Wow. Just finished watching Big Boys on Channel 4. What a lovely heart-warming comedy that was. Absolutely brilliant from start to finish. I am surprised I didn’t hear more about it; it was only as a throw-away comment on a podcast about the third series being shown that brought it to my attention - I guess that’s the nature of today’s fractured media landscape. Maybe it wasn’t aimed at 53-year old men, but I thought it was great. Go watch it - here.
Showing posts with label TV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TV. Show all posts
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Sunday, November 29, 2020
20-11-29 Sunday Covid-19 Day 260 - Sex Education (TV Series)
I thought it worth noting that, now that we've finished watching the second series of Sex Education (available on Netflix), it is a brilliant series. We really enjoyed it. When it first started, I couldn't quite work out where it was supposed to be set, as although the actors were English there were weird Americanisms, e.g. the kids at school were wearing varsity jackets and one of the characters was shipped off to military school - I don't think that's something that we really have here in the UK. That was a bit jarring, but we got over that. There were also some echoes of 70s (or possibly 50s?) Britain which jarred with the ultra-modern storylines.
Once we got into it though, each character was really interesting. Each had their individual foibles, but the underlying message was quite sweet, we thought. Yes there were some pretty frank bits and pieces, and I wouldn't want to sit and watch it with my kids or my parents, but the message was that talking about things was the best solution.
The individual actors were great; Gillian Anderson as Otis's mother was brillian and a great draw into the show. I was really impressed by Jim Howick as the science teacher though; every scene from him drew a smile - especially in the Romeo and Juliet finale at the end of series two. And while the Headteacher and his wife weren't initially a likeable couple, they managed to engage us with their story.
The teens themselves were brilliant, and carried the show. Asa Butterfield as Otis and Emma Mackey as Maeve really carried the show. And the more we learned of them, the more we liked them. And the other teens all brought something to the party. It was a great ensemble show.
We were sorry to have finished the second series, and we can't wait for more when the third series comes around. For me, that's fairly high praise.
TTFN.
Sunday, May 24, 2020
20-05-24 - Covid-19 Day #69 - I - Bank Holiday Weekend
I’ve started watching “How To Get Away With Murder”, which was a big hit a few years ago. Everyone seems very unlikeable though, so I’m not sure I’ll watch another series. Having said that, I’m only two thirds of the way through, and it may improve. I suppose it’ll end in a court case. I’d rather watch something like “The Good Wife” though, I think.
I watched “Jackie Brown” as well, finally. TW & I tried to watch it a number of years ago, when we had a weekend away in Tunbridge Wells, but unfortunately the DVD player in the room couldn’t play the DVD so we never saw it. TW was on the phone to friends, and I didn’t want to watch something else that we were watching together, so I started JB and quite enjoyed it. I didn’t realise how long the film was – 2 hours and 40 minutes! That’s a proper blockbuster…
Apart from that, I went to Tesco yesterday for the first time since the lockdown started, in order to do a big shop. With so few people in the store, it was quite a mellow experience. I spent quite a lot, but didn’t actually come home with much – except some houmous and Haribo. And some very nice non-alcoholic beers for me :-)
One thing I have noticed about this lockdown and working from home is that it is much easier to slip into relaxed “what day is it?” mode at the weekends and especially on long weekends. And this morning TY came down to breakfast thinking it was Monday, so it’s not just me – which is reassuring. With tomorrow being a bank holiday in the UK, I am looking forward to a completely structure-free day.
TTFN.
I watched “Jackie Brown” as well, finally. TW & I tried to watch it a number of years ago, when we had a weekend away in Tunbridge Wells, but unfortunately the DVD player in the room couldn’t play the DVD so we never saw it. TW was on the phone to friends, and I didn’t want to watch something else that we were watching together, so I started JB and quite enjoyed it. I didn’t realise how long the film was – 2 hours and 40 minutes! That’s a proper blockbuster…
Apart from that, I went to Tesco yesterday for the first time since the lockdown started, in order to do a big shop. With so few people in the store, it was quite a mellow experience. I spent quite a lot, but didn’t actually come home with much – except some houmous and Haribo. And some very nice non-alcoholic beers for me :-)
One thing I have noticed about this lockdown and working from home is that it is much easier to slip into relaxed “what day is it?” mode at the weekends and especially on long weekends. And this morning TY came down to breakfast thinking it was Monday, so it’s not just me – which is reassuring. With tomorrow being a bank holiday in the UK, I am looking forward to a completely structure-free day.
TTFN.
Friday, May 15, 2020
20-05-15 - Covid-19 Day #60 - I - A Week of Watching Telly
This week I have mostly been watching telly. Well, that’s a fib; I’ve been working too, but I’ll remember it as a week of good telly.
Most recently we raced through Save Me Too, a brilliant drama on Sky Atlantic. We watched the first series a few years ago now and were really looking forward to another helping, and it didn’t disappoint. As gritty and bleak as the first series, the only thing that was missing for me were the strange goings-on in the background of some shots. I definitely recommend it, but you’ve got to have a strong stomach, and you’ve got to watch the first series first.
