BBC Radio 4: Real Dictators

 

'Real Dictators,' is a programme running o Radio 4 at the moment, or at least on the iPlayer.  It features all the best, Hitler, Stalin, Napoleon, Pol Pot, and so on.  Plus Oliver Cromwell, Enver Hoxha and Julius Caesar.  Quite a few unpleasant characters, unless you were on their side of course.  All became dictator in time for a variety of reasons.  Some were to enjoy brutality, others just used that to cause fear and limit opposition, none were original, to me they were all the same and somewhat boring.  

All these guys lacked sympathy with others.  Some clearly were unwell, especially as time passed, and most were paranoid knowing that any one of their loyal followers would do them in, just ask Julius Caesar.  

Most of us knew something about all these guys, and they are all men, Thatcher and Catherine the Great appear to have been missed off.  Others were less well known, Pol Pot for instance, who knew he died of a heart attack and never faced a court, outside of his own group?  Attila the Hun kept attacking simply because he had no choice, his followers wanted the bling stolen but could not create a city state as they were all nomads.  

I've enjoyed these almost hour long programmes as the history is quite good usually, at least involving those I knew something about.  However, there are one or two annoying features.  The narrator has to over dramatise everything all the way through.  Historic fact does not require dramatisation, facts speaks for themselves!  Also, the first 5 minutes are used as an introduction that is overlong and not required.  At the end another few minutes is wasted on the next chapter also!  And during the programme music appears in the background, unwarranted and unwanted.  Again overdramatic and needless.  What is it with people who cannot listen to words without noise in the background?  Are we all 12 years olds?  

That said, the series is worth a listen, though some programmes are a year old now.  If you like your dictators have a listen and see what you think.  Real Dictators

Nothing! I have Nothing to Say

 

Normally, having nothing to say has not meant I did not go forward and say it.  The effort required to speak when no words are available to appear can be demanding.  I don't do demanding so a mind strained as bad as my arm results.  This having nothing to say in public, or indeed on Twitter or Blogger or anywhere else online, has not actually been recorded as a 'bad thing.'  Indeed, the opposite view has been proffered.   

I considered my day for inspiration, that failed.  I considered my life experience and burst into tears again.  I made my way through the depressing online papers and began to feel seriously unwell.  Can there be any hope in this new government, will they inspire?  Not yet.  And what a government says it will do may not be what it actually does.  How about the radio?  Well Rory Stewart is making the case 'for ignorance.'  Well, Rory I am well ahead of you there.  How about 'Is Psychiatry Working?'  Well let's just look at all those men pretending to be women and say no, it has failed greatly.   Mark Steel in East Grinstead might be worth a listen, but this programme is not what it was, I know not why, but recent progs have not be that good in my opinion.  

I am of course, working my way through several books at one time.  Always a fast moving one, always an interesting one, and always several either to heavy, too slow or of lesser interest in the rear.  A new book arrived for my birthday, a second on the way, I get excited awaiting unknow books, yet wary in case they are not up to it.  I have baited breath for this one however.

We await with baited breath also for 8 pm on Sunday evening when Spain slaughter the colonial imperialists Engerland, hopefully by at least 5 clear goals.  A quick glance at the world and we see which nation is supporting which nation during this game.  It ought to come as no surprise really.

It must be said this was not one of the greatest tournaments ever.  Feeble sides like England won through but never deserved victory.  Netherlands, Germany, Scotland all failed to produce, and France fell asleep before the kick off.  Many players did not end the tournament with much hope of future 'caps.'  Germany and Netherlands will however, be stronger in two years time, but will Scotland?

Wales

 

Wiki

 

I was watching a bit of the Wales v Scotland ruby match this afternoon when I recalled these three 30 minute programmes on Wales on BBC Radio 4 by Jeremy Bowen. Jeremy is better known for being shot at by various peoples out in the Middle East where he normally works as a BBC foreign correspondent.

These three interesting programmes give an insight into the growth of Wales as a nation, the historical background and present day realities.  All from a man who was born and bred in Cardiff.  

We all know Scots history, a thousand years of English oppression and all that, but nobody knows Wales.  Wales is just that bit on the end of England, annexed by Edward the Thug a thousand years ago and ignored ever since.  sScots empathise with the Welsh quite easily, Wales rugby fans have always found a welcome in Scotland, it's the Scots rugby fans we refer to as 'Hooray Hamish's.'  Having an oppressive neighbour next door does bring a shared understanding.  Wales however, is not Scotland and the story is a very different one.  These three programmes are well worth a listen.

 

Now I'm Not One to Complain, but...

