#Shetland series 7

[backgroundnoisewithaview]

Okay in my imagined version of whichever series I'm replacing (6 or 7), Jimmy's lost his love for the job and puts in for a sabbatical (Basically a year off on half pay). Duncan, who does not get arrested for assisted suicide because Jimmy doesn't let him get emotionally abused into that position like that, runs his bistro and everything is fine.

Cassie comes home for the summer after a placement falls through and is driven around the bend by Jimmy trying to cook. We're talking burnt custard, seperated cream, accidentally pouring stock down the sink and saving the bones instead of binning the bones and saving the stock, mixing up tartar source and cream of tartar (it happens, okay! We've all been there) and then Cassie being like "Duncan, you need to teach him".

And that's how we get them cooking together and Duncan getting exasperated for how much Jimmy argues despite Not being the expert but Jimmy learning how to make things over time.

And Cassie getting loads of photographs of what her fathers are making together, to the point where she sets up an instagram account for them that works as excellent promotion for the bistro even though Duncan is not the chef at the BIstro.

And if they happen to accidentally make a whole romantic meal together and kiss each other goodnight then so be it.

[fuckyeahgoodomens]

Good Omens filming locations masterpost! ❤ 🐍😊 Part 2

(here to part 1 :))

(here to part 3 :))

Here to the map :)

Others in England (cont):

Tadfield Manor (S01E01, S01E02) - Bulstrode, Gerrards Cross

Scene: The Tadfield Manor where the satanic nuns run the hospital in the first episode and Aziraphale and Crowley visit in the second episode

Availability (as of 2024): The manor has been in private hands since 2016 - in 2023 sold again, I didn't find on the internet that it would be available to visit in any form, the manor is not visitble from the public road.

Link on the map

Four Horsemen meeting (S01E05) – Old School Cafe, Longcross Road B386

Scene: The cafe where Four Horsemen meet

Availability (as of 2024): street all day, the cafe Mon-Fri 7:30-15:00, Sat-Sun 8:30-15:00

Link on the map

Heaven middle floors (S01E01, S01E03, S01E04, S01E05) - Weybridge Business Park, Addlestone

Scene: The Heaven middle floors scenes in season 1 were filmed here

Availability (as of 2024): The places can be sort of seen from the street but I don't think that visiting is possible

Link on the map

Pollution by the river (S01E04) – River Wey Navigation, Guildford

Scene: The International Express Man delivers the package to Pollution

(fun fact: this one was the harderst one to pin down the exact location, I only knew bc of an article that the schooting took place by "Wey Navigation" which is a river long 32km (miles), I tried to find a better mention or through google maps comparing place for a long time but couldn't, finally I wrote to the River Way Navigation organization on facebook but they had no record of the shooting. Finally, in one of the photos I noticed that in the background there is a footbridge that I saw a photo of a similar footbridge while searching on a history of Wey Navigation river on the UK National Trust page and fortunately the previous mentioned facebook page knew where it was, WAHOO! :))

Availability (as of 2024): all day

Link on the map

Hogback Wood (S01E01, S01E02, S01E04, S01E05) - Painshill Park, Cobham

Scene: The Hogback Wood where The Them play, seen in several episodes.

Availability (as of 2024): The entrance to the park is paid (£11 with prebooking online on https://painshill.co.uk/visit-us/ticket-prices-booking/) They open at 10 and close at 16-18 depending on the season. The World Word II crater they shot the main scene at should be in the west-south tip of the park. The whole path there and back is 4km (2,5 miles).

Link on the map

International Express Man's house (S01E04) - Shetland Close, Guildford

Scene: The International Express Man leaves the house to make deliveries

Availability (as of 2024): street all day

Link on the map

Agnes Nutter's village (S01E02) - Weald & Downland Living Museum, Chichester

Scene: The Agnes Nutter's village in episode two. In the map I highlighted which part we see the villagers and Witchfinder Major Pulsifer to through in the show.

Availability (as of 2024): The entrance fee is paid (£15.50 for an adult ticket prebooked online https://www.wealddown.co.uk/), it opens at 10 and closes at 16-17 depending on the month.

Link on the map

Tadfield Air Base (S01E05, S01E06) - RAF Upper Heyford, Bicester

Scene: For the shooting of the Tadfield Air Base the former RAF Upper Heyford was used, by the examining the google maps and screenshots from the series I think that the area labeled as 'Shelter 9' was used.

Availability (as of 2024): The place is no longer used by RAF purposes, there are several companies that use certain areas it but it is not available for public. The Upper Heyford Heritage though organizes (paid - £25.00) tours through the airbase: http://www.upperheyfordheritage.co.uk/home-page/tour-booking/

Link on the map

Soho (S1) – Bovingdon Airfield Studios

Scene: The Aziraphale's bookshop and Soho in season one were built at Bovingdon Airfield Studios

Availability (as of 2024): The studios can be rented but I don't think they are publicly available – the Soho is not there anymore though, it is now build in studios in Scotland.

Link on the map

The motorway on fire (S01E05) - M96 Training Motorway at Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh

Scene: The motorway on fire when Crowley is heading for Tadfield was filmed at M95 Training Motorway at Fire Service College that is usually used for training emergency service professionals

Availability (as of 2024): Not publicly available.