Before that, it was Breeders; again, on Sky. For me, the series started off slowly and actually I’m not sure the main characters (played by Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard) were likeable. But as the episodes progressed I got more into it, and the ten episodes passed in a flash. There was a particularly touching moment in one of the episodes which I tweeted about and got some likes from Daisy Haggard herself and one of the writers, which I was quite pleased with.
On BBC2 there was Normal People, of course, which has taken the nation by storm. I loved it, as it seems, did everyone else; for me, it was the space and the quiet of the filming. As a friend mentioned, it was understated. Looking back on it, I think there was a going on which was implicit rather than explicit, which made a nice change.
And lastly, but not least, there was Feel Good, a TV show on C4 or All 4 starring Mae Martin. That was a show with a different feel, it was a bit offbeat and focused on addiction of all sorts. I enjoyed it and it also starred Charlotte Ritchie, who I recognised from Fresh Meat and Ghosts (which helped), as well as Phoebe from Friends – which was nice!
TTFN.
Most recently we raced through Save Me Too, a brilliant drama on Sky Atlantic. We watched the first series a few years ago now and were really looking forward to another helping, and it didn’t disappoint. As gritty and bleak as the first series, the only thing that was missing for me were the strange goings-on in the background of some shots. I definitely recommend it, but you’ve got to have a strong stomach, and you’ve got to watch the first series first.
Before that, it was Breeders; again, on Sky. For me, the series started off slowly and actually I’m not sure the main characters (played by Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard) were likeable. But as the episodes progressed I got more into it, and the ten episodes passed in a flash. There was a particularly touching moment in one of the episodes which I tweeted about and got some likes from Daisy Haggard herself and one of the writers, which I was quite pleased with.
On BBC2 there was Normal People, of course, which has taken the nation by storm. I loved it, as it seems, did everyone else; for me, it was the space and the quiet of the filming. As a friend mentioned, it was understated. Looking back on it, I think there was a going on which was implicit rather than explicit, which made a nice change.
And lastly, but not least, there was Feel Good, a TV show on C4 or All 4 starring Mae Martin. That was a show with a different feel, it was a bit offbeat and focused on addiction of all sorts. I enjoyed it and it also starred Charlotte Ritchie, who I recognised from Fresh Meat and Ghosts (which helped), as well as Phoebe from Friends – which was nice!
TTFN.
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
18-07-24 Tuesday - Christmas in July
So, Movies 24 (channel 325 on Sky) has been hosting a “Christmas in July” season. And I’ve been recording a few of the films to watch. Normally I wouldn’t be that bothered, but a friend of mine hosts a “Half Christmas” and that has kind of infected me, I guess...
Half Christmas is like Christmas, but it’s halfway between last Christmas and next Christmas. We have roast turkey, roast potatoes, red cabbage, sprouts, thick seasonal gravy, except there is lots of booze involved and if the weather is favourable, we get a suntan at the same time.
So she (N) has lent me a couple of seasonal Christmas books and in addition to the Half Christmas festivities, it’s opened my eyes to the fact that Christmas isn’t just limited to late November / December. And when I saw that Movies 24 were running a “Christmas in July” season, I thought it would be good to watch a few of them.
Christmas-themed films tend to be love stories dressed up in snow and mistletoe. They tend to be variable in quality, and to date there has been one which I didn’t bother watching to the end. That was due to the low production values, I think, rather than the story. The story itself was rather whimsical, it was suggesting that Santa Claus’s daughter was working with the USPS to answer letters to kids who had written to Father Christmas. And there was a single guy who had taken on the responsibility of looking after his orphaned niece, so there was a big hint about how the film would end. But the production values were poor and they reminded me of a kids’ show, and so I deleted it.
At the other end of the quality rainbow, I’ve seen a couple of seasonal goodies starring Dean Cain (formerly of Superman fame). One was a skiing film, which was enjoyable, and the other was called “Broadcasting Christmas”, in which Sabrina the Teenage Witch (Melissa Joan Hart) was a co-star. That was a good one.
Anyway, I’ve got a couple of films left to watch. But I’ve enjoyed watching a load of crappy festive movies, and I’d like to continue down this particular furrow. Unfortunately, this particular season draws to a close this Friday, so there’s only a couple of films left to watch. But it’s been fun.
TTFN.
Half Christmas is like Christmas, but it’s halfway between last Christmas and next Christmas. We have roast turkey, roast potatoes, red cabbage, sprouts, thick seasonal gravy, except there is lots of booze involved and if the weather is favourable, we get a suntan at the same time.
So she (N) has lent me a couple of seasonal Christmas books and in addition to the Half Christmas festivities, it’s opened my eyes to the fact that Christmas isn’t just limited to late November / December. And when I saw that Movies 24 were running a “Christmas in July” season, I thought it would be good to watch a few of them.
