When I met Martin he would make references to movies that went straight over my head. I thought I had quite a decent knowledge of films until I met him. He would say, “Surely you’ve seen this one?” Or, “You must’ve seen that one?”

“No,” I’d answer despairingly, knowing that meant I would be educated to the delights some time soon. I sat through about 72 hours of hobbits. That was ok. It’s at least ticked off the bucket list I didn’t know I had. But I did put my foot down after the first Harry Potter. It’s just not my thing, and reassuring me that they get better as the precocious kids get older wasn’t enough to convince me otherwise. I totally get this is an unpopular opinion, but I like what I like, and I know what I really don’t like.

I love musical films. Frozen, Mamma Mia, The Greatest Showman, Joseph, Les Miserables, A Star is Born. Or a good rom com like Pretty Woman or Four Weddings and a Funeral. I also like Christmas films but fairly strictly in December only. Of so many varied movies that I’ve enjoyed over many years, the one I always come back to is Love Actually. I watch it every December without fail and it usually marks the beginning of Christmas for me. I never, ever tire of it.

The wonderful sub-plots and how they all interplay still have to power to entertain me, even after so many viewings. The sheer volume and quality of acting talent in that one film is breathtaking. It has the ability to take you on an emotional rollercoaster. It doesn’t get old and it still gives me the warm fuzzies every Christmas. I know I’m a hopeless romantic, can’t help it, but maybe love actually really is all around.