"... or shall I just whip out the Cock Soc?"

 It's almost the end of the year, so here are most of the things I've read, watched and listened to since my last updates back in July and August.  Unfortunately, I don't have much time to spend on this as I need all the time I can get to work on the end-of-year roundup - which I've barely begun - Eeeek! (The observant amongst you will notice that I copied this intro from last year's end-of-year update because it's still relevant.)

Hmmm... Is anyone else having deja vu?

 

Read

⸰ GHOSTS: The Button House Archives by Mat Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard, and Ben Willbond  ~  This utterly hilarious accompaniment to the TV series is the only new book I've read since the summer.  Written as it is by the creators/actors of the Ghosts TV series, The Button House Archives is absolutely true to form and packed with letters, articles, historical documents, and transcripts (by Alison, the "Living" who can see and hear the ghosts) which expand upon the lives (and deaths) of the ghosts.

 Here, Martha Howe-Douglas who plays Lady Fanny Button, reads an excerpt in character:

Re-read

⸰ The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers  ~  Just as delightful and warm and emotional and tense as on the first read.

⸰ The Galaxy and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers  ~  Because I couldn't stop at just one of Becky Chambers' Wayfarers novels.

 

 

Watched

 

⸰ No Activity  ~  I found this Australian police comedy on iPlayer after having watched Colin From Accounts earlier in the year.  Amongst others, it stars Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammell who created and starred in Colin From Accounts, so that was the main reason for watching it.  And also because Patrick Brammell is a fox!

⸰ Ghosts, series 5  ~  Perhaps not quite as funny as previous series', this final series makes up for that with more emotional and serious themes.  Plus, we finally learned how both Kitty and The Captain met their ends (The Captain's nearly broke my heart).  And the Christmas Special is yet to come!

* The post title comes from The Captain wondering "Are we still playing Food Club, ..."

(Cock Soc is short for the N.A.A.F.I. Home Forces canteen Cocktail Society)

[In lieu of the Christmas Special, here's March's Comic Relief sketch featuring Kylie]

⸰ Star Trek: Lower Decks, season 4  ~  As with Ghosts, LDS wasn't quite up to the extremely high standards of the previous season, but it's still excellent!  And it gave us a chocolate Rutherford!!!

 

⸰ Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, season 2  ~  This season was a bit hit & miss for me.  While I love almost all the characters (Dr. M'Benga is just not really landing with me), I'm not so enamoured with the darker, war/terror-themed episodes.  Fortunately, episodes like "Ad Astra Per Aspera", the awesome LDS crossover "Those Old Scientists", and the surprise musical "Subspace Rhapsody" more than make up for it!

["Status Report" is the first musical number from the episode, but not my favourite.  Super-hot Ethan Peck Spock's "I'm the X" is up there, but a little sullen to feature the clip here.]

 

⸰ The Great British Bake Off, series 14  ~  Just as warm, comforting and funny as usual, with another delightful and endearing selection of bakers - particularly the adorable Saku and Matty!

Rewatched

⸰ The Witches of Eastwick  ~  Have another cherry.

⸰ Ghosts, series 1-5  ~  All of it again.  ALL OF IT!

 

⸰ The Rats of NIMH  ~  (which Melanie mentioned this time last year, funnily enough)

⸰ Bill  ~  another 'this time last year' rewatch

 

⸰ The Goes Wrong Show  ~  and their Goes Wrong Alongs.

⸰ Peter Pan Goes Wrong  ~  which was my first panto "serious vignette" of this year's season:

Heard

 There's nothing new here, but these are some of my favourites from throughout the year:

⸰ Kylie "Padam Padam"  ~  First seen back in May.

⸰ Alison Goldfrapp "Love Invention"  ~  The Boys' Shorts Total Attraction remix was seen in September.

 

⸰ Bright Light Bright Light "Down To One"  ~  Featured in Jon's Euterpean Mood and later in the Garden Photos Event's Terrifying Triffidery on Hallowe'en.

 

 And finally, from commuting in Car II, Ultravox "Dancing With Tears In My Eyes" (for the longest time, I thought Cliff Richard sang this and was rather ashamed that I liked one of his songs)

 

 Actually, as with last year, let's end on a high with BabyAngel69's "Cruel Intentions" instead, which was first brought to my attention by Jon (who else?!) the year before last.  Thank you, Jon x!