Have you noticed how radio programmes have 'dumbed down?'  I mean on Radio 4 and 4 Extra.  Here we see the imposition of 'Bread and Circus's' clearly.
Once there were many good programmes covering a wide range of issues, often well researched, constructively presented and well worth a listen.  Today there has been a marked increase in drama, Political Correctness (almost every programme has to have a woman knowledgeable or not, and a lessening of factual, Historical or religious programmes.  It appears taking your mind of reality is now the main driving force in radio.
There has on Radio 4 always been far too much 'drama,' Books' and 'stories,' almost all aimed at women, but there is a great increase today.  This appears in my mind as part of the slow erosion of the thinking mind and the replacement with programmes that do not challenge and encourage a slow seeping of the questioning mind.  You do not get that from 'Book at Bedtime.'
This is a deliberate policy.
The new 'BBC Sounds' which replaced the 'iplayer' has also encouraged this by lessening the number of aged programmes than can be obtained.  Those that are available will be the ones chosen for us by our superiors, and we can trust them can we not?
We have a 'dumbed down' media, the press, TV and radio offer nothing to inspire, educate and open the mind.  Far too much follows the rule of the powers that be.  Any who oppose and disagree may well soon see their books burnt.  Just saying...

Now you mention it, why are there so many women chatting on Radio 3 these days?  There was a time the presenter presented the music and the music played.  Now it appears either  a woman presents, which means talks needlessly about, the music and some of it plays.  Now there has been women presenting on Radio 3 for some time, very good ones at that, but there is a new generation introduced by Political Correctness to fill the air with sound, the sound of their voice, not music. 
Yesterday the 'Early music Show was more talk than music, late the other night, just after midnight, a trio of women came on to discuss women composers, usually by giggling rather than talking and avoiding playing much music by female composers while they giggled like teenagers. 
Today, Donald MacLeod has a women to discuss Beethoven during 'Composer of the Week.'  Why?  He has never required assistance before!  While the Beeb is cutting back by removing 450 'journalists (no managers appear to be leaving) it is adding needless females to all parts of the BBC for PC reasons, thus increasing costs and wasting cash!  The money saved on journalists, mostly those who opposed Brexit I suspect, will be spent on the women infesting Radio 3 with their talk.  Talk?  Ten words when one would do thus offering less time for music which is what the station is for!
If I go on like this I may have to apply for a job at the 'Daily Mail!'

War, BBC and Sounds.

BBC

Eighty years ago today Neville Chamberlain informed the nation that "This country is now at war with Germany." Listen here.

Many inform us that Chamberlain was quite successful as a chancellor of the exchequer during the 1930's.  While they attack his appeasement policy towards Adolf Hitler they accept that he also introduced money to pay for both a Fighter Defence and a Bomber Command.  Money was also found to strengthen the Royal Navy and yet he failed to provide monies for the army, possibly that was sensible as the British Army in 1939 still appeared willing to fight the last war and had not developed modern strategy or tactics.  

Chamberlain's great failure however was less his appeasement rather than his failure to understand Hitler.  Adolf just wanted to win the last war, his whole policy was to take over the land mass to the east and enslave any who opposed him, Neville never understood this.  Neville also had been successful and this many say led to his belief that he alone could bring the world situation to a peaceful conclusion.  His arrogance would have been worthwhile had he understood his enemy, he did not.

By 1938 Chamberlain was beginning to understand his failure.  The merging of Germany and Austria, the invasion of Czechoslovakia and the threat to Poland brought home his failure.  He did however have the courage to stand up to Adolf in the end and threaten war if the Germans did not leave Poland, a coward would not have done this!  

So early on a Sunday morning, some churches rigging up wireless sets so the congregation could listen, the British state heard Chamberlains words.  Nobody rejoiced, no flags waved, all understood the situation and were aware of the cost.  

In Germany few rejoiced, indeed the Nazi leaders gathered together to listen to this news and afterwards silence reigned.  Goebbels turned to von Ribbentrop and snarled "Now what!"  Teamwork and shared responsibility was not a Nazi virtue.

 

Such a major event in a life, and participating in a war that is won is about as major as is possible, leaves an affect on an individual and a nation.  The UK still carries the success as well as the aftermath of the second world war.  The aftermath saw an improving society, better housing, the NHS, schools, education for all and improved laws in the work place.  The memory of the war was ever with those who fought or came afterwards.  As the empire died the boast of a great past increased!  Today, as a small nation stronger in the EU than alone, many wish to return to that past. However the past has gone and the UK cannot survive alone.  The war has influenced many to vote for leaving the EU as they reach for an imaginary past, most who do so were not born in the war and never saw the suffering caused.  Interestingly those who now lead the Leave campaign care little for the war and never mention it, they care for position, fame and vast fortune as they line their pockets while subjecting the nation to austerity.  

The soon coming election, based on Boris's promises of money for education, NHS and everyone else, all too soon to be false, will fool many who wish to be fooled.  The opposition, is there one? will offer similar lies also unfounded.

