The State of Christmas Television in 2025

 It would appear, from the dreadful ratings for Christmas television, mostly on BBC 1, that the British public has turned their back on the national broadcaster. Why do you suppose? Could it be the number of scandals that have engulfed the BBC in the last few years? The scandal of Jimmy Savile? The more recent business of the editing of a speech by President Donald Trump, to make it seem as if he had something different to what he actually said? The influence of 'woke' ideology? Or is it that most households don't watch traditional, linear television, that is, television that is broadcast 'live', in a schedule, one programme after another, at a set time and day? You can watch a wide range of television on streaming services, such as Netflix, Amazon, Disney+, as well as the catch-up services which are connected to the traditional television services, such as BBC iPlayer, 5, Channel 4 , Apple TV, etc. You can binge-watch programmes, if you so desire, because all the episodes are available online, meaning you don't have to wait for the next episode to be available a week later, which was the model for television in the past, probably no more than 25-30 years ago.

In years gone by, probably in the 1960s and 1970s, when I was in my teens and early 20s, you could always rely on television to provide a wide range of programmes, across a very wide selection of genres, from children's television, classic drama adaptations, theatre adaptations, contemporary drama, light entertainment, situation comedy, arts, music and a whole range of inbetween material. On a Saturday, you could start with sport, with Grandstand, which ran in the afternoon, then something for children, Basil Brush, and dare I say 'Jim'll Fix It,' (which now has a rather unpleasant scandal attached to it, so I will leave well alone.) Doctor Who, followed later by 'The Generation Game,' which had Bruce Forsyth as presenter in it's earlier days, followed by comedy from 'The Two Ronnies' and later still, probably some form of drama to round off the evening.

The buildup to television was intense in those decades, and it's probably the same today. I can remember, during September, a new television 'season' being unveiled. There would be returning series, 'The Good Life', 'Fawlty Towers', 'Rising Damp' and a whole raft of sitcoms which were born during this period. 'Dad's Army' was still running and continued on well into the 1970s. Then, at Christmas, we would get Christmas specials of these shows and not, of course, forgetting the legendary 'Morecambe and Wise' show which was a huge ratings winner on Christmas Day. 

ITV had its fair share of hit shows, such as 'Upstairs, Downstairs', 'Brideshead Revisited' and classic comedies such as 'Man About The House' and 'Please Sir.' And, to compete with 'Morecambe and Wise and 'The Two Ronnies', they had shows fronted by Stanley Baxter.

What do we now have that comes even close to any of these television shows? I can think of none. I suppose we have had some big hitters, such as 'Drop The Dead Donkey', 'Father Ted' 'Last of The Summer Wine' and 'Keeping Up Appearances,' but these have been off our screens for several decades.

I admit, it's very difficult to compare television from 40-50 years ago with today's offerings. For a start, there were only 4 channels in 1992, when Channel 4 came on the scene. Today, we have endless channels on digital platforms, such as Freeview and Sky. (Other providers are available.) That is, not to mention streaming platforms, such as Disney+, Netflix, Paramount and Amazon. 

Looking at the schedules for the Christmas period, there was nothing I could honestly say grabbed my attention and have me watching. The, by now, traditional 'Strictly Come Dancing' edition. The rating for this were poor, compared with previous years. Let's be honest, I think this show has run it's course. It has also had it fair share of controversy. To run for 20 years is pretty good. All things, particularly television shows, must come to an end sooner or later.  Compared to any of the Morecambe and Wise or Two Ronnies shows, there is no comparison. To make those big Christmas shows from the 1970's you have to consider the time and energy it must have taken to produce them, let alone the cost. Then, rehearsing, set-building, and probably filming months ahead of studio filming. Today, it seems that nobody in traditional television has any imagination to produce anything, except endless game shows and reality programmes, or anything with 'celebrity' in the title.

Unsettled Weather?

Thursday. 7.20 a.m. It's not quite so bright and sunny this morning. As I write this, I can hear the wind howling outside. Does it want to be let in? No, but the idea of wind howling does suggest that. 

Friday. 5.40 a.m. It's raining at the moment. I took Alfie out, and we didn't stay out long. I didn't want to get wet, and neither did Alfie.

11.00 a.m. I have been to Sainsbury's. The rain held off, not that it made any difference. 

I did my shop in Sainsbury's (now there's a surprise!) and at the end, when everything I had on my list was in the trolley, I went towards the tills. By this time there was quite a crowd of customers, queuing up, like me, ready to pay. I had accepted that I was going to have to use a self-service till, even though I dislike them, basically because they always go wrong, won't accept some items, hence you get 'item in bagging area' and suchlike messages. When I arrived in the fenced-off area, where the self-service tills are situated, many of these benighted machines had  'out of service' notices on their digital screens. Crazy, to have so many customers in the store, yet not have these devices ready for your customers. A few customers were using those machines which were operating. So, I pushed my trolley out of the self-service area and attempted to find a manned till. One, (and I state ONE) was in operation, but many other manned tills weren't open. There was quite a queue forming,  people ready to put their shopping through the till. But I wasn't over-keen to wait, and then I noticed that there were now self-service tills opening, so I rushed back to the fenced-off area and managed to check off my shopping. All went well, except for one item that wouldn't scan. I just hate them. If you must insist on having these machines, which replace human-operated tills, just make sure they aren't faulty.

Saturday. 11.00 a.m. The weather is fine. Let's just hope it stays that way.

Sunday. 7.25 a.m. Not a great deal happened yesterday, as you probably can see from the one line I wrote above. I did watch the first episode of the third season of 'Clarkson's Farm' on Amazon Prime. I know he's something of a Marmite individual, you either like him or hate him (I suppose I hover mid-way.) and I must say it's very entertaining and watchable. Compared with what the BBC has to offer, a lot of which is wokefied (if that's the correct spelling. Indeed, is that even a word?) it does make a change and it's entertaining.. He certainly isn't 'politically correct' in a lot of what he does and says. 

I woke in the night and I could hear strange noises going on outside. Someone racing a car engine, making sounds which must have been annoying if you lived nearby and were trying to sleep. I think there are goings-on which the police ought to deal with, like racing along the grid roads around Milton Keynes, which is more than a little bit dangerous. I think those that do that sort of thing think, because it's late at night, that they can get away with that sort of danger, and that there won't be any police around to stop them.

1.35 p.m. It was my turn on the refreshment rota at church this morning. I don't do it alone, the lady who I work with on this is in the Thursday morning Bible study. I got to The Oaktree Centre at around 9.40 and began by filling up the coffee urn. This needs to be on, filled with ground coffee because it takes the entire length of the service to be ready to serve. The service usually lasts an hour and a half, finishing at around 12.15, but today it was a family service and finished earlier than usual, at around 11.30, so I had to leave several minutes before the end, to just make sure things were ready for when everyone came out and expecting either tea or coffee.

Elephant In The Room?

Saturday. 5.40 p.m. Elephant? What elephant? If it's in the room, I definitely can't see it. There's no connection with the content of this post to elephants. It's just that I couldn't find a better title, so that's that.

Sunday. 6.15 a.m. It's early, but I'm awake and refuse to just lay in bed when I can be at least doing something. I took Alfie out, and we discovered that it was pouring rain, which was something of a surprise. We didn't stay out too long, and anyway, Alfie doesn't like getting wet. He is now fast asleep in his bed.

Monday. 7.05 a.m. Up early as usual. The sun is out. It's pleasant, but not exactly warm. I suppose, given time, it will eventually warm up. On BBC Breakfast, Carol Kirkwood, the weather lady, said that the temperature was going to warm up as the week progressed. I have taken Alfie out and sorted some of the recycling and washed up from yesterday evening.

