90. Unresolved history, a bit of tele and a new film

DECENT COPPERS DON'T GET THANKED ENOUGH.

On Tuesday last we had a telephone call from P.C. Gamble, the police officer who took our statements when we experienced the abortive burglary early this month, to tell us that CCTV footage on the cameras closest to where we live have revealed no sign of any suspiciously sneaking, or obviously fleeing, white-jacketed figure.
Nobody saw anything of the cheeky git or any companion(s) he may have had. He simply disappeared like one of the subjects of the TV series Without a Trace.
He is unresolved history.
Meantime I have not only renewed the security at the back of the house but have opted to double it.
Paul, the nice chap who originally supplied and fitted the garage door, advised me to drill holes through the bottom of the door and continue straight on down for least four inches into the concrete floor. Then drop six inch bolts through.
So when he had repaired the damage that is exactly what I did. If matey tries his arm again he may, with any luck, pull his shoulders out of joint.
The mental insecurity these little bastards cause is incalculable.
Our thanks, though, to P.C. Gamble for his common sense approach to the whole tiresome business.
Decent coppers don't get thanked often enough.

SMILEY'S PEOPLE. (Saturday evenings) (BBC4)

This sequel to John le Carre's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a long awaited repeat.
George Smiley (Alec Guinness) spent almost the entire second part of the two-part opener walking alone, looking about him and being enigmatic.
Made you realize what a damned good actor Guinness was, though.

THE SOPRANOS (Final episode) (E4)

There was an expected flood of fatalities and an unexpected ending.
James Gandolfini (as the overweight, lethal, strangely charismatic Tony Soprano) was watchable until the last second.
His fellow actors were, without exception, superb.
Since its inception in 1999 this HBO production has been universally praised.
Brilliant direction, brilliant background music and meticulous observation ensured its success.
It will be a hard act to follow.

HIS DARK MATERIALS HAS MATERIALIZED.

Clearly I was well adrift with my suggestion that Ken Stott would make a good Lord Asriel in Northern Lights.
The film had already been made and is currently being advertised under the title The Golden Compass.
So, good for Philip Pullman, His Dark Materials has materialized.
I had not heard a murmur until now. Well, I wouldn't have known me Golden Compass from me Northern Lights, anyway, but the other two books will surely follow, with or without their original titles.
Wonder if Iorek Byrnison sounds like Gandalf?
Oh, Daniel Craig plays Lord Asriel.
Sorry, Ken.