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The Phoebe Marlow Academy of Trumpery Novel Writing at the University of Milton Northern

1000 replies

LadyDamerel · 28/07/2011 01:08

Welcome to the new faculty.

Selected classes available in:

Running Away
Setting of broken bones
Seafaring lore
Care of Small Boys
Humouring of Dangerous Lunatics

Our patroness is considered rather taking when she is animated

and the Vice Chancellor would like to remind you all of the importance of the wearing of a correctly tied cravat.

OP posts:
DumSpiroSpero · 13/08/2011 14:15

There will probably be tears from me next week when I actually watch it.

I think it's terribly unimaginative of the writers (same ones as season 9 Spooks perhaps), and as completely barking as I will sound, horrible that they've killed him off when his daughter lost her mum in the first series.

It wouldn't have been beyond the realms of imagination (or RA's availability) for them to have spun it out over a couple of episodes culminating in a narrow escape & him retiring or taking a desk job to enable him to make up for lost time with Lexi & prevent her losing him as well.

Tbh I am less bothered about him not being in it than I am really disappointed in the storyline.

SupermassiveLBD · 13/08/2011 14:32

It seems that is not the sort of show they wanted to make, Spiro. Not interesting characters you can identify with and care about. Just blood, guts and sex wall to wall.

I feel just the same as you do --it's a cheap rotten story-line. The Man is well out of it.

DumSpiroSpero · 13/08/2011 15:37

Exactly, Massive.

Mr S has recently been watching 24 after a friend lent him the boxset. It's the most misogynistic & gratuitously violent load of rubbish I've ever seen and they appear to be wanting to make Strikeback into a carbon copy but with bigger weapons and, as you say, wall to wall sex and scantily clad women.

SupermassiveLBD · 13/08/2011 15:54

Scantily clad men too I hear. Smile But joking aside, it adds up to a load of stuff i wouldn't want to watch.

I know JP was your special one, too. At least I always knew about Gizzy's demise.

Besides all the violence and misogyny, 24 got totally ridiculous after a while - I found myself snorting with incredulity and switching off, furious that I was supposed to be taken in by such rubbish.

DumSpiroSpero · 13/08/2011 18:17

I glad it's not just me thinking 24 had misogynist tendencies. I was in the room when Mr S was watching some of the first series and every female character was either a psychotic birch or a wet doormat.

SupermassiveLBD · 13/08/2011 21:39

Sorry folks, flagging again now Sad

Twigs, what about DT, you come and give us a tantalising snippet and leave it at that, you tease Smile

DumSpiroSpero · 13/08/2011 21:52

Hi Massive -sorry to hear you're feeling rough again.

Has just re-read my previous post - obviously I didn't mean psychotic birch Grin!

SupermassiveLBD · 13/08/2011 21:59

That's okay, Spiro, I reckon we all understand predictive text-ish.

I was trying to remember the 24 story line about a president's wife who is either an alcoholic or a drug addict, helped along in her habit by her nearest and dearest. And she finally comes through for Jack Bauer. I googled and couldnt find it so did I dream it?

But on the whole the women are a sorry bunch. Well they are only there for decoration, right?

DumSpiroSpero · 13/08/2011 21:59

I wouldn't know - I couldn't be arsed to watch it!

SupermassiveLBD · 13/08/2011 22:18

We had it on TV here a good few years back, when there was nothing better to do with my time, or I wouldn't have bothered either. But it was sort of compulsive, in a nasty sort of way, to begin with. Then it just got silly and the dangers lost their bite entirely

DumSpiroSpero · 13/08/2011 22:29

I did get slightly into Series 3 when he was onto that but it's all just too convoluted and long-winded for me.

Still PO'd about Strikeback - I am going to have to watch it in the bedroom and warn DH to stay out of my way for a good half hour afterwards as he will take the p mercilessly if I have a wibble.

SupermassiveLBD · 13/08/2011 22:34

At least it's something I need never do as we won't get it here.
But JP will go on in our imaginations, the same as Guy and Lucas have done. What is it the Hat Lady calls them, SND? We can just blank the new series out of our minds.

PassTheTwiglets · 13/08/2011 22:59

Hello! Massive, sorry you're feeling rough again :( What does SND stand for, by the way?

