No Spoilers Please

People who know me, know I’m far from a ‘squeeing fangirl’ when it comes to Russell T. Davis, but this week has seen me doff my Rusty cap at Mr. D. and his team, and say: that was a damn fine piece of British drama.

Yes, I’m a fan of Torchwood, so what! It’s part of the Whoniverse in which I proudly live. Heck! even some of my friends are Whovians - well, okay, most of my friends are of that persuasion, and I’m proud of them too.

So... this last week: Torchweek, as I’ve seen it called, my schedule was pretty much set around 9-10pm for five nights. BBC1 on the wide screen, and following the Doctor’s instructions: DON’T BLINK

Sadly, I did blink a few times, and I did miss some bits of the action. I’m old! I can’t focus on the screen if it’s full of movement - but apart from my fogey ailments, I was glued, hooked, and then totally blown away.

Superb!

To me, series three of Torchwood went deeper into the drama, nicked plenty of emotion from ClassicWho, and took me on the biggest ride of my life for five consecutive nights. I don’t want to start mentioning specific scenes, comment on plot, or even make too much of an obvious hint, as I’ve friends who have yet to watch, but I will say: I didn’t see that coming, and I wasn’t expecting that... oh and, great jumping gob stoppers, that was just simply brilliant.

And wasn’t Nicholas Briggs FAB in front of the camera - MORE!

Mind you, I was a wee bit naughty: I did allow myself one twitter: “Spot the difference between DW fans and fangirls - DW fans get excited over a quarry/fangirls at seeing JB's *spoiler*”
Yes, I’m weak - I even spotted The Shippons (but that’s a private joke).

Nothing... Time.... Distance between.
Average existence measured by mean.
Space age deities, scientific gods,
Their glories received with pretentious nods.

But back to the Whoniverse we go, and boy! was the ending left wide open... dangling ... begging for more.
Love it.
And, although the end was a tad cheesy, isn’t that just part of Doctor Who... ;)

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"Silver" leaf gilding

"Move over Dan Brown!
Steven Savile's coming for you and he's got a silver dagger!" - Stel Pavlou, international best selling author of DECIPHER and GENE

The 'Silver' cover is here!

Further details

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And don't forget, you can have a sneaky peak at
chapters One and Two


You can also show your support for Steven Savile
on Facebook

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Young Windebank

They shot young Windebank just here,
  By Merton, where the sun
Strikes on the wall. ’T was in a year
  Of blood the deed was done.

At morning from the meadows dim
  He watched them dig his grave.
Was this in truth the end for him,
  The well-beloved and brave?

He marched with soldier scarf and sword,
  Set free to die that day,
And free to speak once more the word
  That marshalled men obey.

But silent on the silent band,
  That faced him stern as death,
He looked, and on the summer land,
  And on the grave beneath.

Then with a sudden smile and proud
  He waved his plume, and cried,
“The king! the king!” and laughed aloud,
  “The king! the king!” and died.

Let none affirm he vainly fell,
  And paid the barren cost
Of having loved and served too well
  A poor cause and a lost.

He in the soul’s eternal cause
  Went forth as martyrs must-
The kings who make the spirit laws
  And rule us from the dust;

Whose wills unshaken by the breath
  Of adverse Fate endure,
To give us honor strong as death
  And loyal love as sure.

- Margaret L. Woods

The death of Young Windebank: Colonel Francis Windebank, shot at Oxford on the 3rd of May, 1645, following trial by Royalist Court-Martial, for the questionable surrendering of Bletchingdon House to Parliamentary Forces¹ the previous month.


Born c.1613, the son of Catholic Sir Francis Windebank once Secretary of State for Charles I, Colonel Francis had been raised as a Royalist, with both Royalist blood and Royalist connections. His paternal grandmother, Frances, was the daughter of Sir Edward Dymoke, and Anne ( née Talboys), and had herself royal blood from the descent of Edward III through the Percy line. Yet this thinning blood had lost its meaning, and the King himself, with the power to save Windebank as he had pardoned several others for similar offences, failed to act.

