GOOD TV

[Stanley]

That's why I think it's an advantage to have read the book which is also very difficult to understand.
Gave the Informer another go after Ian's report, better but still an uncomfortable watch as I only have a vague idea of what is going on. Some very ugly aspects to it, particularly the infiltration of the far right.....

[Tizer]

Have you watched this programme? You'll enjoy it....
`The Secret Story of Stuff: Materials of the Modern Age' LINK
`Documentary. Designer and engineer Zoe Laughlin explores the world of material science, uncovering the innovations in manufacturing that are set to change the world we live in.'

[Stanley]

No I haven't, thanks for that Tiz, I shall seek it out!

[Tizer]

You'll like Zoe's lab/workshop and her hands on approach. Not too much H&S and plenty of bangs and flames. She visits several interesting small and large concerns involved in materials and shows us various clever ideas being tested out. Never a dull moment and no wasted time.

[Stanley]

You're right! I watched and enjoyed it, some fascinating stuff. I liked the use of Mycellium. Grow your own house! I shall keep an eye open for future programmes,

[Tizer]

A number of projects have developed mycelium alternatives for polystyrene packaging foam over the last 10 years. The problem is getting the packaging manufacturers to use it and the retailers to accept the packaging.

Joanna Lumley’s `Silk Road Adventure', a series of 4 programmes on ITV, is good too. LINK She starts in Venice and then through Turkey and into the `-stans' as far as the Chinese border. It's fascinating to see these countries that we know so little about; and surprising how developed some of their cities are. You'd think it was the western USA sometimes with all the skyscrapers in the desert. I was very pleased to see how many of the young people there can speak English and have modern attitudes - so different from when they would have grown up with no knowledge of what it's like in the West. Now they understand the international language of the Internet and have the digital devices to connect with the West. The more we know about each the less likely we are to fight.

[Stanley]

The sooner their influence comes through the system the better. At the moment there are some very regressive old men in charge......

[Stanley]

I watched 'Little Drummer Girl' on iPlayer last night, it was on too late for me on Sunday. I enjoyed it but as has been commented on before, only because I have read the book and can understand the very confusing plot. (The book was just the same!)

[Stanley]

Not TV but Radio. I picked up a hint yesterday that in the changes to the BBC religious broadcasting, the Sunday Morning programme at 6AM, 'Something Understood' which is always worth listening to if you are up early enough is to be axed. Not good news for some of us.

[Stanley]

Little Drummer Girl gets even more convoluted. Even I have a job understanding the plot and I have read the book twice. I can well imagine some viewers getting fed up with it. Le Carre's later books suffered a bit from over-complicated plots...... (I suppose more intelligent people than me would call them 'dense'!)

[Stanley]

I'm still persevering with Informer but my God, the plot desn't half jump about. Is it me or does anyone else get confused by too many flash backs?

[Tripps]

This hasn't happened for a while - I watched a full episode of a 'drama' last night.
Mrs Wilson - sort of a cross between Foyle's War and The Bletchley Circle. I think I understood it - even the flashbacks.

[Big Kev]

I'm still persevering with Informer but my God, the plot desn't half jump about. Is it me or does anyone else get confused by too many flash backs?

You do have to concentrate but once you get the hang of who is who it's very good

[Big Kev]

This hasn't happened for a while - I watched a full episode of a 'drama' last night.
Mrs Wilson - sort of a cross between Foyle's War and The Bletchley Circle. I think I understood it - even the flashbacks.

I'm recording the series (never really have time to watch these things 'live') and will have a 'binge watch' some time in the future

[Stanley]

I'm trying it as well Kev. Are flash backs on this scale and frequency just part of modern play-writing? Or is it just me getting older..... I tend to watch the 21:00 dramas on catch up the following day as I am more alert earlier in the evening. 21:00 is too close to bedtime at 22:00!

[Stanley]

I watched 'Gun No. 6' on BBC 2 last night. A real eye-opener and a shocking story. I shall get Drummer Girl on catch-up tonight.

[Stanley]

Watched the last episode of 'Little Drummer Girl' and I have to say they stuck very close to the plot in the book.
It must have been a difficult adaptation and on the whole they did a good job.

[Tizer]

This might interest those of you who watch more TV films than I do...
`Tom Cruise gives lesson in TV settings and 'motion smoothing'' LINK

We've been watching the Huw Edwards series `The Story of Wales'. Excellent! Well produced, great scenery, lots of interesting facts. History from a Welsh perspective. LINK

[Stanley]

I've seen that and you've reminded me I must review it. I like Huw Edwards.

[Stanley]

I've been enjoying Ronnie O'Sullivan's march through the Snooker Championship. Always interesting, sometimes frustrating and at times magical!

[Stanley]

Watching Ronnie again. He's in the final today....... Guess what I will be watching!

[Stanley]

Go Ronnie!!!

[Stanley]

Start the Week at 09:00 on R4 is well worth listening to. It focussed on trees and forests and was very good, not least because of the German author who has written a book about trees, how they communicate with each other, how they heal themselves and the fact that they have brains.... Far fetched? All backed by science, have a listen to him, it''s fascinating.

[Stanley]

Watched the last episode of Mrs Wilson, I am as baffled now as I have been all though the series.....

[Stanley]

I am also baffled by Nightingales. Is it me or was my mother right, the plots were far easier to follow when the films were black and white!