Dr Who was on last night and I watched it. I almost didn’t because it was a Dalek story and Dalek stories bore me now because they’ve been so overused. As it happens, I’m glad I did watch it because, a couple of gripes aside, it was both a decent episode and a better Dalek story than I expected. The gripes? The early part of the script and the clever, but rushed denouement. All the bits in the middle were fun, even the bits that recycled bits of earlier stories. Also, it was good to have Jodie Whittaker back on screen. Whatever issues I have with the current Doctor stories, they’re not with Jodie.
And I agree with Jon Oliver‘s observation:
I love that some traditions never change.
“I really liked that episode of Doctor Who, now to consult social media to see why I was wrong to do so.”
— Jon Oliver (@JonOliverEditor) January 2, 2021
Afterwards, I completed, belatedly, the New Scientist Christmas cryptic crossword, which was surprisingly satisfying.
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I was chatting earlier with an old colleague and friend about this and that and he offered an interesting take on Brexit. He runs a cluster of small businesses doing a lot of business representing clients in Scandinavia and the Baltic states. He said he was despondent yesterday but has perked up because a lot of small businesses with whom he works are actively looking for ways to keep working together and make things work.
I still think it’s too early to properly grasp the practical consequences of Brexit, but it was nice to hear a bit of optimism from someone at the sharp end of services rather than goods provision.
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I’m preparing some 1971 music posts for the next stage of the project. The preparation has consisted of trying to pin down release dates for some records on Vertigo which some sources say were January 1971 (which might also be inferred from the catalogue numbers) but other sources say later in the year. In the end I suppose it doesn’t matter, but I like to be reasonably close to the actual release date if I can.
One of the fine releases later in 1971 was The Gypsy by Mr Fox. It was their second and last album as the band disintegrated with the marriage of Bob and Carolanne Pegg. I’ve been listening to her 1973 solo album Carolanne this afternoon. When I first heard it I wasn’t taken at all by her voice. This afternoon I enjoyed it. Funny how that happens. I listened on cd; the cheapest copy of the original vinyl on Discogs is £45 + postage from the Netherlands; a mint copy in the UK is offered at £100.
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I was pleased earlier to sit out the front for a while. Even though it was -2C and I wore two fleeces, the sun was bright and warm enough in our little suntrap to let me take some fresh cold air under an unending blue sky. We had unexpected snow overnight but it seems to be thawing. I’ve avoided going for a walk for a couple of nights because the pavements have been treacherous: I may yet go out this evening.
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Music: Bubbling under the chart this week in 1971: The Equals Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys.
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