GOOD TV

[Stanley]

!

[Big Kev]

I've just watched a film about the Channel Tunnel. Real people doing real work enormously skillful and hard working. Dismantling a giant fan and refurbishing and re assembling it. very impressive. Not a politician, or think tank person, or recruitment consultant or 'celebrity' to be seen.

I watched the same programme, fascinating stuff.

[Stanley]

Exactly my sentiments. That's why I enjoy diagnosing faults in machines, you think, decide and act and soon find out if you were on the right track. A friend rang me one night and described a problem that was plaguing him. I had a bath and a think and rang him back. It turned out I was right and he thought I walked on water but when you think about it it's exactly the same process as David's Flaneur. (My new favourite word!)

[Tizer]

We've enjoyed the first of this series and they're well worth watching. Dramatic shots of the vast dock areas covered in shipping containers. If more people saw how much we import and how little we export they'd be a bit less enthusiastic about leaving the EU.
`What Britain Buys and Sells in a Day: Our trading relationships face their biggest change in decades. How much do you know about our imports and exports?' LINK

[Tripps]

Good radio.

Having almost given up on the BBC, my faith was partially restored last night when after waking up at silly o'clock, the radio steered itself on R4 where it found Open Country with my favourite geordie singer Jez Lowe speaking of matters Northumbrian, with a Halloween twist, in the company of the singer Rachel Unthank. I've just downloaded it from the BBC and listened again.

One of the defences to privatising the BBC (from Lord Patten I think) was that programmes like this would disappear. I think he had a point. I also learned the Latin phrase 'genius Loci' which means spirit of the place. Something for which we flaneurs should be on the look out.

[Tizer]

We enjoyed that programme too, Tripps. Do you listen to Laurie Taylor's `Thinking Allowed' programmes? We love them. The episodes are listed here: Thinking Allowed We enjoyed the latest one on `the origin & meanings of cool'.
This Radio Times article is good too:
`Radio 4’s Laurie Taylor: “There’s a creeping censorship at the BBC”' LINK

[Stanley]

David, one of the benefits of getting up early is World Service which is on the R4 band until 05:20 each day. I hear things on there that never get to mainstream BBC.
If you want to be made to feel optimistic about the world look for this morning's 'On Your Farm' on R4 at 0635. You'll learn a lot about dung beetles, the importance of grass and livestock farming and be exposed to a wonderfully enthusiastic woman. What more do you want?

[Tripps]

f you want to be made to feel optimistic about the world look for this morning's 'On Your Farm' on R4 at 0635

I heard that too after Jez Lowe. Very impressed with a carrot grower from Pontefract who had designed and built over two years and at a cost of £2 million +, a machine which (I think) washed sorted, and graded including photographing every single carrot he grew. It took 1 millisecond to assess each carrot! We are talking hundreds of tonnes here. I was surprised the BBC didn't angle it towards Brexit, and the subsequent reduced demand for foreign labour.

Stuck in my mind that they described the growing of pumpkins as ' growing food waste' .

[Stanley]

The wildlife prog was good as well, especially if you need arguments against Universal Veganism.
The good TV was the first episode of 'His Dark Materials', superb!

[Tizer]

A £2 million machine full of photos of carrots - isn't technology wonderful!

[Tripps]

A £2 million machine full of photos of carrots - isn't technology wonderful!

I doubt they keep the photos for long after the grading. It amuses me to think of putting them all in an an album

.Here's the firm Poskitt Carrots

I can't help thinking just how much better it will all be, after Mr Corbyn takes over, and nationalises the company.

[Tizer]

Well Mr Corbyn is probably an expert on carrots, what with having an allotment and all. I like Mr Poskitt's `Home of Happy Carrots'. Perhaps he publishes `What Carrot' magazine with a monthly centrefold `Carrot of the Month'. He has to do something with all those photos before the bobbies accuse him of having carrot pornography on his computer!

[Stanley]

I had a happy thought last night and went searching on Youtube for Jack Rosenthal's Thames TV series 'The Knowledge' (1979. LINK) Good cast and he managed a nice part for his wife Maureen Lipman. A very nice watch!

[Stanley]

I had a look at 'Guilty' on BBC2 but soon decided it wasn't for me. I think I am getting disillusioned by today's TV!

[Tripps]

I think I am getting disillusioned by today's TV!

Welcome to the club. The word 'drama' usually automatically excludes a programme for me.

[Tizer]

Snap! It's the same with radio. In Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels the character Death finds it difficult to understand people. Whenever they start arguing or fighting he says `OH, DRAMA'. (He speaks in upper case.) Mrs Tiz and I often say the same to the TV!

[Stanley]

I look forward to the second episode of 'His Dark Materials' on BBC 2 tonight.....

[Tripps]

I look forward to the second episode of 'His Dark Materials' on BBC 2 tonight.....

I (forced myself) to watch it. Perhaps you could explain what on earth was going on?

PS In case you were wondering the referee in the snooker is Desislava Bozhilova. I wonder what Ted Lowe would have made of it all.

[Stanley]

It helps if you have read the books David. I admit even I have to concentrate, that's why I have saved it as catch up tonight!

[Stanley]

'His dark materials' was demanding but very well done, it closely follows the book. If you are struggling stick with it, you won't regret it.

[Stanley]

Tried to watch 'Spiral' on demand, fell asleep during second episode and didn't wake until 21:30. I think that says all I want to about it!

[Stanley]

I attempted the first episode of 'Gold Digger' on catch up. The jury is out at the moment but it's an interesting plot, the older woman and the younger man.

[Wendyf]

Don't miss watching the Brazilian Grand Prix, a very exciting race!

[Tripps]

Just watched a programme on Edinburgh museum. Impressive - made me think that if I was Scottish - I'd be going for independence. They have Audubon's original Birds of America. Last one on the market went for £7 million +

Reminded me of The Owl Crtic -
I’m filled with surprise
Taxidermists should pass
Off on you such poor glass;
So unnatural they seem
They’d make Audubon scream,
And John Burroughs laugh
To encounter such chaff.
Do take that bird down;
Have him stuffed again, Brown!”
And the barber kept on shaving.

[Stanley]

I shall be watching it tonight on catch-up Wendy as well as Lyra and her daemon.