Halloween not for me

I’m not quite sure why but I’ve never really enjoyed Halloween, and I still don’t. Even has a kid I didn’t like dodging flour or the odd egg but you had to be out with your mates or you become a legitimate target for a door knock. I do remember once opening the door and getting a face full of flour. I don’t remember being given any option. Back then, trick or treat never happened, well I can’t remember ever doing it.

It seems like such a sham these days with strange kids disguised and unruly teenagers turning up at your door and demanding goods with a touch of menace. On Halloween at my house it’s lights out, door lock fingers crossed we are over looked, passed over.

I did it once the whole Halloween thing instead of my normal take the kids out for the night. That year I soon became the patsy as word got around sweets were available. At the end of the night, I had two teenage girls knocking on my door “trick or treat mister can we have some sweeties”.

Come to think of it! I dislike any form of organised fun unless it’s sitting in the pub for a drink and a chat. I suppose that brings something of my personality to the fore, I don’t like to perform and never have unless I’m drunk and that will never happen ever again.

From the highs to Salford City

I know I said last week I had my Thursday night TV sorted with the new series ‘The Last Kingdom’ but the BBC threw a curveball in to the mix with the Class of 92: Out of their League at the same time.

One had to be demoted to the iPlayer in the battle of BBC1 and BBC2 and in the end my love of football one through. We have five former stars of Manchester United – Gary and Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt buying a lowly non-league club Salford City, of the Premier League Division North, with at least the goal to take the club into the Football League, which is possible but can they. No David Beckham whose football interest are state side and the MLS.

It didn’t go down well when the Class of 92 changed the shirt colour to red, as a Cardiff City fan that sounds familiar and their badge only for the local paper to call them the "Class of Vincent Tan" the owner of Cardiff City who tried all the above. When billionaire from Singapore Peter Lim bought 50% of the club, fans were worried.

“I think it’s just going to lose touch with the ordinary people, like every football ground,” says Jim, who also does maintenance and runs the turnstile. Salford City has helped Jim cope with his alcoholism. The rest of the people involved with the club before the sale are just volunteering keeping the club running like Karen Baird the chairwoman and Babs flipping burgers on match day.

The ground Moor Lane was in need of love and tender care the toilets were a disgrace and with other parts of the ground given a makeover but the owners have dreams of a new 25,000-seater stadium as they progress up the leagues. The chairwoman Karen sat down with Gary Neville discussing the iffy Skybox they were using was a charming scene

• PN Do we still have the dodgy Skybox.
• KB Yeah, I was going to ask you about that.
• PN It isn’t going to look great, is it? Gary Neville of Sky Sports with a dodgy Skybox.
• KB I think they should give it you for free while you are on it.
• PN What were we paying previously?
• KB Nothing, we just bought it.
• PN What do you mean?
• KB There isn’t a cost per month.
• PN Right.
• KB But it’s what we do, then, have no sky or pay the £600 a month. Because my brother as got one so I know that’s what he pays.
• PN Right, let me speak to Sky. I will have to speak to Sky. We do need to get rid of that dodgy one though.
• KB Yeah. What, immediately.
• PN Well, it’s illegal, isn’t it
• KB I guess … yeah, I think so.

On the team front Gareth Seddon, is one of Salford’s best-paid players on £400 a week as the striker dropped a division to play for them, he also works as a model. “Welcome to non-league football,” says Gareth in the changing room after a game. “Fifteen players lining up for three cold showers and then nine of us sharing one towel. We’re all going to walk out of here with chlamydia.” There were a few other players who played a much higher of football. The other players have to fit in other jobs with their football something Phil Neville as some difficulty in working out has he waits to take a training session. One of the coaches is late and he has all the balls.

After a promising start to last season, a dip in form saw them drop from the top spot and in the New Year, the management team of Phil Power and Barry Massay were sacked. Under the new leadership Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley, did they get the team back on track and bring promotion. I know, but you watch next week to find out

Salford City will be on twice next week on consecutive days Thursday the final episode of the TV show. On Friday, The Match of the Day cameras will be at Moor Lane for Salford City vs Notts County live on BBC2 in the FA Cup.

