Loading the Jukebox – 4. Gangsters – (The Specials)

Gangsters was an instant hit for me, capturing my interest the second I heard it with Two Tone becoming a force in British music. Gangsters did not really sound like ska at all. It still does not. To me, it retains an aura of mystery that means it still holds my attention when I listen to it.

Unlike the Specials’ later hit Ghost Town, Gangsters’ as no message (if there was one). I concede it does have a kind of skanking beat, on Top of the Pops the band were jumping and Prince Buster-style interjections from Neville Staple power through the track.

And then, of course, there’s Terry Hall’s deadpan vocals and appearance.

Childhood Memories - Comics - General Jumbo

With comics still on my mind, if there was one character I wanted to be it was Alfie (General Jumbo) Johnson, from the Beano comic. I dreamt of being him and a general of my own miniature army like him. It was not just any old army, but remote controlled, they could shoot tiny bullets and he also controlled ships and aircraft along with soldiers and vehicles such as tanks it was boys own fantasy stuff that I wanted a part of truly.

I had no idea how the elaborate systems of his wrist panel worked and how he could control so many elements but to me I was a believer until I grew of an age. In one episode, he helped Mancaster Rovers prepare for a crucial European tie, helping take down a saboteur (the nasty coach of Lidano who was going to mickey finn the team after training), his soldiers donned football kits and played a game of football with the Mancaster players cheering on.

General Jumbo was also known as Admiral Jumbo at one point, when he was also given control of a fleet of tiny ships but that was short lived. There was just not enough action and adventure that could be done other than use your miniature frogman to catch fish for tea.

They were all controlled from a remote control wrist panel, oh how I wanted one. Everytime we were in Woolworths (advertised has the shop that sold everything) I would always keep an eye out for one but it was never to be. I was young impressionable and innocent.

I just had to be happy with my Airfix soldiers playing on my bed shouting bang, bang. They produced a wide range of figures representing many countries and branches of the service but not remote control. If I had some money I would buy a box from a shop a few doors down from the Ninian Park Cinema a brisk walk from where I lived. I also preferred collecting Allied soldiers leaving the Germans a bit light come playtime.

In the innocent world of wind-up toys, you dreamt of true remote control and you were lucky if you would have a battery-operated toy on a wire likely to have been made in Japan. I think most boys had the battery-operated robot mine fired sparks as it wobbled along unsteadily.

But my fantasy about General Jumbo as never really died and I am still waiting for some professor to hand me a controller and my own armies. Like Jumbo, I would be the scourge of local minor crooks and bullies. My envious friends would look on jealous as I tell them I could not share has they only worked for me. I am and was living in la la land.

Digging around in my past ... Comics

I have written before about my love of comics particularly in my youngster days but I never really gave up on them into my teens and beyond. The only change was the subject matter of the comics I would buy.

By my teens, it was war-based comics like Warlord and Battle Picture Weekly that caught my eye there first issues came out in 1974, and 1975 respectively. Another comic aimed at the teenage market was the Victor which was full of boys own adventure kind of stuff I enjoyed reading. I have always had a fascination with war of any description and in junior school drawn to the ladybird books like the Kings and Queen series or the great leaders series like Nelson or William the Conqueror because there was always a battle or war within the books.

Another source for me was second hand bookshops. Every Saturday has a kid Dad would stop off at Harding Tool shop on Mill Lane in Cardiff because they also sold second hand books. I would pester my Dad to buy me one of the Commando series of war books because the covers always looked exciting.

Of the three comics mentioned, here are my favourite characters

Jack (Union) Jackson was a Royal Marine Commando who was aboard a British ship sunk by the Japanese in 1943. He was the main character in the Warlord comic and ended up fighting with the U.S. Marines after they rescued him. Due to a misunderstanding; he accidentally signed enlistment papers and became a U.S. Marine himself!

In theory, Jack was simply waiting for Washington to realize their error and discharge him, but that didn't stop him seeing a considerable amount of action. He was always recognisable by the Union Jack on is helmet.

In the Battle comic Johnny Red was a British pilot who ends up fighting with the Russian. He was dishonourably discharged from the RAF for hitting superior officer but still wanting to do his bit in the war joins the Merchant Navy. On a convoy to the Russian port of Murmansk, enemy aircraft attacked his ship.

The ship was carrying a catapult-launched Hurricane plane and when the pilot is killed in the attack on the ship, he takes to the air to give air cover to the convoy. Low on fuel, he forces a landing on Russian soil, where he falls in with the abandoned and desperate Falcon Squadron.

One of my favourite characters in the Victor was Alf Tupper a working class bloke who could run. He joined an Athletics club where the posh university types regarded him as a “guttersnipe”.

His adventures would normally consist of saving someone on the way to a race or falling asleep on the train or bus, having to run to the track, and winning the race, he was always turning up late. The comic strip would nearly always end with Alf in a fish and chip shop or he would be walking along with of bag chips.

I have recently revisited my love of the war comics by purchasing some Christmas annuals for the aforementioned comics and using eBay tried to enquire the first editions of warlord and Battle comics. I was outbid and it would seem my fascination with my past has a price.

Sunday Crush - Cybil Sheppard - Last Picture Show

This crush stems from her performance in the 1971 movie ‘Last Picture Show’ in which she is coming of age, sexually. She plays the all-American girl from a well off family in a one-horse town. I saw the film again recently on Sky Movies and the crush was still there like all those years ago.

