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General chat for Oct – with Bobi

Thanks to Bobi for a new general chat post. I read today there are only 12 Mondays until Christmas so a trying not to freak out – Juz

It’s October, one month closer to Christmas, and it feels like everything is winding down or coming to an end (Here’s looking at you, MasterChef).
I know they’re not. I know that we are waiting for Love Island, something to do with Dirty Dancing and Survivor US but it all feels a bit lightweight and second choice.

To cope with withdrawal symptoms, I have been immersing myself in real reality tv, but being proper real TV (PRTV), it is mostly on SBS and ABC, and is designed to reduce me to a sobbing, blubbery mess.
Just a side note, I am a pre-inclined that way. Remember the Telstra ad telling us to “Call home”? (Slight whimper).

The original and the best reality show is 7 Up (and is being repeated on SBS). There is something about growing up with these people, and eternally waiting to catch up every seven years. They are my age and all their experiences are mine. One of them has died (Spoiler Alert) and one of them is very sick. It’s like losing a friend. I am very sad. I am not sure that this is for everyone. It doesn’t lend itself to binge watching.

So, of course, I move straight to Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds to cheer myself up. I was warned that there would be happy tears. Correcto! They were mostly happy tears, but were mixed with a huge amount of indignation. Did you know that 40% of the elderly in nursing homes don’t get visitors? How can that be? I didn’t want to watch this one but so many people insisted I should give it a go, and I am really glad I did. If the Government had a humane bone in its body, it would put a bucket load of money into making sure that this experiment happens everywhere.

But my favourite was Storm in a Teacup. It’s about the partnership between Leon Pericles and his wife/business manager. She has dementia and he’s not coping. He’s from your neck of the woods, Daisy, and there is some vague similarity between your artwork and his.

The show started happily enough because she’s a happy soul, and I thought all would be good but, by the end, I ran out of tissues and the couch was wet. I was a drippy mess. It was a lovely show. I highly recommend it, if only to see the flying of the kite he designed. He is an amazing talent.

And out of left field, Season 2 of Disenchanted has returned to Netflix. It’s not as good as Season 1 but I needed an antidote to all the political news. Have I mentioned previously that the world is going to hell in a hand basket?

– Bobi

General chat: September

Over to Bobi for a new general chat thread, with thanks:

It’s spring, people, SPRING!! I’m a little bit excited and I could wax lyrical but my poetic hippocampus is still in hibernation.

The best part of spring is that is light enough at 5.30am – and may greyhound trainers rot in hell for this little piece of conditioning – for me to pick up his morning deposits. And, just softly, this would be the same place reserved for those who voted for daylight saving. I vote for karma.

The highlight of winter was the new bed bought for the grey. It was a hit.

Any resemblance to a pretzel is just coincidental.

He says it’s the best and I am the best for buying it, so, on his advice, I bought the terrier a smaller version. How could this go wrong?

Well, a bit like this. Obviously.

Yup. Nothing to see here.

In case you were wondering, the terrier is not unhappy with my puffy coat.

Which leads me to a little gem of a show, Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly (7Plus). Extra points for segue? It’s short and sweet, the dog trainer is a no-nonsense guy, the owners are well meaning idiots but all problems are easily fixed and we live happily ever after … and I feel good. It’s a lovely antidote to this season’s The Block (bleh), and The Bachelor (meh).

On a related note (excited face), the Dark Crystal (Netflix) is back. If you didn’t catch the original , DD used to watch it again and again. I always worried that it was a bit scary but she says that she always knew it would end well. I haven’t seen it yet but I am waiting for a rainy day. The reviews are good so I have incredibly high hopes. Happy dance.

And on a completely unrelated (to anything) note, my latest ear worm is Kiss My Fat Ass by Sheppard – with video. What can I say.

August general chat with Bobi

Over to Bobi (ta muchly):

Now that the brouhaha of MasterChef is over – and didn’t we enjoy that – it is time to ramp up another general chatter thread.

School holidays have just finished here so I thought I would share my enforced viewing habits. I know … children’s shows … but, if you want something light and frothy, you can’t go far past something aimed at a pre-teen girl.

My measure of a good show is: does it appeal to an adult, how many times did the girls put it on repeat, and how many times could I sit through the repeats. It turns out that there are many. Who knew? Canadians invest a huge amount into children’s programming. We could learn a few things from them. Don’t you think we would be a better society if we followed their example? I might write to some of our pollies suggesting they increase funding to the ABC politicians/feedback . I wish I wasn’t so cynical.

