The Hall of Fire

This has been an enjoyable journey, and I’ve appreciated the civility and open-mindedness of the discussions here. I’m going to miss the post-episode dissections. On balance, I can say I really did enjoy the series, odd diversions notwithstanding. I found the last episode pretty compelling, almost e...

I’ve also reached that point of not anticipating close adherence to Tolkien canon and am just going with the flow. And I am enjoying it! The slower pace of this episode felt like the calm between the storms because I’m anticipating Episode 8 will be pretty full on. (I hope so, at least.) Elendil’s r...

The mithril/Silmaril storyline had me literally talking back to the screen (in a ‘what do you think you’re doing?!’ way) I think all the possible Saurons are turning out to be red herrings - Theo has reverted to being a good kid, Halbrand is just a dude with a shameful past and probably doomed to fa...

And also Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi. We visited there about 13 years ago, and decided to go along to view the mausoleum. At least at that time on that day we were the only visible Westerners in the line. I was struck by the total reverence of everyone in the queue, it seemed to be a pilgrimage of great me...

Halbrand's continued protests about returning to Middle-earth strongly suggest he's either the world's most reluctant warrior and/or he's running from something. It adds weight, in my mind, to him becoming a potential King of the Dead.

Psalm to the Queue. Really very spot on.

I did watch the funeral, it was perfectly placed in prime time here (and on every free-to-air channel). Much glitter, pomp, circumstance and ritual, which was sometimes quite moving.

The music was sublime.

Hello Sunny! I've been lured back to the Hall of Fire by the temptation of the Rings of Power. I'd almost forgotten how much I enjoy this place. :) I agree about the historical links - I have never googled so many 'who are the men in the civil war costumes/funny hat/big sword/long bows' questions be...

I don't have a corgi in this fight, but I admit I am surprised that the UK is just rolling over to a new king, without a serious discussion of what the monarchy is for and if it's still useful. There have been some discussions on the subject . Another . Several countries have commented on eventuall...

Thanks V. It's good to be back.

Hello again (after quite a long time…) I have been enjoying RoP so far, but it’s a little fine-edged. I’ve had to consciously set aside the known chronology of the Second Age, and also (more-or-less) accept that sometimes one character is going to be telling another character’s story and at a differ...

And I also love that article! As a former denizen of Frodo's Kitchen, it brings back fond memories of debates about choice, fate and destiny. Thanks for posting it, Dave.

I like Hannah Gadsby – I like her wry, understated wit. She’s clever in her observations – and Nanette was all this too, but on a bigger, darker and much more confronting scale. It was definitely challenging to watch. The anger – I don’t deal with other people’s anger very well, I tend to shrivel up...

Lovely photos, Jude. I woke at 4:30 this morning, and was very lucky to be able to look out of my window and see the lunar eclipse - the blood moon. It was seriously uncanny, watching the silver light of the moon being swallowed by the shadowy red. And the brilliance of Mars - it seemed big enough a...

Fingers crossed, Imp. I won't say another word...

Ooooh. Book recommendations! I haven't read the Isabel Dalhousie series, though I have read (and loved) the Scotland Street series. Thanks Jude! I'd also like to read Full Disclosure, but it doesn't seem to be available through the Australian Kindle Store. (I'm very much a Kindle reader these days. ...

I’d also love to read your post Griffy.


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What a wonderful list! Thank you - I'm looking forward to following the countdown.

I'm not sure what the problem was there - but here's the image my friend took at Wellington Airport yesterday:

Does this count as a tie in? I'm not sure, but I thought I'd post this picture shared on Twitter by an NZ colleague who just happened to be visiting Wellington airport yesterday.

I check too, Imp, now that I've been converted to the Kindle fraternity.