Chilling to some Lovers Rock

Lovers Rock was an offshoot of Reggae that came out of South London soundsystems in the 1970s and I have been a fan for what seems like forever. I mentioned in previous posts my love for reggae but most of the time the bands of the day were banging on about Jah and Babylon, which I could appreciate but it was not my culture.

It was not long before the sound found its way to multicultural Butetown, Cardiff, I remember across the road from the Paddle Steamer pub they was a group of guys, with the biggest speakers I had ever seen who would regularly bang out music including Lover’s Rock although for me it was yet to be given a name. Every time I visited my Nan, I would stop and take the vibes in.

At the time if you were to go to a school disco the smoochy last dance everyone was waiting for would be Donny Osmond or along that line with it been the only real chance to grapple with a girl all night. If you were at a dance in the multicultural Butetown Youth Centre some Lovers Rock could well be on the cards. More importantly, girls loved it and anything that could get you in with them was good.

Putting my head above the parapet “Silly Games” Janet Kay, is about the most beautiful Lovers record ever made and it made No. 2 in the charts being the defining sound of the summer 1979, her bittersweet ode to a faltering relationship, enjoyed heavy radio play. More importantly bringing the sound to the British masses.

Some of the biggest stars were women like fourteen-year-old Louisa Mark and her 1975 single "Caught You in a Lie" is regarded as the first lover’s rock single. A truly beautiful song for someone so young. Another favourite Sandra Cross and off the top of my head “I adore you” and “Put It On” were some top tunes and I also favoured the woman voice over the males there is something sensual about the female voice smoothing out some Lovers Rock.

My tastes are still in classic Lovers Rock.

Silly Games ... Janet Kay

Caught You In A Lie ... Louisa Marks

Sandra Cross ... Put It On

Racism, Football, Cardiff City, The bad old Days

I am of an age to remember the hostile atmosphere been met out to black players in English grounds in the late seventies to the mid-eighties in particular. The British Movement and National Front were actively seeking to recruit football fans has there ‘foot soldiers’ promising plenty of punch-ups. Most grounds you visited as an away fan someone would be selling the ‘Bulldog’ the NF magazine.

I did have a look at the magazine once when it was been passed around the train on the way to a game and straightaway I could see it was full of crap. They want your home, job, partner and your country was the basic message, and no white person was safe, bullshit.

It was never on sale outside my clubs ground to my knowledge, Cardiff City, Ninian Park or in the pubs I frequented before and after games, but I did feel and see racism during games. One incident I vividly remember involved the Manchester City black goalkeeper Alex Williams who on a visit to Ninian Park was showered in bananas. He received tremendous racist abuse at many grounds more than other black outfield players because he was a goalkeeper.

The idiots back then didn’t care if you had black players in your team the monkey chanting, bananas and general racist abuse happened. Coming from a multicultural part of Cardiff and of mixed race all this was abhorrent to me, sadden me really. Two of my top Cardiff City players were black players the Bennett brothers Dave and Gary and over the years there have been many more.

I remember a trip to Barnsley back in the early eighties on the supporters coach a young black teenager, and his mate got on the bus, and before he sat down from the back of the coach, someone shouted “N*****r on board” no one reacted except for some sniggering at the back of the coach. When we got to Barnsley and going into their supporters club the doorman announced “Was there any N*****rs in your group because they can’t come in”. The lad on our coach had wondered off with his mate.

Still he was soon picked out for some treatment by the home fans with chants like ‘U black bastard’ and the like during the game. There was a general lack of black and ethnic faces at football remembering where I stood at Ninian Park there weren’t any. Today its getting better but racism is still there bubbling under and sometimes rears its ugly head.

What as sparked this subject is a documentary tonight Whites v Blacks a football testimonial at West Bromwich Albion for Len Cantello's, an all-white team took on a side comprised solely of black players. I don’t remember reading or hearing about the game until I saw the trailer for the documentary. It is on BBC 2 tonight 9pm.

The Revenant (2016) v Man in the Wilderness (1971)

Having watched “The Revenant” I was left unimpressed and really cannot believe how many people think this is a good movie. I struggled to stay interested finding myself more than once on my laptop.

The first twenty minutes are good, but after the bear attack, it becomes both silly and tedious. The biggest problem by far was that the DiCaprio character continued to live. In sub-zero temperatures, any normal human being would have succumbed to the cold, but especially someone severely weakened, is plunged into freezing water more than once.

I found the horse chest cavity scene a bit of a joke it was simply not big enough to accommodate a fully-grown man, and he fires his barrel-loading pistol twice in quick succession, which is impossible. The only good thing the film did for me was to remind me of a much better from 1971, “Man in the Wilderness” starring Richard Harris in the Leo DiCaprio role. By the end of the film, I had search YouTube and found a copy.

This film actually has only three main characters: Zach Bass (Harris), the expedition leader (John Huston), and the Wilderness. The photography is stunning. And the Zach Bass theme is beautiful and haunting. The film is full of action and excitement, as revenge stories usually are. Bass survives by his courage, by his strength, and by resourcefulness.There are a number of differences between the two films particular with the boat. In ‘The Revenant’ the boat is cast away while in the Man in the Wilderness they man handled the boat across the wilderness

And on that basis alone, this film is an enjoyable movie experience.

But this movie exists on an additional plane that moves it from being just a great action movie to instead being a great film. Out of the two I would recommend the 1971 film as better of the two.

