El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 3: Episode 6 — Tiempo de esclavos/Time of slaves — A Review.

2nd June, 2019*.

Right … 

I have to mildly confess: I’ve spent this evening with my family.

Or, at least, had dinner with them.

Which was interesting … 

Jude, bless him … ?



Seemed interested in getting Ruth (Mummy), Aunty Anna and I in involved in — believe it or not — a quiz.

About football.

At one point … ?

Aunty Anna was five points ahead, whilst I was three points behind.

Which will possibly only make sense in about a decade … 

~≈§≈~

The SAD bit of news … ?



Is simply that one of the local pubs in the area, the Brewery Tap, has closed.

As a non-drinker, I never actually used it: so it’s possibly a little two-faced of me to say this.

But … ?

That’s a sad thing to see.

A lot of these little one room community pubs are little gold mines.   If run right, and given a unique selling point.

The Tap certainly had one: if you wanted to see the best beer garden in Brentwood, it had it.   It won awards, several times.

It …



Well, what can I tell you … ?

Apart from the fact it’s a loss.

~≈§≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?

As you know, I like TV shows.

No, really.

You might have noticed.

And … ?

Well, I’ve been watching El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time’s third series, over the past few days.

If you’ve never heard of it … ?

You’re missing something … 

~≈§≈~

Episode 6 — Tiempo de esclavos/Time of slaves — opens in 1881: and Alfonso 12th has commissioned a new batch of ships from one of the biggest businesses in Spain.

Only to be gunned down by Tomasín , a frustrated house slave: who’s actually aiming at the Marquess de Comillas (Chete Lera), the man who owns the shipping company … 

And Tomasin.

If the King dies, now?

Several of his heirs will not be born.

Changing the course of history in a bad way.

The doctor the agency sent, can’t help.

So the team — Alonso, Amelia and Pacino (Aura Garrido, Nacho Fresneda, and Hugo Silva) — have no other option.

There have to travel back in time, to stop the Marquess buying the slave.

There’s worse to come.

There’s other time travellers around.

A group calling itself the Sons of Padilla.

A group … 


Led by Amelia’s Uncle Pere … 

~≈§≈~

Lordy … that was a good episode!

Good … whilst simultaneously sad.

Let’s deal with good, shall we?

I think I can safely say that El Ministerio del Tiempo has produced episodes that are good old fashioned romps: exploring familiar tropes in interesting ways.

AND dragging up spins on old ideas.

Love triangles, paradoxes, awkward family meetings … 

And, in Tiempo de esclavos?

Seeing a dash to save a life … 



Oh … and beat an unexploded bomb.

Remote control bomb defusing, whilst wearing a GoPro?

The traditional “Do we cut the red wire or the green wire?” turned into a hunt for a VALVE … with a brown wire in a rat’s nest of cabling!



I am convinced Alonso’s doing more swearing that the subtitles are letting on!

That’s one thing … 

There’s something else.

We saw goodbye to actress Aura Garrido (Amelia) as — as this point in the show’s history — moving on to make a couple of lucrative movies.

Good luck to her on that.

But … ?



The producers have given Amelia a tearful send-off, leaving Amelia’s arc open for a later return.

It’s sad to see her go, though.

Frankly?

I’m going to have to see how the next episode goes with Amelia’s replacement†.

*        Over the past few weeks, I’ve opened most posts with a video.   I didn’t, initially, today … as Google seems to be having Youtube issues.

†        It doesn’t happen often enough: but there’s a nice little scene between  senior Ministry staffers, Don Ernesto (Juan Gea) and Irene (Cayetana Guillén Cuervo) discussing that very point.   Lola (Macarena García) has already betrayed the Ministry, once …

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 3: Episode 5—Tiempo de esplendor/Time of splendor — A Review.

1st June, 2019.

Yes: I’ve officially got a great big throbbing thing.

And before you ask … ?

I’ve actually a little rearranging in my flat.

And managed to move my first Mac — a Performa 6400/200, so you know — from the corner of the room, to the hallway.

OK, not very far, I grant.

But enough to get me having my second shower of the day.

And thinking … well, all sorts of things.

The main thing?

Is that my flat’s slowly getting warmer, as we head towards June.

The second?

On my money, I’m going to possibly have to wait, before I get to see Good Omens.

