The Planners Are Back …

Hmmm …

You know, it’s been a while since I’ve written about Brentwood.

More to the point, it’s been a while since I’ve written about things going on in the immediate area of Brentwood that I live in.

But just to give you a quick summary?

My road — Rollason Way — is a recently built part of town.

So recent, bits of the other end of it are still going up.

And on top of that … ?

There’s on-going issues with the patch of greenery, just around the corner from me, in Saint James Road.

Something I know that I’ve written about before now.

(Just in case you haven’t the time? Many local residents complained about the proposed flats that were going to be put there, but now aren’t. A key objector who spoke out against it … was yours truly!)

But the situation looks like it’s STILL on-going.

As Brentwood Council has recently put up some more planning applications.

Have a look, here, at Proposal Ref: 11/01195/FUL.

Yep, someone wants to turn a patch of ground into MORE shops and offices.

Like we need them* … !

* Oh, no, wait … ! They want to add a CRECHE: so that makes it alright …

The Daily Teaser - 27-12-2011

Ta-DAH … !

There we go!

I know that’s possibly NOT what you’re expecting, but as it was Jude’s First birthday, yesterday … ?

It’s just a shame I didn’t manage to catch one of him with the cake … !

At his age … ? I don’t blame him for the slightly baffled look.

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

Yes, let’s … !

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Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi — all on her ownsome, giving Jude a belated birthday mention* — putting in her answers: AND bagging 6 out of 6.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we … ? Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video …

Q1) 27th December, 1977, saw the UK premiere of Star Wars: what do the film’s makers now call it … ?

Q2) More to the point, who played Obi-wan Kenobi, in the recent prequels … ?

Q3) Even more to the point, which Akira Kurosawa film does director George Lucas cite as a major influence on Star Wars?

Q4) Moving on … 27th December, 2004, saw who’s party win the famously re-run Ukrainian General Election … ?

Q5) 27th December, 1949, saw which country granted independence by the Netherlands?

Q6) 27th December, 537 AD, saw the completion of which church?

Q7) And finally … 27th December is Constitution Day in which Asian country … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) Saint Stephen’s Day is more commonly known as what?

A1) Boxing Day.

Q2) Which of Shakespeare's plays was performed for James 1st, on that day in 1606?

A2) King Lear.

Q3) In which year was Boxing Day declared a public holiday in the UK … ?

A3) 1871.

Q4) Traditionally starting on 26th December, which year saw the first celebration of Kwanzaa … ?

A4) 1966.

Q5) 26th December, 1982, saw Time Magazine name what as it’s Man of the Year … ?

A5) The Personal Computer.

Q6) And finally … 26th December, 2006, saw an exploding oil pipeline in Nigeria kill at 260 people. In which Nigerian city … ?

A6) Lagos.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll leave you with a mildly mournful birthday girl, Marlene Dietrich …

* Hang on, Debbi: Bill worked at the Library of Congress … ? I’m impressed …

The Saint Stephen’s Day Teaser — 26-11-2011

It’s official, I couldn’t resist it.

No, really, I couldn’t resist it.

Yep …

You’ve guessed, haven’t you … ?

That I was going to put up a photo or two of Jude’s first Christmas.

And I’ll be frank … ?

I’m rather pleased.

He definitely liked the toy mobile phone I managed to pick up for him as a combined Xmas and birthday pressie.*

And was DEFINITELY eyeballing the waitresses at the local pub-resturant where we actually had Christmas dinner, yesterday.

(I know the one who served us — Zöe, I believe her name was — made a good impression on him. Well. That’s the story I’m sticking to … )

But enough, already.

Let’s get moving on with today’s questions, shall we … ?

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Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi — feeling suitably festiveº — putting in her answers: AND bagging 9 out of 10.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we? Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video …

Q1) Saint Stephen’s Day is more commonly known as what?

Q2) Which of Shakespeare's plays was performed for James 1st, on that day in 1606?

Q3) In which year was Boxing Day declared a public holiday in the UK … ?

Q4) Traditionally starting on 26th December, which year saw the first celebration of Kwanzaa … ?

Q5) 26th December, 1982, saw Time Magazine name what as it’s Man of the Year … ?

Q6) And finally … 26th December, 2006, saw an exploding oil pipeline in Nigeria kill at 260 people. In which Nigerian city … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) Which team was top of the Premier League on Christmas Day, 1992?

A1) Norwich City.

Q2) In the Gregorian calendar, 25th December, is on the 25th December. Obviously. When is December 25th, in the Julian calendar, used by many Eastern Orthodox churches?

A2) January 7th.

Q3) The dragon-slayer, St. George, was born in Cappodocia. In which modern day country is Cappodocia?

A3) Turkey. (Christmas … Turkey … You know, turkey … TURKEY! No … ? Never mind … )

Q4) Who made the headlines in 1906 by refusing Christmas dinner?

A4) Jailed Suffragettes.

Q5) What period begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day?

A5) Advent.

Q6) Oliver Cromwell and his puritans were instrumental in abolishing Christmas celebrations in England: who reinstated them?

A6) Charles II.

Q7) 25th December, 2010, saw the death of children’s writer, Elizabeth Beresford: which famously tidy creatures did she create … ?

A7) The Wombles.

Q8) 25th December, 1974, saw Cyclone Tracey devastate which Australian city … ?

A8) Darwin.

