Reading, Listening, Watching
Jun. 10th, 2026 08:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
purplecatReading I'm still reading Frazer Hines' Evil of the Daleks but I also started reading Modern Control Systems because I really need to know more about Control Systems particularly since, via a convoluted set of circumstances, I've inherited a PhD student who has papers full of phrases like "Lyapanov Equations" and I wouldn't know a Lyapanov equation if it introduced itself in the street. I am currently stuck on the first equation in the book which describes a spring damper system. I do not understand this equation and I've been returning to it and intervals for three days and have consulted wikipedia. I think I need a more basic "modelling physical systems using differential equations" book before I move on to control systems.
Listening Starship Alexandria in which Adrian Tchaikovsky and Emma Newman (two authors I have not read, but intend to) review books and films that I often haven't read. In this case Piranesi which sounds interesting but not so much so that I think it will earn a place on the to read pile.
Watching I am still snowed under by marking, so still nothing.
Listening Starship Alexandria in which Adrian Tchaikovsky and Emma Newman (two authors I have not read, but intend to) review books and films that I often haven't read. In this case Piranesi which sounds interesting but not so much so that I think it will earn a place on the to read pile.
Watching I am still snowed under by marking, so still nothing.
What Comes Next for Doctor Who
Jun. 10th, 2026 12:21 pmfh14I can't say I'm upset that RTD, and Bad Wolf overall, are no longer going to be in charge of Doctor Who. I'd expected it for quite a while, but I was hoping that the Xmas Special would materialize in some form (preferably as an Easter Special or something so they didn't have to shoehorn in Xmas stuff) so we wouldn't be left on the Billie Piper regeneration cliffhanger for the foreseeable future. I do not envy whatever creatives down the line have to figure out how to move on from that.
For all the issues with it's major story arc episodes, I thought most of it's standalone episodes were pretty strong, and will hopefully be remembered more fondly once we have some more distance from all this. I do not think RTD himself as a figurehead in this franchise will be though, especially after that disaster of an Instagram post. Man better be thankful JNT will always have more haters.
I think a few years on ice could do the series some good, and perhaps afford a greater opportunity for creatives and current fans of the show to ascend as contenders to revive the series once again - much like RTD, Moffat, and Chibnall did previously - without any of those three still lingering in the wings. I honestly think that was the biggest issue with this past era. Not the inability to move on, the unwillingness to.
On a semi-related note, I really do need to go back and finish up watching the rest of the Wilderness Years content, especially since we're at the dawn of another.
For all the issues with it's major story arc episodes, I thought most of it's standalone episodes were pretty strong, and will hopefully be remembered more fondly once we have some more distance from all this. I do not think RTD himself as a figurehead in this franchise will be though, especially after that disaster of an Instagram post. Man better be thankful JNT will always have more haters.
I think a few years on ice could do the series some good, and perhaps afford a greater opportunity for creatives and current fans of the show to ascend as contenders to revive the series once again - much like RTD, Moffat, and Chibnall did previously - without any of those three still lingering in the wings. I honestly think that was the biggest issue with this past era. Not the inability to move on, the unwillingness to.
On a semi-related note, I really do need to go back and finish up watching the rest of the Wilderness Years content, especially since we're at the dawn of another.
BtVS Double Drabble: Goodbye
Jun. 10th, 2026 05:17 pmbadly_knittedTitle: Goodbye
Fandom: BtVS
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Buffy, Giles.
Rating: PG
Written For: Challenge 504: Nothing's The Same at
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
drabble_zone.Spoilers/Setting: Years after the series.
Summary: Buffy is faced with another loss.
Disclaimer: I don’t own BtVS, or the characters.
A/N: Double drabble.
( Goodbye... )
FAKE Double Drabble: Staying Alert
Jun. 10th, 2026 05:03 pmbadly_knittedTitle: Staying Alert
Fandom: FAKE
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Dee, Ryo.
