Soba it was an Italian film called The Consequences of Love (Le Conseguenze dell'Amore) and it was excellent. I'm not a huge film fan usually - I find get really involved with the plot and the characters and then there'll be some improbable plot twist or a character will do something that is, well, clearly out of character, and I'm jarred out of my suspension of disbelief. This was great though, beautifully shot and really kept you guessing. Not much dialogue, but you really came to care about the characters. Well, I did, anyway! 
I joined LoveFilm for their 30day free trial, because I'm learning Italian and wanted to get some Italian films out.
On the topic of dogs again, if Madeline is 10 then I would tread very carefully - she's lived a long dog-free life already and probably isn't going to take very kindly to a canine upstart. I think getting someone with a calm dog to visit is an excellent idea. Have you done much breed research? Obviously every dog has its own unique personality, but dogs have been selectively bred for many years to possess the qualities associated with their breed. Terriers, for instance, tend to have a high prey drive (especially for small mammals!) and are quite willful independent - makes for great, characterful personalities but they're not the most easily trainable dogs. Lurchers also have a high prey drive, as they're bred for hunting. Having said that, cockers aren't supposed to have a very high prey drive as they're supposed to flush and retrieve prey for shooting, not kill it themselves, but Bella certainly has 
(although she didn't kill the sparrow fledgling she found in the garden the other day - it was damp but unharmed! 
). You'll always find atypical personalities in each breed, but they're a good starting point. I can recommend a couple of excellent books about dog behaviour, too if you'd like.
Oh dear - I only popped in to say good morning and it's another epic post that's not even about drinking! 
My drinking dilemma of the day is that I'm going to stay with my oldest friend for the night tonight. She's been saying she doesn't want to drink too much because she has to be up early to do the school run. This is going to be my first restrained social occasion. Can I enjoy an evening of moderate drinking and nice food without the need to drink too much??
Hi Greyhound nice to see you!
joey and Silly I'm the same - I find socialising in groups stressful, even when it's enjoyable. I go out occasionally with a group of local mums here, and it's lovely but I couldn't do it very often. I worry that I'll talk too much, drink too much, and that everyone will think I'm an annoying drunk who doesn't shut up!
skippy can you plan something for the weekend that you couldn't do if you were drinking? Like driving somewhere in the evening so you can't drink, or planning a long trip during the day so you have to be up early and not hungover? Driving somewhere for a beautiful sunset walk? Or to a restaurant further away than you'd normally go so you have to drive? If you're interested in wildlife and in the right area, this is the season for nightjars; very wierd birds who fly at dusk and make the most eerie whirring sound. It's very atmospheric! Dusk is so late at the moment that a sunset walk would occupy your whole evening. What do you like to do?