Christmas-themed films tend to be love stories dressed up in snow and mistletoe. They tend to be variable in quality, and to date there has been one which I didn’t bother watching to the end. That was due to the low production values, I think, rather than the story. The story itself was rather whimsical, it was suggesting that Santa Claus’s daughter was working with the USPS to answer letters to kids who had written to Father Christmas. And there was a single guy who had taken on the responsibility of looking after his orphaned niece, so there was a big hint about how the film would end. But the production values were poor and they reminded me of a kids’ show, and so I deleted it.
At the other end of the quality rainbow, I’ve seen a couple of seasonal goodies starring Dean Cain (formerly of Superman fame). One was a skiing film, which was enjoyable, and the other was called “Broadcasting Christmas”, in which Sabrina the Teenage Witch (Melissa Joan Hart) was a co-star. That was a good one.
Anyway, I’ve got a couple of films left to watch. But I’ve enjoyed watching a load of crappy festive movies, and I’d like to continue down this particular furrow. Unfortunately, this particular season draws to a close this Friday, so there’s only a couple of films left to watch. But it’s been fun.
TTFN.
Sunday, June 17, 2018
18-06-17 Sunday - Save Me - Sky Atlantic
We finally got around to watching "Save Me", which was an original piece of programming by Sky Atlantic. It was written by and starred Lennie James, who I'd seen before in The Walking Dead TV series. The series was released in February, and all episodes were available to watch immediately, but I think we recorded it as it was shown on Sky Atlantic. We had a load of other stuff to watch as well, and we went on holiday as well, so everyone who can watch it should have had plenty of time by now to see it. And if you have access to Sky Atlantic programming and you haven’t watched it yet, you should. Right now. Stop reading this and go and watch it. Honestly, it's brilliant.
I'm not intending to give any spoilers, but it gets really dark. Lennie James plays a no-hoper, a probable alcoholic who is drifting between three lovers, when he gets a wake-up call. The show is called Save Me, and it's clear what the main reference is to, but it might also refer to Lennie's character, who discovers a sense of purpose as the story develops. There is a bit of a review in the Guardian here, but I wanted to mention a couple of things in addition. Firstly, the cast is amazing. Suranne Jones, Kerry Godliman, and Stephen Graham were all brilliant. And the rest of the group were up to the job as well. It was a depressing setting, the characters seemed to be barely living before the action started.
The main thing that caught my eye though, were the surreal moments that popped up every time there was a panoramic shot of the estate where Nelly (Lennie's character) went about his business. In one shot, there were children on a basketball court in a fully-inflated dinghy, pretending to row. In the background of another scene, there was a clown, in full face make-up, drinking a pint of Guinness. In another scene, people were skating by or performing weird little actions which weren't part of the plot. It took me a while to spot them, but once I started looking for these little additions, they became a nice little reward for watching closely. I don't know whether the director was intending these scenes to be surreal. Maybe he was intimating that in an estate that size, with so many people there, all sorts of things will happen. Maybe the thrust was that actually there were other stories happening at the same time. If you do watch it though, I think these scenes are a little streak of humour running through a very dark story. There were other touches of humour too, but as the series progresses, those moments get fewer and the plot gets more intriguing and gripping.
As I wrote, it is worth watching, and I recommend it, but be warned that the subject matter is quite dark and it might be upsetting. It is a shame that drama and plotting of this quality was on Sky rather than one of the free-to-air channels, but that is one of my personal bugbears. Go see it, you won't regret it.
TTFN.
I'm not intending to give any spoilers, but it gets really dark. Lennie James plays a no-hoper, a probable alcoholic who is drifting between three lovers, when he gets a wake-up call. The show is called Save Me, and it's clear what the main reference is to, but it might also refer to Lennie's character, who discovers a sense of purpose as the story develops. There is a bit of a review in the Guardian here, but I wanted to mention a couple of things in addition. Firstly, the cast is amazing. Suranne Jones, Kerry Godliman, and Stephen Graham were all brilliant. And the rest of the group were up to the job as well. It was a depressing setting, the characters seemed to be barely living before the action started.
The main thing that caught my eye though, were the surreal moments that popped up every time there was a panoramic shot of the estate where Nelly (Lennie's character) went about his business. In one shot, there were children on a basketball court in a fully-inflated dinghy, pretending to row. In the background of another scene, there was a clown, in full face make-up, drinking a pint of Guinness. In another scene, people were skating by or performing weird little actions which weren't part of the plot. It took me a while to spot them, but once I started looking for these little additions, they became a nice little reward for watching closely. I don't know whether the director was intending these scenes to be surreal. Maybe he was intimating that in an estate that size, with so many people there, all sorts of things will happen. Maybe the thrust was that actually there were other stories happening at the same time. If you do watch it though, I think these scenes are a little streak of humour running through a very dark story. There were other touches of humour too, but as the series progresses, those moments get fewer and the plot gets more intriguing and gripping.
As I wrote, it is worth watching, and I recommend it, but be warned that the subject matter is quite dark and it might be upsetting. It is a shame that drama and plotting of this quality was on Sky rather than one of the free-to-air channels, but that is one of my personal bugbears. Go see it, you won't regret it.
TTFN.
