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I hope!!

Sorry for not being around much at the moment but blame the cat!!!! We have a 10 week old little fella called Bluey, and i love him to bits, but he's a handful and all my time is spent keeping an eye on him so he doesn't get into what he shouldn't, (i'm sure he wants to be an electrician as he's forever chewing the cables), ha-ha, but he is good most of the time, (says i with fingers crossed)!!

This means that i don't have anytime for myself to do anything else, haven't had chance to work on my top ten for next month yet, mind haven't been on the pc much either, as i'm far too tired, but i hope to be back and posting when he gets a bit more calmer and not into stuff to much.

So everyone please bare with me, i will be back with you all as soon as i can, even if i only have a few moments of an evening while my sister is looking after him, as long as i don't fall asleep at the pc, ha-ha!!

Review: Colin Dexter at Ramada Hotel

ALMOST completely deaf, with deteriorating eyesight, on paper Colin Dexter may not sound like a particularly promising public speaker.

The author of Inspector Morse, however, is a witty raconteur with a fine line in self-deprecation.

Dexter, 78, related fascinating tales of working with John Morse and Kevin Whately and explained the inspiration behind the famous character.

The biggest laughs and applause were saved for an anecdote about his first attempt at completing a walk-on part in the show, hampered by his inability to hear the director’s call of “take one”.

Other highlights included a reading from one of his Morse novels, to prove that Morse did indeed “get some action with the ladies”, and a story about his attempts to watch Billie Piper’s raunchy Secret Diary of a Call Girl TV show behind his wife’s back.

The sell-out audience at The Ramada was transfixed by Dexter and the drop of a pin could be heard when he was working his way toward his many punchlines.

After the interval, he answered any questions and could have gone on all night. Judging by the audience’s reaction, nobody would have minded.

My Top Ten Kavanagh QC Stories: No 1 Blood Money

Blood Money… (First screened in the UK television on 10th March 1997, writer Matthew Hall.) When surgeon Hilary Jameson successfully operates on a computer tycoon involved in a car accident, she has every reason to suppose he'll survive.

Within a matter of minutes, however, the patient's wife learns that he is dead. What happened in that brief period? This is the problem Kavanagh must solve when he prosecutes on behalf of the widow.

As I said with the previous one I could easy have swapped them around, and maybe next time I’m asked they will be. But for now this is my number 1 choose, it’s no better than the previous one or worse, they are both for me the best, but you have to put them in some kind of order so here they are.

This again is a very emotional episode, and often has me in tears, as it makes me think of my mum who I lost through cancer, and of course John.

For me the opening scenes of the operation are a little un-nerving as I hate the sight of blood, but it’s also appropriate for the telling of the story.

The best performance in this story goes to Josette Simon who plays Hilary Jamerson, she is remarkable. I was really pleased that her character was cleared of all blame.

I thought the kiss between Sheila and John was beatifully done and very tender, nice moment.

The funniest part was the guys at the end in Peter’s room having tea, and then Helen comes in and Peter wants to tell her what everyone thinks of her. But because she’s just given Jeremy a plum job he tries to tell him that everything is fine, very funny.

I thought Sheila was fantastic as the grieving widow, the scene where she plays Sarah at home after hearing the news and breakdown, is really powerful and very emotional.

I also love where she’s in court giving evidence, and dear old Jeremy is getting several over on Kavanagh, by getting her to tell what Kavanagh doesn’t know, very good.

But then as always Kavanagh comes back trumps with Hilary and gets down to what really happened to Sarah’s husband, much to Jeremy’s amazement.

Good to see the hospital not getting away with what they thought they would, just for the sake of funds for their centre.

Ashmolean prepares for £61m revamp

Photographer Theo Chalmers and graphic designer Greg Jones in front of the giant poster of Laurence Fox and Colin Dexter

Oxford Mail
By Andrew Ffrench
Giant posters of Morse author Colin Dexter and Lewis actors Kevin Whately and Laurence Fox are urging passers-by to visit Oxford's Ashmolean Museum before it closes for a major revamp.

The dramatic photographs celebrate the museum's famous collections in the run-up to the launch of the revamped building in a year's time. The images are designed to get people visiting the museum before it closes on January 1 for major building work.

There will be no public access to the Beaumont Street museum or café until autumn 2009, but the shop will remain open for business. The large-scale graphics are on show for four weeks.

Museum director Dr Christopher Brown said: "We are extremely grateful to the individuals who have generously given their time and support to this campaign.

"Photographer Theo Chalmers has created a magnificent series of portraits with which the public can identify. Our thanks also goes to Oxford Bus Company, which has been working with us on an innovative project to keep the Ashmolean in the public eye during the final phase of the museum’s exciting developments."

