Rosie Wench's Cottage

We have Marjoram too (similar to Oregano) and bees can't get enough of the flowers.

Beauty isn't just 'looking, sounding, feeling pretty'. Beauty points us towards God, towards The Divine.

It doesn't necessarily have to be something 'nice'. It can be something heartbreaking and solemn.

But even if we can't put the words to it, we know Beauty, because of where it points us. Nature of course comes direct from the Hands of The Creator.

Great Music, Great Literature/Poetry, Great Paintings/Sculpture all have the same effect.

Wicked (2025) is not a remake of The Wizard of Oz (1939). Wicked is a film adaptation of a stage musical based on the same book The Wizard of Oz is based on. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) is not a remake of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971). They're two different adaptations of the same book by Roald Dahl.

The Parent Trap (1995) is a remake of The Parent Trap (1961). Even though they're both based on the same book, Lisa and Lottie, the 1995 version is a remake because it is not revisiting the original source material, it's using the earlier film as its source material.

I think the massive influx of Disney live action remakes has primed people to expect that any new version of a movie must be almost a shot-for-shot remake of its predecessor, and creates absurd criticisms because people feel betrayed when a new adaptation doesn't match the previous film adaptation.

Johnny Depp's performance as Willy Wonka is often criticized as not coming close to Gene Wilder's, but that's not what the movie is doing. Johnny Depp is not playing Gene Wilder's Willy Wonka. He's playing his own version of Roald Dahl's character and making new choices. You might dislike his take on the character, but the movie is not a failed remake of the Gene Wilder version. It's a completely different adaptation.

Likewise, when Wicked first came out, there were comments on practically any video of Margaret Hamilton's performance in the original MGM musical declaring that she was far superior to Cynthia Erivo. But Cynthia Erivo isn't playing Margaret Hamilton, she's playing her own version of Elphaba.

Same goes for Paapa Essiedu in the Harry Potter HBO show. So many comments (amidst the egregiously racist ones) denounce him on the basis that he will never be Alan Rickman. He's not playing Alan Rickman's Snape, he's playing his own interpretation of a character from a book, which is being re-adapted.

Credit to Disney, I enjoy both versions of The Parent Trap. It is possible to do two versions of the same story and have them compliment rather than oppose each other.

This is the major issue about the live action remakes. I can only think of Cinderella and Pete's Dragon that achieved this.

The rest are absolute travesties. 😖

I get that Johnny Depp was doing his own version of Wonka from Gene Wilder. I have to say though, that comparing both films, I still prefer the Gene Wilder one.

I'm sure there are plenty of ridiculous comments about the HBO Harry Potter. As fantastic as Alan Rickman was as Severus Snape in the movies, it's the bringing of the book character to the screen that is the issue.

Now I hear that Paapa Essiedu is a very fine actor. And I don't doubt for a moment that he'll turn in an admirable performance.

I saw a comment about the race swap in a video on YouTube by a very good quality creator. And I'm in agreement with her.

Young Severus at school is bullied for all kinds of reasons (none of which justify the vicious cruelty at work.)

The risk now is that whether intentionally or not, many people are going to see the bullying as straight up racism.

Bullying is bullying of course. It's wrong regardless of 'why and how', But just the same the dynamic will be changed.

I'm prepared to see how the performance comes across though. It might well work out fine.

Submitted by @itsthebrokenheartthatdecides

You have been turned into this type of mermaid!!

I'm glad to be able to say that I've absolutely no idea what the lady is talking about.

Are we speaking completely different languages, madam?

If I 'ate' then I am referring to eating in the past.

'Tea' is something that I drink hot, with milk (no sugar, thank you) poured from a teapot.

'Fire' is something potentially dangerous that can be used to cook food and provide warmth and light.

The deliciously British Comedy Team 'Monty Python's Flying Circus' did a 'fish slapping' dance. But I don't think the fish were intended for eating, deep fried in batter, with chips and mushy peas.

I get annoyed with people who have a problem with her having Egyptian heritage.

Look, boys and girls. I get you wanting a Native British Mayor. But ethnicity only works so far.

A person can have British ancestry going back hundreds of years. And yet they support anything and anyone working to bring the UK down.

Laila Cunningham LOVES the UK. This is her home, she wants to see our nation thrive. She wants our capital city to be as great again as it has been before. That's the first thing we need from London's Mayor.