[janetteB @replies]

@cathannabel and @winston I too really loved His Dark Materials and I enjoyed the film though my main impression of watching it at the cinema was the cold, realising that what we see can influence how we feel. I was freezing during the snow scenes, it being mid summer and being dressed for Aussie summer not artic winters. I also loved the setting Svalbard, is one of those magical locations. (Just spent five days running a local writer’s festival of which the theme was “location” and so that is bit of a preoccupation at the mo.)

I saw the new trailer and it looks very promising. The series is being made by Bad Wolf Productions of Dr Who fame, and  I thought it was BBC so a little confused to see that it is being promoted differently but maybe it is a cross production. Most are these days.

I have yet to read “La Belle Sauvage”, but we have it. currently I am catching up with Terry Pratchett. I’m onto Mort which I am really enjoying. I do like Death. Such a great character.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@pedant beautiful. Love the colour on the legs. It does resemble a “Dog Rose” as  I recall anyway from my Hons Drama project which included a rather cursory study of Elizabethean gardens.

@blenkinsopthebrave Confession, we don’t actually have a DVD player. Have always played them through the computer. These days we don’t even use a TV but project everything. Son and Girlfriend gave us surround sound speakers for Christmas which are very nice indeed. I might check library catalogues for this series as our budget these days is somewhat restricted.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave I had not heard of “The Caesars” until I read his obituary in the Guardian. Sounds interesting. I looked about but could not find it. Such a pity there is not just an online library of some of these old classics, accessible to everyone. After-all anything made by the BBC or in Aus, the ABC has been paid for out of our taxes. Everything should go into one massive library, maybe after ten or twenty years.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@whisht Just read his obituary. He was such a distinctive actor, and brought warmth to whatever he was in. I have not seen any of his recent roles but was so memorable in what he did, most notably for me, Children of the Stones, and Mayor of Casterbridge. He was considerably younger then though.. I did not realise that Toby Jones is his son.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Hi @cathannabel

@winston watched the first three episodes of Good Omens last night and thoroughly enjoyed them.  Unfortunately however we are also two episodes into the new series of Stranger Things so now is a toss up as to which to watch first.

there are apparently lots of Dr Who “Easter eggs” in Good Omens. I will have pay more attention as I have yet to spot any.

there are quite a few good series coming out at the moment but I was disappointed to see that War of the Worlds is not being released until next year. I have been looking forward to it for some time now. Dracula, the series created by Moffat and Gatiss is however due out some time later this year according to IMDB.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave Yes and I think there is also the “if I acknowledge it I might have to do something about it” fear. Oddly enough though two of the “greenest” people I know are climate denialists. I think in their case it is fear of loosing what they love, this natural world.

On denialism of abuse of Aboriginal people. I think when I was at school in the 80s we learnt more about that part of our history, aptly named, Frontier war” though it was a very one sided war but then, many wars are, than subsequent generations of students. My sons did learn about stolen generation but not of the atrocities committed before that. Interestingly when researching recently I came across a letter to the Editor written early 20th C (about 1903 from memory) about the killing of a couple of miners in N.T. by Aborigines. He was endeavoring to “put the story into context” describing what was actually going on in the north, ie miners abducting, raping and murdering aboriginal women. Of course he was abused in the media for pointing out facts that nobody down in white Adelaide wanted to hear, Nothing changes.

And yes I remember Four Corners well. A fine program that made history happen on more than one occasion. I was serving Chris Masters the night he won a journalism award from his story on corruption in QLD and was able to congratulate him. Not sure he appreciated being congratulated by the waitress. Well I guess even Four Corners reporters can be guilty of not realising that the waiting staff are humans too and capable of possessing brains.

Cheers

Janette

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

@winston It’s mid winter here, according to the calendar at least, but the sun is glowing, the air mild, birds are beginning work on nests and the husky has started malting. Sure this is South Australia and it is normal for trees to start to blossom in late July but this is early July, not normal at all.