Rating: PG
Setting: After the manga.
Summary: Stakeouts are boring.
Written Using: The dw100 prompt ‘Alert’.
Disclaimer: I don’t own FAKE, or the characters. They belong to the wonderful Sanami Matoh.
A/N: Double drabble.
( Staying Alert... )
Double Drabble: Suspicious Discovery
Jun. 10th, 2026 04:53 pmbadly_knittedTitle: Suspicious Discovery
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Jack, Ianto.
Rating: PG
Written For: Challenge 921: Vermin, at
torchwood100.Spoilers: Nada.
Summary: Are there mice in the Hub or not?
Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters.
A/N: Double drabble.
"What Friends Are For"
Jun. 9th, 2026 04:46 pmromanajo123 Title: What Friends Are For
Fandom: Doctor Who, Doctor Who (2005)
Characters/Pairings: Tenth Doctor, Donna Noble
Word Count- about 866
Summary- To help when you're hurt.
Notes- Written for![[tumblr.com profile]](https://www.tumblr.com/favicon.ico)
juneofdoom . Using prompts "Bite" and "I'm so sorry."
Go to AO3
Fandom: Doctor Who, Doctor Who (2005)
Characters/Pairings: Tenth Doctor, Donna Noble
Word Count- about 866
Summary- To help when you're hurt.
Notes- Written for
Go to AO3
FAKE Double Drabble: Justified
Jun. 9th, 2026 06:37 pmbadly_knittedTitle: Justified
Fandom: FAKE
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Dee, OMC.
Rating: PG
Setting: After the manga.
Summary: Dee is a good cop, but not always proud of what he has to do.
Written Using: The dw100 prompt ‘Maverick’.
Disclaimer: I don’t own FAKE, or the characters. They belong to the wonderful Sanami Matoh.
A/N: Double drabble.
( Justified... )
Doctor Who Drabble: Overshadowed
Jun. 9th, 2026 06:27 pmbadly_knittedTitle: Overshadowed
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Fourteenth Doctor, Donna Noble.
Rating: G
Written For: Challenge 1032: ‘Joy’ at
dw100.Spoilers: The Star Beast.
Summary: As happy as the Doctor is to see Donna, he’s worried too.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Doctor Who, or the characters.
( Overshadowed... )
Double Drabble: Flying Rats
Jun. 9th, 2026 06:14 pmbadly_knittedTitle: Flying Rats
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Ianto, Jack.
Rating: PG
Written For: Challenge 921: Vermin, at
torchwood100.Spoilers: Nada.
Summary: Nothing is going to steal produce from Ianto and Jack’s garden, not if Ianto has any say in the matter.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters.
A/N: Double drabble.
( Flying Rats... )
plans for the June '26 work party
Jun. 9th, 2026 12:09 pmljgeoffThis morning my gig shift was cancelled, so I called Mike and we had a very productive conversation about the coming work party. It's going to be a party of 2, unless Sam decides to come out for the day.
Things that need to be done, but not all of this will get done in June:
- put in the new ignition switch in the backhoe
- Cut down the trees that are to the west of the half-round. They're too close and might come down on top of it during a storm.
- Dig out the cistern site. This may also include cutting down some trees
- dig the trench for the French drain
- site the cabin
Mike thinks that we can fix the backhoe, cut down trees, and maybe dig out the cistern
We're planning on using earth bags for the walls of the cistern. I can order those on Friday - about $100 for 100 bags with shipping and tax.
Things that need to be done, but not all of this will get done in June:
- put in the new ignition switch in the backhoe
- Cut down the trees that are to the west of the half-round. They're too close and might come down on top of it during a storm.
- Dig out the cistern site. This may also include cutting down some trees
- dig the trench for the French drain
- site the cabin
Mike thinks that we can fix the backhoe, cut down trees, and maybe dig out the cistern
We're planning on using earth bags for the walls of the cistern. I can order those on Friday - about $100 for 100 bags with shipping and tax.