Must see TV - Week beginning 26/11/2016 - My Choice

I spent most of the week catching up on Penny Dreadful. I miss the series when they were first aired mainly because it was on Sky Atlantic, and I didn’t have it as part of my TV package. So as I was up early and with my new NowTV box and with nothing to watch I thought why not and really gutted there would be no more. What a mistake I was hooked.

I am looking forward to the Christmas bumper edition of the Radio Times with the schedules due out in a week or so.

Saturday Sky Cinema Premiere – The Revenant 8pm (2016)

In an expedition of the uncharted American wilderness, legendary explorer Hugh Glass whose brutally attacked by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team. In a quest to survive, Glass endures unimaginable grief as well as the betrayal of his confidant John Fitzgerald. Guided by sheer will and the love of his family, Glass must navigate a vicious winter in a relentless pursuit to live and find redemption.

Sunday BBC1 – Enchanted 1:15pm (2007)

A classic Disney fairy-tale collides with modern-day New York City. A story about a fairy-tale princess from a cartoon land whom an evil queen thrusts into present-day. Soon after her arrival, Princess Giselle begins to change her views on life and love after meeting a handsome lawyer. Can a storybook view of romance survive in the real world?

Monday History Channel – American Pickers 10pm

Mike and Frank are pickers that travel the country and literally would go anywhere just for the prospects of finding antique gold. With the assistance of Danielle, who runs their shop while they are on the road they often find themselves in a comedic pickle. They have a second shop in Nashville, Tennessee where Lauren Wray Grisham runs their shop

Tuesday BBC1 – Rillington Place 9pm

Tim Roth in the lead as a tough one here trying to follow Sir Richard Attenborough who memorably played serial killer John Christie in the 1971 film 10 Rillington Place. This three-plat drama about the string of murders committed by Christie at his home in London’s Notting Hill in the 1940s and 50s. One of his most shocking murders involved a young couple Timothy Evans and his wife Beth who later Christie kills, helping to send Evans to the hangman.

Wednesday Christmas Gold – We have been watching Christmas specials 8pm

I think I can honestly say I am going to enjoy this one off kind of a Gogglebox show where comedians, comic actors settle down on the sofa to watch Christmas specials of yesteryear. I expect to be royally entertained as who doesn’t like a bit of nostalgia and Christmas themed to boot.

Thursday Sky Cinema Premiere – The Pack 8pm (2015)

A farmer and his family must fight for survival after a ferocious pack of wild dogs infiltrates their isolated farmhouse. Through a series of frightening and bloody encounters, they are forced into survival mode to make it through the night.

Friday BBC4 – Promises & Lies: The Story of UB4O

I was a UB40 fan from the second I heard "King" / "Food for Thought" the first release of the fantastic album Signing Off. The band were out of Birmingham and were the poster boys of multi-ethnic reggae-pop. Although I was heavily into Bob Marley and Steel Pules, it was good to see a multicultural band, black and white together. Along with Two Tone, it was great to see and hear.

But stardom and fame came at a price and the band found themselves victims of their own success; bankrupt and penniless. We also hear of today their ongoing dispute that has split a family and a band, as they continue to tour as two separate groups - both using the name UB40.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Movie Date - Film Review

Yesterday wifey and I went to the cinema as I had a mind to watch “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” The trailer and the press for the film left me excited which rarely happens as I normally am quite happy to await its arrival on Sky movies. My claim to fame! I have NEVER watched or wanted to watch a Harry Potter film.

 Although I did say, the same about the ‘Twilight’ franchise and ended up watching them.This film is set 70 years before Potter and his friends so it is not or part of the Potter madness.

The film follows Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) who lands in New York to track down a particular magical creature. Newt who has an uncanny resemblance to Doctor Who and even has his own Tardis but not a time machine it is a suitcase with its own magical world within it leads us on a merry chase.

Whether you are a Harry Potter fan or not, most of us can easily enjoy the movie. When the Niffler one of the animals in the suitcase escapes, the excitement begins as Newt chases Niffler around New York. I would like Niffler as he goes around stealing money, jeweller,y which he hordes in is porch.

His path crosses with Jacob Kowalski who happens to be carrying an identical suitcase. The suitcases are accidentally swapped and Jacob gets the surprise of his life when he gets back home and opens the one he has. Several fantastic beasts escape into the city.

As you would expect, Newt has also discovered the mix-up. However, Newt himself has attracted the attention of an Auror, a police officer of the wizard world, and she is tracking him because he is an unregistered wizard in the city. The Auror, Tina, and Newt end up searching for Jacob and the lost animals together. When they find him, they discover that one of the Fabulous Beast has bitten him. Because they need to keep the muggle, Jacob, under observation to know if he will have a reaction, the 3 end up going to Tina's apartment for the night. It is there that the guys meet Tina's sister, Queenie.

After they have retired for the night, Newt takes Jacob into the world of Fabulous Beasts via the suitcase portal. It is here that we, the audience, also meet these magnificent magical creatures.

Even though Newt and his Fabulous Beasts are not responsible for the evil in the city, they are brought into the battle between the dark wizard, Gellert Grindelwald, and the Magical Congress of the United States of America when Newt is falsely accused of being Grindelwald's ally.

Aside from telling you a few of my favourite things about the movie, this is where I am going to stop because I really don't want to spoil anything for anyone. Both the wife and I enjoy the film which was saw in 3D.

