Off to the cinema today, leaving Archie with his chew for half an hour at most, before Elizabeth collected him. We went to see 'Maria', which was most enjoyable. Angelina Jolie was very good, and even learned to sing opera apparently, but the score was a mixture of the real Maria and Jolie's voice. 

It was really about her last days in Paris, and skipped over her early life with an uncaring mother, her husband stealing most of her money, and physical abuse by Aristotle Onassis, who dumped her for Jackie Kennedy.

The music was wonderful. I have never sat through all the credits at the end of a film before, but they were accompanied by 'Va, pensiero' and 'The Humming Chorus’ in wonderful surround sound. My absolute favourites!

We jumped on a bus along Princes Street, for we were on a mission. Yesterday, JR and Archie had popped down to our favourite 'old ladies' comfy shoe shop' and spotted a pair that I'd had my eye on last time. So I snapped them up. And the assistant mentioned that it was 'Buy one pair, get another pair half price'... But they were already half price!! And so I got another pair for - wait for it - £15! My kind of price.

JR walked home, I got a bus up the road, and she caught up with me! Home in plenty of time this week for A & E's return. They'd had a lovely day walking far and wide (Extra). But I think there’s a BIG storm coming!

Here are the two giraffes outside the cinema. Last time we were here, they both had big scarves wrapped round their necks.