I have started watching a drama/documentary on Netflix, 'The Last Czars', about Nicholas II of Russia and what eventually led to the Russian Revolution in 1917. I know the story, having read several books on the subject, and the 1970s film 'Nicholas and Alexandra.' I do have a slight connection in that when I was A.S.M. at the theatre in Harrogate in the early 1970s, my landlord was somehow or other involved in drama. I think he was a playwright. I have a feeling he wrote several musicals, one, I think, based on the J.M. Barrie play, 'What Every Woman Knows.' It is some 50 years ago, so my memory is somewhat fuzzy on the subject, so bear with me. He also did another show, based on a book by Frances Hodgson Burnett, author of 'The Secret Garden', 'Little Lord Fauntleroy. The little boy who played the central character in that show was then cast in the part of Alex in 'Nicholas and Alexandra.' He's the character who has haemophilia, a disease which means his blood didn't clot, and even a slight knock would cause bruising and many other problems. The film also featured, amongst others, Tom Baker, who played Rasputin, and it was this performance which led him to eventually play The Doctor in 'Doctor Who.'

10.00 a.m. I have just been to get a few items from Sainsbury's. Milk and bread, you know, the essentials. Alfie has got some treats, which he doesn't know I've got at the moment. He will have a couple during the day. As I drove towards Sainsbury's, along Evans Gate, which is the road that is the entrance into Oldbrook, I noticed that repairs have been made to a couple of the potholes as you approach the roundabout on Childs Way. But I didn't see any such repairs being done to a really large pothole which is difficult to avoid along Witan Gate, virtually opposite Sainsbury's. I do hope Milton Keynes Council can see fit to get around to sending some workmen to fill in that particular pothole, and, indeed, to repair any or all the potholes around Milton Keynes.

Yesterday evening I turned on the television as I was about to eat my meal, and what came on was the new David Attenborough series, 'Animals.' We get swooping shots of ice in either the Arctic or Antarctic. It doesn't matter which, but there was lots of snow and a few polar bears wandering around, and the wind must have been blowing fairly strongly as snow and ice were flying about. In the voice-over, done by Sir David, he says, ' The Arctic. It is intensely cold' 'Now, surely, there's no need to make such a statement. It's cold in the Arctic. So WHY ON EARTH do you have to state the *&@@%=1% obvious? It's the BBC, playing down to the thick audience that they think is watching. Just a bit of an insult, and why on earth did David Attenborough have to say it? It's almost like saying that there are people 'out there' who don't realize that it's very cold in the Arctic. It just shows how down-market the BBC has become. I think John Reith, the first Director General of the BBC, would be spinning in his grave.

To Be, Or Not To Be?

 Friday. 7.55 a.m. If it's Friday . . . it must be, washing day (not Crackerjack, if you remember the BBC children's show which ran from 1956s until 1984 and amongst compères were Eamonn Andrews, Leslie Crowther and Stu Francis.  They used to start off the show with 'It's Friday, and five to five, and it's Crackerjack!' It was the mainstay of children's television and was 'live' and in front of an audience of mainly children. Not much of modern television is done live, so it must have been quite nerve-wracking for the performers, and no doubt the technical crew.)

Saturday. 7.25 a.m. It's a bright and sunny morning. It's not a typical spring day. (Not entirely sure whether we are officially spring or not, but never mind.) It's certainly milder than it's usually at this time of year. We would usually have had snow and ice and very low temperatures by now in other years. There are daffodils out along the roads around Milton Keynes, which always cheer things up.

10.40 a.m. I've been to Asda. I haven't shopped in there for quite some time. It is some distance from Dexter House and I usually shop in Sainsbury's, which is very close. I think you get used to one store and when the layout is changed, which it has in Sainsbury's, it can be somewhat frustrating. The Bletchley Asda is huge, and you can walk miles if you're not careful. Bought an apple pie, peanut butter and chocolate spread. 

Sunday. 7.10 a.m. It appears to be raining, as I look out of my window. I don't think it is particularly thick, but foggy nevertheless.

My FitBit has been displaying the time incorrectly. I think it was about 30 minutes slow, and I have managed to reset it by going into the app on my phone. The app had to be downloaded again, and the time is now correct. I don't like having any watch or gadget with the wrong time set. There's nothing worse than not having the correct time and then being late for appointments.

Monday. 6.15 a.m. I was washing up at the kitchen sink and as I looked out of the window, I could see that it was quite foggy over Oldbrook. Not particularly thick, but still foggy.

10.15 a.m. I've just been to Lidl in Oldbrook Boulevard. This is where the Tesco Express used to be, but the entire block, which also had Barnardo's charity shop and Domino's Pizza within it, has totally gone, demolished and the space where the block used to be has been boarded up. I believe that a brand-new Lidl store is going to be built somewhere in that area, but I'm not sure if it will be in the boarded-up area or elsewhere. I presume, when it's built, the old store will either be demolished or become another business.

Why did I use Hamlet's famous speech as the title of this blog post? I had no real reason.

You Couldn't Make It Up!

 Tuesday. 5.45 a.m. Up early, as usual, walking around Oldbrook Green with Alfie. A really dramatic cloud formation over Milton Keynes.

Yesterday, I think I got closer to upgrading my bathroom. Vashti (S.H.O. at Dexter House.) gave me a telephone number to ring, the Community Occupational Health department at Milton Keynes Council. I gave my details and that was the end of the conversation. I was surprised at how quickly I got through. Later that afternoon I got a call from a lady from Millbrook regarding having the bathroom refitted, although I couldn't understand why occupational health would be involved. Anyway, this lady made me an appointment in August to go for a bath test. No, I don't understand either, but if it meant I got the bathroom upgraded, with at least a decent shower, I can use it without stooping because the current arrangement isn't high enough for me. Crazy, but true. Continuing . . . She needed a photo of the bathroom and later, she texted me, so I sent a photo via text, which moved the thing further forward, with details of my height and weight, and she then told me I wouldn't need to visit, and that I could have a wet room rather than a bathroom, meaning I could have a shower unit, which I wanted in the first place, and it would need her manager's approval for the work to do ahead. Al this, running around in circles, when it needn't have to be so complicated. Considering what I have gone through to get this far with my bathroom, you certainly couldn't make it up!

1.30 p.m. I think the Voltarol is beginning to have a definite effect on my lower back pain. I haven't been to Camphill, because of this, but I do miss going, and I'm hoping things will have returned to near enough normal by next Tuesday, so I can go there again. Being stuck in this flat with covid was bad enough, but this new thing makes it even more difficult to put up with.

3.45 p.m. I have upgraded my details to be eligible to vote. I got a letter from the Democratic Service department of Milton Keynes Council and you can go online to a special website 'household response,' and enter two unique security codes and your postcode to make sure your name is on the database. I have done all this, and it's now amended.

Wednesday. 7.50 a.m. There was 'sort-of'' rain when I took Alfie out at around 5.15 this morning. What do I mean? Well, thin and wet dribbles, not a proper fall of rain. But as I write this, the sun is out, and it appears bright and rather pleasant.

The Voltarol is doing its work and I feel a good deal better. Considering what the pain was like only a few days ago, it is a relief to be able to bend, particularly when putting my clothes on, it is certainly better.

1.25 p.m. Around half an hour ago there was a tremendous rainstorm, which lasted all of two minutes. This delayed me taking out Alfie, but it appeared to be only a light rain.

6.35 p.m. I'm watching the BBC sitcom 'The Good Life' on Britbox. I have seen it before, and probably when it was originally broadcast in 1975. It seems to stand the test of time really well. We don't have this sort of show any more. It was produced when there were only three channels, BBC1, BBC2 and ITV.  It made a star of Richard Briars, Felicity Kendal, Penelope Keith and Paul Eddington. I must have seen Richard Briars in several Alan Ayckbourn plays, 'Absurd Person Singular' and Penelope Keith in one of 'The Norman Conquests' trilogy. Thinking about Ayckbourn's plays, I did the book for a production of 'Relatively Speaking' when I was A.S.M. at Liverpool Playhouse in the early 1970s. That play (although not that production.) would have been Ayckbourn's first major success, and in the West End, it starred a young Richard Briars. On a further note, I was working on some BBC show, as a walk-on, and one of the runners (or at least, one of the stage crew.) was one of Richard Briar's daughters, although she didn't want to admit to being his daughter.

Thursday. 5.35 a.m. Another relatively mild morning. The Voltarol is working well. The only side effect of using it is I think it's making me feel sick.