'Bar Humbug' just get over it people

Seeing a lot of "Bah Humbug" in the press and social media some people just don’t like Christmas do they, and my message is just get over it.

Complaints a plenty about the early start to the festive celebrations from TV adverts, to shop shelves and people putting up their Christmas trees and decorations. On the latter maybe, people should stop nosing through other peoples windows.

Personally, I enjoy the build up to Christmas. However, before November is a bit of a no go area even for me a well-known Christmas nut. I truly hate TV ads as a rule, but Christmas times my hatred weakens like for the John Lewis ad.

Why shouldn’t my local butcher be taking orders for Christmas turkeys. I mean you could leave it to the last minute for a bargain but more than likely you will be disappointed. I have my order in so I won’t be crossing my fingers on a wing and a prayer come Christmas Eve. Whine away but most will still be doing their Christmas shopping unless they really like the idea of doing it at the last minute and having a mad dash around the shops. Those late shoppers will still be complaining and moaning about the shops being full and the shelves empty and that must have toy for Jimmy or Janet sold out.

It’s bad enough that the spiritual and moral message of Christmas — forgiveness and goodwill to all men — is thrown out of the window by some in the last minute shopping fraternity , its dog eat dog out there. While the much-maligned early shoppers are sitting, back looking at a tree surrounded by presents, full food cupboards, and full freezer.

While I talk of full cupboards and presents around the tree please remember there are people out there who will have a miserable time. They could be alone, ill or have a lack of money if you have something spare remember you could gave to a food bank and toy bank.

A Christmas Carol BBC 1977 with YouTube Link

Made on the normal BBC tight budget this 1977 A Christmas Carol find on YouTube was well worth the hour I spent watching and below there is a link to this Christmas classic.

Sir Michael Hordern certainly looks the part, as Scrooge my problem with this adaptation is length, it being impossible to do the story justice in one hour. The production values may not be quite of the highest quality but are at least acceptable and hardly ugly looking they also at least give some atmosphere.

The adaptation is directed assuredly, and is well performed too. Michael Hordern is a most credible Scrooge, Alastair Sim is still the definitive Scrooge, but Hordern does a fine job as well. There's also John Le Meseurier's spooky Jacob Marley, Clive Merrison's humble Bob Cratchit, Paul Copley's jovial Fred and Timothy Chasin's heartfelt Tiny Tim all in all an excellent supporting cast.

The Three Christmas Ghosts are very well characterised as well, especially Bernard Lee as Ghost of Christmas Present, funny and imposing. What makes this adaptation as worthwhile as it is how it tells the story? The dialogue, being amusing, dark and with pathos, is very Dickensian and adapted intelligently. And the story, for one told in such a short running time, maintains the spirit of the story, and is every bit as magical, charming and enthralling as it should, the message is one to warm the cockles of your heart.

Dad's Army (2016) - Film Review

Last night film was Dad’s Army (2015) and I found it enjoyable viewing but if a bit of an impostor. I have grown up with the original TV series and even last night on BBC 2 there was an airing of ‘Number Engaged’ first aired in 1977. I thing since it first was aired on the BBC in 1968 there hasn’t been one year it has not been reshown.

It is always hard to watch a remake without comparing it to the original... This film stands better if you can resist the urge to make the comparison with its original.

The original was set around the aftermath of the Dunkirk evacuation and the beginnings of the Home Guard being formed shown in early episodes of the TV show and the earlier Dad’s Army film. This new step into the franchise was set around 1944 and the upcoming D Day landings, which help separate the two.

*** Before you read any further this review contain spoilers ***

Morale amongst the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard is low. After years of training and never being put to the ultimate test against the German enemy they so desired and with the end of the war in sight and disbandment on the cards there is nothing to be happy about. Handed a new mission to patrol the Dover army base which Captain Mainwaring (Toby Jones) sees has a great chance to revive spirits and the reputation of the platoon and jumps at the chance.

A glamorous journalist Rose Winters (Catherine Zeta-Jones) arrives to write about their exploits, setting the pulses racing among the Home Guard and putting the local women on red alert. She was previously knew Sergeant Wilson (Bill Nighy) who taught her in college.

Miss Winters is the baddie a German spy and her first message to her Nazis overlords “infiltrated Home Guard platoon … they are weak and stupid … easy prey” which is a fair assessment. MI5 intercepted the message to Berlin so alerting them to the presents of a spy in Walmington-on-Sea. Mainwaring is informed and told to keep the information a secret … soon the whole platoon are in a panic.

Of course, they believe the spy must be a man but the real spy Miss Winters manages to get herself on the first patrol of the army camp where she comes across a field of hidden tanks. When Lance Corporal Jones (Tom Courtenay) falls over the cliff and is hanging on for his life Walker (Daniel Mays) at the fence of the army camp acquired some rope to help Jones up. Jones saved they see the fake tanks as they fly away.

Then the slapstick action begins with Miss Winters framing Sergeant Wilson as the spy and tips off Mainwaring with the help of Lance Corporal Jones Tom Courtenay apprehends him. However, soon the finger points to Miss Winters thanks to Godfrey (Michael Gambon) dopy sisters who finds out she lived in Berlin who knew it was that easy.

Mainwaring, before knowing the full facts rushes off to inform Miss Winters of the situation regarding Wilson. Soon some of the platoon rush to his rescue now knowing whom the real spy while on the beach Miss Winter’s true colours are eventfully shown with a U Boat surfacing off the beach. Mainwaring savers the day and with his platoon gets in five minutes of glory fighting off the German landing party so standing up to be counted and contributing something to the war with the help of Mrs. Mainwaring and her platoon of female soldiers.

