My Occasional Thought For The Day

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My March edition of Australasian Science arrived today at my Edgecliff P.O. Box. When I arrived home, I removed it from the plastic [A small but telling blow against inertia!]; and when I lay down, I read about Koalas & their diet. It confirmed that the lynchpin of their fussiness is avoiding poisons in the Eucalypt leaves.

Strange creatures, these Koalas: the stupid cousins of the Wombats. Whereas the latter are bright, cheerful headed creatures, at least at night, with a fondness for being scratched behind the ears; Koalas show the effects of such an impoverished diet as Eucalypt leaves. They have actually through time, shrunk their brains as an evolutionary advantage!

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Doctor Who - Colin Baker Era - "Vengeance On Varos"

This DVD was due for return to Kings Cross Library, and whilst I had watched it, I had not watched it with the commentary: by Colin Baker [the Doctor], Nicola Bryant [who played his Companion, Peri] and Nabil Shaban [who played the semi-amphibious, green non-humanoid creature named Sil, from the planet, Corus Beta]. Sil has charming habits, not the least of which is eating vast quantities of a revolting looking green marshmallow.

So I watched the story the whole way through, managing to pick up the comments of the commentators, even though I was engaged in doing several other matters; involving the mind as well as body. Mental Ampidexterity?

Synopsis: Varos is a planet which started as a penal colony. Gradually it evolved into an independent state, but with the old, largely irrelevant penal colony laws still surviving. These are used by the Officer Elite & the Guards, who are descended from the original Prison Guards, to take an unfair share of the wealth. They use the televising of the torture & executions of those who complain, to keep the half starved civilian population entertained & under control.

The Governor is from the Elite, but he is forced to take regular electronic public votes, from a voting population of just over 1.6 million. If he loses a vote, he suffers torture from a cell disintegrator. This Governor just survives a third lost vote, which shows he has exceptional strength. But another lost vote is sure to kill him.

Their one natural resource is "Zeiton-7", an ore which is very valuable. However, the Galatron Mining Corporation, which Sil represents, claims the opposite. It has extorted the people of Varos for centuries. The Doctor fortuitously arrives, searching for the said Zeiton-7, which he needs for his Tardis.

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An interesting element is the couple, Arak [Stephen Yardley] and Etta [Sheila Reid], who are quite seperate from the rest of the characters. They are in their living room, watching the televising of the tortures, executions and so on.

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Doctor Who [Colin Baker Era] "Vengeance On Varos"

Part One

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Colin Baker: "Let's look at this gorgeous specimen of womanhood, in a scene with me." ...

Nicola Bryant: "Another leotard. Another pair of shorts." ...

Nabil Shaban: "Maybe that's where Tardis comes from. Leotardis."

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Nicola Bryant: "My dressing room was raided and they stole my shoes, underwear and belt."

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Nabil Shaban: "I'm a Doctor Who fan myself. I was brought up on the Daleks."

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Colin Baker: "This show was recorded entirely in the studio."

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Nabil Shaban: "Actually, I saw him [Sil] as a sort of intergalatic Arthur Daley."

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Nabil Shaban: "This [Vengeance on Varos] anticipated Big Brother."

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Colin Baker: "There's some remarkable delivery of undeliverable lines".

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Part Two

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Colin Baker: "It really was a strong story and treated in a very, kind of straight forward, bleak way."

Nabil Shaban: "Nothing has changed really from the time of Rome, with gladiators as entertainment."

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Colin Baker: "Coming up is the scene which is the most infamous of my period. The famous acid bath scene, of which everybody said it was totally inappropriate for the Doctor to be as violent, as I appeared to be." ...

" ... if you look, I am defending myself [with the screen]. At this point, I am pulling, not pushing. I am stopping him. It's his friend who pulls him in. The Doctor is appalled." ...

"He makes a joke. But that is the only crime, and its not a big crime."

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Peri: [to Varos' Governor]: "And I thought that you were better than those other brutes."

Nicola Bryant: "Wrong!"

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Colin Baker: "I always thought it would be wonderful to have Sil as a Companion. It was lurking around as an idea." ...