I have always wanted to own a football team and for a long time I dreamt of it be Cardiff City, my team but not anymore. Like the ‘Class of 92’, it would have to be a non-league team (Welsh) a building project. Maybe when that lottery boat comes in to land and I win more the £3.60.

Clarks original pasty

A case of R.I.P?

Dad turned up this morning with a Clarks Pie, what a daddy. While we sat, having a chat my pie was just sitting there peacefully waiting to go into the oven while I was salivating in anticipation of devouring it.

Still not a fan of the pie tray but I suppose that is progress for you but it was soon discarded as the pie entered the oven. Has much as I appreciate a pie my heart longs for the Clarks original pasty (see picture). Every time Dad gets a pie from the Grangetown shop, I ask him to get me a pasty and he always turns up telling me they didn’t have any. He told me so time ago they had stopped making them but I live in hope that someone has seen.

For those in the Canton area of Cardiff there was Franklins bakery whom no word of a lie made the best pasties in the world and tasted that good they should have been call ‘diet busters’ they were ruddy fantastic. Many years ago, I turn the corner to find the shop shut, gone, busted no pasties ever again. I hoped it was maybe for a refit but I was clutching at straws.

Although the Clarks pie shop is still open they seemed to have drop the classic pasty for a cheese and onion replacement could this be another Franklins. Maybe the shop is not shutting but it looks like I have lost another highly rated pasty.

Road to Wembley Oct 24

Its that time again FA Cup and for Paul, “No I am not going on match day you will find me sitting in my armchair” maybe one day I could take to the road, maybe. The winner of this game will enter the ‘Frist Round Proper’ and the entry of the lower league team from Division two and three.

Going into last weekend’s game my team where Vanarama National League North, Worcester City victors over Solihull Moors in the last round. They had a bit of a tough trip to Vanarama National League outfit Gateshead who are mid table in their league.

Like all the clubs entering, the first round their goal now is to reach the third round when the likes of the Manchester clubs and others are in the draw in hope of a payday against one of the big Premiership clubs. Therefore, whom had the pleasure of Worcester City in the next round? A tough one with a trip to Sheffield United of Division one so they will be going into the game underdogs.

Road to date …

First Round Proper – Sheffield United v Worcester City
Fourth Round Qualifying - Gateshead 1-2 Worcester City
Third Round Qualifying (replay) – Worcester City 1-0 Solihull Moors
Third Round Qualifying - Solihull Moors 1-1 Worcester City
Second Round Qualifying - Solihull Moors 3-1 Oadby Town
Frist Round Qualifying - Sutton Coldfield Town 0-1 Oadby Town
Preliminary Round - Harborough Town 1-3 Oadby Town
Extra Preliminary Round - Quorn FC 0-2 Oadby Town

Another result that caught my attention was Salford City win over Southport who play two leagues above them and the fact they (Salford) have reached the first round for the first time in their history. In addition, the club have been all over the BBC advertising an upcoming TV show about the team and there owners.

Members of the ‘class of 92’, former Manchester United players own the club who later sold half the club to Peter Lim. That left Phil Neville, Gary Neville, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, and Ryan Giggs with 10% each of the club. In the draw for the next round, they received a home game against football league competition in the shape of Notts County.

Rita Ora

I read with dismay this story widely featured about Rita Ora in the press and online taken from extracts of a biography ‘Hot Right Now’, written by authors Douglas Wight and Jenn Wiley.

The story, which seems to stem from a TV interview given in 2013 on Lifetime TV about women's issues claims the singer was groomed for sex by a 26-year-old man when she was 14 and has been picked up in the book.

The X Factor judge said the sexual abuse ‘giving it’s proper name’ took place when she was a drama student at London's Sylvia Young Theatre School although the singer is reported to claim she was not a victim of child sex abuse

Talking about what happened, the singer said 'I was 14 when I had my first relationship with a guy. I would say he was about 26,’ also going on to say, ‘I don't want to say that I suffered it, because I wanted it. I don't want to say that I was forced to do it’.

