Another year done and onto the next..

Well that's nearly the end of 2017 and what did we think? I think it's gone quick and especially this holiday, it's just zoomed by. So how was the Christmas TV for you? There was certainly a good mix to watch and some classic movies too. I am not a big Harry Potter fan so I despaired a little to see ITV repeating all the films for the millionth time but hey ho there are those who still after all these years still can't get enough of it.

Christmas Day was loaded with great drama and I was a bit spoilt for choice. Doctor Who was great and a clever mix of drama, humour and a tinge of sadness as it was regeneration for the 12th Doctor played by Peter Capaldi. It was also the last episode for writer Steven Moffat too and what an episode to go out on. The present Doctor meets the first Doctor was a good little twist and it was good to see some old faces too. Clara made an appearance and Bill Potts returned for the final farewell. Loved seeing the new Doctor and I'm so excited for Jodie Whittaker, I think it will be so interesting to see her in the role. I just hope they don't leave it too long until the new series, I heard talk of it not being until Autumn 2018, too long BBC!

Call the Midwife told a lovely Christmas tale and always warms ya heart. Victoria was as brilliant as ever, nearly spilt my brew when poor Albert slipped under the ice, but so glad he got back to the warmth and to see to the Christmas Tree, we owe the tradition of having Christmas trees to him after all. It ended all lovely dovey and I was so pleased. We need a bit of love at this time of year. 

I loved the three part series of Little Women. I am ashamed to say I've never read the book and also didn't know too much about this classic tale. Never too late though and I'm so glad I watched it. Some great actors in this and how lovely to see Maya Hawkes in her acting debut as Jo March. She is the daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke and she certainly has inherited her parents acting skills, I think we'll be seeing her again. It was a lovely coming of age tale involving love, marriage, births and unfortunately death too. I sobbed but felt so pleased at the end. I cannot actually believe I haven't seen or read this story before. Naughty Sue from the Brew.

The other mini series which was worth a watch was The Miniaturist. Set in 17th century Amsterdam it tells the tale of a woman who is sent to marry a wealthy man but her life is turned upside down. Made more mysterious by a dolls house given to her as her as a gift by her new husband but all is not as it seems as The Miniaturist starts to send her replica mini figures of everyone around her and causes quite a commotion. I was hooked by this and it was not only dramatic but a bit spooky too. I so wanted her to save her hubby and although they were never going to live  happily ever after I still wanted him to be saved by his impending doom. Wow sometimes it's so hard to think these things went on in those days, seems barbaric, so glad we have progressed with some issues over time. A good drama though, very impressed.

One drama we did all have palpitations about was The Snow Bears. This was a documentary about a mother polar bear and her two young cubs making a 400 mile journey over to their summer retreat where there would be safety and food available until making the journey back again for the winter. Yikes it was so tense, so much danger and I don't know how many times this woman tried to make it quite clear she was not needing a man about. Blimey there's one thing about male polar bears, they are very persistent but the mating thing wasn't the only thing on the mind of these blokes, we were also worried that they may eat the babies. Oh gosh not good. If you do decide to watch it you really do need to be warned and not be of a nervous disposition. I don't think I took an awful lot of breath until they made it to their destination and the programme was on about an hour. It is fabulously narrated by the lovely Kate Winslet and the photography was amazing. I did learn such a lot about polar bears, their sheer determination, cheekiness, discipline and just how versatile they are. I don't think I could quite bring myself to watch them make the same journey back again but I wish them all luck.

Well there's a few things that kept me busy over the hols. I sit here on New Years Eve and can't say the tv viewing for this evening is very exciting so thank goodness for Netflix I say. I'm not big on New Year really I think it's a lot of fuss for yet another year when resolutions and diets are forgotten after two weeks into the year. Like most evenings I'll probably fall asleep and miss it completely but I do wish everyone the best for 2018. I am excited about writing for another year and I do have some plans too for the forthcoming year so I do feel ambitious and hopeful, I'm not a complete grump.

I've loved writing this blog and I do hope you join me again as I want to improve on my writing and hopefully make it even more exciting. Have a very good evening whatever you do and I'll catch you tomorrow as usual for Music Monday.

Take care and stay safe - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!