Link on the map

South Africa:

The 1941 church (S01E03) - St. Saviour's Church, Claremont, Cape Town

Scene: The scene in Season 1 where Aziraphale is outsmarted by the Nazis and is saved by Crowley

Availability (as of 2024): Their facebook says Always open

Link on the map

Famine at a fancy restaurant (S01E03) - Mutual Heights building, Cape Town

Scene: The restaurant where we meet Famine for the first time

Availability (as of 2024): It is a building with flats, offices and a reception, not available to public.

Link on the map

Crowley in a cinema (S01E04) - Joseph Stone Auditorium, Cape Town

Scene: Crowley in a cinema (with Neil Gaiman cameo) watching animated rabbits when Hastur interrupts

Availability (as of 2024): Not publicly available as such but they there are presentations and and such happening there https://www.facebook.com/josephstone1968/

Link on the map

Aziraphale dancing gavotte (S01E04) - Casa Labia, Cape Town

Scene: Aziraphale dancing gavotte in a discreet gentlemen's club in Portland Place in the late 1880s was filmed at Casa Labia in Cape Town

Availability (as of 2024): Casa labia is hotel and a restaurant so it can be visited in that way https://www.casalabia.com/

Link on the map

Anathema's child home (S01E02) - Llandudno Rock Villa, Cape Town

Scene: The home which we see Anathema as a child with The Book (in the show it's Malibu, California)

Availability (as of 2024): street all day, the villa itself seems that it can be rented

Link on the map

Eden desert and ep6 time bubble desert (S01E01,S01E06) – Atlantis Dunes, Cape Town

Scene: The Eden desert scenes and the time bubble with Adam and AC were filmed in the Atlantis Dunes at the outskirts of Cape Town

Availability (as of 2024): The Atlantis Dunes – or Witzands Aquifer Conservation Area – is a protected natural area. Biking adventures can be booked through https://atlantisdunes.com/ or also other activities through https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/see-all-city-facilities/our-recreational-facilities/Nature%20reserves/Witzands%20Aquifer%20Nature%20Reserve

Link on the map

The apple tree in the Garden of Eden (S01E01) - Waterfall Valley (formerly Cascade Country Manor), Paarl

Scene: The Eden apple tree with the waterfall in the background was filmed at the retreat Waterfall Valley (then Cascade Country Manor) (the tree was added by the film crew for the scene)

Availability (as of 2024): I am not sure if you can visit the waterfall like that or you have to be a guest in the restreat. The retreat is available for booking: https://www.waterfallvalley.online/

Link on the map

There were other scenes also filmed at South Africa (thought not specified exactly where): Hell was filmed in Cape Town in a former abattoir. The Noah’s Ark scene and the Crucifixion scene were filmed on a windswept plain just outside Cape Town. Also the Meggido scenes. The entire village used for the scene with War causing mayhem in an african village is in fact a set, built on scrubland over a sand mine just outside Cape Town. The French Revolution scene wa shot on a set that had been used twenty-four hours earlier for the scene in Ancient Rome. Famine visiting a burger place with Elvis was shot on a set in Cape Town. Also some scene's in Anathema's cottage with Anathema and Newt.

SEASON 2

Most of season 2 has been shot inside the film studio in Bathgate (f.e. the whole Soho has been built there), the driving throught the Blitz London in the Glasgow’s Wardpark Studios, the inside of the 1827 mausoleum in the River City studios in Dumbarton, the Hell in S2 has been shot in an old disused factory (not specififed which one). The shots of the Edinburgh castle have been shot from the top of the The Caledonian hotel.

Edinburgh:

Crowley and Shax in St James's Park (S02E01) – Inverleith Park, Edinburgh

Scene: Crowley and Shax meet to discuss the news in St James's Park – the scene though was actually filmed in Scotland.

Availability (as of 2024): All day

Link on the map

The place where Crowley parks the Bentley (S02E01, S02E02) – Circus Lane, Edinburgh

Scene: The place Crowley goes to to park the Bentley and sleep there

Availability (as of 2024): street all day

Link on the map

AC and Elspeth in Edinburgh (S02E03) - Moray Place, Edinburgh

Scene: Aziraphale, Crowley and Elspeth are taking the first "pickled herring" to be sold, Aziraphale and Crowley are debating good and evil

Availability (as of 2024): street all day

Link on the map

Detective Aziraphale parks the Bentley (S02E03) – Victoria Street, Edinburgh

Scene: Aziraphale arrives in the Bentley and happily goes to investigate

Availability (as of 2024): street all day

Link on the map

The Resurrectionist (S02E03, S02E06) - Cask and Barrel, Edinburgh

Scene: Aziraphale goes to investigate to The Resurrectionist bar (also in Gabriel's memories with Beelzebub) – filmed in the Cask and Barrel bar

Availability (as of 2024): outside all day, inside 12-24, Fri-Sat 12-1

Link on the map

Stirling:

Edinburgh cementery (S02E03) - Old Town Cemetery, Stirling

Scene: The cemetery in episode 3 was filmed at the Stirling cemetery (grave, some gravestones, Gabriel's statue and the crypt has been added by the crew for the shooting)

Availability (as of 2024): all day

Link on the map

AC and Elspeth going through Edinburgh (S02E03) – Broad Street, Stirling

Scene: Aziraphale, Crowley and Elspeth going through Edinburgh while Aziraphale is trying to persuade her that she could do something else

