gogglebox

After recommendations, I've started watching Channel 4's Gogglebox  recently, and actually enjoy it a lot more than l thought l would do.  At first, it was 'Why would l want to watch other people watching TV?', it sounds like an insane idea, and l certainly have better things to do with my time.
Turns out l haven't, and the show can be quite funny.  Also, despite my prejudices against the upper clases (I know! - I've got many, many issues), my favourites on the show are the posh pissheads, Stephanie and Dominic Parker, probably because they remind me of a recent relationship (minus the poshness).
My nagging reservation about the show that prevents me enjoying it more, is the rather obvious elephant in the room (not me). That is, these people are on TV each week themselves, have achieved some kind of twisted celebrity, and are aware of how they are coming accross on our screens.  In which case, they must sometimes be playing up to the cameras, and not being their natural selves, and l can't get that nagging doubt out of my tiny little brain whenever l watch it.
Still good to watch for mind sapping relaxation, plus through the clips shown, l get glimpses into other programmes that l avoid like the plague.
X Factor - l'm talking about you, and as a cynical yet comedic look at talent shows, l recommend Ben Elton's novel 'Chart Throb'. You'll think differently about the shows afterwards.

toodle pip

johnny's cafe at camp centre and progress

To anyone living in the Catterick Garrison area, Johnny's cafes were one of the main places to hang out, eat cheese and onion rolls, and talk crap. Obviously only the location has changed, as plenty of rolls are still eaten, and trust me, the crap is flowing as steadily as ever, but it's a shame that they have now gone, this one by Camp Centre roundabout being replaced by an Aldi (or Lidl, l forget which one).
Much as l love the addition of new shops to the area, buildings such as this, the Camp Centre post office, The Walkerville hotel / Stax / Scorpion nightclub, and the Colburn Lodge should have been given historical status and preserved. They are what gave the Garrison an identity (apart from the thousands of soldiers passing through).
Bloody progress!!!!!
Saying that,  l'm still looking forward to the new cinema and KFC outlet.  Sitting in the dark watching films, and eating plenty of Southern Fried Chicken.
As before, only the venues will have changed, as l already do that at home (way too often).

The Colburn Lodge earlier in the year, awaiting development. It looks a lot worse now.

toodle pip

wayne king - have yourself a merry little christmas

I will try to, but l don't think l can manage a whole orchestra.

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remember me - bbc drama

I watched the concluding episode of BBC's supernatural drama 'Remember Me' last night, and what a treat it was. An elderly man tries to leave his old haunted home behind, but with dire consequences to him and others.  It kept you guessing where the story was heading, and there were enough jump out shocks and surprises to keep you on your toes, so a hearty success all around.
All of the cast were believable and not too over the top (as often happens), but Michael Palin as Tom Parfitt (the old man) gave an outstanding performance, and Jodie Corner as Hannah (the teenage care assistant)   wasn't too shoddy either.  I have a hunch that awards could well be on the way.
Marvelous stuff, although l now can't get the 'Scarborough Fair' song out of my head.

Here's Simon and Garfunkel's version, originally from the 1966  'Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme' LP - one of my favourite albums.



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dear santa

My card is in the post.

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the addams family hopefuls

It's hard to imagine anyone else apart from Carolyn Jones playing Morticia Addams in TV series of 'The Addams Family', but of course, before filming commenced, actors had to be tried out, and here are some of the photographs from the casting sessions, with Carolyn at the bottom.
I used to love the show, as l was mainly bought up on American TV, and this is one of the classics of the era, even if they only did two seasons (but 64 episodes).
Taken from Life magazine

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police on my back

What l don't want to see when l open the blinds first thing in the morning (OK, about 10.30am).
The filth / bizzies / plod / rozzers / dibble.  Or as The Clash would say - Police on my Back.
Luckily, this time, they weren't after me, which always makes a pleasant change.




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the deserted seaside

 

A trip out the the pretty deserted seaside with work, looking for devil's toenails.
Redcar to be precise.
It's a hard job, but someone's got to do it.

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sauces await arrival of chicken

Now this is what you call eating healthily (not!).
Various sauces awaiting the arrival of fried chicken last night.  Eaten with lots of wine.
Yum yum, and indeed, Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..

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spiders take over a baltimore treatment plant

 

What a nightmare scenario.
This would be the worst job ever for me.  Having to clean out a Wastewater treatment plant in Baltimore, USA that has been over run with spiders. About 107 million of them, spread out over 4 acres. There is no amount of money available that would entice me to seek employment there. Grubby evil eight legged multi eyed bastards - l hate them.
The details and research paper about them can be found here.

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einstein shows up mr parrot

Damn!!
I thought Mr Parrot was a clever boy, but Einstein the parrot is showing him up for the imbecile he probably is in the parrot community.
Me and him are going to have some serious words.

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dating advice from futurama

Some sound advice from Futurama.
Don't date robots!!
Another wacky saying that would look good on a t shirt.

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a pear destroyed by mr parrot

This is what happens if you go off to make a cup of tea, leaving a pear unguarded on the settee when Mr Parrot is lurking about.
Little sod.

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the day the earth stood still (1951)

I was watching 'The Day The Earth Stood Still' today.  A 'classic' movie from 1951, featuring the Christ like Klaatu and his companion, Gort. A film that clearly affected some musicians of a certain age, as there are a few references to it over the years. One of the most famous is Ringo Starr's 'Goodnight Vienna' lp, which features the spaceship, Ringo and Gort (not Klaatu, as most people think).

There was also a Canadian band that were called Klaatu, who released a 1976 album that sounded a bit like the Beatles, sparking rumours that it was an unreleased, or possible new product from the fab four themselves.  It's also the album that The Carpenters got 'Calling Occupants from Interplanetary Craft' from. God, my head is filled with so much crap it's unbelievable.

As for the film itself, the acting leaves a bit to be desired, the effects are pretty crap, and the ending is pretty sudden, but l still enjoyed it, despite many things annoying me about it as well, such as the lack of onlookers or interested parties when the spaceship is being guarded (by two soldiers!), but especially the clearly visible wires helping to hold up Helen when she is being carried by Gort.

Ah well, these are some of the sacrifices you make if you watch old films. The suspension of belief switch has to be turned right up to 10.

Remember kids - Klaatu Barada Nikto!

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jack jones is don draper

Jack Jones is Don Draper from Mad Men.
I claim my prize.

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slow club - tears of joy

Seeing as no-one else seems to have got round to uploading Slow Club performing 'Tears of Joy', l'll do it myself.
From their album 'Complete Surrender', and l love it.  One of my favourite songs of the year.

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moss gives evidence in the it crowd

I'm sure l have posted this before, but it is one of the funniest things l have seen on TV, and luckily for me, was repeated again last week.  Maurice Moss from The IT Crowd giving evidence in court.
It makes me laugh every time l watch it, and Richard Ayoade's (who plays Moss) expressions, speech, reactions, and comic timing are just perfect.

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mr parrot looking happy

Ah...what's not to love about the little boy?
Mr Parrot looking happy and contented.  You'd never guess that he is a vicious little bastard with other people.

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