Nabil Shaban: "Actually there was a Doctor Who story written where Sil is with the Ice Warriors. It was axed when the next season was axed."

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Peri: [to the Elite Of Varos] "What kind of people are you?"

Nicola Bryant: "Actors!"

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Nicola Bryant: "... the humour. That was very much with your Doctor, as well. All the sarcasm ..."

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Nicola Bryant: [Peri was in a costume with feathers stuck on - the Transmogrifier is tuning her into a bird.] "Just to add to the fun, I was allergic to feathers."

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Nicola Bryant: [Peri is looking sad & standing by the Governor, who is about to undergo a forced vote] "I was always very miserable in my shorts and leotards." ... "But the thing I found very difficult was working in the high heels." ... "All this running up and down corridors."

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Colin Baker: "I never liked my costume. I wanted something black, austere."

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Out of sequence, this comment, but it summarising superbly:

Nabil Shaban: "It's got shades of 1984,
and it was actually filmed in 1984."

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Doctor Who Club Of Australia Meeting - Drummoyne RSL.

The first for the year - a delayed Christmas Party. It was both a reprise of the 2005 season, and previewing the forthcoming 2006 season. I had had some success in spreading the word, as Vanessa M. was there, and enjoyed herself thoroughly.

During the lunch, "K9 And Friends" was shown, which I had heard of, but never seen. This unseen show was a rare Doctor Who spinoff, starring Sarah Jane Smith [Elizabeth Sladen] and that metal hound, K9. Vanessa took great aversion to the opening titles music, assuming that the whole show would be equally painful, whereas I agreed about the introduction, although I was willing to give the inside story the benefit of the doubt. So we went down a level to buy lunch, and the joys of "K9 And Friends" still await me.

The money which I brought with me, I had intended to use for purchasing Videos, besides lunch. But the on

es which I really wanted were all gone. So I decided not to buy. What weakened me? They had advanced copies of "The Beginning" Box Set, which contains the very first three stories of Doctor Who: "An Unearthly Child"; "The Daleks"; "The Edge Of Disaster"; all Hartnell Era, of course. The man at the DWCA Shop offered me what seemed a good price, and I was sold. It may seem strange that I should buy this, when I have these stories on Video; but what really makes it great, is all the extras: the background features, & the commentary by those who were there then in the production. There is William Harris who played Ian Chesterton, and Carol Anne Ford, who played Susan, the Doctor's granddaughter.

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"Magnificent Mozart"

The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra.

7.00pm at the City Recital Hall, Angel Place.

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These works were all played by a Baroque String Orchestra: Violins, Violas, Cellos, a Double Bass, and with an alternation between one Baroque Guitar & one Theorbo. The only exception being the use of a Solo Baroque Oboe in the Handel Opera excerpts.

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:

Aria Laudate Dominium from Vesperae solennes de confessore, K399.

Soprano Soloist: Jane Sheldon.

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:

Symphony Number 41 in C Major, jupiter, K551.

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Interval

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:

Coronation Mass in C Major, K317.
followed immediately by Motet Ave verum corpus, K618.

Soloists: Jane Sheldon [Soprano]; Erica Taylor [Mezza Soprano]
George Liakatos [Tenor]; David Greco [Bass].

The Australian Brandenburg Choir

St. Mary's Cathedral Choir Boy Trebles.

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Adele G. sent me, via the W-cubed, a scan of a drawing by Hugh Thompson. I had not heard the name, when she first mentioned it. He is an American pen & ink artist of some time past. The sketch, though she did not specifically mention it, appears to be an illustration for "Persuasion" by Jane Austen. I like it very much.

She had some problems with scanning it, so today I cropped and otherwise tidied it up, then sent a copy of the repackaged version back.

At long last I finished "The Iron Staircase" by Georges Simenon. This novel was narrated mostly through the thoughts of Etienne Lomel. I found it very depressing. This is why I took so many weeks to finish it. I could see the general direction in which it led, and this made it often hard to lift, open and read.

Other than this, I have my thoughts on another page, for by necessity I will give away the plot in at least part. You may desire to become depressed through reading it first, before you wish to dabble in my small thoughts on the matters wrought.