Interestingly, the MD of the ABC has refused a pay rise. I would like to think that I had that much integrity but I still have a mortgage and that kind of trumps everything.

Number one on the girl’s list is Odd Squad (ABC and Netflix). If Odd Squad was on cassette, the tape would have worn through. I had to use bribery and corruption (mainly chocolate) to give myself a break.

Little Lunch (ABC) was a close second. This is an oldie but a goodie. It has been around since 2015 but it is charming. The child actors are more than competent, and interestingly, include Joshua Sitch, son of Rob Sitch and Jane Kennedy. I’m guessing there’s a family business somewhere around here.

The same producers/writers have gone on to produce The Inbestigators (ABC) (yes, it is an extraordinarily bad pun). Different cast, obviously, because the previous set of kiddies have aged out of the genre. It has a similar construct but is just lacking something. Maybe the actors are not quite as good. It’s a shame because the girls were looking forward to it.

Never mind. They were persuaded to go in the direction of Hardball (ABC). I think that I enjoyed this one slightly more than the girls but then I have always had a fondness for NZ humour.

And an honourable mention goes to Horrible Histories. This is a British show so, be warned, overt learning is involved. The girls love a bit of grossness, as do I. It does require either reading ability or reading out loud by me. This one really straddled the boundary between adult/children, or maybe it was just for older children. Nevertheless, the girls had fun.

So Boris Johnson, hey? Between that and the European heat wave, anyone else feel like Armageddon is just around the corner? I am going to take a leaf out of Daisy’s book and stay loose. Here is a depiction of Daisy on her summer holiday, not giving a rats.

But to end on an incredibly high note, congrats to Zhee for starting a new adventure and working with my favourite food group – sugar.

– Bobi

Nearly June chat – political creep

Here’s a new general chat thread with Bobi (thanks – Juz).

See what I did there? Double entendre. I am so hilarious I amaze myself.

It’s a Public Holiday here, Reconciliation Day, and I am confined to the house. The weather is freezing, the wind is off the snow, it is squally, and the dogs and I are wrapped in blankets and steeped in misery.

I should say that I am happy about Reconciliation Day – I am all for harmony – and I would rather this Public Holiday than the Queen’s Birthday long weekend as it isn’t even her birthday, and she’s not here, and she doesn’t care … and nor do we.
In an effort to stay relevant, and I am bored, I thought that I would update the Chat.

Before I start, just a reminder to clicks on the ads. At least twice. Our objective should be to turn Juz into a thousandaire so she can quit her job and do this full-time. (Aww thanks – I do appreciate the clicks as they cover the web hosting – Juz)

Can we still avoid discussing the election itself because it’s still a bit raw for some people (it was only a week ago and so nasty), but expand the breadth of our political topics? Here’s my new list of inclusions:

. Anything overseas – like Trump or La Penn. How grateful should we be to live here?
. Barnaby Joyce – Seriously, voting public. What does it take? You had no other option?
. The token women in the new Cabinet. That was a tough ask for the PM. No, wait; it’s not tokenism. It’s all based on merit. fftt
. And how Peter Dutton looks even more scary now that he’s a smug thumb.

Speaking of political, did you hear that they want to replace the Numbat with the Quokka as the emblem for WA? What is going on here? Numbat = cute. Quokka = cute. There are no winners here. Stop it.

Here’s my nomination. Actually, I just wanted to use this photo. Let’s keep the Numbat. They were here first and seem to be more useful. Controversy, anyone?

So, television, because I have no life in winter.

I have been watching State of the Union (ABC). It’s charming. Rosamund Pike and Chris O’Dowd. The best thing about it is that each episode is 10 minutes long so it is sharp and plays well. It has been listed as a comedy. What’s that squeaky noise you make when you’re not terribly sure?

I’ve also been watching Sammy J (ABC). At least he has the decency to call his stuff a “satire”.

Shakespeare and Hathaway (ABC) Season 2 is returning this weekend. I enjoyed Season 1. It’s comfortable, like, you know, in an old people’s home, undisturbing, predictable kind of way. Have I sold it to you yet? It’s a great anti-dote for Shetland which is bleak and grim. The last episode of that one left me with nightmares about being buried alive. I can’t wait for next week.

For those of you who like podcasts, I’ve discovered The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio. Just blissful. My favourite is Johnny Dollar. It doesn’t get much better than this. Who needs moving pictures to appreciate good acting and thin plot lines.