Friday, March 09, 2018
Friday 18-03-09 Friday Night - The End of the Week
Here we are then, Friday night. The girls are upstairs applying make-up to each other, by the sounds of it, and I am down here with my trusty laptop and a glass of orange juice & lemonade. It is full fat lemonade, mind; none of that diet stuff for me.
This week has whizzed by in a flash. Not much has really happened, except that I got a crick in my neck which gave me a couple of really bad nights’ sleep on Wednesday and Thursday. I was going to go to a class at the gym on Wednesday night, but really didn’t think it was appropriate. TW did suggest I go for a steam and sauna instead, which would have been nice, but by the time Wednesday night rolled around I was really quite tired and so didn’t even manage to get around to that.
The rest of the week was mostly taken up with watching catch-up TV: TW and I steamed through the second series of “Delicious” which was on Sky One, starring Dawn French and Emilia Fox. It was only a four-parter, but it was good. While TW was away last weekend I did finish watching the second series of “The Expanse” as well last weekend, and I am looking forward to more of the same. It’s excellent stuff; just the right mix of drama and sci-fi. I started watching the new Star Trek series on Netflix, but since I’d had a few drinks I’ll probably benefit from watching it again.
This weekend I shall mostly be following the Six Nations, and I’m looking forward to getting back to it. A bit of Body Balance in the morning, and then spectating in the afternoon is just what the doctor ordered. Sunday, of course, is Mother’s Day, so Mum and Dad are coming over for lunch – which will be nice.
TTFN.
This week has whizzed by in a flash. Not much has really happened, except that I got a crick in my neck which gave me a couple of really bad nights’ sleep on Wednesday and Thursday. I was going to go to a class at the gym on Wednesday night, but really didn’t think it was appropriate. TW did suggest I go for a steam and sauna instead, which would have been nice, but by the time Wednesday night rolled around I was really quite tired and so didn’t even manage to get around to that.
The rest of the week was mostly taken up with watching catch-up TV: TW and I steamed through the second series of “Delicious” which was on Sky One, starring Dawn French and Emilia Fox. It was only a four-parter, but it was good. While TW was away last weekend I did finish watching the second series of “The Expanse” as well last weekend, and I am looking forward to more of the same. It’s excellent stuff; just the right mix of drama and sci-fi. I started watching the new Star Trek series on Netflix, but since I’d had a few drinks I’ll probably benefit from watching it again.
This weekend I shall mostly be following the Six Nations, and I’m looking forward to getting back to it. A bit of Body Balance in the morning, and then spectating in the afternoon is just what the doctor ordered. Sunday, of course, is Mother’s Day, so Mum and Dad are coming over for lunch – which will be nice.
TTFN.
Thursday, August 03, 2017
Thursday 17-08-03 Man Up
Last night we watched Man Up and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a Simon Pegg vehicle, but at the same time it was a veritable “who’s who” of modern UK comic actors. There was Ken Stott, Harriet Walter, Sharon Horgan (off of “Catastrophe”), Rory Kinnear (I love him in “Count Arthur Strong”) as well as the Peggster himself. Lake Bell was a strange choice of lead female, I thought at first, but I really warmed to her and would like to see her other work.
The characters played by Pegg and Bell became more & more likeable as the film wore on, and it was obvious that a happy ending was on the cards, but about 15 minutes before the end it really jumped the shark by deluging the story and the audience in a vat of cheese. I was speaking to a friend at work today and he reminded me of “Run, Fatboy, Run”, and I would say that the volume of cheese at the end of the film was more or less equivalent to that.
One thing that did surprise me was that the film was made in 2015. If you had asked me, I would have said that Pegg would have been too busy to make this sort of film. I would have thought he would be glamming it up in Hollywood making Star Trek films – which are brilliant, by the way. Maybe he just has a soft spot for this type of UK comedy film? Although during the opening titles I did see that the film was produced by StudioCanal, who I always think are a French company.
If you like Simon Pegg and the type of film he makes, you’ll probably like this, but watch out for the cheese at the end, that would be my only caveat. Pegg is Pegg, a perfectly likeable fellow (much like Tim off of “The Office”, or Martin Freeman as he is also known), but Lake Bell makes the film, in my opinion. She and Sharon Horgan make believable sisters, strangely, and the family interplay between Ken Stott and Harriet Walter is a delight. There is a lot to enjoy in this film, so get to it.
TTFN.
The characters played by Pegg and Bell became more & more likeable as the film wore on, and it was obvious that a happy ending was on the cards, but about 15 minutes before the end it really jumped the shark by deluging the story and the audience in a vat of cheese. I was speaking to a friend at work today and he reminded me of “Run, Fatboy, Run”, and I would say that the volume of cheese at the end of the film was more or less equivalent to that.
One thing that did surprise me was that the film was made in 2015. If you had asked me, I would have said that Pegg would have been too busy to make this sort of film. I would have thought he would be glamming it up in Hollywood making Star Trek films – which are brilliant, by the way. Maybe he just has a soft spot for this type of UK comedy film? Although during the opening titles I did see that the film was produced by StudioCanal, who I always think are a French company.