Looking at all this maybe it would be good if the EU did go to war with the UK, well England at least, and send their bombers over here once again.  England deserves that!

BBC Sounds

     
So I woke this morning and stumbled through to sit at my desk staring into space until I woke enough to have breakfast.  I looked for Radio 3 to find some noise and discovered that 'the page is missing' and was redirected to BBC Sounds the new, expensive and absurd replacement for the popular and efficient iPlayer.
Why?
What sort of con is this that my link is sabotaged for the sake of the shockingly poor 'Sounds' mistake?  They say £10 million was spent adjusting the iPlayer to create 'Sounds' I wish I had been consulted as I could have saved them several million. If they continue to replace my links to justify this I may be tempted to scribble a note to someone in the BBC, they will ignore it but they will notice it...
After a search I have replaced the links and hope this time it will remain untouched by BBC executives failing at their job.
As I am on I might as well mention 'The Political Butterfly Effect' which was broadcast yesterday.  This featured the phenomenon of noise in the wrong place.  It appears that talk on Radio 4 must always be accompanied by needless noise drowning out the words and hindering hearing what is said and enjoyment of decent programmes.  I realise these producers come from the 'Punk generation' but they do not have to prove it!  Yesterday we were supposed to be in the House of Commons bar so they supplied appropriate sounds thus rendering talk useless.  These drink loving producers spend an enormous time in such places so must realise that nothing can be heard in them unless your ear is up against the speaker!  Radio 3 talks do not require needless noise why so on Radio 4? 

 

Sun, Houses and Radio 4

Sunshine tempted me out early this morning, long before breakfast, to visit Tesco!  Since then, trapped inside cleaning, sorting and lazing about, I have avoided the sun as strangely for an August Bank Holiday weekend it is still shining.
After all the hard work of the morning I dreampt of having money and moving to other parts of the world, well Scotland, where I could live in peace and see out my days undisturbed by people.  This is a dream as my piggy bank offered only £3.78 and one Israeli shekel.  However using Right Move I  considered places as diverse as Seton Castle, a snip at £8 million plus, a nice view from Largs at just under £400,000 to a parking space in Edinburgh for a mere £30,000.  The car will not cost as much!
There is much fun to be found looking into other people's very much tidied up houses they wish to escape from.  There is much more fun using Google Maps to check on the surrounding area to note the items the photographer has omitted, schools, petrol stations, nuclear power stations and the like, items which on closer inspection might tend to put buyers off.  Then of course you may not know the area, the local people or how many drug deals are done in your street each night.  
This was a good way to pass the time, my piggy bank reminded me it was nothing more than that!

She finished today!  The reader finally ended her work and jumped off a bridge to ensure some happiness for those close to her.  The author sadly did not.  There is nothing worse than listening to a woman talk about her baby, today we had 15 long minutes of a woman confused by her daughters behaviour when they entered adolescence.  Comparing their behaviour to when they were sweet young things and discussing this with other mums in similar situation it was clear there was shock that teenagers, especially young ones, would be what they have always been.  Is it just me?  Have people not always been thus?  How come this 'educated woman' did not know this?  Mind you, she was educated at an all girls boarding school, possibly that helped her avoid real life. 
The reading of this book, while increasing the number of listeners now queueing up at the doctors for anti-depressives, told us much about the narrow confines of the 'witty and clear thinking' author. For one 'wit' was not something she revealed at any time, for another 'clear thinking' was used instead of 'needless cogitating of the obvious.'  Clearly this was was indeed writing a play, or rewriting a Greek play for the stage, and she had little hope of ever becoming a lawyer, doctor or someone in the real world.  The Greek play, in which she wishes to change the plot to make the cruel and violent woman appear to be a 'hurt woman defending herself' also reflects her middle class colour supplement reading.  Maybe she ought to visit Holloway Prison for a wider view on life?       
At least she has now gone, the authorities are cleaning up after the readers demise, and we look to something interesting and hopeful next week, I wonder what it is?  Oh great, a man tells us of his life in care and how he survived.  
I can't wait... 

Angela, Boris, Donald, Radio 4

There is no doubt that Angela Merkel is by far the best politician in Europe.  Having run Germany for 14 years, having come from a poor background and yet established herself solidly at the top and having no obvious competitors she is a woman in which there is much to admire. 
Here we see her greet Boris Johnson with all the pomp of state to make him feel important, he would love that.  A banquet at night, deep discussions on many topics and after he has got back to his bedroom he realises she has him over a barrel. 
Quietly she has offered him a chance to discuss Brexit and No Deal provided he can come up with an answer to the Backstop.  Of course she, and he, knows he has no answer, there is no answer, and while dressed in all the panoply of government he is in fact a King with no clothes.
She has him round her little finger.
Today Boris meets the French president, one who is clearly annoyed with Brexit and has no wish to continue the needless fuss.  I wonder what blundering nonsense he will offer when he returns from that meeting?

