Marilyn Monroe my best of

I was watching ‘The Seven Year Itch’ and was thinking to myself what is not to like about Marilyn Monroe. Not the greatest actress in the world but easy on the eye and starred in some of the classic films of the era.

Marilyn’s actual name was Norma Jean Mortenson. Her childhood was tough in and out of foster care, and was reported to have got married at sixteen and later she found some fame has a pin-up model after being spotted by a photographer. The modelling lead to some short-lived film contracts but it was not until she re-signed with Twentieth Century-Fox her career took off to become the biggest and most enduring sex symbol in the world.

Her image as a ‘dumb blonde’ was a bit unfair but heavily played on by the Fox studio and her first three movies Niagara and the comedies Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire, helped establish her "dumb blonde” image. When called to act she could but the studio bosses knew has sex sells and so does Marilyn. In most of her film, she portray the stereotypical blonde. She was also renowned to be difficult to work with as many of her leading man have stated.

My favourite three Monroe films are,

The Seven Year Itch

Arguably more prominently remembered as one of Marilyn Monroe's most iconic roles. This is quite an intelligent comedy with Marilyn herself coming across as not only stunning but with a knack for being funny while doing a parody of herself being the dumb blonde.

The film is about a husband who is currently going through the seven-year itch while his wife and child are away for the summer. Living alone while his family is away, he comes under the symptoms of the seven-year itch when a new and mysterious woman, living on the floor above, arrives in his life and he is intrigued by her and her sexual appeal.

He keeps showing symptoms of being paranoid that his wife may find out about his lust for this new neighbour. Throughout the film, we see how paranoid he becomes and the film portrays it with witty and sweet comedy.

Some like it Hot

A pair of musicians witness a mob execution and so go into hiding disguised as women in an all girl band heading Florida. Billy Wilder made his name making a variety of black hearted satires, but here we find him at his least cynical. It's one of those types of film they just don't make any more as the brilliant double act of womanising cad Curtis and sidekick Lemmon see how the other half live.

Their bickering and banter obviously owes a lot to Hope and Crosby and the gender swap is done with real subtlety and sophistication making for a host of hilarious one-liners that come so thick and fast it's easy to miss some of them first time around. Marilyn Monroe was never more appealingly vulnerable, Lemmon shows his mastery of comic timing and Curtis spends much of the film doing a hilarious Cary Grant impersonation as he learns to be a better man without the usual Hollywood schamltz and manipulation. The blend of slapstick and witty dialogue is judged to perfection making Some Like It Hot one of those rare timeless classics that all film fans should see.

Bus Stop

Bo is an innocent young man, fresh off the farm. He is as virgin as they get. While in Phoenix for a rodeo, he walks into the bar he instantly falls in love with Cherie who works there. Cherie wants nothing to do with the love-struck cowboy she has a plan to go to "Hollywood" to become an actress.

Bo doesn't take no for an answer and bugs the crap out of Cherie, trying to get her to like him. He is utterly clueless and at one point resorts to quoting the Gettysburg Address as Cherie is lying in bed apparently naked beneath her sheets. Bo calls Cherie, "My angel". He is so naive that he thinks of her as being as innocent as he is. He also, symbolically, pronounces her name "Cherry." To which Cherie says is "undignified”.

Murray's performance destroys this movie. Monroe does some of the best work of her career. However, with Murray taking up so much screen time playing this obnoxious, over the top character, it is sometimes hard to concentrate on what a great performance she is delivering. Her hair is dyed strawberry blonde and she uses an accent the whole movie. Monroe wanted to prove that she was a legitimate actress. With this movie, she does just that. It's just too bad her co-star could not keep up.

Defeat for the City - Is Trollope on the Edge - Same old Cardiff

Another poor night for Cardiff City fans, back in the bottom three, beaten by fellow bottom dwellers Derby County in a shock defeat 2-0 and their manager Nigel Pearson was not even on the bench or in the ground following his suspension by his Derby bosses.

After that short-lived revival at Rotherham it was same old same old at the Cardiff City Stadium, fans booing, leaving and asking questions of manager Paul Trollope. Social media soon lit up with demands for Trollope to be shown the door with next to no support for him. I was not at the game but from what I was listening to on the radio, and what I am reading we were shocking against a team who had not won for six games.

Can there be an unwillingness to play for him among the players. Are his tactics so dire they are unplayable or something I don’t know? We are not winning games and as much as Trollope tries to be upbeat with post-match interviews, we need to turn it around.

What did our leader have to say about this performance?

"We were beaten by the better team tonight.

"Losing Rickie so early in the game was a huge blow to us, he's been the platform and the link of our lay. That was a bitter blow on top of the strikers we were already missing.

"Rickie had experienced a bit of tightness but we thought he'd be fine, and he started the game in a bright manner.

"It made it harder for us to build our attacks in the forward areas. We still felt that we were pretty solid despite Derby's possession in the first half.

"It was disappointing to concede the goal early in the second half, they had a lot of passes in the build-up and we could have put the pressure on earlier.

"The events of today maybe gave them a freshness, it was a difficult evening for us."

I am finding it impossible to stay positive about Trollope he may be a good coach on the training ground but as Head Coach/manager he as shown he is not up to the standard of Cardiff fans. I don’t think Rickie Lambert if he played the full 90 minutes would have been the saviour of the day. Depending on his injury, he could miss the trip to Burton.

