Spring has Sprung by Andrea McVeigh

Spring has sprung. Or has it? It's hard to tell with the schizophrenic weather we've been having. Some days, the sun is shining and I'm full of the joys of spring, while other days it's blowing a gale, pouring with rain and the sky is looking thunderous, as is my face. On my reckoning, winter has already lasted for around 36 months (given that we totally missed out on a decent summer last year), and I've had enough. I hate the rain and the cold weather, the rain, the grey skies, dark nights and the rain. I really, really hate the rain. What's worse, I hate it when people say they love winter. As soon as August eases into September, they start rhapsodising about wrapping up warm in woolly jumpers, knitted scarves, hats, boots and proper coats. Smothered in around 40 layers of hot, itchy clothing everytime I leave the house, I look and feel less like Julie Christie in Doctor Zhivago and more like the Michelin Man. I've had enough! Bring on summer!
The best place to be when it's miserable and wet outside is tucked up in the cinema with a jumbo carton of popcorn. So far though, I've only made it to see three films this year.  I started off my cinema going this year with Sweeney Todd, which I liked apart from the singing and the gore, which pretty much sums up everything about the film.  Then I caught The Other Boleyn Girl and I loved it, mostly because I never thought I'd fall in lust with Henry VIII - until I saw him being played on the big screen by Eric Bana!  Most recently, I saw 27 Dresses, a total chick flick with a predictable story line, but filmed with wit and style, and a huge wardrobe budget!  Of course, the film I can’t wait to see is the Sex And The City movie. I was given the DVD box set for Christmas and I've been working my way through all the episodes since then (even though I saw them all the first time around), so I'll have got myself up-to-date again by the time the film opens in May.  Who cares what the script is like? It's set to have everything a movie should have - shoes, clothes, cocktails, a fabulous New York setting and yet more shoes and clothes! I've got a date with Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha and I can't wait.
With my outings to the cinema being few and far between, I've been glued to the small screen, mostly watching Ashes To Ashes, the follow up to Life on Mars, on BBC1.  Sadly, the series has now finished, so my Thursday night dates with DCI Gene Hunt (actor Philip Glenister) have come to an end. Set in 1981, the music and fashion is fabulous and, even though I'd hate to live with the sexist, rude, racist, bullying cop in real life, on TV he's my absolute hero. The weird thing is, I'm not the only woman who thinks so. At a recent party a group of us 'Gene genies' confessed that there's something about the big Neanderthal brute that we just love!  It seems we've all been imagining ourselves careering around corners and doing high-speed handbrake turns in Hunt's Audi Quattro with him. Well, a girl can dream, can’t she?

One thing I must do soon is go up on the Big Wheel at Belfast's City Hall, or the Belfast Aye as it's been dubbed. One of the many things I love about Belfast is the irrepressible humour of us locals and our ability to bestow a nickname on just about anything. In addition to the Belfast Aye, I've also heard it called the 'Ball at the Hall', the 'polo mint' and 'the big ring thing'. They're all definitely much funnier than just calling it the Belfast Wheel. I love the way you can see it peeking above the skyline when you're driving around the city and I hope they keep it there permanently. It's great for tourists and great for the people of Northern Ireland. I've been on the London Eye and the big wheel in Manchester city centre but, naturally, once there's one on my very doorstep, I somehow don’t get around to going. People tell me the best way to try it is to go at night so you can see the city all lit up. If I could get Gene Hunt in one with me I'd be there like a shot!