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@jimthefish  Watched the first Peladon story recently, produced when Britain was entering the EU and it felt very pertinent to the moment. Definitely time to revisit. To the BTL moaners “political” translates as anything they don’t agree with, ie left leaning. They would not consider Downtown Abbey with the benevolent nobs taking such care of their obsequious servants at all political. I seriously wonder just how much Doctor Who the ARSE fans have watched. (actually I often wonder reading through comments how many of them are fans at all.)

Agree with @mudlark that the Doctor does not appear to be telling Nardole the truth about anything and may well be exaggerating his blindness. I wonder how much Nardole really knows about the Doctor.

Cheers

Janette

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Back after reading the comments thus far. I am rather fond of the idea that it is Missy’s daughter in the vault but that led to another possibility, it might be the President’s daughter in the vault. The Doctor claimed to have stolen her. I suspect after this episode that who ever it is he/she is not nearly as dangerous as the Doctor would have Nardole believe though that banging on the door in the previous episode did sound ominous.

Cheers

Janette

 

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AT last. It has been a frustrating two days waiting to watch was was clearly a “corker” of an episode. Before plunging into the comments a few thoughts. Once again humans as the “baddies” and the dangers of AI are two dominant themes, as well as the evils of capitalism. (loved that) Yes if corporations could charge for oxygen they would.

I wonder if the Doctor will stay blind and gradually become more damaged thus leading into regeneration rather than it being the result of a sudden injury.

Not convinced that he has told Nardole the truth as to the danger posed by what is in the vault. It might be something or someone whom he is protecting or he might have grossly exaggerated the danger for some devious, Doctorish purpose known as yet only to himself.

Cheers

Janette

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@thane15 agree re’ Bill/Pearl. I think she is very talented. I do hope that she does stay on. The “clean slate” was not Moffat’s choice. I have heard that he wanted Tennant to stay on and has remarked on how daunting it was to have to introduce a new Doctor and Companion in his first season. Chibnell wanted P.C. to stay on and I am sure he will want to keep Pearl at least so there is some continuity.

Will add Fortitude to my to watch list. I had intended to watch it mainly for the location but have not got around to doing so.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave I hate it when that happens. I lost a post earlier this week. I too would vote for Sacha. He was excellent in An Adventure in Space and Time. (To be fair however I don’t think I have seen Luke in anything.)

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

On watching Catweazle we noted that Moray Watson, who died just a week or so ago plays the father in the second series so it was a farewell to two fine actors. Also Geoffrey Bayldon has several Who connections worthy of note. He was offered the role on the Doctor back in 1963 but turned it down much to his later regret. He appeared in Creature of the Pit with Tom Baker.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@wolfweed was just reading the article on the Guardian. Catweazle is a favourite here. We only just discovered that there was a second season which we had not seen and naturally watched that a few weeks ago. I think we will have to watch an episode tonight and raise a glass in his honour.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@pedant yes and you have my deepest sympathy. (I hate elections. They usually leave me despairing of humanity.)

That is a lovely item. I especially liked the “Man in a suit monster”. When my S/O got his first job after graduating he had to wear a suit. I wouldn’t welcome him home of a night until he changed. Fortunately he was only in that job for a couple of months before getting a government job and the suit has gathered dust and harboured moths ever since.

Cheers

Janette

 

 

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I posted a  comment but it appears to have been eaten by woodlice.

I had an insane theory, that the prisoner in the vault in Missy’s daughter. Possibly the Doctor is keeping her safe from her Mum/Dad or imprisoning her because she even more insane than her Mum/Dad.  My guess however is that it is Missy in the vault.

Have not read comments yet, but some thoughts before I plunge in,

The play on the Doctor as Grandfather was another nod to Susan and the promise to return. Again the danger of being held to a promise was a theme this episode and the heart of the story was filial relationships which have featured in all but last week’s episode.

The Doctor likes Chinese food, something to add to the Who themed party. The menu is getting more varied but nothing will beat the popularity of fish fingers and custard. (Or Jammy dodgers and custard, an excellent substitute.)

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@nick I don’t think Gallifrey is a democracy in Moffat’s version either though being alien and supposedly a very old civilisation perhaps they have come up with a better system of governance, something we haven’t thought of yet. My impression is however that Gallifrey is a highly rigid, classist society ruled by a upper class elite who don’t die so hold onto power for centuries, a rather frightening prospect.