Meanwhile Australians have just voted back in our coal loving, anti environment, anti people, government. Even our not so political, swing voting neighbours are furious and I think the country-born Liberal voting next door neighbour is deeply disillusioned. (“Liberal” in Aus not “liberal” as in the dictionary definition about about the near opposite) Rural Australia tends to be very conservative but there is growing awareness finally that climate change is real but sadly not sufficient to effect voting trends.

But the sun is shining and I have photos to take and so am taking advantage of this fine weather to head out with the camera and “hopefully” capture a good sunset over the plains.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave thanks for the info. I hope there is a “Festive Season” special. Dr Who and Christmas just go together. I happened to read some of the associated articles. Pretty cool that The Cure bassist features Dr Who quotes on stage. Also noted the item about Capaldi appearing in Lewis Capaldi’s music Video. We have been seeing that on screen at our “Local” on a Thursday night recently.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@winston Really looking forward to Good Omens. Have not had time to watch it yet. I am currently ‘discovering” Terry Pratchett and loving his writing. I am currently reading Mort. Good Omens might be a good “pick up” watch after Chernobyl. I am also looking forward to Stranger Things which starts next week. The boys insisted I watch it last year and I was hooked.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@mudlark, written by RTD, has Emma Thompson in it, left wing, (as I would expect from RTD). It is very definitely on my “too watch” list. I have been reading the reviews and it sounds interesting. I am currently writing a story set in “near future” dealing with the impact of climate change and growing income inequality. Was supposed to set in the present but I find I am incapable of writing about the present. It limits the creativity.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@mudlark I appreciate the importance of maintaining the historical integrity of a building and it is always difficult to balance that against maintaining livability. We have very little, “built” history here and for far too long it has been undervalued. So many of the lovely old pubs in town have “modernised” an now just look yuck. I was talking to the manager of our favourite pub yesterday and congratulating her on keeping the “heritage” look, just to make the point. We are fortunate at the moment to have a very good council who appreciate the value of history and culture in building community and raising the profile of the town. They recently did a multimillion upgrade to the old Town Hall, and Mechanic’s Institute, enhancing all the heritage features while adding a modern and versatile back area.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@pedant Thanks for the link. Exciting to see the start of new series spoilers. Felt like it was not going to ever happen.

The judoon are interesting “monster” to bring back. They have plenty of as yet untapped potential. They would be difficult to play seriously though so perhaps there will be a lighter mood to this next series as @blenkinsopthebrave has observed. I look forward to hearing J.W. speak “judoon.”

Also, having just been watching some recent episodes,  I was thinking that it is time to start revisiting some older foes. I do think CC made the right choice in taking a break from Daleks and Cybermen for a series. One criticism I do have of S.M. is his over reliance on the “same old” baddies. The odd appearance however of a familiar alien helps to reinforce the sense of continuity.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Now that is some guard dog… dalek.

I think the wooden structure is organic enough to “fit”. Have seen far more anachronistic things tacked onto historic buildings. I think it all depends on how wealthy the property owner is, and who their friends are, well with some councils anyway. Hope that they win out on this one. I would certainly be paying a visit if I lived in the U.K.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@thane16 urgh. I hate those criteria sheets. They scare me and I have an hons degree in English. No wonder kids are suffering increasing rates of depression these days. The education system seems intent on intimidating them rather than encouraging them. Re’ essays. Our second son, (R.2) did really well because he worked out the formula. The content was less important than getting the formula right. He wrote what he knew the teacher wanted and yes he got the grades but that is not what education is supposed to be for. (Interestingly I always got higher grades from female lecturers because, my theory anyway, they considered content over construction)

We are having a bit of a yr 12 breather. R.3 was not making class and falling behind so we said, “up with this we will not put”, and decided to pull him out, give him a gap year then put him through public school for the final year. The catch is that the public school in question is about 40 km away so hopefully he can do it by correspondence. Our “local” has issues, not helped by a government intent on destroying the public education system and pouring all the funding into privates like the behemoth that is taking over education in this district. (Our neighbour/teachers used to joke about the golden T.s)