The Colonel, he who had been honoured for such bravery at the ‘Battle of Cheriton’ the previous year, was condemned to die for cowardice by the “councell of war”.

"Poor Windebank was shot by sudden court-martial, so enraged were they at Oxford; for Cromwell had not even foot-soldiers, still less a battering-gun. It was his poor young wife, they said, she and other ladies on a visit there, at Bletchington House, that confounded poor Windebank. He set his back to the wall of Merton College, and received his death-volley with a soldier's stoicism." - Carlyle's Cromwell


The Royalist Governor of Campden House, Gloucestershire, Sir Henry Bard, had written to Prince Rupert on the 28th of April 1645:
"The letter enclosed was sent to me from Oxford, to be conveyed with all speed possible. Pray God it comes time enough! It concerns a most unfortunate man, Colonel Windebank. Sir, pity him and reprieve him. It was God's judgment on him, and no cowardice of his own. At the battle of Alresford he gave a large testimony of his courage, and if with modesty I may bring in the witness, I saw it, and thence began our acquaintance. Oh, happy man had he ended then! Sir, let him but live to repair his honour, of which I know he is more sensible than are the damned of the pains of hell. And sure it will be a perfect means to his salvation. God and your Highness consult about it."
But Rupert never receive the letter, it having been intercepted by the enemy. The prince, ignorant of all knowledge, arrived in Oxford on the 4th of May - a day too late.

The Terrace Wall

Sure man's heart anguish ne' er hath broken here
This smiling air of natural repose,
Which over Merton's meadowed landscape glows
Yes, on this spot where the grey stone walls rear
Their hoary height, fell that poor Cavalier,
Who gave his post up to his monarch's foes
At iron Cromwell's summons, without blows,
Through gentle courtesy, not coward fear.

Perchance beneath where now I stand, he stood,
Setting his back against the college wall,
Baring his breast, not dabbled yet with blood,
A bold, unflinching mark for many a ball;
His young wife's name borne on his latest breath-
Short trial his, brief shrift and soldier's death.

- John Bruce Norton

*

A few months short of ten years after that fatal day, Jane, the widow of Colonel Windebank, married Thomas Teyrrill, esq. in London. Their daughter, Frances Windebank, married Edward Hales in 1669.

Interestingly, the eldest son of the Colonel’s sister Margaret, Francis Turner D.D., would later become one of the ‘Seven Bishops’ (as Bishop of Ely) who petitioned King James II on his second Declaration of Indulgence in 1688, and was imprisoned in the Tower of London for seditious libel. Despite this, Turner remained loyal to the Stewart king, and following the ‘Glorious Revolution’ later that year, refused to swear an oath of allegiance to William and Mary, thus becoming one of the nine nonjuring bishops.

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¹ General Cromwell's Letter, that he had defeated Part of the King's Forces; and taken a House in Bletchington; commanded by Colonel Windebank, and articles, between General Cromwell and Colonel Windebank, on the Surrender of it.

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Brothers - Kirk and Messingham

BBC Radio 4 - well worth a listen

From: here

On the Outside it Looked Like
an Old Fashioned Police Box
Tuesday 23 June - 11.30am

"Mark Gatiss, Doctor Who writer and fanatic, explores the hugely popular Doctor Who novelisations of the 1970s and 80s, published by Target books. Featuring some of the best excerpts from the books and interviews with publishers, house writers, illustrators and the actors whose adventures the books tirelessly depicted.

In an age before DVD and video, the Target book series of Doctor Who fiction was conceived as the chance for children to 'keep' and revisit classic Doctor Who. They were marketed as such, written in a highly visual house style. Descriptive passages did the work of the TV camera and the scripts were more or less faithfully reproduced as dialogue.

The books were as close to the experience of watching as possible, and were adored by a generation of children who grew up transfixed by the classic BBC series. Target Doctor Who books became a children's publishing phenomenon - they sold over 13 million copies worldwide. From 1973 until 1994, the Target Doctor Who paperbacks were a mainstay of the publishing world.

