Michael's Meanderings

Last week I finally decided that if I wanted to visit the Doctor Who Exhibition, at Earls Court, I'd have to take a day off and do so soon (it was due to end later this month, but I've just noticed it's been extended to November). I booked last Friday off and book a ticket online.

So on Friday didn't have to get up quite as early as normal as the Exhibition didn't open until 10am. I did actually arrive at 10am, but was told they were working on a Dalek and would open late! So I got a coffee and returned at 10:25 and went straight in.

Despite the following on the website "from all the latest episodes of the hit BBC TV show, including the Christmas special and eagerly-awaited fourth series. Items will be on display following transmission on BBC One." There wasn't any material from series 4 (though some designs from the last Christmas episode were on display). There were cool dioramas of both the Daleks and Cybermen, and a step by step display on how to build an Ood head! It took nearly and hour and a half to get through everything (including the shop) and then I was on my way to The Science Museum (where there was a free Dan Dare exhibit). It was actually only two display cases and some walls of Dan Dare material with the rest being a look at British technology from the period while The Eagle was being published.

After a wander around the exhibit I left for Victoria, and a train to Brighton, where I visited "Cleaver with Leather", and ordered a replacement belt / book bag, season ticket holder, money bag and PDA case repair.

Then to Hove for a chiropractic adjustment. I arrived over two hours early but was able to get seen before the actual time of my appointment at 6:30! Then I managed to catch a train directly to Burgess Hill where I got to Specsavers before they closed to discover that my new glasses, ordered last Saturday had just arrived. They were fitted and were a big improvement.

I then discovered that the local cinema was showing a number of films I wanted to see, so i decided to stay for the next showing, which was Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, which wasn't too bad. (the following Saturday I returned to see Get Smart, which was very silly in a Austin Powers kind of way.) and then home.

Last wednesday I took the day off. My parent were spending a week at a local ex-stately home, now a time share and asked me to join them.

So I caught the train to the local station and Mum was arriving just as I left the station. The journey was only five minutes and then we were in the "mews (it was the old stable but now a very elegant flat-let! Bathroom, bedroom, lounge, kitchen and conservatory!

My middle sister came over too and all but Dad spent an hour or so in the pool, jacuzzi and sauna. It the first time I've been swimming in years! I really should make it a regular habit.

After a late lunch sister left and a little later we went back to the station to drop me off. Unfortunately the tran was delayed so I had to wait for half an hour (rather than the ten minutes I expected). Luckily it wasn't raining, though it was a bit windy.

When I finally got home I then embarked on a marathon catch-up of stuff I've been recording on my Sky+ box. This included Eureka, Ghost Whisper, Nigella Express, Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two (which is on every evening during the week) Stargate Atlantis (S4E1), Charlie Jade (Pilot) and even though I dislike cars I got sucked into Top Gear live (not recorded) Not to mention Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency on BBC Radio 7.

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Then yesterday afternoon I went to see Ratatouille at the local cinema which was most enjoyable.

Best animated film since the Incredibles?