(no subject)

[llywela]

1. This has been another crazy busy week in work, building up to a migraine last night, which has left me feeling rather fragile this morning. Am now very much looking forward to the weekend, when I will be meeting up with the always lovely bagpuss1966 and welshdreamer for an outing I believe we first talked about something silly like 18 months ago, when we met up at the Gower. Life has got very much in the way since then, but we've finally got ourselves organised.

2. The news from Japan remains awful to watch. My cousin Stephen, who lives near Tokyo, has been keeping in touch and sounds pretty upbeat, under the circumstances. There isn't much physical damage in the small town where he lives, although he says that the aftershocks haven't been much fun, everyone is pretty shaken, panic buying has caused shortages, and trains and the like aren't running. According to the Beeb, the government is urging ex-pats living in the area to leave because of the nuclear crisis and its knock-on effects, but I can't see Stephen wanting to uproot his family. He has lived there for nearly 15 years now. His wife is Japanese and their whole life is in Japan - Yuki and the boys barely speak English, Yuki and Pip (the 8 year old) have only ever been to the UK once, and little Marcus (age 4) never. I imagine that unless things get really bad, they will stick it out where they are. It is worrying, though. Here's a pic of Stephen's boys, posing for the New Year cards they sent out last year.


3. I've finished watching both seasons of New Street Law now. It was a nice little show. I can see why it didn't attract a large enough audience to justify a third season, but it had a really strong cast and I found the storylines interesting and the characters engaging and would have liked to see more of them. Ah well, such is life.

4. So, Being Human's third season certainly ended on an I can't believe they actually went there note! I know there's been a lot of mixed feeling about it in the fandom, but I enjoyed the season and wasn't as devastated by the shock ending as I might have expected (or as so many others seem to be). This review pretty much sums up how I felt about it (albeit in rather more flowery and enthusiastic language than I'd have used), thereby saving me the trouble of having to collect and compose any thoughts of my own.

5. Sister Mine, plus Bro-in-Law and Niece are coming to stay with me for the weekend in just over a week - they arrive on the Friday, which is D's birthday, but are actually coming to celebrate Mum's 60th which is the following week. I had a text from D the other day, however, mentioning that they are also going to have to bring her own birthday present from R with them...because it has four legs and a tail. He's bought her a dog - a staffy. Her name is Amber, she is three years old and had to be rehomed because her owner had terminal cancer. D is in love. Me, I'm wondering a) how they are managing to fit a large dog into their already crowded little house, b) how their four cats have taken to the new arrival, and c) what my own cats will make of it when they bring Amber to stay for the weekend!

Comments

[justwolf.livejournal.com]

My friend in Tokyo has been told her area is now considered safe by the British embassy (since some time yesterday) so hopefully your cousin and his family will shortly be in the clear too, though obviously it's still an incredibly difficult situation. At least the radiation levels seem to be dropping. The whole situation is so heartbreaking.

Good luck with the dog intrusions!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

There seem to be a lot of conflicting reports and advice being given. It is just a terrible, terrible situation all around and we can only hope and pray that it settles down again soon.

[justwolf.livejournal.com]

There are, yes. I feel like the media coverage has not been very balanced some of the time, and has been geared towards making people panic. It really is such a terrible situation. I hope so much that it settles down soon.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Cute lads - hope it works out okay for them all...

Sounds like I'm the only one who thought that Being Human got just a little bit overwrought in places at the end... I didn't mind the Mitchell thing at all (I'd forgotten about his hobbitry, too - no, dwarvery, isn't it... *g*) but somehow... I dunno! I'm not sure about BH being the greatest series evah etc either, though I've generally been enjoying it...

Have a great weekend!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Hee - I love Being Human muchly but have never thought it was the greatest show ever. The character interaction is always fab to watch, but the plotting and storytelling has always been a bit hit or miss and can, as you say, get a bit overwrought in places.

Aidan Turner's forthcoming Hobbit gig was very much on my mind going into the finale - I'd been wondering if they'd manage to juggle his schedule around it or if it would mean having to write him out of the show. And the episode certainly answered that question! I look forward to following his career with interest, having also enjoyed his turn in Desperate Romantics last year.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I loved Desperate Romantics! *g*

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

...Desperate Romantics was last year, wasn't it? Or was it as long ago as the year before?! Heck, it might have been the year before. Where do the years go?

Edited my post slightly 'cause I'd forgotten till you commented how over-enthusiastic the review I linked to is - 'twas the general sentiment of why the ending worked that I agree with, rather than the gush.

[(Anonymous)]

Maybe not the greatest show ever - but then you look at what else there is to compare it with, just at the moment, and it's pretty good :)

I loved the whole series: Mitchell's character had gone as far as they could without repeating themselves so although the end was shocking it wasn't exactly unexpected.

Aidan Turner was in the BBC4 Hattie programme and showed he could act different roles very well.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

I think Aidan Turner is going to have a strong career from here on out - he's a really good actor and also has the looks to go far. Mitchell's demise has definitely been coming for a while - it was a shame and I'm sad about it, but I'm interested to see how the show develops from here and fills that gap. The introduction of Wyndham and the Old Ones looks intriguing - it took me ages to place Lee Ingleby as George Gently's hotheaded sidekick Bacchus, he was so different in this role!

[bagpuss1966.livejournal.com]

Can't wait to see you guys! I can't believe it's been 18 months - it doesn't seem like that long. xx

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

18months just vanished, didn't they! I had a great time yesterday - hope to see you again soon :)

[kelzies.livejournal.com]

I hope you're feeling better now *HUGS* Sorry things have been so crazy but woot for it almost being the weekend, and getting to meet up with flisters :D

Glad that there hasn't been any major damage where your cousin is, but it really is just terrible to hear about. So awful, the poor country :( Such cute kids. Can't be blamed if they want to try and stick it out.

What a cute doggie! Great present. Sad about the reason she needed adopting though. Hopefully the cats won't mind ;)

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

I'm laying in contingency plans for the cats while we have the dog here...*G*