So the bro-in-law gave me the second of these for Christmas, because he thought it looked good but couldn’t find the first.  I eventually got the first, and read it – and it’s good.  It’s an historical fiction go at Julius Caesar.  There’s enough lee-way in what’s not known about him, especially in his early life, that I guess you can get away with some playing around.  There are a few bits that I didn’t approve of – a few bits of poetic licence that I didn’t think were necessary, like Octavian being his cousin instead of grand-nephew.  However, if I mostly ignore that it’s meant to be historical, it’s a great story.  He’s a good writer – spins a good yarn – and I’m definitely going to be finding the next one.  I really, really liked the way he didn’t reveal Marcus’ full identity until the last page of the first book!  So clever.

So we watched almost all of series 2 over the last couple of days.  We’re getting quite a reputation with the people we’re borrowing from – I think because they, and the other people they lend them to, all have kids.  It certainly makes a difference to be able to watch it for the entire day, if we choose to.

And it was good.  Well, there were a couple of dumb episodes – Teal’c and his family, blah blah.  But the one where O’Neill and Teal’c switch minds – priceless!  Shows Christopher Judge isn’t as bad an actor as he seems, just playing the character.

Pink’s “Stupid Girl” – so funny – I nearly fell off my chair at the imitation of Jessica Simpson.*

Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Danu California” – I’d never thought of them as a band likely to do parodies, but they’re fantastic!  There are a couple of bands I can’t quite pick, but most of them I can.  Plus it’s a great song, too.

*My main experience of the original film clip was on a bus full of 14 and 15 year old boys, who were all very excited at seeing this clip on the TV up the front – and they pretty much all went quiet at the Car Washing Bikini scene.

I’ve decided this should be my Year for the Reading of the Gothic Classics.  I was watching Van Helsing the other day with my “I’ve studied Gothic novels” mother, who was disapproving that I have read none.  So the list contains:

Frankenstein

Dracula

Northanger Abbey

The Monk

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

… I think there were others, but that will do for now.  I also wonder if I should reallymake good my classicist pretenstions, and read some classic classics too – starting with Metamorphoses.  At least I have read Apollonius of Rhodes’ Argo, and Iliad and Odyssey; that makes the classic classics not such a huge job.

My dropsy Colombian tetra died over the weekend.  I guess it wasn’t a surprise.  I think the dropsy glowlight tetra is still alive, although I haven’t really looked closely lately.

The angels had more eggs last week; they were opaque, and were gone in a day.  I wonder if they have just started on a breeding pattern and will continue doing so, even though – as seems likely – the conditions are no longer optimal for their development.  Shame; I was rather looking forward to having some angel babies actually surviving.

We finished the Blade trilogy last night – it was, of course, great (again).  Even Jessica Biel is quite good.  I love Kris Kristofferson’s hair.  And Wesley Snipes is just brilliant.  I am glad they didn’t go with the alternate ending though…

We are re-watching Blade.  It is too cool.  The opening sequence may well be one of the most dsigusting I have ever seen.  And Blade simply kicks Selene’s backside, with both hands behind his back.  =]

First there were eggs, looking fine.  Then the next day, when they go opaque.  Then… nothing.  No more eggs!  I think the angels have decided it’s too hard to be parents.

 Everyone else seems to be doing ok.  And, of course, the plant is going mad.

I finally, finally finished the biography of William I have been reading for weeks!  It’s not that it was that boring, it was just so detail-heavy that it took me forever.  By David Douglas, it’s from the ’60s I think, so I wonder if there are any parts of it that have been superceded with new research – I picked upa  few bits that disagreed with 1066:  Year of the Three Battles, so that was interesting.  It was something of a panegyric; he clearly thinks William is a hero.  There is almost no detail about the Harrowing of the North, which I was disappointed by.  There was also very little about his queen, Matilda.  Nonetheless, it was an entertaining and thought-provoking book, and I feel a bit more prepared to discuss the man with my kiddies.

Jim Henson’s Storyteller series is great.  I bought the Greek Myths series today:  Daedalus, Orpheus, Perseus, and Theseus.  Michael Gambon is great as the storyteller, and Brian Henson is funny as The Dog.  My favourite is Theseus, because he is a horrid character – broken promises litter the plot.  But Ariadne is glorious.  Medusa, too, in Perseus is captivating – she was great, and almost (but not quite) sympathetic.  I’m looking forward to using it with my kiddies.