There may be no ruby slippers in Oz, the Great and Powerful, but there is a witch or 2 and a generous helping of magic!twm1340 / Foter.com / CC BY-SA

We were off to see the Wizard last Sunday, having bought cinema tickets for Oz the Great and Powerful. The film made my weekend, with its stunning fantasy world and a tug at childhood memories.  Visiting the Yellow Brick Road as an adult actually felt more natural.  The first time I watched The Wizard of Oz I remember feeling unsettled by the sudden switch from black and white to colour.  The Wicked Witch of the West was too green and the Wizard . . . well, he was a bit of a disappointment.

These days it all makes sense.  James Franco is perfect as the rogueish ‘Wizard’ with a penchant for breaking hearts and dashing dreams.  Mila Kunis channels her inner Disney Princess to play the initially idealistic Theodora, whilst Michelle Williams is the image of serenity as Glinda, the Good Witch of the North.

Rachel Weisz is believable in a role that is somewhat of a departure for her.  She plays the manipulative Evanora, glamorous but edgy as she sashays about in a spiky shrug, a green pendant glistening at her throat.  Zach Efron’s monkey adds both humour and loyal companionship, while Joey King’s China Girl is heart-warming, proving that surface fragility does not equal cowardice.

I don’t want to reveal too much and spoil the story for anyone who hasn’t seen the film but I do want to emphasise that it is a very watchable and visually arresting film.  My Mum always used to take me to Disney Films when I was little and the magic never failed.  It continues to bewitch me today.

A picnic in the rain completed my weekend.  Hubs and I headed for the scenic Kilsheelan, only to face a downpour at the crucial moment.  Undeterred, (ok slightly deterred) we ate our sandwiches and crisps in the car and if the riverside view was occasionally obscured by a mizzle of rain on the windscreen, Hubs duly set the wipers to work and harmony was restored!

The weather has actually been beautiful ever since, causing me to wander in the garden, accompanied by my trusty notepad, a stream of poetry never very far away.  Ordinarily I would scoff at such a twee tableau, but I have genuinely been very inspired these past few weeks.  The #amwriting moments continue and the #amlosingwilltolive moments are on the backfoot!

On a side note, I was interested to hear that Toyah Willcox will be appearing on BBC Breakfast tomorrow morning.  I mentioned Toyah in a blog post over a year ago and I still get lots of google traffic from tagging her name.  I only referenced the fact that I dressed up as her for my 21st birthday.  I do hope any Toyah fans that reach the post are not disappointed.  I did include a particularly spunky pic of the lady in question, which reminds me, I must dig out that wig . . .

Off to see the Wizard, Picnics and Poetry.