 |
| Riona's Book Nook Bookmark, My own design |
As I said, lately, I have been spending my evenings watching TV: most recently, my DVD collection of Rumpole of the Bailey episodes. I admit I am a bit of an Anglophile when it comes to television series ... with the exception of science fiction, which I think we Yanks do a great deal better. My husband claims I identify with the long-suffering Hilda. Some of the verbal byplay between Hilda and Rumpole does sound a bit like my husband and I ... mainly those conversations when Hilda is being a bit repressive of Rumpole's inappropriate flights of fancy or forays into questionable humor. Except, where Rumpole quotes from the Oxford Book of English Verse, my husband tends to quote from the U.S. Constitution and other political and historical documents. I must say I prefer the last Hilda over the first ... can't recall the names of the actresses involved at the moment ... but the later Hilda has so much more presence. Though perhaps, I should say gravitas as that is a word that keeps cropping up in the series. And I definitely like the interplay between Rumpole and Featherstone [or Leo Kern and Peter Bowles, if you will]. But then I have enjoyed Peter Bowles in The Irish R.M. and in To The Manor Born, as well. With the possible exception of The Odd Couple, I can't think of an American sitcom that can equal the quality of the dialogue in British TV ... at least the British TV that travels across the Atlantic via PBS. No doubt, there is just as much trashy Brit TV that never makes the cut as there is trashy American TV. As to the Rumpole series, I love the well-defined character/caricatures [one has to admit that, at times, the characters are drawn very broadly though most have more realistic scenes as well]. And the satirization of the British class structure does, I confess, appeal to my sense of humor. And, then again, the Brits do over-the-top eccentricity so much better than we do. And they seem to have a lighter hand with comedy that pricks the social conscience, as well. There is so much clever humor to enjoy in the Rumpole series that it stands up very well to repeated viewings. The odd thing is that I was raised by my Irish-American mother to think that the British have no sense of humor ... one of those unpleasant little biases bred into her by my grandmother and great-grandmother who remembered the bad old days before 1918. Mom just doesn't know what she is missing! My husband and I are alternating [or as the kids would say: taking turns] watching DVD's. His selection is Sanctuary, a fantasy show put together by Amanda Tapping from the old Stargate franchise. I am equally happy with either. But I also have the yen to add Victor! Victoria! to my Netflix queue after reading on one of my favorite blogs, Blacksheep's Bit of the Web, about a TV reality show called Drag Queen Races. Now, I ceased subscribing to cable nearly two decades ago, so I haven't watched any commercial TV in a very long time ... but his post had me remembering some of the wonderful "stage act" turns that Julie Andrews did in that movie. I'd very much like to see that again.
My garden seems to have survived the various freeze and frost warnings we have had the past few nights. I am looking forward to another weekend trip to the nursery for some bamboo stakes and trellises, some more soil and peat for my second planter box, and some eggplant and pepper plants. I held off on the last two plants because they are more tender than the others for which I risked an early planting. I have gotten my heirloom seeds and am anxious to sow some lima beans, green beans, lettuce and carrots in the second planter box. Bill's wicker patio chair will be delivered on Friday. The back garden is really coming together. I look forward to a really pleasant summer, enjoying my outdoor living space.
Well, that seems to be all
Well, that seems to be all
4 comments:
More soil! Of course. :) Have fun playing in the dirt.
the weekend gets closer.. I can't wait to see a finished picture of your bookmark!
happy xxx and gardening
chiara
I would like to accept your compliments on our Tv programmes on behalf of the Britsh Public!
The main reason our drama is so good is the licence fee. Everyone who owns a TV pays the BBC a fee every year to make the programmes so they don't have to have sponsorship and adverts.
If you are not pandering to the advertisers you can make quality programmes educated people want to watch rather than appealing to the easily led masses!
It's also easier to build up suspence, atmosphere, tension,characters etc if you're not stopping every 10 mins to talk about washing powder.
Of course alot of channels are commercial now but because they are competing with the BBC for the audiences they have to improve their game too.
(When I was a girl there were only 2 channels and they stopped broadcasting at midnight).
That is one of the coolest bookmarks I've ever seen (stitched or otherwise). I looked through your blog for a chart and found the post suggesting people use your WIP picture to guide them through making their own ... Though I think the spider plant, cat, and other details are what really make this design so lovely! Well, those and being a book lover. :)
Post a Comment