Q9) 25th December, 1990, saw the first successful trials of what became the World Wide Web: what was the name of the .www software’s creator?

A9) Sir Tim Berners Lee.

Q10) And finally … 25th December, 1642, saw the birth of which English Scientist … ?

A10) Sir Isaac Newton.

Enjoy those, everyone: now, if you’ll excuse me … ? I’m going to find a sack barrow: I’ve a few things to shift …

After — considering Debbi mentioned scienceª — I leave you with this tune from Mr Thomas Dolby …

* That’s today, so you know. My nephew is now officially One Year Old: and quite talkative, with it!

º Bless you Debbi: I’m just hoping yours went well, too.

ª I THINK, Debbi, you’ll like the quote from Charles Babbage at the end of today’s Teaser video: you might find the Pause button handy … !

The Christmas Day Teaser — 25-11-2011

Oooh …

I’ve GOT to admit, I hate being bunged up on Christmas Day, I really do.

Mind you … ?

We’r having the traditional family get-together, today: complete with way too much food, possibly too much too drink …

And a collective funny feeling that Jude, bless, having his very first Christmas, will be more fascinated by the wrapping paper than any of the presents … !

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

Yes let’s …

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Yesterday’s Christmas Eve Teaser saw both Mr Strict and Debbi putting in their answer: with Debbi scoring 7 Mr S bagging 6 out of 7.

Let’s see how and if they — and you — do with today’s Christmas Day teaser, shall we? Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video …

Q1) Which team was top of the Premier League on Christmas Day, 1992?

Q2) In the Gregorian calendar, 25th December, is on the 25th December. Obviously. When is December 25th, in the Julian calendar, used by many Eastern Orthodox churches?

Q3) The dragon-slayer, St. George, was born in Cappodocia. In which modern day country is Cappodocia?

Q4) Who made the headlines in 1906 by refusing Christmas dinner?

Q5) What period begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day?

Q6) Oliver Cromwell and his puritans were instrumental in abolishing Christmas celebrations in England: who reinstated them?

Q7) 25th December, 2010, saw the death of children’s writer, Elizabeth Beresford: which famously tidy creatures did she create … ?

Q8) 25th December, 1974, saw Cyclone Tracey devastate which Australian city … ?

Q9) 25th December, 1990, saw the first successful trials of what became the World Wide Web: what was the name of the .www software’s creator?

Q10) And finally … 25th December, 1642, saw the birth of which English Scientist … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 24th December usually sees the BBC broadcast Nine Lessons and Carols: from which Cambridge college … ?

A1) Kings College.

Q2) 24th December, 1968, saw astronauts read a passage from Genesis on their orbit of what … ?

A2) The Moon.

Q3) More to the point, which chapter of Genesis … ?

A3) Chapter 1: verses one to ten

Q4) 24th December saw the famous World War One Christmas Truce: in which year of the war, was this … ?

A4) 1914.

Q5) Many Church of Scotland churches hold a what on the night of Christmas Eve and New Years Eve … ?

A5) Watch Night.

Q6) 24th December, 1979, saw the launch of Europe’s first rocket, the Ariane 1: how many satellites did the Ariane 1 put in orbit, in its working life … ?

A6) 14.

Q7) And finally … 24th December, 1924, saw which East European country become a republic … ?

A7) Albania.

Enjoy those, everyone.

Have a very, merry Christmas.

Merlin Episode 13 Series 4: The Sword In The Stone: Part 2: NOW We’re Talking … !

You know, I’ve GOT to be honest, honest, right now, I’ve just had a rather nice christmas eve dinner with the family, tonight.

But managed to get home in time to catch the climactic episode — episode 13, in other words — of season four of Merlin.

And I’ll be frank, if I may … ?

I’m thinking two things, for starters.

For one thing … ?

This years Christmas TV offerings really AREN’T grabbing my attention.

At least enough to have them on … !

The second … ?

Is that tonight‘s season four climax was … …

Hmmm …

Let me try and sum up, if I can …

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Following on from last week’s episode, The Sword In The Stone: Part 2 sees Arthur fleeing from the site of a almost fatal skirmish, and having serious doubts about his abilities to rule.

Until … ?

Until in a pivotal scene, fairly early on, Merlin — after consulting with the Dragon — manages to convince Arthur his destiny is to rule not only Camelot, but all of Albion.

And does this by telling Arthur that the TRUE King …

Is the only one that can extract a certain very magical weapon from an equally enchanted stone.

««•»»

Hmmm …

Sorry, I got distracted, there: ended up looking for Stormbringer, there …

««•»»

At ANY rate … !

At any rate, I’m got to admit, I’m quietly impressed by this episode: although saying that … ?

Not as impressed by the opening couple of episodes series four: or by series 3 of Merlin, something I feel to have been the best overall series to date.

On the other hand … ?

The other hand will be happily pointing out that Merlin series four has concentrated more on the emotional lives of the characters, rather than the huge amounts of action that Merlin is capable of.

And what’s more … ?

What’s more, by making sure that Morgana is healed — and healed by Aithüsa, the white dragon we saw earlier in this season — the writers have left the story nicely open for a potential fifth season.

I don’t know about you … ?

But I want to see these versions of the characters grow: and develop.

AND have all those adventure that lead to the Last Battles …

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(Just as a final thought … ? Completely unrelated a final thought: I am frankly off to bed, but one thing I will leave you with … ? Is the phrase ‘Happy Christmas’.)