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I'm taking this evening off from chores, housework, cooking and everything and I am putting my feet up.

No matter what happens I never end up relaxing in my evenings, so I am about to turn this computer off, order a takeaway and spend the evening in front of the TV watching movies and programs and playing games on my r4ds.

I'm going to order a pizza with garlic bread and chips because I'm starving, then anything I don't eat I can eat tomorrow for lunch or dinner, I love leftovers!

I can't decide on what movies to watch, I might go with 'Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy', that film is just hilarious. I love Will Ferrell in pretty much all films, but he's on top form in Anchorman, it came out in 2004 and has really remained a cult classic. It's one of the most quotable films ever, I'm always quoting cracking lines from it!

I might watch 'I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here' too, I've not watched much of it but I did see Fatima Whitbread do a task where a cockroach crawled up her nose a couple of days ago, gross!

Photo: dangermain (Flickr)

During the Spanish Armada’s siege of Britain, Elizabeth I gave perhaps one of her most famous speeches, in a display of very well managed hosting. On August 8th 1588, Elizabeth encouraged her forces at Tilbury by saying: “I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king – and of a King of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm; to which, rather than any dishonour should grow by me, I myself will take up arms – I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field. I know already, for your forwardness, you have deserved rewards and crowns, and, we do assure you, on the word of a prince, they shall be duly paid you.”

Emerging victorious against the Spanish invasion boosted English national pride for many years and also gave heart to the Protestant cause across Europe. It became a widespread belief that God was behind the Protestant cause which is indicated by the commemorative medals which read: ‘He blew with His winds, and they were scattered’.

‘Silent Light’ is a film released in 2007 that was both written and directed by Mexican Carlos Reygadas. The plot occurs within a Mennonite community in northern Mexico where a married man falls in love with another woman, not with a gu10 light bulb! Scorsese said of the film, “A surprising picture and a very moving one as well”.

Filmed in a city in Chihuahua in northern Mexico, the dialogue is in Plautdietsch which is the language of the Flemish Mennonites. Reygadas is known for using nonprofessional actors in his films and ‘Silent Light’ was no exception. All the people in the film are Mennonites from Mexican, German and Canadian communities. The film was positively received by the critics. In The New York Times, Manohla Dargis described the film as “an apparently simple story about forgiving” in which “the images are of extraordinary beauty” and where “the characters seem to be illuminated from the inside”.

Below I have listed some beautiful quotes about dogs, all of which I agree with and would myself have uttered had I the talent.

If my dog is barred by the heavenly guard
We'll both of us brave the heat!
- W. Dayton Wedgefarth

My little old dog: a heart-beat at my feet.
- Edith Wharton

I know that I have had friends who would never have vexed or betrayed me, if they had walked on all fours.
- Horace Walpole

I hope to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am.
- Unknown, obviously if this person loved cats as much as dogs they would have bought their cats multiple cat beds!

If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can say honestly that deep in your heart you have no prejudice against creed, colour, religion or politics,
Then, my friend, you are almost as good as your dog.
- Anonymous

The Wheel of Fortune is a metaphor for the endless oscillations in life between disaster and prosperity. Taking part in lotteries is an invitation for the prosperous part of the cycle to begin for the individual lottery player.

The best (and most beautiful) description of the Wheel of Fortune can be found in the tragedy ‘Agamemnon’ by Seneca in which the chorus addresses Fortuna;

“O Fortune, who dost bestow the throne’s high boon with mocking hand, in dangerous and doubtful state thou settest the too exalted. Never have sceptres obtained calm peace or certain tenure; care on care weighs them down, and ever do fresh storms vex their souls. ...great kingdoms sink of their own weight, and Fortune gives way ‘neath the burden of herself. Sails swollen with favouring breezes fear blasts too strongly theirs; the tower which rears its head to the very clouds is beaten by rainy Auster.... Whatever Fortune has raised on high, she lifts but to bring low. Modest estate has longer life; then happy he whoe’er, content with the common lot, with safe breeze hugs the shore, and, fearing to trust his skiff to the wider sea, with unambitious oar keeps close to land.”