Sarah Jane Returns

One the most popular fictional journalists is set to return to our screens on Thursday 15 Oct. According to the Doctor Who News Page, Miss Sarah Jane Smith's (as played by the wonderful Elizabeth Sladen) adventures will air on BBC1, in a change to previous years, with two episodes per week on Thursdays and Fridays. I know I'll be watching, will you?

On a different note, I found this in my local Tesco store, while I was looking for (and failing to find) something else. Anyway it seems to satisfy my love of yeast extract and (of course) the ever so slightly odd-ball.

Tomorrow I'm off down south to Portsmouth to take a look at Henry VIII's flagship the Mary Rose before it closes for three years. Then I'll play tourist and probably take in the Spinnaker Tower. All being well I'll have some interesting images to share...

Court Appearance

No, not quite that bad. Honest.

Took a short trip yesterday to Caversham Court Gardens, located in sunny Reading and one of those places I've driven past so many times without venturing in. Well that's now been put right.














The property had been given to the people of the town around 100 years back; sadly the manor house had become unsafe and shortly after WWII had to be demolished. The most recent manor had been built by the Simmonds family (about 1550) who had also operated one of the first breweries in the town from the site. Prior to that an older manor had stood on the site as part of an estate given to a loyal baron by William the Conqueror.

While the buildings are mostly gone, the gardens which run down to the Thames river have been returned close to their former glory. Here's some images I managed to capture. You can still see the Norman church which (as was often the case) was associated with the manor.

Slip Slidin'

Better late than never: Wednesday night saw the first meeting of the new term of our local Potter's Association. We meet (more or less) monthly and have a guest potter come demonstrate. This time it was Dylan Bowen from Oxford. His work is best described as being mostly free form and decorated with modern slipware on red Earthenware clay. Here's a few pictures I took on the night of his work. Enjoy.

A Cunning Plan..?

Along with many other sources BBC News are reporting that according to his agent, Four Weddings And A Funeral writer Richard Curtis has agreed to pen an episode of Doctor Who series 5.

Among his other credits are tv comedies Blackadder and The Vicar Of Dibbley. Now I love Blackadder and still make a point of watching them when they get repeated on UKTV. However comments in The Sun that a famous historical character will get to battle monsters tends to leave me thinking "Please no crossovers." I doubt Rowan Atkinson would be persuaded to return to the role after all this time, which would leave only supporting characters or recasting. Don't somehow think that would work...



Private Baldrick and Captain Blackadder, as played by Tony Robinson and Rowan Atkinson in Blackadder Goes Forth. BBC TV.








Although BBC News are reporting this, it is not quite the same as the corporation confirming it to be true! As yet there has been no official announcement on writers for series 5 despite filming starting about a month back.

Mr Whippy

It's normal to buy a "Mr Whippy" ice cream from a van but never before have I done so from a boat on the Thames. Happy times.

IRN

The results of Little Lad's second blood test have come back from the hospital to confirm he had had an infection of some sort (this was indicated by the first test apparently) and that he has an iron deficiency. So it's lots of green vegetables (which he loves, strange child LOL) and lots of red meat ("yuck" as he put it so eloquently LOL).




IRN-BRU. Not a source of iron apparently.










While thinking about health, a report out today has suggested that people with larger thighs are less likely to suffer heart disease. I always said being skinny was unhealthy. Read about it here.

"This Country Is At War"

With these words, 70 years ago today, WWII started.

Movie Thoughts

With the news that Disney has purchased Marvel, I got thinking of film tie-ups I'd quite like to see. Top of my list has to be Spiderman taking on Donald Duck LOL.

Any bets on who would win?

Green-ish Fingers..?

Thought I'd share this image of my Green Pepper plant. It's doing quite nicely but I suspect it was planted too late into the season for them to get much bigger. I wonder what they taste like? Only one way to tell I guess..?

I also have an Aloe Vera plant growing away in a pot. I was warned to keep it in a container rather than plant in the garden, unless I never want to get rid of the thing. Apparently an Aloe Vera is for life, not just for Christmas LOL... Anyway it was a bargain purchase from a well known auction style site. Now all I have to do is decide whether it might need to come inside for winter...







Also yesterday, the Royals dragged themselves to 17th place in the Championship with an away win.

Barnsley 1 - 3 Reading

Slow News Days?*

*Or What Has This World Come To?

I really can't believe the current state of the News being broadcast by the BBC.

Yesterday every radio and TV news bulletin had an item on the forthcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing (also known as Dancing With The Stars in some parts) and which (minor or fading) celebrities had signed up to appear. All this on the back of weeks of "news" regarding the sidelining of one of the regular judges in favour of a younger model.







She used to be in Eastenders a long time ago, dontchaknow.










Now today's news is that rival broadcaster Channel 4 have at long last decided to axe Big Brother due to low ratings. It's taken them this long to realise no one was watching this drivel?

Either way this is far less than I expect from the News department of an organisation such as the BBC. Have we really become a celebrity obsessed nation? If I want celebrity driven news, I'll go watch the "entertainment news" programmes both the BBC and their rivals carry or look on-line; I don't want news about real events that can affect real lives trivialised by being associated with reality TV dross.

End of rant.

Sporting Ups And Downs

This past week's football results weren't too great for Reading FC:

Tuesday 18/08, Swansea 0 - 0 Reading
Saturday 22/08, Reading 1 - 3 Sheffield United

Must. Try. Harder.


On a better sporting note, at least the England Cricket team managed today to win the Ashes back from the colonial visitors. Note to readers in the US: I don't "get" Cricket either so please don't ask LOL.

Mini Quiz

Any ideas what exactly these are? Seen at my local Uni today, all suggestions gratefully received.