I don't want people to think I was abused as a kid.'

The singer may think she was not abused but there was an abuser in this story the 26-year-old unidentified man who knowingly had sex with a schoolgirl and in the story, it is unclear if this man/abuser was anyway part of the Sylvia Young Theatre School. That would be worrying.

She apparently claimed that the attention she received made her feel sexy and as though she could 'take over the world'. Many young teenage girls who have crushes on older men or who feel that sex will make them all grown up are still under the age of consent which is there for a reason. The police should be having a word or two with Miss Ora to find out the identity of this man.

The Last Kingdom a good opening

Matthew Macfadyen (Lord Uhtred)

I watched ‘The Last Kingdom’ on BBC2 last night and the first thought this was no Game of Thrones or even Vikings both top class TV series.

Now I am a sucker for this kind of stuff so I was going into this as a fan looking not to be disappointed but wasn’t, it was an enjoyable hour of TV. Based on fact according to the shows synopsis so it was ready to be picked apart for its accuracy by some historian but did I care, not when I was looking to be entertained.

The show makers pull together one hell of a supporting cast most of whom died in this opening episode. There was a "Ned" Stark (Sean Bean) moment when Lord Uhtred senior (Matthew Macfadyen) departed the series too early in the main battle scene. The whole battle was bloody enough for anyone with a blood lust with Uhtred’s death not pretty.

Uhtred son also known has Uhtred ends up in the hands of the Vikings/Danes were Warlord Earl Ragnar captures him raises him as his own son. While in the hands of the Danes, his uncle becomes Lord of his lands and after failing to buy back is nephew bides this time.

Years go by an Uhtred is grown into a young man and while making hay with a girl slave who was captured with him they spy an enemy of Ragnar making a raid on his settlement. Also in the raiding party was a man sent by Uhtred’s uncle to make sure his nephew is also killed. Suffice to say Ragnar and most of his family meet a gruesome end while Uhtred decides to go back home to reclaim is Lordship.

It will be my new Thursday night thing to watch and will be looking forward to the next 7 episode. If you missed the opener it's on the iPlayer.

Trailers are spoilers

I was only telling the wife the other day how I was interested in nipping to the cinema to see the new Bond film SPECTRE, which is not normal for me I have Sky Movies and I could easily wait until it premiered on the channel.

However, with all of the clips, trailers I feel like I have seen the film and we are yet to have the red carpet event or even have a cinema release. I think everyone knows what you can expect from a Bond movie, plenty of action so why bother giving you a taste in trailers etc.

A recent survey suggested that 94% filmgoers no longer cared if they know the plot before watching. I must be one of the 6% then. It may be impossible not to know the plot these days but the filmmakers could limit a film to one trailer and dropping action sequences. Some film need little to promote them and a Bond film is one of them.

Porn University

The name Rocco Siffredi, 51, may not be well known by film buffs unless you are a buff of a different kind of film because he as 1300 movies under his belt … mostly of the porn type. He has also managed to crossover into mainstream films as well. Now retired for porn he has opened a Porn University where aspiring X-rated stars learn all the tricks of the trade.

The first intake consists of 14 men and 7 women from a group of thousands of hopefuls. No surprise thousands would try to sign up many of the woman are East Europeans a hot bed of porn talent these days. The university, if you can call it one, based in the East, Budapest, capital of Hungary.

Siffredi has invited the cameras to follow his students’ experiences at the institution, which will feature in an upcoming reality TV show Porn University. The course will only last two weeks and will incorporate an unscripted reality television show, is porn ever scripted. He will carry out on-screen tests, including positions that will work against the camera, as well as recitation techniques in order to mould the ‘believable’ porn actors of tomorrow.

Football not cheap - nor are some pies

Yesterday BBC Sport published the results of their annual study into the price of football looking at costs at 227 clubs in 13 leagues across the UK and Europe. The cost of watching football in the UK has dropped or remained the same for the majority of fans, the BBC study found.