"The Complete First Series". This is the ironic name of the Box Set of the 2005 series of Doctor Who, in his Ninth Incarnation; that is, the Eccleston Era. Today I watched the second episode: "The End Of The World". Yes, I have seen it twice already! But seeing it a third time, the first time on DVD, was well worth the experience!!

Today I played the DVD "Divine Madness", after a long absence. How long I am not sure; but I certainly have not played it this year. It covers several decades of their existence, including their gradual disintegration, and then eventual reforming; some 28 tracks in all. Some songs are not to my taste, but overall the music quality is strong, as is the video quality.

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Medley:

Saxton: Birthday Piece For RRB.

Anonymous: Sonata Chiqiquitanas XVIII.

Dimitri Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 7 in F-Sharp Minor.

kkkk.

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Joseph Tawadros: Alamein.

llll.

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Traditional Sephardic: Yo era niña de casa alta.

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Joseph Tawadros: Remember Baghdad; Oasis.

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Interval

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Medley:

Dimitri Shostakovich: Two Pieces For String Octet, Opus 11.

R. Crawford Seeger: Adante For Strings.

Pink Floyd [arr. Richard Tognetti]: Shine On You Crazy Diamond.

Joseph Tawadros: Existence.

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Encore:

Joseph Tawadros: Dahab [Arabic for "Gold"].

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Doctor Who - Pertwee Era - "Spearhead From Space"

This is the first story of the Pertwee Era, following the regeneration of the Doctor, as played by Patrick Troughton. It is also the first colour story; the first story of the U.N.I.T. Sub-Era, when the Doctor was exiled in "house arrest" on Earth & U.N.I.T. appeared in every story.

It was filmed entirely on location, as there was a strike of technical staff at the BBC studios. This means all on film stock, with no videotape, which gives it a high quality appearance. It was also more expensive to shoot.

To me, as a child during the original Australian screening, this story stood up well; albeit I was disappointed as to the loss of my beloved Patrick Troughton. The latter played the Doctor as a "cosmic hobbo" [BBC website quote].For example, in The Seeds Of Death, the Doctor, as the Ice Warriors approach on the Moonbase to kill him, says to them: "Your leader will be very angry if you kill me. I'm a genius".

However, the early part of the Pertwee Era, this U.N.I.T. Sub-Era, was mostly a disappointment to me. Earth, to my mind at the time, was boring. Nowadays, I am reconciled rather to this period.

The commentary on the DVD is by Nicholas Courtney, who played Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, and Caroline John, who played Dr Elizabeth Shaw. At various points during the four episodes, they compliment the skill of the technical staff, and insist tht the story holds up well in all regards today. I agree.

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Doctor Who - Pertwee Era - "Spearhead From Space"

Episode One

Caroline John: She had been acting in the theatre under the direction of Lawrence Olivier, but received no replies for television role applications. So she had a friend photograph her in a revealing bikini, while she stood up a ladder. That is how she got the role of Dr. Liz Shaw.

Her long false eyelashes had to be put on one by one.

Nicholas Courtney: His moustache was false, which could lead to the hazard of it become mis-aligned. He did not feel his own moustache would look military enough, and did not grow one until 'The Terror Of The Autons', when he discovered it looked perfectly in style with the uniform.

He was in the army himself, but only ever a private!

Nicholas Courtney: Jon Pertwee, during the next story, 'The Silurians' had to say a lot of technical jargon. He said to Nicholas - "If I can't say this, I will say 'Reverse the polarity of the neutron bomb' ".

Caroline John: "Did you know there were never any portaloos. ... I used to have to get three umbrellas and crouch behind the back of the bus. ... It was quite raw".

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Episode Two

Caroline John: "Another lovely sunny day of filming. To anyone in America, this is quite rare, in Britain. Let me telI you, I usually freeze".

Nicholas Courtney: "Ballustrade acting. That's Evesham."

Caroline John: "I never, through the four stories I was in, met a Dalek or went inside the Tardis. So sad!"

Nicholas Courtney: "The Brigadier was always courteous, but always slightly nervous of women." ... "Happier in the mess."