Availability (as of 2024): street all day

Link on the map

Meeting Wee Morag (S02E03) - Mar's Wark, Stirling

Scene: The small corridor behind the gate where Wee Morag is staying

Availability (as of 2024): The front all day, the corridor if not through the gate then hopefully from the other side

Link on the map

Others in Scotland:

AC drinking whiskey with Mr Darlymple and the corridor to Mr Darlymple (S02E03) – Hopetoun House, Queensferry

Scene: Aziraphale and Crowley drinking whisky with Mr Darlymple while he explains why he needs fresh dead bodies also at the house has been filmed the corridor reading to Mr Darlymple

Availability (as of 2024): Hopetoun is visitable, Friday 29 March 2024 to Sunday 29 September 2024 Open 5 days per week (Thursday – Monday) from 11am to 5pm, £13.50 for an adult ticket for House and Grounds (to see both), or £13.50 for Grounds (to see the corridor)

Link on the map

The Windmill Theatre in 1941 (S02E04) - Hippodrome Cinema, Bo'ness

Scene: The theatre that Crowley delivered the broken alcohol to and Aziraphale performed the bullet catch

Availability (as of 2024): You can visit the cinema for a movie or an event https://www.hippodromecinema.co.uk/whats-on/

Link on the map

Aziraphale's trip to Edinburgh (S02E03) and Shax hitchhiking (S02E04) - Forrestburn Hillclimb, Shotts

Scene: The scene from Aziraphale's view when he travels to Edinburgh and Crowley calls him was filmed here.

Availability (as of 2024): Not available to public. The track is used by the members of the Monklands Sporting Car Club for special events. Outside of these the track is closed and no access is available except for hiring for special events/filming.

Link on the map

Soho and more (S2) - The Pyramids Studio, Bathgate

Scene: The S2 Soho has been built in the Bathgate studio, also there were built and shot many other scenes

Availability (as of 2024): It is not available to visit for public

Link on the map

London:

Possibly only streets were filmed and the Bentley was added with VFX.

C on the way to A after A calls him (S02E01) - Wardour Street, London

Scene: Crowley on the way to Aziraphale after Aziraphale calls him (to tell him about Gabriel)

Availability (as of 2024): street all day

Link on the map

(continue to Part 3 :))

[scotianostra]

Happy Birthday actor Derek Riddell, born January 11th 1967 in Glasgow.

Derek the son of actress Hope Ross and former professional footballer Ian Riddell is best known for being a stage thespian more than anything else. Nevertheless, he still achieved mainstream popularity with roles on Doctor Who, the comedy Ugly Betty, and the Lifetime series State of Mind.

A graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, he was able to perform a lot of classics onstage in Shakespearean classics such as a Midsummer Night’s Dream and Much ado About Nothing before finally moving to television.

Riddell managed to chalk up two appearances in Taggart. In 2003 he starred in the situation comedy Book Group that aired on Channel 4 between 2002 and 2003. Riddell’s other credits include the brilliant No Angels, Gentleman Jack, Shakespeare-Told, ,Blake’s 7 radio adaptation, Happy Valley and Inspector George Gently. His films include Meat the Campbells, A Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, A Previous Engagement, and Tumshie McFadgen’s Bid for Ultimate Bliss.

Derek played King James VI in the excellent BBC drama Gunpowder in 2017. He keeps busy, since then he has appeared in some great dramas including, A Confession, Hard Sun and season 5 of Shetland,

In 2020 Derek was on our screens in the BBC/HBO product, Industry about the banking collapse in 2008, Industry, and the Irvine Welsh drama set in Edinburgh, Crime, appearing in 7 of the 12 episodes so far.

Riddell was in two decent mini-series in 2023, Bodies, an excellent time travel type show, featuring four detectives, living in different eras -1890, 1941, 2023 and 2053 - find the body of the same murder victim in Whitechapel. They soon come to realize their investigations have them central to a conspiracy spanning over 150 years. I hope there is a second series, but it looks unlikely. Derek also showed up in Payback, not as good as Bodies, it was a crime story set in Edinburgh, Peter Mullen tried his best, but I wasn't overly impressed with it. Both series did however get 7.3 out of 10 on Imdb.

Last year Derek was in 6 of the 7 episodes of Boarders, which I haven't watched yet, a season 2 is in the making with a whole new cast. He also starred in a TV movie called The Christmas Quest.

A Glasgow actor known for his role in Fantastic Beasts has teamed up with fellow film and TV stars to front a major new modern slavery campaign. The campaign aims to raise awareness of modern slavery and educate the public on signs that indicate someone may be experiencing modern slavery and exploitation.

In a special film produced for the campaign, Riddell explains how modern slavery "can be hidden in plain sight and is happening in towns and cities across the UK."

He said: "It is important we know that modern slavery is out there, and there are people experiencing it right now."

[melikes-reads]

A Shetland Short Story

Reading fic without knowing the source material?

YES, PLEASE!

Finally caving in and watching the source material?

Series 1-5: YAY!

Series 6: TOO SAD, NO

Series 7-? : YOU DO NOT EXIST I WILL NOT WATCH YOU

Books: yeah, no. I'll ignore you, too.

[greygullhaven]

FanFic Masterlink Collection

Master list of most of my Fanfics on AO3. I will update the links with new stories and fandoms as they come!