The difference between the top British clubs and those on the continent are shocking but well known among football fans. If you take the Champions from last season in the Premiership, Germany, and Spain it is stark

• Premier League Manchester City £299.00 (cheapest s/ticket) £42.00 (cheapest matchday ticket)
• Bundesliga Bayern Munich £104.48 (cheapest s/ticket) £11.19 (cheapest matchday ticket)
• La Liga Barcelona £73.88 (cheapest s/ticket) £17.16 (cheapest matchday ticket)

To be fair Manchester City are one of the cheaper Premier League clubs compared to Arsenal where the cheapest season ticket is a staggering £1014. I know there is plenty of protest surrounding the cost of going to football for example ticket prices but the pie situation caught my eye

Not a pie in my eyes

The most costly pie on sale at a UK football ground would set you back £4.50 and that is not even a top of the table Premier League pie but lowly Kidderminster Harriers - a National League side - who are not even in the Football League.

"It isn't a pie really. It's a meal”, baker Brian Murdoch announced proudly. "You don't put away one of these and expect to lose weight."

I will shout from the rooftop, it’s not a pie, in my eyes (see picture). More like a shepherds/cottage pie a real pie is encased in a pastry shell not a mash potato topping. This thing may well be tasty but a pie it is not, a meal in a pie tray is what you are getting.

At the Cardiff City Stadium, its £3.50 for a pie, which is ridiculous when you think about it when you can pick a pie up for £1.80 or less if you were to pop into a shop, be it a bakers or fish and chip shop on the way to the ground. Looking at the other Welsh clubs Newport and Wrexham both charge £2.60 for a pie and according to the BBC Swansea declined to take part in this survey for some unknown reason.

The survey included the Welsh Premier League for the first time and I always wondered about the pie situation in the WPL. Ticket prices fluctuate between £6 and £8 a bargain and there are pies to be had at most grounds. The dearest pie can be found that The New Saints ground £2.50 while Haverforwest County and Port Talbot Town bring up the rear at a cost of £1.50.

However, for the ultimate bargain you need to cross the border to Scotland and visit Elgin City, Moray, where you can bask in a £1 footy pie.

>>>Study Results<<<

My friends, do you still remember me?

Earlier today, I suddenly started remembering my school days when I seemed to have numerous friends many of whom I have not seen in many years. I wondered if they still remembered me.

In secondary school, I spent five years with the same group of people but on leaving l let them drifted out of my life and I really can’t remember the last time I was in any of their company. I always gave school reunions a miss they were definitely not my cup of tea.

I really didn’t have any issues with school friends I was a happy go lucky kid in primary school and secondary I mixed well and never bullied even in infants if you had a spat with someone it was forgotten the next day. However, I have always had some kind of destruct button whereby I let friends slowly drift away.

I have never been able to work out why I am like this I don’t get pissed off with anyone they are just pushed to the back of my mind into a memory.

I remember one time in school every boy in the class when on the mitch except one who lived close to the school and didn’t catch the school bus like the rest of us. Yes we were all caught, caned except for me who lied my way out of it.

Road to Wembley all change

It was the Emirates FA Cup Qualifying - Third Round last weekend but due to a replay for my team, I am late with this update.

I can’t understand why the FA insist on replays. Why not finish the game on the day with extra time and penalties. It would be a better choice and a money saver for these smaller clubs. I know the early round are regionalized but still, replays!

It took a reply to find out who would be playing Solihull Moors and that was Worcester City. On Saturday, they played out a 1-1 draw so to the reply last night and it was good-bye Solihull and hello Worcester City who chalked out a 1-0 victory.

Their victory will see them make the trip to Gateshead just one win away from the First round proper on the road to the Third round. The round most all non-league clubs dream of because the big clubs of the Premiere league and Football league enter and the possibility of drawing Manchester United or Chelsea in a lucrative tie.