If you like Simon Pegg and the type of film he makes, you’ll probably like this, but watch out for the cheese at the end, that would be my only caveat. Pegg is Pegg, a perfectly likeable fellow (much like Tim off of “The Office”, or Martin Freeman as he is also known), but Lake Bell makes the film, in my opinion. She and Sharon Horgan make believable sisters, strangely, and the family interplay between Ken Stott and Harriet Walter is a delight. There is a lot to enjoy in this film, so get to it.
TTFN.
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Tuesday 17-03-21 Six Nations Round-Up
And so the Six Nations comes to an end for another year. It’s a great tournament and I really enjoy watching it. This year, highlights for me were Scotland beating Ireland and Wales. Their appetite and attacking play has really changed in the last two years or so, and it is a joy to watch. The way they physically threw themselves into the game against Wales had me worried / looking forward to the match against England. Eventually though, that fixture turned out to be a bit of a damp squib, meaning that England dominated the match from the start, and the end result was never in doubt. Scotland’s final game against Italy yesterday saw them keep a clean sheet against Italy, but there were points where the old style of game play surfaced again, where they passed back and weren’t able to go forward. Maybe that was due to Italy’s forwards, but it was a bit concerning.
The game between Wales and Ireland last week was a brilliant, breath-taking game, quite literally. TW was holding her breath, she was so excited…! I could have done with a lie-down in a dark room to calm down afterwards.
There were two outstanding games which I think will be talked about for years to come; the first is of course the England - Italy game, or “ruckgate” as it will be forever known. Basically, Italy didn’t want to come to Twickenham and get beaten by England on England’s terms, and so they refused to commit men to the ruck area. This completely confounded England, because they had their routine all sorted: take the ball in, get tackled, go to ground, ruck over, recycle, take the ball in… How could England progress without a vital phase of their game? Unfortunately it took England much longer than it should have done to adapt to the game Italy were trying to play, but they still won through.
There have been rumblings that the laws of the game need to change to prevent teams playing like that in future, but I think it was a high-risk ploy, and if you play like that you risk losing massively; so it is self-managing. It was a fascinating match to watch though.
The other match which stretched the bounds of the game was the France-Wales match, which took 20 minutes of extra time to play a scrum. So the game took 100 minutes to play. Unfortunately at 80 minutes Wales were ahead, and by the time the clock showed 100 minutes, France had taken that lead. I think Wales should have won, so it was a pity, from my point of view, that the scrum had to be reset so many times.
It was though an exhilarating competition all round, with some brilliant moments and some awesome contests, and I can’t wait until next February comes around…
The game between Wales and Ireland last week was a brilliant, breath-taking game, quite literally. TW was holding her breath, she was so excited…! I could have done with a lie-down in a dark room to calm down afterwards.
There were two outstanding games which I think will be talked about for years to come; the first is of course the England - Italy game, or “ruckgate” as it will be forever known. Basically, Italy didn’t want to come to Twickenham and get beaten by England on England’s terms, and so they refused to commit men to the ruck area. This completely confounded England, because they had their routine all sorted: take the ball in, get tackled, go to ground, ruck over, recycle, take the ball in… How could England progress without a vital phase of their game? Unfortunately it took England much longer than it should have done to adapt to the game Italy were trying to play, but they still won through.
There have been rumblings that the laws of the game need to change to prevent teams playing like that in future, but I think it was a high-risk ploy, and if you play like that you risk losing massively; so it is self-managing. It was a fascinating match to watch though.
The other match which stretched the bounds of the game was the France-Wales match, which took 20 minutes of extra time to play a scrum. So the game took 100 minutes to play. Unfortunately at 80 minutes Wales were ahead, and by the time the clock showed 100 minutes, France had taken that lead. I think Wales should have won, so it was a pity, from my point of view, that the scrum had to be reset so many times.
It was though an exhilarating competition all round, with some brilliant moments and some awesome contests, and I can’t wait until next February comes around…
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Sunday 17-01-14 Wet Saturday
Yesterday we started the day by Skyping Mum and wishing her Happy Birthday. She and Dad are in Singapore visiting my sister and her family, which is nice, especially when the weather in the UK is so dreary at the moment.
Then it was the Park Run, obviously, it being a Saturday morning. I did okay, I finished in 29:01, which is my second best time. Apparently I have managed it in 28:14 once, but I am sure that was an anomaly and they got it wrong that week. It was dry for the Park Run and TW also did well, coming close to her PB (personal best) time. TE wanted a slushie but the machine wasn't working at Splashpoint, so TW offered to make her a hot chocolate when we got home. TE agreed, surprisingly, and so we stopped and bought some squirty cream from Tesco Express at the Worthing rail crossing on the way home. We also picked up some halloumi and as soon as we got home, TW started frying that as a snack / late breakfast for the girls. Then she went out to pick up some clothes & deliver some make-up, while I washed.
