Sorry! Not around much...

At the moment i am suffering a lot with my leg, as it hates this horrible cold weather we are having, but i just thought I'd pop on quickly and let you all know that I've not vanished off the face of the planet, I'm still here.

As soon as the weather starts getting warmer or my leg improves or both (i wish) then I'll be back, just keep on popping by and one day you'll have a nice surprise of something that wasn't there the last time you visited.

So in case i don't get back before Christmas i just want to wish everyone who visits all the best for the season, hope you all get what you want, and you have a peaceful one, and see you all back in 2009, (but i hope before then if i can).

Today we remember Ray Thaw

On 15th November 1944, Ray Thaw was born, today is the anniversary of Ray's birthday, and fans of John remember him with affection for all his help on the John Thaw site that he give. Rest in Peace Ray and today I'm also thinking of your family who will be remembering you today especially.

New releases on DVD in FRANCE!!

My friend Theresa has told me that Martine who lives in France, says the following are now on DVD over there, so hope this is of some help to our French friends:

The Sweeney

Inspector Morse

Kavanagh QC

If anyone has any information on releases in your country let me know and I'll post it here for everyone else.

My Top Ten The Sweeney Stories - No 4

Hello Everyone, sorry i've not been around much, would prefer to have given you these top ten over ten days, but as my leg is rather sore for me to sit at a pc at the moment and also looking after a kitten who is rather frisky to say the least, i'm getting a little side-tracked. But normal service will resume shortly.

Thou Shalt Not Kill… (First screened on UK TV on 24th November 1975, writer Ranald Graham.) Can Regan ensure people's safety in a deadly hostage situation when a bank robbery goes wrong?

John is at his absolute best, and shows Regan's angry side for not allowing him to catch the villians before deaths happen, a great story, Ronald Lacey is brilliant as one of the robbers, his final scene is truly harrowing, but for his character understandable.

My Top Ten The Sweeney Stories - No 5 Regan

Regan… (First screened on UK TV on 4th June 1974, writer Ian Kennedy Martin.) Jack Regan is a good cooper, but his tough, intuitive style is becoming unfashionable in Scotland Yard seeking a new, technocratic image. When a policeman is mysteriously murdered, Regan breaks all the rules to find the killer but he finds there are men in the Flying Squad equally prepared to break him.

I've never forgot watching this for the first time when it was screened, I'd not long been out of hospital and to watch John for part of the evening really made my day. I said to my mum that I thought Regan would make a good series, so wasn’t surprised when it was.

I really love this story, about this loner policeman (Regan) who really wants to nick villains his way, and not always by the book, but realises that he also needs help even though he doesn't really want to ask Carter for it.

The music for this story was excellent and very moody to show how Regan felt and thought, seeing him with the old lady who had lost her grandson, was beautifully done, and so tender, only John could give Regan the roughness but also the gentle side of his character, and it shows in this story. Brilliant

My Top Ten The Sweeney Stories - No 6 Messenger of the Gods

Ooops, what have you done?

Messenger of the Gods… (First screened on UK TV on 7th September 1978, writer Trevor Preston.) A huge consignment of mercury has been stolen and Regan and Carter believe 'Lukey Carter' was part of the gang. But Lukey has an alibi - on the night in question he was with a lady and it wasn't his wife-to-be.

This stars the lovely Diana Dors, and she steals this story from John and rightly so, I wouldn’t cross her, ha-ha!!

The scene where Regan helps carry her and puts her on the sofa and she’s sat on the cake, and gets up and slaps him, is so funny, but I bet that hurt, ouch!! Then poor Regan getting an ear full in the station from her, and doing a runner at the end from her with Carter when they see her coming to the station.

Sorry for delay in posting but kitty is rather a handful, and i'm getting seriously scratched and bitten, think i'll need new skin and blood transfusion by the time he's one, ha-ha!! Will try and post when i can, though also in a lot of pain with my leg too, never rains but pours oh well never mind, take care everyone.

My Top Ten The Sweeney Stories - No 7 Nigh Out

Night Out… (First screened on UK TV on 6th February 1975, writer Troy Kennedy Martin.) The irresponsible, praise seeking Superintendent Grant, the head of a rival Crime Squad is aware that a team of villains is searching the contents of a bank vault.

For something special, but he won't act until he's traced the source of the radio signals that will lead him to their boss. Grant discovers that the woman who lives above the pub that is situated next door to the bank, and whose window the villains intend to use in their eventual rooftop getaway, is a face from Regan's past. Regan is drafted in against his will and forced to pay her an unexpected visit.

This is a very funny episode, especially as Regan doesn't want to be with his lady friend to start with, but then he gets into the swing of things and starts enjoying himself, even having her cook him a meal.

Great scene when Regan falls on the roof into the water, makes me laugh, and then when his lady friend puts his gun in the dishwasher, this is such a good episode love it!! Also love the outtakes for this episode that are on the boxset as a bonus, very funny.