One of the things the movie manages giving the female characters more time and development on screen. The lack of female characters on the show bothered me enormously. Take Mrs. Mainwaring, who was one of those "unseen" characters on the series, mentioned as being a domineering, intimidating hermit. She is shown in the movie as a leader of female soldiers, helping and encouraging their fellow men was one of the biggest changes.

Frontline: Girls, Guns, and ISIS - Stacey Dooley documentary

Up early, again this morning so I decided to watch the latest Stacey Dooley documentary on the iPlayer where she spent two weeks with female Yazidi fighters about to finish their training and move to the frontline.

Stacey Dooley is fast becoming one of my favourite TV presenters having enjoyed watching a number of her other documentaries. She was imbedded with an all-female Yazidi battalion in this new documentary - Frontline: Girls, Guns, and ISIS.

Many of the young woman were kidnapped from their families some of whom were killed in front of them by ISIS and were taken as sex slaves when 50,000 Yazidi fled their ancestral lands in Northern Iraq.

These young women are determined to take revenge on the so-called Islamic State for the 'largest mass kidnapping of this century' as condemned by the UN. Official figures estimate 5000 women captured with 2000 are still being held. Has the people fled many were massacred or captured.

Stacey spent a tough and moving two weeks with the battalion of brave women determined to rescue the remaining Yazidi women and seek revenge on their former captors. Female fighters strike fear into the Jihadists' hearts and they believe they won't make the heavenly afterlife if a woman kills them.

Stacey meets cadets at their training camp and then journeys with them to the frontline as they prepare to fight. Along the way, she heard their stories of trauma and hope, and discover what daily life is really like in these war zones.

Frontline: Girls, Guns, and ISIS - Stacey Dooley documentary

Up early, again this morning so I decided to watch the latest Stacey Dooley documentary on the iPlayer where she spent two weeks with female Yazidi fighters about to finish their training and move to the frontline.

Stacey Dooley is fast becoming one of my favourite TV presenters having enjoyed watching a number of her other documentaries. She was imbedded with an all-female Yazidi battalion in this new documentary - Frontline: Girls, Guns, and ISIS.

Many of the young woman were kidnapped from their families some of whom were killed in front of them by ISIS and were taken as sex slaves when 50,000 Yazidi fled their ancestral lands in Northern Iraq.

These young women are determined to take revenge on the so-called Islamic State for the 'largest mass kidnapping of this century' as condemned by the UN. Official figures estimate 5000 women captured with 2000 are still being held. Has the people fled many were massacred or captured.

Stacey spent a tough and moving two weeks with the battalion of brave women determined to rescue the remaining Yazidi women and seek revenge on their former captors. Female fighters strike fear into the Jihadists' hearts and they believe they won't make the heavenly afterlife if a woman kills them.

Stacey meets cadets at their training camp and then journeys with them to the frontline as they prepare to fight. Along the way, she heard their stories of trauma and hope, and discover what daily life is really like in these war zones.

Cool Cymru - Welsh Music

Remember Cool Britannia/Britpop a space in time where music was king with bands such as Blur and Oasis topping the charts along with The Verve but over the border in Wales we where having our own ‘cool’, Cool Cymru.

It was a time when Welsh music put Wales on the music map of the world. With band such as Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics, Super Furry Animals, and Catatonia cracked the singles and more importantly album charts. The Welsh bands may have conquered their own ground. You need a champion to spread the word over the border and Cool Cymru had one in the iconic John Peel and his radio show. He was soon offering session spots to the up and coming Welsh music scene. Soon the music press were coming over the bridge in droves closely followed by London based talent spotters.

I have my favourite, Catatonia, I love the voice of Cerys Matthews, ok (crush alert) whose album International Velvet (1998) reached number one and was a favourite. Their best single was "Mulder and Scully" (1998) reaching number three but my favourite track was there next release “Road Rage”.

Has for success outside the UK it was very limited. They disbanded too early I would love to see them reunited but not on some awful TV show like that rubbish on ITV2. It would be great if it were like the cooler VH1 show, Bands Reunited, hosted by Aamer Haleem could be a project for S4C.

Manic Street Preachers big hit was "A Design for Life" although a year earlier they had a minor hit with the theme from M.A.S.H. “Suicide Is Painless”. Design for life was like an anthem for the time with the gruff voice of James Dean Bradfield booming out this hit. Has much as I liked it myself my favourite track is "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" their first and only number one single. Like Catatonia world support for the band was patchy but they are highly recommended to see live.

Another Welsh band are the Super Furry Animals who have a strong following among music fans. Single chart success has been hard to achieve and they have never made a top ten spot as they a better known for their albums. Over the course of nine albums, Super Furry Animals have been described as "One of the most imaginative bands of our time" by Billboard magazine, while according to NME, "There’s a case to be argued that SFA are the most important band of the past 15 years”.

Allow on a go to band for me but I do have a favourite track/single "The Man Don't Give a Fuck" a tribute to Cardiff City icon Robin Friday. The track featured a sample of Steely Dan’s "Show Biz Kids". The frontman Donald Fagen was upset and refused Super Furry Animals' request to use it at the time. A deal was done with 95% of the track's proceeds going to Fagen, a situation which Rhys was happy with as he felt the song would never get played due to its frequent use of the swear word 'fuck' a happy outcome.

