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Hello rusty,
I am not keen (and a bit wary) of taking out contracts and monthly fees so, for now, I will have to miss out on Sky Arts.
I like Jamie Cullum; I have several LP 's of Nat King Cole. He had a beautiful mellow voice and the orchestral backing was so good.
I listen to more classical music now.
I read that Meera Syal was moved to tears after reading a letter written by Jane Austen, not long before Jane passed away. Handling such docuents can be a very emotional experience.
Enjoy the rest of the series.

Hello, Jazzgirl,
Yes, you are wise about contracts and fees, etc.
For me, Sky Arts (there were two Sky Arts channels until recently) were part of a package I agreed to, for the sports channels.
I have several hundred channels which I simply do not watch.
There are one or two gems on Sky Arts, though.
Yes, Meera was moved, the letter was with the Persuasion manuscript.
Jane Austen had very neat handwriting.
Meera was also moved by the reports of the Grunwick strike.
It involved mainly Asian women working in awful conditions.
And she was affected by the fate of the amahs who came with the British families from India. Some were abandoned when their charges had grown. One was left at a railway station with a £1 note.
It was an excellent informative programme.
Looking forward to Jamie Cullum's choices!

Rusty, I have just been reading the full account of the Grunwick strike of 1976 and I was also moved to tears. Those poor women were treated like slaves .
I actually had a few films awaiting processing with the Grunwick factory that year and did not realize the heartache behind it all . I so admire Jayaben Desai for what she achieved.

Exactly, Jazzgirl.
I did not realise how bad it was until I saw the Sky Arts programme.
Meera Syal praised the Indian lady to the heavens.
She, in fact, was one of Meera's "picks".
I am fairly sure I would have had films there for processing around that time, too.
Just a pity you could not see the programme!
Wonder if it would be on YouTube, yet?

Good evening, Rusty!
We came home in the dark!
Goodness, what a difference that hour has made.
The night is already upon us!
Is your female trumpeter Alison Balsam? She is the most well known one that I can think of?
Yes, I should like to have Sky TV in the respect of being able to watch certain programmes.........such as the sports specialities that I prefer, also, of course, the Arts projects.
But I cannot justify the added expense we should be put to, in order to watch so few things.........
(But I can and will go to the British Library in person!
It is on my bucket list!)
We had a nice time visiting our friends.
It was good to see their new abode - and also to catch up on all the "gossip".

Good evening, Elle!
Glad you had a good visit!
Early dark here, too.
Wonder why "bucket" list?
Will have to investigate.
Yes, the trumpeter is Alison Balsom.
Also, others taking part will be, a poet, Benjamin Zephania.
And a children's author, Julia Donaldson.
These are all new folk to me.
No, I think you are wise regarding Sky TV.
It is expensive.
And you are paying for hundreds of channels that you will never, ever, look at. I must have around 30 or more shopping channels.
Any amount of foreign News channels.
Heaps of music channels I am not interested in.
Do you know Scotney Castle in Kent?
That's on Sky Arts this week, in the Landscape Artist programme.
Folk will be painting it, etc.
I have watched previous episodes of this. It's good!

Hi, Rusty!
Now I have heard of Julia Donaldson!
She writes a lot of very successful children's books - many of them beautifully illustrated by Axel Scheffler.
My grandchildren love/ have loved them, according to their ages.
One of her most successful and popular books is "The Gruffalo"
Maybe you have heard of that?
It is a lovely book.
"Stickman" is/was another favourite of my grandkids!
Scotney Castle?
Now that does ring a faint bell.........
A moated old manor house?
I think it may be near Sevenoaks?
Yet another place I haven't visited!
I am going to be very busy in the next few weeks , remedying these omissions...........!
I am wondering what we should have for dinner?

Hello, Elle!
Yes, I have heard of the Gruffalo!
Not heard of the author though.
I do not know where in Kent Scotney Castle is.
But, a lot of folk are going there to paint it!
I had a sausage casserole for my tea (last night, too).
We have had a downpour for an hour.
Are you meeting up with Rosalind Janney later?
What about the shipbuilding?
Are you learning about it?

Hi, Rusty!
I have looked up Scotney Castle - it is south -east of Lamberhurst in the valley of the River Bewl in Kent
Now I have never heard of Lamberhurst, but further investigation shows that it is near Sevenoaks - so I did have that bit correct initially!
I love sausage casserole!
I make it with ( grilled) beef sausages, baked beans and (lots of ) fried onions in a really thick gravy.
Plus a spoonful of Worcester sauce, a little paprika and pepper.
Then heat it for a short time in the oven.
How do you do yours?
I like Rosalind Janney!
There is a danger of her replacing Elly in my affections!
I can cut down a tall oak and carve it into a boat........
I have met up with "borers" and have learnt so far that ships' bottoms survive longer in fresh water.........

Hello, Elle!
That is a very fancy casserole.
Mine has but sausages, tatties and Bisto, in it!
i slow cook it.
It is followed by Madeira cake and coffee!
Once your boots are mended you can visit Scotney Castle.
I knew you would like Rosalind Janney.
She really approved of the young man who came across the bay on a wild night to court her daughter "...through the storm!"
Yes, the borers do not like fresh water.
The ships hulls survive best when they are copper-bottomed.
The borers are beaten then.
There is quite a bit about ship building in the tale.
Michener served with the US Navy in the Pacific during the war.
He knows a bit about ships!