I am venting again. You might have noticed. Anyway the upshot is that R.3 is now doing yr 12 part time. We did not tell the school that he won’t be continuing there ie they have had more than enough money from us. We are all enjoying the lack of stress. Yr 12 puts enormous strain not just on students but on the entire family and that is not acceptable. It is also something of a relief to know that Yr 12 is not the “be all and end all” that schools make out. After two years it counts for nothing and the “stat test” is the Uni entry criteria. We knew quite a few people who had gone to Uni through that route including R.1 whose Yr 12 became irrelevant after a four year gap.

Anyway all the best. I feel for you.

And today the sun is shining, the hibiscus is blooming just out the window and somehow we will survive, and keep fighting.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@thane16 Interesting words. There seem to be more and more right wing nutters gaining traction in our system though they maybe did not do as well as I feared. The problem, and it is one with democracy in general, is that so many people have no clue as to whom they are voting for or why. They are now totally alienated from politics. There is so much apathy and indifference and ignorance. (I think Australians, having had life “easy” for so long are particulary prone to apathy.) Standing outside polling booths for ten hours (over two weeks) does not do much for one’s faith in the political system. Democracy depends upon the quality of information available. So it all comes back to media.. A theory of mine, is that those with power and vested interests did not want democracy, they gave in over the course of a century, kicking and screaming, but then realised how to manipulate the electorate to still win out in the and. Power never really lets go.

(I am in a negative mood today. The usual post election blues. Tomorrow I will  watch Dr Who and in time my normal optimism will reassert itself. The fight goes on.)

One positive note is the Greens have done so well in the Senate, thank goodness we have proportional representation, that is a massive plus, and Abbot the idiot lost his seat, another gain for common sense. Though I thought Bill Shorten a bit conservative, he was a safe choice for Labor leader. Wonder if Anthony Albanese will finally get a shot at the role. Tanya Pliberseck would also be an interesting choice, though after the mauling Julia Gillard received from media I would not blame her for keeping her hand down at the moment.

cheers

Janette

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

@thane16 and @blenkinsopthebrave

Indeed. Afraid I am loosing faith in compulsory voting too. A vote becomes worthless if the voter is ill informed and has no clue who they are voting for or why. Sorry always feel bitter after elections, and feel for the younger generation who are having their futures stomped on by the clowns that run this country of Australeros, soon to ruled by king Clive, staunch upholder of all things, “white” with the notable exception of coal of course.

Icon for Australia, a lump of coal. The trouble is that most of what was iconic is now gone or forgotten or soon will be, Medicare and the Great Barrier Reef for instance. Yes there are still some foods that are Australian including the Dim Sim, created in Melbourne, and chicken salt, created in Gawler of all places, but Australian culture is fast being washed away by U.S. cultural hegemony. Most young Australians know far more about U.S. history and culture than they do their own. Even language is being “americanised”. Young people refer to “gas stations”, rather than “servos”, “bangs” instead of “fringes”, “dudes’ instead of “blokes” or “mates”. “Tracky dacks” and “thongs” are still favourite items of attire however, much favoured by Liberal (and “king f****n Clive) voters I noted. (one would expect that to be the attire of Labor voters but not where I was anyway but then there was such a lack of the later that I guess it was hard to judge.)

Cheers

Janette

 

 

 

 

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

@thane16 Today it was for Bob Hawke though I was at uni when he brought in HECS and felt utterly betrayed. Tomorrow I should be wearing it for Australia in general and for the future of my children.The first election I voted in was 1983. I was travelling and went into the embassy in Dublin to vote. (not a service available at embassies any more). That was the election Bob won. The next day, hitching through Ireland I was continually told that Australia had a new Prime Minister. That was a good day.

I don’t watch election night coverage. Too depressing. Been watching GOT instead. I am not a fan, got put off by the first couple of seasons but follow the episode blogs and now enjoying these final episodes which are all story focused.