Caroline John: "For those who don't know, I'm married to an actor called Jeffrey Beavers, who actually became the Master for a tiny bit. ... before Anthony Ainley."

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Nicholas Courtney: "Brains as well as beauty."

... Caroline John: "I'm not sure about that. I always used to say to people 'You can see my nose coming round the corner, before you actually see me.

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Nicholas Courtney: "Did you know Hugh Burden?"

... Caroline John: "Yes. He'd been to school with my father. Can you believe that?"

... Nicholas Courtney: "Lovely man." Caroline John: "Sweet!"

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Episode Three

On Hugh Burden, as the Auton leader:

Caroline John: "It's wonderful, this performance." ... "Weirdness." ... "Brilliant."

Nicholas Courtney: "Yes, it is terrific. Such stillness."

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On the Brigadier:

Caroline John: "He likes to be in charge." Nicholas Courtney: "Yes he does."

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Caroline John & Nicholas Courtney: Both praised the actors who played the non-talking Autons. They had no movement director, but had to work out how to move themselves, and did a very good job of it.

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Episode Four

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Nicholas Courtney: "I've got a great friend, a Doctor Who buff, who works there [at Madame Toussard's]. He is very clever. He is making a bust of the Brig [Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart] at the moment."

Caroline John: She explained that there were five to ten extras amongst the wax figures at Madame Toussard's, and when they were filming, she did not know who was an extra & who was just wax.

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On the Autons, who are posing as shop dummies, coming alive
[in Ealing High Street, very early in the morning]:

Caroline John: "It's one of the most frightening things."

Nicholas Courtney: "When they do come to life. They're activated."

Caroline John: "It's really horrible."

Nicholas Courtney: "It is."

Caroline John: "Because it's in the street." ... "It could happen anywhere."

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Caroline John: On Jon Pertwee - "Its a great exercise in acting, to be just so relaxed."

"A Viennese Celebration"

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra [SSO].

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8.00pm, at the Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House.

Conductor: Gianluigi Gelmetti.

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Franz Schubert: Symphony No. 8 in B Minor, D759 (Unfinished).

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This was excellent, played with good pacing & emotion. One does not get much Schubert at Orchestral Concerts in Sydney. And the 8th Symphony, at least what we have of it, is an excellent composition. For me it was the expected highlight of the concert. I was certainly not disappointed!

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Richard Strauss: Four Last Songs.

Soprano Soloist: Rickarda Merbeth.

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Although I am sure that I have heard these Four Last Songs several times, at least on the radio, I was yet a bit vague about them. They are very good, and this is consistent with me liking his later work, while being often indifferent to some of his earier work.

The soloist, who was a complete mystery to me, proved most excellent. She has a strong fluid voice with a very beautiful tone, with which she could achieve a high volume and range, while yet never becoming shrill nor strainng even the very least.

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Interval

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Anton Webern: Six Pieces For Orchestra, Opus 6.

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Very different from before the interval, but I went with it. It was well worth the experience. Once more I was prepared to put aside my prejudice against the Atonal and was rewarded.

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Johann Strauss II: On The Beautiful Danube - Waltz, Opus 314.

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This continued straight on from the Webern, without a break, which was clever conducting & playing. Also, it does not allow the audience to comment applaudingly, on a composition which makes no concession to popular taste.

Au contraire, the Danube Thing makes nothing but a concession to popular taste. I have nothing against the Waltz in general, just this one. As I said to someone I knew, when leaving the venue: "No amount of talented musicianship can hide the fact that this is a piece of shit."

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Johann Strauss II: Die Fledermaus: Overture.

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On the other hand, while "The Bat" does have a catchy theme, it is one which is strong musically. It is unreservedly designed as pop, but there is substance.

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Richard Strauss: Radevsky March.

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This is Richard Strauss is in his early, rather shallow operetta phase. Yet, as I wrote above, there is quality in the pop.

Ah! ... But there had to be the clapping, which I always dread!

The Sydney audience is hopeless in this rather mediocre expertise, which the modern Viennese, whatever their other faults may be, do do well, as far as the timing. Tonight in Sydney, as one would sadly expect, the clapping was faster than the music and kept on getting ahead of the Orchestra.