Fourth Round Qualifying - Gateshead v Worcester City
3rd Round Qualifying (replay) – Worcester City 1-0 Solihull Moors
3rd Round Qualifying - Solihull Moors 1-1 Holbeach United or Worcester City
2nd Round Qualifying - Solihull Moors 3-1 Oadby Town
1st Round Qualifying - Sutton Coldfield Town 0-1 Oadby Town
Preliminary Round - Harborough Town 1-3 Oadby Town
Extra Preliminary Round - Quorn FC 0-2 Oadby Town

The end of Playboy

Like bare boobs on page three, the nudie magazines are so 1980s/90s their business as all but died with the internet killing that trade off. They, Playboy, from March may be dropping nudes but they are not taking this move out of the goodness of their hearts or because they have seen the light, why buy what you can see free on the internet.

A funny thing only a few weeks ago I mentioned the lack of magazines on the top shelf to the guy who owns the local corner shop. He explained there was no call to stock them with only one of his customers interested an old man, who probably is without the internet.

Playboy are stopping featuring naked photos of women so all those men who have spent years insisting they only bought Playboy for the articles can claim that for real now. They were good articles I seem to remember I rarely noticed the pictures myself. The magazines heyday must have been the 1960s (the swinging sixties) and the crazy 1970s where it was possible under every young boys bed you could find a copy or at least a centrefold.

The cover of the magazine is regarded has iconic and a number of A-list woman of the time have graced it like Sharon Stone posing starkers save for a fluffy white robe. Lynda Carter, a personal favourite of mine (crush alert) did a centrefold in the 70’s for Playboy she of Wonder Woman TV fame.

Some are calling it a radical move but the magazine will still be featuring semi naked ladies bikini shot "women in provocative poses" and moving online where I would think the no nudes policy will disappear into the ether.

Destination France

Super Victor, the official mascot of the
UEFA Euro 2016

Not the best way to win through to the France Euro 2016 finals but I think you would find most Welsh fans with happy smiles today. A favour from Cyprus who had a 2-1 win over Israel meaning Welsh football ends its 57-year wait to qualify for a major tournament.

Football history is riddled with world class players who missed major tournaments because their national teams were not strong enough; Ryan Giggs comes into my mind - not so Gareth Bale – he and his fellow teammates have achieved what has been impossible for others.

Fans now will be planning for next summer with wives and husbands waking up to news of holidays in France. I have already seen on social media fans talking about booking hotels even before the draw for the finals being made sound a bit stupid to me. The 24 contenders will learn their fate when the draw takes place in Paris on Saturday 12 December with play-off game still yet to be decided.

Last night a friend was franticly looking into hiring a camper van. I asked him how long he would hire it for, “the whole tournament” what about your job “who cares” was the reply. I wouldn’t think his wife would be happy even if he planned to take her and the kids.

The tournament is scheduled 10 June to 10 July 2016.

I like his excitement but he is not the best Welsh fan ever, cherry picking I think you call it and I can’t remember him packing his passport for a trip away with Wales but for Holland. According to him, he doesn’t care if he can’t get tickets he is going anyway I suppose many fans will be in the same position. I can see Wales myself not having any problem selling out of any ticket allocation they receive.

Everyone who knows me knows I am not the greatest fan of international football but even I was caught up in the excitement of the games looking forward to Wales qualifying. No usual post this week bemoaning the fact Cardiff City didn’t have a league game I was content to give Welsh football the limelight.

The France 2016 Panini sticker book could be more popular than usual especially in Wales with the Welsh team and players between the covers. I may even collect myself. I can’t swap in the playground but I am sure I could find a nerdy website to help with swaps.

Rocky Horror Picture Show

Reading this morning it is the 40 year anniversary of cult comedy-horror musical ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ which was released in 1975 and based on the 1973 musical stage production it brought back happy memories.

Some of the main characters were reunited for a TV special to talk about the phenomenal the film became. While receiving cult status with the general public it was panned by most critics. The film cost just $1.4 million to make and has grossed $139.9 million and the stage show is still popular and touring the UK now.