After handing out “how to vote” cards all day I did not have much hope. so right now my opinion of Australians is at an all time low. Words that come to mind are, “stupid, ignorant, brain washed, and utterly undeserving of the suffrage which our ancestors fought for. So many people were walking in saying, “I don’t know who to vote for” and I wanted to say, “then don’t vote, for the sake of this country and those who care, don’t vote.” What really scares me though is the rise of the lunatic far right. There were so many crazy parties running and almost no sane ones. But if you actually ask people what they want, they mostly want fairer wages, protection for the environment, free health care and education while supporting the very people that will take that all away. There was a teacher handing out how to votes for the Liberals, talking about protecting public education. I just shook my head, rolled my eyes. The stupidity is beyond belief. Ugh.

Sorry venting. Been a horrid day. Going to concentrate on GOT now. Take my mind of it.

We will survive,

Cheers

Janette.

[janetteB @replies]

I guess it depends on what time span “modern Australia” actually covers. I am just heading off to the polling booths but will have plenty of time to think so may be able to list some when I get back, in four hours time. Will be wearing a black arm band.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Saw this in the Guardian Today. Looks amusing enough. Maybe one day the boys will get the Occulus Rift, (they have been hinting every Christmas now for a few years) and can try it.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@craig. That is about the most worthwhile thing it is possible to do. Well done. I imagine that it is also emotionally taxing for you too so take care of yourself.

Talking is so important. I have always stressed the importance of talking about issues to my boys, whether to us, (parents), friends or just sympathetic strangers. Talking enables us to put problems into perspective. We worry most about our youngest, not for any specific reason but because he does not confide.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@mudlark  Well said. Indeed it was necessary to re watch Moffat’s episodes just to really unpick the dense narrative, to get the underlying things. There were good messages in many of Chibnell’s story but they were so obvious. There was no subtlety, nothing that kept the viewer thinking for days after. Chibnell’s writing lacks a sense of magic and it also lacks the charm of Moffat’s approach. I do want to re-watch the most recent series in part because I hope that on re watch it will “grow” on me but as someone, (sorry I forget who) has said on another thread, “Chibnell needs to find his Moffat”. I hope he does so soon.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@craig I agree with those comments. He certainly did not stand out as a script writer and I suspect some of the more memorable moments in those scripts were added by Moffat, the light humour for instance.

I also have not watched Broadchurch, crime fiction isn’t “my thing”, and only saw a few episodes of Torchwood. I liked the set up of the later and the characters, but it was sadly let down by the stories. I feel a bit the same way about the most recent series of Dr Who though there were some very good episodes. I have not yet done a re watch but there are several that I do want to see again. It certainly wasn’t all bad, it was more consistent than the RTD years but it didn’t have a quality that the Moffat years did.

Having said all that there are aspects of The Power of Three that I really enjoyed. Firstly the interaction between the Doctor, Rory and Amy and of course Brian. The actual story was “pants” but there is such a richness in the character interaction that I can forgive the worst aspects of the script.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@bluesqueakpip A split second I think. Unfortunately the creaky structure of this story is too evident, especially on repeated viewings. I always get the impression that they had a script for a four part story and then realised that they needed a six part script so did a quick patch job on it. (which is essentially what happened) I think it remarkable that the story is as enjoyable as it is given the circumstances.

“re Andred throwing off the uniform, I guess that spirit of resistance is what made this story so appealing to me when I was a teenager. Gallifrey reminds me of the town I grew up in, controlled by stuffy old men (of whom my father was one) All the interesting people lived “outside”, like some of our teachers who were toying with self sufficiency, this being the time of “Good Life”.

So two episodes to go and a real enemy to deal with. Looking forward to the next episode…

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@winston I do wish you could send some of the rain down here. Last night we washed the car windows and laughed because the car is now so dusty that the clean windows looked like gaping holes in the dirt. We might have to stop relying on the rain to wash the car.

@mudlark and @thane16  I love violets. They do tend to come up in unexpected places but our climate is so dry they have not as yet taken over. I have started gardening in the hope that it will rain soon.

