Television What Television

I am a watcher of TV have done ever since Dad came home and announced Smiths Radio in Cirencester were delivering a 17inch GEC console model the next day, which would be in time for our Queens Coronation a week or so later. What a beautiful thing it was, floor standing with this big screen at the top a large 12inch speaker underneath 2 rotary knobs on the side an on/off switch and volume control, all encased in a highly polished walnut case the whole thing weighed a ton. I seem to remember running all the way home from school, don't you dare touch that til your father comes home was the command, happy days happy days.

What a revelation this was, I had never been to the cinema the thought scared me, but to see this wondrous thing in the comfort of our living room was to a 12 year old Magical, (mind you after the first day when word got out we had a TV the room was always filled with visitors.) and I loved it.
Thoughts of playing outside and missing the Grove Family,Whirlygig, Amos and Andy, the Saturday night Variety shows, gone, Mum had to pull the plug out to get me to go out. I was probably not that bad but you get the idea.

Saturday afternoon Sports, all the stuff Peter Dimmock, and Paul Fox had the foresight to sign up and start broadcasting. The plays and pantomimes, oh! and the Francis Durbridge serials, the variety of material was enormous. The BBC Charter said it was to Inform, Educate and Entertain, and it did.

Those were the days of the continuity announcers Jasmine Bligh, Mary Malcolm, Sylvia Peters, Peter Haig, Mac Hobley, there to introduce or fill in and inform when there was a break in transmission, yes the potters wheel and the ploughing horses.
So much of this stuff was live. If I was following a serial how frustrating it was to miss an episode especially the last one, I wished I could have recorded them to watch later, never thought that would happen, Now there are dozens of ways.

Over the years there have been many Landmarks in the history of television the Coronation, BBC2,the Introduction of Colour, Start of ITV, for me the Moon Landing probably the biggest.

What about News? ah yes what about it? it has grown from the straightforward reporting of events around the world given gravitas by the likes of Frank Philips, Alva Liddel, Dennis Mitchel, to the monster it is today, spewing out "News" filling out time until spitting out a real story then covering it to the point of exhaustion, by we viewers. Don't get me wrong news is important vital in fact, bulletins must be on during the day, however there are far easier quicker and more immediate ways to get it. Sorry I am straying off topic a bit, its just that I am not interested in what these popstars footballers and minor or come to that major so called celebrities have to say, or why their stories make headlines, for me this isn't news and should be put in a magazine type programe please note.

I have always been a watcher and listener to the BBC, I admire their training skills they have produced some of the finest technicians and broadcaster in the world, they are innovative and visionary, developing amongst others Teletext, and the iPlayer their web site is superb.

So what is all this leading to? Well for me it is sad to see this once great corporation tearing itself to bits. I don't care what the suits may say, I have witnessed a steady erosion in the fabric of television at the BEEB, events, people, and shows which should never have gone from our screens let go. Seeing the company get heavier and heavier at the top an inverted triangle if you like, money
haemorrhaging from everywhere. The end result is no cash for what really matters the Programes. You see I don't really care that much what top Stars get paid as long as they are worth it and deliver the goods. What I am looking for is plain honest to goodness interesting informative and entertaining Programs, I feel I am just not getting that.

I am so sad looking at the 24 hour schedules especially from 9am to about 7pm weekdays virtually everything is a repeat, not just once but every few weeks the same old dross is dredged again and again and again. So much so that I hardly turn the set on until middle evening. If you must repeat why not the previous 12 hours, shift workers and so on would benefit.
Why this obsession with soap operas? it's ridiculous that almost everyday of the week time is given over to these programs, they clog the schedules preventing other stuff airing, Purlease give us a break.
As for the weekends! forget it same old same old, saturday night is a farce I used to look forward to settling down for a night of good old entertainment, if I am lucky there might be a couple of hours of new stuff otherwise its the same old tired worn out done to death things like Casualty the National Lottery Show and repeat after repeat.