@whisht My son is studying digital design so not entirely dissimilar to illustration. He is really loving it and enjoying hte company of his fellow students. I am quite envious. Would love to have done the subjects he is doing.

I was studying Shakespeare at Uni when the Gibson film came out. We were advised not to see it. Likewise the Branagh version which came out around the same time was also frowned on and I did not see it until last week. It was far better than I expected but I suspect better suited to television than cinema. Thankfully we only studied R&J which is one of my least favourite Shakespeare Play briefly in second year when I made my greatest gaffe at Uni. Forgetting that I was a good five years older than most of the other students who had gone straight to Uni from school, I dismissed Romeo as “just a typical immature nineteen year old”. The tutor cleared her throat and reminded me that everyone else in the room was nineteen. So not a diplomatic thing to say, though probably true.

Cheers

Janette

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave Moray Watson played a wonderfully sarcastic Mr Bennett in the 1982 Pride and Prejudice which is the role I most associate him with. Another fine old British actor gone.

I agree with you regarding revisiting some BG Who. We have been watching old stories sometimes of a week night. (mostly when painting miniatures but haven’t done much painting in recent weeks so no Who watching though that is probably because the S/O is currently occupied with a game.) I was really enjoying the Pertwee stories. There were several we had not watched before. When they were all repeated on ABC about twelve years ago the boys watched them but we were usually busy getting dinner and missed out.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@missrori we were speculating in the car tonight that the promise might have been made to River as he spent 24 years with her and most likely reassembled Nardole during that period. Nardole worked for River and he appears to be endeavouring to keep the Doctor to the promise.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@thane15 Your mother is braver than I. Thus far I have kept away from BTL because I fear to read the bile there. Some of the comments made about Clara/Jenna and Amy/Karen were very offensive and I really don’t want to read what is being posted about Bill/Pearl but I should be wading in to the defence too otherwise we are letting the trolls dominate the sound waves which is what they want. I used to be puzzled by the hate for a character who, even if not a favourite, was so far from offensive but then I realised that they are being vile purely for the sake of being vile. I just really hope that the actors never read BTL.

And talking of negative comments, I am about to make one. I really disliked the Leonardo movie and agree that you would be much better off acting out the play. I dislike the Zeffrelli version too. Although derided by the critics probably my preferred version is the BBC one from the 80s. It has a very young Alan Rickman in it, as Tybalt I think.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I’m with @icabod re’ sticking to the term, “companion”. The show is about the Doctor, he is the ongoing character and it is his Tardis but he too is the companion. Companion does not infer inferiority, it doesn’t imply a sexual relationship, that is companion plus, it can go both ways.

@mudlark A few years ago my S/O presented on the Enlightenment, he covered the positives, the advances in human thinking especially in science and human rights, while I covered the negatives of the industrial revolution which was born of the Enlightenment, the human suffering, the destruction of a traditional way of life, of community and the impact upon the environment and the use of child slavery. I was playing devil’s advocate as most of those present viewed the Enlightenment through rose tinted glasses and had no real comprehension of just how much suffering was caused by the Industrial revolution. I don’t think many of them have spent an entire day busing through the aptly named “Black country,” though these days it might be called “the orange country” on account of the light pollution.

I often wonder if those BTL moaners ever actually watched BG Who.  They are probably afraid to because it wouldn’t match their rose tinted ideals. Trolls are not overly concerned with little inconveniences like the truth rather like the right in general, looking back to an ideal world that never was. The companions weren’t all yes girls to the Doctor ie Barbara. Even Jo, who was perhaps one of the more compliant showed plenty of spirit and frequently stood up to him. Clearly however John Pertwee did want a goggle eyed assistant. Tom Baker also wanted to be the hero but had a companion who was the Doctor’s equal in intelligence just not in experience.

Cheers

Janette

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@countscarlioni You are doing well with the art spotting. I love that painting (have used it when talking of the evils of industrial revolution) and it would be very apt for Sutcliff’s house. I need to look out for it on next watch.

Cheers

Janette

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@jimthefish I am really enjoying these episodes but feel that it is time for something meatier. I did like the two parters last year though they would have benefited by the odd single story and would like there to be a two parter this series, just to vary the pace. I don’t think we are entirely without an arc this series. There is the mystery of the vault to keep us guessing and Moffat teasing.