The subplot involves Sonny (Timothy Bottoms) and his best friend Dwayne (Jeff Bridges) who trying to move on in life after his relationship with Jacy (Cybil Sheppard) crumples. Jacy was just using him to lose her virginity the first time he tries he is unable to perform, the second time it was over in a minute so she moves on to her mother’s lover. There is nothing in the town, so Dwayne decides to join the army.

Meanwhile Sonny had been conducting an affair with Ruth Popper (Cloris Leachman), the depressed, middle-aged wife of his high-school coach and when the news breaks out Jacy begins to see him in a completely new light.

Jacy suggests to Sonny that they elope but the police stop them on the way to get married after Jacy had left a note telling her parents all about their plans knowing they would reported them. If you are in a lusting mood for Sybil Sheppard I recommend this film and if you are looking for a well-acted film this must be on your to watch list.

FA Cup and Welsh Cup - Oh yes Cardiff City

FA Cup fourth round this weekend but no sign of my team, Cardiff City, they fell on the sword in a lacklustre third round game. It is back to what many fans call the bread and butter of football, league, points, and league table position.

Back to the cup football, it is a double header with the FA Cup and the Welsh Cup. I have virtual teams in both having followed teams in both competitions from the very first rounds way back in August/September.

In the FA Cup for today, I am riding on the coat tails of Brighton who face a trip to Lincoln City. The Championship team are favourites but ripe for the picking maybe. Both teams happen to be top of their respective league so know how to win making for an exciting fixture.

There are no Welsh teams left in the FA Cup

• Fourth Round Lincoln City v Brighton
• Third Round - Brighton 2-0 MK Dons Att 11091
• Second Round (replay) MK Dons 3-1 Charlton
• Second Round - Charlton 0-0 MK Dons
• 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, it is also the fourth round and Cefn Druids based outside Wrexham hit the road to Llanfair United. Welsh Premier League club Cefn Druids should be favourites but are suffering from injuries so could the home team do a giant killing job after a season of poor league form.

The only Cardiff team left in the competition are Cardiff Met who are away to Guilsfield FC.

• Fourth Round - Llanfair United v Cefn Druids
• 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

Cardiff City with no cup game today take to the M4 and travel to Reading for an important league fixture. Cardiff need the points to continue their push away from the relegation zone with eight points off the drop zone sounding a lot. But a few defeats and results going against us and we could be pulled back into the melee of the bottom three.

Meanwhile Cardiff’s opponents today Reading are at the other end of the league table, in the top six looking to cement a play-off place at least. Oh how Cardiff fans would love to be in that position

Fortitude - TV Review

It is back after debuting two years ago on Sky Atlantic “Fortitude” with new dangers for the residents of the fictional Arctic Norwegian settlement of Fortitude. The first series started with a murder with the mystery going to reveal townsfolk were turned zombie like murderers due to a festering mammoth corpse, and the wasps concealed in the carcass. Later the wasp and a graveyard for mammoths is destroyed. Is that the end of the menace?

The new series starts with an incident happening back in 1942 at a Russian weather station were dead bodies are found. The new mystery then begins to unravel a man who as killed a number of people and a baby is shot in the back, shot twice but gets up both times and walks away with a suggestion of cannibalism.

In the towns supermarket there is an incident just to put the viewer on their toes. Could the madness of the first series still be in the air – no just a petty argument? I suppose the body count this time around will be high, hopefully, thin out the residents of Fortitude even more but there are a few new faces including a Hollywood star.

The body count kicks off with two female police officers uncovering a body of a decapitated man at the side of the road buried in the snow, it was no accident. On his way somewhere he stops, looks up at the blood aurora, looking down there is a shadowy figure standing in front of him. He was earlier in the pub the night before sprouting doom and gloom about the “blood aurora”, and children and cannibals.

New cast member and Hollywood superstar Dennis Quaid plays crap fisherman Michael Lennox is desperate to get to see but first the fuel to the fishing fleet was cut off and then there was a fire on his boat. He is husband to (Michelle Fairley, of Game of Thrones fame) who is sick and could be terminally ill.

There were some ends to tie up from the first series the biggest one, where is the sheriff? He is believed to be dead with the governors-estranged husband searching for him out on the glacier. With the need for a new sheriff, the governor sets out to find her husband and bring him back to Fortitude. Once back in Fortitude, just outside the town they nearly run over someone wondering down the road. When confronted it turns out to be the sheriff they were looking for and he does not look right and attacks is friend.

When Fortitude falls too much into police procedural trappings, it can feel like Broadchurch in particularly woolly sheep's clothing. However, the early signs suggest that it is keen to build upon the elements of psychological horror – with a splash of Seventies exploitation gore. If it continues to walk this line on a tight leash, Sky may just have the blockbuster.

Apple Tree Yard - Sunday Night Drama

Caught up with the BBC’s new Sunday drama “Apple Tree Yard” this afternoon on the iPlayer to see what all the hype is about concerning the series. Billed has a passionate affair between two middle-aged people with lots of sex in this hour-long opening of this psychological thriller.

It tells the story of a prominent geneticist, Dr Yvonne Carmichael (Emily Watson), who embarks on a secret affair with Mark Costley (Ben Chaplin), a mysterious man she barely knows. Now I have to say I took an instead dislike to Chaplin’s character the moment he slithered onto the screen.