Music Monday - G
Jun. 8th, 2026 11:37 pmbadly_knittedOops, almost forgot it's Monday. So here we go with more of my favourite music.
First up, a lively track from 80s band Exile...
I've said it before, I love Highway 101, especially Paulette Carlson's voice.
One of my all-time favourite songs. Willie and Emmylou blend perfectly on this.
A lesser known Suzy Bogguss track...
Something a bit livelier by Michelle Wright.
I have been known to put this one on repeat. I love it!
And a bit of fun from Bobby Bare.
And finishing with an instrumental, some of my favourite musicians having a good time.
New Window
Jun. 8th, 2026 08:32 pmpurplecat
This is one of our new windows. Actually, as is probably obvious, this one is a door onto the garden. Plasterer failed to turn up today. Apparently he had had a fight with his missus. I'm not convinced I could get away with that as an excuse for failing to turn up to work.
Planning the French Drain
Jun. 8th, 2026 12:23 pmljgeoffPlanning, first, for the half-round. I'm thinking that I'll only run it on three sides. I dunno if the backhoe would damage the pipe, rolling in and out of the shelter.
To run along three sides of the half-round, I'll need about 90 feet of trench, 14" wide and averaging 36" deep- it needs to slant down to the cistern. Edit: it does not need to be so deep; two feet will do.
90*12*14*36=544,320" Mike says two feet will be deep enough, so that's 90*12*14*24=362,880 cubic inches, or 7.75 cubic yards, so about $400-$600
544,320/46660= 11.7 cubic yards of crushed #57 rock. I've contacted a gravel company and I expect that this'll cost about $800 - $1000
The filter fabric is about$500 for 10' wide by 100' long $300 for 6'x 100'
Non-Woven Geotextile Filter Fabric 8 oz - Landscape Fabric - Sandbaggy
The PVC pipe is going to be around $100
The earth bags for the cistern will be about $100 - not sure about the liner but that's going to be the most expensive part, I think.
"For best results you need to use these steps. Dig a 14” wide trench and line the trench with the 8 oz. commercial filter fabric. Then put 3 inches of rock at the bottom of the trench. Place the 4” perforated corrugated pipe (without a sock on the pipe) on top of the rock. Next fill in around the pipe with stone on all sides and wrap the filter fabric on top. Now it is fully contained to not allow sediment or solids to contaminate the French drain compromising its performance." French Drain Man
To run along three sides of the half-round, I'll need about 90 feet of trench, 14" wide and averaging 36" deep- it needs to slant down to the cistern. Edit: it does not need to be so deep; two feet will do.
The filter fabric is about
Non-Woven Geotextile Filter Fabric 8 oz - Landscape Fabric - Sandbaggy
The PVC pipe is going to be around $100
The earth bags for the cistern will be about $100 - not sure about the liner but that's going to be the most expensive part, I think.
The Fantastic Journey Quadruple Drabble: New Beginnings
Jun. 8th, 2026 06:25 pmbadly_knittedTitle: New Beginnings
Fandom: The Fantastic Journey
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Liana, Scott, Fred, Jonathan, Varian.
Rating: PG
Written For: Challenge 504: Nothing's The Same at
drabble_zone.Spoilers/Setting: After the series.
Summary: The journey is over, and everyone is where they want to be, but they’ve all changed.
Disclaimer: I don’t own The Fantastic Journey, or the characters. They belong to their creators.
A/N: Quadruple drabble.
Ficlet: Ageless Eyes
Jun. 8th, 2026 06:16 pmbadly_knittedTitle: Ageless Eyes
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Jack, Tarot Girl.
Rating: PG
Word Count: 618
Spoilers: Nada.
Summary: Jack has questions, and this little girl might be able to answer at least one of them.
Written For:
raisedbymoogles’ prompt ‘any, any, weird little girl’, at threesentenceficathon.Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters.
( Ageless Eyes... )