I was looking forward to a lazy day from there, but TW had other ideas. She was on the go pretty much all morning and then suggested we go out for a walk. The girls protested but I could see that they needed some fresh air; the youngest two had been glued to YouTube all morning and were beginning to mong out. They did suggest Woods Mill, but couldn't all agree, and eventually we plumped for Southwater. That was a nice compromise, I thought, because it's quite a relaxing park but most of the paths are paved, and so we wouldn't end up getting unnecessarily muddy.
I didn't count on the rain though. Although it was dry when we left home, by the time we got there, it was raining, and it didn't stop. It was an okay walk, and the girls got their fresh air and some exercise on the climbing frames in the park. Everything was wet though, so playing on the swings and slides was out of the question.
We stopped at McDonalds Buck Barn on the way home, initially for a snack, "something off the 99p menu" TW said, but when we got in the girls asked for more substantial eats, and so they had burgers and fries, and I had some Nuggets and a Quarter Pounder with cheese. It was 4pm by this time, and TW realised that we were planning to have burgers for dinner, which wasn't going to work any more. The girls ended up having a snack at about 18:30 and that seemed to sate them.
Then it was an evening of crap telly; the Gary Barlow vehicle Let It Shine, which seems more kindly-spirited than X Factor, but is limited to men only, and then The Voice on ITV, which I think comes in second place, but that is due to its familiarity. The Barlow show is a suppose a retread of the previous talent search How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria, which of course was limited to women only. But the whole show (Let It Shine) acts as a big advert for the forthcoming musical, which isn't the precise story of Take That, but is based on their story, and incorporates the music of Take That. So Barlow is being paid to appear in a show which promotes a musical which he has written, which contains songs for which he will receive royalties. That sounds like a nice little earner.
And then it was bedtime, and I slept.
Then it was the Park Run, obviously, it being a Saturday morning. I did okay, I finished in 29:01, which is my second best time. Apparently I have managed it in 28:14 once, but I am sure that was an anomaly and they got it wrong that week. It was dry for the Park Run and TW also did well, coming close to her PB (personal best) time. TE wanted a slushie but the machine wasn't working at Splashpoint, so TW offered to make her a hot chocolate when we got home. TE agreed, surprisingly, and so we stopped and bought some squirty cream from Tesco Express at the Worthing rail crossing on the way home. We also picked up some halloumi and as soon as we got home, TW started frying that as a snack / late breakfast for the girls. Then she went out to pick up some clothes & deliver some make-up, while I washed.
I was looking forward to a lazy day from there, but TW had other ideas. She was on the go pretty much all morning and then suggested we go out for a walk. The girls protested but I could see that they needed some fresh air; the youngest two had been glued to YouTube all morning and were beginning to mong out. They did suggest Woods Mill, but couldn't all agree, and eventually we plumped for Southwater. That was a nice compromise, I thought, because it's quite a relaxing park but most of the paths are paved, and so we wouldn't end up getting unnecessarily muddy.
I didn't count on the rain though. Although it was dry when we left home, by the time we got there, it was raining, and it didn't stop. It was an okay walk, and the girls got their fresh air and some exercise on the climbing frames in the park. Everything was wet though, so playing on the swings and slides was out of the question.
We stopped at McDonalds Buck Barn on the way home, initially for a snack, "something off the 99p menu" TW said, but when we got in the girls asked for more substantial eats, and so they had burgers and fries, and I had some Nuggets and a Quarter Pounder with cheese. It was 4pm by this time, and TW realised that we were planning to have burgers for dinner, which wasn't going to work any more. The girls ended up having a snack at about 18:30 and that seemed to sate them.
Then it was an evening of crap telly; the Gary Barlow vehicle Let It Shine, which seems more kindly-spirited than X Factor, but is limited to men only, and then The Voice on ITV, which I think comes in second place, but that is due to its familiarity. The Barlow show is a suppose a retread of the previous talent search How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria, which of course was limited to women only. But the whole show (Let It Shine) acts as a big advert for the forthcoming musical, which isn't the precise story of Take That, but is based on their story, and incorporates the music of Take That. So Barlow is being paid to appear in a show which promotes a musical which he has written, which contains songs for which he will receive royalties. That sounds like a nice little earner.
And then it was bedtime, and I slept.
Wednesday, January 04, 2017
Tuesday 17-01-03 An Unplanned Day
Today we didn't have much on until T texted and asked if we were free. We had to write cards for the branch of the family tree living in Singapore since M&P were flying at about seven pm. They were setting off at one pm and obviously had to be there a couple of hours early, and they had to take into account the crap service that Southern like to call a functioning railway.
I cycled over with the girls, on our first cycle ride of the year. It was a bit icy but the girls were careful and we got there in one piece. We handed over the cards and Mum gave us a cup of tea and some tomatoes in return. Then we wished them safe travels, and headed back.
Tyrone arrived and we decided to go to Food; it was what the girls wanted. It was very nice as always; at least I didn't order the wrong thing this time. I kept it simple with steak frites, and followed that with an almond and amaretto crème brulée. TW expressed dismay that I didn't offer her the first bite, but I wanted to taste it, and it was my pudding. So unfortunately, she had to wait. She did get two mouthfuls though, so she did okay by the end.