Shetland

1.    The Waves of Shetland (One shot for Jimmy and Duncan- will this fight drive them apart?)

2.    What We Have Right Before Us (One shot for Jimmy and Duncan realizing what they have)

Death in Paradise

1.    Solving Your Own Murder (Fix it fic/long fic dealing with Richard Poole’s ‘death’)

2.    A DI and His Whiteboard (Fun little fic looking into Richard’s head- might be continued)

Primeval

1.    Primeval Drabbles for Nick, Connor, Becker, Stephen, and Lester (Short drabble collection)

2.    Never Alone (One shot story for Becker and Connor after a creature incursion injury)

3.    Beyond the Darkness (One shot story of Stephen and Nick Dealing with Helen’s aftermath)

4.    Halloween – Primeval Style (Qucik drabbles of the gang celebrating Halloween)

5.    How Drunk Was I? (AU one shot for Becker/Connor and their not-so-secret relationship)

6.    Dinner Time Shenanigans (One shot of Danny and Lester having dinner)

7.    The Start of a New Life (One shot of Cutter’s clone- AU where he survived the attack)

8.    How Far We’ve Come (One shot for the Polycule of Nick/Stephen/Connor)

9.    Time of Death (AU story- warning of character death/afterlife flashes)

10. Echoes of the Past- Sounds of the Future (AU story for Cutter/Connor – Paused for now)

11. Swirling Time and Shattered Lives (AU story of Nick and Helen chasing anomalies together)

12. New Years, Old Memories, New Future  (One shot for Becker and Danny- PTSD warning)

13. Rift Risks – (A little one shot of Nick and Becker arguing about what to do with the anomalies)

14. Looking to the Future (One shot for Nick and Stephen- Helen is gone and they actually talk!)

15. The Legacy of the Ability Research Center (Epic AU superpower/hero story- co-authored)

Roswell New Mexico

1.    New Year’s Eve Hope (Fic for Alex and Michael- warnings for PTSD focus)

2.    It’s a Christmas Tradition? (Fluffy one shot for Alex and Michael at Christmas time)

3.    Who Cares if One More Light Goes Out? (Angsty Alex and Michael fic- Paused for now)

By Any Means

1.    The Price of Getting Attached (Little one shot for Jack and Tom-Tom – relationship talk)

2.    Where Do We Go From Here? (One shot dealing with the aftermath of the series)

Haven Fanfics

1.    LifeHouse- A Haven Found Family Story (AU story Poly-family dynamics- Co-authored)

2.    Those Late Night Talks (One shot of Haven Poly-family storyline)

3.    Lizzie’s Special Family (One shot of Haven Poly-family storyline)

4.    Math is Math is Math (One shot of Haven Poly-family storyline)

5.    Matters of the Heart and Mind (Duke and Dwight relationship story- WIP/Paused)

6.    What’s in a Name? (One shot AU story about Dwight and his Father)

7.    Changing Tides, Changing Hearts, Changing Perspectives (Reimagining of the Troubles)

8.    Rock Me Hard Rock Me Gently (AU story with Duke/Nathan/Dwight- might be continued)

9.    Quiet Moment On The Beach (Duke/Nathan one shot story during a relaxing walk)

10. The Gift of a Touch(Duke/Nathan one shot story with Nathan’s touch Trouble reimagined)

11. Friendly Competition (Fun little one shot with Duke/Dwight/Nathan one afternoon)

12. Be Mr. Responsible (Duke/Nathan one shot story one sleepy morning)

13. This Is My Christmas Wish (AU secret/forbidden love short with Duke, Nathan, and Dwight)

14. Making a House Into a Home (Duke/Nathan/Dwight story- the birth of “Three Stars of Haven”)

15. Collide (Slice of Life collection of stories for Duke and Nathan)

16. Demons (Angsty one shot for Duke struggling with the Crocker Curse)

17. Love Lost and Love Found (Story for Duke and Nathan and Dwight -near character death)

18. All I Want For Christmas Is…. You? (Three Gulls fanfic- Christmas for Duke/Audrey/Nathan)

19. Giving Thanks For You (One shot for Duke and Nathan having Thanksgiving together)

20. Harmless Flirting? (Duke and Nathan story where assumptions may just derail a relationship)

21. Kissing Scars (Fluffy one shot for Duke and Nathan)

[spaciousreasoning]

Gathering the Family for Christmas

It’s a holly, jolly Christmas… And my blood sugar this morning remained relatively stable, rising only to 140. Nancy and I had our coffee and played the usual brain games. Most of today’s games focused in some way on Christmas.

We headed over to Kathleen’s for the family holiday gathering, arriving with our gifts for everyone and the coffee cake a little after 11 a.m. The rest started showing up not long after and we enjoyed a brunch of eggs and bacon and potatoes, supplemented with our coffee cake and some delicious cinnamon rolls. With 10 people present, Kathleen’s small place wasn’t crowded. It felt “familial.”

We had a good Christmas visit, and there were some interesting gifts exchanged. The one I most look forward to enjoying is a book by Tyler E. Burgess titled “Eugene and Springfield Townscape Walks.” A present from Kathleen, it offers 50 different walks, 39 of them in Eugene, the remaining 11 in Springfield. Once the weather is good for walking, I will begin exploring all the different routes described in the book.

We got home around 3:30 p.m. With rain forecast to continue through sunset, I jumped on the treadmill again, pounding out another 2 miles in 34:21 minutes. Today I was accompanied by the Existential Folk playlist on Spotify. It only took about eight songs to make the two miles, but it passed much easier with music playing. I do need to get some ear pods, though.

