The BBC has signed a five year deal to broadcast Formula 1, which was good news, and largely unexpected. But a bit of thought has me wondering a few things: Martin Brundle is the new Murray Walker. He must move to the BBC, just as Murray Walker moved to ITV. Brundle is a superb commentator, his [...]
A change at the BBC for which I have mixed feelings, but in a good way. The change? Evan Davis is moving to the Today programme from his post as BBC Economics Editor. Evan Davis is, to me, amongst the very best of the BBC’s editors. I enjoyed his pieces when he was ‘just’ the Newsnight [...]
I still can’t think of Masterchef without thinking of Loyd Grossman’s “MaaaaasteurChef” pronounciation, the Sunday evenings at home, and that dark studio with the three coloured kitchens, and the “deliberating, cogitating and digesting” remark he always seemed to use that wore out after the first use. But the re-invention of the format - with the final [...]
I enjoy taking photographs, but frustratingly I am not always particularly inspired, or don’t get struck by particularly good ideas. That’s perhaps why I’m a technologist, rather than an artist. Also it’s one of the reasons I enjoy candid photography, but that causes me problems as I get very nervous about sticking a camera in [...]
I know we simply don’t have enough american sit-com’s on UK TV, and many of them are dire. But we recently stumbled on ‘The Big Bang Theory‘, and both Frances and I have thoroughly enjoyed the two episodes so far. It’s sort of Third Rock meets Friends, with a very healthy touch of The IT Crowd. [...]
One of the reasons I took up the piano last year was the chance to learn something entirely new: I was feeling that work (ie. IT) knowledge, even something like a new programming language, computer system or approach is largely a refinement or improvement on things I already know. Reading a book on a subject [...]
I’ve previously confessed that I have a bit of a thing about small print. The radio equivalent ‘advert post script’ is particularly enjoyable, as the actor doing the reading has to rattle through the ’small print’ in double quick time, and anybody who’s even paying half a bit of attention will probably pick up it’s [...]
I received my March issue of Runners World in the post the other day, and I have to say I’m beginning to find the covers something of a joke. It’s almost always an absurdly fit looking person, smiling in the perfect-teeth sort of way only an American can manage, with a lovely backdrop and no [...]
Initially I was rather amused, but I settled on rather peeved. Glasgow’s Tramway didn’t let an exhibiting artist in to an exhibition on ‘Social Engagement’, because he couldn’t afford the £100 (!!) entry ticket. The Vacuum Cleaner, all credit to him, decided to sit outside and beg for the money, raising some interesting questions in [...]
Bits and pieces
All go at the moment, so only time for a brief update: Wedding plans are proceeding well. We’re being cautioned by friends to stay calm as the day approaches, and I think we are managing that quite well. Got quite excited picking up the rings, as well as getting to see the finished product for something [...]