Wonderful Cat Video

Wonder how this photographer got this shot of his cat? He was under a glass top table, and he had spread something delicious on the top for the cat to lick.

I just finished watching all three seasons of "detectorists" on Acorn TV. It is also available on Amazon Prime. It is full of charming characters and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this award winning BBC production and hope you will too.

Hoar Frost Surrounding An English Country House

I subscribe to a BBC Newsletter and this opening photo knocked me off my feet! The article appears to be interesting too, though I've only skimmed it. The title is 'Cottagecore' and the rise of the modern rural fantasy. Even if you don't read it, open the link so you can see a full-page photo of this English Country House. 

Cottagecore is all about the outdoors and slow living – think Anne of Green Gables meets The Secret Garden – Lucy Blackall

After I have my coffee, I have to suit up and dig out my generator. I completely forgot to do that yesterday and it's something you have to do in case you need it. The sky is clearing and there should be sunshine to help melt my driveway. See you later. xo

PS: Want to get the newsletter too? Subscribe here. You're welcome!!!

BBC: Celebration Chocolate Cake recipe

This recipe is by Mary Berry from The Great British Baking Show. It looks easy and delicious. It is even recommended to bake with and for children. I am not sure how to convert the flour to cups but you'll figure it out. I am a huge fan of cream cheese icing! recipe here

Walking on Slippery Ice

I have blue skies and bright sun this morning but it's still below the freezing mark. I MUST go out and hack up my icy patches with a pick axe so they will hopefully melt later today. More snow is on the way overnight turning to rain Monday morning with temps in the 40s and that will be good. Hopefully all will melt before nightfall since it's going down to 18° and there will be more ice. Take care if you aren't as sure-footed as these penguins.
I thoroughly enjoyed the three-episode mini series on Penguins called SPY IN THE HUDDLE. I can't remember whether it was on NatGeo or BBC America. It's on Netflix now, so if you are a penguin fan, look for it and watch it. It is a fascinating series with an up-close look as spy cam decoys are set up in the penguin colonies. BBC photo above.

Official Royal Wedding Photos

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have released these three official photographs from their wedding day and the newly-weds are said to be "delighted" with them. 

Photographed were taken by Alexi Lubomirski 

@alexilubomirski

I couldn't resist this adorable photo of Prince George below. He looks so handsome in his pageboy uniform. I was thrilled with the wonderful behavior of all the children in this beautiful wedding.

Photos from Instagram @bbc

The Dressing Room in My Cottage

I have photographed this room before but not this view. The table is at the foot of the antique bed. All of the floors in this wing of the cottage are painted this color, the hall and the smaller bedroom where I sleep. That room has no closet. So now you have another small peek into my home. It rained all morning but cleared up nicely by late afternoon. 

I didn't watch Masterpiece last night but recorded it for later in the week. I am on the very last Season of MI-5 and should finish tomorrow. I am going to miss the best espionage thriller I have ever seen. I am so lucky to have such a good library chocked full of DVDs to entertain me. There is almost nothing on regular TV these days that holds my interest. The BBC Video productions have me thoroughly spoiled! See you soon. xo

MI-5 BBC TV Series My Current Obsession

This is the first time I have gotten involved in trying to watch 10 seasons of anything. Thank goodness for the library. I watched Season One from the shelf of my favorite library. It ended with the cliffhanger of all cliffhangers and I wanted more. BUT my library didn't have the rest of this series in 10 parts. Thankfully, they have been able to get subsequent seasons thru inter-library loan. I just finished Season 5 and Season 6 has been ordered. It's the most exciting thing I have EVER watched. I love British Spies, you know!

The acting is superb and the head of this counter intelligence agency is Peter Firth and he's wonderful. I enjoyed seeing him last night in the finale of Victoria on PBS. He played Duke Cumberland.

The actors come and go and are replaced by equally superb characters.

Have you seen this series? It was on PBS, I believe. It started in 2002. Anyway, it's on Hulu if you subscribe and it might be on Acorn. Thankfully, my library has been able to find them all for me, so far. Each season is very expensive to buy, selling for as much as $80 per season. 

It is/was called SPOOKS in the UK.

Look for it. You will NOT be disappointed.