@tardigrade. Subtitles are frequently incorrect I have noticed which is surprising really. Insufficient time allocated for the task I would guess.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@craig and @mudlark over on the Frock Flicks site they have discussed the historical accuracy of costumes in Dr Who in several blog posts which are fun and informative. They did not cover last series but there probably weren’t enough stories set in the past to justify it. I have yet to listen to the aftershow. Maybe tomorrow morning. (mental note made)

I suspect the dress was a rental costume but need to try and get a better look at it.

Cheers

Janette

 

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

@mudlark  So both portraits are Emma. That would account for them being of the same period. I had not had a really good look at the second one.

Reading about her recently I don’t think she was particularly intelligent or altruistic either so she has the later in common with Missy. I wondered if Emma was the inspiration for Rebecca Sharp of Vanity Fair. I don’t think she would have been the Doctor’s “type”.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Watched the episode last night and have just caught up with the posts, though no doubt a few more have been added while I have been reading. It was a delight. A short, light story but with deeper layers of meaning. It was as @blenkinsopthebrave pointed out, very political which earns it my approval. The visuals were lovely. Enjoyed reading @mudlark‘s post on the historical aspects. It looked good to me. The costume detail was far more accurate than that of many recent historical dramas. Hair up tick, amazing bonnet, tick, appropriate day wear for period, tick. I don’t know if Bill’s clothes were right for the exact year, but if the details were a year or so out then that is excused as she found the outfit in the Tardis so near enough…

Frost Fairs have a magical appeal and this was used to good advantage by the script and visuals.

As has been observed before by others once again the monster is not the real villain of the story but rather the victim of an evil human. Thus far this seems to be theme for the series, perhaps a reflection of the times we live in/

As to the vault, everything is pointing to it being Missy/Master in there which would indicate that it isn’t however at times S.M. has gone with the obvious so right now my guess is anything is possible.

Nardole seems more like the Doctor’s keeper than a companion.

And lastly this episode got the thumbs up from the boys. They are really enjoying this series thus far.

Cheers

Janette.

 

[janetteB @replies]

@mudlark  Count me in. There is even a facial likeness. The very concept of a public broadcaster is anathema to Murdoch. He has the sharpened blades aimed at the ABC too and as for his influence over politics well. I do believe that the world would be in considerably less mess if it weren’t for Rupert and his evil empire.

Cheers

Janette

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

I woke up in the middle of the night and realised why there is a portrait of Emma Hamilton on the wall to the left of Rembrandt. It is a reference to Missy, Emma being chiefly known of as Nelson’s mistress. I am now even more curious as to the identity of the woman on the right. She is clearly roughly contemporary to Emma, so that narrows the research a little. (Rubs hands with glee. The game is on..)

I too enjoy the guitar and the glasses. The later is something I am perhaps more used to than a lot of other viewers as my s/o at one stage was developing monitor/sunnies as part of his wearable computing rig. (before the smart phone appeared on the scene) I see the guitar playing as just another expression of the playfulness of the Doctor. He likes to show off, and how better than by making a big noise so neither aging rocker or wannabe, both of which have a twinge of sadness about them.

Cheers

Janette

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

Dan Martin alludes to a rumour about the Christmas Special that is sweeping through the internet in his blog on the Guardian today. Does anyone know what it is?

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@pedant and @missrori I re watched Doctor Mysterio recently and really enjoyed it and it is nice, especially for S.M and Capaldi for the episode to get a nomination even if it has no chance of winning given the quality of the opposition. I really must watch Stranger Things. The rest of the family loved it though there were complaints about some confusion over what appeared in which D&D edition. But that wasn’t first edition…Shock horror!! Nitpicking fans. There is no escaping them..

Cheers

Janette

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

@pedant ABC has always been state funded and has avoided becoming a state broadcaster despite pressures from recent government. Their failure to bend the ABC to their will has led to continual decreased funding. I am not expert but ABC was established to be “independent” and not a voice for the government. It has always been perceived by right wing governments to have a left bias simply because it attempts to be neutral and not toady to them. Research indicates that there is actually more right leaning content than left leaning content on the ABC but it is still far more “balanced” than any of the commercial stations. In fact ABC operates very much as a underfunded, infant sibling of the BBC.  I don’t think the license fee would work in Oz. People who don’t watch ABC, which is a large swath of the population would object to paying for a public service but when the money is taken from their tax they don’t know or care.