The problem: The last two notes of the line of the chorus are slower than the rest of the line. Like, there is a musical comma at the end of the line. The Sydney audience are utterly able to comprehend this and just charge ahead reagrdless; like the "Galloping Major" of Scottish fame, rather than the more erstwhile & controlled General Radevsky!

Fortunately, when the Orchestra went off into the higher pitched variation, the clappers were mentally lost, utterly confused & rapidly desisted, and had to await the next coming of the chorus. It was a dreaded awaiting for me!

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Danish Crime Television: "Ejseholde", which is translated into English as "Unit One". It is on SBS TV, with subtitles tying one down again. The personal lives of the detectives do not much interest me; but the crime stories, inspired by real crimes from the police files [as with the old "Dragnet" series] are very strong. As I said yesterday, it is very good viewing!

At the early end of the day, I was listening to 2MBS-FM, with the works of the Italian Baroque Composer, Tartini. There was a Violin Sonata, "composed in the manner of the Priest who plays the Portugese Guitar". This was followed by another Tartini Violin Sonata: "The Devil's Trill". Here, Tartini insisted that it was inspired by a dream, in which the Devil stood at the foot of his bed and played the violin. The announcer cast some doubt on the verity of this dream; saying that "Tartini had said he had a dream ...", and so on.

I am familiar with both works. I am sure that Tartini was capable of such a dream. The Roman Catholic heirarchy of the day would no doubt sadly concur.

Austrian Crime Television: "Kommissar Rex", which is translated into English, as "Inspector Rex" for some reason. Obviously it should be "Commissioner Rex". It is on SBS TV, with subtitles, which do tend to pin one in front of the television. My German is very primitive. The basic idea is rather corny & contrived, but suprisingly it works! It is very good viewing!

Coming home from the Coles along the Bayswater Road, I was just past the bus stop which is outside the Tourist Hotel, when three men who had crossed the road, passed just in front of me. They were wearing rather expensive looking suits, and seemed to be moving from one night spot to another. One walked in front, while the other two walked side by side, a few paces behind him.

Suddenly, the man in front turned his head and said to the other two: "Hugo A Go Go". No other words were spoken, as they disappeared into the night spot complex.

For those who do not know, Hugo A Go Go is the most used of Batfink's enemies, in the 1960's cult cartoon "Batfink".

The Opera tonight, on 2MBS-FM, was "The Clemency Of Tito", by a certain fellow, surnamed Mozart. I loved it, and I look forward to seeing it performed by "Opera Australia" later this year. I have never seen it live, for the repertoire of Mozart's Operas, which is performed here, is suprisingly limited.

Wednesday night is normally the Budgies' Opera Night, and I do well to keep to it, if I value my piece of mind.

Today is the fortieth anniversary of the introduction of decimal currency into Australia. This was achieved by a small, one dimensional chap, called "Dollar Bill", who bore a surprising resemblance to the then Commonwealth Treasurer, Billy McMahon. This is apart from the ears, that is. No, Billy's ears, which had an outrageous cartoonish character.

I am not sure why I watch "Hergé's Adventures Of Tin Tin", on ABC2-TV; weekdays from 6.00pm to 6.25pm. It is pleasant enough, without being awe inspiring; and Hergé does get a surprising number of chases into 25 minutes.

A Belgic cartoon version of "Inspector Rex" is how I describe it. Well, there is a dog.

By the way, it is pronounced "Tan Tan". And his knickerbockers are something else.

"Strip Jack", an Inspector Rebus mystery by Ian Rankin; a Chivers Books release, read by [?]. It had just been sitting there, unplayed for some weeks. Four days ago I finally began it and I was rivetted! It took me only four days to play through all eight CDs.

Curiously enough, I only occasionally watched the Television series. I do recall seeing the opening scenes of the televised "Strip Jack", but thinking: "Not another politician caught in a brothel". So I switched it off!

But the book is quite a different matter! It is not just the plot, but the complexity of characterisation that really makes the laudatory adaption of this book to the screen, to be nearly an impossible task.

One week ago, the classic Doctor Who stopped on ABC TV. Lest we forget!

