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 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 … 

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Episode 7: Tiempo de venganza/Time of revenge

8th December, 2018.

Yep: I think we can call me Mr Odd … 

Although, if you haven’t already … ?

I’m not going to worry too much.

I’ve already got a lot to worry about, to be going on with … !

For starters, my Aunty Bella — the last member of my family on my father’s side — is in hospital, at the moment.

I’m hoping she’ll come out alive.

But am concerned: she’s in her eighties, after all.

~≈§≈~

He says … !

Other stuff to worry about … ?

Is tame by comparison.

Frankly?

The job situation is worrying: although it has to be said I’ve a potential interview on Tuesday: assuming I can get funding for the ticket from the Job Centre.

The third worry?

Is even more trivial by comparison.

I can hear my inner voice asking me about it, now.

“Paul?   How many times can you sit through Japan’s Tin Drum album?”



Well, I’m blowed if I know.

The worrying bit is admitting I think at myself.

Well, no-one’s going to do it for you … !

At any rate, and in amongst all the waffle?

In amongst all the waffle, twaddle and nattering … ?

I’ve seen another episode of El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — of Series 1, so you know.

Yes: Amelia (Aura Garrido) does shout “¡Alonso!”

Wouldn’t you know it … ?

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Episode 6: Tiempo de pícaros/Time of rascals: A Review

6th December, 2018.

Yes: it’s another day, another dollar … 

And, for those of you keeping an an eye on these things?

Another day in the life of … 

Me … you … 

And just about everyone else.

Although, for me … ?

There’s been a frustrating event event: one that’s hit me, and many others.

Yep: I’ve a nice shiny smart phone … 

That’s on O2 … 

As you can imagine, my usual stroll along Brentwood High Street, today … ?

Was uninterrupted by any phone calls.

I have a problem … as O2, my mobile service, was affected by whatever software issue has caused a problem that’s affecting people in the UK: and in Japan.

And, apparently, in other parts of the world.



Right now, there’s not a lot I can do about it: bar complaining.

Oh … possibly having a word with the shop in the morning.

After all, if you’re job hunting, and one of your main contact numbers goes offline, through no fault of yours?

Meaning you can’t be contacted by potential employers?

Complaining is just about all you CAN do.

~≈§≈~

At any rate … ?



There’s upsides to the free time unemployment brings.



No, really.



You get to catch up on a lot of TV that you otherwise wouldn’t have seen.

You’d possibly realised.

You’d possibly also realised that — for the past few days? — I’ve been watching — Series 1 — of the Spanish language show, El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time.

And yes: it’s very good … !

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Episode 5: Cualquier tiempo pasado/Every Passed Time: A Review

4th December, 2018.

OK … 

You don’t have to laugh if you don’t want to.

No, really … 

To be brutally honest … ?

I usually don’t, if I’m honest.

Well, not in company.

Not unless I’m planning to look … you know … 

Odd!

Where am I now?

Apart from desperately trying to think where I’m going with this?

Yes, I know … !

For starters — as you may know, if you read this morning’s Teaser — you’ll realise I’ve had another interview for a job I potentially don’t want: as it’s only a temp placement for Christmas.

We’ll have to see, won’t we?

At any rate … ?

I’m due for a meeting at my local job centre, tomorrow: the typical once a fortnight visit a benefit claimant has to do to show what one is doing to find a job.

Which, I should add, is a lot easier than it was five years ago.

Either way?



And while I’m there?

I want to check on what help the Job Centre can offer with forums of ID.

And whether I can get the money back I spent on tickets, today.

Cross your fingers, there: I think I might need it!

At any rate … ?

At any rate, with time off, no particular reason to go to bed early?   I wanted to catch some TV.

You can possibly guess which series, can’t you … ?

You’re right … 

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time.

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Episode 4: Una negociación a tiempo/A Deal in Time: A Review

1st December, 2018.

Yes: I’m starting to wonder about something.

