Raven – Series 3 Way of the Warrior

While you're probably still reeling from the sheer of that last post, here's another superb clip, this time from the third series, where Worjo very carefully and with great intelligence (though also with a few wobbles!) takes on the Way of the Warrior eliminator – and isn't eliminated!

As always, the staging, effects, music, Raven himself, and even the characteristic map at the start, all add to the atmosphere of this wonderful series. Once more, viewers found themselves on the edges of their seats, eyes wide, willing Worjo on to success.

It was a pity that – as his Standard shows – he had only one life left (Jaddo, on the left in the early part of the clip, had four lives, and Brena had three at this stage), and didn't ultimately triumph at week's end. He'd have made a good champion.

For me, this is probably the best of the (very few indeed) successful negotiations of this very challenging obstacle course, and makes a good study piece for how to deal with such challenges...

Raven – Series 9 Last Stand

For those who never caught the excellent CBBC series Raven – you missed something very special! Okay, the first series was a bit shaky, and the spin-offs were poor... but essentially, from series 2 they were edge-of-chair brilliant and completely gripping, from James Mackenzie's masterful portrayal of Raven, and including those wonderful maps, David Brockett's hauntingly evocative music, and the superb effects; right to the challenges themselves (including Way of the Warrior and The Last Stand), this was an exceptional concept and production.

I had my favourites among the challenges, including where pairs of the six competitors each week would try to knock each other off rickety towers using long, soft staffs; and putting out fires by catapulting 'ice rocks' at the flames. Some challenges required a more delicate touch, such as not spilling green liquid carried on a wide hand-held contrivance, or were against the clock as the exit door notched its way closed or a volcano was about to erupt. The programme was a real gem. and all involved deserve huge praise for something of which they can be truly proud.

Here we have one of the best Last Stand contests, where Dyrel and Bertar (not their real names) face the evil Nevar and his demons, working flat out to be the first toreach the portal and success. Bertar starts at a two-lives disadvantage, affording him a time penalty so that he has to catch up if he can. Watch his spirited efforts here and see just how close the eventual outcome was...

Dress-up Game

This game is good fun, and has been very well done, with CBeebies' Sid and Rebecca reacting appropriately to every garment you place on them. These include hats/crowns/tiaras, tops/dresses and trousers/skirts.

You can take a snapshot of the finished results, like those of mine that I have included here.

The Marvel Of The Age

Well, it was then, back in 1960. I wonder how many visitors here are old enough to even remember this? Not many by now, I'd guess: it was over half a century ago!

There are a few episodes up on YouTube; and if you'd like to watch them, it's best to start with the very first story Rescue.

This video is in effect a guide to Gerry Anderson and Reg Hill's Supercar's controls. It's worth pausing the video when the labelled control panel comes up (at 2 mins 18 secs in) and taking your time looking around it before going on to the detailed close-ups of the various controls...

Kiddy Corner Update

I have added an item or two, and rounded up others already housed around the flat, and gathered them all together. This warranted a new photo, so here it is...

As you can see, I now have in the display based mostly on children's television programmes (clockwise from top left):

• Lau Lau from Waybuloo
• Will from W.I.T.C.H.
• Rosie and Raggles from Everything's Rosie, on the twooter
• a Chuggington face-cloth
• Barnacles and the octopus from Octonauts
• Pikachu from Pokémon

For good measure I have also included a model of one of the Western diesel-hydraulic locomotives of which a few have been preserved, as I have occasionally shown on this 'blog.

I still need a Makka Pakka with Og Pog, and "a bird or two" from 3rd and Bird, and possibly the Farmyard Bunch from Big Barn Farm to make this little greeting for visitors complete.

Kiddy Corner

I have started building up a small collection of characters from my favourite children's TV programmes, and these are arranged as a display just inside my front doorway. This is what I have so far (I'm still missing a Makka Pakka with Og Pog, and perhaps a Muffin, Samuel and/or Rudy)...

From "Hi-Hi" to Bye-Bye

The regular CBeebies seasonal re-scheduling is upon us again, and – as happened last year – Waybuloo is being dropped from the Bedtime Hour.

I wonder whether this change will cause a similar outcry to the one that flared up last time this was done, ten months ago...

The programme will still be on at other times, though one will need to be up early to catch the 6.25 am daily showings. There will be another outing for the Piplings at 11.35 am, but only on weekdays, while the current practice of a 1 pm showing at weekends will continue.

Okay, so two out of (at present) three a day really isn't bad; but the choosing of time-slot is crucial and the omission from the Bedtime Hour is bound to cause at least some consternation.

Driver Dan's Story Train comes into that hour instead – something that appears to be an obsession at the BBC, as they tried it before in the ten minutes freed up by the experimental cut-down narrated Waybuloo. When that failed, it was instead butted up against Bedtime Hour in its current slot just beforehand.

Someone seems to have been very determined to get it into this important hour, and has now succeeded – even though it will now mean two story-tellings within those sixty minutes, which seems a bit daft. The remaining ten minutes released by the change will return to Charlie and Lola, who have been there before.

Finally to report on this business, In The Night Garden is (thankfully!) to stay at its present 6.20 pm slot: isn't that a pip!

Where Is The Pinky Ponk Going?

Here's a complete In The Night Garden episode. If you are not familiar with the series, it might not all 'click' on first viewing – but that really doesn't matter. Just go along for the ride, which today is mainly in the Pinky Ponk's rather nice gondola. Oh, and go easy on the Pinky Ponk juice...

Head in the Clouds

Well, only for ten minutes a day, to watch the new Cloudbabies programme on CBeebies.

After all, who does look after the sky and all that is within it?

Okay, so the basic premise is a bit daft, really, but it's quite enchanting in its own way – and I've decided that I'd like to have my own skyhorsey!

The artistic design of the programme is of a similar type to that of Octonauts, which is ideal for this purpose. Unusually, the whole programme is produced within the UK, unlike other series where the animation is done in overseas places such as India (e.g. Everything's Rosie) or Canada (where Waybuloo's CGI is done).

For me, it'll be good to know, when I next go out in the sunny midday, just who it was who polished the sun to give off such a brilliant shine; who brushes Fuffa Cloud every day; and at nighting-time I shall be looking out for Little Star in the heavens – provided he has woken up in time, that is!

In The Night Garden – Live!

I have been aware of a stage version of In The Night Garden for a little while now, and have today found the promotional video (below) UPDATE: There's another one, which I have now added below the first.

I don't know what the future plans are for this tour, but I suspect it'll run for years!

It's obviously impossible to do entirely without visible puppeteers, so it's fair to say that the show's producers have done well with (for example) the Tombliboos. I wonder if, and how, the Pontipines have been included...

As for which show: I'm not sure whether I'd personally prefer the Ninky-Nonk show or the Pinky-Ponk one. Ah, decisions...