Burton is another must win game as fellow bottom dwellers and if we can’t beat teams at this end of the league table what are our chances with teams at the top end of the table. After Burton, we have two home games against Bristol City and Sheff Wed both in the top ten in the league, both winning

A lot of Cardiff City fans a suggesting a possible replacement for Trollope should be Neil Warnock.

Vincent Tan needs to make the decision and his man at the club to put in a phone call to tell him he (Trollope) must go. We really need someone who knows about football and picking the right manager.

The Day I was not Lost - No Panic

I was listening to a woman earlier on the radio telling the listeners how she panicked losing sight of her son for under 5 minutes it got me thinking of the time I was left behind on a shopping trip to town.

I was 10, coming on 11 and this was 1970 a long time ago. I must say first that I was very much a level headed kid at the time, an idiot sometimes but not someone prone to panic. When I was left behind, I would categorically deny I was lost.

It was the end November, a Saturday afternoon, and we were out getting some Christmas shopping done. Mum would rarely do shopping in town unless it was something like Christmas, buying clothes but I would regularly go with my dad to town.

On this day, I remember we were on Queen Street one of the busy shopping thoroughfares in Cardiff and for me at 10 it was like the land of the giants. We had just left Woolworths and on the way out I was separated from my parents and the rest of the family and I was about to undertake my biggest adventure. I stood there outside Woolworths for what I though was a while but thinking back it must have been like a minute before I moved off. No panic, no crying, nor looking for help because I knew my way home. Mum and dad didn’t seek help or report me lost to the police I don’t know why I think they knew I would head for home.

In my little brain I decided to follow the bus route home easy enough but quite a walk well I didn’t have money for the bus. I was a good few miles from home so I headed for the bus stop and begun to walk home remembering to watch out for cars while crossing roads. Has I got to the end of St Mary Street I remembered a much quicker way home, more direct, then following the bus route, in fact it would bring me out nearly right on top of my street.

I skip down Dumballs Road coming out as I said virtually outside my front door. Mum and dad were not home, there were no police outside so I just sat on the wall outside my house and waited. I can’t remember how long for but it couldn’t have been that long before they walked around the corner laidened down with shopping with my brother and sister in tow.

Harsh words were said, shouted more like but I think they were proud I didn’t panic and was level headed but I knew my way around town if it was anywhere I was unfamiliar with I would have sort help. It was not long after this incident mum allowed me to travel via bus to my nans.

The few times I brought the subject (the day I was left behind) with mum, she would always quickly change the subject I think she was uncomfortable about it so I would never push it. I asked dad this morning and he couldn’t remember it and you know what! I believe him.

EFL Restructure - Four Divisions of 20 - Premier League 2

I have said it before and here again I am for the restructure of the English Football League to four divisions of 20. However, I totally agree there is no place for any involvement of the Premier League teams be it B teams or U23 squads.

The EFL clubs met to discuss the proposals for the first time on last Thursday discussing the Football League expanding their membership from 72 to 80 teams the new members coming from the National League/Conference. Clubs will vote on the planned changes in June 2017 with 2019-20 earmarked for the changes if agreed.

Before then you can expect some heated debate about the restructure. I see no reason for changes in promotion between the Premiership and Championship with the play-offs. The rest I have no idea … I read somewhere why not cancel promotion and relegation just move the teams up or down. I think that could mean eight teams demoted from the Championship making the league 16 and then adding four from Division 1. It would be an interesting season.

Lower league clubs have concerns about the financial implications of moving from 23 home games to 19 if the switch to 20 teams per division goes ahead. It will help cut the number of mid-week league games that would lead to some cash savings. Attendances tend to be higher on Saturdays making up some of the losses for playing fewer games it could work.

On a winter break, which looks more and more like happening the Championship, could well join the Premier League move towards adopting it. The lower leagues below the Championship have rejected any idea of a winter break. My comment on the subject is a simple one. I am and always will be against a winter break in football it is always touted as the saver of international football like England with win the Euro and World Cup.

I have a feeling if the Premier League do get their winter break it won’t be rest full. The club owners will probably suggest a warm weather training camp and a couple of friendlies just to get them ready for the reopening of the season.

The door for now is shut on the Old Firm clubs, Celtic and Rangers coming south of the border with a ticket to join the EFL. Being a fan of a Welsh club (Cardiff) within the English system I have always been open to it if done right. In my ideal world, they would have to start in the National Division/Conference. If they were, they would generate a large income for clubs with their fan base visiting grounds and sharing on gate money visiting Celtic and Rangers.

While all this is going on the Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish opened the old chestnut of Premier League 2. Admitting the financial ramifications of relegation from the top flight now are "scary" and believes a Premier League 2 could be an option if the gap to the Championship continues to grow. I find this very annoying with the only reason for this idea is to keep the money from TV flowing into their pockets.

When it was first talked about the teams beside the relegated three from the Premiership would go into the Premier league 2 not the Championship. The other 17 teams who would make up the league would be invited by invitation. Meaning cherry picking the bigger and well-supported clubs from the English Football League with an invite to Rangers and Celtic. I am up sure if there would be promotion/relegation between the Championship. If it were to happen, it would just be one big stitch up.

Whore (1991) - Film Review

Sometimes you see a picture and immediately a memory is sparked. This happen this morning while looking for film posters for my Pinterest, blog/site whatever. I remember seeing the film Whore 1991 on VHS video many years ago starring Theresa Russell another crush alert and felt the need to watch it again. Ken Russell directed the film.

I set about looking for a free copy to watch on the internet but the only place was on a porn site but I wanted the film not the site. Why it was on a porn site I have no idea there is no way is film is porn.