A Brook Lapping production for BBC Radio 4."

David Howe mentions on his blog Howeswho that he has contributed too:

"...Folks might be interested to know that I'm interviewed talking about the old Doctor Who Target Books on a radio documentary... "

I'll post the BBC iPlayer link as soon as possible.

EDIT: And here's the link (available for 7 days).

There's also a wee write-up on the BBC Doctor Who website, and the BBC Magazine pages.

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Random bloggage

It’s been a while since I last actually wrote anything more than a few lines (if that), so I thought it was about time I strung some of those things called words together. Not that I’ve much to say - I missed Mr Savile earlier in the year through a last minute hitch in travel arrangements (those who know me well know what I’m on about), so I can’t comment about the ‘mass signing’ that went on at Forbidden Planet, although I’m hoping to catch up with him, and possibly the lovely Lady Savile too, in August. Oh, and Steven, if you read this, I’m still waiting for that introduction to Joe Lidster you promised me - I need to know if I have the ability to ‘fangirl’ and/or ‘squee’. And whilst on the subject of Steven Savile (yes sir, you are more than just a man, you are a subject too), I think I’m just as excited about the publication of ‘Silver’ in October - how many countries/languages will it be coming out in now?

There’s also all the lovely Doctor Who events going on around the country: not that I can go to them, being totally skint and being mildly agoraphobic (with nobody to hold my hand) doesn’t help - but I’m enjoying seeing all the piccies on Facebook, and taking pleasure from the enjoyment others are having...

Now, what else has happened... Oh yes, the floods and leaks that my lovely flat has been dishing out. Pretty much sums up how jinxed I feel right now. Yes, I’m still in that dark and lonely place, BUT... I’m weeding out the negatives, and refusing to let them get the better of me any more. There are two major flaws to my theory (work and relationship), but I don’t air my dirty laundry in public, and I’m more than sure that you don’t want to read about such things. I have some wonderful friends in my life (‘specially you - you know who you are), and whilst in the solitude of lonely darkness, one is offered the most amazing environment to sit and count all those small mercies and little blessings, not to mention that guy Mr Michalowski cracking me up.

There was a bit of a surprise a few weeks back too. I won’t go into detail, as it’s not in my nature, but I have to admit that I did think it was wind up at first, so probably didn’t come across too well - but hey...

Moving on: At the end of March I went to a place I’ve been wanting to go to for years: that being York. I can’t believe it’s taken me years just to get back to the county. As a teenager I fell in love with The Dales (thanks to this place), and promised myself that I’d try and visit at least every other year once I was an adult (or move there). But as life happens, other priorities come into play, and before you know it, decades have passed you by. I won’t go into the matter of my climb up the steps of York Minster’s tower, but I do recommend you do it if possible (and thank those two lads and lovely lady for being so understanding, even if somebody else couldn’t). The city is amazing: the Walls, the Shambles, the art gallery (I just loved the painting by the stairs - if you’ve been there and know anything about me, you’ll know why). It was pee’in down with rain and blowing a gale most of the Saturday (yes, being up the tower in that was fun - walking along a wet gantry with only a handrail between you and a rather long drop was the best bit), but I guess that’s just another thing worth visiting the county for *wink*.

Well, that’s it for now... it’s getting late, and I need to save some things for another day (read: can’t think of anything else - but am bound to the moment I switch my laptop off).

Thanks for dropping by... *wavies*...

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Frazer on Facebook

Frazer Hines writes as his current 'status':

"Dear everyone,

I've only just opened a fan page, and so many people have replied from all over the world.

Thank you all so much for making me feel so wanted.

Frazer"

*

You will find Frazer Hines' Fan page here, so pop along and show your support.
If you don't already have a Facebook account, surely this is 'good enough reason' to join... :D

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Anneke on air

Anneke Wills will be on the BBC Radio Devon 'Judi Spiers Show' tomorrow, Tuesday 2nd June '09. The show is from 9am-Noon, and Anneke is expected to be on air around 11am.

If you can't catch it live, the show will be on BBC iPlayer here soon after the show.


