Festive greetings to all!

Well, it's only a week to go til Christmas Day (and a new episode of Doctor Who ) and I'm still not feeling very Christmassy yet. I've had a few get-togethers with friends and they've all been nice but I suppose I've missed the usual hullabaloo because I was so organised with the shopping et al. Ah well, I'm going to a carol service on Sunday so hopefully that'll instill some festive spirit. Failing that, there's always vodka

A few things before I get onto the tellystuff. Firstly, I've heard back from the university. As of January, I'll be starting my PhD. I've been accepted! There's a part of me going 'woohoo' and a part of me going 'oh f*%#' because now it's real. Secondly, I've booked myself a holiday. I'm going to Lake Garda in Italy for 10 days in April 2009- leaving two days after my birthday. Thirdly, I'm just gonna have a bit of a b!tch about the utterly pointless new redesign job for the site. Too much white again and what the hell was wrong with having our Mod Queues and PM bar visible? Is it any wonder people are so annoyed? The Powers That Be are not listening to us. Boo hiss boo.

Anyway, off the soapbox and onto the tellybox. (See what I did there?)

The Sarah Jane Adventures: A decent performance by Samantha Bond and a decent performance by Nicholas Courtney aside, I wasn't enamoured with Enemy Of The Bane. There were much better stories in the series. However, a big cheer as it's been renewed for a third series! Yay!

Merlin: Another of my favourites that's been given a second series. Hooray! To Kill The King had some interesting parts and a knock-out performance by Katie McGrath as Morgana's darkside emerged (although I was expecting something more magic-based). The finale, Le Morte d'Arthur, showed the Dragon's true colours and had a lovely performance by Michelle Ryan who clearly relished Nimueh's evil side.

Heroes: Now broken for the season and back in February, I believe, the third volume 'Villains' was quite exceptional overall. The final two episodes Our Father and Dual were stunning and Zachary Quinto was just brilliantly chilling as Sylar throughout the two. The cat-and-mouse stuff at Primatech at the beginning of Dual was excellent and I also liked Hiro punching Tracy to retrieve the formula (only because it was so comical and not because I advocate violence towards women). But these episodes proved, if proof were needed, that Nathan Petrelli is a *expletive deleted*. I have high hopes for 'Fugitives'.

Strictly Come Dancing: I blame Tess Daly, frankly. If she hadn't used the phrase 'to save Tom and Camilla from the dance-off', this whole farrago would never have happened. But because that was on the autocue, everyone was up in arms. Personally, I thought Tom and Camilla were the weakest of the three in the semi-final and probably should have gone. (As an aside, I was rather surprised that Austin Healey was voted off, but my mother was jubilant). But still a three person final was what they had planned and which they now have. It's still wide open as a competition. I would like Rachel to win but I think all 3 are deserving finalists.

Clone: Finally managed to catch up with this via iPlayer. It's had its moments of real laugh-out-loud comedy for me, and I think Jonathan Pryce and Mark Gatiss are absolutely brilliant. Fiona Glascott, the girl who plays Rose, is also good. Not gonna change the world, but it's fun.

I've found out that the last eight episodes of Season 5 of Nip/Tuck start broadcasting from January 6 (starting with an episode called 'Ronnie Chase' and that Season 7 of 24 finally starts with a four-hour extravaganza over two nights (January 11 and 12). I meant to say that I managed to get to see 24:Redemption and quite enjoyed it. It was good to have Jack back and there were excellent performances from Kiefer, Powers Boothe (as outgoing President), Cherry Jones (as incoming President Allison Taylor), Robert Carlyle and Jon Voight. I have high hopes for Season 7. God knows they've had enough time to get it right!

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Musical Interlude: Since it is the Christmas period, I thought I'd trot out a couple of my favourite Christmas songs and hymns. Firstly, click here to hear the beautiful 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas' (from perennial holiday favourite Meet Me In St. Louis) sung by Celtic Woman. Secondly, click here to hear Celtic Woman's version of what is my favourite Christmas hymn: 'Oh Holy Night'. Simply gorgeous.

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As I don't really fancy doing any short countdowns or anything, here are some more Christmas-themed humorously captioned pictures of felines. I especially agree with the third one.

I'll be blogging again next Monday or Tuesday before I head back to my folks for Christmas. Til then, have a great weekend and take care of yourselves and each other,

Much luv

QB