I've really come to appreciate the charm and depth of British TV—there’s something about the storytelling and character development that just hits differently. Shows like Sherlock, Line of Duty, and even lighthearted gems like The IT Crowd always leave a lasting impression.
When I’m not watching, I’m usually into mobile gaming—Anyone else pair their gaming sessions with a good UK drama or comedy in the background?
johny ... the first ( years ago now ) thing I noticed was the police shows ( ' Frost ' being one of them , another is ' Inspector Morse ' ) could actually solve crime without a bunch of guns being brought into it . From there I got into the Mysteries and then I was hooked with how well they were put together. Will choose a U.K. production every time over something home spun. They really are that good. lol
Hi - anyone who liked Midnight Diner might like Come Back Anytime. Remember, for those watching it on FIOS World channel 473, it is playing at 5:00am and 11:00am eastern tomorrow.
Google "Come Back Anytime review" for an amazing collection of positive reviews.
Deedee, I watched it last night (I DVR'd it earlier in the morning yesterday when it ran on PBS World). Wonderful, just wonderful. Truly, a real life "Midnight Diner"!
The ramen looked superb - I prefer a soy based broth myself (shoyu) and the Master's looked outstanding. I found his recipe that has been scaled down for home cooking. I will post it.
Again, thank you for finding this. ❤️
Here it is. Even if you don't have any desire to try this at home (and I get it, making this is a process), it is an enjoyable read.
Brit, I'm glad you liked it. I thought it was wonderful.
The pieces on the 'allotments' and farms where the Master sourced his produce were very interesting.
I was hoping for a series - but alas, he has retired.
Hey Guys!
Just a quick hello! Things are brightening up a little by me. First time I can see a little light since I lost my girl. Big birthday coming up in early July and the Hubs planned a birthday dinner for me with our close friends (there will be seven to nine of us - these are the people who were at my wedding) at my favorite restaurant. Haven't had a party like this since forever it seems. Looking forward to it.
Then we decided to spruce up the downstairs of our house and we have been working in a whirlwind. I so needed this, it has made a huge difference in my overall perspective.
Also I have been putting my flowers out. We took the blinds off our living room windows (I have two walls of windows) and just left the long drapes on either side of the bottom windows hanging. These windows look both on to our small front garden and our patio table (on the side wall). I am putting flowers in coordinating colors with my living room in the front garden and a big arrangement with added small pots on the outdoor table. So everytime you enter the room or walk down the steps you see flowers.
Been to the vet and had some major tests done for Miss Buddy. Tumor is totally gone and I don't think it is coming back! Liver has been compromised, but it is not aggressive, things can plateau for a while so we will keep testing and hope for the best. I am going to start her on Milk Thistle to help support the liver. She also has some internal issues we are checking - it is either audio immune disease or her bone marrow. Neither good, but we are getting on top of this early and are working to figure out what the problem is. The important thing is that we are on it and nothing has progressed to a point of immediate grave concern. We have some time and with a nine and a half year old rabbit that is a good thing. There is a real chance she will make it to ten. Believe me, a far cry from where we were nine months ago. Far cry, and I will take it.
Thinking of you Solar, I know you are dealing with your own great loss. Sending you a big, big hug my friend.
Also feeling a bit better because people are out in the streets and showing up here in the States (and around the world). On one hand things are getting grimmer, on the other, voices are starting to be raised in numbers. I feel change in the air, our California Governor has given me hope. The man has a backbone, something we haven't seen to date.
Haven't been watching too much tv, so busy by nighttime I am too tired to watch. I did start rewatching "Goliath" last night. I remember S1 being quite good. Deedee, I don't know if you have watched it (its' on Prime) you may like it. Not sure though.
I am not a Billy Bob Thornton fan (not at all), and I hesitated to watch this at first. The thing is though, that it has such a strong supporting cast of woman (the cast is mostly all woman) that they are the draw of the series, Billy Bob is just there for them to play off of. Even though he is the main character - he is not the highlight of the story, he is the catalyst for all these great actresses to bring it on. So, if you have hesitated because of him, give it a go.
Hi Brit, I know your decorating results will be absolutely beautiful, and wish you the very best birthday party.
What a nice present, Miss Buddy doing so much better. Yes, we try to encourage our furry soulmates to stay with us as long as possible. I'm so happy for you.