Stereophonics burst on to the scene with the top five hit "The Bartender and the Thief" 1998, from the album “Performance and Cocktail” again another favourite album. My top Stereophonics track is "Handbags and Gladrags" neither of these made it to the summit for the top of the singles charts. They only number one on their books was "Dakota" 2005. Out of the four bands mentioned here, the Stereophonics were by far the most successful commercially at home and worldwide. Another band critics say you must see live.

Franchise sport could it come to football/soccer

When it comes to Rugby, everyone knows my feelings. It is clear that I hate the egg but that is the Union game, as I have always liked Rugby League, strange init. This week I came across an interesting story involving the Rugby League and Canada and I was somewhat excited about the news. I love strange quirks in sport.

From the 2017 season, there will be a Canadian Rugby League team Toronto Wolfpack playing in the Kingstone Press Championship where at present London Broncos, Bradford Bulls play, and will be one promotion from the Super League. As well as playing in the UK the team will be the first professional rugby league team to be based in Canada. Now they are searching the world for players and are having trials in the Caribbean.

The world is getting smaller has the travel time gets shorter who knows maybe a team from Australia next now there are talks of direct flights with the UK. A group of 10 businessmen are bringing the Wolfpack to England including Canadians and Australians, who own the club and must have deep pockets.

So how will it work - The club plans to play in blocks of four home matches, four away matches with the away fixtures televised in Canada. They will cover all expenses of visiting teams throughout the season. That will not be cheap and not unique has you would think. There is a precedent set in football. Guernsey, of the Channel Islands play in the Ryman Division One South and have a similar but different system where they play on a home and away basis but also have to pay the cost of the visiting team.

We have many foreign owners and money in football in particular within the English league so when will someone knock on the door of the FA with the same idea as the Toronto Wolfpack. It could happen, lots of foreign club owners now pay to bring the bigger clubs to their stadiums for friendlies. What if they buy a poorly supported team like Accrington Stanley and move the club to America or somewhere in the Far East and offer to pay all expenses for visiting teams.

The FA would probably be against it, so would the fans but say someone knocks the door of the Premier League. If it was put to the club owners, there could be a different response with most of the owners foreign. They could eye up the possibility of taking teams back to their own countries for a few games a season.

Pie in the sky, maybe but the top end of football is awash with money somewhere around some billionaires’ pool the idea could be bubbling away.

Remember the Kerry Packer cricket circus taking on the cricket establishment and failed because no one really cared for the sport but football is in a very different place the world cares. We have seen a group talk of a European Super League with the cream of European football invited. Another group were touting a World League once again cherry picking the big supported clubs around the world.

We know franchise football is frowned upon among football fans all you need to do is look at the reaction to MK Dons. Out of the death of the final breath of the old Wimbledon who were homeless after their ground was sold from under the feet of their fans two clubs emerged. The result was Wimbledon relocating to Milton Keynes and becoming MK Dons while some fans formed, AFC Wimbledon, and they have fought their way back from non-league to the football league.

I reckon within 10 years something will happen that will shake the foundation of football and it won’t be England winning the World Cup.

Three Godfathers 1948 - Film Review

Another night of dodging crap TV with Emmerdale followed by Enders but the wife threw a flanker into the works by allowing the second born to watch the football. Still I had no interest in watching so I took myself to find a film – yes another film. Sticking to the Christmas theme, I came across Three Godfathers, 1948, and not on YouTube but Dailymotion which is just as good as my regular hangout.

Three Godfathers is a Western and a good one at that based around Christmas.

The film opens with three outlaws (John Wayne, Pedro Armendariz, and Harry Carey Jr.) riding into the town of Welcome Arizona to rob the bank. On the way into town, they run into Sheriff Sweet (Ward Bond) as he is tending his garden. The sheriff goes to the jail and looks through some wanted posters and gunfire breaks out – the bank is being robbed. The outlaws are chased into the desert by the sheriff who manages to shoot there water bag which Wayne believes was deliberate.

For the rest of the film, we periodically switch back and forth between the three outlaws and Sweet with his posse, who initially wait at the several known water sources, then actively hunt them when they are not found. The outlaws have outwitted the sheriff by heading to Terrapin Tanks where they would be sure to find water. When they arrive, they discover that the spring has been destroyed by dynamiting.

To make things worst they find a heavily pregnant woman in the back of a wagon. She had been alone for 4 days after her husband when chasing their livestock and is presumed to be dead. After helping her to give birth and before she dies she makes them promise to look after her boy, which the outlaws agree. With very limited water that they managed to gather from some cactus and with some baby formula milk they head off into the desert on foot. With the help of passages from the bible, they set of in the direction of the bright star pointing them towards the town of New Jerusalem. 

When the sheriff reaches Terrapin Tanks we find out the woman was his niece and it was her and her husband’s wagon. Believing the outlaws are responsible for these additional crimes, the sheriff adds $50 to the reward money and wants them dead. The outlaws are walking through the desert heading for the town of Jerusalem with an enraged Sheriff in pursuit. A long the way two of the outlaws die with one killing himself when he breaks his leg. With Wayne now alone with the baby and becoming delirious, the sheriff is getting closer.

Thus, when Sweet finally catches up with Wayne, on Christmas Day, in the New Jerusalem saloon, he immediately demands that he engage Sweet in a gun duel. Fortunately, Wayne is too weak to respond, and Sweet is shown the infant that Wayne has 'nursed' through his trials in the desert. Sweet, presumably after hearing Wayne's full story, takes an entirely different attitude toward him, beginning to treat him like a prodigal son.

