Adventures Of An At Home Globetrotter

What a day I've had - and quite an exciting one. With my support worker, it doesn't matter how she plans it, but how I plan it.

First off all we went to the train station for our picnic. I've never been to a train station before. There were two men nearby cooking away for the restaurant, and there was a huge enormous tree with white willow flowers, and lots of benches where people can sit and wait for their lunch while waiting to catch a train. There was even an outdoor cafe, and a small wooden carving of a train housing lots of flowers.

And then, we went all the way to the 'Noisy Town', Golspie. First we went to Lindsey's, aka The Blue Peter Store, and guess what? I not only bought a wordsearch, but also some bubbles and some shades for in case my eyes get blinded by the hot sun. For in this weather, journeying around the country is like walking through a long, hot desert. And the best part about the wordsearch I got was it contained a wordsearch full of kids' shows - Babar, Binka, Boo, Softies, Oswald, Pingu, the Tweenies, and best of all.....BRUM!

The delusional little kid on four wheels had his own place on the wordsearch, but of course this book was talking about the terrible times he spent chasing things and causing a public disturbance. That's Series 3. The proper Brum is the one who always helps others and discovers new things about the community of friends he helps build - that was from the '90s. He loves that era, don't you?

#respectfor90sbrum

Anyway, our next stop was the charity shop. I wanted to buy a CD, but I couldn't decide what CD to buy. I wanted to get Now Christmas, but my support worker said Christmas was a long way away. So, I went looking for books to read - there were so many, I couldn't decide what to choose. So many choices, so little time. But finally, I chose a treasury of five minute stories as well as a Daisy novel and a Top Gear Search & Find book featuring Stig and lots of pop culture references.

While there I met this nice young woman named Amy, who was a bit silent most of the time, but we managed to bond through paying for my stuff. Then my support worker and I went for a little drive, and I took some selfies of me myself and I with my cool shades on. I felt like Rainbow Dash in her limosine!

And finally we went to the Spar to get a chocolate bar and something cool to drink. Of course the car was being a bit of a bully and pulled my shoe off, and then my music glitched out and halted most of the time, but somehow for some reason I managed to ask my support worker if I could have a moment of quiet, and I did. When we got in, it was different to how I last visited it.

Everything was in different places, and there was a barista at the far back of the shop. And guess what else? Galaxy Milk Chocolate drinks! Of course I chose the chocolate bar and the can of Coke, because there were fruity fizzy drinks in there, and Mum said fruity fizzy drinks can cause tooth decay.

Still, what a fun day out I've had! I hope I can go on another one again. Don't forget to write! (I meant postcards, not to my blog)

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Star Wars: Tales Of The Underworld: Top 10 Replacements

It’s no secret anymore—Star Wars: Tales From the Underworld has fallen headfirst into Disney’s latest wave of “wokeness.” From overwritten side characters being shoehorned into plots to heavy-handed “messages” replacing actual storytelling, the newest entry in the Star Wars franchise feels less like an epic space fantasy and more like a checklist of buzzwords and social quotas. If you’ve felt let down or simply exhausted by the forced modern narratives flooding Tales From the Underworld, you’re not alone.

But here’s the good news: there are better things to watch. Whether you're looking for heartwarming adventure, cozy animation, or actual storytelling that respects the intelligence of its audience, here are ten fantastic and refreshing alternatives that steer clear of the preachiness and politics—each one a comforting reminder of what wholesome entertainment used to feel like.

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1. Care Bears: Journey To Joke-A-Lot (2004)
This musical adventure has more sincerity in its pastel paws than a dozen Underworld episodes. The Care Bears are banished from Care-a-Lot (no, really) and find themselves in a world ruled by laughter. The animation is sweet and low-key, with a focus on kindness, friendship, and embracing who you are—without a lecture in sight.

2. Unstable Fables: Three Pigs & A Baby (2008)
This overlooked gem flips the “Three Little Pigs” tale on its head, exploring themes of parenthood and family in a way that’s both funny and endearing. Instead of bending over backwards to make a point, it builds its humor and heart through clever writing and a real sense of character.

3. Clifford's Really Big Movie (2004)
There’s a charming sincerity here that echoes the tone of 2006’s Curious George film. Clifford joins a traveling animal show, unsure if he should stay with it forever to spare his owners the cost of feeding him. Like Curious George, this film combines old-fashioned values with a gentle visual style, offering peaceful storytelling that doesn’t try to dazzle or provoke—it just comforts.

4. Care Bears: Big Wish Movie (2005)
If Journey to Joke-A-Lot is about laughter, Big Wish Movie is about contentment. It teaches the importance of hard work and understanding the consequences of shortcuts. The main character, Wish Bear, learns that wishing isn’t always the solution—working together is. A message simple enough for kids but refreshing in a world full of cynical reboots.

5. Here Comes Peter Cottontail: The Movie (2005)
With stop-motion-inspired CG and a classic story of redemption, Peter Cottontail’s revival is more fun than you’d expect. It doesn’t try to “update” the character for modern sensibilities—it lets the charm of the story do the work. There’s no edgy reinvention, just warmth and whimsy.

6. Care Bears: Oopsy Does It! (2007)
Oopsy Bear is clumsy. That’s it. That’s the conflict. And yet, it’s more engaging than half the subplots in Tales From the Underworld. This movie celebrates mistakes, growth, and community—not with cynicism or sarcasm, but with bright colors and genuine sweetness.

7. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer & The Island Of Misfit Toys (2001)
Reuniting characters from the original Rankin/Bass special, this CG sequel maintains the heart of its predecessor. Instead of padding its runtime with subtext and statements, it focuses on friendship, bravery, and giving everyone a chance. It’s all about being different—and that being okay—without moralising.

8. My Little Pony: The Princess Promenade (2006)
Far from the later Friendship Is Magic reboot, this earlier MLP movie is soft, floral, and gentle. It doesn’t rush, shout, or over-explain. It’s simply a story about learning to lead with grace and kindness. Perfect background viewing for a cozy afternoon or a mental detox from aggressive storytelling.

9. Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure (2006)
This one’s worth watching just for the peaceful animation style and tone, which mirrors the earliest episodes of the Babar cartoon from the ’90s. It’s a gentle, calm road trip with Franklin and his family, focusing on trust, memory, and family legacy—not shallow drama or overcomplicated themes.

10. Disney Princess: Enchanted Tales – Follow Your Dreams (2007)
Ironically, this older Disney production—while simple—is more effective than Tales From the Underworld in its messaging. By focusing on characters like Aurora and Jasmine solving everyday problems with thoughtfulness and humility, it avoids the modern trap of shouting empowerment and instead simply shows it.

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When Star Wars used to mean something—heroism, hope, thrilling storytelling—fans could count on escaping to a galaxy far, far away. Now, Tales From the Underworld feels like being preached at from a galaxy of smugness and studio mandates. But the good news is, you don’t have to sit through that. These ten films may not be epic space operas, but they offer something Tales From the Underworld seems to have forgotten: the joy of honest storytelling that doesn’t talk down to its audience.

So skip the lectures and snark. Find comfort in charm, and remember: the Force used to be with us. Maybe it still is—just not on Disney+.

What’s your favorite old-school comfort film to watch when modern media gets too loud?

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