Now, what is to be said here?  Donald Trump has claimed God has put him there to fight China.  He accepts a tweet that claims he is 'King of Israel,' and appears at last to have clearly gone of his head.
Or at least is no longer afraid of being open about his instability.
I think Jesus is quite bemused by this.
Add to this his huff when he wished to 'Buy Greenland,' and found himself rebuffed, even though Greenland was not for sale and no proper bid made.  Being rebuffed and ridiculed he has refused to follow through on a state visit to Denmark and gone of into the White House to be comforted by what remains of his loyal staff (his daughter).
Such a noble nation the USA but so democratic it can do nothing about this three year old sitting in the White House!
What next?

She was at it again, the reader speaking in that 'slit my wrists' voice, yesterday I found myself agreeing with her moaning.  She referred to airports and the way in which those employed treat passengers passing in front of them especially if they are black, weak or unimportant.  In my rare occasions of airport travel I have found staff often rude and unhelpful.
I must say that anyone who faces the public all day, often with stressful situations around them, there is reason to become pig ignorant of the masses passing by, often more pig ignorant than the

staff can ever be.  Her point was good and it was developed well, even if I was sucking in Valium by the bottle at the end. 

Today the wrist cutter was once again bemoaning home.  Her home was part of her, the family abused it damaging her.  Deep inside her home, well her London flat, was part of her.  In a way she is right but it appears the author looks so deep into everything I fear she may have Donald Trump style problems ahead.  The home reflects you indeed, what that says about me I do not intend to reveal, but must the author be neurotic about everything?  

There is still no evidence of the 'witty' part as yet.   I might have missed that while putting my head in the bath for ten minutes.

Coventary & Mudlarking

Radio 4

Every morning at 9:45 Radio 4 offers a 'Book of the Week.'  Usually it is some women's book, often concerning how hard their lives are, while occasionally something interesting drops by.  I thought this week the book sounded quite good at first sight, 'Coventry,' a book by Rachel Cusk, the Radio schedule tells us the book is a 'new collection of witty and clear sighted essays.'  I looked forward to something other than the usual.  Having heard the first, read by an Amelia Bullmore, a woman who's voice indicates she is on the verge of suicide, and cogitated on the fifteen minutes of grumbling about other people's driving habits I found myself not over happy with the results.  Her driving, mostly around narrow roads near the sea appeared hindered by slow drivers, tourists gazing at the view, people wondering where the next turning was and then she ventured onto the motorway somewhat reluctantly.  Her moaning continued, everybody was at fault, and I was wondering if possibly she herself could be a problem on the road.  Other people getting in the way are indeed a nuisance.  The 'wtty' bit was lacking and her 'clear sight' blocked by 40 ton lorries I think.
This morning I gave her another chance, however the second programme is one in which she labours on about how her parents kept 'sending her to Coventry,' something she claims they have done all her life.  Fifteen minutes with none of the 'witty or clear sighted' writing hove into view.  Depression, desolation, gloom and wrist slashing while throwing oneself of a railway bridge certainly did however.  Is it part of the female psyche to consider such things witty I ask?  A combination of the tale of woe with a melancholic reader do not in my mind result in 'witty and clear sighted' essays.  There are three more programmes like this and by Friday I expect the Samaritans will be calling out for more volunteers to answer the phones!
Last weeks book, 'Mudlarking,' by Lara Maiklem was similarly spoiled by her revealing her personality all the way through and then reading her own book with an unsuitable voice.  The actions of the 'Mudlarks' are often very interesting in themselves but their broken lives are revealed all to easily in five 15 minute programmes.
I spent a very relaxing day after this downloading lots of 'Podcasts' from the BBC.  Thanks to 'BBC Sounds' replacing the 'BBC iPlayer' it took long enough to find 'Podcasts' but find it I did.  I then wandered about therein seeking items that have been heard before, many I had not known existed and others that will require listening to soon.  I will put them in the 'Brexit hoard' as after then there will be a shortage of programmes as the only thing to be heard will be wailing and gnashing of teeth! 

Sunny Grumble

Is it just me?
I came across this advert on Twitter reminding people to drink lots of water in the heat.
Now it crossed my mind that such things were never made clear when I was a lad.  Nobody told us to drink cold water when we were hot.  No wireless or TV adverts demanded we drink to avoid suffering from heat.  I wonder why?
Could it be, and I am merely speculating here, could it be that we did not require instruction on how to cool down when hot?  Was it because or mum gave us instructions perhaps?  Could it have been that we were not totally stupid maybe?  I just throw this out as reading this advert I wondered if people had never realised before that when the sun shines it gets hot and we drink water to cool down and feel capable of dealing with it.
Maybe it's just me?
I await warnings to 'Keep out of the sun as it is hot,' and 'the sun burns,' don't be in it too long, just in case people do not realise this.  I realise climate change has increased the power of the sunshine, it burns me more than it used to and I avoid it, but really, do we need such blatant advice?