I missed Passport, so yesterday I tried again to download them on FIOS. Not sure what I did wrong the last time, but it worked!
Since I restarted my membership, I think I'm entitled to the Beatles socks they were giving away as a promotion last night. What do you think? The show about their music construction behind the scenes was fascinating, albeit the station's money begging was annoying.
I remember Goliath. I did like it, even though I too am not a fan. I think he thinks he's a much better actor than he is. He was good in Bad Santa, though. In looking him up on Wikipedia, turns out he was married 5 times!
Thanks Deedee for the decorating support! I'll be honest things were looking quite shabby by me as I have had no energy to do anything around the house. I was in a total fog. The hubs planning a birthday party for me snapped me out of it a bit and then I started to make an effort and one thing lead to the other (as it usually does) and small efforts turned in to larger ones and voila! we had a full blown "spruce".
I know exactly what you mean - you try to download something, everything is wifi driven these days - to no avail; you throw your hands up and walk away and then at some point you give it one more try and voila! (again), for some reason it worked. Happen to me as well recently and I could not figure out for the life of me what I had done wrong all the other times before.
Truthfully, Billy Bob's character in "Goliath" is not a nice guy - he is a real snake. A charming snake, but still a snake.
He treats the woman in his "Goliath" world poorly. Just because he is on the "right side" of the issue at hand doesn't change this. Me thinks he has a good handle on playing this type of character - I would say more true to his own life than his "acting skill", he plays himself on screen well.
Hi Brit ..... thanks for remembering .... be a year next month . life's changes are forced upon us and we have no choice but to accept it . Re decorating is a lot of work but when it's all finished you can sit back and put your feet up and enjoy it . Been watching your Cal. Gov. myself ... a ray of hope there . But things are getting grimmer ... the orange one has ta get back in the middle of this ( Israel / Iran ) as the spotlight has been taken off him . Bad days are a comin' I think . Been a slow watchin' time so I've been catching up on True Crime shows , ' Dateline ' is my go to for this . Have been watching repeats of All Creatures ... and Death In Paradise , Vienna Blood . Last Sunday I captured a show in PVR ( from PBS ) narrated by Alan Cummings called ' Most Luxurious Train Journeys Scotland ' . Scotland has a fascination for me as my home province Nova Scotia has been named after it. It is said that when the Scots came over and founded ' this place ' in the 1600 's it reminded them so much of Scotland they named it ' New Scotland ' but used the Latin pronunciation ... hence Nova Scotia . Set your PVR on it for next Sunday and see what ya think .
Solar, shared bond, our summer of loss.
life's changes are forced upon us and we have no choice but to accept it.
So true. I am just going to say this because this is the second part of that statement...life can be a real *itch sometimes.
The Alan Cummings series sounds right up my alley, but it is not airing by me as yet, it may further in to the summer. That is the Belmond train trip I am pretty sure.
' The Marlow Murder Club ' Season 2 premiering Sunday , August 24
' Unforgotten ' Season 6 premiering Sunday , August 24
Both on the same night .... wish they were spread out more but will take it anyway . Something to look forward to.
Yeah Brit ... it's the Belmond .. like you suggested .
Grantchester, the long-standing and beloved ITV detective drama, will conclude with its 11th season.
The series has been a mainstay on the small screen since 2014, with James Norton, Tom Brittney and Rishi Nair all assuming the role of the reverend who teams up with DI Geordie Keating (Robson Green).
https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a65332640/grantchester-itv-season-11-renewal-conclusion/
Hello Sheerwater!
I have been watching "Grantchester" this season, two episodes in and so far so good. As everyone knows I am always wishy washy with this series, I give it a few episodes each season and that is usually it. I might actually finish this one out!
How are you doing Solar? I watched a walking tour of Halifax on YT the other day done by a guy named Steve. He made it a very close and personal tour - I feel like I have a better understanding of what life is like your way!
Deedee, I finally watched the first episode of the final season of "Vera". I had saved it for when I really needed something special to watch and I am glad I did. OMG, it was so good! I am disappointed to find out that there are only two episodes in this last season. I am sad to think this next one will be the last ever. Quality right to the end. I'll get back to you after I watch the finale episode.
Hi Sheerwater .... Thanks for the update on Grantchester . I have 2 Eps. in PVR still to view . Though , not one of my favs , still not a bad view .