On & off I have been reading the letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, selecting from the selection by Hans Mersmann. What comes from the adult Mozart, is a serious, hard working musician, who is fond of companionship. The letters to his father, at the time of Wolfgang's engagement & marriage to Constantia Weber in 1782, are revealing of the strength of his character. Her guardian made matters very difficult.

Earlier, there were the trials of Paris, where he had to spend much time calling on the nobility, who tended to be insensitive to the needs of mere musicians. "The distances are too great for walking - or else the roads too dirty, for the filth of Paris is indescribable." [to his Father, Leopold Mozart, 1 May, 1778.]

My favourite, however, is to Leopold from Mannheim, dated 10th December, 1777. He tells how he had announced his leaving Mannheim, to Christian Cannabich and his family. Christian's daughter, Rose, on learning of this: "Thereupon she played my sonata very gravely. I tell I could not forebear weeping."

Soon after I arrived home, I put on a CD of Ralph Vaughan Williams' compositions, which is entitled "The Lark Ascending". The first track is "The Lark Ascending". Very relaxing! The Budgies love it; especially the very high Violin chords. I told them, as I always do, that "Lark" is what people in England call a Budgie.

Not often am I off work with illness, despite my medical history. However, the probable allergy which struck me last thursday has me incapcitated. The coughing I can cope with, although never can I recall coughing so frequently or so much. But the headache I woke with was unusually severe. It subsided not to a reasonable level of discomfort until about noon.

It is probably an allergy, since it is worst on hot, humid, sunny days; while on saturday with its cool & rain, it all but disappeared. At times I can smell the irritant causing this effect, which has an odour very similar to that of the dust from freshly crushed rocks.

Usually I do not listen to "Stormy Monday", the Blues programme on 2MBS-FM. There is more than a bit of music, that tends to come under the Blues umbrella, which is not to my taste. Tonight I liked almost all the tracks played, although I paid not close enough attention to mention the names of any of the artists.

Some days I ignore all the DVDs, Videos & Television. I just want music. And today it had to be relaxing, unstressing. This seems odd, it being sunday. The CDs included Schubert's Piano Sonatas; Danzi's Bassoon Quartets & J.S. Bach's Keyboard Concertos.

Batfink! This morning I switched on the television, ABC2, from 10.32am to 10.41am, just to watch it. Is this sane? Half the episodes involve Batfink tangling with one particular villain, Hugo A Go Go. He is dutifully arrested at the end of each story in which he appears. Surely it would make sense to put him in a more secure prison.

Today has seen the end of a very long exercise. On ABC-TV, the complete "classic" series of Doctor Who was shown, from the first ever episode from 1963, "An Unearthly Child", to the final two episodes from 1989, "Survival". From late last year, two episodes rather one epiosde were shown each weekday, beginning just after 6pm. Rather sad, that the long run through seven Doctors is complete.

"Survival", a three part story, is very good. It can be hardly blamed for the demise of the serial. People are transported by strange domestic cat like creatures, which are intergalactic vultures, to the planet of the Cheetah People. The latter hunt the people transported there. It is a violent, desolate place, alive with active volcanism, and in the process of disintegration. But then, all planets are doomed.

"The Curse Of Fenric" ended today [Doctor Who - McCoy Era]. I have never really liked it, and today it was confirmed to me: the last episode is the biggest problem; all those vampires wandering everywhere. I have never been keen on the overwhelming odds idea.

Then started "Survival". It was a blank to me, until I started watching. I could recall nothing about it. But when it played before me, it came back. I recognised it.

Listening to Piano Sonatas: by Wolfgang Mozart as played by
Andreas Haefleger; by Franz Schubert as played by Jenö Jandö.

The Pilliga Scrub and its wonderful dominant tree, Australian Cypress or White Cypress [Callitris glaucophylla], continue to obsess me. I was on the internet tonight for an hour, just finding out about it. This tree, whose timber is completely Termite resistant, and with which one can build an entire house, has just come back by itself, once the NSW State Forestry streamlined their fire management.

But now this once degraded & abandoned pasture & farmland, is a rather massive forest, some 430,000 hectares in area, of which 80% of the trees are Australian Cypress.

