Dave Allen
I have just watched a documentary on Dave Allen, who to me was perhaps the best comedian of his generation.
His robust attitude to religion, described here in Wikipedia is summed up by the first statement.
He was a religious sceptic (according to Allen himself, “what you might call a practising atheist”, and often joked, “I’m an atheist, thank God”)
My views on religion, run on similar lines, although I had virtually no religious education., compared to Allen.
My father had the same attitude to religion as I do, but his most passionate conviction was probably as an anti-fascist, although some might find that strange, as he had been a lifelong supporter of the Conservative Party.
I seem to remember that he liked Dave Allen, but I can’t be sure.
Although, he used to get me out of bed to watch That Was The Week That Was, as he was very much a lover of provocative comedy and a hater of the pompous and self-important!
A Contribution To The Danny Baker Show
This morning Danny Baker on his BBC Radio 5 show, asked for contributions about decorating the smallest room in the house.
In the 1960s, my parents were thinking about moving. They saw this nice house in Palmers Green, which had a totally black toilet, with black walls, floor and even a black suite.
They didn’t buy the house! I should say that even with my father’s excellent decorating skills, he was totally daunted at the prospect of removing all that paint. I even heard him talk about the house, years later.
I was invited to discuss this on air with Danny and he said, he’d once used the same colour for a kitchen.
He said, it was a disaster! especially, as the gloss paint he used wouldn’t dry and he’d even painted the lino.
There could be use though, for this crime against good taste.
If say your partner is keen to move and you are totally against it, what better way of putting off buyers, than to paint the toilet black.
It would also be a good way to get even with your ex-spouse in an acrimonious divorce, especially, if they got the house!
An Unusual Cold War Story
I’ve just read this story on the BBC, about the personal relationship between Nikita Krushchev and John F. Kennedy and especially about a puppy given to the Kennedys by Krushchev.
You can draw a lot of interesting conclusions.
The Cost Of Tunnelling
I, like probably many others, have often thought that parts of city infrastructure can be improved by the odd strategic pedestrian tunnel or perhaps an inclined one for some escalators. Underground stations, like Oxford Circus and Highbury and Islington are stations, that could probably be improved in this way.
But an interesting insight into the cost of these connections is given in this article in Construction Enquirer about the contract for a pedestrian tunnel to connect Crossrail to the Bakerloo line at Paddington station. Here’s the start of the article.
London Underground has shortlisted three bid teams for a £55m underground tunnel link at Paddington Station.
The 100m long passenger tunnel will link the new Crossrail station to the London Underground Bakerloo Line station at Paddington.
So this hundred metre tunnel is not cheap.
Cheering Myself Up!
I’ve just cooked myself two sausage, bacon and bean pies; one for tonight and one for the freezer.
Two Sausage Pies
This always cheers me up, but it would be so much nicer to cook one for me and one for an attractive, intelligent lady!
I’ve always done something practical, when I was feeling down at Christmas. I can remember at about 17, I painted the wheels of my car, a fetching shade of blue! And then, when I was developing software, I’d always fix a tremendous number of bugs at every holiday.
The trouble with programmers today, is that they don’t have that level of dedication.
The Ten Things That Annoy Me Most In This House
I’m getting increasingly annoyed with some of the features of this house.
1. The Front Door
It doesn’t shut properly in the wrong sort of weather and sometimes, I inadvertently leave it open. It also sometimes locks me out, when I say put something in the bin.
I’ve had three people come to quote to fix it, but I’ve never received a quote and it’s as bad as ever.
2. My Bathroom Cabinet
Virtually, every time I brush my teeth, I bump my head on it. In one case it did this when I got up from the toilet.
3. The Lack Of Handrails on the Staircase
I was trained in how to avoid accidents at ICI in the late 1960s and consequently, I always use handrails for safety. But I want them, in brass to match the theme of the house. People look at me, as if I’m mad, but I’m just safety and design conscious.
4.Poor Lighting Everywhere
Where I’m typing this is dark, unless She puts the big light on and every room has some of the worst lighting I’ve ever seen. One of the problems it’s not fixed is that I can’t find any lights that satisfy me. I’ve searched all over London and there is nothing.
5. The Mixer Taps In The Kitchen
If I’m washing up in the sink and want some cold water, it’s impossible unless I run the water to get it really cold. The spout is also so low, with anything in the sink, you can’t do something simple like fill a kettle.
6. The Small Fridge In The Kitchen
The fridge is just too small. But at least the one I bought, is better than the one that was supporting the work top, when I moved in.
7. The Lack of a Freezer In The Kitchen
I suppose I could have one if I had a small one in the fridge! But that would make the fridge smaller.
8. The Inaccessible Cupboards In The Kitchen
The idiot who designed these needs to be banned from any design or building work, for serious crimes against practicality and design.
9. The Inability to Control Temperature and Humidity
I’ve had a new control system and boiler installed and am running a big humidifier, but still the humidity won’t go anywhere near the value I want. There must be an expert somewhere, who can tell me what to do.
10. The Lack Of Lights In The Wardrobes
Try finding the right clothes in the dark.
And those ten, were just for starters!
A Miserable Start To The New Year
I went to bed last night about ten thirty and slept well, as I generally do.
I got up about seven and sorted out my e-mails and checked my finances. But where was the news on television and radio. It seems the world stops for two weeks, when in reality it just goes on.
And why do we get endless reviews of the year? It doesn’t get any better the second, third or fourth time round.
I can’t wait for next Monday! At least, I have made my first New Year resolution and that is to make sure, I’m not at home by myself next year. Or in fact ever again!
I had thought about going to Australia to see the cricket this year. So at least I called that one right!
I needed a bit of shopping this morning. But of course my usual Waitrose isn’t opening today. So I walked around the corner to the small Sainsburys and bought the few things I needed.
And I got wet in the miserable rain!
I didn’t get any meaningful e-mails, except spam too!
At least I’ve got football this afternoon. But I suspect that will be miserable too! I wonder what odds, I canb get on them losing six-nil?
A Well-Mapped City Centre
Peterborough city centre is well provided with maps.
Some are typical of other cities, but in all my travels, I’ve never seen a map of virtually a whole city centre laid out on the floor, as the big map was in the Queensgate shopping centre.
One of the sections of the big map, shows the area, where my paternal grandmother was born in Whitsed Street.
Peterborough Cathedral
Peterborough is one of my favourite cathedrals, but it is generally underrated by tourists and often is quite empty.
Now that the square in front of the cathedral has been restored and upgraded, it must become a place more likely to be visited.
I particularly liked their little exhibition, which described the construction and history of the cathedral. They were particularly honest about relics and their collection.
The Anonymous Widower 