Time and Tide

 Saturday. 7.40 a.m. It's another rather pleasant morning. Alfie and I did our usual walk around Oldbrook Green. There are daffodils blooming and blossom coming out all around Milton Keynes and suggesting quite clearly that spring is in the air.

1.00 p.m. We had our monthly men's breakfast at the Oaktree Centre this morning. I had to get some cash out of a cash point and needed help figuring out where to go. There are a number of these machines, also known as A.T. Ms (Automated Teller Machines) to be found around Milton Keynes and I wanted to have the cash with me to pay for the food we would get. In the end, I chose the ATM outside the Tesco Express in Oldbrook Boulevard.

Sunday. 7.20 a.m. Alfie and I went out at around 5.50 this morning. It was light, so I didn't see the point of hanging about in bed. 

3.50 p.m. I have resubscribed to two streaming services which I had been subscribed to but had cancelled a few months ago, basically because I had problems when they didn't work properly. I think the problems have been resolved sufficiently. The first was Britbox, the app on which it is viewed on my Amazon  Firestick, which now doesn't seem to crash like it did before. I watched several episodes of the original 'Doctor Who', 'Planet of Giants,' which was shown in October 1964, and was the ninth story from the very first incarnation of this BBC science fiction series. I remember the very early days of 'Doctor Who' and must have seen it when it was originally shown. I suppose I would have been about 14 when it was shown and probably the right age to be the audience it was aimed at. I was intrigued by the whole concept, the idea of time travel and the fact that every few weeks, when the Doctor and his companions arrived at a new planet at the beginning of each story, to discover where they were and what they would meet. I think it was what made 'Doctor Who' such a clever format, changing so often and keeping it fresh. The show was made on a shoestring, but it didn't make a lot of difference to the quality of the storytelling. A bit ropey in the special effects department, but the novelty of the whole show was what made it so watchable. This particular story had a slight 'eco' element to it (which I won't give away here.) which makes it relevant to a modern audience. I am surprised by how good it is, and I'm so glad to be able to see it after almost 60 years.

The other subscription is to 'National Theatre At Home', which streams recordings of National Theatre productions, which have been captured at 'live' performances, and some were shown 'live' in cinemas. The production I have just watched was 'Jack Absolute Flies Again' which is a reworking of the Richard Brinsley Sheridan 1775 play 'The Rivals'  by Oliver Chris and Richard Bean, who wrote 'One Man, Two Guvnors', which was a reworking of the Goldoni play 'The Servant of Two Masters and has Caroline Quentin in the role of Mrs Malaprop. A rip-roaring production and hilarious. Some of Mrs Malaprop's malapropisms don't always work and are somewhat over-egged, but I think you can forgive that some are somewhat rude, especially for a family audience, but that doesn't detract from the sheer energy of the production.

Monday. 6.45 a.m. Out earlier than yesterday with Alfie. We again did the circuit of Oldbrook Green, but not a lot to report.

Impartial Media?

 Saturday. 6.05 a.m. It's a completely different sort of day, on the weather front, compared with yesterday morning. It is mild and snow free. It hardly seems possible things could change so drastically, but that is what the weather in this country is like changing virtually hourly.

6.35 p.m. After the row caused by Gary Lineker, the BBC football pundit who made some comment about the Government's immigration proposals, which contravened BBC impartiality rules, many of the usual football programmes on BBC1 have either been cancelled or cut short. As someone who isn't a football fan, I find the fact that virtually all of BBC1 on a Saturday is taken over by football totally unacceptable. It has to be the most boring sport ever invented and when they have any sort of programme on the subject, they have talking heads who waffle on and on endlessly about the game. So, as far as I am concerned, they can keep him off our screens for as long as possible.

Sport seems to get more than its a fair share of screen time on television, on all channels. Whenever there's a big football game, it can often displace other programmes and it's not just the actual game which takes over, but we have to endure hour after hour of droning 'so-called' pundits rambling on and on and on. So, while we have all this sports stuff, why is there nothing about the arts? We used to have a raft of art magazines on television, Omnibus and Arena on BBC channels and on ITV, 'The South Bank Show.' You could hardly move for adaptations of stage plays on television on BBC1 during the 1960s and 1970s. On a Sunday evening on BBC1, 'Play of The Month' showed adaptations of world theatre, such as Ibsen, Shaw, Shakespeare and many more. No doubt they didn't get very high audience ratings, but at least the BBC wasn't churning out endless soaps, game shows and reality television shows. Or shows with 'so-called celebrities in them. 

The arts seem to be sidelined in many areas of life. The government treats the arts as something that shouldn't be taken seriously, particularly in education. It should cover a wide range of pursuits, not just fine arts, but also music and drama. But it most definitely should be taken seriously, because drama and music particularly lead to jobs which are important to the economy of the country. You only have to consider theatre, with big West End productions drawing sizeable audiences. Then there are the subsidiary employment activities which are important to the theatre, such as costume design and making, set design and building, lighting, and management, both backstage and front of house. This then leads on to cinema, with similar subsidiary employment in front of and behind the camera. Photography, set design, editing and so on. This, too, with television. Never more so, with the growth of streaming services such as Netflix, Disney + and Britbox. And, of course, traditional television services such as BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5, all producing not just drama but other genres of programming.

As regards the arts on television, why are art programmes hidden in the schedules? If BBC1 or BBC2 has an arts magazine, it's almost always aired in a late-night slot. Very rarely would it be shown earlier in the evening, say, 7p.m. Even when ITV had 'The South Bank Show', it would be shown around 10.30 p.m. on a Sunday.

Another Dawn, Another Day

Saturday. 6.40 a.m. I've just been watching BBC Breakfast. There's been a report about the stage version of 'Spitting Images', which has opened at Birmingham Rep Theatre. This was a hugely successful television show in the 1980s, satirizing many politicians and celebrities of the day. Some of the material could be quite cruel and biting. It was briefly revived on Britbox, the streaming service, but it never had the same level of satire as the original show, basically because a lot of material would be 'non-PC' and not get past the 'woke' brigade. I have a connection to Spitting Images, although very vaguely. I know several people who either worked in the moulding and sculpting departments or as puppeteers and I even auditioned for it, although I wasn't successful, it was an interesting and positive day nevertheless. It will be interesting to see how this stage version does and whether it will be toured.

I was out with Alfie around 7.10, and it would appear to be quite mild. No sign of frost.

Sunday. 8.20 a.m. I was woken in the night (it must have been around 2 a.m.) by doors banging and loud voices downstairs. Goodness knows what it was. I could not get back to sleep, so I decided to make something to eat, a bowl of porridge. Easy to make and tasty, as well as being good for you, helping to reduce cholesterol, not that I really need my cholesterol lowering, as it's at a good level at present. Then, I thought, I might as well watch television. Just news on BBC1, which continues all night. (By the way, why does the BBC have the same news on BBC1 and the BBC News channel? What's the point? Why have identical stuff on two channels? Surely they have material which can be repeated, even if it's older? Documentaries, for example?) I plumped for something on BBC iPlayer, a comedy called W1A, which is a mockumentary about the BBC. I have seen most of the episodes before, but it's worth a second look. With Hugh Bonneville as the BBC's Head of Values, Ian Fletcher. How accurate it is, I have no idea, but it parodies the sort of life within a large bureaucracy, with endless, pointless meetings. Whether it's accurate about the inner workings of the BBC, is open to doubt. The doublespeak is funny but at times it goes on too long. The fact that they come up with ideas for programme formats seems a bit false, in this day when most programmes are made by independent companies who then pitch their ideas to the broadcasters, in this case, the BBC. The BBC broadcasts them and in most cases doesn't own the rights.

Monday. 8.05 a.m. I have the windows wide open because there is still smoke coming into my flat. I really don't know why I have to put up with someone's fag smoke percolating my private space. It is totally unacceptable 

10.30 a.m. I've been to buy a few bits in Sainsbury's. There is a vast display of flowers, mostly red roses, in the entrance area. It does seem obvious that it's for Valentine's Day, which is tomorrow. Also, plenty of pink Champaign and other alcohol on sale, given prominence along the ends of aisles. Blatant over-commercialisation of this day. Also, Easter eggs are already given pride of place in another area of the store, as well as boxes of chocolates. 