Garrow's Law - BBC TV Series in 3 DVDs

I am on the last DVD disc of the final series and do NOT want to see this BBC Scotland series end. It is beyond fabulous and I am so glad I found it at my favorite public library in Madison NJ. The lighting is beautifully filmed in what appears to be total candle light, but you know it's not. I so enjoyed the Georgian London architecture, the period antiques in period paneled rooms, the costumes, and more. The stories are quite gripping too. I wasn't sure I was going to like it but was hooked right away in the first few minutes of the chapter of the first disc. You can probably stream it on Acorn and other streaming services. I prefer DVDs.

Read more about this series on Wikipedia here.

Set around trials at the Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court) in Georgian London against a backdrop of corruption and social injustice, Garrow's Law is a legal drama inspired by the life of pioneering barrister William Garrow. He is credited with coining the English phrase “presumed innocent until proven guilty” used in common law.

To Serve Them All My Days DVD set

To Serve Them All My Days You can thank me later for this DVD recommendation. It was first broadcast by the BBC over 13 episodes in 1980 and 1981, and in 1982 by PBS in the United States as part of their Masterpiece Theatre anthology series. I don't remember watching it back then. It's timeless and I promise you will enjoy it too.

Sorry about the stickers on the cover. It's from the Madison NJ public library. Each disc contains multiple chapters. I can hardly bear to tear myself away since I am about to begin the last DVD in the set. If you liked Goodbye Mr. Chips with Peter O'Toole, you will love this and it's much longer! Based on the novel by R. F. Delderfield for those of you who prefer to read. The acting is superb. I absolutely cannot wait to hear from you after you watch the whole thing.

My library allows a two-week period for long videos like this but once I get started, I can usually whiz thru in a weekend.

If you can't find the DVD set at your library, you can watch the entire series on YouTube. Chapter One is featured here. You will have to hunt around to find the other chapters. Look in the Right Side bar as a guide. To Serve Them All My Days Episode 1 Part 1 click on this link to go directly to YouTube so you can watch it full screen. Enjoy!!! xo

Sussex Farmhouse Pictorial Hooked Rug and More

Isn't this wonderful pictorial hooked rug fabulous in this English farmhouse? See more interiors of this fabulous residence here. Enjoy Downtown Abbey and Sherlock tonight!!!

Sherlock New Year's Special 2016

via

I have to watch Sherlock again, this time on my iPad, really up close and personal. I fell asleep toward the end last night and missed quite a lot. When I watch the full episode online, I will be able to read the writing that pops up now and again in the program that I can't read while watching in bed because my tv screen isn't big enough. I'm sure others must have the same problem. I won't have any trouble with my iPad. I love watching movies on it too. The full episode won't be available on PBS.org until January 11th.

SHERLOCK Special TONIGHT on PBS 9PM

MASTERPIECE and PBS today announced that Sherlock: The Abominable Bride, a 90-minute special, will premiere Friday, January 1, 2016, on MASTERPIECE Mystery! on PBS at 9:00pm ET, and simultaneously online at pbs.org/masterpiece. The special will have an encore broadcast on Sunday, January 10, at 10:00pm ET.

Hooray. I almost forgot about this because it's a Friday night rather than a Sunday night. Set your DVR.

I'm Missing Downton Abbey Already.

Sunday nights are so special with Downton Abbey. Season 5 is over and I miss the PBS series already.

via

I think Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes are perfect together, don't you?

Maggie Smith: The 80-year-old actress anticipates an end to her Dowager Countess role. Read the article in Vanity Fair here. She says she can't go anywhere now without someone wanting to take a selfie with her. 

Biography of Alan Turing -- 1996 BBC Film: Watch Online

A biography of the English mathematician Alan Turing, who was one of the inventors of the digital computer and one of the key figures in the breaking of the Enigma code, used by the Germans to send secret orders to their U-boats in World War II. 

If you cannot see the YouTube Video below, click here.

I found this film that I shall watch today after reading this article from The LA Times. I'm so glad I read it because the 2004 film HAWKING that I have already shared here is being repeated on Thursday on the Discovery channel in celebration of Stephen Hawking's 73rd birthday. I might watch it again on the big screen. 

BBC Music Video - God Only Knows

Old song by Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys to launch BBC Music.

Click here if you can't see the video below.

This is so wonderful. This song has been stuck in my head all day. It was featured on the ABC evening news last night. View it full screen on your computer for the full effect. Enjoy!


This shows how the video was made. Click here if you can't see video above.