Russell plays Liz, a Los Angeles lower class street prostitute who hustles a busy downtown street near a tunnel and the film is one of those were she addresses the film audience directly. We hear about her life about her problems throughout the film and in flashbacks in some cases.

She tells us about her violent husband and how she escaped with her son and ended up working nights in a diner when a customer offers her money to have sex with him, she agrees the money was better than she was earning working in the diner. She works independently for a while until she runs into Blake (Benjamin Mouton) a well-dressed pimp and extremely controlling and violent. She soon regrets it but there is no way out.

We see her successfully and unsuccessfully pick up punters and when a van pulls up she gives the driver the brush off recalling to the audience the last time she serviced a man in a van: it turned out there were several other men in the van, who gang-raped her and left her for dead. However not all human kind is so cruel has a passer-by offers to take her to the hospital but she declines and asks for money which she later returns with a thank you note.

She befriends a local homeless person/street performer named Rasta who decides to treat Liz to a movie. After the movie, Liz picks up a customer and services him. He has a heart attack, and Liz panics, trying to give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, without success. Blake happens along then. He takes Liz's money and tries to rob the dead customer. When Liz tries to stop him, Blake tries to strangle Liz and threatens to put her son into gay prostitution, with Liz retorting "I'll kill you first!". Rasta comes to the rescue, killing Blake. A grateful Liz gives her thanks and walks away.

The Exorcist and Van Helsing - Iffy Stream

Thanks to my favourite iffy internet stream this morning, I was able to watch the first episodes of ‘The Exorcist’ and ‘Van Helsing’ and in the process getting the jump on the UK viewers.

It is not a remake of ‘The Exorcist’. It's just … similar with the creepy music at the end. Alfonso Herrera, stars as Father Tomas Ortega a progressive young priest who looks to have his own demons and slowly comes around to the strange happenings at the home of a family in his parish.

Oh, he doesn't believe Angela Rance (Geena Davis) when she tells him her teenage daughter, Katherine (Brianne Howey), is possessed. She tells him strange things are happening around the house still he is sceptical about it. Katherine spends her time locked away in her bedroom being positively unsocial we learn during the episode she was involved in a car crash were a friend was killed. Also in the house is her husband Henry (Alan Ruck) who isn't well and another young teenage daughter Casey (Hannah Kasulka).

Father Ortega starts to have nightmares about Father Marcus Keane (Ben Daniels), a veteran priest who in the dream is performing an exorcism on a young boy and with him changing about the Rance family he seeks him out for is help. Things start to liven up then like most openings of a new series they are a slow burn to get the characters and story line up to speed but this looks like a little gem and if you're a horror fan, this series shows some promise. Stay tuned …

Meanwhile seeing I was up so early I switched to the new ‘Van Helsing’. Van Helsing is now female sort-of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"-ish only much darker and much more violent

Kelly Overton stars as Vanessa Helsing, a young woman who is resurrected into a near-future world that has been overrun with vampires. She's very good at fighting them, which is handy for the small band of human holdouts she joins.

Even better, it turns out that the only thing that can turn these vicious, feral creatures back into humans is Vanessa's blood.

It, too, gets off to a slow start, but "Van Helsing" picks up in the second episode it was a double bill. It is also super violent and super gory. If you like, that sort of thing, you might want to give this a chance I will be.

Must see TV - Week beginning 24/09/2016 - My Choice

Highlight of last week the return of American Horror “My Roanoke Nightmare” staring Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Sarah Paulson play a young couple moving into what seems to be a haunted farmhouse in North Carolina.

I love a bit of horror and suspense and have been a fan of the anthology horror television series since the beginning this being series six.

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

I don’t know why it has been move from its prime Friday night slot to Saturday night but it’s one of my favourite shows and makes no difference to me. Jimmy Carr is in the middle but with no Sean Lock so we have a guest team captain David Walliams, who will be joined by Jonathan Ross while regular team captain Jon Richardson in his team will be Joe Lyett.

Countdown regulars and the eye candy Rachel Riley and in "Dictionary Corner”, hottie Susie Dent will play their part with guests.

Sunday Channel 4 – Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls 9pm

I did not think I would enjoy this but with nothing on TV, I decided to watch the opening episode on catch-up TV. However, it would seem I like to watch a group of Z list celebrities in pain for charity. In this episode, everyone is hungry and while some set about looking for food to eat others find time for a siesta, which leads to a rebellion against the current leadership.

Monday BBC 2 – The Agency 10pm

New comedy from the BBC with impressionist Morgana Robinson who stars as the celeb clients of theatrical agent Vincent Mann. Morgana transform herself into a cavalcade of celebrities. Some of the famous clients (including Natalie Cassidy, Miranda Hart, Mel & Sue, Joanna Lumley, Adele and Gregg Wallace to name but a few) are all played by Morgana.

Tuesday Sky Cinema Premiere – Some Kind of Hate 10pm

Relentless bullying has turned Lincoln's life into a nightmare. But he soon learns the true meaning of terror when he is sent to a remote school for troubled teens and the harassments starts all over again. Only this time, someone is watching - a teenage girl named Moira who was driven to suicide by vicious bullying years ago. When Lincoln accidentally summons Moira from the grave, he unleashes a vengeful and unstoppable force on a mission of blood-soaked revenge.

Wednesday Channel 5 – Can’t Pay? We’ll take it Away 9pm

Does anyone like bailiffs? Maybe their parents, maybe … In is episode two enforcement officers (bailiffs) head to North Wales to collect a £5000 debt. However, a group of friends try to take them on. Another pair face a hostile reception as they chase a debt in Manchester.

