A couple playing Cosplay

Last week. As I was getting on the train.

My eye, was drawn to the young lady here. Who was with her boyfriend. They were off to an event , for the long weekend

I asked permission to take a picture, and they agreed

 

A touch of colour on my way to work

Good luck Kate

Well done

Lord Essex 's way is the only way (Short Story )

Prologue.

It rained hard. The roof had been breached here and there. The Aldermen and Mayor of Bristol had made flowery speech after speech. Praising him, as a second Edward to hammer the Irish, rather than the scots. Calling for good weather and good fortune. Bishops, Parsons, and their fat and dull wives ate like tomorrow would be doomsday. 

A fool tumbled. Another fool stumbled over the bagpipe while his fellow mishandled a lute

His head still felt no better

Tomorrow he would be in a leaky cabin, with half the company sea sick.  If he was really lucky he would drown, but no he would live and than  he would be chasing kernes, in the forests and across the bogs.  He was a Devereux, in him was the blood of Kings, True Kings but may as well have been in the gaol waiting the hangman. 

Tomorrow Troy would fall, as the Gods willed but Virgil's hero  had loyal countrymen and friends by his side. Essex was   only by slander and whispers. Cut throats and knaves ate his meat and drank his wine

He should be King. It was his natural station He would hang the traitors. He would be bring quiet The Kingdom would be restored to rights. Even the Wild Irish understood that the herd had to be lead by a stallion

He had not heard what the rogue in front of him said. He would wager, it was bad news. Probably  cries for coin, or another fool he would have to hang, or that there was plague spreading amongst the ranks

``Say again?’’

``My lord, The Lord Cecil is dead. Died in his bed, he will not rise till doomsday’’

Robert Deverueux the Earl of Essex, looked to the heavens, and proclaimed

``This is the Lord's doing and it is glorious in our eyes’’

Than called for more wine, and tossed the knave a good gold coin. There was much to do.

*********************

The letters of the Venetian ambassador

``With the Death of the Lord Cecil. His great young rival Lord Essex, made his way back to London. Essex had been  chosen to lead against Tyrone The Great Irish rebel  Enough of his army followed him, either as an excuse to desert, or they believed that the young lord was going to rid the country of  traitors. They were joined back along the road to London, by the meanest sort. The sturdy beggars That the English are always afraid will cause mischief  That little piece of fortune telling came true.

When Essex did reach London, the mechanics had already begun to riot. Essex, did make some attempts to keep order. He hanged some looters on Chiswick Green on the way to London.

From then on reports are confused. Essex's men clashed with the Queen's forces at some point.  

The city having been barricaded and the militia called out. It seems Essex moved south, either to get to the river Thames and perhaps seeking a ship to escape. Or  to maneuver to reach a weaker point in the cities defenses. To draw away the Queens forces and strike 

The Earl of Essex Corpse was discovered a day later. It had been stripped, in the confusion.

 The whisper is that it was Elizabeth herself that confirmed it was Essex. Robert Devereux Head  now adorns Traitors Gate. I have never seen the English in such a state of excitement’’

Father Tamariz ,Chaplain of the Santa Fe 

``Our ships landed at Teeylin on the North West Coast of Ireland. The crew sang the Salva Regina, as we sighted land. The harbour at Teeylin was large enough for a three ships. A few leagues away, at Senglen. Two more Ships landed. The main part of the squadron made its anchor at Killbegga.

There was ample fresh water, in the vicinity.

A company of Irish horse met us on the beach. There were about 4 score of Irish foot. They had long knives like the Bernese. We made our way inland to join the forces of the Great O’Neill’’

Many of the common people came out to greet us, they asked for wine.

From the Governor of CarrickFergus Castle to the Viceroy in Dublin

``Our stores are low, and our shot nearly spent. The Spanish harass us by sea, and the Wild Irishe, by land. If we are not relieved soon, we shall be lost. The Spanish, have been gathering up all the boats they can find, we fear they will try and cross the sea’’

From the letter of the Great O Neill to the men of Alba.

``In the name of the holy Church, we ask you to join us. His most Catholic Majesty and I will support you, in all your efforts. Take up arms, against the despoiler James. Take up arms against the English, Take up arms, against the Heretics. Let Scotland and Ireland, free themselves as the Israelites were lead out of Egypt’’

From the letters of Venetian ambassadors

`A few Spanish ships, managed to slip down the Irish sea, where they attacked the port of Bristol. The cessation of trade since the Spanish landed in Ireland. The taxes and the cost of loans, have created great Than came the news Scotland. King James was dead, and his son a hostage of the wilde Irish and Spanish. There were stirrings in the Northumberland. The mob in London is excited.

The Queen is very sick. She has fallen under the spell of a new favorite’’

The Treaty of Dover 1600 between  Elizabeth, the Queen of England, Ireland and France, and the Stadtholder of Orange

``Her Majesty is pleased to accept the crown of the Netherlanders. She guarantees to uphold and defend the ancient liberties of the Netherlands, to rule justly, and to defend the Netherlands with even her life’s blood...

The Stadtholder will muster a force of a 1000 foot for the most immediate dispatch to England’’

The Journal of Father Tamariz of the Santa Fe’’

``We wintered in Ireland. The Great O’Neill, received the surrender of the lords of the Pale. The O Neil endeavored to keep his followers, the rude a Irish under some semblance of discipline. The summers fighting had left the land denuded. The land was plagued by wolves

The young prince Henry, remained a hostage in the court of the O Neill. There was  word that he has converted to the true faith. That the principle lords of Scotland, would come over to our side.

The Irishry in Scotland returned to their hills, and islands, for the winter’’

Order in council from the Regent of England sent to the council of the North. Winter 1599

``My lords, in the name of the Queen, I bid thee, to muster as many foot and horse, as you are able, and to converge on Whitehaven, under my Lord the Earl of Sussex.

Letters from the Venetian ambassador

``The English Regent, commanding the Army himself, sailed from Whitehaven, rather than Bristol. Landing In Ireland, he surprised the Spanish and their Irish allies. The Spanish fleet having been drawn out from the safety of the Irish ports to fight the Netherlanders. The Netherlanders in alliance with the Regent had sent their ships into the waters around England.’’

The Annals of the Four Masters

``The coast of Ireland were ravished by the Saxon, and the Frisians. Never since the coming of the Danes, did the Irish suffer like this

The Lords of Ross, Uist and Jura were killed by the Saxon . The Lord of Harris, was killed by the Saxon

The Island of Iona, was sacked by the Saxon.

A great battle at...  Many 

Manuscript ends at that point

The Treaty of Galway 

The Regent of English will allow the Irish rebels a fortnight to make safe passage to Spayne. Any wildeman Irish caught bearing Arms, outside the city of Galway  will be executed.

The Wilde Irish, are to disarm..

Letter to Philip 3^rd of Spain, from the O Neill 1602

``to His most Catholic Majesty,

``Sir I humbly beseech you, give us arms, and supplies, and we will face your enemies, always and everywhere. I have borne arms for you, I implore you not to forget us’’

Letter from the Venetian Ambassador to London

``The Army of the Irish, even after all this time, enrages the English. The Spanish had deployed them, against the Moors. Far away from the fighting in the Netherlands The English still raged, and with the English Armies marching across Holland...

Letter from his Most Catholic Majesty to the Army of the Irish. 1610

His most Catholic majesty remembering the great service, and many hardships done in both the service of Himself and the Holy Church, and acknowledging the inability of the Kingdom of Spain to repay the debt, informs his loyal servants, that he offers them a grant of land, in The lLnd of Our Lady of  Buenos Aires.

An old Soldiers life.

		World War Two Currency VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Doctor Who, The Almost people

Review and overview of the Doctor Who episode. ``The Almost people''
(Fixed the damn typo)

LISTEN TO RIVER SONG

SPOILERS!


Re watching the episode on I-player. I think I may have been a little harsh to Mr Williams. Rory goes after Jennifer, as he is simply worried about her. A good nurse, cares.
Rory fears Jennifer will do herself a mischief .  I am just heartless.
The story ended last week, with the discovery that the Doctor had been copied, by the living matter. We heard a Ganger Doctor rambling, as the Humans barricaded themselves into the Chapel.

The copy of the Doctor begins to have seizures and speak
One day we will get back-the First doctors words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97nYJiGuS9E&NR=1

Repeated at the beginning of the five doctors

``Reverse the polarity of the neutron flow''. The Third doctor
Jelly baby- was that tom bakers voice?
why why- Did I hear David Tennant?
Hello Hello
recerse the jelly baby

Hold on, hold on. The Doctors reaction to his flesh copy, is purely compassionate. He embraces him, and tries to reassure him
The gangers are still banging at the door. The Scot, and Cleeves are brandishing, tools, For there last stand. It looks likes
``I think I like it better when they were being noisy’’ Everything has gone quiet for a moment, than the Gangers realise that if your working in a place with acid that dissolves stone. The walls are made of stone. Than you can.
Cybermats get a mention. The Ganger doctor is still adjusting to the change. Perhaps there should be a special assembly  Another bit of continuity porn. I think the line is that they kill, using brainwaves. I thought they injected you.  Anyway the Wheel in space
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wheel_in_Space
Oh, so the name John Smith comes from there. On lovely a nice bit of symentry, and always nice to learn something new
``Why would we have guns we are are a factory? we mine acid’’. Well, than its an acid mine, rather than a factory. Or to be pedantic a refinery. A factory originally was a place where you sold goodies to other countries. 
The Double Doctors, talk, and brag. A little light relief. After the pain of birth and the drama of the siege
ahh the boots, changed. The flesh replicates a body and clothes. Which is interesting in itself. One would assume than that one can clone animals and plants using the flesh. One can copy clothes, and food. If clothes and food. Than you can can feed and clothe the world. The flesh, is a big change
The original doctor lost his shoes. In an acid leak, in last weeks episode. Well, that’s good. Don’t want the doctor slipping on the stone floors  Though where did The Dotor get the boots from  from. Did he take them off, Buzzer. Marshal Lancaster, who I referred to in last week by his name from Ashes to Ashes. Chris Skeleton. Anyway, the new Doctor wears black shoes, and the old wears brown boots
That’s interesting. Blue collar white collar. Brown boot, black shoe-Class
``Shes very good at sarcasm’’. Indeed. Miss Pond is, do you remember. The Did you wish really hard line from the Doctors wife. Still makes me smile
flesh bodies, discarded. The eyes of one open. It reminds me of the faces of the people who sort immortality at the tomb of Rassillon. From the five doctors,
The gangers get inside, the Chapel  They still have those pikes. However the Humans and the two doctors and the lovely miss Amy have escaped down, a convenient ventilation shaft. So how many entrances does the chapel have?
Jennifer Lucas, staring at flesh on the wall. I am reminded, God knows why that sewers, have a layer of fat on the wall, from the effluence.
Rory is still looking for Jennifer. The Ganger and Human war, has passed him by,
The Acid leaks, have not got any better in the mean time  The Acid, is reacting with the stone. Which is making a gas. Again, this begs the question, why would you place a refinery. I am sorry a factory in a place where the stone will react with it and make a dangerous by product. Can they not build an offshore platform, and slant drill in the future.
Cleeves has a headache, shes had tests,  the Doctor tells her it can be cured. Just not on earth. The humans decide to converge on the  evac tower. Which can be easily defended. So why didn’t they head there in the first place?  Once again I will notice that the evac tower is a tower, made of stone in a place where you mine acid.
Oh and its a medieval monastery tower. I guess some one really did have the archaeologists shot
The bells, the bells. Who is ringing them?  Are they automated? They installed automated bells, but they decided to let people mine acid. That could destroy the  Its also Adams birthday. The ganger and Human version of the Scottish man. Jim. Talk about there son
The eyes are the last to go. Would the teeth, and the bones not be the last to go, eyes are nice and fleshy, and they rot. Fish eat them
Why?
In India there are over 10 million Gangers. Which means that India has come up in the world. Union Carbride, and the plight of the untouchables are very much in the past. Which is a mercy.  But wasn’t the Flesh supposed to be a top secret project. Though there are millions of Gangers running around in India
The Ganger version of Jennifer Lucas, is preaching. The quiet factory girl, who had a crush on Rory, has gone all Norma Rae. Or perhaps Rosa Luxemborg
Revolution. yes my dear, you will start a revolution. People you have worked with for years, have fried ganger versions of there workmates, the army are about to sweep in and kill everyone. That said she would not be the first fool, with a vision. The psychosis to keep carrying on with it
``They will melt you’’ They will leave you to rot, on the floor. Not even dump you at sea. Would not Flesh, be a disease sink.
decommissioned-executed. The world comes up with more words for killing
Jennifer does remember, the deaths of the gangers, who went before. The others don’t. This does explain, why her character suddenly goes postal. She is remembering hundreds thousands of deaths that went before hand. Anyway despite The gangers swear a pact, . US or them. Cleaves who killed the ganger version of Skelton-Buzzer. Now seems to be less keen on killing. Or at least willing to hand the role to experienced professional
Ganger Jennifer, has a plan, to take the Island, and than take over the world. No Manic laughther
The  Double Doctors finish each other sentences. A little comic relief, after the plans for global bloodshed, and war.
Tardis is still  stuck, Which is why the Doctor cannot escape in it. The Two Doctors sing, the praises of the Tardis. As they fix the wiring
``Tough dependable sexy’’ So the name that the Doctor gave the Tardis from the ``The Doctors wife’’ is used openly. The Doctor than said he only called the Tardis Sexy, when they were alone
How did the flesh, read you? 
Don’t call me Pond. Amy is noticeably cold towards the Ganger doctor. Well done Karem 
You feel more affection for him, than me. Being almost the doctor, you might as well call me john Smith. Another bit of continuity. Indeed. Amy is almost pregnant.
St Johns calling the mainland. The name of the monastery is St Johns. Interesting. I presume its fictional.
Cleeves sends a message to the military We  need you to take us, off the Island. Wipe them out the gangers. The military in the future will not have boats. Though they will own acid . alt doctor notices this.
Amy is talking about her feelings towards the two doctors Really there can be only one. Was that not the plot of Highlander?
The ganger doctor stares at Amy. This is a great performance by Matt Smith. He really exudes menace. When he plays the Ganger Doctor. Its a look, or a gesture. You feel scared for Amy.
Amy looking at the wall-The woman with the eye patch. The ganger Doctor sees her, he see’s Amy wince.
``Its in my head.  why, why,’’ The Ganger Doctor grabs Amy. One of the darkest moments of the series so far.
Amy tells, the Ganger Doctor, that she saw him die
This is a big deal. It means Amy does not see the Ganger Doctor, as the Doctor. Its probably understandable. An identical copy, may be dangerous. It may be more than the Human mind, can comprehend. However Amy (Karen G and the episodes director plays it right.
The Ganger doctor and Amy, step out of the chapel. Which Is interesting as I think the Chapel, was described as having only one entrance. If there is another way, into the chapel, why didn’t the gangers try to storm the  Why why. As Jennifer said. The Alternate doctor realises what’s happening. The flesh wants revenge. This revelation does not go down well with the humans who, tell the ganger Doctor to sit, on a barrel, where they can see him easily. Buzzer-DC Skeleton. Marshall Lancaster.

Rory confronts, the two jennies'. they fight. One limps. She shows him, her scars. The two fight, and one is killed. Dissolves in the acid. Despite Rory’s admonishment that fighting each other is pointless. In the real world would Rory not have said Cat fight. Tried to dissolve there clothes anyway  One kills the other.
The sonic screwdriver can detect the differences between Gangers and Humans. The Doctor tosses his screw driver to his erastz counterpart
Am I crazy doctor?
I need you to trust him, there is that phrase again. The Doctor said it, to Amy in Flesh and stone
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flesh_and_Stone
Oh no it was not the real Jen. It was a ganger version of Jen. Evil  Ganger Jennifer uses Rory to circumvent a safety protocol. That will cause an acid explosion
The Gangers have been eavesdropping on there human counterparts. They will let Jennifer blow up the Island, and than  re route the shuttle to the courtyard. Foreman Cleves, having taken the advice of the Oracle at Delphi Cleaves, Knows herself,

(gnōthi seautón = "know thyself) So Foreman Cleaves pretends to be a person and tells the shuttle that The code word is bad boy.
Rory comes across The discarded flesh. The bodies have decayed, of used and superseded gangers. There eyes opening, reacting to the light and movement. Are they thinking? Are they alive?.  Rory is horrified, he has been a difficult journey this episode. Remember her would have rather been att home with wife
``Who are the real monsters?'' Well indeed, and a nice question. However the problem is that monsters are kind of dangerous, and moralising about them does not help

Jennifer is big on Ganger pride
Jennifer, leads Rory, into a room, with an door, with a hermetic seal. A submarine door if that is easier for you to picture. The Humans get trapped on the wrong side.
The eyes have it. Why are they here. To accuse us.Nice little piece of psych ops. However is does point to the gangers being really different. If the eyes react to light and movement. So gangers actually see with there eyes, rather than see through there eyes. There is a difference between the school
In the middle of this, Buzzer. notes he Should have been a postman like me dad. These are not space marines. Or the crew of the enterprise. These are ordinary people. Though, one wonders what the are delivering in the late 21st century.
Buzzer confronts, ganger  Jen, over the murder of her human counterpart. Jen I am stronger buzz. Her Jaw drops to make her look less human. She kills Buzzer. Why does her jaw have to drop, why not send a spike of flesh through the jugular.
The Island  is going to blow sky high. There will no escape for our heroes.
There is a way out. There is a way out. A tunnel, Which no one noticed before. The Gangers in the courtyard, come across the alternate doctor They can recognise there own
`Call me Smith, John Smith''. Matt Smith, is terrifying here.
The world should see that. So Rory your going to tell the world, about the plight of the super secret gangers, and the world will ignore the century you come from. Allowances can be made, for Rory’s shock. Oh wait Rory is a nurse. Hence he went after Jennifer. Nurses, have to deal with dead bodies. With multiple dead bodies, with shit and blood. Could Rory not see the Medical benefits. Spare part surgery, that could last forever.
The little girl, got strong.
Oh glowing eyes.  Oh no its not Jen. Its a Gou’ald Kneel before Jen.
``All the humans in all the world. You picked the one with the clot'' Cleves vaunts over her counterpart.
Rory,  is angry that  Jens dead. I was worried something very bad, was going to happen, to Rory. Matt Smith, is not the Bunk beds are cool, Fezzes are cool Doctor here
Rory is trying to get out, of the room, he locked in behind the huge metal door. He apologies, poor Rory, he has tried to do the right thing, and it seems to have come back to haunt him. No to kill him, in a terrifying way
Than the Calvary arrives. The Doctors card, that was up his sleeve. A simple phone call home
Adam’s holo call to his father. The Ganger Doctor, or John Smith gives the lad a bit of advice, start with Chocolate for breakfast, and if your not sick by lunchtime. Your not doing it properly. Advice that I am sure went down well, with all the parents watching. Oh well it could have been worse. The doctor could have said, a Drum, was the best possible present.