Which is fortunate.

There are some things one can’t leave unfinished: and one of those … ?

Is a good TV show.

Yes: I’ve been humping furniture around.   Yes: I’ve just finished two weeks worth of Teaser videos.

In between housework and jobhunting.

And switching the Performa on and off, to see if it still works.

Yes: I’ve caught another episode of El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time third series.

I knew there was a reason I liked this show … 

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 3: Episode 4—Tiempo de ilustrados/Time of the Enlightened — A Review.

24th May, 2019

Yes: Theresa May, Britain’s PM, has officially announced that’s she’s going to be stepping down from the post: and that her resignation goes into effect from the 7th June.

To an extent?

I feel sorry for her.   After all, she repeatedly tried to get a Brexit deal through that she felt would work for the UK.

Only to see it repeatedly thrown out by a House of Commons set against her.

Frankly?

I’m sympathetic.



Not that I’d be voting Tory because of it.

Not that I actually ever voted Tory.

But I am sympathetic, none the less.

My only question?

Will her successor call a general election when he or she gets into office?

I’d rather my Prime Minister be elected by the people of the UK: rather than a small group of MPs.

~≈§≈~

At any rate … ?

At any rate, I have an excuse.

No, wait, not an excuse: an opt out … !

Yes: I can watch something that’s been sitting around in the collection for a while.

You’re right: another episode of El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time’s third series.

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 3: Episode 3—Tiempo de hechizos/Time of witchcraft — A Review.

22nd May, 2019.

Right … 

It’s eh CHEE sos … !

eh CHEE sos … !

I … hope … !

I know what you’re doing, right now.

You’re looking at this and thinking to yourself, “Paul … ?   What ARE you gabbling on about?!”

I’m trying to work out the exact pronunciation of the word hechizos: the Spanish word for — depending on who you ask — witchcraft, or spells.

I’m not working at the moment: I’m catching up with a lot of box sets, as a result.

Including current favourite, El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time.

Series three, if you must know.

Yes: I watched another episode, tonight.

And, given my Spanish is non-existent?

I’m convinced that I sound like I’m sneezing, trying to pronounce the title … !

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 3: Episode 2 —Tiempo de espías/A Time of Spies — A Review.

21st May, 2019.

There are times unemployment’s a drag.

Seriously.

You are time rich … but cash poor.

And, if you miss an appointment with your work coach, like I did, you risk getting sanctioned.

Having you benefits withdrawn as punishment, on a temporary basis.

Yes, I missed an appointment: and, effectively, I’m getting docked a chunk of money.

Quite a bit, if I’ve understood things correctly.

There’s nothing I can do about that, right now.

But I will — in the morning — ask for what’s called a mandatory reconsideration.



An appeal, in other words.

In my defence?

I arranged the appointment as soon as I realised what had happened.

It’s the first time I’ve missed an appointment.

And, not least, the penalty will mean I have to take out a hardship loan.

We’ll have to see what happens.

~≈§≈~

At any rate … ?



At any rate, it’s a quiet night.

A quiet night usually means watching a film … or a documentary … 

Or a TV show.

Given that — last night — I started watching the third series of El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time?

You can possibly guess what I’ve watched, tonight, can’t you … ?

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 3: Episode 1 —Con el tiempo en los talones/With Time on his Heels — A Review.

20th May, 2019.



There are several things I like doing.

Really.

A good read’s always a favourite.

A movie, if I’m in the mood.

Music’s usually good.

As Into Battle with the Art of Noise, plays in the background.

And, every-so-often?

A TV show.

TV shows … 

I have to admit, there’s one I’ve been raving bout for months, whose third series I’ve been meaning to sit in with, for a while.

You’re right … 

I’ve been meaning to catch up with the third series of El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time

for quite a while …

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 2: Episode 13 — Cambio de tiempo/Change of time* — A Review.

16th March, 2019.

OK, OK … 

For any of you who’ve watched the intro video† in this post … ?

Yes: I held the tablet the wrong way around!

If I’d realised … ?

Well, I’d’ve probably done things differently.

Whatever way around the actual footage of my street is … ?

I’m glad I filmed it: as it’s given me a chance to toy with iMovie’s Picture in Picture filters.