Not saying Watson’s character was easy, but she was primed for the first smoothie to push her boat. Her knickers dropped faster than Usain Bolt’s 100 meters record. On the surface, all seems rosy with a great high profile career, with a devoted similarly successful husband, and two kids, nice house etc. However, in the opening we find her handcuffed, facing trial for some unexplained crime. Having not read the book I have no idea why she is on her way to court.

Sex yes! Shocking not really we go from a cupboard in the House of Commons to various toilets or alleyways around London. There is a harrowing rape scene at the end when a colleague attacks her. Meanwhile her husband Gary, it turns out, is a bit of a philanderer himself with the suggestion of sexual misbehaver with his young research assistant.

Who is Mark (Chaplin) I have no idea! Is he the civil servant we are lead to believe? I think he is some kind of spook and somewhat creepy. Gradually over the series, she begins to realise that there is much more to her lover than meets the eye, and she could be playing a very dangerous game indeed.

Will I rush to watch episode 2 next Sunday? I very much doubt it and will leave it for the iPlayer.

Sunday Crush – Emma Peel The Avengers

I was watching The Avengers Age of Ultron when my eye was directed toward the lovely actress Scarlett Johansson’s character Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow she was hot even if her love interest in the film was the Hulk. Like most things these days, a memory popped into my head of the Avengers TV series and the delectable Emma Peel and Sunday Crush.

There were many a female sidekick for Patrick Macnee as John Steed but my favourite was always Diana Rigg as Emma Peel. Every bit the equal to her crime-solving companion John Steed, Emma Peel was far from the typical damsel in distress of most spy fiction. She was no Bond type girl wallflower although she did actually marry James Bond in ‘On her Majesty's Secret Service’.

When I discovered the show, it was in the early 1970s via reruns I was instantly attracted to Emma Peel. She knew several martial arts and could dispatch any number of evil henchmen with ease. Nevertheless, she was more than just a lethal weapon, she also had a solid scientific background and often proved herself more intellectually capable—and quicker with a finely turned witticism—than Steed.

Rigg’s slinky costumes didn’t hurt the viewing figures either – never more so than in the episode A Touch of Brimstone, wherein when she donned black boots, a corset and a spiked collar, with a snake as a Marquis de Sade accoutrement. She was always a dedicated follower of fashion looking super cool every bit the 1960s hit girl about town. She could be my sidekick any day in fact she would be in my top 10. Only nine to go.

'Fake' the new catchphrase of a Trump Presidency.

What as it been a day or so and already Donald Trump and his press office and the White House are proving to be prize dick heads. This so-called 'fake reporting' of the inauguration audience is a joke.

Trump comes out with figures of a million or more and he is still probably counting. When photographic evidence shows the true picture, he denies it. Maybe it is a case of ‘fake photography’ and ‘fake TV reporting’ it looks like the word fake will be the new catchphrase word of a Trump Presidency.

Later the White House press secretary took up the same point lashing out at the White House press core who must had trouble keeping a straight face going on about 'deliberately false reporting'. I was watching the BBC coverage of the inauguration event and they had a reporter stand more or less alone towards the end of the National Mall with very few people standing around, in fact all I could see were white mats laid down to protect the grass.

Former President Obama's inauguration in 2013, the lawns were packed from top to bottom. Official figures suggest as little as 250,000 were at Trump inauguration and even the TV viewing figures were lower than 2013.

This kind of thing does not bode well for the next four years if we are still here to see who the next President will be. Probably he will still be there from deep under Washington DC waiting out the nuclear winter.

British PM Theresa May is off to Washington next week according to reports in the press, the first world leader to meet the new US President brownie points to the British Government in the world order, is it? . A trade deal will be high on the agenda with Trump. How that will work with his America first mantra, I do not know.

Loading the Jukebox – 3. Up the Junction– (Squeeze)

The late seventies, early eighties was a golden time for music and Squeeze were one of those bands I had to love. Band members Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook wrote all of Squeeze’s hits, with the former penning the lyrics and the latter handling the composition. The duo were hailed as "the heirs to Lennon and McCartney's throne. Up The Junction, introduce many listeners’ to the witty kitchen-sink lyricism and new wave guitar music that has become the band’s trademark.

This was the third single released off their second album the fantastic Cool for Cats. It is one of the band's most popular and well-remembered songs (especially in the UK), and reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart.

Bones Sky Living 9pm final series.

The last season of the TV Show Bones airs tonight on Sky Living 9pm and I for one will be mourning the death of the show which I have followed since episode 1 in 2006. No more FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) and forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan (Emily Deschanel) who I have watch grow from work colleagues, lovers, husband and wife to parents and a lot in-between.

If you have never watched it, first shame on you and here is the premise of the whole show. Bones and Seeley Booth team up with her team at the Jeffersonian Institute Medico-Legal Lab where they help identify human remains of possible murder victims. The reason for the involvement of the Jeffersonian is that the bodies are normal badly decomposed. Booth provides FBI criminal investigation techniques and the ongoing dynamic between Bones and Booth is their disagreement about science and faith.