Sorry to post and run about the Tennantmeister :) A friend of mine tipped me off that he and Catherine Tate come out to sign autographs after every show so I took MissTwigs (a huge DrWho fan). Poor little mite was so tired and bored though - we had to wait there for about 1.5 hours and then it was all over in about 30 seconds! I asked him if he'd mind having a photo with her and he was really nice to her - such a shame that it's the worst photo ever of DD! He was very yummy - lovely white shirt and stubble, mmmmm :)

PassTheTwiglets · 13/08/2011 23:00

Oh and Spiro and Massive, I'm sorry you were upset about SB :(

SupermassiveLBD · 13/08/2011 23:04

How scrummy for you, Twigs. What was Miss Twigs's reaction after she'd seen him?

How did it go otherwise, did you manage to enjoy yourself a bit, after all?

SND stands for So Not Dead

DumSpiroSpero · 13/08/2011 23:09

Thanks for clearing up SND - I was trying to figure that one out Confused.

Re Strikeback - it was obvious he was going to go and probably not come back, I just think (like with Lucas) it's another case of lazy, unimaginative script writing and a totally unrealistic character arc.

Anyway, how was London - The Science Museum looks great in your pics and the Diana Memorial.

PassTheTwiglets · 13/08/2011 23:22

She was squealing with excitement afterwards but just before they came out she suddenly got VERY nervous and shy and she didn't say one single word to him (not that there was time anyway) so I'm not sure enjoyed the actual experience at the time, although she did in hindsight. I feel bad 'cos a lady next to me said that he'd be really good with her and chat to her and I told DD this, but when it came to it they just whizzed through everyone really quickly so I suppose it was a bit of an anti-climax for her :(

London was basically good, thanks. Hotel was awful so we were surviving on 2-3 hours sleep a night and it was very tiring - but then a change is as good as a rest, as they say! Kids loved it and I guess DH and I enjoyed it on balance. Spiro, yes, Diana playground is just brilliant - one of my fave places in London. The whole thing is based on Peter Pan, with a pirate ship, desert island and even a stone crocodile in the sand! Sensory trail, water play, various different natural play areas (wooden tree-houses etc.), teepees... I love it, it's amazing that it's all free.

So where is everybody? LadyD is back this weekend, I think? When is Small back? And Maud?

PassTheTwiglets · 13/08/2011 23:34

Just realised it's 11.30 and it's my turn to get up with the early-rising little darlings tomorrow so I'd best be off. They were walking round London all day and MissTwigs got tot sleep at about 10pm the first night and 11pm the second, yet she was still up at 6am each day, it's ridiculous. Anyway, night all!

SupermassiveLBD · 13/08/2011 23:39

Night Twigs! Night to all from me, too. I hope it's a good one for everybody!

DumSpiroSpero · 14/08/2011 12:36

Morning All (and it was a painfully early one for me)!

How's everyone today? Are you feeling any better Massive?

PassTheTwiglets · 14/08/2011 13:43

Hi Spiro! We are having a pottering day today - I am in utter despair at the state of my and MissTwigs' clothes (see my thread in S&B!) so have spent the morning so far going through her wardrobe and trying to get some new stuff. When did kids' clothes get so expensive?!

Massive, should we call a doctor out? I think you know the one. He's a specialist in racing pulses and feverish women

DumSpiroSpero · 14/08/2011 14:32

Hi Twigs - we are also pottering today. Had church this morning but Mr S hasn't got cricket this afternoon and I saw my olds yesterday & Friday so we're relaxing at home.

Had a look at your thread: Would The White Company be any good? Have linked to their sale page as they are quite expensive, but generous on the fit (am basing that on their PJ's which MIL bought DD a couple of years ago and she's still wearing) so if you got 9-10 would probably get some wear out of them next year.

Debenhams do have some nice stuff amid the sequins (although I must admit I like bright colours and don't mind a bit of bling - totally agree re slogans though) - I bought Miss S a lovely summer dress in there the other day for £7.50!

DumSpiroSpero · 14/08/2011 14:33

Oh, and I forgot a little something for frustrated shoppers, flu sufferers and anyone else who wants to take a peek - I found the original thread, which I'm not sure anyone else was on originally and I which I thought was long gone! Grin

SupermassiveLBD · 14/08/2011 16:14

Oh, Spiro, how timely! i was wondering when my Crush Anniversary was coming up. I knew it was September or so, and now i shall be able to find the precise date when i first dipped in a cautious toe.

Feeling much better today, thanks, but the good Doctor is always welcome of course.

And better means busy so I can't stay, I have to cook yet another big meal. Fingers crossed I don't burn it, out of a fuzzy brain for once, rather than my usual form of distRAction. Which is much nicer, I have to say.

I hope to be back later on.

SupermassiveLBD · 14/08/2011 16:17

PS Nearly a year, and still gagging for Gizzy Blush Grin

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