Thursday Nat Geo – Wicked Tuna: North v South 9pm

a reality television series about commercial tuna fishermen based around the Outer Banks who fish for the lucrative Atlantic bluefin tuna off the coast of North Carolina. No nets just rods. The teams of fisherman battle each other to see who can catch the most fish, while trying to earn their livelihood.

High seas and storms make for a lively show with the battle to be top boat.

Friday BBC 1 – The Graham Norton Show

He is back the king of the UK chat shows and his return is long overdue. Popular with the A lister and for his first show nothing changes. There will be a robust line-up for his opening show of the new series. Singer/actor Justin Timberlake along with Anna Kendrick, both of whom star in the upcoming release of the animation film Trolls. Also on the sofa is Daniel Radcliffe with music from Robbie Williams.

Our Tune - BBC 1 Radio - A Memory

If you are of age here is a trip down memory lane that could have you reaching for a hankie if you remember Simon Bates and ‘Our Tune’. I must say I had a tear or two myself sometimes with the accompanying music tugging at your heart before a word is spoken.

I don’t think there were many people who did not listen to it most everyone tuned into BBC Radio 1 back then be it in the office, factory, or at home. At precisely 11 am, the theme tune would start and then the soft voice of Simon Bates would read out a viewer’s letter. The normal was some disastrous relationship or a partner would leave but the ones that really got me involved the loss of kids, painful stuff.

However, it was not always doom and gloom some had happy ending as for say a couple falling out of love but realising actually they were in love and always were for a happy conclusion. There was often a song our tune that belonged to the couple, lovers or friends and meant something to the relationship. In was only a 10-minute segment in Simon Bates show but it was by far the most popular part and if I was near a radio I would switch it on just to listen to ‘Our Tune’.

When Simon Bates resigned from BBC Radio, he took ‘Our Tune’ with him only to revive it at other radio stations with it also appearing on TV. It was shown firstly on BBC1’s Good Morning with Anne and Nick and later on Sky One. However, it was never as popular as when it begun in those days back in the 80’s and 90’s were special times.

That Hurt - The Clarks Pasties that wasn't

The newbies

Sometimes someone close to you can hurt you. It feels like a knife plunged into your heart that pain is so great. It happen to me this morning and the assassin was my father.

Let me explain how this all panned out.

Like every Tuesday morning dad came a calling to collect some prepared meals I had for him. He handed me his bag, which I put at the side of my chair asking him what was in there with no reply. We sit there chatting when he told be to look in the bag announcing that the Clarks Pie shop was selling my favourite Clarks pasties.

I thought the originals had been discontinued so I was excited.

The Originals

Joyous I was over the ruddy moon as I jumped out of my chair for the kitchen feeling as if I had just found the golden ticket for Willy Wonka pie factory. I fumbled through the bag and was disappointed they were not my favourite pasties in fact they looked nothing like them so what was dad thinking about.

I could have been annoyed but how could I be annoyed at dad.

Looking on the bright side, I have two pasties, which I wasn’t expecting to have this morning. Ok they were not the ‘ones’ but still I will enjoy eating them I thought to myself.

Mayflower Curry Sauce - Curry Heaven - It’s a sexual kind of thing

I was tidying the freezer earlier and I was pleased to see we had a few of my favourite curry sauce in stock. One of the greatest discoveries I ever found lurking in a shop freezer.

I am talking about Mayflower Curry Sauce the frozen variety (see picture). Besides the frozen version it comes in other ways but I love the frozen offering just pop it in a pan of boil water, so ruddy easy.

I came across it in a local shop many years ago and once tasted I was reeled in hook line and sinker and every time I walked passed the shop I would go and pick a few up. You can mix in any meat, fish, or veg to make a lovely curry or just pour it on some chips, it’s a sexual kind of thing. I sometimes just mix it up with some rice, just rice.

Therefore, you can imagine I was gutted when the shop had a makeover becoming a local member of some national chain and dumped my curry out of the freezer for an inferior product. Every corner shop I walked into I would check out their freezer for my curry heaven with just no luck. I felt lost living with this sub-standard product as the years rolled by.

During that time, we had moved and even my substitute curry sauce disappeared out of the freezer. Then one morning I got talking to Mr Petal owner of my local corner shop and we were talking about what new product lines he could give a go in the shop. I threw a few ideas out there then I reminisced about that curry, explaining the name and every little detail I could remember and he said he would look out for some.

Then like any morning, I nip around the shop for the morning papers not thinking this normal morning would turn into some really special, momentous, historic, earth-shattering occasion… drum roll please.

On paying for the papers, Mr Petal told me to look in the freezer and there they were I could have cry the years of pain just melted away the packaging looked a tad different but the deep colour of the curry was a dead giveaway. I scooped up five packets at a cost of (49p) each today’s price (59p) and a bargain. That night it was a plate of curry sauce and chips and I couldn’t wait for my first taste it would be the icing of the cake. It was spot on, the taste was everything I remember, and just how I recall it.

Road to Wembley - Level of true Football - Next Third Round Qualifying

It really gets my back up listening to managers, players, and pundits moaning about needing a rest up with a winter break. Take Manchester United so far this season they have played seven games, some players may have had an international game during the recent international break and I am not counting the pre-season jolly jetting around the world.