Bones xxx

Bones team are important to the storyline with Booth calling them "squints'" a term which has evolved from a derogatory term to one which is used affectionately to all Jeffersonian scientists. Each member of the team have their speciality and different interns throughout the series join them in the lab.

In addition to the prospective murder cases featured in each episode, the series explores the backgrounds and relationships of its characters. Brennan argues for science, evidence, and atheism. Booth argues for intuition, faith, and God. The series is also known for its dark comedic undertones, which serve to lighten the gravity of the show's intense subject matter and often at the expense of Bones. She also goes out on investigation with Booth.

In this, the 12th and final series Booth and the lab team race against time to locate the kidnapped Brennan. The team believe former colleague Zack Addy (Eric Milligan) as taken her and fear that Addy is the elusive serial killer ‘The Puppeteer’.

Yangtse Incident - Film Review

There is nothing better than a stiff upper lip British war film in the afternoon and on the upside starring Richard Todd. Based on the true story of H.M.S. Amethyst attacked by the People's Liberation Army whilst sailing along the Yangtze River to Nanking in 1949. Amethyst run aground and was held while prolong talks took place to release the ship took place.

The film is the "Yangtze Incident" H.M.S. 

Amethyst comes under fire from the People's Liberation Army artillery while having permission to travel up the Yangtze River to Nanking. Hit by the guns of the PLA Amethyst returns fire but cannot return accurate fire due to the guns being out of sight. The ship runs aground orders are given to abandon ship leaving a skeleton crew on board. While the majority of the crew are safe, two end up in the hands of the PLA.

Meantime there are a number of attempts by H.M.S. Consort to tow Amethyst off the mud but they fail as Consort comes under the same heavy gunfire. With the captain killed and the second in command, wounded Lieutenant Commander John Kerans (Richard Todd) is despatched to Amethyst.

The local Communist officials make contact with Amethyst that leads to a number of meetings between senior officers and the officials. They are demanding either the British government releases an apology accepting all responsibility for the entire incident, or Amethyst will remain stuck on the mud bank. They try to get the two wounded sailors they have in their care to sign statements declaring the British to have been the transgressors, which they refuse to do. Kerans manages to get stores, fuel, and the two sailors and then comes up with a plan to escape and make a dash for open sea.

His plan is to alter the ships silhouette to help disguise it in the darkness. Amethyst slips her anchor later that night using a brightly lit merchant ship heading down river. When the shore batteries finally notice the Amethyst gone, the merchantman receives the brunt of the PLA artillery and catches fire, while Amethyst presses on at top speed. As the ship processed down the Yangtze they encounter an obstruction across the river with two channels, Kerans takes a gamble on which to take, while the sailor on the echo sounder called “three fathom sir, two fathoms sir, one fathoms sir” and then “two fathoms sir” they were through.

The biggest threat to the escape was the 6” guns a Woosung as they out gunned those of the Amethyst. Has they tried to slip past the guns they were inevitably spotted by the searchlights and both open fire until Amethyst reaches open sea. On the arrival of dawn, HMS Concord is seen racing to meet and greet them.

Concord flashes a message, “Fancy seeing you here”, and Amethyst replies “Never repeat never has another ship been so welcome”

Amethyst then signalled to headquarters: "Have rejoined the fleet south of Woosung ... No major damage... No casualties...God save the King!"

A message of congratulations from King George VI was sent: Please convey to the commanding officer and ship’s company of HMS AMETHYST my hearty congratulations on their daring exploit to re-join the Fleet. The courage, skill, and determination shown by all on board have my highest commendation. Splice the mainbrace.

The Sausage Roll test - Cold, Microwave, Oven

Had a little experiment this morning with a Peter’s Jumbo Sausage Roll to find out, which was the best way to eat one. Ready to eat cold or warmed up in the microwave or oven. I rather knew really but I was going to give it the benefit of a scientific test.

First, I cut the sausage roll into three to make it fair.

The cold piece was ok, but was a bit stodgy, heavy but was firm.

I have talked about putting such products in the microwave before my least favourite piece of equipment you could have in your kitchen. I put the sausage roll (removed from the packaging) and with the instructions, I placed it in the microwave for 1m 30s and it came out red hot, I mean smoking hot so, I left it to stand for a minute or so, but it did not look appetizing its shape had gone and it looked sweaty. Once in the mouth it was soggy, somewhat oily and like the flavour had been sucked out of it. Not pleasant at all.

For the oven I also used the information provided and warmed the oven to Fan 170 and waited the prescribed 20 to 25 minutes before taking it out on 20minutes and left it stand for a minute. It was hot but not has hot is the microwave. The best result by far has I knew it would be the sausage roll was flakey firm and tasted by far the best and worth the extra time for perfection.

Sunday Crush - Sue Menhenick Top of the Pops

Pans People Sue

It’s Sunday and while listening to the radio some guy was asked, who was his bedroom wall poster crush and within a second, he blurted out “Pans People”. I have to agree but I did not have the poster but from the early 1970’s onwards, I had the crush. I have decided that Sunday on this blog will become ‘Crush Sundays’ and we will start with the aforementioned Pans People.

It was a Pans People thing by time they became Legs & Co the crush had all but gone but for one special dancer.

It is hard for the youth of today to understand how one music show could be so important as Top of the Pops it was a big deal when we were kids. Every Thursday night especially in the long winter, nights whole families would gather around the TV see to our favourite bands, the latest chart hits, and the chart countdown.