For dinner we heated up the leftover meatloaf and mashed potatoes from last night. For dessert we each had one chocolate chip cookie. We also shared an orange later and some string cheese.

We started the evening’s streaming before 7 p.m., watching the Christmas special from “Beyond Paradise.” We followed that with the third episode in the new series of “Shetland,” one of the episodes from the second series of “Harry Wild,” which we have not watched recently, and, finally, another episode of “English Teacher.”

With the sound of rain outside once again, we went to bed with the Christmas lights from our neighbor’s house shining in the bedroom window. We probably will not get around to buying a blackout curtain before the holiday lighting goes away, but it would be a good hedge against future lighting extravaganzas.

[bystreetlight]

1. What did you do in 2024 that you hadn’t done before? Had botox, got stung by a bee (in an unrelated incident lol), went to the ballet...can't really think of anything else?

2. Did anyone close to you give birth? I don't think so.

3. Did anyone close to you die? Thankfully no.

4. Did you travel? Where did you go? Best holiday memory? Yes! Went overseas for the first time in 5 years - 3 weeks in France 🇫🇷 (Nice, Marseille, Paris) and a few days in London. The highlight was seeing Rafa at Roland Garros, even though he lost to human skidmark Zverev :( I also went to Port Macquarie for my Dad's 70th, however that whole weekend was hard work so it doesn't really count 😂

5. Best thing you bought? Mini Djungelskog. And the Big Croissant 🥐

6. Where did most of your money go? The overseas holiday cost a bit but it was worth every cent!!! Otherwise, same as usual, savings and mortgage repayments waaaaaaaah.

7. What do you wish you had done more of? I genuinely can't think of anything?

8. What do you wish you had done less of? Doomscrolling and feeling pessimistic 😪

9. What kept you sane? Wednesday Reset Days™️. It's unbelievable how much a working from home day where you can catch up on all the life admin helped with my mental health this year.

10. What drove you mad? Every time people tried to be optimistic about the US election. And when it wouldn't stop raining in Paris and I lost my will to live a little bit 😭

11. What made you celebrate? When NSW won the State of Origin series!! And when Taylor Fritz made the US Open final, even though he didn't win, Also thoroughly enjoyed the Olympics, unsurprisingly.

12. What made you sad? When Liam Payne died. I still can't quite believe it. And Rafael Nadal retiring. Even typing those words hurts me.

13. How was your birthday this year and how old did you turn? It was a Friday and I think I just worked from home? We got Domino's for dinner? It was the most lowkey birthday in years. I turned *gasp* 40.

14. What political issue stirred you the most this year? Politics and everything going on in the world at the moment just filled me with despair this year.

15. What was the best meal you ate in 2024? Our belated birthday lunch at Le Doyenné - the setting, the restaurant, the food, the service...

16. What would you like to have in 2025 that you didn’t have this year? Serenity, but I already feel like that's asking too much 😂

17. What date(s) from 2024 will be etched in your memory and why? 16 May - the start of our amazing holiday!!

18. What song will remind you of 2024? Sabrina Carpenter - Espresso.

19. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? My resolution last year was to take more photos or do something creative on the regular. I don't think I really achieved it but that's OK! Next year…I don't know…

20. Did you suffer illness or injury? I got stung by a bee, does that count?

21. Compared to this time last year, are you: i. happier or sadder? A bit sadder maybe. Everything just seems so hard for everyone. ii. thinner or fatter? Maybe a bit fatter? But also I'm middle aged so whatever!! iii. richer or poorer? Richer? Marginally?

22. How will you be spending Christmas? Currently in the first few days of 2 weeks off - just got back from seeing my family in Mildura, Christmas Day at the in-laws, cricket on the 28th, and getting through my enormous 'to read' pile.

23. What was your favourite movie? KNEECAP! Can't believe I missed it at MIFF and could have discovered it months earlier than I did!!

24. What was your favourite TV program? Shetland, Shogun, Acolyte until it got cancelled because Star Wars fans are sad racist misogynists, Celebrity Gogglebox UK, Doctor Odyssey…and I also really got into Antiques Roadshow for some reason?!?!?

25. What was the best book you read? Shōgun by James Clavell, even though it took me half a year to read because it is SO FUCKING LONG

26. What was your greatest musical discovery? KNEECAP!!!

27. What did you want and get? An overseas holiday! To see Rafa at Roland Garros!

28. What did you want and not get? For certain people to die.

29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2024? I don't know, coping with being middle aged?

30. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Pat Carrigan probably lol.

31. Biggest achievement this year? Making it to the end? God how depressing.

32. Biggest disappointment this year? Season 3 of the Bear. Only made it through 3(?) episodes and then couldn't be bothered watching the rest because it was so awful.

33. What is the one thing that would have made you more satisfied? If the threesome on Doctor Odyssey had been gayer.

34. Best new person you met this year? Abbey from work!

35. A valuable life lesson you learnt this year? Stealing from the major supermarkets is a great way to keep your grocery bills down. I didn't just learn that this year but I feel like it's still a great life lesson for us all.