OK … that video doesn’t look stunning …

But it was a first try …

~≈§≈~

At any rate … ?

Recording some footage of my street, in the bad weather … ?

Was something to do: in between sorting out laundry, cleaning, job hunting, madly texting people …

The usual stuff one does on a quiet Saturday.

That stuff … ?

Frankly includes a TV show.

As you know, I’ve been watching El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time for quite some time, now: finding it funny, dramatic, tense, emotional … anything a good series should be.

I’ve watched the last episode of Series 2, tonight.

Yes: Phwoh is entirely appropriate … !

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 2: Episode 12 — Hasta que el tiempo os separe/Until time do you part — A Review.

14th March, 2019.

Thank heavens for that … 

The banging around from upstairs?

Has quietened down!

Just so you know, my neighbour upstairs has young children.

Loud, young children.

Which I can put up with.

But … ?



My lord, they can’t half stomp around … 

~≈§≈~

Bar that … ?

Bar that, today’s been … quiet … 

Bar the inevitable paper chase, climbing around trying to organise stuff.

But … ?

But, inevitable, I’ve had time to catch up with some TV.

Yep: it’s time for episode 12 of El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time— Series 2.

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 2: Episode 11 — Tiempo de lo oculto/Time of the Occult — A Review.

13th March, 2019.

It’s officially official.

Facebook … ?   The titan of social media … ?

Right at the moment?

Seems to be having issues: with many users on it, some Facebook apps, Messenger, and the Facebook owned Instagram, and WhatsApp.

That leaves me thinking a few things.

Given tonight’s Brexit vote?

And even the small amount of foreign interference with British political life, through the site?

That’s possibly a good thing.

At any rate … ?

Hanging around on Facebook wasn’t in MY plans for the evening.

Oh no … 

Watching another episode of El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 2.

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 2: Episode 10 — Separadas en el tiempo/Separated by time — A Review.

7th March, 2019.

Bugger … 

And know, I’m not talking about the intro, there.

I’ve just tried turning the knob on my tumble dryer: just to finish off some t-shirts.

Only for the damn thing to come off in my hands.

It’s OK, I’ve got a pair of pliers.

But, ye gods, that has to happen when I’ve no money to pay someone to repair the thing!

~≈§≈~

At any rate … ?

It’s a Thursday … 

And a quiet Thursday at that.

I don’t know about you, but I’m grateful I’ve something I can do for not a lot of money.

You’re right … it’s watching TV.

And, in my case?

More of El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time, Series 2.

You have to love time travel that does horror … 

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 2: Episode 9 — Óleo sobre tiempo/Oil painting over time — A Review.

6th March, 2019.

It has to be said, modern technology can be good.

On the other hand?

Modern technology can be bad.

Especially when you drop your phone, and smash the screen.

Thankfully?

I had family come to the rescue, and pay for a repair.

For which I’m eternally grateful.

It’s also helpful the the shop I used — Onsite, in Brentwood High Street — did the repair very quickly.

I’m impressed* … 

~≈§≈~

Impressed … 

But also having a quiet patch.

As you may possibly already know?

I’m jobhunting, at the moment.

As you can imagine, looking for work is a chore: even though I can get it done a lot more quickly than I used to.

Either way?

I’ve spare time … mostly to devote to a hobby … and to watching a TV show or two.

You can tell what I’m going to mention next, can’t you?

Yes … 

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 2 … !

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 2: Episode 8 — Tiempo de valientes II/Time of the braves - Part Two — A Review.

4th March, 2019.

Yes, OK … 

Spending the night in, when it’s my birthday … ?

Is actually about par for the course.

And, if you’re on my money.

It’s affordably par for the course.

So … 

A night in … with downsides and upsides.

On the downside?   I’ve finally heard back from BT.

I didn’t get the job.   But they will at least be sending me some feedback.

On the upside … ?

On the upside, my nephew’s managed send me a card, bless him: and wrote it out, himself!

There’s also the upside that the charity fundraiser on Facebook hasn’t hit its target?

It HAS managed to raise £72.

There’s three days left, if you fancied donating … 

~≈§≈~

All that aside … ?

All that aside, a quiet night in is fine.

If you have something to do.

The past few nights?

I have.

Yes: I’ve been El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time, again.

Series 2, so you know.

