Does anyone buy a Calendar - I might buy Cycling 2018

It’s that time of the year novelty calendars with enough minor celebrities knocking them out I wonder why. I was reminded over the last few day with a flurry of ‘Dolly Birds’ photograph barely clothed selling their where’s and I not talking about the calendars

Honestly I have no idea why or who buys one these days I can’t remember the last time we bought a calendar it must be back in the early eighties and even our local Chinese takeaway have stopped giving a free one away. I haven’t seen one hanging on a wall for years ours as a kid was on the back of the door and no racy content landscapes were popular.

The calendar silly season has begun, with 2018 editions going on sale in time for Christmas. Someone must buying them however, in the digital age are they needed. Many feature pop stars, football teams, celebrities, and then reality stars. I use the word ‘stars’ lightly. Others feature household pets in a variety of heart-tugging poses. Anyone can go online and use the internet to build their own calendar free or for a fee and you can even sell them and a popular option is CafePress.

Since the ladies of Rylstone Women's Institute posed naked to raise money for leukaemia research - a venture immortalised in the 2003 film Calendar Girls - the charity sector has witnessed an explosion of similar nude collaborations. Sport clubs seem to dominate to market if you can get twelve female jam markers together a calendar is a possibility. If I were to invest in a calendar, it would have to be a novelty one. I once bought a book call “Dugout”, a book about football dugouts in the lower football leagues that shows my novelty credentials.

There are some strange and wonderful calendars out there like ‘Nuns Having Fun’ and ‘Grumpy Cat’ just about anything will sale on a calendar I am seriously considering putting one out for 2019 called ‘Down the Bog Pan’ I think it could be a seller.

The reason for this blog is a favourite theme of mine a girly nudity calendar there is no need to break a habit of a lifetime. Today it’s the ladies of Hitchin Ladies Rugby Club. Yes, I know I hate rugby as a sport but its fit players who are female in rugby poses. The all-women squad have stripped off for charity to raise money for the club after their funding was slashed and to promote female players in the sport.

The majority these days seem to be of the glamor-modelling types with the likes of the beautiful Rhian Sugden and Kelly Brooke always are some of the big winners in the sales market along with boybands but the daddy for many years now has been the granddad of pop Cliff Richards.

Must see TV - Week beginning 30/09/2017 - My Choice

From my TV choices for this week I think ‘The Deuce’ on Sky Atlantic was the standout show of the week and the fighting Kelly’s on ‘Gold Divers’ another highlight and it looks like they will end up more or less without much gold.

Next week it’s a giving kind of week on TV lots of new stuff to enjoy and I am looking forward to Channel 4 new series Escape. The whole idea interests me a group of people have to build something to get them out of a sticky situation like the middle of a desert and Z Nation’s new series.

Saturday – BBC 2 – Hinterland – 9pm ***New series***

Hinterland is back for its fourth series based in and around Aberystwyth, Wales and filmed in English and Welsh.

On the run from his London past, DCI Tom Mathias, a brilliant but troubled man, isolates himself on the outskirts of a town filled with secrets as dark and destructive as his own. Partnered with the intelligent and complex DI Mared Rhys, they form an engaging relationship as they embark on solving cases that involve the ultimate anti-social crime, murder.

Tonight Mathias and DI Rhys look into the killing of a local minister, which leads to a remote community in the mountains.

Sunday – Channel 4 – Escape 9pm ***New series***

A group of five engineers are stranded in the desert with the wreckage from a simulated plane crash. They must use it to build a new vehicle to return to civilisation in. The team consists of an aerobatic pilot, a traditional craftsman, an aerospace engineer and two mechanical engineers. They must complete their task without access to a workshop and using improvised tools - while food and water are in short supply. Survival expert and former Special Forces soldier Ant Middleton is on hand to oversee the project.

Sunday – Discovery Channel – Alaska: The Last Frontier 9pm ***New series***

I love shows from Alaska gold mining or living off grid but there are a lot of them you would think Alaska was just one big TV studio.

Alaska: The Last Frontier centres on the Kilcher family and their community outside Homer, Alaska. Begun by patriarch Yule Kilcher who emigrated from Europe during WWII, and currently led by his sons, Otto and Atz Kilcher the family have lived on their land for four generations. The show also features the homesteaders who live nearby and interact with the Kilchers.