And just in case you think that I’m only about the ABC and MasterChef, I am in the middle of watching Rim of the World, a children’s movie on Netflix. Not too childish (the body count is high) but reminiscent of Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds and Independence Day, all rolled together. With little people. Most enjoyable. I am assuming that the children live. It would be a bummer if they didn’t.

General chat with Bobi – May 12

Many thanks to Bobi for sending in a new general chat post – I’m focusing on posting this on TTV while MasterChef contestants fawn over Nigella – Juz

Just a reminder to all that it is election month. I recognise the leadership debates have been riveting – Right? Right, guys? – but now that they are over, I don’t need any more emotionally fraught ads. In my defence, I am an early voter and, having made my decisions, I am now in blah, blah, blah territory. It’s such a relief.

I don’t have any Netflix recommendations. I am thinking of cancelled my Netflix subscription out of pique (they cancelled two of my favourite shows) and I am watching more and more off ABC iview and SBS streaming.

I am loving Mum (ABC). It is one of those delightful short and sweet British shows with fabulous actors that can use their faces to show emotion; a little bit over the top in parts but it adds to the humour. I don’t actually laugh out loud but I smile a lot.
(Juz’s note: You can read more about Mum
here at The Guardian

QI (ABC) is one of my favourite go-to’s. I am sure everyone is familiar with the concept but it never fails to delight. The spin-off podcast (No such thing as a Fish) by the QI elves is one of the best for walking the dog. I am always open to podcast suggestions – the tedium of walking the greyhound for half an hour every day around the same couple of blocks is only mitigated by a good podcast.

The Good Fight (SBS) is so much fun. Again, I seem to be late to some of these shows. I can’t possibly be alone?

I am watching Sally and Possum (ABC Kids). I know – I said it would be random. I am learning Auslan and it’s good practice. And some of these kids shows are charming: if you have a spare half hour, try Hardball (ABC Me).

I am tuned in to Agatha Christie ABC Murders. It’s not a fabulous story line but it has John Malkovich. It’s worth watching just for him.

More randomness; we went to Melbourne to see West Side Story. I was disappointed, not so much in the play – which hasn’t changed in 60 years – but in my reaction. To recap, almost-engaged girl meets boy father-wouldn’t-approve-of, boy kills girls brother, girl sleeps with boy, almost fiancée kills boy (revenge/jealousy? : who knows/who cares), almost fiancée goes to goal (or jail because it’s American), girl says it’s everyone else’s fault, everyone’s remorseful, they kiss and make up. And let’s throw in a rape scene just for laughs. What a fun night out.

If we are going to ban Michael Jackson, then I think we need to revisit musicals like this, and can we throw in Rigoletto just to round things off? So offensive. Rigoletto, that is.

Feel free to correct my use of : and ;. My grammar is iffy at the best of times and more so when I become annoyed.

And to finish on a lighter note, yay to Harry and Meg. I was getting a little tired of them and then Harry was such a happy-chappy when the baby was born that I could only be happy too.

Bobi

General chat for Easter – with Bobi

We have a new guest host for general chat – woo hoo! Thank you and over to Bobi (autocorrect really wanted to make you Bono):

As the nights grow colder and we adjust to daylight saving, I am indulging in crime, murder and mayhem. As you know, I love a good murder/mystery. Sadly, there is little that holds my attention for long.
Killing Eve (ABC) and Counterpart (SBS) are a slow build but I am finding the enormous (as in, who has that much spare time in summer?) investment worthwhile. Paranoid was tedious (blah, blah, blah) and The Break (Netflix) is getting the better of me. It is Scandinavian bleak without that thing that holds your attention.
I prefer my tv more mystery and less murdery, so any suggestions would be gladly welcome.
But my go-to at the moment is more on the lighter side. I binged The Santa Clarita Diet (Netflix) and Wellington Paranormal (SBS). They may not be everyone’s cup of tea. My family thought they were silly but I thought they were a hoot and I could watch them again. New Zealanders punch above their weight, don’t they?
I do love the odd documentary: Employable Me (ABC) is just a joy – one part so sad and three part incredibly up-lifting. I am shedding happy tears all over the doona.

NOT to be mistaken for a MAFS contestant.

And I am watching, with bated breath, the ads for the return of Masterchef. I am so excited. I so need this. I found MAFS an assault on my soul. Seriously, guys, how does a woman who calls her child Baby pass the psychological testing? Not.
And hugs to you all. You are my tribe.