Usk

So I've had a week off work and spent most of it getting out and about, seeing the sights, and I've accrued quite a lot of photos, so watch out for upcoming picspams!

Starting with Usk. Usk is lovely - a pretty little market town out in the old Marches, with a gorgeous early medieval castle at its heart. Constructed on the site of an old Roman fort, Usk Castle was built by the Normans in the 12th century, when it would have been a site of enormous strategic significance, sitting as it does along the Wales-England border and commanding sight lines clear across the valley. It has a colourful history prior to falling into ruin, and is now privately owned by the Humphreys family, who live in what was originally the castle gatehouse - the castle itself is essentially their back garden! Open to visitors with only an honesty box at the gate by way of entry fee, the ancient walls and towers of the castle are tumbledown, covered with creepers, and open to roam about at will in a way that would never be allowed by Cadw or the National Trust.







When I visited this week, the family had their grandchildren visiting and the children were running wild around the ruins, dressed up as medieval lords and ladies having an absolute whale of a time. "I don't suppose you happened to spot any ghosts in the garrison tower?" asked Mrs Humphreys with a grin as she wandered past me to do some gardening. Just imagine having all that as your garden!

I also took a stroll along the river Usk, which is really pretty.


All in all, a lovely day out!

the clock strikes Twelve

Doctor Who is back tonight!

And with that in mind, I am very struck by this quote from the Coronation Street Blog (which, yes, I do like to browse, don't judge me). Says the editor over there: "Watching Corrie is a lot like supporting a football club. You take the season as it comes, hoping that the new manager can knock the team into shape.There's always the hope it'll work out alright."

That's pretty much how I feel about Doctor Who. I grew up watching the show. It's been part of my life, in one form or another, for as long as I can remember. I'm never going to not watch it, for as long as it remains on the air. But it doesn't always turn out quite the way I'd like it to. In that sense, it really is like supporting a football club - you take each new series as it comes and hope for the best. You win some and you lose some, and you grumble and you groan when things don't quite work out, but at the end of the day you know that you're never going to give it up, because the whole is so much greater than the sum of its parts.

I haven't much enjoyed the Steven Moffat era of the show. I don't much like his storytelling style, I've not warmed to any of his companions, and although I thought Matt Smith did a great job, the 11th Doctor was probably my least favourite so far. I don't particularly like the current companion, Clara. Yet in spite of all that I'm looking forward to meeting Peter Capaldi's Doctor. It's a new season, we've got a new lead and there's always the hope it'll work out all right.

Welcome back, Doctor Who.

Deep Breath

( mild spoilers behind cut )