It is what you expect from a John Ford film quality and eye catching scenery.

The Bedford Incident (1965) - Film Review

An interesting film which in today’s climate of tensions between NATO and Russia where only this week Russia warned NATO about a Norwegian submarine following its task force sailing through the Mediterranean shows how things can escalate. This film set at the height of the Cold War is a cat and mouse game between an American destroyer and a Soviet submarine.

Richard Widmark is a determined naval ship captain, Finlander, in "The Bedford Incident”, which also stars Sidney Poitier, Eric Portman, Martin Balsam, James Macarthur, and Wally Cox. Poitier in this film plays a journalist, and there is never any mention of his colour. This is not only remarkable but also marvellous. Martin Balsam is the ship's new doctor. Poitier and Balsam board ship together and pick up almost immediately that there is a tension on board and that their cold, tough captain intimidates the men.

The Bedford's assignment is to patrol for Russian subs and ships in the Northern waters of the Atlantic.

When they detect a submarine is in the coastal waters of Greenland area, the captain vigorously pursues the submarine to surface taking the matter too far. Portman, as a former U Boat captain and now adviser, disagrees with him. The scenes showing the grey sea and icebergs might be dated now, given what film technology is capable of, but they are no less evocative of the atmosphere.

Poitier turns in a stellar performance, which really builds as he becomes more and more concerned about the captain and the potential international situation. Martin Balsam is very good, actually providing, along with Wally Cox, a little comic relief. Also James MacArthur as Ensign Ralston who is under particular pressure by Finlander leading him towards a breakdown.

After the build-up of drama and tension, the last moments of the film are incredibly exciting - staggering even. And you'll do what I did - just sit and stare at the words "The End." A very good film.

For me, this is one of the best movies of the cold war era, up there with the likes of "Fail Safe" and "On the Beach". Extremely well directed and acted.

Roast Chicken Crisps - Dieting

Even as we speak, I am on a diet to drop a few pounds that crept up on me in a ninja-like fashion. Ok it is stones not pounds. I exercise on a regular schedule walking to the toilet a few times a day if I had one of those step counters I may do round 1000 steps a day regular if you include doing the cooking. You have to be very careful not to over exercise you could become addicted but there is little chance of that happening to yours truly.

I try to watch what I eat. I still have to make course corrections from time to time. This usually involves me having to give up another of my favourite foods. But I am weak and somehow they slip back on my menu nullify all my hard work and sincere efforts.

Today I felt compelled to share with you a dark secret that I have been harbouring for several weeks now. I am back on the crisps, particular Walkers Roast Chicken flavour after months of going without and I feel like a failure. I only realised this morning when the girl in the shop mentioned she had not seem me buy any for a while. She went on to remind me that when her dad when to the warehouse he would always buy two boxes of Chicken crisps while just a box of the other flavours.

I have now promised myself never again will a packet of Chicken flavour crisp pass my lips again. Well I cannot really say never there is bound to be a special occasion at some point where it will be impossible to turn them down.

With Christmas around the corner, getting back on my diet will be hard. I found myself thinking why not chuck the diet in until after Christmas … It is tempting but this happens every year and the stones they are not for moving.

Trump a winner - The World the Loser - Everybody Hurts

By Marcus Cicero

I was wrong. On both counts. Well, on one. Trump won and how can that be. Somehow, he hoodwinked the American people to support him and vote for him, which I find incredible. I did not believe there were so many whack jobs in America. Come on when the KKK thanks WikiLeaks and Julian Assange for propelling Donald Trump to victory there is something wrong.

We will discuss this election, for many years. It was both a surprise and not a surprise. The surprise was Donald Trump, won and in my book is unfit for office the other surprise was Hillary Clinton was so badly beaten. He is an erratic, narcissistic, and fantasist with no political savvy who gives orders and expects them to be done. That kind of attitude does not work when you are sitting at the table with other world leaders.

What happens next! from watching the rednecks celebrating he will have to carry through with the threats to jail Hillary Clinton it looks like the price for their votes boy do they hate her chanting "Lock her up". He will have to build the wall there is no way out of that but getting the Mexicans to pay. That is not going to happen. Then the great illegal round up which he promise that will see millions deported I can see that going peacefully, joke.

He has promise trade wars across the world and jobs there will be plenty of jobs in the fields with millions of illegals deported but I do not think they are the jobs white America expect. Has for the returning industry he is promising to bring back it will mean big tax breaks for companies and cuts in wages to be competitive with the Far East and emerging world. He is on record he will get America working.

When President Barack Obama said after the Brexit vote there would be no fast tracking of any trade deal with the UK outside Europe. Trump was quick to jump into the fray saying he would do a deal with the UK at the first opportunity.

He is happy to tell the world he has Muslim friends and is willing to take their money but will they be unwelcome on America soil. It could mean difficulties for British Muslims to visit the USA and if it does happen, I expect our government to fight for their rights.

Hillary Clinton actually got more votes than Donald Trump did – but because of the US electoral system, he won the presidency. While the supporters and media supporters of Trump are waiting on the first of many celebrities who plan to “move to Canada” after a Trump victory to keep their word and cross over the border to Canada.

