Stuffs

Wasn't that a spectacular moon on Monday morning? Yes, I know I'm days late, but then aren't I always. For practically the first time in recorded memory, something interesting happened in the sky, and the English weather co-operated. I can't say as I noticed the moon being especially large (although it was very bright, certainly, before it turned red). But super or not, the eclipse was nice.

Anyway, spent the weekend up to my elbows in horse manure, which was... nice. My mother's garden is rapidly taking over my life. Still, it's good to be busy. And there were ample compensations, as my sister brought the manure, which meant that I had the love of my life for the weekend, aka her yellow lab. He's old now, and sometimes a bit doddery, but he still confidently expects me to take him on gargantuan walks in the hills, like I used to. Ten minutes in a field is more his limit now! He still thinks he's six months old though. He's daft. And also perfect.

Elsewhere, I am being stalked by an actor. His name is Anthony Calf, and he was in Beau Geste (playing middle brother Digby). Then he turned up in The Monocled Mutineer, and then in Fortunes Of War. Everywhere I turn, suddenly there he is. He seems to forever be playing unremarkable good eggs, so I have no idea if he's especially good or not; although I suppose he must be, to have continued getting all these roles. Always in the military, and always in historical dramas. And always following me. I wonder where he'll turn up next. The IMDb says that he's still around, and has been in New Tricks, so obviously he's allowed into the 21st century sometimes. I'm glad for him. It must be rough only being ye olde times military men, and getting shot at lots.

The Monocled Mutineer finished. It never became cheerful, but it was very well made, and I'm glad that I finally got to see it. Paul McGann is terrific, and he had a good cast around him. I still have one episode of Fortunes Of War left, as I've been doing it weekly, old style. Unless the final episode turns out to be insanely bad, which I can't imagine that it will, then I really recommend this one. It's proper vintage telly, and beautifully done. Great cast; in no hurry whatsoever to tell its story; and actually looks as though the BBC spent some money on it, which is quite a novelty. Can Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson be legally compelled to remarry? Or at least start working together again? This should be allowed. I know she has a husband, but I'm sure he would agree if the telly was good enough.

Elsewhere again, How To Get Away With Murder came back last week, which was nice. Modern telly! Blimey! HTGAWM is of course otherwise known as The Show With Baby Ian Chesterton In It. It's genuinely good (it just won an Emmy, actually - apparently the first time that a black woman has won a lead performance Emmy, which is a trifle disconcerting), but I must admit that a good part of my viewing enjoyment comes from spotting moments when Alfie Enoch looks so very much like his dad. Sorry, show. I do properly like you though.

...And I've just noticed that I have half a tree caught in my hair, from when I was digging over a flowerbed earlier. Would that I could claim I was doing something exciting, like burying bodies or excavating Roman treasure, but I wasn't. Actually I was mostly transplanting lavender bushes. I think I may be the only person on the planet who hates lavender. It's horrible stuff! And it's caught in my trouser turn ups.

I'm being betrayed by my own clothing. I think I better wrap this up before they all turn against me. If you don't hear from me again in the next week, assume that I've been swallowed up completely, and turned into a bush. A nice one, hopefully. Not lavender!