dashwood_one

The words are mine. I felt rather low when I did it. I was eight when I had this book, and this picture scared me more than anything else at the time. Where I live is less than 25 miles from what were three huge USAF airbases, the hub of the UK radar system, and a NATO secure telecommunications site. My late father worked at a huge American project 'Cobra Mist', and we were near an air-raid siren, that was often tested (mum used to tell us it was a fire alarm), but later I found out that it was for the 'four minute warning'. We were so near Soviet targets that any action to 'protect and survive' would have been laughably futile. I knew this back in the 1970's, and so, this picture was too close. I found this on the net the other day, after not seeing it for forty odd years. It still chilled me to the bone. It encapsulates bleak hopelessness perfectly. And it's in a children's book (The Ladybird Book Of Arms And Armour); It would never be allowed now. Possibly the most grown-up image in any children's book, ever.

And damned good it is, too.

Oh yes. Same scale, and made by the same people who make the Doctor Who 5" figures. 

A reconstruction of the original (1963) TARDIS console room. Accurate even down to the hexagonal ceiling fitting, and the rows of data banks behind a glass wall, and the internal doors. I won't spoil it for you by saying why, but The Doctor does mention that it is the 'factory default setting'. Whatever, the sight of it brought me out in goosebumps, sad old fan that I am. It's beautiful. Cheers, BBC.

The round things! Love the round things...

From 'Let's Kill Hitler' (2011).

I love that insult has been added to injury by adding the 'og' to the end of his name at the end of the warning notice.