"Bluestone 42" review BBC3 Series 1 Episode 8 (final) TV series, Christmas episode

I gave this show another try. And I'm glad I did. I might watch the earlier episodes now. I can see why a second series has been commissioned. The humping goats intro scene was cute. The scene where multi-talented Millsy (Gary Carr) teaches  takes no-nonsense Bird (Katie Lyons) basic Pashto was Abbott & Costello-esque. Faruq is delightful. I like the tolerant Lieutenant-Colonel and the gormless Rocket. Nick (Oliver Chris) isn't the one-dimensional prick I thought he was in the first episode I watched. Will Padre Mary (Kelly Adams) get it on with Nick? The charred toucan says "Hoo" (Pashto).

The show is nicely photographed, the South African landscape looks great. I was surprised how taut the bomb disposal scene in the Mercedes was. I'm a sucker for the old snipping of the right wire cinema cliche.

Well written characters are always the key to a good sitcom. That's why this show is growing on me.
Update
Just watched Episode 1, very impressed. Why didn't I watch the earlier episodes?

Christmas episode 2013 was a delight. Discovering actors I now recognise from "The Paradise" and "Last Tango in Halifax". This show is a little gem.

South Africa - hire a car and do it on your own

In April-May 2003 we toured South Africa with our daughter (then 9 years old and omnipresent GameBoy in rear seat). Very few Australians go to South Africa, but they should. Hiring a car and doing it by yourself was the way to go. Accommodation ranged from ritzy hotels to self-catered cabins. We mainly used the Protea Hotels chain. We travelled from Cape Town along The Garden Route to Durban then through Swaziland to Kruger National Park and finally Pretoria. We dropped the hire car off at Johannesburg Airport.

Map: Copyright www.lonelyplanet.com

Highlights

• Deciding where to drive in our little hire car, seeing more wildlife than on the "organised" game drives in Kruger.  Check out this photo taken out of the window while driving: when Nissan meets "King of the jungle".
• Staying 10 nights at different camps in Kruger - it's BIG.
• CapeTown and Robben Island Prison (home to Nelson Mandella for 18 years)
• in the surf at Durban
• Incredible National Parks - canyons, chasms, coastal scenery
• Blydespoort and "God's Window"
• Addo Elephant National Park
• Staying at "Shakaland" Zulu Cultural Village - sounds touristy but, wow!
• Maholoholo Rehabilitation Centre
• Sun City - didn't gamble, too much else to see
• great white wine

Rhino and calf, another "out the rental car window shot"

Any questions?