vivdunstan

Just spotted as I looked back over my recent Babylon 5 rewatch posts that I've variously used a "tv" tag and a "television" tag. Likewise I usually use "drwho" for Doctor Who but sometimes - especially further back in time - use the longer "doctor who". I'm going to try to stick to the shorter "tv" and "drwho" going forward. Because even though the new post form - still in beta I think, which I'm using, but soon to be rolled out more widely - makes tags much easier to find, I prefer to type, and not move around with eg a trackpad. And typing "dr" at the start or just "tv" will narrow things down fast! I am not worrying about going back and standardising the old tags. At least my Babylon 5 posts should all have "babylon 5" tags consistently. Which contrarily given the above discussion I was happier with than "b5".

Delighted to see Classic era Doctor Who (1963-1996) added to the iPlayer today. Though it's UK only. And unsurprisingly the very first story of all (!) is missing, due to obstructing actions by a rights holder. So glad I bought a DVD boxset of that very recently for that very reason ... There are also Tales of the TARDIS new episodes, reuniting old Doctors and their companions, looking back on old stories. And much more. All for Who's 60th anniversary this year. And of course we have new Who due very soon.

Buying us this to watch. I haven't seen it since 1978, but remember it well.

We've just got to the end of season 1 in our one episode a week at most latest rewatch of Babylon 5. And I thought I'd jot down some quick thoughts. We've been watching it if I'm well enough each week on Sunday evenings, while we finish off our dinner. It feels like a real treat, and perfect timing.

It's been really interesting rewatching it again. I am amused at how many of the character lines I know off by heart and anticipate them about to say! It's also been interesting rewatching it in HD for the first time for us.

There are definitely rough elements and it was very much finding its feet in that first year. There are some seriously clunker episodes among there. But at the same time the seeds of what would become a superb series are there from the start, and they do develop nicely as the first season goes on. There are especially standout episodes towards the end. And it very much feels like an accelerating thing at that point.

The regular characters are a joy, though it's bittersweet rewatching Michael O'Hare as Sinclair, and especially at the end of the season wondering how differently things might have gone had he not had to leave. To be fair I really like Bruce Boxleitner as Sheridan, so I'm happy enough. But it does make you wonder as you watch.

G'Kar and Londo interactions are an absolute joy throughout, even when they are sparring quite understandably. They carry the emotional heart of the series at this stage, and even now, before the events of season 2 and more, the gut punches are there, and the sense of tragedy unfolding.

I've also been impressed by many of the guest cast, though not all. Some real standouts in the cult/SF/fantasy world, including David McCallum, David Warner and June Lockhart. Among just many.

And I adore how it is essentially a storytelling engine, that even someone like who doesn't usually go for "hard" SF can watch and adore. JMS's storytelling is superb, and it's phenomenal watching how much he wrote. Not everything fully successful, but more often than not. And he kept it going.

I'd like to go straight on to start season 2 tonight, but that is next Sunday's treat! Meanwhile we're both very happily enjoying this all over again. Going slowly, but that lets us savour it. And it definitely merits that.

Reminded of a talk I gave 10 years ago today to the Economic and Social History Society of Scotland conference in Inverness. As I wrote then: "Also my talk on 17th century Melrose area court records went well. I said two things I didn’t plan to say: 'CSI Melrose', and 'Murrrdddeerr' a la Taggart! I do improvise a lot in conference talks, and am never quite sure what I will say!"

I don't think I'll ever be able to give another academic conference talk again, given my progressive neurological illness now, but it was fun while I still could. For this one back in 2013 I had to use my wheelchair that day. Luckily the venue was pretty accessible.

Really great progress on the new French chromatic button accordion today, with my first go playing some of my own arrangements of favourite tunes with the sheet music sitting in front of me. Until now I’ve been focusing on my tuition book, trying to learn the unfamiliar to me grid of dozens of buttons instead of the piano type keyboard I’m familiar with. So today’s challenge was to read the sheet music for some of “my” tunes, find the notes on the button grid and play them right, in sequence. Went so well! I played Sunrise Sunset right through, with up to three note harmonies on the unfamiliar keyboard. To be fair I’d tried it by ear before, but I was so much more assured with the sheet music, despite the still new to me button grid keyboard. Also played some Allo Allo, Pirates of the Caribbean theme, and the opening of my Poirot theme arrangement in progress. All reading the sheet music then finding the right note(s) on the button grid. And at a decent speed. With left hand chords too (easy bit!). So chuffed. Adore my wee French box, and it’s helping me more generally neurologically. Even if the piano accordion is still my main instrument.

And yup, I probably need a second accordion icon here, this time for my chromatic button accordion rather than my big piano accordion ...

Look what just arrived in the post, 3 days ahead of release!

Have belatedly started watching this Turkish Netflix Original series. Which almost feels like a cross between Buffy and Moon Knight. There’s even a costume he puts on to become a superhero. Being dubbed it’s hard to judge the acting reliably, but it seems ropey in places. And it feels like the makers are running through a check list of key Istanbul sites and Turkish tropes to show on screen. But I am currently intrigued. It helps that the episodes are short. The series has ended now, but ran for 4 seasons, so there’s a good chunk of episodes to watch. I am currently working through the first year.

Lining up our next weekend rewatch, with an episode a week. Next is the BBC’s version of Gormenghast from 2000. I wonder how much of this Martin will remember? He says a reasonable amount 😜

Fitting in a quick hopefully easy read with Juno Dawson’s Her Majesty’s Royal Coven. Seems like quite a zippy take on an urban fantasy British setting. Reminiscent in some ways of Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London and Charles Stross’s Laundry series. I think the Royal Coven book series has recently been optioned for a TV series version.