The Children of Green Knowe

If, like me, The Box of Delights is a major part of your Christmas celebrations then I am sure you will enjoy The Children of Green Knowe. I loved the books as a child and also enjoyed the BBC TV series from the same stable as The Box of Delights. Haunting theme tune by the Radiophonic Workshop (Peter Howell no less of Agincourt fame) - look out for the stranded carp on the lawn in a later episode.

The Man From Nowhere

Seeing as we are in the spooky season I thought you would like this little bit of children's trickery from 1976. I can imagine this giving younger children the collywobbles but back in the day we were made of sterner stuff..........I don't like the look of him in the hat though. I must ask The Captain not to ask me to let the dogs out for their last sniff round the garden before bed tonight.

Coot Club Forever!

You won't be hearing from me for a few weeks - it's that time of year when we head east for happy holidays, ginger beer and ice cream. Same old, same old and we absolutely love it. This will give you a bit of a flavour of what floats our boat - I remember watching this after school and I am chuffed to bits you can buy it on DVD. Check out Sam Kelly as the kindly pike fisherman - how I would love to be in the gang with those Death & Glory boys!

No digging here!

With the weather being so grim of late I have needed a fix of something slightly in keeping with these dark days. I remember as a child being especially fond at Christmas of such things as The Signal Man (1976) a BBC adaptation of the Dickens short story, The Stalls of Barchester (MR James) and also A Warning to the Curious (MR James) starring Peter Vaughan which had me cowering under the cushions.   

Friend Ferneyhough reminded me of an absolute gem (he watches it every Christmas) that petrified me and I watched it for the first time in years the other night. Really good for a winters night beside the fire. Another gem from good old Monty James - Whistle and I'll Come to You (1968). Michael Hordern is wonderful in the 1968 Jonathan Miller adaptation.

For the time being I hope you will enjoy this.......I won't be able to walk through the woods at Holkham Beach without looking over my shoulder......no digging here!