Blast From The Past

I was recently looking at some old music videos on YouTube, from my misspent younger years when I chanced upon British sister act Mel and Kim and their 1987 hit Respectable. Re-watching I was reminded quite why my impressionable twenty-ish, red-blooded male self liked this video so much LOL.

Anyway enjoy this hit from another time, complete with unmistakable Stock, Aitken and Waterman production values.



Disclaimer: This is a non profit making Blog. Copyright of the above music video remains with the respective authors and rights holders. No infringement intended. Content provided by YouTube.

Hundred Or One Hundred?

Have been quite enjoying the US drama The 100 (pronounced The Hundred and not The One Hundred apparently) on E4. It zips along quite nicely; a short (for US TV) series/season of 13 episodes seems to have concentrated the story rather than dragging things out over a full 22 instalments. I see a new series of 16 episodes has been commissioned for later in the year.

The official logo of the series.









It's not too taxing for sure but quite fun and no expense appears to have been spared. My only gripe is how impeccably turned out all the characters appear to be, even the savage "grounders" don't look too shabby. According to the story-line the heroes have been in orbit over a post-nuclear Earth for 100 years, with extremely limited resources yet their clothes are pristine and well fitted, and their teeth are all beautifully white and straight LOL.

Feeding Time At The Uni

The sun put in a welcome appearance today. Just right for stretching your legs around the grounds of the University of Reading. Good job we had bread at the ready- the ducks, geese and swans were remarkably hungry and pleased to see us.


"Those damn swans" (LOL) led the charge for bread.


















Elsewhere the Royals 2014-2015 Championship campaign has got off to a mixed start.

9 August Wigan 2 - 2 Reading
16 August Reading 1 - 0 Ipswich
19 August Reading 1 - 2 Huddersfield
23 August Nottingham Forest 4 -0 Reading
30 August Middlesbrough 0 - 1 Reading

Eagle

Following our visit to Roman Silchester we took a trip yesterday to the Museum of Reading to look at the artefacts they have on display. Of primary interest was the Silchester Eagle, discovered during the original Victorian era dig. This small eagle was the inspiration for the book by Rosemary Sutcliff "The Eagle of the Ninth" which in 2011 was adapted as the Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell (rather lack lustre) film "The Eagle."

The Eagle: it had detachable wings dontchaknow.

A postcard from the Victorian Time Team.

2000 year old Piggy Bank.

This mosaic is pretty large and now mounted vertically at the museum, so you can appreciate it in all its glory.

100

One Hundred years ago today, it was announced that Britain was at war with Germany.

Game Over

The competitions are over and only the closing ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow remains. I expect the closing spectacle will likely feature a fair amount of Tartan LOL.

The final medals table top four is made up of Australia, Canada, England and Scotland; pretty much as things were a week and a half ago, with the host nation Scotland having their best ever games and England their best for a number of years (yea!). All together I think a successful competition with many big names taking part and a number of records broken. Read more about the Commonwealth Games here.

Next will be the 2018 Games on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. Wonder if I'll have better success there getting to experience the Friendly Games in person..?

Sulhamstead Police College

Spent a fun afternoon (despite the odd rain shower) at an event at Sulhamstead, where Thames Valley Police train and kennel their 200 or so dogs. I think it fair to say we didn't have enough time to see everything on offer, including mobile Forensic Investigation units, an Air Ambulance, the Police Museum, vintage patrol cars and of course the dogs to name just a few attractions.

A canine officer.














Doctor Who: The Anorexic Years.

Worthy of Gene Hunt?

Good for the roses.

Deep Breath

Feature length Doctor Who at the cinema... how could I resist..?

Can't wait until 'number 12' blasts onto the big screen. 












Am I just a little bit sad and geek-like? Probably LOL.

Up Close

Thought you might like this from the weekend.

Dig

Took a little drive out to the site of the Roman town of Silchester no more than half hour drive from Reading. For more than 14 or so years, a team led by the University of Reading have been re-excavating the site which was first unearthed by the Victorians. A number of interesting and quite rare finds from Roman and pre-Roman eras have come from the site, many of which are now held at the Museum of Reading. Oh and weather-wise, today was an absolutely fabulous day.

Friendly Games

Loving the Commonwealth Games from Glasgow, which started on Wednesday.

Australia, Canada, England and Scotland currently lead the medal table, but not in that order.

How To Start

Possibly the best way to begin the work day...