For the first time this year, I watched an episode of this 1960s serial: The Saint - "The Covetous Headman" - Episode Four. This is a tightly scripted and directed story, which has its seeds in duplicity within the French Resistance during World War Two. Two decades later, the villain is active once more, with another murder to his tally. Enter The Saint.

Blake's Seven - "The Avalon Project". It is months since I watched any of this series. It can be so depressing! I had the commentary on, with Jacqueline Pearce [Servalan]; Sally Knyvette [Jenna] and Stephen Greif []. Very enjoyable, both the episode and the commentary. Greif recalled a surprising amount, considering he admitted having his worst ever hangover during the filming of the opening scenes.

I seem to have spent the whole day just recovering my old PC, from collapse. Four times it died. Four times I revived it. It hardly seems worth the effort. If computers are a tool, I would suggest a flail, for use on ones own back.

Unusually for me, despite my huge cache of programmes I have videoed off the television, I took out one and played it. This was Doctor Who - Tom Baker Era [with Romana I] - "The Ribos Operation". It is most excellent; a joy to watch!!

Earlier I had slept through Episode Three of Doctor Who - McCoy Era [with Ace] - "The Greatest Show In The Galaxy"; waking in shock at 6.26pm. I did see Episode Four, but I needed something to lessen my disconcertion.

Doctor Who - McCoy Era [with Ace] - "The Greatest Show In The Galaxy". This was the first two parts of the story; the first half. It is fairly odd; confusing at times; but interesting all the same, especially as the plot and the sets show considerable imagination.

What a surprise! The street lights on Goat Island, which is just south of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, have been switched on. They have been off for some months, turning it from a suburbanesque island, in to a low dark shape, sporting the odd weak red or green light, plus the blinking lifebouy light at its closest point.

Goat Island was once a convict prison; then a shipyard. It is now part of Sydney Harbour National Park, with its heritage buildings, & its rolling lawns spotted with new trees. Some of the houses are rented out, as having occupants better protects the isle. I was there once, with Helen H, at night. It was delightful!

Sergei Prokofiev: "Suites from "Romeo & Juliet"; "Lieutenant Kijë";
"Cinderella" & "The Love For Three Oranges".

Henry Purcell: "The Fairy Queen" by Pinchgut Opera and Sinfonia Australis.

The BBC radio drama of "The Lord Of The Rings" is even longer than the troika of movies, and in many ways it is more satisfying. It is closer to the books than are the movies, with the thirteen CDs running to an impressive length; each being more than an hour long. The forteenth CD is the music of the adaption, set together. The dramatisation is by Brian Sibley & Michael Blakewell. It is produced & directed by Jane Morgan & Penny Liecster.

The actors are too numerous to easily mention them all. But I will say some brief words about a few of this excellent crowd. Michael Hordern is wonderfully sonorous & profound as Gandalf. Peter Woodthorpe is superb as Gollum, who is far better realised than in the movies. John Le Mesurier gives an apt world weariness to the voice of Bilbo Baggins. Ian Holm is very competent as Frodo Baggins; at first determined, but increasingly desperate, as the mental weight of the One Ring weakens & tires him. William Nighby plays his loyal servant, Sam. He brings out well, the character of one, who does not understand the greater thoughts of the High Councils, but who understands loyalty & honour. In a small part, Philip Voss is delightfully venomous as Lord Of The Nargûl.

Doctor Who, McCoy Era: "Happiness Petrol" ends, while "The Silver Nemesis" begins. The latter is nearly as good as the former. The strength of the stories makes me wonder why Doctor Who was in constant fear of foreclosure at the time, and soon was into the long hiatus.

Doctor Who continues on ABC TV at 6.00pm, double episodes: McCoy Era - "Happiness Petrol - Epiosdes 1 & 2. This is probably my favourite story of this era. The Candyman is a most wonderful villain; whose appearance is of a combination of assorted sweets; whose job is to make poison sweets; and whose personality is consequently rather tart. Two of his lines:

And there is the Planet's ruler, Helen Alpha. She has murderously stern measures to make sure that everyone remains happy. That is, whether they like it or not! There is this delightfully contrived response between the Helen Alpha & her spouse: