Brett Kavanaugh nomination: Victory for Trump in Supreme Court vote

So he's won the vote. One of Trump's friends. Someone said Kavanaugh raped them. The senate was not put off; and they voted for him anyway. Kevin Spacey's career is (quite rightly) wrecked forever. Trump and Kavanagh are all hunky dory.

Why does this not scare anybody else? Trump is finally winning and he's not going to stop winning now. The well off in America will begin to take more and more money from the poor. The world urgently needs a strong and principled leader who only cares about the people (all the people) who voted for them. I suspect with Brexit that the UK will no longer have that influence - so where else?

More information, here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-45774174

Books, Books, Books, Chapter XIV

I am not going to let the world get me down! I have been reading some very exciting books. If you click on some of these, you'll be taken to Amazon. If you buy from them, then the Living by Giving Trust will make money. Please do think about it. Thank you.

1) House of Cards. This book is all about politics and could be about politics today! It's fictional and is about the Chief Whip, Francis Urquhart finding out from the Prime Minister that there will be no reshuffle. Urquhart had hoped he would get a better job and found this unfair. From that point on, he manipulates situations to destroy the Prime Minster and many of his colleagues, so that he can be more powerful. The character was wonderfully played on the telly by Ian Richardson and I could imagine no one else whilst reading the book. I read the novel so quickly because it was amazing. I am looking forward to reading the next two!

2) Fatherland. Oh wow. This is a novel I have wanted to read for many years. I started reading it in the mid-nineties, but lost the book and never bought it again. A huge mistake. I finally bought this version last year and once I started reading it - could NOT put it down. The premise is "What if Hitler had won World War 2" and what the world would be like. More importantly what would Germany be like a few years later - a corrupt society? Yep! It's a murder mystery story and one that is full of resentment, hatred, lies and so much more. This is the authors first book - I am ready to read more. Brilliant.

3) Edward I (Penguin Monarchs): A New King Arthur? I love little books like this, which give you a very clear overview of a period of history. It doesn't go into great details, but it does go into enough detail to give you a feel of this great monarch. He was not a bad king, but nor was he a good and holy king - he was a king that had a job to do and my did he do it! As a leader he was great; and as a politician, he was even better! Read this book - it's brilliant. There is a whole series of these too.

4) Welcome to Just a Minute!: A Celebration of Britain’s Best-Loved Radio Comedy I picked up a celebration of Just a Minute on CD recently and enjoyed listening in my car on my daily drive to the hospital (I am OK, just old!). The programme is 50 years old! Anyway, I then searched for a book about it, because I enjoyed listening to the great Kenneth Williams; Sheila Hancock; Paul Merton; etc on the CD. This book provides many wonderful anecdotes and quotes from the long series; and Nicholas Parsons is a very good writer. Parsons does not hold back on how he feels about some of the guests, too. A must listen and a must read!

Right, that will do for now. I will return soon with some more books.

Brexit, Theresa May

I have been a little remiss of late and not updated my blog on some of the books I have read. Apologies. The world has become a tougher place and in the UK the government is so determined to Brexit. Whatever your views - none of us signed up for this mess. In many ways, I wish Cameron had stayed. Now that's saying something! At least he didn't seem so fake! I am sorry, but I do not want Trump's chickens. Please let's have another referendum and see what people think. The first referendum was only meant to be an advisory. Let's make this second one - a definite.

Read more here. 

Doctor Who - Colin Baker, part 3

As I said in my last update on Colin Baker (three years ago) and then  three years before that on this matter: I have met Colin Baker and do feel sorry for him (and McCoy) sometimes, because they are often lambasted as the wreckers of Doctor Who (though I think the blame is really at the door of JNT, BBC politics, Coronation Street, and so much more). In fact, both Doctor's were really excellent and playing the part at the wrong time - people had simply stopped loving Doctor Who.

If like me, you could see Colin's potential, why don't you listen to some Big Finish audios. They have scripted him perfectly and Mr Baker is excellent as the Doctor. I've suggested some audios below which you can buy direct from Big Finish. I've added a link below.

Anyway...here are my views of the third quarter of Colin Baker's television time as Doctor Number Six! Click on pictures below if you want to buy them and help the lovely charity called the Living by Giving Trust (see here), who will earn some money to support its work. 

First up:



I didn't see this on its first showing, so I remember being very excited when it was shown on UK Gold. Patrick Troughton is a great favourite of mine and I think it's so sad that the BBC has destroyed so much of his era. Unfortunately this is not a good story. It's setting is pointless - there's no need for it to be in Spain; the two doctors are wasted; the Sontarans look odd and too tall; the other characters are annoying; and the story is...well...a bit boring.

Unfortunately this story is another example of this era of Doctor Who relying on the past. And then they don't even get it right! Are we really meant to believe that this Second Doctor is the Second Doctor of the black & white era? He hasn't even got the right hair colour (see Five Doctors where he looks older, but has black hair. He had an agreement that if he did Two Doctors, he wouldn't need to dye his hair)! I remember being so disappointed by the story and I still find it difficult to watch. It's also full of plot holes - why is the second doctor being sent on missions? He was never sent on missions! He avoided the Time Lords! The author has totally mixed up his Doctors.

However, for me, the saddest thing about all of this is..it was written by the late, great Robert Holmes. Often fans say that it's very apparent in the later Trial of a Time Lord that Holmes is unwell - I think actually those stories are not as bad as this one - in fact I really enjoy the first story on Ravalox. The reality that we often forget as fans is that Holmes also wrote rubbish amongst the "classics". For every Caves of Androzani, there is The Krotons and The Two Doctors!

Good points? Colin Baker is excellent; Patrick Troughton is excellent; Frazer Hines and Nichola Bryant are excellent. It's just a shame they're acting in this dirge. It's sadly Troughton's last outing as the Doctor too. If you're a completest or want to see Troughton's last moment as Doctor Who, buy this DVD; if you don't care, don't bother. Sad but true. In fact you would be better off buying The Five Doctors.

Lastly for now:


I am so very sorry, but this is another story that is not as good as Vengeance on Varos and Mark of the Rani, but actually it's not as boring as The Two Doctors, so that's a bonus. It's also followed by the wonderful Revelation of the Daleks (more soon).

Timelash is OK and some of its ideas are very good. The world is a terrible dystopia with a megalomaniac leader in charge who kills, kills and kills. He doesn't care about the people, because he simply wants to create a species just like him (see photo above). The costume is amazing; the voice of the baddie is amazing; and again I really like Colin's doctor.

The big issues with this are Paul Darrow's strange "stagey" acting. Why, Paul? Why?! He's wonderful as Avon, but not as Richard III. If he'd played it as the subtle Avon (series A, B Avon!) then wow.

The other big issue for me is the terribly cheap sets! The Timelash is a joke - they would have done better with the graphics of the black hole in Trial of a Timelord than this terrible bit of scenery. You can tell the budget had run out! Why? Well because they went to Seville! Which was pointless!!

Once again, we have a reminder of Doctor Who's past - even though we never saw this on the telly - with a picture of Jon Pertwee's Doctor. Apparently the Third Doctor popped here at some point and annoyed the Borad.

And, I am already very bored of every baddie or weirdo fancying a bit of Peri. It's starting to become a bit creepy that this is written in to most scripts. It all started with Caves of Androzani and finishes with her final story.

This story is OK, but best to watch filled with wine and beer. 

Big Finish
Most of Colin Baker's Doctor Who work with Big Finish is EXCELLENT. Have a look, here.

See you next time!

When everything goes wrong....

When everything goes wrong, remember:

• Everything is temporary, even this.
• Happiness is a result of your approach to life, not what happens to you.
• The things, even those that seem small, that are going right in your life.
• The people who are in your corner.
• What you care about most and what you can let go of.
• That you ultimately choose how you react.
• Your resilience in other tough situations.
• Bad times don't define you, but your approach does.
• Worrying, anger, complaining, denial or any of the infinite other ways we try to circumvent pain when things go wrong won't change the situation.

Don't:

• Panic or get too far ahead of yourself.
• Go immediately to blame and criticism.
• Lash out.
• Self-destruct or numb yourself.
• Neglect your needs.
• Ignore your intuition.
• Focus on what should have been instead of what is.
• Try to control what is out of your control.
• Remind yourself of every other terrible thing that has ever happened to you.
• Ask "what if" or "why me" without also reminding yourself of what's possible and what makes you strong.
• Focus on others' opinions, because they're a reflection of the speaker, not you.
• Worry about who you are or are not impressing.
• Isolate.

Do:

• ccept, accept, accept.
• Stick to the present. Rather than worrying about the future or dwelling on the past, focus on what is actually happening now and what is actually in your power to do now.
• Focus on realistic expectations for yourself and the situation.
• Differentiate what you can and what you cannot change.
• Take one step, then another. Even if they're just baby steps, keep moving.
• Rather than focusing on the worst case, think instead of what else is possible.
• Look for the lesson. Challenging situations can often teach us what we have left to learn.
• Keep a positive attitude by remaining focused on solutions, skills, and strengths.
• Start small.
• Spend time with the people who support you.
• Appreciate the things going well, savor simple pleasures, and try to find the hidden gifts in the difficult times.
• Take care of yourself.
• Treat yourself with love and respect.
• Rejuvenate rather than simply tuning out or unplugging.
• Ask for help sooner rather than later.
• Consult or get a second opinion.
• Take the steps you need to keep working toward what you want in life.
• Sometimes we are too close to a situation to see it for what it is. Try looking at the situation from someone else's point of view.
• Give it the test of time. Ask yourself if this will mean the same thing in one, five, or 10 years. Look at the situation as a relatively short segment in the timeline of your life.
• Move, your body that is. Get moving to discharge energy. Walk 10 minutes in any direction starting wherever you are then turn around. Go for a swim. Plan a hike.
• Laugh. Watch a comedy. Call up a bubbly friend. Consider the stand-up routine version of this situation.
• Help someone else in need.
• Write. Vent your frustrations about this situation, brainstorm strategies to get out of it, or write about a more positive time in your life.
• Find a creative outlet.
• Read and reread motivational, inspirational, or encouraging words from others.
• Get outdoors and get inspired. Watch the sun rise or set. Listen to the birds. Take it all in to gain perspective.
• Give yourself a minute to regroup. Assess damages, sort out what can and cannot be done, or just get out of the middle of the situation.
• Choose one big goal to work on in order to make a lasting change.

Trump

What Donald Trump has done so far in just August!

• He has threatened to pull out of the WTO
• Two explosive court cases have revived speculation that President Trump himself may face legal proceedings. His former lawyer, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty in a New York court to violating campaign finance laws. Mr Cohen indicated that Donald Trump ordered the payment of hush money to the President's alleged former lovers. Meanwhile President Trump's former campaign chief, Paul Manafort, has been found guilty on eight charges of tax fraud, bank fraud and failure to disclose foreign bank accounts. 

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