I managed to wander around in the heat looking for half naked women photographs in the sun.  There were so few as it was just to hot.  Animals hid from the heat, children didn't, most people gathered under trees for the shade and to gather together to pray that Boris will get arrested for some misdemeanour tomorrow.  If only.  

 
I have been struggling to listen to a programme re William Gladstone on Radio 4.  David Cannadine does offer decent programmes but it is becoming impossible to hear what is being said as the producer, as all producers today, insist on inserting needless and irrelevant music thus drowning out the speaker.  There has always been this element on radio, a needless song because the producer cannot listen for five minutes to a voice, now however it is over top of the voice making hearing impossible.
Radio 3 offers the 'Essay.'  Fifteen minute programmes of people speaking intelligently, usually, without music or any other interruption. Why is it Radio 4 cannot manage this?  These children of the 80's have no ability to listen, I suspect they wander about with headsets over their heads, not the women obviously as they fear for their hair, and their heads down onto the mobile rather than looking where they go.  
Speech is good, intelligent speech does not require noise accompaniment.
When will the BBC kids learn this?

Old Tech But Working Tech

A short time ago I suddenly realised a favourite radio programme was about to start on Radio 4.  This is the type of programme I usually wish to keep so off I run to the tape cassette recorder (ask mum kids) and search for a free tape.  
For many years I used to have a double tape deck and was able to make tapes according to my own desire, those days sadly have passed and few have any sort of cassette player with which to listen.  Now it appears we much insert disc into deck and record from the TV (which also has radio) and keep a disc.  However two problems arise here, one is the inability to play around mixing and matching with these and the other my discs fail to work.  Yet another of the hundred and one things that need attention in this house.
However if it works I will be able to improve my collection of tapes and this is a must as I am sick of hearing those I made 20 years ago!  They themselves are now historical!  For many years I have had to do without this tape machine and when I hear them now it takes me back sometimes more than 20 years.  Tapes from the Open University, BBC anniversaries of D-Day, war programmes, historical recordings, various UK towns, all sorts of things lie there.  However I find so few programmes to record today and this machine does not do the 'DAB' system so many more channels are lost to me which is sad.  
I particularly like short 15 min programmes on a variety of subjects but being there to record them, no timer on this either, does make things irksome.  of course I could mention the buzzing on the reception that will not desist no matter where we go but I will leave that aside as I can ignore that, usually.  Too many drama's, book for women, boring or irrelevant stuff on radio these days.  Hopefully things will improve.  

 

The Gardens

The sun has gone, replaced with the beginning of another leftover hurricane sent from our friends in the west.  Quite why they insist on sending their used hurricanes to us I know not but there really is no need for them to do this, we have plenty wind and rain already.  However this means a wander through the gardens without screaming brats or the mothers with their noses stuck up in the air and gives freedom to actually enjoy the plant life.  The only life came from a white cat desperate for attention, I feared he was lost but he soon disappeared clearly knowing his way about.  As I wandered further a second likewise desperate cat appeared and I realised they were missing the woman who played with and fed them.  I was a sore disappointment for them.

Near the round pond a tree has been cut down after more than a hundred years service and some wag has turned the remnants into this seat.  Kiddies will love it but I wonder if it is wise.  Personally I prefer if it had just been left as a stump as has happened elsewhere but I suppose this keeps some happy. 

The gardens were given to the town in the 1880's by the Courtauld family.  These were their gardens over the street from their big house which still stands now turned into flats.  The family were Unitarians and during the 19th century they followed the common idea of a 'social gospel' in which rich folks paid for schools, hospitals etc for the local townsfolk.  Very admirable David Cameron would say keeping both hands in the pockets of his thousand pound Saville Row suit.  It was indeed a well planted garden and these trees rise majestically over it.  A wide variety are found here and various firs make excellent homes for a variety of birds, none of whom came anywhere near the feline visitors.

I spent much of the day listening to the excellent old programmes available, if you search hard enough for them, on the BBC iPlayer.  These included one programme about Austin Texas and the weirdos who inhabit that strange place.  Texans are of course like all Americans - weird - and fail to spell their words correctly also!  Deep in the bowels of Radio 4 I found 'The Roman Way' the first of several on their influence in history.  I would have listened to the news but this was full of George Osborne telling us lies re the marvellous things he is doing as he prepares to take over from Cameron as Prime Minister.  I switched off and burnt my dinner instead.  I must get out of the habit of turning the knob on the cooker too far, it keeps switching on the grill when I mean oven.  So much gets burnt this way.  At least while listening to the wireless from the distant past I sorted out my mail file on the 'in tray.'  I had about six months old mail lying there, much now in the bin.