A change of heart. The Gangers turn off the acid overload, Cleaves and sneezy, go to help there human counterparts
The scot gets acid burns, on his chest. They dissolve his clothes, this would be a really horrible way, to die. Though mercifully a brief one.  Though remember Jen remembers this, she remembers hundreds thousands of deaths
``I am quite handsome, from this angle’’ A wee boast, and some Gallows humour quite Scottish,  I am sorry, I am the fake. Adam, deserves his real dad. What you
Jimmy Wiggs, your a dad. The real Jimmy dies and his ganger, inherits. Remember how the doctor described it, bequeathed.
Amy slaps Rory. When they are reunited. A nice touch, She did that before.
A father talks to his son, on his birthday. As his son dances. The World of tardises, and gangers, is forgotten. Humanity breaks out, amongst the inhumanity
meanwhile Jennifer becomes ganger monster. I suppose one could say, that the Flesh has consumed her. The desire for revenge has driven her mad. However she has been given the memories of all those deaths, who would not go mad.
The human guy with the name, I can’t remember.( The Doctor would not like that)  The lad who had the sneezes in the earlier episode. Runs off to a heroic sacrifice. To close the far door, as the Jennifer monster bounds down the corridor. An enclosed space. Perfect for the use of a pike. Again why does Jennifer have to become a thing, why not let her keep her human form, and keep killing.
The Tardis falls through the floor, and into our hero's laps. Can you say deux et Machina. Speaking of events necessary to bring the plot forward. Why did Jennifer, and Jennifer alone know about the tunnel under the crypt. Did she find it, when they were all unconscious after the storm him. Did she find it, and never mention it to anyone.
Ganger cleaves herself. As does John Smith,
The Ganger Doctor, was not a fake. He was the real Doctor. Amy wants him to stay. She remembers the events of the Impossible astronaut. She wants a spare Doctor to sacrifice. If the Ganger doctor dies, than her Doctor can love
Rory, wants to Amy to get into the Tardis. He does not speak, but you see him beginning to pace, and fidget.
``Push, Amy but only when she tells you to’ The Ganger version of  the Doctors last words to Amy. Amy had told him he was going to die.
’This is my  factory, well I am wondering about the use of the word factory there. However I will let it go.
As ganger Cleeves and John smith face down the Jennifer monster we get a final touch of continuity porn ``Geronimo’’  From the Big Bang of course. The Doctor, Cleaves and the Jennifer Lucas Monster are dissolved.
The energy from the Yardis will stabilise the gangers. Well that is awfully convenient.  We would not want to have to accept people who are just like us on the inside but have a outward differences Also Cleaves brain clot is cured, by the doctor.
A father meets his son, by the seaside. With Red Balloons, the silly world of Time travel, is put away for the little Human miracles
Cleeves and Sneezy, go off to the press conference. Cleeves has been cured. The secret project that they were working on, is now out in the open.
The Tardis disappears into space. From the outside of a press conference, at the HQs of an important building. With links to the Military industrial complex
``Breath Pond,  I told you to breath’’
Amy breathes and doubles in pain. Doctor, what is wrong with her Rory asks. The Medical training has gone out
Contractions she is going into Contractions. Wait she does not look that pregnant
The Doctor give a speech which includes the word shenanigans, he mentions he likes it. The speech struck me as Ice cold. He points his screwdriver at Amy. Writing this, I am reminded of the fact that the police, will take a screw driver off, you if they find you with one in the street,
Oh my God Its not AMY. It can’t be
Amy was pregnant. So I presume, the copy copied,
Rory leaves Amy’s side. He lets go of her hand
``Doctor I am frightened’’  Amy speaks for the Audience. Millions of people drew there breath.

******************
We see Amy pond, in a white medical outfit
Well dear, your ready to pop.
Push, push,
To be O BE Continued

It was a wow ending. I was suprised. I was a little disapointed. that Rory did step back. He must trust the Doctor absoultely.

WAIT WHAT JUST HAPPENED. YOU CANNOT KILL GANGERS. TAKING GANGERS INSIDE THE TARDIS STABILIZES THEM. OK. SO WHAT DID THE DOCTOR DO TO GANGER AMY??????

Seriously, what just happened?

It makes no sense. Ganger-Amy was terrified. Why is Ganger Amy less than than Ganger Doctor or Ganger Jimmy. Why not hand her a hot plate

Okay so The powers that be, what a Rory and the Doctor episode. okay thats cool, so why does Ganger Amy have to die.

What happened there. If the Ganger version of Jimmy deserves to live, than why does the Ganger version of Amy not. WHY WHY WHY. Why does the pregnant version of Amelia pond deserve to die. It is death by the way. Why is her child less important that Scots Jimmy

There was a change of premise, here. The first episode, had the Gangers, has a super secret. Here there are millions across the world. Here the military contractors, take a press conference.

The episode moved away from the workaday world of the first episode in the two parter. Though there were traces of it. The Black shoe, brown boot moment. Buzzer talking about his Dad the Postman.

Lets Talk about Jen. Jen remembers dying. Okay, so play that hand out, she remembers dying, and

This was an actors show case. Matt Smith, playing John Smith-Ganger Doctor. He took the Doctor, we know and added, a hell of a lot of menace. The scenes with him staring at Amy, were difficult, the scenes of him pushing Rory away were frightening. Well done Matt Smith, he was a hell of a long way away, from ``Fezzes are cool''

Indeed, the three principles did a good job. Amy, showing real fear at the end. Yes that last scene did disturb me, as well as her, playing a slighty bitchier more selfish version of herself, she did not really want to see the Ganger version as her doctor as the same person

SADLY the show subverted the point

If Gangers are Human, than what happens to ganger Amy is murder. The Doctor killed her, and he killed for nothing.

Jen, the ganger remembers scores if not hundreds of deaths. Thats enough to drive you crazy. Her existence is wretched. Also Jen becomes a monster. She physically becomes a monster. What is the message here. Those who are traumatized by the memories of a terrible past are dangerous?

Either the deaths matter of they don't.

Jen has a point. Either Gangers are beings or they are not. So the Acid deaths, and the disposals of the gangers, is either murder or it its not. The episode, kills of people too easily. This has been a problem in Doctor who, there have been a lot of fortunate deaths. The Fly people in Planet of the Dead.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_of_the_Dead

Rory earned his money The moments where he realized that ganger Jen, had betrayed him, was chilling. For a moment, you saw a good man, who had swam right out of his death Matt Smith pushing him aside too, added to it.

great performances, and a shock ending despite change the poor premise of the episode

Happy birthday Nessa

Jeff Conaway

Jeff Conaway

October 5, 1950 – May 27, 2011

Kenickie-Wheeler-Sgt. Zack Allan

Actor-Husband-New Yorker

Rest in peace.

Unanswered Pop Culture questions

What was so efficient about Madge Ramsey's filing system?

In Hero's season 2. If 90 percent of the Human race are dead. Why would you bother extradting Catlin back to Ireland? Why not put her to work in the field. Is she really worth the weight in fuel. Or simply just shoot her?

Who cast ``Nelson'' from Ashes to Ashes-Life on Mars. So the Guy who plays St Peter, at the gates of Heaven in Ashes to Ashes is now starring as the main receptionist in Holby City?

Now we have Space Archaeology, surely its only a matter of time before we find the remaining cities of Gold?

Why did they kill of Hagman and Harris at Sharpe's waterloo, that really upset me

Round up 26th May

I miss Valya

I may start another blog. This will be a prequel to sleeping under the cross.

It will tell, the story of how Hugh and his people came to South America

It should be short, 5000 words.