My point with this at the weekend the FA Cup was back with qualifying - Second Round under way. The team I am following on the long road to Wembley at this point is the Handsworth Paramore FC until they are beaten anyway have played 13 games. They may have started earlier but they have been playing nearly every Saturday and Tuesday since their season kick off on 6 August. Cup and league games.

Teams at the bottom end of the football pyramid play a hell of a lot of football while having to hold down jobs. Players at this level even pay for the privilege of playing football. Factor in a couple of training sessions it hard graft. While the pussies in the Premier League are, crying for a break and missing Christmas with the family because they have to travel or train.

Rant over.

How did Handsworth Paramore FC do on Saturday … well they only got their name in the hat for the next round after a 2-0 win over Burscough FC, As winners they will receive £4,500 from The FA prize fund. In the next round, they face an away trip to Lincoln United.

Third Round Qualifying - Lincoln United v Handsworth Paramore FC

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

First Round Qualifying – Squires Gate FC 2-5 Handsworth Parramore FC

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

Extra Preliminary Round - Maltby Main FC 2-3 Squires Gate FC

Nostalgic for Saturday Night TV - September 1972

TV last night was crap so many channel so many repeats I ended up listening to the radio until I spied a film that looked interesting. That was until the opening scene and I realised I had seen it before not the start anyway I caught the ending a while back.

I miss the days of three channels being a viewer was much easier and it was a family night. I decided I check out the TV schedule for a Saturday night in September 1972. We tended to be a BBC family more than ITV and when I looked at the 1972 schedule, a big whiff of nostalgia hit me.

It felt like comfort food and I could see myself sitting in the living room, coal fire and our recently acquired Colour TV. With no heating upstairs, the living room and the TV were a magnate until bedtime.

This is a schedule for a typical Saturday night in September 1972 after Grandstand, in bold was the offering on the BBC last night.

5:05pm – Disney Carnival (Donald Duck)

• 5:15pm – News/Wales News

5:15pm – The Mary Tyler Moore Show

• 5:30pm– Toy Story 3 film

5:40pm – News
5:55pm – Bruce Forsyth and the Generation Game
6:45pm – Dixon of Dock Green

• 7:10pm - Pointless Celebrities

7:35pm – The Two Ronnies

• 8pm – The National Lottery: Five Star Family Reunion

8:20pm – Saturday Night Film Blindfold

• 8:50pm – Casualty
• 9:40pm Mrs Brown’s Boys

10:00pm – News

• 10:10 News

10:10pm – Match of the Day

• 10:30pm – Match of the Day

11-10pm - Parkinson

Looking at the two, I think I still prefer the 1972 schedule the earlier shows are defiantly more family orientated with a show like the Generation Game, which is selling fun. On the Saturday comedy front if you put the Two Ronnies up against Mrs Brown’s Boys there is only one winner, the Two Ronnies.

You never see cartoons on BBC1, no Tom and Jerry, nor Captain Pugwash I do rather miss them they were part of our daily TV intake.

Everything is on specialised channels in this multimedia world now. I love the Mary Tyler Moore Show an American import and so American but surprisingly very popular with the British viewer but truth be told I had a massive crush on her.

Dixon of Dock Green you would have to explain to your kids today. Policeman were cuddly and were walking the street and probably knew your mum and dad and there wasn’t a murder every show it was calmer TV. Match of the Day is still here and the big difference being more football back in the 1970s and less analysing and less cameras.

Bottom of the League - Hard Cheese - Its only September not May

This is awful and I don’t give a flying f**k. I don’t care if we played well, good football or we should have got something out of the game, WE LOST. We hit the post a few times … that’s not a goal. We are bottom of the league!!!! Ok its a long way until May but still we are today bottom of the Championship

Blame the ref! It was not a penalty. I don’t care the ref pointed to the spot end of the story. Conspiracy theories will abound but in the end he was English and we no English refs hate us. Players must learn to stop manhandling players in the penalty box the excuse it happens all the time doesn’t matter if the ref blows up for a penalty. Simple answer keep your hands down use your body.

No matter how shit the club is now, they are my team and always will be but that doesn’t mean I can’t have an opinion. I am married to the club and we have well over 40 years together the day I became a Bluebird, is tattooed (not really) on my heart.

What did have Head Coach Trollope have to say after the game? (Sourced from Wales online website)

“The results are nowhere near acceptable, that's my responsibility, I know that. It's my responsibility to shape it and mould it and get the best out of people. I'm totally aware of that, but I also believe in how we work, that this will turn.

“I thought we were in pretty good control, we needed one of the chances to go in and they didn't.

"Probably the refereeing decision changed the game, which was frustrating for us because there was a lot going on at set-pieces at both ends, there was a warning before, listen I'm not saying it wasn't a penalty but if he's giving it then he could be giving a few at either end.

“That changed the game and meant we had to chase it in a different manner, we left ourselves open a wee bit. We had to be very, very brave and put a lot of players at the top of the pitch, the lad's pulled it out of nowhere to make it 2-0.

“If our player stepped over the mark today then it's a penalty, but if you analyse really carefully at both ends of the pitch, I've seen our players having shirts pulled off their back that went unpunished.

"If they're going to start giving these, they're going to have to give a lot each game.”

He when on to say: “We're always looking at ways to improve, a lot of our approach play especially in the first 60 minutes was good, we got ourselves into some good areas and when we arrived there then we're relying on that little bit of quality, that little bit of spark to produce that dribble or that through ball, but I thought we played in a nice balance.

"Really frustrating, there was real determination, hopefully everyone could see that. To put right Tuesday night's performance which wasn't anywhere near the level we expect, to come away with another defeat is hugely frustrating.