This comes to mind when George Osborne speaks...

Radio 4 and 'Today'

I know how he feels!

This morning the Radio 4 programme 'Today' made me feel quite bilious!  This is supposedly the main 'hard news' show of the day, beginning at six in the morning and finishing at nine when everyone is supposedly at work somewhere in England.  Note it is supposedly only England as the rest have their own versions of early morning news.  In theory the main news will be offered, discussed, politicians called to explain, foreign news explained, home news made clear.  All well and good, when it works and the presenters allow folks to speak and answer the question!  The anti-Scots pro liberal bias is well noted but recently they have begun to turn the programme into one of those TV versions of early morning news, the ones where almost no news at all can be seen and pop/film/authors/celebs fill the time dressing badly and talking about themselves.

Today 'Today' gave us what appeared to be hours of drivel re a soap opera being broadcast at the weekend.  The sound of James Naughtie, a man who sold out Scotland during the referendum to keep his many slots in Radio 4 and Radio 3, indulged himself slavering over an actress from this upcoming show.  'Poldark' is the name, a remake of a programme form the distant past.  the usual script, handsome men, pretty girls, clothes off and in the background an explosion, a bad man/old man/grumpy woman etc and nothing but vacuous bile all the way through.  You saw it when it was the Tudors/Victorians/shop owners/oil magnates etc and will be seeing the same again soon.  

Why was this dross on a news show?

Not long ago a man wrote a 'book' on Twitter for them, then we had poetry and on and on and on with things that have little to do with news.  If only we had a proper news service, better journalists instead of BBC clones and moved away from celebrity culture on news shows we might get more people listening.

.

The Day After

Possibly the most worrying thing today was the weighing machine cracking under my feet as I stood on it.  Being not so young as it once was it shows signs of strain, however loud cracking sounds followed by sighs of relief as I get off are not asked for.  I suggest it is broken and requires urgent replacement and I will look into this once I have eaten all the stuff in the fridge and begin my new diet again.    

Well you see I bought stuff for Christmas and canny eat it all in one go can I? At least I couldn't yesterday or today at any rate.  The puddings are still in the cupboard and the Italian type cake is only half eaten.  Well I say 'half...' Anyway tomorrow I eat more veg and begin to fight the flab.  I even attempted slight exercise again, and slight is the word.  

Christmas TV was poor.  I only found the Chris Tarrant Railways programmes worth watching.  All the rest was films and pap, the usual stuff.  Folks I could have been with this week are now watching 'Downtown Abbey' or whatever it's called, and have been watching several dreary films.  I could have been there grumbling at their TV but stayed here to grumble at my own.  Be assured had I had to watch that 'Downtown' thing again as I had to last time I may well have spoken out of turn!  

Several radio programmes were worth a listen however.

Christmas meditation by Milton Jones, a comic.  

Voices of the First World War, featuring men who saw the 1914 Christmas truce.  This truce was unofficial and took place in limited parts of the line. However it has received much publicity this year, somewhat 'over the top' in my view but worth a listen to the men themselves.  

Desert Island Discs 300th programme.  Most who appear on this radio favourite mean little to me but this man turned out to be a real gem and worth a listen.

With Great Pleasure, items chosen by Ian Hislop.   An interesting insight into Ian and his choice of readings.  Usually this is a good programme whoever is on it.

The rest of the time I just watched football when I could find it!

Oh and my 17 year old great niece sent me a pullover.

Those lights flash on and off too, just wait till I see her........ 

.

Nothing!

Another Sunday comes near its end and my mind is empty.  I wore it out emoting today and there is little left once darkness falls and my plate of badly cooked leftovers rots inside.  It started the usual way, I spent several minutes wondering if I was awake or still dreaming.  The voices in my head turned out to be some plonker of 'Talksport' discussing fishing with a man on a mobile phone. As is normal with such calls he was either talking from inside a cardboard box or speaking Chittagonian, I know not which. Either way this did not interest and I scrambled wearily for the remote on the pillow, it being to far to reach out from under the blankets to the wireless, and changed to the early Radio 4, here the weather forecast threatened me. This ended and offered me uninteresting news so I moved to Radio 5's childish news service and quickly amended that to Radio 3.  At last something that did not prattle or irritate the early morning mind.  

'Choice' is one of those buzzwords politicians use when lying through their teeth, choice in hospitals, choice in schools, choice here there and everywhere, however the choice is limited and often unavailable. Radio and TV offer choice, you can tale what they offer or lump it!

