A LOOK AT A TRIO OF X-SERIES ROCKETS

 As Christmas is almost upon us I'm getting nostalgic thoughts of past Christmas presents, so time to dig out some old space toys, and although all the X - series have been featured from time to time on the Blog, my favourites are these three. 

As far as I'm aware there's 8 in the set, beginning with X-20, and ending with X - 90. (There may well be an X-10 I'm unaware of!) Apart from my three rockets, there's a  rocket car, a robot, a  race car,  based on the real 'The Spirit of America land speed racer,  'a satellite launcher, and a Gemini space capsule. 

Mine are X- 30 Space Explorer, X-40 Space Rocket, and a rebranded Century 21 toys X-60 Space Rocker & Launch truck..

TOM BAKER'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM CYGNUS ALPHA EVENTS

 

The great Tom Baker's Christmas message over on Cygnus Alpha Events on You Tube. He's 91. I thought I'd put in on MC [and I assume its not AI!]

The 4th Doc, Tom and his scarf, was part of that magnificent back-to-back pairing from my own generation's Dr. Who, with the fabulous Jon Pertwee immediately before him as the 3rd, my personal favourite.

Who was your favourite or back-to-back Doctors?

CHRISTMAS TELLY

I've just been browsing the TV listings for Christmas here in the UK. A few of my own personal highlights of what's on are:

1. Mighty Joe Young [1949]: the black and white original - I adored the lion cage scene as a kid!
2. Inside No.9; Sardines - a re-run of episode 1, which I don't think I've seen
3. Clash of the Titans [2010]: I'd prefer the original - but Greek mythology is always good.
4. The Haunting - one of the scariest old flicks ever relying almost entirely on sound effects for its shocks.
5. Wallace and Gromet Murder Most Fowl - the new one from the Lancastrian superstars
6. The Woman of Stone: BBC Ghost Story for Christmas - Mark Gatiss at it again; can't wait!
7. Close Encounters of the Third Kind; Speilberg's masterpiece and the he Grandon's favourite!
8. Kong; Skull Island; one of the modern King Kongers
9. A Christmas Carol [Alistair Sim] - the black and white ghost story that is as much Christmas as Santa himself.

I'm still looking for Jason and the Argonauts somewhere over the 14 day listings or indeed ANY Harryhausen. Its just not Christmas without a stop-motion monster!

I'll be checking the radio listings next. Ghosts and Ghoulies is what I want!

What are your TV and radio highlights around the world readers?

The Search for the Radio Times Lord of the Rings Art

In 1980/81 I worked and lived on an RSPB nature reserve, where in the winter evenings I listened to the BBC radio serial of Lord of the Rings in our cabin. Volunteers, hippies and punks gathered round the wireless to listen to Tolkien's tale.

It was a really wonderful production and fitted right into my Middle Earth craze at the time. I loved it.

I've loved all things Tolkien forever and remember seeing the amazing artwork connected to that BBC radio play, in particular this fantastic golden illustration on the big BBC box-set of cassette tapes that were released, one I still hope to own one day.

But here's a blog entry from Brian Sibley about searching for and eventually owning something much more unique, the actual original BBC and Radio Times artwork itself!

His story of how he tracked it down from the Radio Times is a truly fascinating tale. 

I hope you enjoy it on Brian's blog. I sure did.

https://briansibleysblog.blogspot.com/2021/02/cover-story-lord-of-rings-on-radio.html?m=1 

SHHHH! SECRET SUE AND OTHER SPY DOLLS

If like me you like vintage spy dolls then this article is for you. From the Doll Boldly site here's Double Trouble:

https://thebolddoll.com/vintage/double-trouble/

What do you think?

On your Christmas list now?

STAR TREK CARDS FROM PRIMROSE

 I find the simple drawings on this set of sweet cigarette STAR TREK  stamps from Primrose quite appealing for some reason.

Appearing in 1970, there's just 12 in the set, so not so hard to collect, and easier on the teeth!

THE OWL SERVICE

 

I don't remember Alan Garner's TV series The Owl Service but you may,

Episode 1 shown December 21st 1969.

A Seasonal Card from Paul