My sister has tonsillitis, I hope she gets well soon. Even though she is adopted

I may go with my family, well my mother and her brother and sisters to New England, in October

I would prefer to go to South America.

Happy Birthday Kate

všechno nejlepší k narozeninám

Many happy returns, and good luck with your studies

Frank's World War Two Papers

My mother looks after an old woman. Elsie. Elsie's last living relative is a man called Frank. Frank,is not long for the world. However before he was an old and sick man. Frank was a husband, a music lover and he was a soldier in WW2. Some of his things came into my possession.

Sharpe - Over the Hills and far away MP3 Download

The Rebel Flesh Doctor Who

As last weeks review of the Doctors wife, got so many hits. Why not try again
Last weeks episode can be read here
 http://malchera.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Doctors%20wife.%20Doctor%20who
This is the second two part episode of the season.
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
SPOILERS

DON’T YOU LISTEN TO RIVER SONG?
Spoilers
Spoilers

There is no health and safety in the future. We see a trio of workers in space suits. Carrying pikes, walking down a corridor. They come to a room. Which  the set designers were told to describe as Industrial. There are  analogue displays, and pipes on and a large vat. One of the workers stands on the rim of the vat. Chatting casually to each other. He falls into the acid. The Acid dissolves him, the two continue talking. One of the workers. An older man. With a Scots accent. Complains about the cost, of acid suits.
As a man drowns and dies
His indifferent co workers walk off. The scot complaining about the cost of an Acid suit. No stereotype there. I remembered most Blazing saddles. The Cowboys rescuing a hand car from quick sand.
In the corridor, we see a drowned man, alive and well, and raising the question of workman’s compensation.
Oh so its acid. Not space. Okay that is different
Its the bad guy from Pyschoville.

There is also Chris Skelton from Life on mars.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Skelton
  Sadly there was no nod to the camera? No wink and and a crafty allusion to Life on Mars? You remind me, of a friend I had.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0799591/
There is a dart board in the Tardis.  Amy and Rory are playing, while the Doctor is still scanning Amy, who has achieved a medical first. Amy is well a little bit pregnant

UPDATE:

The Song, playing in the Tardis is here. While Rory and Amy play darts

Its Supermassive Black hole by Muse

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tugqHunwDA


``Who wants fish and chips? ‘’ The Doctor plans to drop Rory and Amy off, and do something
There is a solar storm. Now I don’t really talk about science. As its not my bag, and its Doctor Who. Which plays fast and loose. However we have seen the Tardis manipulate Black holes, and draw the entire planet earth back into its rightful place in the galaxy. It just seems small beer. Last week the Tardis left the universe.
So our heroes arrive in England somewhere outside a monastery.
Rory’s mom liked Dusty Springfield.   This is the first time she has been mentioned. We have seen Amy’s family. Her Aunt, and her parents at the wedding. We have seen Rory’s friends. No mention of his family. You would have thought Amy might have picked that up, rather than Rory. Would not little Amelia pond, the orphan have warmed to Rory’s mom. Well it was just a thought
Medieval monastery is huge. Reminds me of the Name of the rose.  Wait is it Lindisfarme? The medieval monastery rather than the band. It would be in the right place.
The Time travellers set off some Alarms, and are confronted. The Doctor uses the old Psychic paper gambit
Contractors. Rather than Army. That's interesting. Is that a nod, to the cousins?  You don’t diss the forces, however the boys from Blackwater are fair game.
Also, a pike? Why do they have pikes? Beyond stirring the acid? A full pike, is a very effective weapon. Half pike, 2m rather 4m, would be more useful for security purposes.
The Doctor and his companions, have arrived on an Island. Where a team, is working on a special project. They are working with very dangerous acid. The type of stuff you want to plumb a medieval monastery. So they have used gangers. Clones or rather avatars. I guess most of you will have seen the movie that will put James Cameron's great grandchildren through college. Well they hook you up and a
A ganger, short for Doppelganger. A ganger is also a railway worker. 
( Why do the Germans have a word for that? Is that a problem in Germany. This question was raised in Blossom, and has not been answered. It would explain why there are places in Germany called Bad Muchegladbach)
On second hand, maybe the Military contractors are up to no good. They are despoiling heritage sites. The Powers that be in the future will be that corrupt.
Plumbing in,is the word used. Thought that was nice. Earthy, and British. Darts and Fish and chips too.
Body and an outfit, are produced by the process. So the living flesh, also produces materials.
Solar router in the shape of a weather vane. Is that to be incognito. Is it
``three lefts, a right and a left’’. Three lefts are a circle surely?
Nice graphic of the solar storm. However would there be a solar storm of that magnitude visible on Earth. Would not the Atmosphere, and the Ozone layer shield the effects?
``A lot can go wrong in an hour’’ A good turn of phrase
My record. The Music being played when, everyone is in the same room Oh its an actual record. So someone persevered a record player. Yet the pump acid under medieval monasteries.
Wait maybe there was a massive reaction to time team. It wasn’t a good one
Isle of Sheppey. A ganger killed his operator. Islands and Rumours. Sheppey is Essex. Not an episode for the Metropolis (Correction, it is in Kent. H/T Rhys George)
The Doctor cooks a microwave meal. It looks like a curry. He passes it to Cleaves the leader of the team. She takes the plate and than suddenly drops it. She does not realise it is hot. The Gangers did not have nerve endings. This won’t work on my dad. His nerves on his hand were severed by a circular saw
``trust me’’ The Doctor Who version of Come with me, if you want to Live?
Oh wait. Rory was an auton…. He was living plastic. Will they finally address it. Will he find common cause, with the gangers, Knowing what it is like to have a set of memories in your head. To remember a world, that never was. Oh no. We won’t do that.
When I was a little girl. I got lost on the moor.  Ganger Jennifer struggles with integrating her memories, and feelings, to the fact that she is plastic. Earlier she had confronted Rory, with her neck stretched like Plastic Man. If you can do all that, why not walk under the sea, back to the mainland?
The girl, (Jennifer) flirting with Rory. She noticed his eyes first. Which is all very well, but Amy, has arrived on an Island, with three men, who have seen no other women aside from there boss, and Jennifer for a while. I commend the professionalism, of the gangers and there human counterparts. Put an attractive person in your work environment and see the stir
Acid leaks over the Island. The Tardis sinks, as the soil is stands upon is corroded away by a leak. The Doctor boots are another casualty
The woman with the eye patch, which we saw in the pirates . Appears again. Amy opens the door, as she is trying to make her way down, a dark and dangerous corridor. I know its foreshadowing. Seeing the Woman twice and having her not say anything, is a let down. We want to be teased. Give us a little more
The Doctor meets the gangers, and there human counterparts. He makes fun of the North of England accent. Interesting. The Doctors dress, and accent, are quite southern, almost Oxbridge, or at least a good southern redbrick university no?
The Doctor has the same shoe size, as my brother. Size ten, and very wide feet. Its very difficult to find, wide shoes.  What is also difficult, is that my Mother buys him, shoes for Christmas. That are normally a size too small.
These are not copies.  The two Scots, talking over the birth of their son. Both of them remembering the details. Who would go and see the son, on his next birthday.  The writers had the Human and ganger versions of themselves chat and complain about each other. Very nice touch
They killed Chris Skelton. You Bastards!
``Us and them’’ Its almost the same thing that happened in the hungry Earth.  Okay, so the Gangers have the memory of there hosts. They want to get home, but they must realise they are different. They can move their heads 180 degrees. These are not people they don’t know. They are killing themselves, and there friends. Now people do commit suicide, and they do kill there wives and children. Why the sudden hostility. Why can the Gangers not stay on the Island.  Why can they not follow the lives through Face book. There is an earlier joke about Lawyers advertising compensation claims, via Holovision, or some such. There are so many solutions. Does Jennifer have a husband? Why does the Doctor just not take her away on the Tardis, once the Tardis is dug out of the ground

