I think the above quote sums up the BBC flagship costume drama of "Cranford" (2007) quite wonderfully. It is spoken by one of the townsfolk of a rural 1842 Cheshire town, who understands quite clearly (as Elizabeth Gaskill obviously did) the small absurdities and major tragedies in the lives of isolated small community women. The largely female cast absolutely shine, in this ambitious production, that effectively see-saws between hilarity and moving pathos. Standouts include Eileen Atkins as the town's arbiter of political correctness and Imelda Staunton as the hysterical Miss Pole. This series has caught me by surprise! It is a wonderful piece of television.
Nige left for home this afternoon, as the weather has turned for the worse. He will be glad to miss the voting on Strictly come dancing tonight (He called it the X factor for the middle classes!- which was a little waspish!)
Great to sit in next to the fire anyhow watching Gethin getting through to the quarter finals and the good folk of Cranford coping with the advent of the railways!
It is not clear on the photo on the right, but the Council workmen have laid a load of hardcore under and beyond the field gate so that I can use it as a car park without churning up the mud. Bollards are proudly in place, and although the weather "looks" lovely, it has literally pissed down for most of the day.
with friendly advice for the benign workers, who seemed to be enjoying the attention they were causing.
ems to always be an audience for this end-of-the-world genre, and to support this theory I have just "enjoyed" 28 Weeks Later (2007) , the bloody sequel to Danny Boyle's excellent 28 Days Later... (2002) 
Joan has been watching the 4 JCB s and trucks that have arrived with a small army of blokes to widen the lane and to put the bollards in place. Some neighbours have been rather put out despite the pre-warning signage, but that's life I guess.
I am looking just a little worried as I nearly killed one of the black hookers this afternoon. Cleaning out the coop I propped a spade against the house and it promptly slipped sidewards and clonked one of the hookers on the head. The poor thing immediately fell over and looked.....well...dead! Eyes shut! legs up in the air and-the whole R.I.P thing.
This morning Ann from the Parish council, called round to ask if I would like to volunteer for some Church work! Don't worry I have not found religion, but I WILL be painting the new Church radiators next week......all very Archers !
