically speaking), I allow her to share him in this one, amazing performance.

James McAvoy. We share him when he's playing Robbie Turner. Because Atonement is in both of our Top 5 Movies of All Time. Because it's not fair to keep him all to myself. But in anything else, I'd fight her to the death for him...and I'd win!!

So that's a little look into our warped world of movie star obsessions. Sometimes it's hard to believe we're both in our 40's. There are many, many more I could add. One interesting thing is that all 'our men' share one thing in common - young, old or dead! Can you guess what it is?? There's a prize for the first to spot it. Leave your guess in the comment box, along with any film fancies of your own you'd like to share and I'll pick one on Saturday, Esther's birthday!

Have a wonderful week and keep warm if it's cold where you are....I'm looking out onto thick, hard, beautiful frost this morning.

xoxo