Land of the Giants - Nostalgia TV

While flicking through the channels on my TV I happened on an old favourite the ‘Land of the Giants’ airing on the Horror Channel and with nothing else to watch I sat back to relive a moment from my childhood. It is a mash-up of other shows on TV around the same time Lost in Space, and Gulliver’s Travels.

Made for US television the dated sci-fi series is a tale of a sub-orbital commercial flight from New York to London they pass through a cloud and end up on an Earth type planet where the natives are seventy-two feet tall. To save on special effects the inhabitants look just like humans, speak English and wear every day sixties clothes even the props, watches and the like are the same has sixties earth.

The crew and passengers of the US rocket ship "Spindrift" are now trapped in this land of giants looking to try to repair and fix their space ship. We know little about the planet they land on but the giants were humans leading a young me to believe they were shrunk going through the cloud and landed back on earth. That idea was soon proved wrong.

They battle the planet's totalitarian government who seem to have knowledge of the little people suggesting previous visits. Their bid to avoid capture is hit or miss has different members of the group are captured with the others coming to their rescue. Very few of the giants are helpful/supportive. Most of the time they are looking for items to help repair the Spindrift which is hidden in some undergrown in what looks like a park so they can get back home.

It was popular when it was aired in the UK on ITV with the first episode airing on December 8, 1968.

When you walk into the wrong neighbourhood - Racer Snakes

A reported 9 million viewers watched the opening of the BBCs flagship nature programme Planet Earth II. It has been highly anticipated since the announcement of its return and it did not disappoint.

With Sir David Attenborough narrating, the talking point must be the plight of the baby marine iguanas. The tense scenes took place on the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific, after newly hatched iguanas emerged from the sand and were clamouring to safety.

With talk of danger, I was wondering where it was to come from, the air and some predatory bird or alternatively, maybe a bit of cannibalism from older iguanas but no it was something I was not expecting.

It was snakes! Racer Snakes. They chased along the beach enthralling and terrifying the audience at home in equal measure hunting down the iguanas. Twitter went into meltdown with reaction to the scene of the iguanas may have had a good turn of speed but the snakes were everywhere.

My heart also went out to the penguins in another piece in the show. Walking miles to find food than jumping off a cliff in raging seas swimming 50 to 100 miles in search of food. Only on their return fighting their way up the same cliff while waves batter them with some receiving nasty injuries or death. My Sunday nights belong to Sir David Attenborough.

Double Cup - FA Cup - Welsh Cup

It is a cup double again today with both FA Cup and Welsh Cup played earlier so how did my teams do could there be a separation of the ways for us.

In the FA Cup Spennymoor Town hit the road to Milton Keynes to face the most hated football team by all fans MK Dons. Yes, the splitters who broke one team into two forcing a group of fans to start their own team AFC Wimbledon who climbed from non-league to league football.

To the game I had my fingers tightly crossed hoping for an upset but it was not to be and I was gutted for Spennymoor not because of the MK Dons thing but I love to see the underdog win except when they play my team Cardiff City. Spennymoor were 3-0 down in the first 15 minutes and some kind of massacre was on the cards but the tide stopped minutes after MK Dons had scored the third, Spennymoor scored.

It was not until six minutes from full time at there was another goal and it was from the non-leaguers giving some spice to the final minutes of the game could Spennymoor win a replay. At the final whistle, it was 3-2 and now I was in the hat with MK Dons.

My rotue so far (FA Cup)

First Round (Proper) – MK Dons 3-2 Spennymoor Town Att 4099

Fourth Round Qualifying - Lincoln United 0-3 Spennymoor Town Att 578

Third Round Qualifying - Lincoln United 3-1 Handsworth Paramore Att 315

Second Round Qualifying - Handsworth Paramore 2-0 Burscough Att 98

First Round Qualifying – Squires Gate 2-5 Handsworth Parramore

Preliminary Round – Squires Gate 3-2 West Didsbury & Chorlton

Extra Preliminary Round - Maltby Main 2-3 Squires Gate

In the Welsh Cup, Llantwit Major had my support who faced a home game against Llandrindod Wells. There was a big bonus for the winners today in the third round the big boys of Welsh football enter the pitch. The likes of Airbus UK Broughton and New Saints and there will be a Capital City team in the hat, Welsh Premier League team Cardiff Met after all other Cardiff based teams have been beaten in earlier rounds.

It will be Llantwit Major’s name in the hat for the Third Round draw. They beat Mid Wales Llandrindod Wells 1-0.

My rotue so far (Welsh Cup)

Third Round - Cefn Druids 2-0 Llantwit Major 

Second Round - Llantwit Major 1 - 0 Llandrindod Wells

First Round - Sully Sports 2 - 6 Llantwit Major

Second Round Qualifying – Sully Sports FC 4-1 Tiger Bay

First Round Qualifying – Tiger Bay 2-1 Blaenavon Blues

Bonfire Night - Light up the Sky -

Bonfire Night was like Christmas Eve I would be so excited I could hardly sleep. I loved Bonfire Night the whole day was special when you were old enough to be able to be involved in collecting wood, building the bonfire it was the best five years.

Going raiding was fun has we would invade Grangetown and attempt to burn down there bonfires which was something I didn’t mention to my parents. Normally it was just a bit of stone throwing and being chased.

I say five years because I was only actively involved during my early teens, by 16 it was a memory. The day would start with me waving goodbye to mum, running to the bus stop to catch the school bus or to see who was up for a bit of hooky from school or mitching, as it was known locally. Then down the lane over Junky Fords where the bonfire would be built.