Cheers

Janette

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@ichabod I get the feeling that Moffat is throwing everything at this last series because he really does love writing for Dr Who and he is having as much fun as possible before he leaves. His love for the series and the “lore” has really shone through these past eight years. It is just a shame that those impossible to please fans who want everything spelled out for them and would rather not use their brains and imaginations seem to have the loudest voices, on some mediums such as BTL on the Guardian.

@tardigrade. Sadly you are right re’ the accountants having too much say already over content. I disagree however about public funding of Drama and Docos. Public funding does not guarantee quality and integrity, I don’t think any funding method can, however it is far more likely to deliver a better outcome than private funding. Without public finding Dramas will all end up like Tudors or Downton Abbey because popularity will trump quality every time and Docos will be heavily politically motivated. Endless pretty nature docs that do not dare imply that the brightly coloured butterflies on show are endangered by climate change, or yet more regurgitation of Tudor history. Ok ok I know that we are getting that now but how much worse would it be without public funding.

But I keep looking up and see that I am replying to “Smile”. Talking about the perilous future of the BBC and the ABC is not conducive to smiling. Watch out for those emojibots.

Cheers

janette

[janetteB @replies]

I am taking too long to post my comments. @thane15 (aka Puro) beat me to it and said it better. Perhaps I should be concentrating on the essay, not that R.2 pays much attention to my suggestions.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Oops sorry I think I should have referenced @tardigrade rather than @mersey. Apologies. I don’t watch much ABC  but am happy to keep paying for it because, like libraries, I view it as a invaluable public resource. If the money was not taken out of tax however I simply wouldn’t pay for a service I so rarely use. However if our weasel government taxed companies a reasonable amount then there would be plenty of money for public services like the ABC and the burden of payment would not fall onto the shoulders of the honest tax payer. (oh dear getting into dangerous political rant territory. Better get back on topic quick and for one of those despised emojis, 🙂 which I find useful in forum discussions.

To topic, which I have yet to discuss, partly because I am not sure quite what there is to say. I feel as though I really need to watch this episode again before commenting. I enjoyed it, light, bright, some obvious messages, and maybe, or maybe not, some hints and red herrings. I thought at first the old lady laid out in state was going to be Susan but it is far too early in the series for Susan to appear, if indeed she does. A character can be a pivotal plot point without actually being present.

And we are nearly to the next episode already. I am looking forward to his one. Frost fairs on the Thames really capture my imagination. I am loving to lead into the next adventure at the end of each episode not just because it is a nod to the past but it gives a sense of story flow.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@mersey In my experience commercial = rule by accountants with a “profit first” mentality. Quality is invariably the first victim.

@blenkinsopthebrave I too think that the promise the Doctor made to Susan is going to be significant this series. One of the themes of Pilot was promises, those that must be kept and those that are best broken, (maybe).

@ichabod currently helping R.2 write an essay analysing a film. (Minority Report) I really enjoy picking through films/tv, to uncover layers of meaning. It is like being back at Uni. I majored in Cinema Studies and English so know many of the tricks.  I am quite certain that Moffat is familiar with the theory of semiotics. There is nothing accidental about the items which feature just as many of the names have significance. Analysing a production adds to the understanding and appreciation.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@pedant There can never be too much kindness in this crazy world of ours. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@zeyra I travelled alone and with friends and usually while travelling alone  I would make friends along the way who I travelled with for a time, when our respective paths ran parallel. There are benefits to travelling alone but there are also a lot of negatives. Aside from the greater freedom that travelling with a companion gives, (for a woman at least especially in some of the parts of the world I was in) having someone to share an experience with greatly enriches it, provided of course you are of “like mind”. At one time I was so overcome with loneliness and longing for the friends i had left behind that I sat in the central square of a French town, (Brive I think maybe) and cried. So many kind people approached to ask if I was ok and offer help that embarrassment dried my tears very quickly.

I think the Doctor does reflect the benefits and negatives of travelling alone. We benefit from and are enriched by companions who put matters into perspective for us, call us out when we are ridiculous and give sound advice when needed and whom we return all those favours for. Hope you did well with the essay.