And don't forget, you can show your support for Anneke via her official website, and on Facebook.



EDIT: Direct link to the radio show here
The interview starts around 02:06:50, but do be sure to listen to Judi Spiers' wonderful introduction to Anneke right at the beginning (around 06:25).
Available until:
12:02pm Tuesday 9th June 2009

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Funniest programme description - EVER ?

"Forget those overpaid young men who chase bags of wind around in the rain, an Ashes series is on the horizon. What better time to look back at the history of the summer game? The first episode of a four-part series focuses on cricket’s development in England."

Oh, and in case you were interested in the programme:

Empire Of Cricket
Sunday 31 May, 10.30pm, BBC Two
Further details here


EDIT: BBC iPlayer

- Episode One England: A look at how the English invented cricket and exported it to the wider British Empire.
- Episode Two West Indies: The story of the development of cricket in the West Indies.
(includes an interview with Michael Holding - he of that quote)
- Episode Three Australia: How Australia got the best cricket team in the world.
(and 'The Boy From Bowral')
- Episode Four India: The Indian game, from the sport of the English colonisers to the Indian Premier League.

All available until:
Sunday 28th June 2009

*

I've finally managed to watch all four episodes, and would like to congratulate the BBC for a job well done.

*

The British Fantasy Society - Open Night

The evening of July 3rd '09, at 'The George' Fleet Street in London.

Further details here on their website. But, for the lazy amongst you ;) here's the blurb:

"BBC Books - Torchwood Discussion and Signing

The British Fantasy Society and BBC Books are pleased to announce that on the 3rd July they will be hosting a free Torchwood event at The George pub on London's historic Fleet Street, a short walk from Temple Tube Station.

Authors of the latest Torchwood novels from BBC Books, Mark Morris, Sarah Pinborough and Guy Adams are joined by scriptwriter Joe Lidster in an informal panel discussion hosted by Andrew Cartmel, fellow Torchwood author for BBC Books and onetime script editor of Doctor Who.

The discussion will last approximately one hour and will be followed by an opportunity for people to buy books and have them signed by those attending.

The event will start at 19.30 and is free to attend but please note that space is limited. "




And, on another exciting note (b#, I think),
Sam Stone will be launching her
new literary baby, 'Futile Flame'.

Details from here:
"The quest for the origin of the Vampire Gene continues ...

Gabriele searches out Lucrezia, who reveals to him the horrors of her teenage years in the house of the Borgias in the sixteenth century, and the possessive obsession of her brother Caesare who cannot accept that his love for her is unrequited. Her transformation as a vampire gives her freedom to escape for a short time, but leads to the terrifying world of the Allucians; throwing her back into the arms of her now much stronger and powerful brother, two centuries later.

Gabriele discovers that Lucrezia is just as much a victim of her past as he is.

*

Author and poet Sam Stone's first novel, Gabriele Caccini – The Vampire Gene Book 1 (as Paigan Stone), was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Like all good authors she drew on her own knowledge and passions to write it. The novel won ForeWord Magazine's silver award for BEST HORROR NOVEL 2007. In September 2008 Gabriele Caccini was re-edited and republished by The House of Murky Depths as Killing Kiss. She has recently sold a couple of short stories and is working on a film treatment for Killing Kiss as well as a new urban fantasy series for young adults. "

You can support Sam Stone on Facebook, or via her blog.

Update from Sam's Lair:

The Vampire Gene Series is available at
Borders, Oxford Street, London
Saturday 4th July 2009
12pm-4pm.

Sam Stone will be in store to sign copies of
'Killing Kiss' and 'Futile Flame'

*

Sampling Silver's delights

.... that is, there's a sneaky peak at
chapters One and Two here



And there's a brief Q&A with the author
of 'Silver', Steven Savile, here.




You can show your support for Steven Savile
on Facebook here




I think that's all the updates for now... :D

A World Of War

Earlier today I read a new poem by Sam Stone called 'The Dream', and it reminded me that I still hadn't dug out the old poem of mine that I'd been asked to post here ages ago (in fact, it was when I had my previous blog) - a bit late, I know, as it's was written for Remembrance in November... but I'll only forget again, so here it is now.


