Monday, April 24, 2017

While Miz Kittling Knits: Dalziel & Pascoe





One of my fondest memories of my mother is of her sitting in her comfy chair in the evenings, knitting and watching television. Oh, good gravy! I am becoming my mother, aren't I?!? Breathe in. Breathe out. Br....

She made some absolutely glorious Irish knit afghans and sweaters. I still have the afghans, and let me tell you, I certainly appreciated those sweaters during those frigid Illinois winters! Well, now I'm finding out that I have a fascination for all those cables and other stitches that make up "Irish" knitting, too.

This is the Braid Cable Reversible Hiking Scarf that I made using size 8 needles and Red Heart Classic 100% acrylic yarn in a shade of green called Emerald. It's not my first attempt at cables, but I thought it would make a nice gift for a certain someone-- especially since the pattern is reversible. I do like patterns that have no "wrong" side, and this scarf is nice and warm!

Of course there are various ways that you can wear this scarf, but I thought I'd show the one with the best view of the cables.

I've been going through the hundreds of free patterns available at Ravelry, and I'll be honest: I've been drooling over several very complicated Irish knit scarves. I know I'm going to be trying one soon! 

What have I been watching while working on my cables? Dalziel & Pascoe, starring Warren Clarke as Detective Superintendent Andy Dalziel and Colin Buchanan as Detective Inspector Peter Pascoe. Before I go any further, I'd better let the uninitiated know that Dalziel is pronounced Dee-ELL. Those Scots like to confuse us, just like Menzies is pronounced as though it were spelled "Mingus."

When Denis first immigrated, he began introducing me to as many British television series as he could, and Dalziel & Pascoe was one of them. He was only able to find two seasons available on DVD, but all the episodes are now on Britbox.

The series began filming in the mid-1990s and is based on the series of books by Reginald Hill. Set in Yorkshire, it features two of the most mismatched police detectives you'll ever see. Andy Dalziel is rude, crude, and never misses a chance to speak his mind-- no matter whom he might upset. Peter Pascoe is a university-educated man on the fast track to bigger and better things. When he isn't smoking, drinking, or scratching himself, Dalziel likes to make remarks that highlight Pascoe's high falutin' education and his own woeful ignorance... but if you pay attention, you soon see that Dalziel isn't nearly as dumb as he'd like you to think. Adding to this "chalk and cheese" mixture is Pascoe's wife, a very liberal and independent woman who, on principle, cannot stand the police.

As the series progresses, a bond forms between the two men despite their blatantly differing personalities. Dalziel & Pascoe is witty and thought-provoking and certainly holds up well over time. I am very, very glad that I found the series in its entirety because I really enjoy it. Perhaps you will, too.



6 comments:

  1. Good series, always watched it when it was on in the 90s.

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  2. This, in my opinion, is one of the best adaptations of series I've seen, Cathy, and I'm so glad you're enjoying it. I think Warren Clarke did such a fine job as Andy Dalziel! Oh, and that scarf's gorgeous! That teal! Lovely!

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  3. That scarf is gorgeous, but I also love that color. I think of Ireland and its greenery when I see that color, the land of 3/8 of my grandparents.

    And while I have only seen a few of the Dalziel and Pascoe TV episodes, I did like them. A lot of fun to watch Dalziel be rude to people while he is a smart detective.

    And I like Ellie Pascoe and the relationship within her family.

    I'll have to search the library website for more episodes.

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    Replies
    1. Don't tell anyone, but the scarf was made for an Irishman!

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