@ichabod The Unicorn and the Dalek sounds like a children’s book begging to be written. I think my favourite from the list is The Awkroids of Tara.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@jimthefish It certainly felt “dialed in”. I zoned out and worked on writing through most of it. Sad to say one of the few things I really noticed is that one episode is black and white. I thought they had stopped scrapping Who by the Pertwee years. Clearly I was very wrong about that. Quite a few stories were recovered from ABC (Australian Broadcasting Company) as they repeated and repeated them. I saw several years after the original broadcast but it seems they did not repeat them all because I did see some stories with Jo Grant but not all of them. Someone in ABC clearly knew which stories were worth repeating. Saw Carnival of Monsters and Green Death but not Frontier in Space, (which was ok but repetitive) and the Dalek story.

@zeyra I had exactly the same problem at school, daydreaming all the time which is in part which I did well in English and History, subjects that required me to read rather than listen to learn and poorly at Maths. Our youngest son, (whom I refer to on this site as R.3. Recalcitrant three) has the same problem and like you is doing well in science but struggles with Maths.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Hearkening back to the discussion about pronunciation I thought this article worth a read.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@thane15 I am a little envious. For some reason my laptop seems to have a seizure when i visit the music thread so I avoid it.

We cannot watch last night’s episode yet as the boys had a LAN last night and have all “hit the plank” so we have to wait till tomorrow. To console ourselves we are continuing our watch of old stories. Much to our shock we have discovered that there are a lot of Pertwee stories which neither of us remember ever seeing. Currently watching Planet of the Daleks which one of my Dr Who guide books says is crap and the other gives a 8/10 so will be interesting to see which is closer to the mark. The previous story, Frontier in Space had a lot of B.5 elements. It was evidently one of the stories which inspired J.M.S. Also nice to see Jo really gaining some character muscle. A pity it is nearly the end of her “run”. I am beginning to like her.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@zeyra Welcome. Your English is as good as, (or better than), mine and I have never spoken any other language. (My spelling is appalling. I blame it on typos of course.:-) )

Last night we re watched Blink and then had to watch Human Nature/Family of Blood. All superb episodes. All four actors to play the Doctor since the re boot have brought something new and unique to the role while still being “our Doctor”. Each one is my favourite depending on which one I am watching at the time. I am always amazed that Dr Who can achieve this; convincing us, the audience, that different people with entirely different faces, ages, and mannerisms, are still the same person.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@mersey  I am with you entirely re’ Nardole. Perhaps because I have never seen Matt Lucas in anything else so have no prejudice against him, (it was the same with Catherine Tate and James Cordon) so I reacted purely to the characters in the series. I think he, the Doctor and Bill are going to be a great team.

(I am reading up at the moment rather than down at the moment.)

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Just re-watched. I caught lots of detail which I missed first time around. I paid particular attention to the paintings. The one to the right of Rembrandt looks Regency also. There is one unusual jump to Susan’s photo during a chat with Bill. I don’t recall the question/response that triggered it. Damn have to watch again. 🙂 The bird, (though not in any way falcon like) does remind me of The Maltese Falcon.

I am wondering just when this episode is set. I would assume contemporary but it is not necessarily so. The phone implies 2017 give or take a year or so but it could be future. There are no visible dates anywhere, no references by which to place the story, no cars even which usually provide a clue as to time period. I suspect also that the Doctor’s study is deliberately designed not to look like an actual professor’s study but that could just be because it is the Doctor’s.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@whisht It has been many many years since I saw the film but I thought maybe the gift of the carpet might be a nod to Educating Rita. Doesn’t she give the professor a gift, a bottle of cheap Scotch or something? That is probably too vague.

@countscarlioni Lady Hamilton. Interesting. There is a (very) tenuous link to Scotland there.

Hopefully I will get to rewatch the episode tomorrow. I am currently watching the last Christmas special. There is so much to look out for, all those details that I missed on first viewing. On first watch I am always focused on the plot but second time round I absorb far more.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave true but he was in the Day Of the Doctor so I have hope otherwise they could use his son, as his grandson. I would be content with that.