Somebody who lives in one of the flats along the corridor from me has a Hyacinth Bucket complex (she, being the character from the BBC sitcom 'Keeping Up Appearances' played with extreme relish by the brilliant Patricia Routledge) They have a sign outside which says 'posher than next door.' Oh, dear! Are they snobs? How do you quantify 'posh'?  The word 'posh' is supposed to have come from a shipping line company which took passengers to India, or possibly, Australia, in the 19th or early 20th century. People would sit on the deck to catch the sun, 'port out, starboard home', or some such slogan was created, hence the initials spelling 'posh', I'm not sure how true that it, and presumably it hinted at wealth and position in society because people were snobbish about their social standing in that era (probably equally snobbish today, but you get my point. 

4.10 p.m. It's remarkably warm and sunny as I write this. It's not what you would call 'hot', but that's to be expected since it's early February, when you consider what the weather was like a few weeks ago, freezing and frosty, it's warm and pleasant, almost spring-like.

Tuesday. 6.30 a.m. I was awake, so, rather than lounging in bed, I got up, shaved and then did a pile of washing up. I can't stand going out and then returning to a sink full of dirty pots and pans. As I will be going to Camphill this morning, I won't be back in the flat until around 4.30 p.m., so washing up will be the last thing on my mind.

I have restored my Amazon Prime membership. It has been £79 a year, but then last year it increased to £90, which I didn't want to be taken out of my bank account (via Direct Debit) and more than I was prepared to pay, I cancelled. Then, on Sunday, I re-subscribed, but this time, on a monthly payment, of £8.99, which is far easier to handle. As a result of all of this, I decided to watch the second season of 'Clarkson's Farm.' I saw the first run, which is about Jeremy Clarkson's attempts to manage the farm he bought in Oxfordshire in 2008. I know, he does have a habit of upsetting people, and making controversial statements, but, as a farmer's son, I have a fairly good idea of how difficult farming is. I don't like the strong language that is used, but it's a good watch. Certainly not something which would be shown on traditional, terrestrial television, such as BBC 1 or ITV. Anyway, as all the episodes of the Clarkson show are available, I have already watched the first four. I know that Clarkson is something of a Marmite sort of person; you either like him or hate him. He seems to be a magnet for controversy. Just think the things he has said about, for example, Megan Markle. I won't repeat it hear. But if what he said, or in this case, wrote, in The Sun newspaper, which publishes his column, why didn't the editor of that paper edit the comments before the column was published? Let's just say, the Sun is a tabloid which needs to make money and to have such a controversial columnist attracts readers which ultimately attracts advertising which keeps the paper afloat. 

Amazon Prime doesn't just cover their streaming service. You get free postage and packaging on items you purchase from them as well as other of their services (which I have forgotten at the moment. I think music via any Alexa device for a start off.)

Returning Winter

Monday. 7.00 a.m. Breakfast, on BBC television, when I turn on the television just now, telling us that it's going to get wintry. After several weeks of relatively mild weather, it will be something of a shock

3.05 p.m. A lot of clanging and other extraneous noises were coming from the garden below my kitchen window as I stood at the sink and did some washing up this afternoon. I saw a workman outside, walking across the grass below, dressed in a yellow day-glow jacket. Then scaffolding poles appear over the edge of the roof below the window, and it was clear he was putting up scaffolding. I've been told the roof along the corridor, which is where my flat is situated within Dexter House, has a serious leak. It has taken some time for the Council to get this situation under control and actually get something done regarding the leak, as it is causing further problems because it has been left. There is another workman somewhere about and between them, these two workmen have a radio on which I can hear as well as what sounds like drilling, presumably something to do with putting together the various sections of scaffolding. Probably not drilling, but screwing together the sections. I just hope I don't have to have people looking into my kitchen window, which is likely to happen when they get around to the actual repairs of the roof.

Tuesday. 6.45 a.m. BBC Breakfast is celebrating its 40th anniversary this morning. They have the original blue clock in the bottom right corner of the screen rather than the digital one which is usually in that position. Looking at the footage from that time, it really looks amateur and not the slick professional look we have come to expect.

Wednesday. 8.05 a.m. It was a bit of a shock when I went out to my car yesterday morning at 8.20. I was about to drive off to Camphill, but I found the car's windows frozen, not just on the exterior. There was ice inside, and I had to go back into my flat to fetch the spray de-icer and scraper. It took around fifteen minutes to clear the windows sufficiently so that I could see out and then drive to Camphill.

On arrival at Camphill, I was greeted by some of the theatre gang, who were pleased to see me and when we went into the check-in which is done at the beginning of each session. Terrie, the leader of the workshop, had some great news. Sales of tickets for 'Twelfth Night' are going exceptionally well and some £400-worth of tickets for the two performances. Also, BBC Look East, the local news programme which is on BBC1 at 6.30 p.m. throughout the week, came a few days ago and did interviews with some of the performers and the report will be shown on Look East sometime in the next two weeks.

All the actors have now been given folders with the adapted scripts of 'Twelfth Night', and the rest of the day was taken up with rehearsals of the play.

12.55 p.m. A lot more clanging and banging from the workmen repairing the roof. I wish they would use rubber hammers. The scaffolding has grown considerably overnight.

I have bought a ticket for the matinée performance of 'Twelfth Night", on Saturday, 4th February. This is done via the Q code on the poster.

Spring In The Air

That is metaphorically and actually. Each day that passes, it's getting lighter each morning earlier and earlier and at the same it, it's warmer. Yesterday was particularly sunny and warm.

Wednesday. 3.45 a.m. It's still and quiet on the weather front.

I have contacted Amazon regarding the missing DVD. This, via the online 'chat' function. It is the third attempt at sorting the problem. I am being sent a replacement DVD of the new, Stephen Spielberg directed 'West Side Story.' I have just this minute received an email telling me it has been dispatched and should arrive sometime today. I am still intrigued to know what happened to the first place containing a DVD. According to the Amazon website, it was 'received by the resident.' Not true. The delivery driver wasn't doing his/her job properly if that's the case. We'll wait and see what develops.

9.55 a.m. I was up early and my first outing with Alfie was around 6.20. Why hang around in bed when it's bright outside? Not sunny, but still bright. I don't think Alfie was awake when I went into the lounge to find him curled up in his bed. Never mind. I washed up from the evening before. I can't stand having dirty pots and plates in the sink, so I soon had it all done and put it away. We went out for another trot around the park at around 8.15, and then I thought I might just as well go to Sainsbury's. Go early mid-week and you avoid the crowds you would probably get on a Friday when people have been paid. Then I discovered that some bright spark had decided to rearrange the shelves in the store. I've been shopping in there for goodness knows how long, and you get used to where things are, but to suddenly find it all in different places is somewhat annoying. What is the reason for all this? No doubt they're preparing for something new in the store. I don't think I was the only customer to be somewhat lost as there were one or two others with annoyance written all over their faces. I do think if they are going to do this, they should at least have notices up telling you where the products have been moved too. Surely not much to ask. Never mind. Things will sort themselves out eventually.

1.30 p.m. There is a light rain as I write. Drizzle, I think the word to use is. It was similar to what it was like a few hours ago. Alfie doesn't like getting wet, but still wants to go out, but the moment he feels a raindrop on his back, he'll be back through the door and no doubt be curled up on either my bed or in his little nest beside the television. 

6.00 p.m. The 'West Side Story' DVD arrived at around 4.45 this afternoon! So that issue is now resolved.

