A Big Bang

It has been like an episode of Changing Rooms here, only without the really bad taste and crying.

The room currently having a revamp is my bedroom. Gone is the furniture that has been with me since I was 18, a wardrobe with doors even more unhinged than myself.

So far it has been stripped, painted and a wood effect floor put down (a must with our menagerie). Last Sunday I put down the hardboard ready for the wood floor, and it was hard but satisfying work. There is something wonderfully therapeutic about banging nails in. It’s not a big room but it took me quite some time – rather than measuring it in hours and minutes it took one Allo Allo, a Bargain Hunt (regular size), a Keeping Up Appearances and Murder Ahoy!

I couldn’t have asked for a better line up of tv goodies to work along to. I think we British do farce so well and Allo Allo and Keeping Up Appearance are two great examples. Bargain Hunt was one of the half hour shows, when I appeared on it (have I not mentioned I am an international TV star?) we had a 45 minute show, oooh get me…An Audience With Beki must be following.

Murder Ahoy is one of my favourite films – starring Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple. Margaret Rutherford I think has the most wonderful screen presence and is the type of actress the modern system would never give time too. How I envy people who saw her as Blithe Spirit's Madame Arcati on the London stage.

For me her Miss Marple is the best and it is thought that Agatha Christie had her in mind when creating the character and indeed dedicated The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side to her. Margaret Rutherford’s Marple has exactly the right balance of ‘interested in others' (never a gossip!) and robust nature that the stereotype village spinster should have. These women still exist the length and breadth of England.

A totally different approach to Miss Marple was Joan Hickson which fitted beautifully into the 1980s television schedule. She brought a human edge to  Miss Marple to the fore in her reaction to post war Britain. The latest incarnation – Geraldine McEwan I cannot take to in the slightest. At times the new series almost declines into parody and Geraldine McEwan reduces Miss Marple a simpering old busy body– Miss Marple should be old school, striding out, stuff and nonsense woman!

Anyway, tomorrow my new wardrobe arrives which will mean I am let loose with an electric screwdriver…if there’s wi-fi access from casualty I’ll let you know how many shows it takes me to get it up in the bedroom, oo-er missus.

Changing+Rooms, decorating, sitcom, Allo+Allo, Keeping+Up+Appearences, Murder+Ahoy, Margaret+Rutherford, Agatha+Christie, Miss+Marple

Comments

[Stegbeetle]

Bargain hunt? I know of this show. Isn't the host that ghastly orange man, Dickinson? How did you get on? Did you win?

With you all the way on the magical Margaret Rutherford. Joan Hickson pales in comparison and I haven't summoned up the enthusiasm to watch the new ones with the (usually excellent) Geraldine McEwan afer reading reviews of it. Which is a shame, I remember her being excellent in an adaptation of "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" I saw on TV many moons ago (1978 apparently!).

Ah, the joys of flatpack furniture. Good luck "getting it up". I hope you can lay your hands on all the parts you need *snigger*

[Pete]

I lurve the Joan Hickson Ms Marple. She gets it just right!

how did you do on Bargain Hunt? Who was your expert? I became a fan when I was out of work a few years back.