And yes … the (real world) Siege of Baler looks nasty …

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 2: Episode 7 — Tiempo de valientes I/Time of the braves - part one — A Review.

3rd March, 2019.

Yes: it’s a quiet Sunday night: and frankly?

It’s the night before my birthday: tomorrow.

If you want give me huge amounts of cash?

You’d be welcome.

Or, alternatively … ?

You can donate money to my Facebook fundraiser: for the Alzheimer’s Society.

Which hasn’t learnt the target £150 … 

But HAS raised a nice amount.

I think?   I owe everyone who’s donated — through the page, and otherwise — a big thank you.

Thank You … !

~≈§≈~

But … ?

That’s beside the point, that really is … 

Frankly?

I’m not another year older, until tomorrow … 

I AM on my own, tonight … 

And thinking it’s a perfect night to catch another episode of El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time, Series 2.

You’re right … 

Part one of a two parter is in the mix

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 2: Episode 6 — Tiempo de magia/Time of magic — A Review

28th February, 2019.

Yes: that intro video’s right … 

Sort of.

It’s been a while since I’ve done all sorts of stuff.

Watched a movie … 

Had a steak … 

Had a romantic meal for two, in a fancy restaurant … !

Fat chance, there, I think … !

At any rate?

Over the past few days, I’ve been making videos for the Daily Teasers … 

And, frankly?

Not catching up with Series 2 of El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time is amazingly annoying … !

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 2: Episode 5 — Un virus de otro tiempo/A virus from another time — A Review

21st February, 2019 Teaser.

Is there some sort of term for that … ?

Worrying that you’re starting to looking Harry Potter?

You know … I don’t know that there is …

But … ?

Well, it’s just a sudden thought that … well … 

I’ll shut up, shall I … ?

~≈§≈~

Shut up … and keep burbling … 

About something else, frankly.

As you’re possibly aware … ?

I like TV shows.

Dr Who, Star Trek, what have you … 

And, over the past months?

Various episodes of El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time.

Now in its second series?

I have to confess, another episode was kind of attractive.

Yes … it was episode five … and yes … it’s a big opening … 

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 2: Episode 4 — El Monasterio del Tiempo/The Monastery of Time — A Review

18th February, 2019

Yes: there’s certainly something else.

For starters?

You can’t half find some silly videos on Facebook.

It always amazes me.

Cats, cute babies … 

Oh, and dancing penguins … !

That’s not the really strange thing, though.

Remember, a while back, I had trouble getting onto BT’s recruitment system.

THEN, once I did … ?

I couldn’t get through their online assessment?

This morning … I can a phone call telling I had a spot at their assessment day: being held on Wednesday.

At nine.

I think I’m going to have to have an early night, tomorrow night …

~≈§≈~

At any rate, having a free night tonight … ?

A night where I didn’t have to get to bed early for an early start?

Mean one thing.

A TV show.

By now?   You can possibly guess two things.

A)  I’ve seen the fourth episode of El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 2.

And B)?   I’ve got a certificate that lets me talk about it for hours.

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 2: Episode 3 — Tiempo de hidalgos/Time of hidalgos — A Review

16th February, 2019.

OK, ok … There’s actually three things I wanted to mention, right now.

The first?

While I’ve not upgraded to the Prime version, I do have the Spotify app on my iMac.

But there isn’t a version on my AppleTV.

Which I can cope with, frankly.

It means I can play you the soundtrack album for the film, Small Town Murder Songs.

Which is actually better than the film, I think.



It’s just a shame iTunes doesn’t have a facility to embed playlists: I’d’ve preferred a version from them … 

~≈§≈~

The next thing to mention … ?

Yes: the meagre savings I’ve used … ?

Have been spent on a few things.

DVDs and Blurays: which I wasn’t happy with.

And a whole pile of books: which, for the most part, I’m fine with.

The last of them … ?

The last of them, Dr Who and the Loch Ness Monster, in the original 1976, first edition, came today.

Funny old thing … it’s the book that got me reading.

When I was about eight — my nephew, Jude’s, age — my school ran what it called a book club.

A mail order book catalogue for school age kids, to try and get them reading.

My original copy went, long ago.

So frankly?   I’m glad to have another.

~≈§≈~

And finally … ?

The LAST thing I’m intent on mentioning … ?