The rise of the far right worldwide is alarming. We were talking about this in our most recent podcast. One of the younger people was surprised when I said that the late 80s early 90 felt “safer” than today, given that the Cold War was still happening but the nuclear threat is no less present than it was then and overall the world today feels far less safe. It felt as though Human Rights were beginning to really come into play in International politics then, now I fear that all the progress of the last fifty or so years in that regard is under threat.

We have fingers crossed down here btw that Brexit will be overturned yet.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@thane16  I feel for you. Being subjected to “talking heads” TV in reception rooms is torturous enough without the added horror of the upcoming election. We have been known to turn of screens when nobody else is looking, (Right now I am deploying a “head in the sand” tactic to the upcoming election. There are so many right wing horrors emerging that common sense seems to be thing of the past in politics. But that is me lifting my head from the sand for a moment. I would do better to go and water the Rosemary bushes, with toes and fingers crossed for rain and for a change for the better.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@thane16 I have grown Vincas, a long time ago. they did not flourish. The only plant that does flourish here, other than Bougainvillea, which other members of the family consider to be a weed, is Rosemary. My Rosemary supplies the culinary needs of the street however even my poor Rosemary shrubs are looking dry and sad at the moment.

I share your frustration regarding photography. I don’t get many opportunities to flex my photographic muscles, (not well developed ones, it is very much a hobby) these days. We keep talking about going camping for a couple of days but have yet to get it organised. there always seems to be too many other commitments getting in the way.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@mudlark I had never heard of a Coypus before so looked them up. They remind me of an Australian native the Poteroo, a Kangaroo-rat only the later are far cuter. They had one in the petting area of the Zoo and the R.2, when he was young and cute himself, bonded to it. I suspect they would make good pets.

Your post reminds me of spring in Sweden. As soon as the snow melted the ground was bursting with shoots and by Easter there were crocuses (which are rarely seen here), flowing amidst a dusting of late snow. I am also more than a little envious. Your garden sounds so green and alive. Mine is turning into a dust bowl. We went for a drive yesterday up “The Valley” and the paddocks now are also turning into dust bowls. The earth is brown and parched and there is no sign of relief. We have not had rain for months now. I fear it is taking a toll of our struggling wildlife too.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

I watched the episode this morning in anticipation. Andred is easily convinced by the Doctor turning from would be assassin to ally in the “bat of an eye”. the Doctor really lays on the eccentricity in this episode. As noted before T.B. is in his element in this story, really enjoying himself which does detract a little from the impact of the situation. He does not take the “villains’ seriously and so it is difficult for us to do so, especially given that they are not especially convincving anyway, and that is while they are still shimmering bacofoil, competing for the “least convincing Who baddies ever award then they materialise and ‘they win!!. they are not even intelligent. they have just invaded the most secure, advanced plant in the universe, (despite the deplorable decor and bad dress sense) and they are distinctly below par as far as Who enemies go. One gets the sense that the scrip writers had given up on the story at this stage. (and on the subject of decor the Time Lords clearly nip across the galaxy to Earth to stock up on office furniture occasionally.)

Andred gets to parade around in his sexy shirt sleeves, nod sagely, then look as bemused as ever and K.9 saves the day. Leela and her new tribe prove pointless. But… the real invaders arrive, Things Get Serious.. and there is a possibility that this story might finally make some sense.

In the meantime it is jolly good fun…though perhaps better watched while eating one’s way through a very large bag of jelly babies..

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@rggoodie You are looking for An Adventure in Time and Space, a dramatisation of the beginning of Dr Who. I indeed love that scene you are describing.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@bluesqueakpip Another excellent overview. Finally got time to watch the episode. Things are speeding up a little. The Doctor in his element, or should I say, Tom Baker is in his element, being the eccentric, enigmatic hero who is at least three jumps ahead of everyone else. He can switch from clown to evil dictator in the flick of an eyelid. I loved the jelly baby scene. Orange are indeed the best.