I have the feeling that Moffat might be letting his “fanboy” head go a bit this series, it being his last and all. (Fingers crossed anyway)

@lisa As I suggested in the other thread the theme of promises in The Pilot might have some reference to the promise which the Doctor made to Susan and is as yet unfulfilled. To me Susan has been a loose end since she was written out and a character with potential to regenerate. I know that fans have debated that question for years but ultimately it is for the show runners to decide and they are not as locked into “canon” as some of the fans. I would like to see what becomes of Susan. I have often toyed with story ideas about her regenerating and being stuck on earth and the bureaucratic problems that would lead to.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

That is an exciting rumour and very “doable” now that David Bradley is established as the First Doctor. There are certainly strong hints that this series is linked to the first Doctor and Susan. If so it would also be nice if Ian gets a nod as I feel a little cheated that Clara never actually met him, on screen at least.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@wolfweed Indeed it is good to have you back. You have been missed.

Also a welcome back to all our friends who have been absent. It is like a gathering of the clan at the moment.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Another random thought re’ regeneration. Maybe there are two regenerations coming up. Moffat might do the regeneration he would chose if he was free to do so, ie Doctor into a woman but then two episodes later there will be another regeneration into the actor of Chibnell’s choice which will almost certainly be male. The BBC is too risk adverse for it to be otherwise. That way trying to please all and pleasing none. Fans will not be easily fobbed off.

Just as long as we are not cheated of two or more episodes of PC as the Doctor.. I have been comforted by the reassurance that he would be safely in command of the Tardis console until the end of the Christmas Special.

cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

Had a thought re’ speculation that PC is regenerating before the Christmas Special. It is possible he might regenerate but still appear in the Christmas Special as I believe I have read that he will remain until the end of the year but plans of course might change. However my thought was that by some Timey Wimey, Moffaty trickery he might regenerate before the Christmas Special but still be the Doctor for the Christmas special. (no small degree of wishful thinking involved there at all..)

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Hi just a few jumbled thoughts on watching. Too tired to read through comments after a long day making souffles and ensuring they were the correct degree of burnt, (actually it was the mock fish fingers that got burnt), custard, jammy dodgers, (as this year our supermarket did not oblige) and semlor. (The later is Swedish, totally unrelated to Dr Who but required for Easter). Anyways some immediate reactions,

The Doctor visited Australia for the first time since the Troughton years though he did not stay long. Perhaps he will return and venture a little further than Sydney Harbour. Trust Sydney to hog the limelight..

Movellans. That necessitated a rewatch of Destiny of the Daleks. Have not seen it for years. I always thought they had potential to be interesting also giving the Daleks an ongoing enemy would add depth to the universe.

Lastly the theme of the episode seemed to be keeping promises, the danger of being bound by a promise and the importance of recognising when to let go. Perhaps the photo of Susan was featured as a reminder of a promise the Doctor has yet to keep, a promise made right back in the early days. The episode title, Pilot” might also be intended as a reminder of the very beginning of Doctor Who. I am wondering if that neglected promise will be a major plot point this series.

Other quick notes.  I think Nardole is going to be a good addition to the Tardis crew. Bill is refreshingly different. Loved her intro to the Tardis. A very light weight episode but enjoyable. Even seems to have fared well BTL on the Guardian or maybe I just did not read far enough down to get to the serious snark.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I was no longer watching Dr Who by the time McCoy took over. I wasn’t even aware that he had. I happened upon one of his stories while travelling in the U.K. We were staying at a B&B just outside of Cardiff in fact. I was surprised to discover that he was quite good but did not see any more of his stories for a long time. When I did it was clear to me that he was only just settling into the role and had some much more to bring to it. Such a shame his tenure was cut short. I was thrilled that he got a role in The Hobbit and loved his part in the Five-ish Doctors. @blenkinsopthebrave but I did not pick up on that line so now I have to watch it again but he certainly has more than one fan.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@joshamus I visited Cardiff ten years ago so my experience may not be overly relevant any more. The shop was expensive from memory but there was a lot of merchandising I had not seen elsewhere. We bought some fridge magnets, being suckers for those “little gift shops on the way out”. Such shops are invariably expensive but they often do sell unique items.

I would advise checking out prices on line first as @thane15 suggested even just to get a general idea and have fun. I really enjoyed the brief time I spent in Cardiff. The castle is worth a visit too. It has a nice Norman keep.

cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@arbutus As one of the chief offenders I do feel very guilty about being so off topic and I occasionally try to throw in a Who related comment but the discussions have been so interesting. And one “off topic” subjects we have to shut out cat in the back part of the house or he will wake me up continually through the night. Occasionally at bedtime he will hide and wait until the light goes out so that he can sleep on our bed. He has some very sneaky hiding spots. A few months ago we had to cancel a vet’s appointment because as soon as I mentioned pulling out the cat box he vanished only to reappear about ten minutes after I had left for a meeting. I think he has a Tardis someone in the house.