Then for dinner TW was planning to make a chicken chow mein, but Ty decided he wanted to go to KFC, and so we had a takeaway bucket for dinner. The chicken was nice but the fries were horrible, in my opinion; limp, cold and tasteless. However, the saving grace was the gravy KFC provided - it was delicious and thick, and covered the shortcomings of the fries.
Ty headed off after the girls went to sleep and we finished off the day with an episode of Suits. I worked out that the prison psychiatrist is the same actor who used to be Theo Huxtable in the Cosby Show, and I was pretty pleased with myself for that. I wasn't really prepared to go back to work, but I fell asleep pretty quickly.
I cycled over with the girls, on our first cycle ride of the year. It was a bit icy but the girls were careful and we got there in one piece. We handed over the cards and Mum gave us a cup of tea and some tomatoes in return. Then we wished them safe travels, and headed back.
Tyrone arrived and we decided to go to Food; it was what the girls wanted. It was very nice as always; at least I didn't order the wrong thing this time. I kept it simple with steak frites, and followed that with an almond and amaretto crème brulée. TW expressed dismay that I didn't offer her the first bite, but I wanted to taste it, and it was my pudding. So unfortunately, she had to wait. She did get two mouthfuls though, so she did okay by the end.
Then for dinner TW was planning to make a chicken chow mein, but Ty decided he wanted to go to KFC, and so we had a takeaway bucket for dinner. The chicken was nice but the fries were horrible, in my opinion; limp, cold and tasteless. However, the saving grace was the gravy KFC provided - it was delicious and thick, and covered the shortcomings of the fries.
Ty headed off after the girls went to sleep and we finished off the day with an episode of Suits. I worked out that the prison psychiatrist is the same actor who used to be Theo Huxtable in the Cosby Show, and I was pretty pleased with myself for that. I wasn't really prepared to go back to work, but I fell asleep pretty quickly.
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Sunday 15-11-29 Wayward Pines
So, I finally got around to watching Wayward Pines. It was trailed heavily over the summer, and was a ten-part thriller, starring Matt Dillon. He's an actor I've been aware of for a long time, but I've not seen him in anything in a while. I would actually be hard-pressed to name a specific film he was in, but my reaction to the ads was one of curiosity. I thought he may have been doing a Kevin Bacon, coming back in a big-budget show like The Following. The show had promise, I thought, in that Wayward Pines was a weird picket fence type of town, where everyone knew they were being watched. I thought that some sinister shadowy organisation within the CIA was trying to brainwash or reprogram Ethan Burke (Matt Dillon's character), and I was interested to see how it turned out.
The supporting cast were all brilliant as well; I recognised some of them from other shows, again, I would be hard-pressed to identify which ones. Carla Gugino, who plays another CIA agent, was previously in Sin City and Night At The Museum. Shannyn Sossamon as his wife was pretty good too, and she looked familiar, but I can't say what I thought she was in.
There were some good scenes and some brilliant atmosphere-building twists. I thought that with the surveillance, and the disappearing people, and the rotting bodies, we were in for a brain-twisting psychological thriller. I had the suspicion that the series would end with Matt Dillon escaping from the town and getting back to reality, and possibly taking revenge on the people who incarcerated him in the weirdo town. He would be bowed but not broken, and would end up victorious.
But then the show took a weird turn, and all of a sudden the reason for the surveillance [SPOILER] became clear; we were actually in the 40th century and the entire world had been decimated by nuclear armageddon. The town was surrounded by a fence to keep mutants out, not to keep Matt Dillon in. And there was no way to return to reality and take vengeance on those people who imprisoned him in Wayward Pines.
It seemed like two stories jammed together, and maybe that is the case; I have bought the first Wayward Pines book so will be interested to see how that goes. But I was still hoping, right up to the end, that it would all turn out to be an elaborate hoax and reality would resume. There were some vicious bits in the story; finding the dead CIA agent was one, which was a striking scene, and one which will stay with me. Also when the reckoning took place, that again was memorable. The townsfolk were mostly placid well-behaved citizens, but they had a bloodlust which the reckonings met.
Overall, I would say that it was worth watching, but it was ultimately disappointing. There is going to be a second series by the look of things, and if that is a ten-parter I shall probably watch it, but I will still be hoping that the whole thing is an elaborate set-up, and the real world is still ongoing outside of the confines of Wayward Pines.
The supporting cast were all brilliant as well; I recognised some of them from other shows, again, I would be hard-pressed to identify which ones. Carla Gugino, who plays another CIA agent, was previously in Sin City and Night At The Museum. Shannyn Sossamon as his wife was pretty good too, and she looked familiar, but I can't say what I thought she was in.
There were some good scenes and some brilliant atmosphere-building twists. I thought that with the surveillance, and the disappearing people, and the rotting bodies, we were in for a brain-twisting psychological thriller. I had the suspicion that the series would end with Matt Dillon escaping from the town and getting back to reality, and possibly taking revenge on the people who incarcerated him in the weirdo town. He would be bowed but not broken, and would end up victorious.
