Harold and Maude

Until I did my degree and began working in a library I didn't really know how good public libraries are. Still, I am continually surprised by how little other people know about what public libraries offer for the whole community. The people in my bible study tonight didn't know that you can get free access to the Internet at the library. You can use our computers or your own laptop because wireless is free and you don't need a password. For those of us who work at the library free books and DVDs are coming out our ears. Other staff members and customers are always recommending things to me so at any one time I have a huge pile of books and DVDs to get through. If only librarians really did read and watch DVDs all day.

On Monday my colleague Margot gave me Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont. Margot and I do not read the same books but have enjoyed lots of the same DVDs. She introduced me to Spooks which has given me seven whole seasons of viewing pleasure so I'll give whatever she recommends a go - they're free after all so there is no pressure to like, or even finish, them! It was sitting on my desk and another colleague, Michael, saw it and asked if there were any sex scenes :) He was only joking so I told him about Harold and Maude.

Harold and Maude was one of my favourite movies when I was a teenager. I didn't see it at the movies, it was made the year before I was born, but Mum told me about it and I absolutely loved it. The soundtrack is all Cat Stevens and fits perfectly. It's about 19 year old Harold who likes to pretend to kill himself a lot. He goes to funerals and drives a hearse until his Mum gets rid of it and buys him a Jaguar....which he converts into a hearse. One day he meets 79 year old Maude who also likes going to funerals but who is full of life rather than obsessed with death. They fall in love.

And there is a sex scene.

Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont, however, is not a black comedy and the two main characters do not fall in love. Joan Plowright plays Mrs Palfrey and she reminds me so much of my Granny that I am very attached to her. It's a quiet, moving and lovely film and I cried a lot. I could cry again now but that's because I put biscuits in the oven when I began this post and left my phone (acting as timer) in the kitchen and didn't hear it go off - burnt lemon biscuits are very sad.