The running joke was that dads would only look up from their newspapers and pay attention when Pans People were on the screen but wait what about us adolescent boys. The was a growing fan club there as the woman’s body became more interesting and you noticed the skimpy outfits in particular the hot pants, the shiny ones, a preference.

They danced to hits of the time when the group or singer was not available to perform on the show there were very few videos. The videos killed off the dance troupes like Pans People who later turned into Legs & Co. You had to have a favourite according to mythology and it just so happen I did, Susan ‘Sue’ Menhenick. She join the group in 1974 just at the point my attitude to the opposite sex really changed.

I think it was because she was new and I remember her hairstyle was shorter than the others a sleek look that did it for me. If I think back to them dancing to some hits, Sue is the only one I can remember. It helped she was 17 years old on her debut, I was 14, within my lust range I thought. She was high catching, a stand out. I was happy most males were lusting after ‘Babs’ she with the boobs it mend I was in a smaller exclusive club.

Howl (2015) - Film Review

Not the greatest, but very watchable when your wife has control of the TV and remote control leaving me with my laptop and YouTube. I had two hours to kill and I was lucky to land myself on a nice little film.

When it comes to British werewolf films, ‘Dog Soldiers’ is the dog’s bollocks but I enjoyed this offering to the werewolf genre. The plot was predictable, the title the giveaway, and being British, the badie was going to be a werewolf over a wolf. The introduction to the characters was establish quickly they all seemed likely to be nice food for the werewolves. I quickly picked the hero and likely to survive, hero yes, survive well not quite.

What you have with 'Howl' is a group of strangers trapped on a train, which has broken down in the middle of nowhere - the rest is your typical stalk and slash formula. Joe, a ticket collector tells the group to secure themselves in the carriage but soon the creature is stalking the train, picking them off one- by-one. When a werewolf gets on the train during a vicious battle they manage to kill the creature, however, celebrations are cut short when they hear more howls coming from the forest.

Werewolf movies stand or fall on the quality of their monster and this one has very good werewolves, quite different from the usual model but definitely scary. They rather reminded me of Morlocks' from the film ‘The Time Machine’ but a lot scarier and not blue. If I came across one of these in a forest at night, I might actually soil myself, no I would soil myself without a doubt.

They are not pretty. The scariest part of a wolfman is the man, not the wolf. I hate movies where the monster is kept in the shadows all the way through but this one gets its bad boys out early and shows them off.

The humans are well done too. Good realistic acting with almost no stupid "why are they doing that stupid thing?" moments. The action scenes are violent, bloody, and claustrophobic. If you like, werewolf movies this one is definitely worth your time.

Tristram Hunt quits Parliament, triggering a by-election

Jeremy Corbyn must have felt like kicking the cat this morning on hearing the news Tristram Hunt is quitting as a Labour MP to become the director of the V&A museum in London. With the polls, showing Corbyn a dead man walking the last thing he needs is a by-election.

In a resignation letter to party leader Jeremy Corbyn, Mr Hunt said he had become frustrated over how Labour should respond to the shockwaves hitting mainstream politics. But he insisted he had “no desire to rock the boat” and said anyone who interpreted his decision to quit that way is “just plain wrong”.

The big worry for Corbyn and his followers it is not one but two by-election with Jamie Reed's resignation in December 2016, whereby he will cease to be an MP from the end of January 2017. There is also Andy Burnham MP who will be standing down creating another by-election when he stands to be the first elected Mayor of Greater Manchester in the May 2017 mayoral election.

It is going to be a tough few months for the Labour leader with the possibility he could lose all three by-elections the worst outcome for the Labour party. Could there be any more Labour MPs harbouring thoughts of resigning from politics. There are plenty of rumours swilling around the political press pack.

Hunt has a majority of 5,179 over the UKIP no way secure and Reed’s majority is worst, 2,564 over the Tories. Burnham has a healthy majority out of the three 14,096 with the Tories second in the 2015 election just 33 votes ahead of UKIP but even that majority is not safe in the crazy world of politics.

All three have been traditionally safe Labour seats and he will need a strong showing to get the wolves from the door. Meaning the upcoming by-elections could prove problematic for Jeremy Corbyn, put simply he must win and win good to hopefully turn around the negativity surrounding him. The left of the party will see it has one less opponent and a ‘Blairite’ to boot in the parliamentary labour party who stands against Corbyn and who was an arch critic of the Labour leader.

Jeremy Corbyn on Tristram Hunt - I am not expecting anyone else to resign! Others disagree with rumours of if the right job comes along they would jump ship in a hearts breath. But while Corbyn sounded relaxed at the resignation, Deputy Labour Leader Tom Watson made clear his dismay that yet another Labour MP was quitting. “I am disappointed to see a talented MP like Tristram step down,” he said.

Thirst (2015) - Monday night movie

I'm left scratching my head wondering why some people seem to have a hate on for this film after looking at reviews.

The story of the film is a group of wayward teens arriving at a desert boot camp, with no communication, and nowhere to run to, they realize their only chance for survival is to fight for their lives. Some will fall along the way, there is blood, and panic.

Thirst is not going to win any awards but that said it is an enjoyable, fun, Sci fi action romp. The casting for this film is on target, the pacing improves as the film progresses and for a relatively low budget film for example the aliens, the special effects are pretty decent.