Monday – Sky Atlantic – Curb Your Enthusiasm 10pm ***New series***

Back after six years by popular demand, Curb Your Enthusiasm staring 'Seinfeld' co-creator Larry David hit the screens. He plays himself in an unsparing but tongue-in-cheek depiction of his life. Shot in a verity style and featuring celebrities playing themselves, the episodes are improvised by the actors from an outline created by David. The series also stars Cheryl Hines as David's wife Cheryl, Jeff Garlin as David's manager Jeff, and Susie Essman as Jeff's wife Susie.

This season, as "single Larry" continues to navigate the LA dating scene, a faulty alibi ends up landing him in New York City for an extended stay - where he proves that faux pas and character assassinations can occur just as easily in the Big Apple as in Hollywood.

Tuesday – BBC1 – Escape to the Country 3pm ***New series***

After doing repeats, after repeats until the film tape is wiped clean it nice to see some new episodes. Families considering relocating to the country are taken to different locations by the show's presenters as they decide where's best for them. Each Family chooses which area in the UK they want to look for a property in the country. A mystery house is also included.

Tuesday – Syfy Channel - Dimension 404 9pm ***New series***

A science fiction anthology that explores the wonders of our digital age. From outrageous horror comedy to mind-bending action adventure, each episode tells a weird and wild sci-fi tale where the twist ending is just the beginning.

The series kicks off with the ‘Matchmaker’ A story about a finicky music blogger finally meets the girl of his dreams through the cutting-edge online dating site Make-A-Match, but their chemistry seems too good to be true.

Tuesday – Pick TV – Z Nation 9pm ***New series***

This is regarded as the poor mans ‘Walking Dead’ which l like. A ragtag team attempt to transport the only known survivor of a zombie virus across post-apocalyptic America to a lab that's waiting for his blood. But what they don't know is that their last, best hope for a vaccine is hiding a dark secret that threatens them all.

We have gone beyond that as we are into series four driven in this episode by Warren's dream of a Black Rainbow, Warren, and Murphy must make their way back to the mainland.

Wednesday – History Channel – Woodsmen 10pm ***New series***

Hidden in the thick forests of the Pacific Northwest, a select group of men have sought out the ultimate freedom–a life in the treetops far removed from the trappings of modernism. They live in primitive structures built with their own bare hands.

For these men, living in the trees is the American dream. It’s life on their terms, free from the encumbrances of the city and traditional 9-5 work. They each have their own reasons for dedicating themselves to the trees, but this life doesn’t come easy.

Amidst the rugged landscape that is the Pacific Northwest, surviving off the land is only possible with a diehard commitment and highly developed survival skills. Meat is hard to find, vegetation is frozen and supplies are low. Using age-old skills and innate ingenuity, these woodsmen carve out the lives they’ve chosen amid a harsh, unforgiving landscape.

Thursday – Channel 5 – The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door 9pm ***New series***

Channel 5 throws up an old favourite with another selection of residential feuds, featuring Barnsley pensioners Barry and Phyllis Roddis's dispute with a neighbour who was scrapping cars in his driveway, which led to him waging a nine-year campaign of intimidation against them. Plus, in Streatham, south London, Richard and Philomena Chadwick have been battling for five years to evict squatters whose bongo-playing parties and rooftop sunbathing have invaded the privacy of their once secluded garden.

Friday – Channel 5 – The Gadget Show 7pm ***New series***

The Gadget Show is a television series, which focuses on consumer technology and Craig Charles, Ortis Deley, Jon Bentley and Georgie Barrat currently present the show.

The Gadget Show competition is featured on the program every week with the chance to win well over 100 gadgets and tech. Most of which are featured, tested and reviewed in the show with a value up to a staggering £40,000. So you know you can get the best gadget for your needs and the latest and new technology out on the market.

Friday – BBC 1 – Porridge 9:30pm ***New series***

The one-off episode revival of the original series last year and titled Porridge as returned with a new series. Kevin Bishop is back playing Nigel Norman Fletcher, Norman Stanley Fletcher's grandson banged up in a category C prison for cybercrimes. We can expect a battle of wits between the young Fletcher and the head screw.

In this episode, the young Fletch has been helping fellow inmates with appeals and letters home, but it poses a problem when a girlfriend visits the prison.

The King of the UK Talk Show is back tonight

Friday night is great again, why! Because he is back, who! Graham ruddy Norton that’s who. I have missed him during his break/holiday the best talk show host in the country, maybe the world. He gets the best guests and leaves the reality stars to the others.