There seems to be a rash of new game shows on television at the moment. BBC 1 has Pointless, which seems to be a more or less permanent fixture at 5.15 five days a week and now it's joined at 4.30 by 'Bridge of Lies', which is hosted by Ross Kemp, formerly of EastEnders. Then on BBC2 there's one I hadn't come across before called 'Lightening.' 'Eggheads moved to Channel 5 a couple of months ago and is on at exactly the same time, 6.30, that it was on when it was on BBC2. This might explain why the new kid on the block, 'Lightening' is on at the same time. Then ITV has 'The Chase' on at exactly the same time as Pointless. On ITV they have Tenable, Tipping Point and The Chase, one after the other. It really is taking it too far and totally unimaginative of ITV to just put one after the other. Why no drama in the afternoon schedules? The BBC has done rather well with their drama offerings, with Doctors doing well just after lunch, followed by such things as Father Brown and Shakespeare and Hathaway. Always good to watch that and pick out the cleaver Shakespearian connections, plot devices or character names worked into the plot. But it's a shame that BBC1 stopped showing children's programming in the 4-5 p.m. slot. I know they moved it all onto the BBC children's channels, but to just churn out endless gameshows really shows a total lack of imagination. It's obvious that game shows are cheap to produce, well, certainly when compared with drama. I presume the jackpots on Pointless (and other similar shows.) comes from the Television licence. As for ITV, it's just the slippery slope really, more dumbing down. Some questions on, for example, Tipping Point, are just plain embarrassingly easy, such as 'what colour is grass, or the sky?' Not really going to challenge a child for more than five or six really, or is that how they see their daytime audience? A lot of toddlers? Now, one doesn't expect Open University type programming (No, not like the 1970s lectures which were broadcast at nighttime for students.) Probably produced just up the road, here in Milton Keynes. But come on, at least have more difficult questions.

Even More Things Getting Slightly More Undecidedly Sticky, But Only, Possibly, A Little Bit, But Even More Undecidedly Unpleasant. Possibly, Maybe, or There again, maybe not

The world has gone mad. A Prime Minister has to deny whether he was at a drinks party at 10 Downing Street during lockdown (whether it was illegal under the rules and regulations is neither here nor there.) Meanwhile, the Russian President, Putin, has sent troops to the border with Ukraine and is threatening to invade. There is an American President who doesn't seem entirely with it, looking for all the world as if he's in the early stage of dementia. If you thought Regan was unfit to hold office as President of the most powerful country in the known world,  Joe Biden seems not to be exactly 100% with it, mentally and physically. No wonder Putin thought he could get away with invading Ukraine when the West was looking in the opposite direction. It all seems like the plot of some sort of comedy, but actually, it's not particularly funny when we now learn that Putin is possibly intending to use chemical weapons and even nuclear weapons. Possibly in an attempt to draw the West into a war that will have consequences which it's difficult to comprehend. Jim Hacker, the Prime Minister in the BBC sitcom 'Yes Prime Minister', might have had problems with our current situation and Sir Humphrey Appleby would have delighted in explaining the situation in his long, convoluted diatribes, tying  everyone, including himself, 

Is the pandemic over? It's difficult to say. The crazy rules and regulations have been removed. We don't need to social distance or wear face coverings. There are still people who wear masks, usually when I'm outside. I want to ask why? If you're out in the fresh air and there's no one else around, why bother with a face mask? Nasty things. There's no proof they actually work. Having one on for any length of time makes me ill. Breathing in your own breath isn't good for you. There is now virtually nothing about the virus on television news. The BBC hasn't had a report on anything to do with the pandemic in weeks, or so it seems. They are more concerned about the Ukrainian war. Peddling fear and anxiety. The pandemic seems to have melted into the background. 

Why didn't The West realize earlier what Putin was planning to do? Would our intelligence services have picked up some hint of things going on in Russia? Don't we have some sort of system which monitors the goings-on in Russia and other countries which can be thought of a threat to democracy? Were we too focussed on the pandemic? I think only time will tell and probably when more comes to light as the years pass. 

Then, on top of the pandemic to make us feel frightened, we have climate change. The scientists are making us feel guilty if we eat meat, drive a car, light our log burner and generally produce carbon and let it into the atmosphere. This thing about cattle and other herbivores we may eat producing gasses that are supposed to deplete the ozone layer is rather lazy. They aren't the only animals that create these gasses. How about the herds of animals that roam the African savannah? Antelopes? Elephants? What about HUMANS? Don't we create these gasses? It's all a bit dumb if you ask me? (but please don't.)

Then there's the hypocrisy of these scientists, politicians and others who went to the  COP 26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow last October and travelled there by plane, car and other forms of transport which give off large amounts of carbon. 

Friday. 8.45 a.m. It's exactly two years since the WHO (World Health Organisation.) announced that we were in a pandemic, due to the coronavirus. Seems like we've lost two years of our lives, hiding away, being ordered about by people who had no real authority (ie; unelected scientists.), making people frightened, destroying businesses, causing disruption to children's eduction, cancelling NHS appointments, people going without their cancer treatment, mental health going through the room, relationships being destroyed. I could go on, but I won't. Was it really worth it? It 'save the NHS from being overwhelmed,'? Probably not.

Boris Bunter Loves Cake!

Friday. 2.00 p.m. I'm sure Boris Johnson loves cake, so if someone appears on his birthday and waves a bit of cake under his nose, he's bound to go all googly-eyed, and drooling like a dog when downwind of a plate of meaty scraps. So it's no wonder he didn't disown the chance to have a party in Downing Street. Were these parties like children's parties, with jelly and ice cream, musical chairs, blind man's buff, pass the parcel and so on? A goody bag for everyone when they leave? Was there a conjurer there? Or some other children's entertainer? The more I think about 'Partygate' the more ludicrous and pointless all this is. Now is the time for all good men to go to the aid of the party. Perhaps.

And now . . . The Police don't want anything to do with the investigation, which was carried out by the civil servant, Sue Gray. The plot thickens. I think it will turn out that there were far more parties going on that shouldn't have been, probably by other mandarins in Whitehall, rather making the whole thing a bit rich. I wonder what Sir Humphrey Appleby, the Private Secretary of Jim Hacker, the Prime Minister in the BBC sitcom 'Yes, Prime Minister'? No doubt he would have come out with one of his long-winded and complex explanations. This entire affair is turning into a Whitehall farce, quite literally.

This morning I had an email from my MP in response to Partygate. I wrote because I wanted him to know how angry I was that I had been following the pandemic regulations more or less to the letter whilst it seemed those in Downing Street have been having a wild time, or so it would appear. It's not just the hypocrisy that angered me, but the fact that I had to sacrifice going to see my grandchildren over Christmas 20 and now knowing what was going on inside 10 Downing Street.

Saturday. 8.15 a.m. Okay, okay. We're still waiting for the infamous 'Partygate' enquiry results. It seems to be taking over every news programme on television and headlines and front pages of all the newspapers. But, come on chaps, let's get over it and move on, can we, please? I reckon there's more to it than the fact that people broke lockdown regulations. Let's be perfectly honest, how many people actually adhered 100% to the really complicated, and some say, completely unnecessary, regulations. I have a sneaking suspicion that all this nonsense has a rather sinister agenda behind it, and that's to get rid of Boris Johnson. Love him or loathe him, our media is generally controlled by a left-wing element. Particularly the BBC. The Government is eager to clip the wings of our major Public Service broadcaster and in particular to find a new funding model to replace the archaic Television Licence. So, they are more than desperate to find a way to discredit the Conservative government at any cost. Apart from anything else, there are far more important stories to be covered by the papers and television programmes. For example, the fact that Russia is threatening to invade  Ukraine and has sent thousands of troops to the border, or the mounting fuel costs crisis, or how to return the country to some semblance of normality as the pandemic comes to an end. As it is, the media is spinning that story out somewhat and seem reluctant to give any positive news on that particular subject. 

New MacBook

Wednesday. 1.35 p.m. I now have a brand new MacBook Pro. Completely paid for and up and running successfully. In fact, this blog post is being written on that laptop. I had an email from Milton Keynes Council last Tuesday, telling me to ring and speak to a lady in what is called the Income Department. On Wednesday I did just that, and it appeared I was owed a credit, I'm not quite sure what for, but I hadn't been paid whatever it was. I gave my bank details (and thinking about it later I began to wonder if I had been wise to do such a thing, considering how spams work and how easy it would be for a criminal to extract money from your bank account.) It was a sizeable amount, so my first thought was 'good gracious! It means I can buy a brand-new laptop!' This, as I've mentioned before in these blog posts, is because my MacBook Air has come to the end of its working life. I can't upgrade the operating system, and it's become very slow and difficult. I still wasn't sure whether it was real or not, so I kept looking at the balance on my Nationwide account. Yesterday (Tuesday) I went online, and the money was in the account. So, I did some research online regarding MacBooks and eventually went on the John Lewis website and ordered a new model, more powerful than the old model, and this morning I got an email telling me it was ready to collect. So, I went in and collected it, via the John Lewis customer collection department. I had to migrate data from the old MacBook to the new one, which took a couple of hours, which means virtually all my files are on this new one. It was a really simple and easy process, and I'm surprised how well it went. There are one or two websites that I visit regularly which need their passwords put in, but apart from that, everything went well, fortunately.

