Magnificent, Marvellous, Mighty Monday and Bellucci baby, Jinty and rain

Rain, rain, rain in Sydney for days which I love. Perfect writing weather. Perfect crime reading and apple crumble weather. Here's a list of some of the things making my heart smile and sing this week.
Inspector Wexford (from Ruth Rendell's series of books). I've recently discovered this likeable detective, who enjoys reading and roses.
Vintage wallpaper (in particular with yellow roses)
Old Loony Tunes cartoons - I love watching the familiar characters I've grown up with bash and mutilate each other. I've recently discovered Baby Loony Tunes. Tweety in a nappy is just too cute for words.
Jinty Annuals - love my old Jinty's. They are so superior to the magazines for young girls today with their lack of merchandise advertising. The girls in my old annuals from the fifties and seventies were always plucky and had great adventures. My daughter loves me to read from Jinty. Although I have to admit she also loves the modern day merchandise filled mags.
This lovely print giveaway from the Blog gingerlillytea. I've purchased a couple of prints from this talented photographer. I do covet her new children's series as I love the dandelion clocks. Daisy loves to blow the 'fairy clocks'.
And the hottest couple on the planet (except Johnny and Vanessa) Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel have a new baby daughter, (Leonie) who was born in Rome on May 20th. Leonie is the couple's second child. Deva, their daughter was born in 2004. Monica, who is a modern day Sophia Loren, gives inspiration and hope to all women in their forties trying to conceive. Ahem, no names mentioned.
Hope your week is filled with inspiring, cozy, lovelies which make you feel smiley inside.
Thanks for dropping in. xx.

monica and vincent image source:

Fabbo Friday and Wild Blood

A fab movie I saw on World Movies last week was Wild Blood, released in Italy 2008 as Sanguepazzo. It is the true story of Luisa Feradia, 1914-1945, an Italian actress who graduated from supporting roles to more featured parts in the late 1930's because of her beauty. Luisa became involved with Osvaldo Valenti, a famous actor who was linked with several Fascists. He was arrested with a pregnant Luisa and both were executed on the street without trial. Luisa was 31 when she was shot.

Monica Bellucci portrays Luisa. The character Luisa comes from nowhere, she has no idea of how to eat or behave, and has to be groomed by the studio heads. Osvaldo is played extremely well by Luca Zingaretti. These are not the most likeable of characters at times, especially Osvaldo, but you cannot help feeling some degree of sympathy for them when a pregnant Luisa is shot.

Monica as you can imagine looks divine and the costumes and jewellery she wears are all jaw-dropping. I think Bellucci has to be the most beautiful woman actress on screen of this time. She reminds me of a modern day Sophia Loren. She is a welcome change to the trend of stick-thin, haughty looking actresses that seem so favoured. I loved all the sets of this movie. I don't know a lot about Italian films of the 30's and 40's and so it was an interesting film for that alone. It is gritty and disturbing in places but a movie I would watch again. It seems strange that since its premiere at Cannes in 2008, there has been little heard of this movie. At least not in Australia
Enjoy your weekend and thanks for visiting me. xx

monica bellucci image source:

luisa feradia image source: