Sandra Ashenford reflects on the ups and downs of her week

IS IT WEIRD to go to the cinema by yourself?

This is the issue we have been discussing this week as I have failed yet again to find anyone who wants to come to the movies with me.

I have mentioned before that, as a family, we have incompatible film tastes.

Like daughter number four, I love all the Pixar movies, but she doesn’t like stories in which anyone dies, which definitely limits the options.

In defiance of the usual stereotypes, Spouse likes a good rom-com which I don’t mind, but he hates the period dramas, thrillers and action movies which I adore.

We don’t even have compatible tastes in television viewing.

Daughter number four watches CBBC, Spouse is permanently glued to repeats of Top Gear and property renovation programmes, and I love detective shows.

In the happy land of television commercials, families sit around the TV together, but I am slightly ashamed to say that we have a TV each to accommodate our individual tastes.

About the only thing we all watch together is our DVD of the John Travolta comedy Wild Hogs, about a group of middle-aged men who go on a road trip on their motorbikes.

A couple of years ago, I took out one of the cinema cards which allows you to watch as many films as you like for a set a monthly fee, and every month, I get very excited about all the new releases I want to go and watch.

True, you can wait for the DVD to come out and watch ita film in the comfort of your own home. Or, if you have an internet connection that is faster than our prehistoric one, you can stream movies on to your various devices.

But, in my opinion, nothing comes close to the thrill of seeing a film for the first time on the big screen.

I love the whole experience, but it is very rare that anyone shares my enthusiasm. So, I am very happy to go on my own but my children think this is slightly odd behaviour.

I don’t see why.

It’s not like you need anyone to talk to during the film and I don’t have to share my popcorn.

This afternoon, I have a hot date with Tom Cruise: just me, him and anyone else who happens to be in the cinema.

I’ll let you know how it goes.