How much fun can a body have with a phone, a tablet, an iMac and a copy of iMovie?

Well, I don’t know if I could tell you.

But this video making lark is … 

Sort of addictive, isn’t it … ?

Slightly moreish … 

Ahem … 

A body could start to have issues, there … !

~≈§≈~

At any rate … ?

I’ve had free time on my hands, tonight.

You possibly hadn’t noticed.

Outside of the financial issues?

Unemployment can be quite fun.

The time off means I’m free to do what I want, when I want to.

Assuming the cost are at a minimum.

I’ve been watching a lot of easy-to-access TV.

Including one particular series that’s caught my eye over the past few months … the Spanish language El Ministerio del Tiempo: The Ministry of Time if you want it in English.

Series 1, to be precise.

And yes: the fourth episode … ?

Is JUST as good!

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Episode 3: Cómo se reescribe el tiempo/How Time Gets Re-written: A Review

30th November, 2018.

Yes: in amongst everything else … ?

Christmas has come early.

As, in order to make sure of having bought the right item and make sure of some of the Black/Cyber Monday deals?

I’ve now got a new phone: a rather shiny Huawei P-Smart.

Which is a lot better than the Alcatel Pixi I got for myself in March.

Can I make a suggestion … ?

Don’t get the Alcatel Pixi: it’s not good!

~≈§≈~

At any rate … ?

The past few days have been busy … ish.

After all, an interview, buying the phone, internal jobhunting … 

Oh, and making Teaser videos.

I’m slowly getting the hang of using iMovie: although quite when it wants to export as 1080, or 720 resolutions?

I’ve spent time doing important stuff, in other words.

He says, staring thoughtfully at the nearest available iMovie manual … 

At ANY rate … ?

I like the odd TV show.

You’ve possibly worked that out.

I’ve written extensively about Dr Who … and others … 

And, right about now?

I’ve been watching Series 1 of El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time.

This is really good stuff … 

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Episode 2: Tiempo de Gloria/Time of Glory: A Review

27th November, 2018.

Yes, ok … 

My phone went off!

Sue me, already!

Joblessness aside?

I have managed sort out Christmas presents for my family: before I left work.

Which is good.

And had mine sorted, as well.

It sounds like I’ll be getting a new mobile phone.

I hope so.

The one I’ve got … is fine … 

Assuming I want the smart-phone equivalent of a ZX81.

OK, it’s not that bad: at least I don’t make phone calls by using Terminal commands.

But it’s … 

Very … 

Very … … …

Slow … 

Yes, quite!

~≈§≈~

At ANY rate, I’m burbling, aren’t I … ?

Just a little, I think … 

It’s getting let, let’s put it that way.

What I intended to tell you?

Was about television.

At least, television series.

One I’ve started watching recently?

The Spanish language El Ministerio del Tiempo: The Ministry of Time, if you want it in English.

Episode 2, Tiempo de Gloria/Time of Glory, of the show’s first series.

Hmmm … Yes … 

It’s still looking good … 

~≈§≈~

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Episode 1: El tiempo es el que es/Time is what it Is: A Review

24th November, 2018.

Not that I’m feeling rushed here … 

No, really, I’m not … 

I’m just very aware that it’s getting rather late.

And that there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask … 

How’s your Spanish?

If you’re anything like me, it ranges from know how to say ‘Thank you,’ to completely non-existent.

If you’re anything like Old Peculiar regular, Olga?

Then you’re a native Spanish speaker, and speak Catalan and English as well!

AND a professional translator.

I’m quite definitely the former: totally hopeless at anything resembling a foreign language.

But quite thankful for the existence of subtitles.

Without those?   Watching a series Olga mentioned to me, some time ago, would have been impossible*.

Yes: and as I mentioned in the opening video, there?

I’ve just seen the first episode of the Spanish language series, El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time.

Episode one of series one, so you know.

I’m impressed.

~≈§≈~