“You have to win football matches, there's always that need at any level. The fans were terrific, there was a really good atmosphere in the ground, I thought they appreciated the way we tried to approach the game. That was good.

“It's football, you have good spells, you have bad spells. We're hitting the post with good chances, we're not quite finding finishes, maybe lacking a bit of anticipation when things are coming across the box, we've got to keep working hard.

“I've received good support from the owner, chairman and CEO. They know what we're trying to build and create.

"Of course there's a need for short term results, we don't want to be in the league position we're in because it hurts.

"Patience is key, especially in the modern game, because everyone wants short-term results, I certainly do, it hurts me that we're not getting them.”

Something needs to be done today and I mean get someone new … A NEW MANAGER … I think I made myself clear, crystal clear. This bunch of players are not playing for the manager nor the fans so it is time to throw a stick of dynamite into the dressing room. Whom I don’t know but one name will be up there somewhere, Craig Bellamy but I don’t think Tan would be willing to save face so soon after hiring Paul Trollope.

This can be laid at the door of Tan who I believe picked out present manager Paul Trollope because he was cheap and had a toe in the door due to the association with former manager Russell Slade.

Tan we were told handpicked Trollope as a replacement for Slade, which proves a major point he as little knowledge of football. If Trollope is still in charge next Saturday he will get a chance to plan the defeat of fellow bottom feeders Rotherham only a few places above Cardiff. The following Tuesday Derby are the visitors the Cardiff City Stadium who are also scratching about at the wrong end of the league table, six points would be nice.

Must see TV - Week beginning 17/09/2016 - My Choice

My TV has been full of the Paralympics for the last week or so and I have been enjoy The Last Leg chat show. Taking a quick look at next week in the week there was much to be excited about and with Channel 4 pumping out a lot of new stuff and returning shows it will be busy.

Highlight of the week was news about Home and Away. Toadfish is to be reunited with his dead wife Dee, after 13 years when their car crashed into the sea and was never seen again until now.

Saturday Sky Sports 1 – Cardiff City v Leeds United 12noon

The only thing worth watching today for this armchair Cardiff City fan. I will explain why the armchair thingy one day it is still a bit personal but one day I will open up about it. We are having (sorry) an absolutely SHIT start to the season with just one win back in August with a 2-1 against fellow strugglers Blackburn Rovers who lost midweek to today’s visitors Leeds.

Will another defeat for City see a change in management from what I can see the fans a split 50/50 on the subject. It is a must win game as we need to be moving up the right end of the league table.

Sunday Vintage TV Ranking Roger: My Vintage 5pm

I have always been a Beat fan or if you are American (English) Beat, they knocked out some top tunes back in the day being part of the Two Tone explosion in the late seventies and early eighties. One of my favourite Beat track heavily features Ranking Roger - Ranking Full Stop

His choice of tunes will stretch from The Specials and The Clash, headline on the ultimate song list of the singer of seminal ska band The Beat.

Sky Cinema Premiere – Last Stop 10:05pm

After a train wreck, four passengers from different walks of life are trapped together and share their recent nightmares. Masked killers, Bigfoot, crazed lovers and a Satanic cult are just the beginning of the terror as this group quickly realizes that they may have experienced more than a dream and the true nightmare is about to begin.

Tuesday Channel4 - It Was Alright in the 1970s 10pm

Looking back to the 70’s. I am the 70’s I constantly relive the era in my mind from secondary school to manhood it was the melting pot that made me. This show like many in this gene looks back on TV of the time. Focusing on the comedies, documentaries, and public information that made people anxious.

Wednesday Channel4 – Grand Designs 9pm

How great is this a new mouth-watering series to make you jealous of someone else’s home? In this episode a couple bought half an acre of woodland in the middle of Dursley. They were told they’d never get planning permission but they did with strict building restrictions it seemed an impossible build but they got around it by building a tree house. Described as a floating home, high up in the trees that will astound us. Presenter Kevin McCloud will probably be suitably impressed.

Thursday Channel4 – George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces 8pm

More quirky stuff to get excited about with architect George Clarke. The show celebrates small builds from a shed to some eccentric amazing space. We have an eco-friendly tree house on this show complete with sauna, spiral staircase and even a slide. Another project is a pair of newlyweds plan to transform an old army truck into a mobile holiday home.

Friday Channel4 – Gogglebox 9pm

Ordinary folk talking about the last week on TV but are the ‘ordinary’ now more like mini celebrities but still I like the show. One change and a big one Caroline Aherne RIP, will not be on hand for the voiceover. Her voice will be missed. All the old favourites will be back hopefully and my favourites Leon and June.
I just hope they don’t plug X Factor every week.

Sole Survivor - Film Review

This story is loosely based on the discovery of the B-24 "Liberator" bomber the "Lady Be Good" that was found in the Libyan desert after the crew got lost on a bombing mission to Italy with eight of the nine crew found dead after trying to walk to safety.

First, I must say I have been looking for this made for TV movie years I couldn’t remember whom it stared in it or the name but while checking out Star Trek and William Shatner there with a picture of him and straight away, I knew it was a shot of the film, Sole Survivor (1970). I remember seeing it one afternoon in the mid-eighties and phoning my late mum in the evening and she was so excited about it she loved it but was upset with the films ending.

A bomber believed to have crashed in the ocean 17 years earlier is found in the Libyan Desert is the thrust of the film. The crew are just hanging around waiting for rescue but it is not that simple. When the wreck is discovered, a team from the USA are sent to survey the wreck and with them is the only crewmember to survive the crash. However, he stated that all the crew like him jumped over water so why is the plane in the desert 700miles from where he claimed it should have been.