I am currently watching my box set of the sitcom 'Allo, 'Allo.  I have had it sitting on my bookshelf for the past couple of years. I watched the first episode, but I haven't watched any of the other episodes. I have watched the occasional episode,  when they were shown on various channels over the years, but never from the beginning and in chronological order. I have never seen any of the first series. I have a connection to it, as I did walk-on work on the second season, spending around a week in 1985, when exterior scenes were filmed around Norfolk and on the outdoor set which was constructed in a courtyard at  Lynford Hall, which is now a hotel. The BBC created the courtyard to become the village square and the exterior of Rene's cafe.

Thursday. 12.10 p.m. It's surprisingly warm and sunny. You could almost say 'spring-like' if you were so inclined. I suppose so, but we're in early January.

I have ordered what is called an 'over-bed' table from Amazon. Not that it will be used 'over-bed.' It should allow me to sit in my armchair and write on my MacBook Pro as well as use it to eat my meals. I don't have a dining table, so it should make life somewhat easier. It's due to be delivered sometime today, well, at least before 10 p.m.

The best bit of news is that more of the covid pandemic restrictions are to be lifted after 26th January. Including not having to wear muzzles, oh er! I mean face coverings. We're supposed to wear the wretched things when shopping, but for me, it's made more difficult because my glasses keep steaming up. You can't communicate properly with them on, almost impossible to have a decent conversation with someone and virtually impossible to 'read' a person's face. So, it's excellent news. Let's just hope that this is the end of the confounded pandemic, or at least, near enough. I might well mean we have to live with the virus and not keep being locked down. 

4.35 p.m. The over the bed table has arrived. Usually, when I get a delivery, the van driver will call me on the intercom from the front door of Dexter House, but this time someone in the front office telephoned me to tell me I had a delivery. Which meant I had to go down and pick up the package. It doesn't really matter, but you would think a delivery driver would have some sort of idea how to contact the recipient of a parcel. Now to construct the table. I'll let you know how I get on, but surely it can't be too difficult to put together. I trust it has instructions within the package and they're easy to read and there are no pieces missing.

6.20 p.m. The table is built! It wasn't as difficult as I was expecting. The worst part is screwing the various pieces together with an Allan key (I think that is the correct name.) You can never always manage to turn the screw through a complete turn, but do it in small increments. Lots of packaging, polystyrene and plastic bags which contain the various screws and tiny bits. The secret I find when working on these self-build bits of furniture (or 'flat pack if it's IKEA or the old MFI furniture. By the way, whatever happened to MFI?) is to put these pieces in a box or plastic container so they don't get lost. As I say, the thing is built and ideal for taking the MacBook so I can work.

Busy Doing Nothing!

Friday. 8.a.m. Bright and sunny. Virtually no clouds in the sky, and, according to the BBC weather forecast this morning, we can expect more similar days. 

Actually, the title for this post isn't accurate, as I have plenty to keep me going. My family history research is going well. The My Heritage site works best on the app on the iPad. Got back around 9-10 generations. Baking at a standstill at the moment, but I intend to do more soon. Writing going well, although I'm doing the research before I continue. Reading, still on the Juliet Gardiner book. It's around 600-700 pages, so I don't expect to get through it much before the autumn.

Witty is saying 'we're not out of the woods' in regards to the pandemic. But the data says otherwise. The stupid NHS app is flawed and people are being 'pinged' because the idiot thing is sending messages saying people should isolate when there is no need to. It's just scare-mongering once more. Crazy. 

I got the quote from my current car insurance provider, Swinton. Am I glad I did some research before going with them again? The quote is an eye-watering £759.95! The new quote, which is already set up and the deposit paid, is £329. Just shows how important it is to shop around to get a better quote and with a breakdown cover from the RAC. This is from Dial Direct, which I found through Go Compare.

Saturday. 6.45 a.m. It's bright and sunny this morning. The BBC weather forecast is telling me that it's likely to be the hottest day of the year. I just need to keep out of the heat if that's the case, as it can be dangerous with a heart problem.

Later. 2.40 p.m. I am part of what is called a 'Prayer Triplet' which is part of SCF. We met for the first time this morning. The idea being that we are mentored and supported, probably quite necessary considering the current situation regarding the pandemic as well as the effects of Carol's death. Good to be able to talk about things that are going on in your life and then pray it through. I had to drive to Conniburrow, which isn't much more than a ten-minute drive from home. I had been there before, to a barbecue, but still, I needed to refresh my memory and then decided to use Google Maps on my iPhone, which acted as a satnav. Amazingly very good and a clear voice, as I had the mobile sitting on the passenger seat beside me. Just crazy how this technology works and I soon got there.

It's really hot today. I've been out with Alfie who didn't get his mid-morning outing because of me being out for the morning. I just can't cope with the heat and neither can Alfie.

Sunday. 8.55 a.m. I've been out twice with Alfie. I didn't wake up until 5.45, which isn't my usual time to wake up. It's usually a good deal earlier. So I had to really struggle to get out of bed and then get dressed and take Alfie out. I can't think what was different. 

It's really hot and it's only barely 9 o'clock, so I'm glad we went out when we did. I would rather stay indoors out of the heat as it's not safe if it's too hot when you have a heart problem. Alfie doesn't like it either and I think he prefers it cooler.

I had a shower, which isn't my usual time to have one, but I am a good deal cooler than when I came indoors. I have a drink of cranberry cordial with ice in it. I have plenty of ice in the fridge.

Been to get milk from Tesco Express on Oldbrook Boulevard. I don't want to have none for my early-morning cup of tea and bowl of breakfast cereal.  I noticed that the Dominos Pizza and Bernados charity shop have closed. I have a sneaking suspicion that the whole block is to be demolished to make way for a new, larger Lidl branch to be built, with this being the opposite end to where it is currently. Presumably, Lidl has bought the entire site, which might explain all this. I have since discovered that Dominos has moved across the road into Duckworth Court, where there is already a Pizza Hut. I'm not sure when all this is due to be started, but I just wonder what will become of the mini Tesco branch which is so handy for buying milk and last-minute things. Also, it has an A.T.M. outside when you need cash or to at least check your bank balance. I hope that Lidl will have one when all this is completed.

All Over The Place

Thursday. 7.10 a.m. I can't think of a title for this post, but no doubt something will come to me in the fullness of time.

It's early and I'm warm. The kitchen, as I must have mentioned in earlier posts, is roasting hot. I am well aware of the remark some American politician said which goes something like this 'if you can't cope with the heat, stay out of the kitchen!' (I'll have to do a Google search and find out who it was and the correct wording.) It's the heating system of Dexter House. They seem to think (they being someone or other in Milton Keynes Council.) that 'old' people need to be kept in accommodation that is so warm that a tropical plant would wilt. I may be over 70, but I don't consider myself old in any way. You can't alter the temperature with a thermostat. It is something to do with the hot water pipe which runs under the sink in the kitchen. It must run very close to the cold water pipe because sometimes when you turn on the cold tap, hot water comes out for a few seconds. When I first moved here, I, unfortunately, left out a bottle of milk and by the morning it had turned sour. You could have made cheese or yogurt out of it!

I have now looked up the phrase 'if you don't like the heat, keep out of the kitchen. It was said by the American President, Harry S. Truman.