The bacofilm baddies are still in the running for “Least Convincing Villain Ever in Dr Who” award.  More on that next week…

Leela also shines in this series. She is able to use her warrior skills combined with what she has learnt from the Doctor to best effect. Rodan, as someone raised within a glass bubble, suddenly exposed to the reality of life outside is convincingly shattered but she has a strength of character which will enable her to survive. In Rodan we finally see the kind of quality that accounts for Gallifreyan society being so advanced.

Lastly, I know this is Dr Who and it is made on a very tight budget but it would have been nice if they had managed to convey some sense that people actually lived in the citadel. Thus far Rodan is the only female we have seen in the citadel. Just as well they live so long as there does not seem to be any possibility of reproduction. I do like the sense that Time Lord Society is ossified.

And lastly Andred. He is beginning to appear somewhat less of a noodle. In this episode at least..

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@bluesqueakpip It may be that there was more (and certainly in some areas less) gender equality in Australia. Most of the female teachers I had were married but they were also mostly young, ie, post “Gough Whitlam” generation. Australia had a seismic shift in the 70s that catapulted us into the future and from which we have been regressing ever since. For instance I saw recently that “no fault” divorce is a recent thing or not even yet a thing in the U.K. That was introduced in the 70s here. The minister  at the church I went to as a child was female, and the women in my family tended to be very dominant so I grew up expecting to be treated as an equal and was always shocked when I wasn’t. The greatest gender-based barrier I encountered was when travelling alone. There were some places where a single woman simply could not go. It was often hard enough when travelling with a female friend. That annoyed the hell out of me.

I suspect that Britain’s history and class system makes change harder and Gallifrey is very much a reflection of this, a society with an ancient and deeply ingrained class system. It is clearly a highly segregated and rigid society, though we only see a snap shot of it. The Time Lords are obsessed with maintaining status quo, rather like the House of Lords I imagine.

Yes I agree Rodan was important because we finally see that there are women in this supposedly advanced society and they can be time lords and Rodan is the inspiration for Romana.

(And your detailed breakdown was excellent.)

Cheers

Janette

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

@bluesqueakpip Wow. I not sure what is left to say after that detailed breakdown. I think you have nailed it.

I watched this episode straight after watching Hell Bent. I have been doing a Gallifrey based re-watch in the past week so this was very timely. Gallifrey is recognisable but very different. Love the blow up plastic seats, but they are a clear Health and Safety hazard. Maybe they are deliberately placed to test the reflexes of the guards. The rediculous head pieces are indeed rediculous but really sum up TimeLords, arrogant, excessive and with very poor taste.

It is nice that the script writers finally acknowledged that there might  indeed be some females on Gallifrey, a realisation long over due. I often think men don’t deliberately overlook women, they just don’t realise that there is another gender. Dr Who in this era is a clear demonstration of that. It is nice to finally meet a female Time Lord and at the time I could relate to her frustration. I think most of us of a female persuasion could. (one would hope less so now) Rodan is clearly very intelligent and underappreciated.

The guards are rather pathetic but I guess their role has been almost entirely ceremonial for a very long time. The entire society is complacent, smug, and extremely irritating. One understands why the Doctor ran away. He had sense.

The Bacofoil special effects are what one does when not given enough time to decide just who is invading Gallifrey. After all such a powerful society should have powerful enemies.

What really does sustain this episode is the humour and the dialogue. Doctor offering Andred jelly babies, Doctor outwitting Borusa, Leela talking to Rodan and of course K.9 But then I watched this when I was 16 and Dr Who was the highlight of my day. I remember this story fondly and am willing to forgive all the faults, even the plastic chairs in the bacofoil corridors.

