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usuallyhats
HELLO GMT HOW I HAVE MISSED YOU! This morning I was awake enough to finish my book before I had to get up. THIS NEVER HAPPENS WITH BST.
Book in question was The Levant Trilogy, the second half of Fortunes of War, and it was excellent: I recommend both it, the first half (The Balkan Trilogy) and the 1987 TV version with Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh to all and sundry. It's about a young married couple, Guy and Harriet Pringle, who are sent out to Romania early in the second world war (Guy is an English teacher), are evacuated from there to Athens, then escape to Cairo, but the war, although it is behind most of their actions, isn't really the main subject of the books (it's more prominent in The Levant Trilogy, where a new main character, a soldier, is introduced) - it's more about their lives and their relationship with each other and the people around them. It's very unsentimental, which I liked.
Edinburgh was lovely. It is a very fine-looking city and I took many photos. Also it did not rain all the time! The Mother and I did many touristy things. I think my favourite was the tour of the new Scottish Parliament building, which was v. interesting and something we probably wouldn't have done without Jess's recommendation, so thank you Jess! We were also very impressed with the National Museum of Scotland, though we felt it could have been laid out better as some of the floors were a bit of a maze. We had some very nice meals, too, particularly on the last day: we went to the Elephant House (JKR's old stomping ground) for lunch and the Vincaffé for tea. YUM.
The journey there was fine, though it did get off to a bad start on Thursday morning when I thought "hmm, I'd better just check that my railcard is where it always is... oh, it isn't. RIGHT." But I got to the station in time to get a replacement, with a much better photo as an added bonus. The journey back was much longer and by the time I got to Cheltenham I was feeling a bit "BRING ME MY FAINTING COUCH, I HAVE THE VAPOURS." But then I went back to my parents' house and ate a lovely roast dinner what The Father had cooked, which quite restored my spirits for the journey back to Bristol.
Whilst I was on holiday I watched this week's Merlin, and though it was terribly fun and all that... I don't know. I think possibly I am viewing last season through rose coloured specs, but I can't help feel that this season has been not as good. "Lancelot and Guinevere" is my favourite so far, but even there I have one major complaint: much as I love the comedy stylings of Merlin and Arthur (NB I love them A LOT), there is no way Morgana wouldn't have gone with them to rescue Gwen! She went on the "save Merlin's village" escapade last year, and she's got even more at stake this time. The beginning was SO AWESOME, with her and Gwen fighting their way out, making me even more disappointed that the rest of the episode contained no warrior!Morgana action. Gwen was brilliant pretending to be Morgana, though, hinting at what a great queen she'll make.
On to "Beauty and the Beast", which I think I would be less grumpy at if Merlin hadn't already had a "seductive woman is SEKRITLY EVIL" episode. And at least Mary Collins had a legitimate reason to hate Uther. Am also not impressed by the lack of Morgana and Gwen in this episode, I know they've both just had an episode of their own but it's not like the boys were absent from those episodes. On the other hand, Sarah Parrish was great, as were Colin Morgan's comedy faces. (Comedy faces are a great way for an actor to endear themselves to me, see also Myles, Eve.)
And finally, a meme: The problem with LJ: We all think we are so close, but really we know nothing about one another. So I want you to ask me something you think you should know about me. Something that should be obvious, but you have no idea about. Ask away. Then post this in your LJ and find out what people don't know about you.
Book in question was The Levant Trilogy, the second half of Fortunes of War, and it was excellent: I recommend both it, the first half (The Balkan Trilogy) and the 1987 TV version with Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh to all and sundry. It's about a young married couple, Guy and Harriet Pringle, who are sent out to Romania early in the second world war (Guy is an English teacher), are evacuated from there to Athens, then escape to Cairo, but the war, although it is behind most of their actions, isn't really the main subject of the books (it's more prominent in The Levant Trilogy, where a new main character, a soldier, is introduced) - it's more about their lives and their relationship with each other and the people around them. It's very unsentimental, which I liked.
Edinburgh was lovely. It is a very fine-looking city and I took many photos. Also it did not rain all the time! The Mother and I did many touristy things. I think my favourite was the tour of the new Scottish Parliament building, which was v. interesting and something we probably wouldn't have done without Jess's recommendation, so thank you Jess! We were also very impressed with the National Museum of Scotland, though we felt it could have been laid out better as some of the floors were a bit of a maze. We had some very nice meals, too, particularly on the last day: we went to the Elephant House (JKR's old stomping ground) for lunch and the Vincaffé for tea. YUM.
The journey there was fine, though it did get off to a bad start on Thursday morning when I thought "hmm, I'd better just check that my railcard is where it always is... oh, it isn't. RIGHT." But I got to the station in time to get a replacement, with a much better photo as an added bonus. The journey back was much longer and by the time I got to Cheltenham I was feeling a bit "BRING ME MY FAINTING COUCH, I HAVE THE VAPOURS." But then I went back to my parents' house and ate a lovely roast dinner what The Father had cooked, which quite restored my spirits for the journey back to Bristol.
Whilst I was on holiday I watched this week's Merlin, and though it was terribly fun and all that... I don't know. I think possibly I am viewing last season through rose coloured specs, but I can't help feel that this season has been not as good. "Lancelot and Guinevere" is my favourite so far, but even there I have one major complaint: much as I love the comedy stylings of Merlin and Arthur (NB I love them A LOT), there is no way Morgana wouldn't have gone with them to rescue Gwen! She went on the "save Merlin's village" escapade last year, and she's got even more at stake this time. The beginning was SO AWESOME, with her and Gwen fighting their way out, making me even more disappointed that the rest of the episode contained no warrior!Morgana action. Gwen was brilliant pretending to be Morgana, though, hinting at what a great queen she'll make.
On to "Beauty and the Beast", which I think I would be less grumpy at if Merlin hadn't already had a "seductive woman is SEKRITLY EVIL" episode. And at least Mary Collins had a legitimate reason to hate Uther. Am also not impressed by the lack of Morgana and Gwen in this episode, I know they've both just had an episode of their own but it's not like the boys were absent from those episodes. On the other hand, Sarah Parrish was great, as were Colin Morgan's comedy faces. (Comedy faces are a great way for an actor to endear themselves to me, see also Myles, Eve.)
And finally, a meme: The problem with LJ: We all think we are so close, but really we know nothing about one another. So I want you to ask me something you think you should know about me. Something that should be obvious, but you have no idea about. Ask away. Then post this in your LJ and find out what people don't know about you.