I enjoyed the article you put the link to. Only a few days to go. I am currently re-watching a selection of episodes from the past two series. I do wish Capaldi was staying on for at least one more series after this one.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@mudlark your posts are always interesting. I enjoy reading everything you write. I would love to have studied archaeology along with history but it wasn’t an option.

I was really born on the tipping point from “old world” to new. I recall some of the last vestiges of that “old world”. When I was very young there was a shop over the road which still sold unpackaged items. They weighed dry goods such as flour and tipped the flour or sugar from the scales into brown paper bags and spun then so the ends twirled. I used to be fascinated by that. I remember being bought a single biscuit. The shelves resembled those of shops one sees now in heritage theme parks. Our milk was delivered by a milkman with horse and cart and the baker came to the back door, unwrapped loaves of bread in a cane basket. By the time I was a teenager my parents shopped in supermarkets. That old world had vanished, the local deli turned into a drug selling dive, the small grocers shops boarded up and the dairy had been taken over.

I did not mean that the recent history is not interesting. I have spent the last year researching my local region in the period from 1850 to 1900 approximately and I still have a lot more work to do. It is just that we have only 150 years of built/recorded history in South Australia so there is a lot less of it and the main interest is in the social history.

@winston your dig sounds interesting and you are building up a picture of the inhabitants of the farm from their waste. We have only found fragments in our garden. The most interesting and intriguing item we have found was a iron needle-like object about thirty centimetres long embedded point up. It looked as though it was intended to be some kind of trap.

@arbutus Yes. Time for some Who related discussion. (I keep forgetting which thread I am posting in) I started writing before reading to the end of the posts so have yet to follow the link then I will try to stay “on topic”.

Cheers

Janette

 

 

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

@thane15 Yes that sounds like Ballarat. I fled when I was eighteen never to return but for the brief obligatory family visit. I do love the lake/glorified swamp and Sovereign Hill and I admire the way they have promoted their heritage, putting back all the shop verandah posts that my father had removed. The appearance of the town has certainly improved since I left, (and Dad retired).

Sad news about John Clarke.

@mudlark I am always envious of you British archaeologists. You have so many layers of history to study. Nomadic peoples leave little trace and, though what information there is is all the more precious for being so rare, there is so much less to find. Archaeology of the past hundred and fifty years isn’t so appealing, even if there is plenty of it to be found in our backyard. Our dog is always digging up bits of china and broken glass.

In the local region nineteenth century farmers did not rotate crops or keep fields fallow because their lots were too small. They burnt the stubble in autumn and ploughed in the ash. (A practice which still goes on today.) The resulting impoverishment of the soil led to increased crop susceptibility to disease making their farms even less sustainable. One of the reasons this state is littered with ruined stone cottages.

@bluesqueakpip

Welcome back.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@thane15 the mention of marzipan (which I love) reminds me we are about to make Swedish Semlor, (lent buns) which are filled with a very sweet almost paste. I think I will leave that task to R.2 however as he is much better at baking than I am it seems. I will stick to making Jammy Dodgers after the Hot Cross Bun disaster. I can manage biscuits.

@mudlark I am a terrible proof reader. I do read through my comments before posting but am incapable of noticing all the glaring errors until I have posted. It is difficult to proof read one’s own work because we know what it is meant to say but my errors are inexcusable. Recently I sent an article to a friend for a E-Zine (about Dr Who of course). I reread it more than once but only noticed the typos when it went out. eek. My eldest son is now my editor though it is difficult to keep him to task.

Burmese are lovely cats. We think our moggie has a little Burmese in him as his fur is rusty brown in the sun and he has that gentle personality.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@thane15 and @missy

I grew up in Ballarat which at one time had a high population of Chinese miners. Every time there was a celebration the Chinese would provide dragon dancers and fireworks. Despite the claims that there was no intermarriage I knew several people who were descended from the Chinese including at one time the Mayor. There are now many more people living in Australia with Chinese cultural roots as a result of post war immigration so yes Chinese history is “relevant” to Australians and as Thane has pointed out, all history is relevant because it is about the world we live in.

cheers

Janette

 

 

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