Other well-known faces will also be appearing on OBC buses in the near future. The portraits illustrate Oxford's history of crime and punishment, and the subjects are pictured holding items related to the imprisonment of the Oxford Martyrs in the Saxon tower of St Michael at the Northgate Church, in Cornmarket Street.

Thomas Cranmer, Nicholas Ridley and Hugh Latimer were imprisoned for their Protestant faith under the Roman Catholic rule of Queen Mary, before being burned at the stake in Broad Street in 1555 and 1556.

An online exhibition is being developed for people to upload their favourite stories about the Ashmolean collections, or to share experiences which they have enjoyed at the museum.

Founded in 1683, the museum is the most important museum of art and archaeology outside London.

The £61m refurbishment, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, will include 39 new galleries.

Designed by renowned architect Rick Mather, the development will also feature a new education centre, conservation studios, a walk-through between the museum and the Cast Gallery, and Oxford’s first rooftop café.

To find out more about the online exhibition, visit http://www.ashmolean.org/

My Top Ten Kavanagh QC Stories: No 2 Ancient History

Ancient History… (First screened in the UK television on 17th March 1997, writer Nigel Kneale.) Kavanagh prosecutes an apparently blameless family doctor in an unprecedented war crime trial. The court hears devastating testimony as victims of Nazi atrocities re-live their experiences in concentration camps, but it's left to a witness for the defence to reveal the final truth.

I think my NO 1 and 2 were the very best of Kavanagh, and sadly something has to be at 2, and this is the one I've chosen, though ask me another day and it would have been no 1, because I love both stories equally, neither of them to me are better than the other.

Anyone who knows me knows I’m mad interested on the Second World War, and for this reason alone I had to pick this story, it is very harrowing to listen to those who were victims of what happened during their time in concentration camps.

Credit where credit is due, Warren Mitchell as Rypin, Frederick Treves as Beck and Sara Kestelman as Halina are outstanding, and bring this story to life, they should have got awards for their performances in this.

The scene where James is questioning her in court, and then turns and says softly to himself, “Why didn’t he shoot her”, only John could have given this story the grace and dignity it deserved.

Even watching Matt, searching the internet, and James still finding him doing it the following day, and the scene with Lizzie’s father, I just love this story so much, it sure is one of the best Kavanagh dramas, and dam hard to put at no 2.

John is at his pure best in this story, and it shows in the courtroom scenes, especially questioning Halina but also the others who were also convicts of the concentration camps.

Colin Dexter to appear at Library Theatre, Manchester

Colin Dexter, the man behind the phenomenally successful series of Inspector Morse novels, presents From Books to Box, an entertaining one-man show in which he explains the trials and tribulations involved in transforming full-length novels into 90-minute screen dramas, many of which starred the much-loved Manchester actor John Thaw.

His first Inspector Morse novel, Last Bus to Woodstock, was published in 1975. He started work on it during a windswept family holiday in a cottage in North Wales, and, 13 novels later, the final instalment, The Remorseful Day, was published in 1999.

In the manner of Alfred Hitchcock appearing in minor roles in many of his films, Colin, a graduate of Cambridge University and a former teacher, made a brief appearance in a few of the 33 episodes of the BAFTA-award winning Morse made between 1987-2001 - although he was not given a speaking role until 1993!

Dexter appears at the Library Theatre for one night only on Sunday, 16th November at 7.3pm. For more information, please click here.

My Top Ten Kavanagh QC Stories: No 3 In God We Trust

Oh, bless...

In God We Trust… (First screened in the UK television on 14th April 1997, writer Russell Lewis.) Driven by a desire for justice, and to help his former colleague Julia Piper, now married to an American lawyer, Kavanagh flies to the US to assist with the appeal of a convicted murderer on Florida's death row. While he's away his wife, Lizzie learns that she has Cancer.

From the very beginning you can tell this is going to be a very emotional and powerful story, starting with the murder shots being shown in black and white.

But there is also humour within the story the scene in the underground car park with the gunman is rather funny until Julia’s waters brake, and James has to rush her to the hospital then you know it’s serious.

James fighting a lost cause trying to get William Dupree clemency when the governor Cotton is against him because of his grandson, who he knows did the killings.

The brutal truth of the execution of Dupree and the grandmother screaming but you don’t hear her, and then after it’s over you see her drained, she wasn’t the only one by the end of this story.

The scenes at home with Lizzie and James are delightful and charming, James and the viewers still not knowing what’s coming.

The Boat scene is one of the most emotional scenes I've seen on television and it was beautifully acted by John and Lisa, I just loved it. When James says “I don’t know what to do” Lizzie says: “All you have to do is love me”, and James replies “Always”, tears me apart, it so reminds me of my mum dying of cancer, and I never got to tell her how much I loved her!!