Mia

That was one of the few books that we had to read at school that I enjoyed (possibly the only one).

Still liking this series! Tonight's episode was really good too, though slightly predictable (I knew once her father recovered Guinevere would be blamed as the sorceror). But it was all well done and I really enjoyed it.

We had a double bill last night in the UK and they were both really good episodes! I felt so sorry for poor Renee, sabotaged by her own sister. It was funny where Daniel became convinced Betty had a crush on him. I also liked the bit where Amanda joined in with the fashion models, posing and pouting, until someone dragged her away! And wasn't the guy who played the gym coach gorgeous?! I hope he's going to be in it more as Hilda's love interest! Still can't stand Gio though...

Random thoughts on tonight... John Sergeant wasn't too good on the tango, he would have been better if he hadn't been smiling like a cuddly uncle all the way through! Don's expressionless face was very useful for the tango - he was better than I expected. Gary Rhodes had improved, but he still wasn't great. And I just can't take to Mark Foster or Andrew Castle at all. I hope these two or Gary are in the dance-off. I think Andrew's partner, Ola, is wearing more and more skimpy costumes to get the male vote, as Andrew is so bad! Austin Healy's jive was excellent, and Tom's was almost as good. They are the best two men.

Yes, on listening again it was definitely "maid". A bit late I know, but here are my thoughts on the final episode! Well, a nice happy ending! It was a good twist, that Amanda ended up with Darcy, rather than Lizzie. I thought the ending was possibly a little rushed - Amanda was telling Lizzie to talk to Darcy, and the love would come, then next thing Amanda is with him! It was quite an interesting slant that Lizzie said she was born "out of her time" and actually preferred modern-day London, whereas modern girl Amanda longed for Austen's time and felt more comfortable there. I still would have liked to have seen more of Lizzie and Darcy coping in modern times. Also, a slight quibble about the ease with which Amanda made her decision to go and be with Darcy - doesn't she have family? She didn't consider them or her friends. And if I were her, I would have taken some modern practical things back with me! But then I would never have had the courage to go anyway. Do you think that the door between worlds would remain open, or would it be closed forever now things are how they're meant to be? It would be great if there was a second series.

Well, what did you all think? I really enjoyed the opening episode. I loved the bit with the speedster girl where she was frozen and then her eyes suddenly flicked to the side! The bit with Claire and Sylar was good, though gross. Sylar gives me the creeps - I can hardly bear to look at him. Though for me the tension was destroyed slightly because we'd already seen a "future Claire" at the beginning of the episode, so we knew she would not die. (I know she's indestructible, but what Sylar did was maybe enough to kill even her). I love Hiro, he is one of my favourite characters, but he annoyed me slightly. Why, when the speedster girl was frozen, did he not take the opportunity to steal back the paper that could bring about the end of the world? Instead, he just stands there and lets her get away. Idiot. But it was funny when he watched the first message from his father, forbidding him to open the safe. He promptly opened it, and the second message began "I told you not to open the safe!"

I don't know about the Mr Men books, but the young adult book I'm reading at the moment used "principal" instead of "principle" and also used "it's" incorrectly. Don't they employ proof-readers anymore?

Bah! I shall have to go on a Wispa hunt immediately. Looks like the North East got them first - makes a change from London! I hope yours wasn't one from last year, Stephanie!

The Green Mile really upset me too. Even now, I haven't been able to re-read it or watch the film.

You're welcome Kylie! I must get around to buying the Tomorrow When the War Began series, because you keep recommending them and they sound really good.

A trilogy by Stephen Bowkett called Ice, Storm and Thaw. They're set in a distant future after another ice age and begin with the hero's escape from a restrictive city ruled by a tyrannical artificial intelligence. Oh, I can't really explain it well, but they're very good! I also love Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy and almost anything by NM Browne. I have a whole bookcase upstairs filled with older children's/young adult books - I love reading them. There's so much excellent stuff around now for kids.

I remember the Cabana bars! They were quite nice but didn't seem to be around for long. Stephanie: I thought Wispas weren't out until October?

I watched the episode on E4 last night too (I usually watch on a Friday but it clashes with a thing about Heroes tonight). I thought it was an OK episode, but not one of the best. I preferred last week's, which had some great laugh out loud moments. I liked the bit where Daniel and Renee went back to his apartment and jumped on the bed and his mum's voice came out of the darkness: "That's not the boob you think it is"!

Yay! I second that - they were great. Secret bars! Mmm. They were excellent and quite short-lived if I remember correctly. I can't recall Terry's Moment bars at all...

I'm sure he'll be in it throughout the series. I don't think John Hurt would have taken the part for just one episode!

Aromaannie, I so agree! Gary was definitely the worst, but as is usual with this programme (can I mention Kate Garraway?) he was not in the bottom two. Of Phil and Don, I wanted Phil to stay. I thought he was the better dancer. Don was incredibly wooden! ETA: Wasn't it great to see Alesha dancing again? She is a wonderful dancer, and always looks like she's enjoying herself so much! I wanted her to win last year, and I was so glad when she did. Well deserved.

Did anyone watch this? I thought it was pretty good. I thought the lead (Merlin) was a bit strange looking, but I warmed to him. I liked his run-ins with Arthur, though he was a bit dense to keep goading him when there was no way he would beat him without using magic, which he wasn't allowed to use! There were some good special effects - I really liked the end where the sorceress was sending everyone to sleep with her enchanted singing and all the cobwebs appeared over everything. I thought that was really well done. The dragon wasn't bad either. But the less said about Richard Wilson's wig the better! Merlin's telekinetic powers were really cool too. Merlin's "reward" for saving Arthur wasn't much cop, was it? You'd think by saving the king's son and heir, he'd be given a knighthood, untold riches and his own castle or something... No, "you can have a job in the royal household". Great, just what I always wanted! Merlin's and Arthur's faces were a picture! I'll definitely be continuing to watch this.

I really enjoyed it! I thought the guy from Casualty who went first and the small rugby player (Austin Healey?) were very good - they were the best. Gary Rhodes, Don Warrington and Phil Daniels weren't too brilliant. John Sergeant was better than I expected; quite light on his feet. I have to say that when the women did their group dance, I wasn't too impressed with any of them! Apart from Rachel Stevens, they were all poor. Gillian Taylforth was hilariously dire - she just kept walking around instead of dancing! I know they've got time to improve, but looking at that shambles, I think a man will win this year. I loved the banter between the judges, who were all trying hard to be civil to each other as it was the first show. I don't know how long it'll be before Len Goodman says that Bruno is getting on his wick - probably tonight!

Any luck yet, Janet? I'm tending towards maid, as Darcy was going to marry her before she mentioned she'd lived with a man for nearly a year! (The idiot!) She should have realised how that would be viewed in that day and age...

I love the way a lot of the characters are "wrong" (well, according to how Austen wrote them, so how Amanda was expecting them to be!), like Wickham. I know it's not serious drama, but I found Darcy's reaction to finding the book a bit weird. Surely he would have noticed how different the book's appearance was compared to books around at the time, and found it a bit strange? Perhaps noticed the publication date (the front of the book seemed intact)? And how could Amanda have written all that about them and got it published, when she only met them all a few weeks ago? And yet he accuses her of telling all their secrets... Also, when Darcy said he could not marry Amanda, did he say it was because she was not a maid, or not a name? It was a little indistinct.

You're right, the one about the skinny models was the first new one. The second one with the perfume was daft, but much funnier. I was shouting at the screen for Amanda to give Betty the perfume as evidence!

Ooh, this was really good tonight! Loads happened! Am I the only person here still watching this?!