But then the show took a weird turn, and all of a sudden the reason for the surveillance [SPOILER] became clear; we were actually in the 40th century and the entire world had been decimated by nuclear armageddon. The town was surrounded by a fence to keep mutants out, not to keep Matt Dillon in. And there was no way to return to reality and take vengeance on those people who imprisoned him in Wayward Pines.
It seemed like two stories jammed together, and maybe that is the case; I have bought the first Wayward Pines book so will be interested to see how that goes. But I was still hoping, right up to the end, that it would all turn out to be an elaborate hoax and reality would resume. There were some vicious bits in the story; finding the dead CIA agent was one, which was a striking scene, and one which will stay with me. Also when the reckoning took place, that again was memorable. The townsfolk were mostly placid well-behaved citizens, but they had a bloodlust which the reckonings met.
Overall, I would say that it was worth watching, but it was ultimately disappointing. There is going to be a second series by the look of things, and if that is a ten-parter I shall probably watch it, but I will still be hoping that the whole thing is an elaborate set-up, and the real world is still ongoing outside of the confines of Wayward Pines.
Friday, March 20, 2015
Friday 15-03-20 Tyrant
So this week I have mostly been watching Tyrant. It's a TV show about an American doctor whose family happens to be a bunch of Middle Eastern dictators. The American doctor heads back to his home country for his nephew's wedding, and then he gets caught up in the domestic politics of the country.
Apparently it's by the same team who did Homeland, which I still haven't seen, but it is becoming more interesting by the episode.
Tonight we had a guest and so I missed the double episode phenomenon that we've enjoyed over the last couple of nights, but I'm hoping we'll get back to normal tomorrow night. But having thought about it, tomorrow night will be after the conclusion of the Six Nations, I'm not sure I will be fit for much. We'll have to see how it goes.
Apparently it's by the same team who did Homeland, which I still haven't seen, but it is becoming more interesting by the episode.
Tonight we had a guest and so I missed the double episode phenomenon that we've enjoyed over the last couple of nights, but I'm hoping we'll get back to normal tomorrow night. But having thought about it, tomorrow night will be after the conclusion of the Six Nations, I'm not sure I will be fit for much. We'll have to see how it goes.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Banshee
Catching up on Banshee, the new U.S. drama somehow related to True Blood. I believe the same creative team are behind both. However, whereas True Blood is fantastical and a tale of good vs. bad, Banshee is a grim ultra-violent tale of bad vs. worse.
It's grim. Did I say that already? The episode with the albino in prison is especially memorable / repugnant. There is a liking for stretching out the violence too far in this show, so where other shows might have the fight last two or three minutes, Banshee pulls it out to seven or eight. And then pounds the unconscious skull with a hundredweight.
I will always remember 'are we good?' with a shudder.
I'm sure in years to come, it will take on the same horrific meaning as 'is it safe?' in Marathon Man. Not that I've seen MM in full, and I'm not sure that I want to; it is more a case of having to. Banshee could turn out and if to be a turning point in TV.
Where The Sopranos was psychological, and True Blood was sexy, and The Wire was involved, and Battlestar Galactica reinvented the space odyssey, Banshee has pushed ultra-violence that bit further and made it integral to the plot.
The story of the ex-con taking on the role of the Sheriff and then defending his position by all means necessary is a good plot device - you start rooting for him, but then as events occur, you start questioning exactly what is going on, and who you should support.
The scene in the prison with the albino is particularly intense, or at least it was for me. I believe I'm on now ep09 of 10, and that still pings around in my head when I'm at a loose end. It's quite an intense scene.
Anyways, I guess I'm saying that Banshee is compulsive viewing, and I'd recommend it.
It's grim. Did I say that already? The episode with the albino in prison is especially memorable / repugnant. There is a liking for stretching out the violence too far in this show, so where other shows might have the fight last two or three minutes, Banshee pulls it out to seven or eight. And then pounds the unconscious skull with a hundredweight.
I will always remember 'are we good?' with a shudder.
I'm sure in years to come, it will take on the same horrific meaning as 'is it safe?' in Marathon Man. Not that I've seen MM in full, and I'm not sure that I want to; it is more a case of having to. Banshee could turn out and if to be a turning point in TV.
Where The Sopranos was psychological, and True Blood was sexy, and The Wire was involved, and Battlestar Galactica reinvented the space odyssey, Banshee has pushed ultra-violence that bit further and made it integral to the plot.
The story of the ex-con taking on the role of the Sheriff and then defending his position by all means necessary is a good plot device - you start rooting for him, but then as events occur, you start questioning exactly what is going on, and who you should support.
The scene in the prison with the albino is particularly intense, or at least it was for me. I believe I'm on now ep09 of 10, and that still pings around in my head when I'm at a loose end. It's quite an intense scene.
Anyways, I guess I'm saying that Banshee is compulsive viewing, and I'd recommend it.
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