We gathered and where joined by those with the 24 hour bug ‘bonfire night illness’ the treatment was a day off school and plenty of fresh air and some hard work. We had a centre poll that we built our bonfire around it was an art to build we just didn’t pile the wood on it was placed. Load after load of wood would turn up as the bonfire grew.

I also had to keep an eye open for anyone who could report to my parents about my whereabouts. All I needed for someone to say they seen me at the bonfire for me to be busted. For dinner, a run down to Jimmy’s for a big bag of chips and a bottle of pop before getting back to work.

Then to finish the deception. Home to pretend you had such a great day at school knowing come Saturday evening your trip to the confessional box, "Bless me Father, for I have sinned. It has been one week since my last confession" knowing lying was worth an extra Our Father or Hail Mary it was tough being a Catholic.

We had the perfect piece of waste ground for our bonfire well away from homes and next to a park with plenty of space for families to let off fireworks. It’s a free firework display. We had fireworks out our back yard and I was always pushing my dad to get on with it so I could run around to the bonfire for the lighting.

Today bonfires are a rarity with waste ground disappearing. Junky Fords now has the Butetown Link Road running through it. There is nowhere to have a bonfire in my old stomping ground even if today’s kids were interested.

Must see TV - Week beginning 5/11/2016 - My Choice

Highlight of the week … figuring out how to work my new NowTV box worked is one of them. On the Television front, the Exorcist has kept me enthralled. If the rumours are true, a link to the original film is revealed in the next episode I do know what it is but I will not be spoiling it for others. After a slow start the story line is picking up the demon is active and the priests are readying themselves for action with the battle of good and evil getting ever closer.

Saturday My Shows – The Christmas Card (2006)

On a lean TV day what is left to do but delve into my saved shows/films on my virgin box to watch ‘The Christmas Card’ a sweet Christmas tale. US Army Sergeant Cody Cullen's on tour of Afghanistan receives a Christmas card from a stranger. Later during a mission, his friend is killed which he takes badly. His commanding officer recommends he take some leave and decides to return his friends private possessions to his wife.

After completing his quest he ends up in the town were his Christmas card was sent from planning to seek out the sender. Almost immediately, he runs into her Faith Spelman. Later he saves her dad Luke from being run-over. The Spellmans invite Cody home for dinner and to stay awhile. He proves a great help in the family logging firm. Vietnam vet Luke wants Cody as son-in-law, but although charmed, Faith still seems committed to rarely present fiancé Paul, a wine broker. It’s a Christmas film so no need to say what happens next.

Sunday BBC 1 – Plant Earth 2 8pm

Well there goes the viewing figures for other channels on 8pm on a Sunday. For the next six weeks, the return of Planet Earth after ten years will be a major hit for the BBC and later worldwide. The haply-named Blue Earth 2 sees Sir David Attenborough doing what he does best enthral us into our world.

From islands to desert’s, mountains to cities and grasslands to jungles exploring how our planet has changed – and how developments in technology let us see it like never before.

Monday Sky Cinema Premiere – Krampus (2015) 10:10pm

Lately I have been watching many Christmas themed films this one is a bit different … Christmas horror. When his dysfunctional family clashes over the holidays, young Max is disillusioned and turns his back on Christmas.

Little does he know this lack of festive spirit has unleashed the wrath of Krampus: a demonic force of ancient evil intent on punishing non-believers. All hell breaks loose as beloved holiday icons take on a monstrous life of their own, laying siege to the fractured family's home and forcing them to fight for each other if they hope to survive.

Tuesday Channel Dave – Celebrity Storage Hunters 8pm

I love Storage Hunter (USA) the infighting and the out and out hatred on show is what makes it great viewing. However, I am indifferent about the UK version it does not move me to commit to viewing but occasionally. Dave where smart to bring from crossed the pond the presenter Sean Kelly, the larger-than-life host. Now Dave have given us a number of UK celebrity specials of the reality auction show.

All ready we have seen the likes of Johnny Vegas, and in this episode in Ipswich the line-up is Ricky Grover, Steph and Dom from Gogglebox, Union J, Shappi Khorsandi, Dave Gorman, Katy Brand and Charlotte Hawkins taking part.

Wednesday Channel 4 – The Last Leg: A US Election Special 10pm

The winner and new President will be known by the broadcast of the show. I expect the people from The Last Leg would probably prefer a Trump win for the comedy value alone but hope like most of us for a Clinton win.

I reckon when the polls close for the US Election it will be declared too close to call leaning to the interesting night.

Thursday BBC 2 - Close to the Enemy 9pm

A Cold war drama over seven parts has my name written all over it. Rumoured to be a complex tale of life in post-war London.

It’s 1946 and as the Cold War looms, Captain Callum Ferguson (Jim Sturgess) of military intelligence is given one last task before he is demobbed to encourage German jet engineer Dieter Koehler to work for the British.

Friday BBC 4 – Roots, Reggae, Rebellion 10pm

Part of the Black and British Season. In the 1970s, the world came alive to the sounds of Roots Reggae, a Jamaican musical force that would later resonate powerfully in Britain. UK rapper, poet, and political commentator Akala tells the story of this golden period in the Caribbean island's musical history.

A time when a small group of musicians created songs that offered hope to ordinary people in times of immense political struggle and violence. The documentary explores the music’s origins in Jamaica and reveals its lyrical and thematic influences, which lie primarily with Rastafari.