A World Of War

The final shot had been fired.
The last fighter fell,
His enemy wounded and still.
All was dark.
A lonely wind blew through the void,
Whispering its silent wail of senseless agony.
A river of blood burst over its banks of death.
Pain seeped into the earth.
All seemed lost to the world of war.
Trees lay in splinters,
Lands barren and torn.
A moment of peace.
A moment of calm.
The Poppies will grow once more.

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'The Story of Martha' - audio

I see that the audio for 'The Story of Martha' has been announced online. I thoroughly enjoyed the book (the stories and the concept), and highly recommend it.

There have been some thoughts I've shared with a few people: mainly, that I wonder if it's the BBC's version of 'Short Trips'... will we have the standard 'novels' and this new short story type as a regular set of releases in the future?

'The Story of Martha'

written by
Dan Abnett

read by
Freema Agyeman

further details
here

Due for release:
4th June 2009









*wavies* to Messrs. Lockley and Lewis - a family of penguins to Mr. Shearman - and a novella licence to... well, that's between me and certain Mr. Savile ;)

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How to waste another evening the fun way

What can I say... I was feeling down and lonely, so wondered if an hour or two on Facebook would be just what the doctor ordered (no, not the Doctor - he suggested I watch Classic Who dvds, so I did that as well).

Anyhoo.... Facebook... There were a few quizzes doing the rounds, and I thought they'd make a great distraction. Little did I know, four hours later (yeah, and the rest) ... You get the picture.

I did discover, however, that:

1) my "Euro-persona" is British - "You are sophisticated, well-mannered, polite and proper. You prefer negotiation over violence. You have a witty, sometimes wacky, sense of humor....", etc..

2) I should be living in the 1700's - "The world saw many revolutions in the 18th century, the bloodiest being perhaps the French Revolution (feel like grabbing a pitchfork and storming Bastille or a nobleman's estate?).

3) that I'm "upper class" (which I think had more to do with the fact I said yes to polo and horse racing than anything else (???)).

... but then a simply brilliant quiz came into view ...

4) Which Doctor Who are YOU?



Well, what were you expecting?

Actually, don't be fooled: there were quite a few of us in total who did this quiz, and most didn't get the Doctor they thought they would.

... and then, finally, the ultimate in ALL quizzes...

5) Which sort of Tim Hirst are you?

(for the record: I did question the postcard bit)

So that was my evening of fun... and, honestly, it was - would have been better if cuzzy had stayed up a wee bit longer (although, knowing our luck, msn would have crashed)... but on the whole it was a FABtastic evening with Alex and James on msn, and... oh, the usual suspects...

There was even a couple of bacon wraps at one stage!

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Silver on twitter - Steven Savile

StevenSavile 124,000 words down, into the last scene of Silver. Tomorrow the new novel will be done. Finished. Complete. And my soul will be damned.

[Well technically, Steven, a man's soul is only truly damned if he forgets his wife's birthday.]



And don't forget FaceBook for further updates on 'Silver', so take a look here, and join up to show your support for Steven Savile ...

Ah well, that explains it

I did wonder, every so often: and now I know...

Which Star Trek Character Are You?
find out here

:D

Silver twitterings - Steven Savile

twitter with author Steven Savile

The latest:

StevenSavile - just wrapped another chapter and another storyline, one storyline to go and that's that for Silver. Feeling pretty chuffed. Grin. Feels good

StevenSavile - I am rather nervous about the bodycount in this book... I think it might be my most ahh mmm fatal todate... looks around innocently.

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Anneke Wills - the autobiographies

'Self Portrait' - what can I say: I laughed and I cried. Got goose bumps all over. An amazing story to tell, and what a wonderful way it was told - as if I were an old friend catching up on the gossip of years missed. The highs and the lows; the mundane and the totally eccentric; the loves and the passions, and the betrayals. But what shines through is the devotion of true friends, and the honesty that Anneke speaks. Although I guess there is one warning worth heeding: make sure the jam jar is big enough before you start.