I suppose being military contractors the Workers may be disposed to violence, contradicting the dialogue earlier, but still. The storm will pass. There Island is not the World. Why the murderous fury. Yes I have heard, human beings do not like near copies.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley
The Gangers are able to look more human .they look just like your co workers. Your friends Why do you want to murder them?
Rory and Amy and discussing, the events over the body. Just audible. There actually not discussing. There bickering. Rory is justifying himself. Just like couples do.
With the death of D Skelton, relations between the Gangers and the Humans break down.
Rory runs after Jennifer. Because that’s what Nurses do. No attempt to save DC Skeleton
The pikes again. Did the Humans have problems with the Gangers, that they did not mention earlier. A pike of that length is an interesting weapon of choice
The Doctor and Amy and the Humans barricade themselves into the Chapel. The Doctor is drawn to a voice
A Ganger Doctor….
``Duh de duh der der duh’
**********
PS. Of course there are no archaeologists in the future. That is why River Song is in Jail!!!
****
An interesting episode. I didn’t enjoy it as much as last weeks episode. Less of a wow factor.  If last weeks episode, was centred on the doctor. This is a work a day episode. This is the Doctor dealing with ordinary people. Who drink too much tea, when there nervous. Who worry about the price of things and listen to Dusty Springfield. Ordinary people, who are pressed into dealing with something extra ordinary.
This is one of the strengths of the series. Star trek suffered from the fact that the characters in the Next Generation, never wanted for anything. They were only motivated by the highest of principles. Never basic human desires. Such as getting a good seat on the train. Earning a little more money, or coming home to Pork chops.
If last weeks episode, was a computer episode. The plot was resolved, by thinking of the Tardis as a computer. If you understand a little about Computers, you would have understood the episode.The plot had the Doctor deleting, and backing up rooms of the Tardis.
This episode was archaic. Analogue displays on the machines, records. No mobile phones, or computers. Yes there is the problem in SF that there are two many solutions the further you go into the future. However you also notice the absence
The foreshadowing, with Amy and the grander plot. I hope makes more sense, when the two episodes are viewed as one. Also the Doctor has been aware of Amy's off and on pregnancy for a while. Should he not be reacting to it?
The question of why the Gangers and the Humans would fight was not answered to my mind, in a satisfactory way. Yes, they have the same memories. Yes they could fight over the remains of there lives. Though there families are distant. Yes, Human beings are instinctively violent. Yes we have turned on each other in the past. We still do, and alas we will do in the future. Them or us, is a rational decision, when there is no chance of sharing. No where else to go. I don't think that was true here. You don't fight over a loaf of bread. If there is a supermarket.

The episode did more with Rory. Having Jennifer notice him, and flirt with him. Its nice that Amy did not feel threatened by this. I guess it follows on from last week, with Idris referring to Rory as the pretty one. However, again I am reminded of the events of the Big Bang. Rory was plastic for a while. He has the memories of two thousand years. Would it not have been cool, to have had remember the monastery.

I will wait for next weeks episode. It felt like this seasons the Hungry Earth, or the Daleks in New York story from a few years ago. Nice, but not spectacular

One of my co workers, is selling off DVD's he no longer wants to watch.

There is a list to choose from, most are horror films and such. Not my cup of tea.

Than I noticed Secretary staring Maggie Gyllenhaal

I chose that, one of course...

``Yeah thought you might like it''

An Open letter to Dara O Brien

Sir,

I have watched you for many years. As a guest comedian, and presenter on the BBC’s comedy panel quiz programs.

Than on to Mock the week. Where I credit you with the show’s success. I think you were able to keep Frankie Boyle under control.

My hard disk drive contains, your shows at the Apollo in London.  I enjoy watching them again and again.

I have even followed the three men in a boat series.  Why only last night I tuned in to watch you on the Apprentice your fired

So it is more in sorrow than in anger I write this.

On Tuesday you met my sister after the Uncut Monkey shows. You simply shook her hand, and greeted her.

I must take umbrage at this matter.

My sister is adopted. Not in the legal sense. She is very much my biological sister.  Yet despite our shared genetic makeup

my sister remains adopted. In a very real, red headed stepchild sense. Imagine if you will, cleaning your cupboards in June,

and finding a can of cranberry sauce. That is my sister.  Remember the TV series ``Streets apart’’ No you don’t that. That is my sister

No one likes her. We have worked very hard at this. My whole family. 

Now we have to listen to her politely, when we should be chasing her away by banging a broom handle on the ground.

I hope you can understand

Yours sincerely

Malchera

Seven complaints

My computer blue screened last night....I could not fall asleep, too much noise last night... We are short handed at work...I have no money... I miss Valya....Its colder....

A Grandmother in the Garden

``An é sin an méid go léir an bac a bhí faoi''

I mistook, the word for Walford
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walford
Albert Square in a classier universe

I bet this typo gets more hits than anything else

The Doctor's Wife, Doctor Who

The Doctors Wife.

( Please leave a coment)

Spoilers
Spoilers
Spoilers
Yes. To quote River song. There are Spoilers here
Spoilers
Spoilers

Neil Gaiman was the favorite writer of my last paramour. Jaqui (the teenage co worker, for those of you keeping track -Valya called her little girl)  She adored his books. I hope she liked this wherever she is.

 I do miss that girl,-she was so smart. This means that Neil Gaiman is the only person to write an episode of Dr Who, and Babylon 5.

The episode starts with a piece of continuity Amy is still brooding over the death we see of a future doctor in the series opener. (The Impossible Astronaut) Rory, tells her not to mention it to the Doctor. We hear knocking on the Tardis door. Despite the fact that the Time travelers are in deep space The door is opened and the Doctor gets a message. A psychic message, in a box. A distress call

The Doctor, mentions an old time lord friend. The Corsair. Firstly, a Corsair is a pirate. 