When they arrive at the crash site, the crew line up, but it is soon apparent the crew are ghosts. One of the crew says "We are really dead", "it looks like" is friend replies. Their former crewmate is a general and it is soon obvious to the crew he is lying about the events of the night 17 years earlier. Think that is a big enough spoiler so no more. There are two links at the bottom of this blog, which will take you to the full film on YouTube, which is free.

Performances by all involved are great, and your sympathy for the doomed crewmembers grows with the film. Richard Basehart does an excellent job as the haunted crewmember whose lies enhanced his own status, but whose conscience has never been clear since the accident so many years ago.

William Shatner's character is a bit over the top, but Vince Edwards acts as a stabilizing presence, and whose respect for the history of the plane lends compassion to the fate of those who died in the wreckage. It is through his presence that much of the humanity in the film is made clear and kept constant.

Link Here

Lost Sitcoms: Steptoe and Son - TV Review

The final offering in the BBC’s Sitcom remakes season last night with Steptoe and Son. The BBC have tried in this celebration of the sitcom to show classic TV but not a patch on the originals. They have been a bit of a hit and miss with just about everyone, including me. I have to say of the four shown on BBC 4 the one that worked for me was ‘Hancock’s Half Hour’.

Watching it last night, I just couldn’t get the original out of my head being a major fan and I remembered the ‘A Winter’s Tale’, which originally ran in 1970 and watching it in black and white.

Harold wants to go on a skiing holiday in Austria on the slopes of Obergurgl, but he doesn't want Albert with him. A battle of wills begins with Albert trying to get an invite for the holiday and weasel himself onto the trip. He enjoys thwarting any attempts of Harold ambition to climb the social ladder and when Harold announces he can’t go all the tickets have gone, Albert is resign to staying home.

‘What’s wrong with Bognor!’ growls Albert, naturally furious he couldn’t go on the holiday. For those who know the past series it was a running theme Harold desperate to break away from is dad. He never does because anytime he puts any distance between the two he is always dragged back.

I was entertained which was important and Jeff Rawle (Albert) and Ed Coleman (Harold) did ok but it was difficult to live up to the comedy icons. Social media was more or less favourable for this remake with the script the same as the original.

There was one thing that got my back up big time was Harold’s chair and writing desk, yes I am nit picking now. Harold would always plonk himself down there while his dad would sit at the table has they would verbally spar with each other. It was like a spare piece of furniture in the remake.

Ealing Films - Five to Ponder Over

I see the Channel Gold are showing a tribute to the very British Ealing Comedies and of course, my memory was stirred about the films I like and would recommend. Worthy of viewing at any opportunity are the films below.

The Studios are linked with many a British classic film produced in the post-WWII years and during the war a mainstay of feel good propaganda films.It has been at the centre of the British film industry for more than a century.

The Proud Valley (1940)

The film stars the African-American actor Paul Robeson as a beached seaman who looking for work try’s his luck in the South Wales coalfield, main coal mining region of Wales.

After hearing his singing voice from outside the window while conducting his male voice choir in rehearsal, Mr. Parry (Edward Chapman) manages to convince David (Robeson) to sing in his choir and gets him a job at the mines where he also works. Despite being a black man, almost everyone accepts him and he is soon a valued member of the community.

The big scene comes just after his friend has been killed in a mining accident. At the local Eisteddfod Robeson gets up and sings "Deep River" which sends shivers down the spine and the tears come rolling down the cheeks. With the mine unworkable, the workers march to London to force the owners to reopen it. They agree and we have a self-sacrifice end to the movie where David (Robeson) knocks out the young miner and essentially commits suicide by setting off an explosion that clears an opening to the mine, while he predictably dies in the blast.

Off screen Robeson developed a long-standing affinity with the people of Welsh valleys which lasted throughout his lifetime, and this was the one film he made of which he was truly proud.

The Foreman Went to France (1942)

Clifford Evans plays an industrial foreman sent to France in 1940 to retrieve three "special-purpose machines" before the invading Germans can get their hands on them.

He journeys on to the town where the machines are and meets secretary Constance Cummings, an American who is destroying classified documents. She agrees to serve as his translator to get the machines to the coast. They enlist the aid of two British soldiers, Tommy Trinder (four stars for him alone as the comedy relief) and Gordon Jackson who have a British army lorry to transport the machines along the way they pick up six war orphans, and a nun.

They are strafed by German fighters, attacked by German dive-bombers, fight through German infantry, and shoot their way out of a German-held château. More sinister in a way are their encounters with fascists, collaborators, and fifth columnists.

Frieda (1947)

The film begins in the latter part of WWII with a British flier Robert played by (David Farrar) escapes from a German POW camp thanks to the help of a young German woman Frieda played by (Mai Zetterling). In gratitude for her help, he decides to take her from war-damaged Germany to his home to a small English town and asks her to marry him.

Surprisingly, she is not welcomed with open arms by the locals and the Farrar family are not welcoming either leading to tensions to the marriage. The arrival of her brother (a former German soldier) who she thought was killed in the war doesn’t help.

However, a trip to the local cinema shows Frieda & Robert the bitter truth about Belsen in the newsreels, which then have a sobering effect on their relationship. Her brother told her he served on the side of the allies in the Polish army but shows is true colours when he presses a pendant swastika into his sister's hand at her wedding rehearsal.