Quite simply that I think I’m turning into what’s called a ministérico.

In other words?

A fan of El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time.

Series 2, if you must know.

Episode three, as you’re asking … 

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 2: Episode 2 — El tiempo en sus manos/The time on his hands — A Review

14th February, 2019.

Right, OK: I’ll admit it, and confirm what my introductory post has said.

I have — with the minimal savings I had — managed to buy a book.

I’ve bought a few, over the past few weeks.

And own a lot more in my own personal library.

Right now though?

I’m just personally glad to own a copy of The Daleks: the novelisation of the first Dr Who story to feature the creatures.

Whilst the version I have is a reprint?   The original was published in 1964: and was the first Dr Who series to be released as a novel.

It’s ALSO somewhat different from the televised version: as Unearthly Child wasn’t novelised until the 1980s, it’s introduces us to Ian and Barbara in a different way: they meet for the first time, just outside a police box … on a fog shrouded common.

~≈§≈~

As you may or may not know … ?

I’ve actually read it, before.

Many years ago, I actually managed to pick up an original, 1965 paper back edition of the book: when it still went under the title of Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks.

Would you believe it, I’d found it at a scout jumble sale.

That original?   Was barely held together by sticky tape, was definitely not what you call mint … 

and is long since gone.

So … ?   Frankly, buying this edition is — to a certain extent — reliving my childhood.

But also interesting in another sense.

It’s me, having a lot at my favourite TV pho’s history: as an adult, rather than a slightly geeky teen.

Frankly?

I’m just wondering whether to put it at the top of my ‘To Read’ pile, or at the bottom.

We’ll see.

~≈§≈~

At any rate … ?

Dr Who is not all I wanted to tell you about, tonight.

Not by a long shot.

Oh, no.

As you’ve possibly realised, I tend to like a TV series, now and again.

There’s a few I’ve kept an eye open for.

Dr Who, obviously.

Merlin.   Mr Robot, The Man in the High Castle, House of Cards and American Horror Story, amongst others.

There’s others.

Of course there are.

Including the Spanish language series, El Ministerio del Tiempo: The Ministry of Time, to give it it’s English name.

I have to say, I started watching Series 2, last night.

Which, it has to be said, was a fantastic piece of work: one that demanded a second episode be JUST as good.

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 2: Episode 1 — Tiempo de leyenda/Time of Legend.

13th February, 2019.

Time … 

Time being the operative, word, there.

As you know … ?

As you know, I’m jobhunting: so, occasionally?

You end up doing all sorts of things.

I’m very aware that this patch of unemployment?   Has left me wiping my surfaces more than I’m used to.   Wiping surfaces, and sweeping the floor.

I’d vacuum my carpet, as well.

If I could work out what’s wrong with my Hoover.

Hmmm … 

Now I think about it, I might just have to … you know … empty the bag.

At some point!

~≈§≈~

OK, the point that seems to be rapidly escaping from me … ?

Is simply this.

That I have time on my hands.

Time that I’ve tried to use productively.

I haven’t always done so, successfully.

Today, though?   Feels good: in that I’ve managed to do an online assessment for a potential employer, in Chelmsford.

I’ll admit: my confidence in my ability to do these things is not especially high.

We’ll have to see what happens, I think.

Wandering back to my point … ?

Today, I’ve had time to catch up with something that’s been sitting in my media collection, unwatched, until I found time.

Time, being the word.

Yes: I’ve spent this evening watching episode one of the second series of … 

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time

…

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 1: Episode 8 — La leyenda del tiempo/Legend of Time

13th December, 2018.

It’s easy to get busy when you’re job-hunting.

Really.

Job-hunting, arranging forms, arranging funding for sending off forms, worrying about the person who’s supposed to be arranging the funding going missing … 

In THEORY, the local Job Centre is supposed to be paying me to get myself a provisional driving license: to use as ID.



Theoretically, the money goes into the bank, tomorrow.

We’ll have to see … 

~≈§≈~

In between all of that, job-hunting, making videos for the blog* AND attending a couple of interviews?

I’ve not watched as many boxed sets as I’d like.

If you’ve been following me recently?

Then you’ll know my latest thing is season one — of El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time.

It has to be said … episode 8 is quite the big finish … 

~≈§≈~