So I was confused by the choice of the name. It has been stated that Time lords choose their names. 

So I chose the name Pirate, oh and aren't most of the Time Lords who were off travelling renegades timelords. The Doctor is a renegade by the way. This is something that Steven Moffat lamp-shaded in the Pandorica opens. The most dangerous thing in the universe. Actually the Multi verse.

11 Oh and he or she, a few times a real bad girl''. I really hope that line is not cannon. Really. It annoyed me . Gender, actually the correct English word is sex. Is one of the things that defines us, and defines our relationships with others. I am sorry if you don't like that idea. Yes human things have exceptions. Human nature has always divided itself into two. If you have the Doctor changing sex. 

Russell T Davis, hinted that he liked the idea. It makes the character too Alien. It also means its, much harder for the Doctor to travel in the past. A 20-30 something single female is going to wander around medieval Baghdad is she? If you change the Doctors sex. That is gimmicky

(2021 edit -I got used to it)

Anyways.

The Doctor travels through a hole in the universe, to another universe. A mini universe, connected to our own. Where he meets Auntie and Uncle. Idris and an Ood Nephew. The Tardis is drained of power. Its on a rift and it should charge up
The episode feels more like something from the Russell T Davis era. There is the Doctors guilt, over the death of the time lords. The current Doctor seems to have grown accustomed to his guilt and grief. There is an Ood.  It looks as if Russell T still has copyright on them. Little Credit  on the closing credits.

There is quite a bit of continuity porn in this episode actually.

So our heroes land on an asteroid. Earth normal gravity, and air. Though this brave new worldlet smells. The Inhabitants of this rock, in another Universe. Are Uncle and Auntie, Nephew and we later discover. House. Voiced by Michael Sheen. (Nero, David Frost, Tony Blair, Jesus, and Brian Clough)

Uncle is wearing a French Foreign legionnaires uniform. Am I alone in thinking the War Chief? You see renegades have bad names, because there bad.

Idris, I guess was written for Helen Bonham Carter. That's what the look suggests. Anyway she has the soul of the Tardis downloaded into her. So it can burn out safely, leaving the tardis free for House to feast upon. So she can see outside space time. Or rather exists across space time. I could point out, that in a bubble universe the laws of causality may not apply

Biting is like kissing, but there is a winner. Oh and Fish fingers. You see is that a little continuity nod again

When you hear the distress calls, from the time lords. Who have been lost on the House. There is one with a Northern English accent. For a moment, I wondered if that was Christopher Eccleson. 

Is that the Ninth Doctor?

So the doctor wanders off, to find the missing timelords. He sends Rory and Amy back into the Tardis. To look for the sonic screwdriver he has in his other jacket. Which he just fixed the Ood's voice computer a moment ago.

``You want to be forgiven''

Anyway, it transpires that. The House, the sentient asteroid that the bubble universe is centered  on, has been luring Tardises to their doom. The message the doctor received.  The cries for distress he heard, were from long dead timelords. House had scavenged their bodies to make Auntie and Uncle and Nephew. Again, I would point out before the events of the tenth doctor's final season. The Ood were a slave race, so if the Ood came to House in a Tardis. It would not be hitching the ride with a nice person

There are some great lines in this episode. For an episode centered on the Doctor. Karen Gilliam, shines in this episode. She is more than just that long red hair, and those longer legs. She is very well written. Mothering the Doctor, in places. telling him not to get emotional. That is when he makes mistakes.

So, House, with the doctor distracted. Slips into the Tardis, trapping Amy and Rory inside. Once House has gained control of the Tardis, he demands of Amy and Rory, why he should not kill them? Rory points out that he kept Auntie and Uncle, alive for a reason. For entertainment. Killing them quickly would not be entertaining.

That leaves the Doctor to converse with Iris- His Tardis. This is the best part of the episode. Its almost a piece of fan fic. People write stories about what if the Stargate or the USS Enterprise came to life. Indeed there is an episode the ST :TNG based on that premise.

  The difference though Neil Gaiman is a talented writer. The digs at the Doctor and his relationship. We saw this in School Reunion when Rose and Sarah Jane. ( Rest in Peace Elizabeth Sladen) teased the Doctor, about him stroking the Tardis. So as the Doctor and Edris, the Tardis. Try to escape the remains of House. House, now in the Tardis, tortures Amy and Rory. Chasing them down corridors. Turning off the anti gravity, in the tardis.

The doctor flirts and bickers, with Iris. She tells him, like Amy not to be emotional, When her body starts to die. Uncle and Auntie, had expired earlier, and the universe in a bubble will reach critical zero soon. Indeed she mentions that the junkyard of Tardises. Is for her scavenging the parts from the corpses of her half devoured sisters. The Tardis is an intelligent being. The Doctor and her argue. Tardis/Iris points out that the Doctor walks inside the Tardis, by pushing the door, when the doors of police boxes open outwards.( I wonder if this is true in real life. Kudos on the research if it is) She mentions that he has done this for 700 years. When really the Doctor is nine hundred years old or so. Which means that the Doctor spent 200 years before he started travelling. 

The Tardis Idris also subverts the official history of the Whoverse by telling the Doctor that she stole him, she left her door unlocked. Interesting metaphor there. Also the Doctors insistence that he should be able to open the doors, how he wants...

(I could make a joke about mowing the lawn too)

The Doctor complains to Iris that she never took him to places he wanted to go. Seen most recently in, where Amy wanted to go to Rio. ( The Hungry Earth)Iris says no, but she took him to places where he needed to go. This has been the big change in the New series of Dr Who, particularly since Steven Moffat became the chief writer. The Doctor can now, steer the Tardis. ``In Day of the Moon'' The Doctor travels back to save River song falling off a building. Which demands split second timing.Or in the ``Big bang'' when the Doctor goes back in time to get Amelia a drink.  Steven Moffat understands time travel.

Anyway back inside the Tardis. Amy and Rory are still at the mercy of House.
House separates Amy, from Rory. Begins to torture Amy specifically here. Amy is separated from Rory, and when they meet up in a few moments. Rory complains, he was alone for hours. Again they are separated and Amy finds Rory, aged, and bitter. Ranting about her leaving him, again. He was alone for two thousand years. A plot point from the ``The Big Bang'' (*) Amy  third trial, is finding Rory's age corpse, and graffiti on the Tardis wall proclaiming Rory's hatred for her.