Friday. 6.40 a.m. Watching Good Morning Britain on ITV. Richard Madely had taken over from Piers Morgan and he isn't in thrall of the scientists who are keeping us all frozen in time. I just want to know where his wife Judy is. They always worked together as a couple, having been the original presenters of  This Morning and then their own show at teatime on Channel Four. I am really getting tired of being lectured to by the BBC, which is why I've switched over this morning. On 13th June there is a brand new channel opening called GB News, lead by Andrew Neil. Quite a few former BBC reporters have been signed up, including Simon McCoy. It would seem that many BBC presenters are leaving the sinking ship, not just television. Classic FM has now got several former BBC presenters on-air, such as former BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull, John Humphries, and Moira Stewart, who used to be a new reader.. I think there was a huge tidal wave of BBC personnel jumping ship (sorry about the puns.) when the BBC had to reveal how much they paid their personnel and I presume a commercial channel would be able to pay far higher salaries than the BBC.

Later. 9.05 a.m. I have written around two sides of A4. My 'project', for want of a better term (I don't know really whether it's a novel, or what you'd describe it as.) is growing. I've managed to find a way of linking the various elements together, which was actually quite obvious, but I won't mention it here

Well, we're all over the place (my blog post title coming into its own now.) as regards the variant of the coronavirus. We have the so-called Indian Variant, which is also known as the Delta Variant and now, give a round of applause to . . . the Nepal Variant. They are supposed to be more infectious than earlier variants and scientists are saying that the Government should be cautious of lifting restrictions on 21st June. A great deal of anger from various sections of society about the newest restrictions coming into force regarding traveling abroad. You have to quarantine for ten days if you return to some countries, not actually sure which, as the system of 'traffic lights' to show which are the highest and lowest countries to have levels of infections and so on because of coronavirus, is really confusing, which is probably why there is so much annoyance and anger, which I suppose is going to happen if you had intended travelling abroad for a holiday as well as the airline industry. But if that's the case, why not just stay in Britain and have a holiday here instead of trotting off to wherever increase the carbon emissions of the plane you will fly in and then spend a great deal of money on testing as well as having to isolate for however many days are required when you come home.

Calmer Weather

Sunday. 7.00 a.m. Thankfully the strength of the wind has reduced to virtually nothing. It's sunny at the moment but there's still a chill in the air. Any chance of me wearing my shorts is still not really advisable. We are being told on BBC Breakfast this morning that the weather is likely to improve dramatically by the end of the week. I'm not sure if that means we will experience a heatwave, but anything can be better than rain and howling wind. If that's correct, if will certainly follow the patter of 'May comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.'

So, we got nil points in the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest held in Rotterdam yesterday evening. The contest wasn't held last year because of the pandemic.  All I can say is, I'm not really surprised, because it would appear that the judging isn't done from an artistic viewpoint (sorry, I can't honestly say there's much artistic in this naff festival of awfulness.), but more likely a political one, most probably because of Brexit and Britain's decision to leave the EU. I think it's about time we just gave up on the whole kit and caboodle and grateful that, because we lost, we don't have to stage it in this country. Our entry was really dire. I had never heard it before yesterday evening. Not that I follow 'pop' music. The whole Eurovision thing is one big yawn, having to listen to several hours of some of the worst music ever written in my opinion, such as it is. I really think we do can much better than this effort. I know it's supposed to unite  us internationally, but I'm sure there is something else we could be doing. I think it does have one thing that's relatively good at the moment, what with lockdowns and pandemics, and that it takes our minds off the awfulness of the last year or so. But as entertainment, I give it nil points. Saturday on any television channel is just awful. Endless gameshows and talent contests and lame drama, which Casualty has become. No wonder people prefer Netflix. Plenty or better viewing elsewhere. Now we have the Diana interview scandal, I think the BBC had better sort itself out otherwise it's days are numbered.

After church I went to Morrison's on the way home. I had precisely three items to buy and I decided I didn't want to queue at a staffed checkout, so I opted to use a self service till. I wish I hadn't bothered. I scanned in each item but when I got to the point where I had to pay with my debit card, the thing just wouldn't accept payment. It took two attempts with a staff member to get the thing to work and a further, third attempt didn't go as planned. There must have been something wrong with the thing, but it did eventually take payment. I just don't like these machines. Or more likely, they don't like me. I'm sure the more we have machines like this, and AI (artificial Intelligence) the more machines are going to take over, in more ways than one. If they got to think for themselves, goodness knows what life is likely to be. Something of a nightmare scenario, like a science fiction film. Remember that scene in 2001: A Space Odyssey, where the on-board computer on the space station won't open a door (or something. I don't remember exactly.) It spoke. We now have voice activated gadgets (think Alexa and Siri.) so it can't be that far into the futur

Telly Watching- Part 1

At the moment we seem to be having a lot of similar television programmes which feature making-over or repairing items of furniture, toys, clocks, bicycles and so on. It started a few years ago with 'Money For Nothing,' where a restorer/maker/designer goes to a tidy-tip and rescues items of furniture and other things before they end up in the skip and are crushed. They then take the item to specialist designer/restorers who transform them item and then the presenter sells the item for a profit and the money they make is given to the person who was about to throw it in the skip at the tidy-tip. What makes this programme so good is that we see how an old piece of furniture which was past its best can be transformed and the journey it goes on to become something stunning and the money it can make when sold. The reaction when the presenter turns up with the money which has been made after the work has been done on their piece of furniture is a treat. I'm really surprised myself because some items are sold at ridiculous prices.

I suppose there have been many other 'make-over' shows on television over the years, 'Changing Rooms' and 'Ground Force,' and more recently 'Garden Rescue', but they don't have the 'repurpose' element in them, although 'Garden Rescue' does sometimes use recycled items, such as railway sleepers and other items in their make-overs, but not to the extent this rash of shows have.

Then there's 'The Repair Shop.' This is intriguing. People bring items into the shop to be repaired, usually, items that have some sort of connection to a friend, a family member, probably who has died. These items are in a really sorry state, in desperate need of care and attention. For example, a valuable piece of porcelain, a vase or bowl, but some have no real intrinsic value, probably the property of a grandparent or friend, which has a sentimental story to tell, such as a rather tatty teddy bear which survived a house fire or a clock which someone inherited but accidentally got knocked off a shelf and has been left in a drawer because no one can repair it, is the basic format of this show. A series of craftspeople, each with their own set of special skills, manage to restore and revive these pieces. It is a good show, but the sentimental side is beginning to get a bit tiresome. It seems the producers are trying their best to wring every tear out of the people whose items are being repaired. This usually at the end when the 'big reveal' is made and they see their beloved heirloom in its newly-repaired state. There is so much sentiment and gushing that a person can take, surely. Or perhaps not. It's all about nostalgia, and as someone once said, 'nostalgia isn't what it used to be.' (I may have got the quote wrong, but you get a rough idea of what I mean. But, on the other hand, it's great to have a programme where people are actually NICE to one another. Probably accounts for the series success, particularly during the lockdown where people are crying out for something soothing and pleasant to watch. Remember such programmes as 'The Weakest Link,' presided over by the 'Queen of Mean' herself, Anne Robinson, who could make some quite nasty remarks and 'you are the weakest. Goodbye!' was her mantra? Or Craig Revill-Horwood, one of the judges on 'Strictly Come Dancing', who could make some quite nasty quips about the contestants? Done in the mode of a pantomime villain. Just to get a reaction in some respects, and to get people talking on social media and thus increase the viewing figures.

This 'nostalgia' theme is carried through in the fact that the show is filmed in an ancient barn in the  Weald and Downland Living Museum near Chichester. Then it's been styled with objects that give a suggestion of nostalgia, metal advertising signs, bric-a-brac, dried flowers, carriage lamps from a bygone era, and so on. Playing on a rather fake past, in some respects, seen through a haze of soft focus, horses grazing, gaslight, drifting fog, and so forth. Not really genuine really, because living in, say, the 19th century, might have been fine for the upper classes, but pretty terrible for the lower orders, especially those working in the factories and cotton mills in the north of England.

The last of this type of programme is 'Saved and Remade,'  which is Broadcast on BBC2. Members of the public bring in items that have become redundant or have no real purpose anymore or hold some sort of emotional connection (much the same sort of thing which holds 'The Repair Shop' together.) It might be a wedding dress, an ancient sewing machine, or a transistor radio. Specialist craftsmen and women then have to 'repurpose' these items into a useful piece that can still retain something of its original use which can be a functional item in the person's home.