[tvrundownusa]

tvrundown USA 2024.01.03

Wednesday, January 3rd:

(streaming weekly): Shetland (BritBox, season 8 finale), Ishura (hulu, fantasy anime series premiere), Dragons of Wonderhatch (hulu/dsn+), Percy Jackson and the Olympians (dsn+), "BTS Monuments: Beyond the Star" (dsn+, next 2 parts), LOL: Last One Laughing - Netherlands (APrime, next 2 eps), Like Flowers in Sand (netflix)

(original made-for-TV movies): "Secrets of a Celebrity Nanny" (LMN, 2hrs)

(earlier - hour 0): E! News (E!, "Hot 10 of 2023" special), Young Dylan (NICK) / . / NFL Slimetime (NICK)

(hour 1): The Challenge (MTV, 90mins), The Price Is Right at Night (CBS, new night), I Can See Your Voice (FOX, competition season 3 opener, new time)

(hour 2): Magnum P.I. (NBC, 2hrs), Tyler Perry's "Sistas" (BET, season 7 opener), Raid the Cage (CBS, new night), We Are Family (FOX, music-guessing gameshow premiere), The Challenge (MTV, contd)

(hour 3): Magnum P.I. (NBC, contd, series finale), FBI True (CBS, new night)

[myrna-nora]

2023: TV

January 1. Shetland (series 1 / 2013) [UK]

February 2. All Creatures Great and Small (series 3 / 2022) [UK] 3. Vera (series 12 / 2023) [UK] 4. A Discovery of Witches (series 3 / 2022) [UK] March 5. Killing Eve (series 4 / 2022) [UK | US] 6. Strike (Troubled Blood) (2022) [UK] 7. Poker Face (series 1 / 2023) [US] 8. Line of Duty (series 4 / 2017) [UK] April 9. Call the Midwife (series 12 / 2023) [UK] 10. Inspector Morse (series 4 / 1990) [UK] May 11. Line of Duty (series 5 / 2019) [UK] 12. The Mandalorian (series 3 / 2023) [US] 13. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (series 1 / 2023) [US] 14. The Crown (series 5 / 2022) [UK] June 15. Agatha Raisin (series 4 / 2021-2022) [UK] July 16. Endeavour (series 9 / 2023) [UK] 17. McDonald & Dodds (series 3 / 2022) [UK] 18. Signora Volpe (series 1 / 2022) [UK] August 19. Kohrra (mini-series / 2023) [India : Punjabi] 20. Maigret (series 1 / 1992) [UK] 21. Happy Valley (series 3 / 2023) [UK] September 22. Maigret (series 2 / 1993) [UK] October 23. Only Murders in the Building (series 3 / 2023) [US] 24. Mrs. Sidhu Investigates (series 1 / 2023) [UK] 25. Dahaad (series 1 / 2023) [India : Hindi] November 26. Wolf Like Me (series 2 / 2023) [Australia]  December 27. Archie (mini-series / 2023) [UK] 28. Frasier (series 1 / 2023) [US] 29. Clouds of Witness (mini-series / 1972) [UK]

[safereturndoubtful]

On St Ninian’s Beach

26th June 2023

I had booked the most basic accommodation on the overnight boat from Kirkwall to Lerwick, a reclining seat. But I had hoped not to use it, preferring the illegal option of staying in my van bed. I had researched on the internet and read that it was something truckers did do. An article from an incident in January of 2006 was easily found, when in stormy conditions three trucks had toppled over during the crossing. On arrival in Lerwick it was found 6 drivers had stayed in their cabs, one stuck there until he was rescued.

Northlink stresses how dangerous it is, yet they are quite happy to let my dog stay there.. do they value his life any less than mine? By circumstance rather than choice, I boarded last, and had to reverse on with the studious attention of all the boarding crew. At the appropriate moment I disappeared behind the curtain. They either didn’t see, or weren’t bothered. Before the boat sailed I was in bed, waking at 7:15 am as drivers returned to their vehicles. The coach driver next to me gave me a knowing nod. It was clear he had done the same.

By 8 am I was at St Ninian’s Beach, about a half hour drive away, in heavy rain and just 9C. Roja and I had breakfast, and I read while Roja dozed and the rain eased, and by mid-morning the cloud cleared and the sun emerged.

This is my second visit of the year to the Wild Atlantic coast, the first being the Costa del Morte in Galicia in February, equally impressive.

The first photo is of the ruin of St Ninians’s Chapel, which dates back to the 12th Century. Before that it was an Iron Age Burial Ground. It’s other claim to fame is that in 1958 a local schoolboy found a wooden box on the site, which contained 28 silver objects of Pictish treasure.

St Ninian’s Isle is quite a spectacular sight from the car park, with its jagged rock cliffs, strikingly green pasture, and it’s shell-sand tombolo, the finest example of one in Western Europe. It is occasionally breached, in storms and at high tide, but today it was at its best, a superb wander though Roja chose not to use it and swim alongside for most of the way.

The perimeter of the Isle is about four and a half miles, but most who walk as far as the island, then choose shortcuts. As with most of the ocean facing coasts here, the south and west headlands are the wildest and most spectacular. There were a few other visitors. I met the couple in the other campervan at the carpark, from Durham, and prior to that at Dentdale, and we chatted for a while.

We were back at the van for 2 pm, and spent the afternoon with the dramatic backdrop trying to concentrate enough to attend to a few business matters.