Norton always seems to get the best out of his guests and one of the best reveals was from the beautiful Kate Beckinsale who carries a pantomime horse around with her so she and a friend can slip into it for a canter. Also, she is a bit of a prankster and if you haven’t seen/heard, the chocolate, and the bum story click here, and I guarantee a giggle.

I watched Jonathan Ross Show last weekend and but for Mel Brooks the rest of them Lewis Hamilton, Russell Brand and singer Paloma Faith bored me to be honest. Ross used to have the Norton spot on the BBC and the guests but his fanfare move to ITV has been disappointing.

Even this week his guests will not get me switching over any time soon. I could find better things to watch like the paint-drying channel. On his show tomorrow we have Demi Lovato, who! I had to google her as for the rest Martin Clunes, Holly Willoughby and if she turns up in a tight PVC dress give me a call and James Arthur yes I am laughing I can see Ross packing it in soon.

Tonight’s sofa on Graham Norton will be busting with A-listers as he welcomes Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling who discuss the forthcoming sequel Blade Runner 2049. I am so looking forward to seeing this film when it is release it will have a lot to live up to the original Blade Runner. Also on the show, the beautiful actress Margot Robbie promotes her new film Goodbye Christopher Robin and Reese Witherspoon talking about her new romantic comedy Home Again.

Still Graham as not stop giving with the beautiful girls of Bananarama performing one of their hits Cruel Summer and I am salivating with anticipation.

Tonight line-up

Death of a the ultimate Playboy

Cover number 1

Woke up this morning to hear the Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, that pipe-smoking and silk pyjamas hedonist who revved up the sexual revolution in the 1950s died peacefully from natural causes.

His Playboy magazine played a major part in my sexual awakening as a young teenager back in the seventies and was more helpful then my parents or the meagre sex education I received in school. The magazine are famed for its in-depth articles! Really, I was more interested in the pictures particularly the centre fold myself.

Growing up the ultimate 60s 70s, picture for me was the glamor Playboy bunny girl. Those pictures from the inside of the London club looked so luscious but a dream beyond me at the time. I would have to lay back and dream of a bunny girl.

You have to agree the guy lived the ultimate life any man would want to live. Surrounded by a bevy of beauties and having up to seven girlfriends living in all at once in his party mansion, one every day. His parties were legendry full of A-lister and many bikini clad wannabe young girls having fun.

A dream Bunny Girl

He had many fingers in many pies did Hugh but he will be mostly remembered for his magazine which I was an underage customer of for a good few years. As the magazine took off in the mid-fifties it was attacked from the right because of the nudity and from the left by feminists who said it reduced women to sex objects.

The pages of Playboy and the cover have been graced by many top celebrities actresses and others. Drew Barrymore was one and some others were Farrah Fawcett, Pamela Anderson and well-known writers also contributed to the magazine.

One of the enduring legacies will be the iconic mascot, a stylized silhouette of a rabbit wearing a tuxedo bow tie the official logo of Playboy. Choosing the rabbit Hefner said for its "humorous sexual connotation", and because the image was "frisky and playful".

I blogged a few years ago about Playboy ceasing publishing images of naked women, citing the proliferation of online nudity, but they were restored earlier this year.

The School Disco How I Remember It

I was watching ‘To Sir With Love’ again today and it got me thinking of the good old school disco in the 70s I say that with a bit of a smile on my face. It was all we had when I was in school but it came and when just as quick as it started because we a British. I say British because we overall are reserved not ones for being flash.

I can picture it in my mind surrounded by mates laughing, giggling, pointing, and messing about.

I am reminded of the lunchtime dance in my old secondary school Mostyn, which took place in the school hall a bit of a stupid place to hold it was too big. It was nothing elaborate a record player and a pile of 45s with a couple of ‘Prefects’ with the duty selecting the music. No refreshments there was no need we just eaten.

I went to a catholic school so there was always a teacher or two hovering around just in case there was a chance of the whole think turning into Sodom and Gomorrah. It was always the same. The girls up for some dancing either together or in a group while the boys would lean against the wall and sit about watching. Crossing No Man’s Land to the girls was a terrifying prospect occasionally there was someone with the front to go over and dance with the girls and you always hated/envied those confident, jammy bastards.

No smoochy dancing strictly banned. I was not sure what the punishment would be but it could involve the Spanish Inquisition or a trip to confession.

