Take the Long Way Home

[green_amber]

Cor. Just saw the last ep of Ashes to Ashes and wow, it was sooo much better than every previous episode I've seen - almost good enough in fact to justify the whole series which I've been more or less majorly disappointed by.



I *loved* the intermeshing of themes - the way the decline of Gene's "empire" was linked to the rise of the Gay Pride movement as well as the incursion of "female" values cf Shazza (although strictly I guess there should have been a racial element too - perhaps in an ep I've missed?) And Ray is so OBVIOUSLY gay - how could I have missed that? I also loved the acknowledgement of the religious sub text - and in particular the fairly explict nod to the Gene-is-god camp. (And of course you can't shag God.) It reminded me in places of some of the best eps of Quantum Leap, which is, from me at least, a complement.

And yes, of course Alex would fail to prevent the deaths of her parents, or how could there be a series 2 - but I did not see coming the denouement we got at all(I was working on the theory that the godfather did it to see off hubby) nor did I expect to actually be wiping away tears when it happened (I really did feel for Alex howling, the first time all series I've felt she stopped being intrinsically annoying). The upbeat vague hopefulness of the end was alsoa nice reminder rather of how Sam turned to realising he had found the camaraderie he wished for in the past rather than the future he sought. I wonder what Alex's focus will be next series? Mothering herself? Shagging her stepfather? Perhaps I'm getting needlessly Heinleinesque..

I can't remember what Alex's relationship with her new "stepfather" turned out to be like in 2008 - can anyone remind me? Indeed did anyone write a review of the last ep at the time?



Meanwhile after 10 days of frenetic sorta-holiday I'm SO GLAD I CAN'T TELL YOU to be in my own home. It's been 5 days of Eastercon, 1 day of recovery, 2 days of BILETA in Glasgow(IT law conf, complete with reception at City CHambers , dinner in old church, and ceilidh at which I danced! me! five dances!); then dinner chez ma soeur with parents and Big Neice which was actually v nice and gave me more veg in one sitting than I think I'd had in a fortnight; and then finally to Edin and dins at Borough with my pal Steph and 24 people I didn't know - which sounded a bit nerve wracking but was actually great! Among others, I met an IT contractor who was genuinely doing the living off grid thing (he has 2 caravans, one he parks at Abington, apparently the centre of Scotland equidistant from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen); the Prof of Marine Energy at Edin with whom many v cliquey jokes were shared; and an ex lawyer who works at RBS and had just been to Thailand too. All v cheering - I have phone nos :)

The first thing I did when I got home was clean the flat from top to toe - v out of character for me but I think I wanted to turn it back from House into MyHomeAllMine (at least until New Lodger arrives next week..) I cleaned the fridge, threw all the manky stuff out, cleaned the stove, rearranged the cupboards the way I like them, stripped and remade the beds, polished every flat surface, cleaned the bathroom, watered the poor desperate plants (after two sets of geek tenants I would really now like someone capable of noticing the plants are in fact there :-) and have even mostly unpacked. Phew!!! Now if only I could just get some sleep :)

Tonight dins with Best Pal and tomorrow lunch with former Costa Rican E-Commerce Slave et al. Then WEERK !:(( (with a bit of badminton on the side!!!)

Comments

[pennski.livejournal.com]

Chris spotted that the Dad was the clown at the point where he took his glasses off in court. I'd been thinking that the godfather was being fairly obviously set up as the villain.

Do you have any plans for the next couple of weekends? I believe we are plan-free at present so could meet up in Winchester for lunch on any of those 4 days. My email address is lj name at gmail. Hope we can sort something out.

[surliminal.livejournal.com]

I know you won't believe it but I'm in Edinburgh next two weekends! And er London prob the one after (hey are you interested in going to Cirque de Soleil??)

[pennski.livejournal.com]

Ah well, I thought I'd check now before I forgot and then bemoaned the lack of socialising.

We are pondering Cirque de Soleil and will let you know.

Also do check in with us if you find dull weekends looming on your horizon.

[surliminal.livejournal.com]

Have diary and I think am def in Soton Sunday 13 if I DON'T stay in London for Cirque de Soleil - so we could do one or other!?

[pennski.livejournal.com]

Cool!

We are still in semi-hermit mode so would love to see you in either Winchester or Soton or Whitchurch on Sunday 13th.

[surliminal.livejournal.com]

I think slightly unfairly we only get showed the dad was a deranged obsessive in the last ep:) However it might explain why Alex was so desperate to meet her mum and not v interested in her dad!

[ivory-goddess.livejournal.com]

I can't remember what Alex's relationship with her new "stepfather" turned out to be like in 2008

Well, she was comfortable enough with him to leave her daughter in his care...

[kissmeforlonger.livejournal.com]

He looked exactly the same then as he did when she was a child.

[ivory-goddess.livejournal.com]

Nah, they'd greyed his hair a bit...