One memorable scene comes when a facially disfigured British army survivor who knows Richard from his short time in a concentration camp before being transferred to a proper P.O.W camp and is outed as a Nazi. This incident in a pub ignites a physical confrontation between Robert and Richard in which Frieda’s brother ends up dying. Frieda racked with guilt tries to kill herself in the local river but saved by Robert.

I hope the film gets an airing during Channel Gold’s are tribute to Ealing Studios by this is not a comedy. More than worth a watch if you can.

It Always Rains on Sunday (1947)

Ealing Studios are chiefly remembered for their string of classic comedies but they also put out several notable pictures in other genres. The plot to this film is a solid drama that captures the mood of post war London. Googie Withers plays an embittered housewife leading a drab life who married an older man for all the wrong reasons. Her world comes crashing down around her when a former lover turns up on the run after escaping from prison with the police on his tail.

He demands food and shelter until he can skip the country so she hides him in her bedroom. However, it proves extremely difficult to keep the presence of the escapee a secret in such a busy, bustling household – particularly with her former lover intent on seducing her. Her much older husband and her 'new' family, two rebellious stepdaughters and an adolescent son see to that. Each are having problems of their own and their constant comings-and-goings in the house during this particular Sunday (the film is set all in one day) makes it hard to get her guest out of the house.

It’s not helped by the police coming a calling it was causing intolerable pressure as the day progresses. A newspaper reporter interrupts them, as Tommy is about to flee, and soon tips off the police. With night, falling her secret is out and a panic-stricken Rose (Withers) tries to gas herself, while the prisoner is cornered and arrested. Rose is in hospital recovering, and reconciles with her husband, who then returns alone to their home.

The Divided Heart (1954)

This is a tearjerker! A touching and often very moving account of a 10-year-old boy who at the age of three was adopted during World War II by a German couple. No family can be traced, and it is presumed that his parents and siblings have been casualties of war. For the next 7 years, he was loved, given the name, Toni.

With his family he lived in a Bavarian Alpine village where Toni, an intelligent and sensitive lad, enjoy all things German goes to school, enjoys skiing, and could not be any happier with lots of friends. However, his world is turned upside down at his 10th birthday party when a man and a woman from the International Refugee Organization interrupt it.

Toni is in fact Ivan Slavko, a Yugoslav, and his mother Sonja is alive and wants her son back after surviving the war as a refugee having lost her husband and two other children in the war. She never gave up on Toni/Slavko. The moral dilemma of the film was not unfamiliar at the end of the war with so many displace adults and children. Should he remain with his adoptive parents or his natural mother who is a stranger to him it was left to the court a post-war U.S. Court of the Allied High Commission for Germany to determine justice, a justice that accompanied by injustice to either real or adoptive parents.

Road to the Welsh Cup Final - New Round New Team

It was Welsh Cup for the lower teams of Welsh football with the JD Welsh Cup Qualifying Round 2 on Saturday. My team for this round was Tiger Bay who were on the road to Sully.

Tiger Bay’s hopes of emulating their giant killing run of two years ago when they reached the third round proper were dashed when they lost 4-1 away at Sully Sports. Sully were now my team in today’s draw, which was live on Facebook at 11am. Well not quite on time but I don’t think the waiting hundreds minded much only for the live feed not to work for me, bugger.

I was now reliant on the fixtures being up loaded somewhere on the internet. The search begin. You would think the FA of Wales would have someone in the IT department on hand to update their website as the draw was made, it would make the organisation look professional. Truth is no one was rushing to update their websites. The website came good in the end.

It is the battle of the seasiders for the next round with Sully Sports home to Llantwit Major.

Of interest to me like always is the fate of the teams based in the capital in today’s draw, Bridgend Street, who have a home game against Goytre. They were the only Cardiff team to make it through the qualifiers. In the first round proper one new Cardiff teams enter the competition, Caerau Ely (A). Cardiff Met who now play in the Welsh Premier League will join in the third round.

The Football League Paper - Fantastic Read - Adam Le Fondre

Todays Front Page

I wrote a few weeks ago about my decision to make changes to my Sunday newspaper habit. As I wrote, I mainly buy my papers to read about football but have grown sick of reading of the Premiership, which occupies pages and pages of the papers.

The big change is I now take The Football League Paper (£1.50) along with the Non-League (£1.50) where my interests are these days not the cash cow of the Premier League. I like watching football and earlier this morning I was watching Match of the Day but reading about the ins and outs of the Premier League it bores me.

So last weekend I made the change but with no Championship football due to international call-ups I decided to review the paper this week.

First, thing I noticed no front page with Jose Mourinho looking despondent after the Manchester derby. A plus point straight away and on page three fittingly for a Cardiff City fan a former striker Adam Le Fondre was interviewed announcing he held no malice for a miserable two-years at my club, ‘the biggest regret of his life’. He also pointed out although manager Paul Trollope expressed his admiration for him he was sent to train with the under-21s.

Good match reports from the three leagues and plenty of news from the three divisions. Chris Dunlavy gives his take on issues around the leagues and Steve Evans reports he is eager to return to the dugout and what about the Premier League you may ask … See picture. Yes, that is the full content of the Premier League in the paper, heaven. The last few pages are exclusive to woman’s football again an interesting read.

Something I noticed during my read was that fans of Cheltenham Town through an open letter have been asked for their views on the Football League plans to re-structure the league into four divisions of 20. I think it would be a great idea personally.

It is a great read for anyone interested in league football and I tell you go to your newsagents and buy it or order it for next Sunday.