There is also a subtle nod to Aliens II towards the closing scenes, for those paying attention.

I was never bored watching the movie I was entertained and that is all you can ask of a film. It’s a great one for a wet Saturday or Sunday indoors or a Monday evening with the wife watching 2 hours of soaps.

Loading the Jukebox – 2. “Hands off She’s Mine”– (The Beat)

The Beat came out of Birmingham in 1978 with a fusion of ska, pop, soul, reggae, and punk rock and where initially signed on the Two Tone label before setting up their own. Records don’t get any more downright joyous, infectious, and danceable than this classic track. I remember buying the single and thinking to myself what the hell and picking up the 12" single with some great extras like more of Ranking Roger toasting.

Released off their debut album, I Just Can’t Stop it (1980) and reaching number 9 in the UK Singles Chart. The Beat were one of the best bands to come out of the Ska revival of the late 1970s early 80s. This was their second single after reaching sixth in the singles chart with Tears of a Clown and the B side track Ranking Full Stop, a favourite of mine.

The Road to Wembley no more Cardiff

Everyone loves the FA Cup it is special we are often told but judging by the crowd at the Cardiff City Stadium maybe not. Cardiff played Fulham live on TV with a crowd not worth counting but for the cut of the gate money due to the taxman.

The official crowd was 5,199 with a sizeable contingent of Fulham fans. If the game were against Manchester United or Chelsea the ground would be full so no real excuse for the small crowd. Like the tiny crowd, the team were outclassed on the pitch even after scoring the opening goal but still losing 2-1. Ok time to concentrate on the League while our manager Neil Warnock declared he "struggled to get out of bed" for their FA Cup third-round fixture.

So with the demise of Cardiff’s road to Wembley I still have a team in the hat for tomorrows draw thanks to my virtual journey to the final which started back in August with Maltby Main and before this round of game my virtual team was MK Dons. So my road to the final continues.

However, its not with the Dons who fell by the way side yesterday losing to the Championship leaders Brighton who eased into the fourth round of the FA Cup with victory over MK Dons.

Third Round - Brighton 2-0 MK Dons Att 11091
Second Round (replay) MK Dons 3-1 Charlton
Second Round - Charlton 0-0 MK Dons
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

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) - Film Review

Wifey was out this morning and normally Saturday morning would be SoccerAM time but recently, well for some time I have fallen out of love with the show. So I fished around for something else to watch and found a film showing for the first time on Sky Premier Movies.

I like to think I have my ear to the ground when it comes to films but somehow this film ‘10 Cloverfield Lane’ (2016), past me by and I had no idea what I was just about to watch but for the small bio that comes with the film.

The film opens with Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) fleeing New Orleans and a broken relationship. It’s an almost wordless sequence, punctuated only by her ex-boyfriend pleading with her on speakerphone as she drives into the Louisiana night. Involved in a crash and wakes up in a sparse room, a drip in her arm, but manacled to a pipe. Alive, but a prisoner.

It’s here we meet Howard (John Goodman), the man who pulled her from the wreck, but is now her captor. “I’m sorry, but no-one is looking for you,” as she bargains for her release, delaying his reveal of what he claims is really going on: the country's been attacked by enemies unknown, but they’re safe in the bunker. That information comes later, after an escape attempt.

Things pick up immediately as the bunker’s third inhabitant, Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.) is introduced — is Howard telling the truth (as the evidence initially suggests), or is something more sinister going on? From this point, we learn things as Michelle does, and her fear and uncertainty are projected onto us. The best she can hope for is that Howard is a good man, just not particularly normal. But as time passes, and she picks up snippets of information, it becomes clear there’s a darkness in his past that threatens what she’s been led to believe and Emmett sees it too.

Howard tells Michelle about his daughter, who is gone. Michelle and Emmett eventually detect inconsistencies in his story, including that the picture of his daughter is actually a girl who went missing two years before. They suspect Howard abducted and murdered her, and secretly begin fashioning a makeshift biohazard suits for an escape outside.

Discovering they used his tools, Howard angrily asks them why. Emmett takes the blame; Howard shoots him in the head.

Michelle makes her escape bid and succeeds after kicking a large tub of acid over whereby Howard falls into the puddle and a fire starts. She gets outside in her homemade biohazard suit. Once outside which looks quite normal and seeing birds, flying takes off her helmet. However, in the distance she can see some kind of floating craft. When the bunker explodes, it attracts the craft's attention.

An alien creature then comes to investigate and the craft releases a green gas, forcing her to put the bio mask back on. She takes shelter in Howard's truck, but the craft’s tentacles pick it up and attempt

to consume her. She creates a Molotov cocktail and throws it, causing the craft to explode. Michelle drives off. On the radio, she hears about successful human resistance efforts. Survivors are directed to evacuate to the north, while those able to aid the fight are directed to Houston. Michelle resolutely heads for Houston, where lights and larger crafts loom.

The acting from everybody was superb, and the interactions between them felt very organic and believable. It was also fun to see a really smart, competent and badass female lead. I got Ripley-vibes from Mary Elizabeth Winstead towards the end, so I really hope the next movie picks up right after where this one ended, because I wanna see more of her survival journey.