Last week here was the Shetland Noir Book Festival, attended by writers such as Martin Edwards, Val McDermid, Ann Cleeves and Elly Griffiths. They even had a session here at St Ninian’s Beach. Cleeves write the Shetland series, that has now been adapted for television. It strikes me that the literary body count here on the tranquil Shetland Islands is bigger than most places, with the possible exception of Midsomer.

These rocky outcrops put me in mind of Chris Cameron, who is currently mid-way through his 60 day record attempt for the longest stay on a remote uninhabited North Atlantic rock, on Rockall, 200 miles west of St Kilda, and 300 miles from the mainland. It says a lot about the teaching profession that a guy has to go to such lengths to get a peaceful break. Maybe he won’t return to his post, and stay on Rockall.

Roja seems unbothered by the various dive-bomb attacks from the sea birds he receives. They concern themselves with him rather than me thankfully. With my untrained eye, those who bombed him include, the Fulmar which comes off the cliffs and hovers in the wind, the territorial Curlew with its recognisable squeal and curved beak from the scrub land, and the much rarer Arctic Tern from its slumber in the grass.

And a ‘spot-the-van’ pic..

[philleegirl]

Little fandom meme

Tag the people you want to get to know better

Thank you, @mywingsareonwheels for tagging me! And calling me awesome cause I have not felt that way lately (or myself at all, honestly).

Three ships: Jimmy/Duncan (Shetland) this is definitely my most normal ship as at least both of those characters appear as regulars on the show. Neville Parker/Colin Babcock (Death in Paradise) I do have a lot of form on shipping main characters with one time guest stars. Laura Hobson/Robbie Lewis (Morse and Lewis) one of my very rare ships that got their happy ending. And a bonus OT3: Harrison/Parker/Elliot (Leverage and Leverage: Redemption) perfectly balanced OT3

Favourite ship ever: I can't really decide, but I think it is a tie between BJ/Hawkeye (MASH) and Leo/Margaret (The West Wing) because both taught me a lot about fandom, writing, and friendship.

Last song: Something that was playing in the car on the way home. I am not a huge music person, but I do have to listen in the car at all times. Oddly, though, I have Flowers stuck in my head every morning at work for the first 20-30 minutes, but since I listen to Christian radio on the way to work, I don't get it.

Last movie: Um... Honestly, I don't remember. I don't really watch movies. If we are talking movie length anything, then the last Vera of S12.

Currently reading: Nothing at the moment because I have been dealing with really bad brain fog from my CFS/ME coupled with some of the worst SAD I have had in 7 years. Also, it his preventing me from writing, which is KILLING me.

Currently watching: At this exact moment, a really bad series of Taskmaster, Series 6 to be exact.

Currently consuming: Nothing, but had a lovely slice of pizza with ham a few minutes ago.

Currently craving: Water and sleep. Water because I left my giant canteen in the kitchen and being too lazy to get it. Sleep because I have been pushing myself a bit more than I should and wanted an early night, but instead am waiting for my mama to get out of the shower, since I don't let her shower unsupervised because of her health.

Tagging: (stolen directly from @mywingsareonwheels) oh I’m always a bit shy about this! But I will tag a few utterly awesome people and hope that they are happy to be so; as always please don’t feel remotely obliged to take part. @livatoseus @greaseonmymouth @greenapricot @whodares1 @aurorlaura

[mywingsareonwheels]

Comments on “Shetland” season 7 now it’s full aired

Here be spoilers

So first of all, the things I liked:-

- above all: the Lloyd subplot and it’s resolution and why Jimmy left. That was powerful as fuck, and beautiful, and perfect to Jimmy’s character, and a gorgeous bit of subversion for a cop show. He left the police on his own terms, and in order to save an innocent (and awesome!) Black man from the US criminal justice system and general injustice. I loved it, and their scene in the cell was magnificent. <3 I can forgive a lot that I didn’t like about the season for this, because it was the best possible way that Jimmy - whose compassion and recognition of the humanity of others has always been one of the best things about him - to exit the police and the show. Choosing what’s right above what’s legal. Also I really, really liked Lloyd. <3 I hope he has a fantastic life in Norway, or wherever he chooses to settle.

- the scenery continued glorious, obviously.

- Tosh’s character development, and her being left in charge. <3 <3 <3

- Sandy getting to be competent! Billy getting a bit more to do!

- Rhona coming back. <3

- the hugs!

- the wee wallet thief. <3

- by the end of the series I really did care about Connor’s family.

- that first scene between Jimmy and Duncan was good.

Things I did not like:-

- ugh, Meg. I didn’t like her (she came across as desperately callous at times, especially, in wild contrast not just to Jimmy but to most other characters), I didn’t like how she was written, I didn’t like that we never really learned anything about her interests, and above all I hated the Designated Heterosexual Romanceness of it all. I never got the impression that she and Jimmy were particularly into each other, let alone massively in love. The final scene was embarrassingly poorly-written and neither actor seemed that convinced by what they were saying. And no I really am not saying that just as a Jimmy/Duncan shipper! I knew a het romance ending was likely, I just wanted some actual fricking care and attention given to it being a good and convincing romance with actual things in common and chemistry. It’s not like Jimmy’s not had at least some with potential female romantic partners before! Asha especially. That Meg got the family theme music that’s only been used up to now for Cassie and Duncan after, what, 3 extremely lacklustre dates, was just insulting.