Hey Brit .... how ya doin' ... Bet if ya listened close to ' Steve ' you'd hear him cursing. Halifax is very hilly , especially down by the harbour. Just takin' it easy during the lazy, hazy days of summer. On the last season of The Crown and still pickin ' away at what I have left in PVR ex Shetland , Hotel Portofino , Death in Paradise , have 1 Ep. left of Cumming's Scottish Train Journeys , really enjoying this series. Still waitin' for the good stuff ( PBS ) towards the end of August .
Sheerwater .... I see your still having a heat wave summer . High 20's low 30's , no fun . Dream of a nice autumn , my favorite time of year.
Hello all! Glad to see y'all here again.
Hot and dry summer, dry on the telly at least.
Glad I didn't get rid of the two Brit streamers - Doc Martin is still good, for an umpteenth watch. I skip past those who annoy. I liked seeing Miriam Margolyes when she was in better health. She was also tops in the trips with Alan Cumming, loved the Palm Springs one best of all.
Rewatching The Madame Blanc Mysteries, which I wasn't keen on first time out. It's surprisingly good.
Be well, sheerwater, Brit and solar.
Hey, Deedee! I like "Madame Blanc", I am a fan of Sally Lindsay - thought the first season was terrific. The second season was good, but not as good as the first, some of the characters got to be a bit too silly and over the top - which is a shame, a bit more low key and natural would have been a better approach I think. Still, I watch at least a few episodes every season (I was able to view some of the latest season through Xfinity with a free week of Acorn) and do enjoy them. I am very happy she has had a success with the series. Kudos to her.
Solar, I was surprised how hilly the area around the harbour is. In my mind I was thinking of this flat pristine port area with gleaming boats all docked in rows. Halifax is nothing like that. It has character everywhere!
Steve stopped for lunch and got this massive bowl of chowder full of seafood. Dear Lord, did that look good! Worth the visit just to go there to eat!
Deedee, I think I mentioned this a long while back... have you watched the "Signora Volpe" series on Acorn TV with Emilla Fox?
I just finished rewatching the second season as Acorn TV has been airing it on Prime on its' "On Now" channel and I am enjoying it the second time around as much as the first - which doesn't always happen. If you haven't tried the series you might want to give it a go. Great scenery and a solid cast.
Deedee, I am watching "Ballard" on Prime. It stars Maggie Q, who was in "Designated Survivor" (remember that, Solar?). Liking it very much. You may want to give it a try.
In the retro lane I am doing a "Miss Marple" rewatch - the ones I don't typically gravitate too. I have seen my favs "At Bertram's Hotel" and "Sleeping Murder" countless times - and you can add "Murder at the Vicarage" and "A Murder is Announced" to that list as well. The rest, I haven't seen again in a long while. So, I am starting with the Joan Hickson version because those are the closest to the books and then watching the other remakes of the stories. I have found a whole new appreciation for the Hickson productions. The photography is really stellar - I am focusing on it and there is so much I have missed in the past.
There is one scene in "The Mirror Cracked From Side to Side" (fabulous cast, btw) where they photographed a modeling shoot, it was outside in a park... the model had this large fluffy, round red hat on and all the scenery around her was green.
They took a long shot as they moved away from the scene and diffused the color as the camera pulled away to a lighter green, with the bright red hat standing out amongst this backdrop. A stunning shot and not one that was necessary, but one which was truly artistic. A lot of the effort that was put in to the photography in this series is lost if you are too busy following the story to take in the whole scene. A great attempt was made to envelope the whole production in the beauty of the countryside. You are feeling it as you watch.
What I am most enjoying is after watching the original story with Joan, I directly move on to the remakes where I know changes have been made to the stories (as written by Christie). You know that always drove me mad (although I very much enjoyed many of them)...but this time I am embracing the changes as it is interesting to see how/what was changed, and how the various characters were played differently. This whole adventure has been great fun and I have developed a greater appreciation for all the productions.
Let me tell you, of them all, Joan Hickson's Miss Marple has the best retirement life - one we all would envy. She had someone to clean and organize her life, cook for her (and prepare/serve her guests at her numerous tea parties in her garden) as she gad about town with her good friend Dolly (I absolutely love Gwen Watford in that role) or traveled here and there, occasionally with her nephew Raymond who doted on her. She has the life!