Early morning radio is poor and I spend more time on Radio 3 with the music filling the space between my ears than the wool mill like noise that emanates from the morning news hubs.  One lying MP is up against another misinforming the nation or perhaps a supporter of Black faces a White fan and the debate gets nowhere much to some smug BBC voice's satisfaction (and £2-300,000 a year is satisfying!).  

The mind was awake during the wee talk by the minister in the Kirk at ten, or half past when he got around to speaking.  The week I had was not good, much was going wrong and this bugged me all week. The reminder of what we live for, or indeed who we live for was important.  How we respond to his call, opening ourselves to him personally and living it out all  rang bells in me.  I made a list of things to amend, it's about eight feet long, and have already added to it.  Tsk!  If I believed him whom I believe strangely enough difficulties might increase but I would cope better with them.  Life will always have problems.  He has never failed me yet, so I had better up my game I say. 

I spent some time around noon searching the fifty or so TV channels on offer for something to fill half an hour.  The set works fine, good picture, acceptable sound, colour OK.  The programmes consisted of mind blowing pap and little else!  Soaps, forty year old episodes of 'Columbo,' or comedies unwatched in the 70's. Did you watch 'On the Buses' more than once?  How come this is a favourite of so many?  Why is it repeated I ask?  PC stops some being repeated, usually those that had wit and humour, why is 'pap' allowed?  The shopping channels had more talent than that exposed elsewhere, and I do not mean the films so old their colour was fading.  Now there are millions of decent old documentaries hidden away somewhere in this world, some occasionally coming into view, but far too few for me.  Modern documentaries are too concerned to constantly keep moving, 'Locomotion' was so bad at this that to show speed Dan Snow chose to run frequently, why?  The cartoons were not allowed to be themselves, they were animated so that they too were constantly on the move! What sort of 13 year old mind produces this tripe?  Why not stand still and tell the story?
I was so glad when the football arrived!

However the Edinburgh Derby, when the Heart of Midlothian defeat Hibernian is an exciting gripping affair and this dilutes the feeble English efforts at this type of contest.  Watching Manchester City defeating weakened Manchester United was so boring I fell asleep for ten minutes in the second half.  My snoring woke me up and must have annoyed the rest of the house!  Later it was a much more interesting contest, Villa v Spurs, and while not as enjoyable as Spartans versus Clyde it kept my attention from sleep.  
However these games take away all my emotion.  The mind is worn out with stress and rest is required. You will guess that Bach is playing in the background.  Yes indeed Bach is my favourite Welsh composer. Typically the music ends as I write that, innit a game eh?  We now have Handel to use care on.  (Geddit? handle with care? oh forget it.)  
See, I told you I had nothing to say and nothing has been said.  Tomorrows list of things to do lies awaiting being ignored by my side, rain clouds gather above waiting for my early morn dash to Tesco to unleash their contents while others suffer sunburn and have the audacity to complain about the heat!  I had better go and prepare myself by having some beauty sleep, not that I require that of course....  


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Write, Right?

I have been listening to one of those wireless programmes again, this time it is called 'The Write Stuff' and features questions of books but specialising in Jerome K Jerome.  You can hear it here if you wish. The spoofs of the chosen authors books at the end are always good and JKJ would no doubt laugh at those heard here.

Once again however this got me thinking about writing a similar book to 'Three Men in a Boat.' Like everyone else I have wished to emulate this success and so far I have only the booklet re the Great War exhibition.  Fame at last!  However writing a book that would travel outside this area is somewhat harder as it has to resonate with readers everywhere.  This makes things harder. Also having an editor rough it up to improve it makes for double work!  

What is the book you are trying to write?  

They say everyone has a novel in them, although I have no wish to write a novel, more a factual book worth reading and offering a light yet serious view of the world.  Travel books are idea, yet the last trip was five miles down the road! An autobiography, but that was cause suicide to the readers.  I read one chaps excellent ' The Goalkeepers Guide to Britain.'  This took the period since the war, set in his home area of run down Islington in London and through the varieties of goalkeepers since gave us an excellent readable social history, at one and the same time personal and understandable for all.  Super stuff, shame he has already done it.  

Ah well, it's good to dream, innit?

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'Clue.

'I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue' is one of the BBC Radio 4's better efforts.  Smutty in bits it also possesses much humour.  This particular episode features the great Humphrey Lyttleton as chairman.  Sadly he died 19 days after this recording.  You may, or may not, like this.

