Faculty of Pogonology at the University of Milton North

[DumSpiroSpero]

Time for a new specialism, methinks!

Of course I have heard the terrible news about the quake in Christchurch. I notice one or two people here have connections out there, so I hope that all is well for you personally.

Hey Phoenix, having a busy day here but peeking in occasionally. That's a nice pic even if it is Gizzy , he doesn't look quite as stressed as he does usually!

Hello, Phoenix, How are you? Awful about Christchurch, indeed. I am not too worried about any of my relatives as they live on the other island but everyone with closer connections to the area must be devastated. Trouble is in disasters like this, all the communications seem to go out, or become overloaded, so it is difficult to get news.

On a lighter note, Gizzy is looking particularly fetching in that photo you found. Thanks for cheering me up. I just watched his abortive attempt at getting married today. Poor lamb, but he's so his own worst enemy at times.

Just the DVD with the extras to watch now and then i'll have seen the whole thing. Then on to Sparkhouse

'Ere, Small, wot's wiv' dissin' my Gizzy?
Whaddya mean, even if it's him ?

When you say you have seen the "whole thing" Massive, do you mean all three series, or just series 1?

Phoenix, I have series 1 and 3 on DVD and have seen 2 on TV. Feeling really silly for sniveling at a wedding today

I think that I mentioned I watched Frozen, the other day. Interesting movie, not because I particularly think it is good (which it isn't). It's just one of those annoying often British movies which is very underdeveloped and you just wish that some decent script writer had got hold of it, and made something much better out of it. The acting is pretty good, and there is some potential there, but it doesn't make much sense in the end, and the characters are not interesting enough. Mr A's character was as underdeveloped as the rest of it. You can see all his scenes on YouTube I think. I would not have bought it, if it had not been very cheap, and I would not recommend paying more than I did (about £4). Definitely not compulsory viewing.

I know what you mean, I get really annoyed at that sort of thing, it seems such a waste of time and effort. Yet thoroughly lazy into the bargain. We have now got a thing called Survivors starting on the international Beeb. Is that any good? I don't fancy it much from the trailers.

Julie Graham: ''Everything we knew is being ripped apart''

I watched Survivors with Julie Graham. They made two series, and thought the first was the best, the second just didn't seem to work so well, I think that they should have made it a mini-series and have had done with it. It's a remake of the 1970s ITV series Survivors which you may have seen or heard of before. Worth a watch, I would say.

I see from googling it's a Terry Nation show. which should mean something to me but I've forgotten what. Another thing they are trailing is Jekyll

I tend not to watch too much TV these days -- too busy on here and elsewhere.

Terry Nation developed the original Survivors series - I don't know if he had much to do with the new version though...perhaps. But you have probably heard Terry Nation's name in connection with the original Doctor Who series - didn't he invent the Daleks, or something like that? I know that he wrote a lot of the series anyway.

Jekyll is quite old now, I think...but it's with James Nesbitt!! I did watch it (or some of it) at the time, but can't remember much about it.

Ah, the Daleks. That was it

Other than on fanvids, I have only managed to watch the RH wedding episode once. For some reason they never repeat series 1, and I have only seen it because I borrowed it from the local library, which I can't justify doing again (might as well buy it).

SO based on my single viewing of it, I agree it is rather tragic, more so in retrospect. At the time they made it, I guess that Guy was just supposed to be all-out baddie, but even so, he manages to garner some sympathy. He's just so lost and lonely. Also I think I must be very biased (!!), because I just found the Robin/Marian romance that was developed over the course of that series so utterly dull.

So many problems with that Robin Hood series overall...I do wonder at myself for coveting it!!

He's cruel and a bully, and he has no idea about what women want, and yet he's so vulnerable when he tells her he's never felt like this before, and so on. I think the story arc hangs to together quite well, better than they realised maybe. When you know how events develop later on, you can look back and see the seeds of destruction sown right here.

And of course this is on par with Shakespeare, isn't it?

Or maybe it's down to the Man doing a good job even with third-rate material, so you get caught up in the story.

I only watch RH because Guy is so gorgeous, I must admit. I suppose the other characters serve to keep him running about and doing things

I thought Jekyll was quite good - I think. It was a while ago.

Hello!

Finally heard from my mate - her family are miles away on Rotorua, thank goodness.

Sparkhouse next then, Massive, may have to dig that out for another look myself .

Be prepared to think that the 'hero' in that is also a PLF - my desire to reach into the telly and give him an almighty slap increased with every scene he has in from about halfway through the first episode.

Well Guy being gorgeous and the only reason to watch this series is taken as read, isn't it. I mean, I don't have anything against JA, but he is completely miscast and could not carry it to save his life. I don't think he is a particularly bad actor, perhaps just a limited actor and without someone to push him, he was also a bit lazy. Anyway, he didn't stand a chance opposite characters such as GoG and KA's Sheriff...

Bye for now - back later...

Bye Phoenix, I need to take a break myself, now.

Glad your mate's family are okay, Spiro. No news from my lot yet, but I am not worried about them really.

Will watch out for the Sparkhouse PLF, I used that phrase the other day to a mate, to describe a mutual acquaintance, and she practically fell off her chair laughing.

Massive!

Spiro, you are entitled to royalties for that phrase, I know. Here's a down payment

That'll do nicely Massive!

Here's your change

(you know my weakness )

You know mine too. Mentally cutting the sheriff's head off, there.

I really must introduce myself to your JP however. I shall pay a visit to Amazon as soon as I've checked my bank statement!

Did you see Ian McKellan has just tweeted about seing Bilbo? presumably meaning he's met wotsit.