It was a few years after the release I saw the film and in another first the main character was a man dressed as a woman in a sexual way not the Monty Python and Dick Emery way. I like a good musical but this was nothing like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers or West Side Story this was out there on another planet.

The film in a nutshell follows a naive couple Janet (Susan Sarandon) and Brad (Barry Bostwick) - whose car breaks down and they stumble upon a castle, where mad scientist Dr Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry) is holding an Annual Transylvanian Convention with a group of outlandish, over-sexed friends. Others in this crazy cast of Transylvanians are three other of my favourite characters Richard O'Brien as Frank N. Furter's handyman Riff Raff and Patricia Quinn as Magenta, both of whom look like they're having loads of fun in their respective roles. Also worth noting is Meat Loaf as Eddie, who makes the most of his limited screen time.

Tim Curry gives one of the most insane, out-of-this-world, over the top performances as the transsexual who runs the kooky mansion. There's a song almost every 5 minutes they are catchy and don't come across as "fillers" just thrown with songs such as "The Time Warp" and the like.

The film also gave me Susan Sarandon who is a long time crush.

Welsh Cup a journey

It was Welsh Cup football on the weekend and my armchair travels took me to Aberaeron where Brecon Corries were heading for this Round One fixture. They won, and were given a home game in the next round against Aberbargoed Buds. Could Corries win and make it to the Third Round when the big boys of Welsh football enter the ring.

I like to keep an eye on the Cardiff based teams and into the First round there were only three. One fell by the way side, AFC Butetown losing out away from home 5-1 to Afan Lido. The two left in for today’s earlier draw Caerau Ely, 4-0 winners at home over Undy Athletic and Cardiff Metropolitan who travelled to Llantwit Fardre and came away with a 1-0 win.

There reward in the draw today were Cardiff Metropolitan v Penybont and Goytre United v Caerau Ely.

Road so far

First Round … Aberaeron 0-1 Brecon Corries
Qualifying Second Round … Cwmbach Royal Stars 1-2 Brecon Corries
Qualifying First Round … Brecon Corries 3-0 Penrhiwfer

Cornbeef ... Love or Hate

Vegetarians be warned, look away, I love a tin of Cornbeef but I am the only one in my household. I have seen plenty of canned corn beef bashing in my time with a reputation as bad as tinned Spam, which I also like immensely but I am willing to stick up for this delicacy.

This mysterious tin is normally bought in a Christmas shop or part of some hamper and sits in your kitchen cupboard for about 6 months (or maybe longer if you would care to admit) hidden in the corner on the top shelf.

I can bet if you decide to use it the recipe would more than likely be Cornbeef Hash that is not a bad end. I prefer a sandwich of Cornbeef, tomato, heaven for this sandwich hag just about anything between to pieces of bread is heaven for me, as my dietitian nurse would agree while telling me bread = a fatty.

Mentioning a nurse it is always handy to have one on standby when opening a tin of Cornbeef because it is a highly dangerous operation. That key thingamajig is not easy for the untrained. Has you keep turning the key, you must be careful not to let the metal unwind because the tin edges are serious sharp. With a square/rectangular tin, it is impossible to open with a tin opener and easier to extract the contents in one piece, thus allowing the block of corned beef to be sliced.

Any Cornbeef here not ending up in a sandwich will end up in a Cornbeef Hash because that is the next best way to enjoy it or maybe a Cornbeef pie/pastie. Hey, what the hell in Cardiff market they sell a well mean Cornbeef pie slice to die for on the Market Deli counter. A throw back to school many moons ago when it was on the menu and I fell in love the only thing I fell in love with in school.

Give Cornbeef a chance

Early Christmas blog

Surprisingly I wouldn’t expect the Daily Mail to break cover with the first Christmas offer/giveaway I would have thought it would be the territory of the tabloids. The down side you need to buy the newspaper and collect points but I can’t see many of their regular readership collecting points and queuing wherever to get there turkey or Christmas tree.