It's good that the BBC is showing programmes to at least attempt to recycle things that would otherwise be sent to landfill, but I think that there is a limit to the same sort of programme. Perhaps these shows are being made at the moment where it's difficult to produce other types of the show under government covid-19 restrictions.  They seem to think that if one type of show is popular, such as cookery or antiques, that if they make more of the same, then the public will lap them up.

A New Year and Lockdown 3.0

There are words and terms which, frankly, I'm getting rather sick of hearing. One is that this current pandemic is 'unprecedented.' It seems to be over-used by the media, mostly on BBC news programmes. The whole pandemic is becoming something of a bore generally and it has taken over media at every point. I think the BBC, in particular, have over-done their reports, such as the roll-out of the different vaccines. I know it's good news, but any excuse to do an item on it is just overkill in my opinion. They do overdo the 'gloom and doom' aspect of the pandemic and never report good news, although the vaccine roll-out can be described as being good news. So, what exactly IS the 'new normal'? Does it refer to living under lockdown? Nothing new or normal about it. It almost suggests that we have to endure this way of life, which, frankly, we don't.

I'll attempt to ignore further reports on the pandemic. It had overtaken Brexit as being newsworthy, but hopefully, that has been finished and done with since a trade deal was done over Christmas.

The microphone was delivered around lunchtime. I have managed to set it up and get it working. I'm very pleased with the results. Using a piece of free software called Audacity which allows me to record with very few problems. I have spent some time this afternoon experimenting with it, and it comes with a 'pop' filter as well as an arm that can be bolted to any piece of suitable furniture and allows the microphone to be positioned in various configurations for the best recording. It will take me a while to get the best from this microphone, although I have been doing recording using a tape-recorder since I was at school. I even bought a reel-to-reel Grundig tape recorder from a teacher at school and I taught myself tape spicing, which came in use when I worked in stage management and had to create sound tapes for the shows I worked on.

(Later) Oh no! Boris has been on television telling us that we're to be back into a lockdown! All I can say is- come on, lockdowns don't work. How much more of this do we have to endure and when will the government listen to the alternative scientists regarding the pandemic? We soon won't have an economy left and I feel sorry for the next generation and probably the next couple of generations who have to pay off  the debt created by this disaster.

Christmas Day EU/Britiish Trade Deal At Last!

(Thursday 24th December. Christmas Eve) So, it seems that a trade deal with the European Union has been struck. I heard this on BBC Breakfast this morning and a statement is due to be made by Boris Johnson but as I write this at 10.05a.m. there is nothing and everyone is waiting. The BBC had cameras outside Downing Street and they kept cutting from the television studio in Salford to Downing Street. Felt a little bit sorry for the policeman who stood outside. The Downing Street cat got a walk-on role and at one point we even saw a fox slink past! If this goes ahead it will be a very nice Christmas present for Boris Johnson. It's seems amazing that they've been negotiating a deal for most of the year and it's four-and-a-half years since the Brexit referendum and the country voted to leave by a very tiny majority.

This afternoon it was announced by Boris Johnson that the Brexit deal had been done. So, at least he has lived up to the mantra he had keep on about during last year's General Election (just over a year ago.) 'Let's Get Brexit Done.' It seems to have been a tortuous effort to get this thing sorted out, but it now has to be ratified by the EU parliament as well as the British parliament. Let's just hope it doesn't get voted down otherwise we will have to endure more negotiations. I feel sorry for the politicians, as the document which outlines the 'deal' is some two-thousand pages long and it will take them some time to wade through it.

(Christmas Day. Friday) I've been out with Alfie as usual and we found it to be quite chilly. There was ice on the pavement leading to Oldbrook Green, but that horrible patch of water I keep mentioning has gone. I think it might be cold enough for snow.

I have my Christmas dinner all ready to cook and have already peeled the potatoes. I have a turkey roast, not a turkey. There was no point getting one as I wouldn't have eaten a whole one, let alone got one small enough to fit in my electric cooker. It's supposed to take around 75 minutes to cook so I will have to work out when to put it in the oven if I want to eat my meal at around 4 o'clock. I did the Brussel sprouts yesterday evening. A really fiddly job. My father grew Brussel sprouts on the farm at Cardington. A lot bigger than those they sell in Sainsbury's. I used to feel sorry for the men who used to pick them, working in horrible wet and cold conditions in the fields. Then they were bagged and went to Covent Garden. A lorry used to come and collect them, the company who bought them called Bennet and Hawes. I don't know why people make such a fuss about Brussel Sprouts. I rather like them. I know if they're cooked to death they they can taste bitter, but I can't remember them being bitter. We had no choice, we had to eat everything put in front of us. I've seen a programme on television showing a machine that picked Brussels and probably no more than two people operated the thing as it moved across the field. No such technology on the farm and it must have taken quite a few men to do the picking.

Later. My Christmas lunch has been a great success. The Brussels were cooked to perfection. Certainly not bitter, which they can be. My roast potatoes were crisp and the parsnips just as i like them. I had to take Alfie out for a walk around Oldbrook Green after the first course. Some odd person on the grass miming boxing. Well, I think they were miming or just training, but it did look odd. A lot of people over the past months exercising around Oldbrook Green, some doing strange things which do look odd to other people who don't know what they're actually up to. A few women who walk around waving their arms around as if they're being windmills is another oddity.

Come Rain Or Shine

(Wednesday)It's been a hot and stuffy day.  When I looked out of the kitchen window early this morning it was a foggy view which greeted my gaze. Not what I was expecting. Not a great deal happening. I took Alfie out at around 1 o'clock and we were the opposite side of Oldbrook Green when it went overcast. Dark clouds hurtling across the sky and then there was a clap of thunder. Trying to hurry Alfie wasn't going to work as he has to sniff every blade of grass but I thought it vital that we get back to the flat quickly. It began to rain but we got indoors in time and as I write this there is an almighty thunder storm going on and Alfie has given me a look. I'm not sure  if he's bothered by it. I know Poppy, our old dog, was really upset when it thundered and would hide in a convenient place until a storm passed over. It's raining heavily and sounds like a sound effect recording. It's as well we got in before this started, but it should clear the stuffy air somewhat.

(Thursday) The rain continued into the night. I woke up at around 3.30 and could hear rain rattling on the windows and it appeared to be quite torrential. I took Alfie out at about 7.10 and wasn't aware until we steep out of the door into Strudwick Drive that it was still raining hard, so we didn't stay out for long and will have to go back out as Alfie only did a wee.

I am watching the BBC documentary series which is on iPlayer, 'The Story of England,' which is presented by Michael Wood and focusses on a village in Leicestershire called Kibworth. Good solid presentation and the sort of programme which the BBC does best and which they should produce more of. There's more than enough stuff to watch on catch-up if you can't find anything else to watch elsewhere on broadcast television. I think I seem to watch most in this way instead of when it's being broadcast 'live.' The other series is 'A House Through Time,' presented by David Olusoga, focussing on a house in Bristol.

Later.  5.50 p.m.After all the rain we had earlier in the day, it is now sunny and bright.

Friday. So, the week ends, but it's not a lot different to the beginning. A rather overcast sort of morning as I look out of the kitchen window at 6 o'clock. What does the day bring? Probably not a great deal.

I was right. Not a great deal happened. So there.

Saturday. It's bright and sunny. Not much more I can tell you.

I made out a shopping list and went to Sainsbury's, after I had taken Alfie out for his early morning walk down to Oldbrook Green. I'm getting good at organising myself so the wait in the queue is cut to the minimum and arrived in the underground carpark at around 8.15. I suppose there was about a 15-minute wait in the queue and I was in the store and through the self-service check out really quickly. I'm getting quite good at using these check outs, the trick is to be organised and to be able to find the bar codes on each item so that you can scan and pack each item. If anything, they really should make the bar codes larger and put them where they are easy to find. Some are almost hidden and not very obvious and some small and difficult to scan. I got home, did some washing up and then took Alfie out for yet another trot around Oldbrook Green.