I used to really like Delia Smith and in fact had a link to her site on my “Things CK Likes” page. However, I caught a bit of her latest series on the telly t’other night and was appalled.
Patronising
Lazy
Self-indulgent
After a quick buck
Uninteresting
These are now how I describe Delia and her new programme. Her crown has slipped.
A colleague just quipped that us Brits seem to celebrate a ‘can’t do’ attitude these days - citing last night’s episode of the Apprentice as proof (I missed it) that those without qualifications, degrees etc, seemed to blow this news from their own trumpets with pride. I guess a similar thing could be said for the low-level celebs, without any distinguishable talent, that people now look up to and aspire to be. Is ‘can’t do’ the new must-have?
This led me on to the news I’d just read about Terminal 5 having ‘glitches’. I wasn’t surprised when I saw this, as so often the transport related news in this country carries with it the words “delay”; “technical error” and “overdue”. Train works run over, motorways are dysfunctional and airlines unreliable. But, with a grumble and leaving extra time – we accept it. So maybe we don’t celebrate underachievement, but merely anticipate and expect it these days?
What happened to the golden age of industrious achievement with Brunel whipping up massif structures (albeit at the loss of many lives), Victorians attempting a channel tunnel (it’s true, an academic told me so) and engines being quite literally ramped up? I’m not really into engineering but if they could do it back then, without the technology, why are we so inept? And why are people so accepting?
Having said that, maybe technology is the fly in the ointment here in fact. Maybe we are over complicating things whilst trying to make life simple. I could go with this; I tried to record Ashes to Ashes last week on our new DVD recorder and failed – for the second time. Now, Brunel didn’t have to contend with that, did he?
Been doing fairly well on an early wedding weight loss push – not wanting to lose mega amounts, but rather present a shaplier silhouette at the Big Day in 16 months time. Anyway, went out with the gang last Thursday and as expected, none of the lads noticed – but all of the girls did!
Yes, I gleefully exclaimed, I have lost 2cms off my waist; thanks. thanks, yes it’s been hard work, mmm been exercising more…blah de blah - You know how it goes.
I angelically ate a king prawn tandoori dish with half a portion of plain rice, smug in the knowledge my efforts were starting to pay off.
However, I then proceeded to drink the volume of a small bath of rose wine, washed down with some G+Ts at the end, and then knock a glass of coke over my mate in my drunken state. Empty calories? Don’t I know it; I daredn’t measure myself again for at least a couple of weeks…
The Number One Ladies’ Detective Agency was by far the best thing on the box this Easter. The BBC production captured the essence of the books with its vibrant portrayal of Precious Ramotswe and her Botswanian community.
I’ve read about three books in the series and they all have a great balance of very serious, criminal issues (witchcraft, for one) counterpointed with light-hearted moments. You can’t help but love Precious and her associates and the TV programme painted the characters brilliantly. Especially the hairdresser, who I hadn’t really noticed so much in the books.
All in all, it was ace – more please!!
Sweeping statement here: I seriously believe older drivers, e.g. those over 70, should have to have compulsory driving tests every year – I have evidence why they are incapable and at time dangerous:
1. my elderly next door neighbour reversed out of his driveway, straight into a parked car opposite. When challenged, he was convinced the driver had snuck up and parked it there before he started reversing.
2. today on the way to the shops a pensioner driver pulled out of a junction just as I drew up to it, literally right in front of me. It was my right of way, he didn’t even look to see if anything was coming, and despite an emergency stop and quick swerve to avoid impact and a bamp on my horn, he didn’t register that there was another road-user about. Now, surely that’s dangerous?
The government needs to worry less about boy-racers and more about pensioner-pootlers, in my opinion…
I’m not usually one to shirk away from voluntary duties or indeed household duties, but this week I’m having a sea-change..
First thing is I’ve found a cleaner for our house. Indulgent, unnecessary? Or, a chance to grab back some precious time in order to do stuff I like? The latter, I’ve decided. Now I won’t have to try and power-hoover in the 20mins I have spare before dashing out again somewhere for the evening, and it will mean that our house will no longer be the cess-pit it develops into when we have a series of weekends away.
Then there’s the second self-indulgent thing. I’m part of a rugby club committee which is meeting this Thursday night. I’m a steadfast goer to voluntary meetings, even travelling for an hour to get to some county meetings, but I’ve a clash this Thursday. It’s our mate’s birthday dinner and I have decided I am missing the meeting and drinking the wine. Heck, he’s a good mate, it’s what I want to do and the chances are the meeting may end up being 90mins of hot air, finished off with a few rushed action points (not unheard of).
So, it’s me first this time, and I have to say, I don’t feel guilty about either action…
We watched Raiders of the Lost Ark on Sunday night; I’d forgotten how ace it was and how scared I was as a kid watching the sequences with snakes and other ‘orrible creatures. However, watching it back as an adult, I can now fully appreciate how lush Harrison Ford was. Note was.
I’m hesitant that there is to be another film, when the original Indie is now 65 years old or thereabouts. I for one am not keen to shatter the daydreaminess the younger Ford invokes with the image of an old man with flabby limbs trying to traverse a canyon or the like. Sure, there’ll be a younger bod in there for some eye-candy but the original Indie is who we all love, right? Think I’ll have to avoid the cinema for this one…
Good thing: A lady at work is selling me a wobble board, trampette, ankle weights and stepper – all for £20! My physio will be well impressed and I am promising myself I shall not leave them in a back room with washing hung on them…
Bad thing: mates are now coming over tonight to watch Sport
Relief on t’box and I’m doing a big curry cook up. House a tip, no food in the fridge and it all starts at 7pm.
Ugly thing: potentially – me, after beers, on wobble board, with curry…..not a good combo! (and then there’s the hangover as well…)
Saturday, Sunday and last night I managed to doze off on the sofa, before 9pm on two occasions! For normal people out there this may not seem an unusual thing, or indeed bad thing to do, but I for one am extremely against sofa dozing.
The other half seems to slide into sleep extremely easily on the settee, but I have a psychological aversion to it. The only time I feel ok about snoozing in the lounge is if I’m off sick from work and bored with daytime pants telly.
It’s almost as if sleeping there is admitting failure – that you are worn out; that you can’t be bothered to make it upstairs and that actually, you are a wee bit of a slob. But the bit I do hate most is waking up only to realise you now have to traipse upstairs, get changed into jammies, wash, brush etc. The logistics leading to sleep coming after sleep is just all wrong, wrong, wrong!
Right. I’ve just read that back and realised that I actually am a freako beako.
The rugby on Saturday was sooooo rubbish!
Usually it’s just Balshaw having a mare but on Saturday he was actually one of the more reliable players – the usual playmakers were no-where to be seen. Jonny was just firing up kicks aimlessly with no tactical intention behind them, Vickery was a shadow of his usual imposing self, Volcano was knocking on balls like he was playing basketball and one of my faves, Andrew Sheridan, notched up penalties as his frustration levels rose.
The team just didn’t look up for it; you got the sense they were mentally elsewhere – as opposed to Scotland who were completely fired up.
I don’t think the Cipriani affair had any impact on the game either – he got his deserved punishment for being a stupid arse – but I do think some changes are needed:
- Josh Lewsey at full back
- Volcano to be replaced by James Simpson Daniel
- Cipriani at 10
I’m not so sure about the forwards as I’m a prettiful back so find it easier to relate to their problems. Flipping something needs to change otherwise we’ll be looking at the Wooden Spoon next week!
And, much as it galls me to say it, I hope Wales get the Grand Slam – they have looked like the most exciting team in the whole competition.