Roll on the next episode.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

And I will watch on Monday morning while on the exercise bike, just for a refresh. I have watched this episode many times but always best to re watch before discussing.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@mudlark Mudlark Manor does sound lovely. Indeed it sounds like the kind of garden I dream of having. By the end of summer I always despair of ever having a garden. I lost three rose bushes this summer. Suspect I am over watering them. But on a positive note today I harvested about twenty apples from our recalcitrant tree, more than enough for a Dutch Apple Pie. Worryingly however I noted blossom in one or two places. I am sure that should not be a “thing” as Clara would say.

On another less pleasant topic.. five million signatures and over a million protestors are going to be ignored. As the original election(?) has been shown to have been corrupted it does not bolster one’s flagging faith in democracy.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@idiotsavon Enjoy your “threenger” and trust me, you can never take too many photos/video. It is a lovely age and there will be days in the future when you will wish you could turn the clock back or borrow a TARDIS and revisit, even just for a few hours. Our youngest turns eighteen in two weeks time and we are still in frequent and fraught disagreement with him over just about everything. (well not everything mainly homework.). He is about to drop out of school. In Australia at least yr 12 is no longer the determiner as to whether one gets to Uni or not. It is a year’s torture that after two years no longer counts for anything so we are trying not to be overly worried. He just needs time to sort out what he wants to do.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Oh and just for the record, for all its faults and they were many, I still enjoy Invasion of Time. I thought it was great when I was a teenager and first watched it.

Cheers (again)

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@bluesqueakpip Keen to restart the BG watches and am happy to go with the “Women Time Lords” theme if that is what we are doing. Happy with whatever is chosen really and with whatever works best for Craig and the other mods. I was also thinking of maybe doing a podcast, (on my local community site) to coincide with the discussion here at some point through the year too. (there are others to be consulted on that though.)

cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

Ah the Prime Minister who nobody has ever heard of. We have been living with one of those for about six months now. Hopefully with the next election that will change but the stupidity of voters never ceases to shock me.

Watching the Brexit debacle is like watching a ship determined to sail into the rocks, or at least with a captain determined to sail into the rocks. The one thing May seems good at is sticking to the course regardless of the mounting evidence of just how bad it is. Even the majority of Tory backers, businesses, don’t want it.

What is so frightening right now is the growth in popularity of extreme right wing parties. I was reading about the situation in Spain this morning with the rise of a Francoist party. We live in alarming times not unlike the 1930s with economic hardship and lack of hope driving people to embrace extreme ideas. What this world needs is a lot more Jacinda Arderns.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@mudlark Interesting. In Australia there is no yeast in pikelets. From what I have seen the recipe is the same as for drop scones. Australians tend to misname things. For instance we call Satsumas mandarins. So when Doc 10 pulls a mandarin out of his pocket and calls it a satsuma we were very confused.

I really like bready things that are cooked on a griddle or fry-pan. Of late  I have been trying more and more flat breads, especially as I can’t eat most of the commercial ones. Last night I tried (Chinese) scallion pancakes which are made from a dough, rolled out, several times, and sprinkled with chopped spring onion, which is Oz speak for scallions. Last night I also tried a shiitake mushroom version. Both were gobbled up very quickly. Now I must try making my own Tortilla bread.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@thane16, @mudlark, @winston In Australia we call “drop scones” pikelets and I have a very deep affection for them. Mum used to make them in her usual, “measure everything and do exactly as the cooking rule-book says” mehtod and I thought them ok but boring. (Like all Mum’s cooking) until I was a teen. On Saturday afternoons I would go over to a friend’s house. It was the opposite of my home, doors never locked, often no-one home, dysfunctional but casual. We usually had the kitchen to ourselves so would make pikelets. There was no recipe, no rules, no careful measuring of ingredients, not even the correct ingredients half the time as their pantry was not well stocked, The resulting pikelets were burnt on the outside, runny in the middle, and as much fun to eat as they were to make. I learnt that food is as much about the pleasure of making and eating as it is about taste and texture and I learnt to love pikelets.