Than there is Darkness. House blinds Amy. (Flesh and stone)

Anyway, the Doctor and Iris escape and pursue House. The Doctor, has Iris send ``The pretty one'' a telepathic message. In this case. Its Rory that receives it, much to the doctors bemusement. The Idris sends the two companions to the secondary control room. Its it the Ninth/tenth doctors control room? Rory is given the lead, for a moment. Which is good. (*)

The Doctor, and his Tardis get the Doctor and his Tardis, inside the doctors Tardis! They atomize Nephew the Ood who had been stalking Amy and Rory. To give the viewer something to focus on as a threat.

The Doctor introduces, Irdis, as the Tardis.  Irdis, bosom heaves. Go back and watch the episode. There is a more generous view of her chest, then there was earlier

Amy's line on seeing the Tardis personified as a woman. `` Did you wish really hard'' One of the best in the series so far...

(There is no real need for this picture, by my isn't she pretty)

 House however remains. He threatens to kill them, by removing the air, or upping the gravity in there room. Iris begins to expire, the Doctor makes a deal with House, to guide him into their own universe .

So House throws the Doctor, and the Tardis, into the Brier patch.  Which is bad news for House.

So the episode closes. The Doctor bids a tearful  farewell to Iris, grateful for ``the time they talked'' She gives them a piece of advice, a prophetic sentence for the future. ``The only water is in the forest''

So they fly off to the eye of Orion. The most tranquil place in the Universe. (The Five Doctors) I told you about the continuity

(*) Rory in the events of the Big Bang, spent 2000 years as a Neston. guarding Amy. This seems to be forgotten. Or tagged in now and than. Such as the fact he was trained as a nurse. Its a pity. As I think it has potential. Rory may have have met Timelords in the past. Or at least have been aboard a pirate ship before.

Anyway, it was one of the better episodes of the new series. Possibly in the top 3 of the Matt Smith era. Along with Amy's choice. Vincent and the Doctor. Is that a good thing that guest writers write the better shows? Is the series too arc driven, and would more stand alone episodes make more sense?

Your mileage may vary...

3 simple wishes

 

Why can’t the BBC copy Channel 4. Put all there content online.

Who would not want to watch, Fawlty towers and Black adder. Walking With Dinosaurs and Older Dr Who

 

I wish I could play the Age of Empires rise of Rome demo, in cheat mode. I should explain, Age of empires

rise of Rome expansion was the first version of the Age empires series I played. I would like to be able to tweak the parameters

Actually in the AI’s favour.  To create a longer game, however this is not possible.

 

I wish there was a better hangover cure than water and painkillers

I miss my Valya
I miss my Valya
I miss my Valya
I miss my Valya
I miss my Valya
I miss my Valya

Mr. Men

Mr Men

The other day, was the anniversary of the death of Rodger Hardgreaves. They had a nice picture of his creations, on the Google home page. As as of late I was talking about Paddington bear. I am in a nostalgic mood. I shall recount it here

When my brother and I were very young. We had Mr Men duvet covers. I remember they were stained with paint, in places. The two of us had been touching drying paint. I also had a Mr Men P.E bag, I wonder now, if this was a merely a converted pillow case

My favourite  Mr Man, was Mr Strong. It was one of the first books I read. Or perhaps had read to me. I remember him eating eggs. For breakfast hundreds of eggs. His grip was so strong that he squeezed all the tooth paste out of the tube. I remember feeling very sorry for him, as he would have been unable to brush his teeth

This is a copy of Mr Strong, in Icelandic. I bought it in Reykjavik. When I was there. I thought it would be an aide to learning the language.

If I may spoil some of the plot. Mr Strong saves a farm from fire. He does by picking a barn up, turning it upside down, and dipping it in water. This fascinated me, as the pointed roof of the house looked like a boat.

I also liked Mr Bump, and Mr Rush. Though I am not sure if I read there stories. I may have seen them merely on the Cartoon, narrated by the late Arthur Lowe

So best wishes to the memory of Rodger Hargreaves. Who inspired young minds for decades

A gift from darkest Peru!

Happy Birthday Irina

Happy Birthday Princess

Happy Birthday Robyn

I saw this in Muenster. Those of you on my facebook page, would have seen it already. Its a park bench decorated with the names of sitcoms. Scrubs, and Two and a half Men, out of shot, lies the Simpsons. 

I was tempted to draw a huge phallus but that would be crude

This is a copy of the Venus Kallipygos

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_Kallipygos

Which viewer of  QI may remember

and finally

``I am not a number I am a free man''

12 Questions

Did you manage to sleep this time, the night before your trip?

No, and despite having a few beers, no. Or rather not well. I think I was dreaming at one point. I was up before 6am

Did you have any trouble going there?

Yes the flight to Frankfurt was late. I missed my connection. I had an unwelcome extended layover

How about going through security?

Well maybe it is me, but after I had deplaned in Frankfurt. I had to go through security again. I had to take off my jacket. Understandable as it has a metal zip. I was trying to dash to the the gate, where I was hoping my flight would be. I swear the guy at the metal detector held my box with my jacket back for a few extra  moments

So what did you do at Frankfurt Airport while waiting for the flight?

I sat and waited. I read Bild, and the Washington post. I tried to sleep. I checked my phone. They gave me a voucher and I had something to eat. I didn't get any change from it though

What did you notice first about Munster?

From the Air, there were lots of Windmills. Huge Wind turbines.

Anything else come to your notice?

 Oh yes, the Airport had revolving doors, between the runway and the terminal building. You deplane on steps, and your driven to the terminal building.

What did you do than?

I got a taxi to the hotel, it was 45 euros. If I had done more research and slept better, I would have got the bus. This is where I missed my brother the most. If he had been there, we could have split the fare!

How was your hotel?

Nice enough. I paid for internet upfront. My room, had no view. Though there was a crane outside. I wondered about the driver/operator. I thought I bet he gets a show

So what did you do?
What I normally do, when I am alone in a foreign country. I tried to sleep. I didn't succeed.

Than what?

I showered, and looked up the nearest Irish bar on the net. I set my phone's gps for it, and I went off to find it. I found it easy enough, only going in circles once. Later I found out that either by accident or design, Google had taken me through the streets rather than through the park. However at this point I had no money, and had to find a cash point.

Did you find one?

Yes at a service station. A very pretty girl, walking a dog walked past. I also bought two salami sandwiches. I   than went back to the pub, but I looked around the place for a taxi rank At that point I thought it is dark, and I don't know anyone here, and I am so tired

Why go to a taxi rank?

I was worried about not being able to find my way home. There was something going on, in the building across from the Irish pub. Across from the Hindenbergstrasse, in the park.

So what did you do then?

I went into the pub. I paid Cover, and got my hand stamped for the first time in ages. I drank murphy's draught stout. I listened to a Scottish woman sing covers

Sir Henry Cooper

`Sir Henry Cooper
May 1934 – 1 May 2011


`` Twin,  Husband, Evacuee, Boxer''


You had him on the ropes''