I fail to understand this chase for ratings, Why? you get your money whatever you do, spend it on commissioning good programmes there are loads of talented people full of ideas desperately trying to get stuff on the air, do it, try it, what does it matter if the programs fail there will be gems out there, forget asking the public what they want, how do we know until we see it. I would imagine the things that are so popular today were a gamble before somebody had the courage to give them the go ahead, My feeling is if they are good enough they will be a success, people will come, Fools and Horses, Dads Army were slow to ignite. I think in todays climate they would have been dropped from the schedules, what a loss that would have been.
What is so wrong with American programs? why can't we have some decent ones? what was one of the biggest shows on british TV? "Dallas", years ago the airwaves would have been dead without the sound of Sgt Bilko, Startrek in all its iterations and so on, I agree that it's stupid to run all 245 episodes of murder she wrote back to back or diagnosis murder, and many others, once a week for a season is sensible why use them as time fillers?

I fail to understand the reason for BBCs 3 and 4. BBC2 was always the channel for alternative programs so I ask why BBC3 BBC4? If there has to be a third channel why not make it for sports coverage with the red button (another bbc inovation) many events can be covered simultaneously.
Do we really need 3 childrens channels? 1 maybe, put the kids stuff back on BBC1 where it belongs between 3pm and 6pm. Where are the classic serials? Things that parents can look at and share with their children.


So thats about it I could be more constructive in my criticism but thats for another time.
To sum up my conclusion is that the BBC do not care about their viewers sorry Beeb

My report would read not trying hard enough could do much better

Ta Da

At last I have finally managed to sort out the slideshow problems I was having, so hopefully all is now well. I had to go back to the beginning of this blog and reinstall all of the files leastways I hope I have.
So there you are hope you see or read something interesting.

Christmas

At last Christmas and New Year are finally over the Tree is dissected put in plastic bags and ceremonially burnt, all the decorations are safely boxed and tucked away. The celebrations seem never ending until I worked out we were using both the Julian and Gregorian calenders. Much as I enjoy and even look forward to the festivities I must say that I have had a surfit this time. We still have one more party to attend next friday Our friend Vassa also reaches the 70 land mark.

GoodBye 2011

Hello 2012.

A Very Happy Peaceful and Prosperous NEW YEAR

A Grand Night Out

For my Birthday GTB had this surprise for me, we are going to a restaurant for a party.What! surely not, yep. We all piled into Yuras car and drove for about a mile. Typical of this type of place almost unnoticed through the day but jumps into life at night I had been passed it often and never given it a second glance, but here we were the trees glisten with frost the lights all a twinkle a large garish sign over the door proclaiming "Pheasant" this name only became clear when we got inside, for there they were stuffed and mounted all over the place in various flying poses mind you most everything was covered in Christmas lights  and decorations so not a lot showed.

Our table is upstairs on the longest part of horseshoe shaped mezzanine which was perfect, giving us some privacy, the great board surrounded by large comfortable couches with a single armchair at the head for me.

Now I am gobsmacked 15 places set, the table already disappearing under the mass of salads and goodies, bottles of champagne, wine and vodka, fruit juices and jugs of water.

Once everyone had arrived and were seated it was tuck in and drink up time, Phew! multitudinous plates of salads and cold meats are consumed with gusto and vodka, the attentive staff whisking away empty dishes only to be replaced with different ones, conversations gradually got more animated as the evening wares on, yet more food arrived this time hot meats chicken beef and pork accompanied with mushrooms in a cream sauce,as well as a kind of Stroganov and more vodka. Soon the music from down below grew louder as the diners took to the dance floor, Genny and Co could not resist the lure of the rhythms and were soon on their feet, returning to their places as each new course arrived. People are singing and clapping our party as loud and noisy as any. Glasses constantly replenished with Champagne,Vodka or Wine, Toasts to Me, to friends past and present, to Genny our children and grandchildren, a toast for a good life happiness and to friendship were among the many drunk this night.

