It’s the season finalé and there are a lot of unanswered questions! Hopefully, they’ll all be dealt with in tonight’s extended episode of 65 minutes! 😁 The Interweb on fire… Predictably, the Interweb has been on fire this week, full of theories, counter-theories, rumours and counter-rumours about how it’s all going to turn out! But, …
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First Visit – Salvatore Ristorante Italiano
Bev and Julie recommended we take a trip over to Finedon to sample the delights of Salvatore Ristorante Italiano. It opened in May, 2019, but we’d not heard of it. We picked-up our dining-chums just after 7.10pm for our 7.30 booking and battled though the pouring rain heading for nearby Finedon. If the restaurant was …
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Doctor Who – Series 12, Episode 9 – “Ascension of the Cybermen”
The penultimate episode for this series – and it’s a two-parter! There’s been plenty of anticipation online for this one, so it was a bit of a bummer that I wasn’t able to watch it live – I’m writing this, the day after, having successfully avoided any spoilers online. SYNOPSIS: It’s the aftermath of the …
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Doctor Who – Series 12, Episode 8 – “The Haunting of Villa Diodati”
Another pre-credit sequence – after last week’s, that’s two in a row! 🤔 SYNOPSIS:Lake Geneva, 1816. Lord Byron and the Shelleys prepare for a night telling ghost stories, but their villa proves to have ghostly presences all its own. This episode was written by (newcomer to Who) Maxine Alderton. A great story tonight with an …
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Valentine Meal 2020
It’s Valentine’s Day!! Usually, either I cook the meal, Ann cooks the meal, or we share cooking duties with David and Valerie and get together as a foursome. So, with cards, flowers and gifts on display, by way of a change for this special day, the four of us left our kitchens behind and headed …
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Mival-lous
A boys’ get-together today! 👍 I drove over to Stamford to meet up with ex-business colleague and film producer: Eric Mival. We’ve kept in touch ever since Eric shot a corporate video for Sainsbury’s (that I was responsible for) back in the late 80s. Our venue of choice was, of course, the iconic George Hotel …
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Doctor Who – Series 12, Episode 7 – “Can You Hear Me?”
I found last week’s episode – Praxeus, had a lot of potential, but its oh-so-predictable ending and the not-so-subtle message about the environment spoilt it (although most of the critics seemed to disagree with me, so it shows how much I know!). So, with only two more episodes to air this season, there’s a lot …
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Play: Midsummer Night’s Dream
We drove over to Stratford-upon-Avon today – to The Bear Pit – to see Second Thoughts‘ penultimate performance of 2020’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It was a perfect excuse to leave a bit earlier to give us time to get some retail therapy in the town! We chose the matinée performance at 2.30pm, …
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Celebrating Sainsbury’s!
A short tale of how, many years ago, one person influenced the career paths of three others – and today’s reunion! 👍👍👍 The Back-story In 1972, I joined Sainsbury’s at their flagship store – Central Croydon as a Saturday Student – working Friday nights and all-day Saturday. By late 1974, I was still uncertain as …
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Doctor Who – Series 12, Episode 6 – “Praxeus”
Well, it seems that series 12 is now on a roll! After last week’s shock revelations and a story that pleased the critics, fans and super-fans alike (all three? truly a rare event in itself!), this episode is going to have to work really hard! SYNOPSIS:What connects a missing astronaut in the Indian Ocean, birds …
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Lunch with Nicki
Nicki joined us last night and after a lazy(ish) morning today, we headed off to our fave ‘Local’ – The Old Victoria, for lunch. As usual, the food and service didn’t disappoint! Matthew was off today, but with Joanna running the show, we knew we were in safe hands! 👍😁 We were all too full …
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We’re out!!!