Must see TV - Week beginning 7/01/2017 - My Choice

The Christmas holiday is now over with January comes many new TV series and there is a lot this upcoming week. The Lottery Show has gone freeing up space on Saturday for drama with Casualty moving to a new earlier slot with the much talked about ‘Taboo’ having an 8-week run, which I am really looking forward to viewing.

There also a number of returning shows knocked out of the schedule by Christmas programming.

Saturday – BBC2 The Man Who Fell To Earth 10:30pm

Starring David Bowie as an alien arriving on Earth on a mission to save his drought-ridden planet. He becomes a tycoon, but is overwhelmed by the materialism and triviality of modern life and soon his identity is discovered.

This was Bowies acting debut and was perfect casting and watching his decline into despair is shattering. Along with Bowie, there is a fine cast.

Sunday – Discovery Channel Alaska: The Last Frontier 9pm

Living off grid in Alaska is not easy but the Kilcher family develop understanding with the wildness.

In is episode the Kilchers celebrate their most unforgettable Christmas ever with a one of a kind gift exchange! They use their Kilcher ingenuity to make homemade gifts, all crafted from the heart with the spirit of Christmas.

Monday – BBC1 Class 10:45pm

This new Doctor Who spin-off aired on line on BBC3 via the iPlayer and now comes to BBC1.

Coal Hill Academy comes under attack from deadly monsters they are searching for Alien refugees Miss Quill and Charlie are hiding out at Coal Hill Academy in disguise as a teacher and a pupil. With some students they form an alliance to defeat them.

Tuesday – Sky Living Elementary 9pm

The show follows Sherlock Holmes, a recovering drug addict and former consultant to Scotland Yard, as he assists the New York City Police Department in solving crimes. His indifference to police procedure often leads to conflict with Captain Thomas Gregson (Aidan Quinn), although the two remain mutually respectful of one another. Dr. Joan Watson ‘Lucy Liu’, who initially acts as his sober companion, accompanies him.

Wednesday – BBC2 Common Sense 10pm

Fast turnaround comedy series voiced by Gavin & Stacey's Ruth Jones. It features a regular cast of real British people, chosen for their sharp wit and humorous take on life, all discussing the news from that week - from major breaking stories to the most bizarre headlines.

Amongst the cast are a couple of east end market traders, dinner ladies from Leeds, Mancunian male nail technicians, Brummie butchers, Scottish launderette owners, supermarket co-workers and three great grandmothers from Hull.

Thursday – BBC1 Question Time 10:40pm

With the politicians back at work after a nice and long Christmas break Question Time the BBCs topical debate television programme is back. The show typically features politicians from at least the three major political parties as well as other public figures who answer pre-selected questions put to them by an audience selected on the basis of its political views and demographic.

Friday – Channel 4 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 9pm

8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (also known as simply Cats Does Countdown) is a crossover between the panel game 8 Out of 10 Cats and the game show Countdown. The show follows the format of Countdown, but with hosts and contestants from 8 Out of 10 Cats, and an emphasis on humour.

Last Night - No Offence/A Very British Brothel

An interesting night last night on my TV screen thanks to Channel 4. The return of ‘No Offence’ was welcome I enjoyed the first series and an interesting documentary ‘A Very British Brothel’ I saw the first screening last year and this was a follow up so there was two hours before bed sown up.

‘No Offence’ follows a team of detectives from the Manchester Metropolitan Police (a fictionalised version of Greater Manchester Police) in particular keeping the streets of Herculean clean of crime. D.I. Vivienne Deering (Joanna Scanlan) is the boss who chews lightning, craps thunder and is hard as nails on the outside but with a soft inner self-when needed.

In last night’s first of seven episodes, she returns to work after a few months off, and finds herself banging heads with her new boss. She has also as a powerful crime matriarch to deal with. Things come to a head at a funeral of a notorious crime boss whose son is about to be buried. With Deering and her colleagues in attendance there is an explosive and the crime boss manages to escape.

All this means the likely possibility of a gangland war.

Meanwhile her colleagues D.S. Joy Freers (Alexandra Roach) and P.C. Tegan Thompson (Saira Choudhry) sniff out something dodgy about the crematorium owners.

A return visit to the Sheffield massage parlour, ‘A Very British Brothel’ run by a mother and daughter team. Business is booming for the duo. Their ladies can see up to 15 clients a day, and see it all, from a client who likes to have sex in custard or others who turn up wearing knickers. Another wants to play at baby, complete with nappy changing to a guy who pays for one of the ladies to sit on the bed, smoking in lingerie.

The programme also features new recruit Lily who wants to earn money to fund her nursing degree.

'I wasn’t nervous telling my mum at all. My aim is to go to university to do nursing,' she explains.

'I don’t care what people think. As far as I’m concerned I’m an independent business woman financing my own life, my own car, and my own nursing degree.'

There was a lot of chatter on social media during and after the programme was aired, a lot about the custard but it was good to see some interesting talk about the whole brothel and sex work. I personally the government have a real responsibility to legalise and regulate the trade. Sex workers should have a right to a safe work place. I hope Lily gets her nursing degree.

Kath the owner now harbour plans to open a second establishment.

Naan and Bacon Sandwich

I wrote this a while ago, three months ago, actually but for some reason, I scheduled it to publish in 26/10/2019, strange I have no clue why.

