Formula One Goes Partly to Sky
I’m actually not that bothered as I can get Sky on my cable. Especially, as they have said they are not going to have adverts during the racing. At least it didn’t go to ITV, who have so many adverts they can turn the best television into gibberrish.
My problem with Sky, is that I can’t get it over broadband, unless I sign up to their broadband.
I only want Sky Sports, so would be happy to pay on a pay-per-view basis over the Internet.
As to Virgin Cable, it’s crap, as the box is very unuser friendly and the channels are laid out illogically Since I’ve moved, I haven’t recorded anything at all, but I have watch a few programs through iPlayer on my computer.
Top Gear Demolish Gravesend
Or at least part of the Kings Farm Estate was given the treatment on tonight’s program.
Search for Kings Farm Estate, Gravesend on Google and it would appear that the estate won’t be missed by the good people of Kent.
Wilton’s Music Hall
Last night, I went to Wilton’s Music Hall in the East End of London. It is just round the corner from Cable Street, where in 1936, Mosley’s black shirts wanted to march and this resulted in the Battle of Cable Street. My father was there, although many would think that someone who always voted Tory wouldn’t have been. But he did have a lot of Jewish heritage and he had a very low opinion of fascists. Various groups always claimed they stopped Oswald Mosley and his odious followers, but my father always said that anybody who thought about it, was against Mosley.
The show was organised by The Times, and was essentially a comedy night with four comedy acts and a compere; Jarred Christmas. The acts were Colin Hoult, Imran Yusuf, Frisky and Mannish and one other, who I think might have been a late addition.
But it was three hours of good fun and all for a tenner.
The building is virtually a construction site, as they are struggling to get London’s last music hall on a secure footing, both financially and structurally. But the building had the right atmosphere and acoustics to make it a good venue.
The four comedians were good, but not as in your face as s0me. Colin Hoult relied a lot on word play, developing a new superhero called Grammar Man, who policed such evil powers as split infinitives, whilst Imran Yusuf showed how you don’t have to be Jewish to mock your religion constructively. Jarred Christmas was an amiable host, who did a good job to link it all together.
The show was round up, by Frisky and Mannish, who are best described as a comedy musical double act, with Frisky doing most of the singing to Mannish’s keyboard. There are some videos on their web site, which give a good flavour.
She introduced herself by saying that as it was a music hall, she was wearing a corset. And she was wearing it well over a split skirt and a halter top. Her shoes, hair and the corset laces were almost a matching red/orange colour. The corset wasn’t to a Victorian tightness, but it wasn’t loose either. She sang well too!
They are going to the Edinburgh Fringe and will certainly be worth catching.
The Times are putting on further comedy nights at Wilton’s. If they’re only a tenner a time, it won’t be the last time I go.
London’s Floating Cinema
When I was watching the MS Deutshland leave, there was an interloper.
London's Floating Cinema
It is London’s floating cinema, that cruises the canals and rivers in the east of the city.
Thea Ford
This is a singer I know. For more info click here. Hopefully, I’m going to see her perform at the O2 Academy on August 5th.
Anne Boleyn at Shakespeare’s Globe
I’d never been to the Globe on the South Bank and I don’t think I’ve ever been to the theatre on a Sunday before in the UK.
The picture shows the outside in the fine weather.
Outside Shakespeare's Globe
And this one shows the people inside just before the play started.
Inside Shakespeare's Globe
I enjoyed the experience a lot and it is good venue. The play by Howard Brenton was good and was very much worth seeing.
I’m looking forward to seeing some Shalespeare in a theatre similar in layout to those for which it was written.
Brando Was An Inventor
Marlon Brando was an inventor.
Why not?
Everybody has it in them to invent something! Unfortunately, some never invent anything that makes them any money. But even if it doesn’t, they still probably get some satisfaction and enjoy showing others how it will improve their lives.
There’s a list of patents down to celebrities here. It’s quite surprising and includes Abraham Lincoln.
The World’s Nastiest Card Game
Danny Baker asked on Radio 5 for card game stories. Here is the e-mail I sent entitled, The World’s Nastiest Card Game.
Many people have played hearts, black maria, scabby or other variants of this trick winning game, where you mustn’t win hearts or in some versions the queen or other high spades.
There is a version called cancellation hearts, which is played with two packs of cards shuffled together. The one difference is that if in the same trick, two identical cards are played, they don’t count towards who wins the trick. But they do count in the scoring. So if you don’t like someone, they get dumped on in a big way.
It is one of the games that is ideal for odd numbers of upwards of 5 people or more. Drink improves it tremendously and it is not unknown that the odd fight breaks out.
It is also a game beloved of divorce lawyers, as it is very good for business.
Is This The Worst Film Ever?
Just in terms of the taking of just £121 in the first week, Love’s Kitchen, now holds the record for the worst commercial start for a film in the UK.
The critics didn’t like it either, as Wendy Ide gave it no stars.
A Circus Performer on a 141 Bus
When I was returning from Oxford Street yesterday, I took the route using the Central line via Bank and a 141 or 21 bus to the end of my road. It is an easier route especially, if you are laden down with parcels as I was.
I sat just behind the wheelchair bay and shared a seat with an attractive young lady, who was also travelling fairly heavily laden. She had the aura of being someone like a dancer or athlete and after we’d chatted for a few minutes, I asked what she did. She said she worked as a circus performer (An aerial artist no less!) and had just done a show in London and was returning home before going to Glastonbury, where she will be performing in the Circus Tent.
I’m posting this, because Danny Baker on Radio 5 Live, asked if people had ever met anybody from a circus.
So I now have!
The Anonymous Widower 