- and honestly, would it have been so bad if Jimmy had left the profession and had one final scene with Cassie at the end, bookending the show? Het romance is not the definition of a happy ending or of emotional resolution.

- almost no Duncan, and almost no Cassie. I know there were practical reasons for this (Mark getting double-booked due to the pandemic timing changes; Erin having mostly left acting as a profession). But they both could have been *mentioned* far far more. Jimmy’s family has always been one of the best and most interesting things about him. Cassie was the most important person in his life prior to this season, and Duncan his best friend and someone he was willing to go to prison for in season 6. Why didn’t we get at least Jimmy’s end of a phone call to Duncan to reassure him after the caravan explosion? Why didn’t the two scenes with Cassie have more emotional content? UGH.

- so little Cassie and the total misfiring of the Meg arc meant that well-written female characters were in frustratingly short supply this season, Tosh and Connor’s mother aside. So much more could have been done with Connor’s sister and her wee goth friend, e.g..

- just generally, Duncan was done dirty. After all his growth and changing for the better, that’s how the show leaves him?! After that beautiful arc that resolved in season 5? I mean life isn’t always fair, nor does fiction have to be, but... it feels like he’d redeemed himself and then got wildly punished anyway. And then just ignored.

- the eco-terrorism plot was frustrating in the extreme.

- so much more could have been made of the Shetland folklore angle of things and I really hoped it would be.

[scotianostra]

Happy Birthday one of our most popular actors Dougie Henshall.

Born Douglas James Henshall 19th November 1965 in Glasgow, Henshall’s mother was a nurse and his father a salesman. He attended Barrhead High School. While still at school, he joined the Scottish Youth Theatre.

After leaving school, he moved to London to train at Mountview Theatre School. He returned to Glasgow after this where he joined the 7:84 theatre company. Eventually, he went back to live in London where he received critical acclaim for his theatre work.One of his first successful film roles was as Edgar in Angels and Insects before going on to star in Orphans, If Only…, Lawless Heart and It’s All About Love and the very funny This Years Love.

Dougie’s first big TV role was in Dennis Potter's television adaptation of Lipstick on Your Collar and has also featured in top TV shows like The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, Anna Karenina and Outlander.

But nothing compares to the success he’s enjoyed thanks to his performance in Shetland.

The series, which returned for aeighth season thismonth, catapulted the Scot to worldwide recognition thanks to a passionate fan base both at home and abroad. Unfortunately Dougie has now left the show, replaced by Ashley Jensenr

.

Last year Dougie was in the Netflix mini series Who Is Erin Carter, which wasn't bad, and he also appeared in the TV adaption of the Agatha Chrisitie story, Murder is Easy, alongside Tamzin Outhwaite and his ld friend, Mark Bonnar....more on him later. Earlier this year Dougie was in The Darkness ,a Nordic noir television series, I have yet to see this and might just start watching it after I finish todays posts.

[drjohnweston]

Shetland series 7 filming outside the library 14/09/21, both photos via @ shetlandlibrary twitter

[were-assuming-frodos-gay]

okay hear me out, lynda morton from shetland looks like genderbent halbrand

[spaciousreasoning]

Back Home Again

I set the clock for 5:30 this morning, so Deborah and I could leave her house by 6 a.m. in order to get me to the Norfolk airport by 7 a.m. for my 8 o’clock flight to Denver. It all worked out just fine, we gave each other a big hug before she drove off.

Once I got through the TSA check and reached the appropriate concourse, I bought myself a bottle of water. I had declined coffee and a nosh from Deborah because I was still trying to figure out when I was going to check my blood sugar.

As it turned out, I finally checked it about an hour before arriving in Denver, or about 8 a.m. Oregon time, and it turned out to be 155, just a little lower than the day before because my diet over the past several days had not been particularly healthy and I had gotten in very little physical exercise. That will be changing in the days to come.

Landing early in Denver we had to sit and wait for the gate to become available, and by the time we got into the airport there was only about 30 minutes left before the boarding of my connection to Eugene, and that was on another concourse. Luckily, when I got to the next gate, passengers were still exiting the plane we would be leaving on. So I had time to find myself a sandwich and some chips to enjoy once the flight to Eugene began.

When we finally got to Eugene a little after 1 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, Nancy was waiting in a line of cars out front for me, and we came straight home. I was able to enjoy some chocolate chip cookies she had made while I was gone before unpacking my bag and settling back into more or less normal life again.

Then I showered, made myself a cup of cold brew, and Nancy and I played our usual brain games a little later than usual. It was about the same time I realized I had forgotten to take my morning meds when I checked my blood sugar, so I did so about 3 p.m.

We had dinner about 6 p.m., enjoying some leftover rice and garlic honey chicken with roasted veggies. Then we indulged in more chocolate chip cookies. And I took my second dose of meds for the day.

Then we started our evening streaming schedule, starting with the first episode in the new series of “Shetland.” Nancy had watched a few minutes of it while I was gone, but it started out so tense and exciting she had decided to wait for me. Then we watched the next episode of “Shrinking,” the first episode of the Netflix series “English Teacher,” and, finally, the next two-part story in the “Dalgleish” series.

I neglected to report yesterday that last night before going to bed, Deborah and I watched a concert on PBS to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the iconic debut album from the Violent Femmes. They teamed up with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in a special, sold-out hometown concert, recorded by Milwaukee PBS for a national viewing audience. It was quite enjoyable.