It’s 11pm here in the UK and midnight in Brussels – and after 47 years, we’re out! OK, technically, we’ve got a period of ‘transition’ (whatever that means!) but the people have spoken! I voted remain, and I can’t help think that this is the worst decision ever for our country. Our children (and children’s …
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Doctor Who – Series 12, Episode 5 – “Fugitive of the Judoon”
We’re exactly halfway through this series, and after last week’s very satisfying episode, I wonder if this week’s will be as good? SYNOPSIS: The Judoon have marched their way into modern Gloucester on the hunt for a fugitive. Who are they pursuing, and why is the Doctor involved? Reserve your space behind the settee for …
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Doctor Who – Series 12, Episode 4 – “Nikola Tesla’s Night of Terror”
After an enjoyable (and thought-provoking) couple of opening episodes to this new series, last week’s was, for me, a real ‘yawn-fest’. I’m hoping, therefore, tonight’s story is going to get Who back on track… 😮 SYNOPSIS: It’s 1903, and someone (or something) is sabotaging Nikola Tesla’s generator plant at Niagara Falls. And in a possible …
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Film: 1917
We drove over to Cineworld at Rushden Lakes to see the recently released flick ‘1917‘ (after having to cancel last Sunday). Sam Mendes directs and shares writing duties for this World War 1 adventure. It’s based on stories recounted by Sam Mendes’s grandfather — Alfred Mendes — and stars a host of famous faces — …
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Doctor Who – Series 12, Episode 3 – “Orphan 55”
First class CGI together with the scariest monsters since the ‘Weeping Angels’, all supported by a plot line that moved at pace! Every actor gave it their all, and the production qualities were akin to a movie. 👏 So, I’m not sure why this episode bored me rigid! I guess it all felt a bit …
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The RSC: King John
This afternoon was a unique opportunity to see Shakespeare’s rarely performed production of ‘King John’ at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon. We met Chris and Gill at theirs and headed over to the Theatre in time for a spot of lunch followed by the performance at 1.30pm. (The lunch incidentally, was superb!) I wasn’t familiar with …
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Holiday: Israel – Day 5 (2020)
It’s our last full day here and if the weather forecast is to be believed, it won’t be a day for anything outside! A quick look through our guide-book offered some indoor-alternatives, so we dressed accordingly and headed out into a very grey day. We were umbrella-less due to ours self-destructing during yesterday’s adventures with …
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Holiday: Israel – Day 4 (2020)
The weather forecast for today, Wednesday, is not so good! In a word: ‘showers’! In another word: ‘cold’! Time then, to discover more of Israel, but from the inside of somewhere! 😃 To maintain our sense of adventure (but mostly to dodge the showers!) we’re diving again into the world of Jerusalem’s public transport system. …
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Holiday: Israel – Day 3 (2020)
A slightly earlier start to today as we have a list of places to visit including our continued trek around more of the old city walls that we started yesterday. On our planned itinerary today… Luckily, the weather is much-the-same as yesterday with only a slight chance of rain. Our first stop today was Temple …
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Holiday: Israel – Day 2 (2020)
Well, the forecast was a good start to our day! We slept well and headed for breakfast on floor 8 at a very relaxed 8.45! 😋 An excellent selection to eat, setting us up nicely for the day. We set-off around 9.45am and hatched a plan to see as much of the old city as …
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Doctor Who – Series 12, Episode 2 – “Spyfall (Part 2)”
After last week’s surprisingly good series opener together with its I-didn’t-see-that-coming-twist and subsequent cliffhanger, I was really looking forward to this episode. Pity then, we were away on holiday in Israel! 🙄 Still, we’re not going to let a little thing like that get in the way are we? No sireee! Step forward Express VPN …
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Holiday: Israel – Day 1 (2020)
Today was a day of travel. Luton to Jerusalem was pretty much 12 hours door-to-door! We do get about don’t we??? 😁 4.12am: Yes, it really was that early! 😵💫 We soon packed-up our things at the Holiday Inn, Luton, and headed downstairs to wait for our pre-booked taxi. 5.15am: Our Taxi was on time, …
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Holiday: Israel – light!
We’re off to Israel for a few days — and we’re travelling light! No unnecessary baggage (what will I do without the sink?). Just the essentials then, for our 2,446 mile, sub-five-hour flight. And keeping to the theme of ‘light’ and ‘easy’, we didn’t even use our car. Instead, David dropped us at the station …
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Doctor Who – New Year Special 2020: “Spyfall (Part 1)”
The last time we had a Doctor Who ‘Special’ on TV was new year’s day last year. Entitled ‘Resolution’, I gave it four-stars (which, given my general disappointment with JW’s incarnation of the Doctor, and the over-simplified plots, was probably quite generous!). Those that know me, know that so far, I’ve not been a great …
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Christmas 2019
As with many of our past Christmas celebrations, this year is mostly a family affair. It’s also a busy one (perhaps even more manic than normal for this time of year) with our festive and new-year celebrations almost blurring into one continuous festive family/friends/food/film-fest! (it’s a tough life!) As a result, this is probably the …
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Four Seasons in a Day
To complete our musical-themed weekend that began last night in Warwick, we’re off to Kilworth House this lunchtime, to enjoy a meal and listen to the winners of the National Tribute Music Awards 2016:- ‘Walk Like a Man‘ (aka ‘Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons‘). More information about them HERE. Kilworth’s Christmas decorations were their …
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Rick Wakeman on Tour (2019)
Entitled Rick’s Grumpy Old Christmas Show, we joined our friends, Ian and Ann, for an evening of superb piano playing punctuated by Rick’s unique sense of humour. This was the last of his twelve-date tour around the UK. The venue wasn’t one we’ve it visited before — Warwick Arts Centre — and the surrounding University …
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Film: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Jo, Janet, Carol, Ann I gave the local Odeon our patronage tonight to see Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. It was released yesterday in the UK and US to pretty good reviews, having premiered in Los Angeles on December 16. It promises a movie that wraps things up nicely across the nine-movie arc (see below) BUT …
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Brideshead Visited
It’s another cultural day-out with our friends, Dennis and Sandra, this being our eighth adventure. Together, we’ve previously enjoyed:- The Royal Armouries Museum (March 2019)Bolsover Castle (October 2018)Belton House (May 2018)York (February 2018)Burghley House (October 2017)Hull (May 2017)Leeds (February 2017) Castle Howard is a private residence, north of York and has been the home of …
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