And then I went off to get 'Naked': all the way through the 'Bhagwan years' I was often thinking of the time Anneke's mother had wanted to set the finches free from their cages in Spain - I wondered if, deep down, that Anneke had been frightened to be released from 'her cage', to be completely free, in fear of not being able to survive. I won't pretend to understand the actual details of these years, but the sense of spiritual healing rang true, and sure enough, the strength and belief in herself blossomed - and she survived the freedom in more ways than one. I sobbed my heart out for her, and smiled and cheered for her; and I cried some more, as much for myself as for Anneke. Then to feel the final contentment in her life is truly inspiring - she had Greers books, I have Anneke's.

Both books
Available online
through the official Anneke Wills website
here.

And please visit
Anneke Wills' Facebook page
here
(managed on Anneke's behalf by her publisher, Tim Hirst).


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Twitter with Steven Savile

twitter with author
Steven Savile here


Steven Savile, a #1 UK bestseller and International bestseller, is sure to frighten you with this tale of terrorism, murder and grim scenes... yet intrigue you with his vivid descriptions of landscapes, character interactions, and accurate historical events (speculative re-creation of course - this is a work of fiction after all).

'SILVER' - A Thriller by Steven Savile Due out October 2009, SILVER is a dark thriller that is both compelling and controversial like Dan Brown's, The Da Vinci Code.


EDIT 050509:
Steven Savile is currently celebrating selling 'SILVER' to Replika in Poland.

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Doctor Who: Quarks

Yes, well... I'm a geek, and I like the wee Quarks (not as much as the Krotons and Ice Warriors, mind), but they are so often overlooked.





Enjoy!


:D

(A trimmed version of the 7th variation was used for this video,and the 9th variation for this one)

"Naked" - Anneke Wills

Available online
through the official Anneke Wills website
here.

Looks like Doc2 has found a juicy bit...

Image from Tim Hirst - see, I kept it secret like you asked me too... ;D

Please visit Anneke Wills' Facebook page
here
(managed on Anneke's behalf by her publisher, Tim Hirst)

EDIT: updated

I have a rival shameless plugger...

... seems a certain Mr Hirst has some rather influential friends, and has called on the Doctor himself to advertise the VERY soon to be released 'Naked' second volume of Anneke Wills' autobiography...





Please visit Anneke Wills' Facebook page (managed on Anneke's behalf by her publisher, Tim Hirst) here , or the official Anneke Wills website here .

Wasting time the fun way

I've been playing with Wordle using the text from this blog
- I guess it kinda reveals the truth ... ;)



:D

BBC Audio - by now you should have bought...

Well, they were released 12th March '09... so what's your excuse... ;)






Ghosts of India

written by
Mark Morris
read by
David Troughton

further details
here











The Doctor Trap

written by
Simon Messingham
read by
Russell Tovey

further details
here











Shining Darkness

written by
Mark Michalowski
read by
Debbie Chazen

further details
here

Mark Morris - a sneaky peak

From: the Mark Morris Q&A on Torchwood Forum

Q3: Do you prefer Torchwood or Doctor Who in general, and why?

A: It's got to be Doctor Who. I grew up with Doctor Who and have adored it since I was 4 years old. For me, it's the ultimate TV programme. The stories can be set anywhere in time and space - you can have historical intrigue one week, a humorous fantasy the week after, and a full-on gothic horror story the week after that. And it's all bound together by the most wonderful, wittiest, charismatic TV character ever devised.

I also adore it for its longevity - the sheer breadth and scale and scope of its history is awesome. I love the fact that you can bring back an enemy after 25 years, and that not only does everyone know who it is, but the return of that enemy makes front page news! It's incredible.

Also, as someone who is just interested in TV as a production medium, I love the fact that you can pretty much plot the course of TV history just by watching Doctor Who. You can see how things have changed technically over the years, and also how TV storytelling has changed. It's a fascinating journey.