No matter how much people go on about Christmas starting earlier and earlier retailers are desperate to get a jump on their competitors. With only 12 weeks to go the dash for the cash is hotting up and I have noticed myself store shelves filling with Christmas related stock with only Halloween stopping a full on Christmas attack.

One store in London opened their Christmas floor space back in August and reported sales has brisk, someone is buying then. Saw the first Christmas ad last night – buy a new settee and guarantee delivery before Christmas, how Christmas is that. The Cardiff Christmas Market is just over a month away, so that is when Christmas really kicks off locally.

With the internet and out of town shopping our city centres need to step up and put on a show to bring in the footfall. With money tight, maybe there is a case to put on a show, and get people wanting to come into town. I have read at some town centres have downgraded or cancelled their Christmas festive plans shooting themselves in the foot

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? - Film Review

I have not seen this film in ages but it was a joy to rediscover it again however, this film is no joyful romp. It's depressing as hell, it's not a movie I would watch repeatedly but I was glad to catch up with it again.

The film is set in the USA depression-era where dance marathons were seen as a way to make some money but after watching this film, you are left wondering if robbing a bank would be easier. These down-and-outers drive themselves to the brink of exhaustion to win the cash prize, here $1,500. These dance marathons could last weeks and the need to bring in audiences meant the organisers would come up was outrageous stunts. As the competition, progresses the weaker couples are eliminated when they either give up or collapse.

If dancing in itself is punishing, nothing can account or compare to the two horrifying sequences where all of the contestants must race around the ballroom and avoid at all costs at being the last three couples, grounds for elimination. They run around in what reminds you of the chariot sequence in the film Ben Hur instead of chariots, there are desperate people -- one of them, Ruby, is seven months pregnant -- and instead of a whip we have the emcee. It is interminable, and hits home at just how inhuman this contest is. The second one is even more terrible: the unforgettable image of Jane Fonda dragging the Sailor behind her back, a symbolic horse trying to remain in the game.

One of the characters that really tugged at me was the pregnant wife Ruby who towards the end was draged her around the dance floor played by Bonnie Bodelia. Gloria Beatty (Jane Fonda) is a would-be actress whose experiences have made her very bitter and deeply cynical. She's habitually unpleasant to everybody she encounters but is very determined to win the marathon. When her original partner is not allowed to compete for medical reasons, she quickly finds herself teamed up with Robert Syverton (Michael Sarrazin) who's an ex-farm boy who just happened to be in the vicinity and hadn't arrived with any intention of competing.

Matinee idol Gig Young is a dream as the rancid emcee, and as a deluded British actress, Susannah York gives the performance of a lifetime. The performances are what makes the picture haunting Forty-six years later and if you get the chance give it a go.

Blackout

I just hate it when we have a problem with our virgin package it reminds me I have too much in one basket. That happen this morning has the wife was off out to the hospital for an appointment and we received a total blackout.

I was left with no TV, internet, or some phone options so I hit the phone to find out what was happening for an automated message telling me they were upgrading my virgin experience. Why they couldn’t do this while I was in bed is beyond me and them I suppose. The helpful robot lady on the end of the phone happily told me I could expect my service back around 3:05pm and it this moment that is about six hours away.

I don’t even have Freeview on this TV or even a Freeview box that will need a new digital aerial on the roof or at least a good indoor one. However, with no internet how will I search for information. I don’t even own any CDs music or film because I am so reliant on my laptop and the internet. I have all the music I ever want to listen to on YouTube, I pay for Sky Movies, and most days I can find something to watch.

With the wife out, I don’t have anyone to talk to and the washing on the line is still damp so I can’t bring that in. I could read a book or get on with a few Christmas writing projects for the blog. I was looking forward to watching Final Destination 2 and 3 back to back this morning on the Sky Movies Sci-if channel.

I don’t do mobiles so I can’t get my fix via that avenue and have not owned a radio in donkey years so I am sitting in silent, writing this of course but that’s not going to fill up six hours if it turns out that long. I suppose you will know when my nightmare is over because this piece will be published.