More noise from below, a floor show? An unlikely looking Santa Clause accompanied by some lithe young ladies kept us entertained. The plates were cleared and more food arrived. Dancing recommenced until another act took to the stage this time a girl doing rhythmic gymnastic ribbon twirling, she was followed by Santa and partner in a not so strictly come dancing display. More music and loud cheering from the floor, Santa had returned and was stripping, that was too much for me and some of the guys, we retreated to the table and had vodka much more betterer. Finally as seems to be traditional at these do's a Belly Dancer. She was pretty good, one of the troupe of girls who have entertained us all night I think.

Finally the Disco starts that's it, all our party with the exception of my mate Voloda and I get on to the dance floor. I watch my Genny dancing laughing amongst her friends, my heart is almost bursting with joy and love for this wonderful woman. On their return I have a small twirl each with Genny Ira and Luda but that's enough. I like watching dancing, doing it, nah! not my thing at all.
We have been celebrating for about five hours, having drunk our fill ate are fill clapped sang and danced  the night away and still there is more to come. The waitress sets the table with tea pots cups and saucers, in preparation for the final part of the night MY Cake.
The usual thing for me is to have a rich fruit cake my Mum was famous for hers, in Odessa this is not to popular but I have been going on to Genny for weeks, as usual she resignedly takes it all in smiles and nods. Tonight she has outdone herself, this wondrous confection arrives. It is a fruit cake but not as I know it, covered in fresh and glace fruits it is a sight to behold, inside is hard to describe a stiff souffle with folded in fruit, cherries, strawberries with cream and sugar stiffened I suspect with gelatin very firm that can be cut with a knife, the base is thin sponge. shaped into two pieces, a seven and a zero brilliant sugary and very tasty.

The party has started to break up Taxi's are arriving Yura is making sure our guests get away safely. Finally all is over except we sit quietly for another few minuets drinking tea and remembering the evening. This is a birthday party I will never forget being a Christmas and Birthday boy I cannot remember having a Birthday Party on my Birthday before. Now I not only had one it was a corker thanks to my lovely wife and family.

I Have Made It

Today is my Birthday Three Score Years and Ten (70) I am well done.
Thanks Mum and Dad my wonderful Parents.
Love to Genny the Beautiful and my Children and Grandchildren .
I think officially now an Old F**t

Day Out With Jane

This weekend we went to visit Cousin Jane. At her suggestion we took a ride out to Windsor for a boat trip on the Thames, it was only a short distance but interesting nonetheless.

 I was rather hoping to get a decent view of the Castle but we went upstream toward the Racecourse and Wier instead.

Our guide kept us well informed on the various points of interest. The Racecourse apparently is situated on an island and is a figure of eight because of the lack of land, Racing started in the 18th Century.

Henry the VIII used to ride there.

Isumbard Kingdom Brunel made a rail bridge over the Thames for his GWR, not a particularly fine example of his art.

There are Bucolic views across the meadows to Eton and beyond, most of the land being owned by Eton Collage.

At the Wier we turn around making our way past an assortment of homes the guide giving us a sort of who's who living or lived in them. 

After much Huffing Puffing Sitting and Stopping I made it to the tour bus, Jane thought we would get a better view of the town from there, as walking is not so easy for me these days I was unanimous in that idea. 

The open top bus took us out as far as Datchet passing through Eton before returning to Windsor, by Eck that sure blew away the cobwebs.

Lunch at the converted railway station well coffee and a sandwich really. Then off to Marlow for another Squiz of the river, by now he sun had decided to take a peek at us, this Autumn light is fantastic, I managed to get a couple of photos before the camera battery died (silly arse forgot to charge it before leaving) the result of my endeavor is below.

A drive through the lanes and beech woods to West and High Wycombe thence home in time for supper.What a lovely day Thanks Cuzz.