Feeling annoyed the kitchen was looking bare for a snack. I was waiting on the wife Glenys who was an hour or two away from bringing home some previsions. Although I could have had a plate of beans because the cupboards were pretty full, soups and the like in the fridge there were a few miscellaneous items but no bread.

Seeing some bacon in the fridge, I really fancied a bacon sandwich but without at least two slices of bread, it was a non-starter. However, I was having the makings of an idea to get my sandwich that involves a left over naan bread from last night’s homemade curry. Has I was sitting there sulking I was reminded of the Bombay restaurant which is now closed down they did an Indian based breakfast with naan bread and bacon sandwiches.

With no idea how to make one, I took to the internet looking for ideas. I was surprised just how popular this sandwich was, a delicacy in the eyes of some and I was about to see for myself. First there seemed to be no one way or another in how to make one some are fancy while I was looking to make a plain one so that is what I did.

With the wife not looking I fried up three slices of bacon with I normally bake in the oven and just before I had finished throw in some slice up tomatoes. The naan cut in half when it to the toaster for a couple of minutes I decided to put a bit of butter on the naan. Then forked on the bacon and tomato it was really looking good and when I sunk my teeth into it … oh my god it was good. Next time I will try naan with a sausage and onion filling.

Celebrity Big Brother is back

Its back Celebrity Big Brother: All Stars and New Stars launches tonight where some newbies will fight it out with some oldies from past shows to win what I have no idea, 15 seconds of fame maybe. The world can’t wait well Channel 5 and a few million or so watchers will be at the edge of their chair with excitement.

Not a fan. I just dip in and out throughout the series but I do like launch night where the z-listers fight for their place in the BB house. A bad video or VT can make or break a housemate’s future in the house, as the viewing public will soon have to play the game and find someone to hate, there as to be a love story in the show. I will be hoping on two suggested house mates, Jasmine Waltz and Bianca Gascoigne.

Presenter Emma Willis is the ' live launch’ Queen and we have had plenty of suggestions on who will be going in with a high quote of glamor type ladies with boobs more or less out for the viewing figures among male viewers who tend not to watch anyway.

Sex sells and one of the rumours is that the beds are a bit smaller in hope of generating some bed action. Hopefully not between the mother and son duo who are rumoured to be entering the house.

Glamour model Nicola McLean will be returning to the house outspoken and brash, Nicola will have no problem speaking her mind, and getting into an argument with her fellow celebs should she need to. Remember the annoying Jedward! Well the rumour mill suggest they could be in the house after another 15 seconds of fame after their last bout of fame ran out years ago.

Loading the Jukebox – 1. One Step Beyond – (Madness)

The song is a complete instrumental cover of a Prince Buster track, highlighting the talents of the Madness horn players. Having watch there performance on Top of the Pops, if I wasn’t a total devotee I was now. The next day I was coming home from town with the album, slapped it on the record player deck, opening the window and broadcasted to the street I was cool.

It starts with a spoken intro by Chas Smash, who I believe at the time was not an official member of the band. Lead singer Suggs is present in the video in front of the band, holding a microphone, although he does not sing the lead vocals.

Then straight into the amazing saxophone playing, with great ska riff backing by the guitar, bass, and piano. Throughout the song Chas shouts out "One Step Beyond" this is a great song with the ability to make you move and have a great time. Suggs does add little vocal noises to the music, but it is a great instrumental piece and a great opener to the album.

Top of the Pops 1979

Dudley Moore and Peter Cook = Derek and Clive

Last night Channel 4 gave me an hour of sure-fire joy with a documentary with Peter Cook and Dudley Moore: The Missing Sketches was screened at 8pm. Rob Brydon gave us and celebrity fans, and friends a chance to see these newly found selection of sketches of the duo. The BBC wiped most of ‘Not Only but Also’ TV series back in the 1970s but two shows were saved in of all places at the ABC Australian Broadcaster where they were found.

Although the duo, were fun in any performance, it was their portrayal of Derek and Clive I remember most and the album Derek and Clive ‘live’. I was 16, maybe 17 when I first heard the recording and to say I was taken aback was an underestimation, with a big wow. It was liken to gold dust being passed around and more precious than any teenager’s porn stash

.

Brought up on comedies such as ‘The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin’ and ‘Ripping Yarns’ this was beyond knuckle stuff. Listening to this misogynistic, homophobic, which contains some vicious swearing and contains a fair amount of drunken abuse it possibly the funniest thing I've ever heard

.

Kicking off in fine style with the hilarious tale of Clive's worst job ever. The job entailed the recovery of lobsters from the a**hole of the American actress Jean Mansfield. Doesn’t sound overly funny but it is the interaction between Cook and Moore that adds the laughter. Derek claiming his worst job was cleaning up Winston Churchill's bogeys (leading the pair to conclude that the Titanic was one such bogey).

The track like ‘This Bloke Came Up To Me’ could have seen me in the confessional box for days if I was caught by a parent. Remember seeing pictures of French people gathered around the radio during World War 2 listening quietly to the BBC. Well that was what it was like in our front room with me with the sound up as much as I dared. It is a vehicle to say “You f**king c**t”, umpteen times although the word c**t seems to be a favourite of theirs as we hear it throughout the album.

I would say hand on heart if you haven’t heard or seen Derek and Clive you haven’t lived. Below is a link to the ‘This Bloke Came Up To Me’ and if you are of a mind the full album is on YouTube.