I often make them for the boys, half plain, half with cinnamon and sultanas. R.2 sometimes makes pancakes of the sugar free variety but having lived in Sweden where they eat American style pancakes every Tuesday with loads of jam and cream, the boys also make those on occasion.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@peladon1972 Clearly time you did  a re-watch then. (Always worthwhile anyway. One can never re-watch Dr Who too much.) Just for example this list is from the first four series. I could continue but am aware that I work waiting and don’t have time to complete it.

Robot, Terror of the Zygons, Pyramids of Mars, (hist’) The Android Invasion, The Seeds of Doom, Masque of Mandragora, (hist’) Hand of Fear, Talons of Weng Chian, (hist’) Horror of Fang Rock, (hist’) Image of the Fendahl,,

Of course back in the Pertwee years there were several series set entirely on earth as a result of BBC budget cuts.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I don’t recall the Doctor ever leaving the earth permanently in classic Who.  I think a good mix of earth based and off earth stories works best.

@miapatrick I agree that Chibnell needs to find his Moffat. What this most recent series lacked was those moments of brilliance. there were no absolute duds though.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@whisht Thank you for the link. I have started listening and thoroughly enjoying it however my laptop did an overnight update and now i have to restart.. Hopefully will get time to listen to the rest over the weekend.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@bluesqueakpip and @blenkinsopthebrave It turns out I even posted a comment on that thread but I had not rewatched the story so my memory is not entirely shot. Must be time I remedied that. There are several early Hartnell stories which I have only seen the once.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave. I second that suggestion. The Meddling Monk was a fun story. I always enjoy the “history” episodes though I was not so sure that the Monk’s meddling, had it succeeded would have necessarily been such a bad thing. I suspect my Cumbrian ancestors would have preferred the alternate history that would have resulted. (That is if my memory of the story is correct. I don’t think I even fully watched it when it was repeated on TV in 2005 or 6 and have not watched it since.)

cheers

Janette

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave  We did indeed survive, the pets survived and even more remarkably the garden survived. Indeed the world is crazy and getting crazier, extreme cold in the northern hemisphere, extreme heat here yet still those with the power to act do nothing.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave Thanks. Not looking forward to tomorrow, (today now). Will be 47-48 degrees here. We are about two degrees hotter than Adelaide. We will get by but the garden may not and will be monitoring the pets all day. The cat insists on sleeping outside which is a worry. Convincing him to stay inside is no easy task. A cool change is forecast for Friday so fingers crosses it isn’t tardy.

Love the story about Daylight saving. Is the kind of reaction I would have expected from my parents, always resistant to change though  I think even my parents, or at least my mother would have respected the science regarding global warming. We have a friend who is a “greenie” and far more environmentally sensitive than us but is an adamant denialist. He “did his research” ie found all the Heartland Institute propaganda he could to support his “belief” and cited it to us yet this man is so well informed about gardening and ecological issues. It just depresses us. My S.O tried to explain to him that the sources he was citing were dodgy but he refused to listen. I suspect he is simply unable to accept that climate change is happening because it is too distressing for him as opposed to the idiots in government who have vested interests, ie protecting their coal industry investments. (Fingers crossed they will soon find themselves on the back bench.)

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@archaicwhovian Given that most other fictional tv and film “heroes” rely upon guns to get out of trouble I think the use of the sonic is quite justified. At times writers need to pull a little magic. After all this is a show about an alien who travels in time and space in a police box and critics complains about the way he/she uses the sonic. The character needs some sort of “get out of gaol free card”.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@thane16 It sounds and looks beautiful, so lush it is hard to believe that you are talking about the same country as the bleached out wheat fields that stretch out around this town. Even the Barossa is looking rather worse for wear now, the squares of irrigated vineyards contrasting unfavourably with the dead grass and red brown soil that surround them. My poor garden is looking particularly tragic, I can hardly bear to look out the window to see my poor plants drooping under the remorseless sun. And I see our P.M is going to focus upon the fate of native species. Wonder how is intends to do that without acknowledging that Global Warming is a thing. Maybe he intends to get his pals in the coal industry to donate to his local zoo.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@craig Intruder is persistent.

Cheers

Janette

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