Fantastic Documentary Series

[MarkCDodd]

If you have access to the History Channel, I highly recommend the new documentary series, Tony Robinson Explores Australia.

It is the best, and most entertaining, look at the settlement of Australia by Europeans.

He has taken key moments and people and with a bit of humour has used them to show the rapid progression from starving and autocratic colonies to a single democratic nation.

Tonight I learnt something that astounded me. During tge Victorian Goldrush, 1 in 50 people from the UK emmigrated to Australia!!!!

The series includes the Aborigines and does not try and hide the attrocities commited againt them.

Rarely have I seen such a complex subject, such as hte founding of a nation, handled in such an entertaining way.

It had been good to watch it with my daughters and point out parts of the history their direct ascendants participated in.

[Antie Em]

I try and watch anything Tony Robinson is involved in - he is very knowledgeable and extremely entertaining and is passionate about history. He's also very good as Baldrick

[peterd]

he presents time team for years in the uk, that same format serious archaeology, with a sense of humour

[MarkCDodd]

I am a Time Team junkie.

[Jimmy]

Same here Mark.

[Antie Em]

Same here Mark.

Me too one of my favourite programmes - Watched his programme on Boudica a couple of weeks ago - really good !! I also like to watch Simon Schama - years ago I had his DVD Collection and book on A History of Britain for a Christmas present - never tire of watching it.

[snoopysue]

Same here Mark.

Me too one of my favourite programmes - Watched his programme on Boudica a couple of weeks ago - really good !! I also like to watch Simon Schama - years ago I had his DVD Collection and book on A History of Britain for a Christmas present - never tire of watching it.

That Simon Scharma series is great!

[dianel]

I am a Time Team junkie.

Same here Mark.

Me too one of my favourite programmes.

And me ... Coast - Neil Oliver too.

[MarkCDodd]

Being a Black Country lad, Prof. Mike Aston has to be the star of the show!

[Antie Em]

Oh yes - he's brilliant - love his jumpers - and - he was born in Oldbury

[SRD]

We attended a 'Best Value' meeting put on by Somerset Council regarding their 'Arts and Leisure' budgets. The Council big-wig started things off with a speech that was designed to tell us that there had to be savings made but it was all dressed up as some brand new initiative. Mike Aston was there and as the big-wig finished his spiel by saying something along the lines of "Well that's clear enough (which it wasn't) so I don't suppose there'll be any questions." he jumped up and said "Can you tell us how much this consultation exercise is costing and why isn't that money going into Arts and Leisure?" Big-wig blustered and tried to change the subject and then sat down red-faced when Aston continued to press his point, much to the rest of us agreement and amusement.