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The Slow Death of a Good Radio Show

Since 1975 or 76 I have listened regularly to 'Just a Minute,' the wonderful radio panel show hosted by Nicholas Parsons. In fact Parsons has hosted every show since the first one way back in 1967.  The basic rules are simple.  Four panel members are given a subject, often obscure, and they must chat about this for one minute without hesitation, repetition or deviation.  This is of course much harder than it seems and at times has produced an excellent half hours worth of laughter.    
Throughout the show wit, repartee and a quick response has been the regular order with occasional bits of smut thrown in, usually by Clement Freud or Kenneth Williams.  Now however this programme has become a sad shadow of itself.  Wit is replaced by constant smut and the old fashioned seaside postcard 'dropped drawers' humour abounds.  Julian Clary and his one joke alongside Gyles Brandreth and his gay obsession reduces the programme to a low level, Brandreth being the worst offender.  He does indeed possess talent and ability to speak well but insists on jokes 12 year old's would not find funny yet appears with monotonous regularity on the show these days.  When the attempt to televise the show was attempted yet again recently it appeared more like 'Just a Gay' rather than 'Just a Minute,' the BBC liberal agenda being more important than the programme or the viewer.  That flopped as such programmes do on TV but the present show is a poor reflection of what was once humour at its finest. Wit, banter and laughs, sadly usually missing today.  Maybe this reflects society, maybe it reflects the small group from whom all panelists are chosen.  I myself have lost interest and Radio comedy is a lot less funny than it has been in the past.  Very sad that.   

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Now I'm not one to complain but....

Why I ask, when something works perfectly well, do we need some cretinous minded lout coming along and 'improving things?'  The BBC website is one such example.  Having moved into new Manchester, sorry, Salford, studios it has been decided to 'upgrade' the excellent BBC website in keeping with the new layout in Salford and BBC London.  This means the football pages are full of white space and absurd yellow banners, meaningless unrelated content is pinned for weeks where it is not wanted and required content is not always easy to find.  The 'upgrade' to the BBC iPlayer has gone the same way. The screen above is the 'simple' layout some fourteen year old geek has offered us, and as you will expect it does not quickly lead to the sought after item. WHY can 'designers' not design things to be simple enough for stupid people to operate rather than fancy enough for someone who will only admire the layout and not actually have to use it?

There now follows a few minutes quite as I lie on the floor chewing the ends of the rug.

When I got this laptop it came equipped with 'Windows 7,' while before I used 'XP.'  'XP' was excellent and gave me all I required, it also allowed me to use the 'Outlook' Mail service which is far better than 'Windows Live,' a system that fails to live up to its name!  However someone somewhere insisted on changing things, needlessly!  Bah!  

  
Google Maps have done this also!  The old system was perfect and I used this often.  Now the thing is not straight forward, lists appear at the side unwanted, the wee man will not land on the street chosen, the tools are useless, pictures arise from the bottom for no reason and 'my location' does not work yet the location is there on the absurd space taking list at the top left!   I click on the map to move it and the address, with picture, appears at the top left.  I don't want it!  If I want a picture I will ask for one! Just give me the map!  This is a needless and failing upgrade!  Go back to the old system Google!!!!


Now look, that rug is frayed at the edges.....

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The Wireless, Daffodils and Books!

BBC Radio 3

I am very much enjoying the 15 minute programmes found on the wireless these days.  Both Radio 4 and Radio 3 have a good selection of these all well worth a browse.  Above we have a picture of Andrew Martin the writer (what do we mean 'the writer?  Especially when we have never heard of him until today?).  He offered us five 15 minute programmes on Radio 3s 'The Essay,' and although time is running out to hear the first one I found these very interesting and thought provoking, almost as if I had written them myself, they were that good, what?...oh!

These five programmes come under 'England Ejects' heading, ignoring the fact they cover all the UK rather than just one small portion thereof!   'Boasting,' 'Eating too much,' 'Rules, gentility,' 'Manual work,' and 'Sunday church going,' are the headings, each one very enjoyable little talks. His voice is good for radio, unlike far too many these days, and his honesty is welcome.  You will probably enjoy these, if you are quick!

The advantage of 15 minute programmes is that of they are not too good they soon end, if they are worth a listen there is often the promise of more to follow. Nothing worse than finding Radio 4 is filling all such slots with mediocre or uninteresting rubbish.  I feel robbed when I note this, and it does happen. Finding Radio 3 also doing such offerings was brilliant.  I wonder what else is hiding on radio stations world wide, hidden behind hours of music blasting around the world and found only by looking in dark corners of the wireless?    

The lack of real winter has seen the daffodils rise early this year.  All these bulbs that ought to be welcoming Easter a month or so away are poking through now.  These will bloom in the next few days and while welcome they do indicate how mild the winter has been so far.  I expect the electric and gas directors and most put out by this and attempting to discover ways to increase prices because of the mildness in the air.  The million pound bonus's may not be quite so good at Christmas and a trip to their bank in the British Virgin Islands may be on the cards for these struggling men.  I however am quite happy not to have the heat full blast most days, and look forward to Spring bouncing in as soon as possible!

I should tell you I am almost finished with two more books, and have started another.  This means I may refer to them sometime soon.  Are you waiting for this?......oh!

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