Soon a few more would pluck up the courage to hit the dance floor then a mate would go over the top lured in by the dancing sirens. There was always one or two girls all the boys were interested in easily spotted she’s the one surrounded by boys. All the other girls would look on enviously and by time, I decided to make my move it would be time to go back to class.

Truthful I would rather nip out of school and go down the chippy than be a wallflower at the disco.

When we left school, there was no prom like there are today after the whole idea was transported from America. We just drifted away but thinking back, I would have liked a prom.

The Deuce - TV Review

As a growing teenager sex was always, there at the back of your mind and porn was restricted to magazines unlike today were its freely available everywhere. I was 15 years old before I saw moving pictures of porn and that was a revelation I remember not knowing what to do with myself nobody did so we just laughed and pointed. That was before videos’ at a mate’s house on a Super 8mm film projector while on the mitch from school.

Just watched the pilot for the new Sky Atlantic show ‘The Deuce’ and have to say looking forward to seeing more. I enjoyed the whole atmosphere of the '70s glitz; I have said it before I love the seventies. ‘The Deuce’ is a mix of the grim & seedy atmosphere surrounding Times Square, New York in the early-mid'70s.

From the 1960s to the early 1990s, Times Square was full of go-go bars, sex shops, peep shows, and adult theatres and crime was high in the process becoming an infamous symbol of the city's decline. It was still popular with tourist many not knowing what the area had become but City of New York decided to clean it up making it more tourist-friendly with family attractions and upscale establishments were opened.

James Franco plays identical twins Vincent and Frankie Martino. Vincent manages a bar on 42nd Street and strives to live as decent and ethical a life as possible, yet still strays into drug use and infidelity — although not as frequently as his wife, who leaves their two young children with a babysitter every night so she can hit the bars.

Frankie, on the other hand, is a scuzzball: an inveterate gambler with the moral compass of a jackal, who’s run up debts all over town, leaving his brother compromised by association and his business plans imperilled.

Maggie Gyllenhaal is Candy, an independent-minded prostitute who operates as a sole trader and doesn’t have a pimp leeching off her. She’s not quite the stereotypical hooker with a heart of gold; it’s not made of granite either.

In a grimly funny scene, she agrees to accept as payment a $50 personal cheque from the 18-year-old John she’s just serviced. It was a birthday present from his granny, he explains.

But underneath the curly blonde wig, the barely-there tops, the tiny miniskirts and the knee-high boots, “Candy” is really Eileen, who uses her earnings to take care of her young son, who lives with her mother in a nice suburb far away from the sleazy neon glare of Times Square.

The music is accurate but I struggled a little to stay interested for the first 15-20 minutes, but the stories simmer morphed into a slow boil as the relationship between the pimps & prostitutes, Candy (Gyllenhaal), the main James Franco character, and several of the working girls increasingly intrigued me.

I don't care for the college girl story so far at all, and there may be a few too many 'side' stories, which can be frustrating, at least for now. Certainly, the ending left me frustrated at not being able to watch more!

Cardiff City Stadium Will be Buzzing for the Visit of Leeds United

Big night at the Cardiff City Stadium later with a top of the table clash against visitors Leeds United who share the top spot with both teams on 20 points along with Wolves.

The game is live on Sky Sports, Leeds have sold out their allocation for the game, and Cardiff are expecting a bumper crowd. With a reported 25,000 tickets sold by yesterday, can the record attendance 28,680 back in 2016 be broken.

There is history between the clubs supporters and it is not love. Dirty Leeds I remember them from back in my youth in the 1970’s and they were my first real introduction to violence at football. During a game at Ninian Park, a scuffle broke out between fans behind me and I was punched in the back of my head. It could have been anyone but I like to think it was a Leeds fan.

Early team news is Cardiff defender Sol Bamba could be set to return against his former side and winger Junior Hoilett is likely to start. Bluebird’s fullback Lee Peltier another former Leeds player should be fit despite a knock. Both teams had good wins at the weekend and the winner of the game will go clear at the top of the League Table at least until Wolves play Wednesday night.

Both teams have had a good start to the season winning six, drawing two with one defeat but both Leeds and Wolves have league position because of goal difference. On current form over the last five games Leeds have won four of the five while the Welshman have only won two after hitting a slump over the last five games.

Cardiff boss Neil Warnock will fancy getting one over on his old side and since he left as Leeds boss he has won all three league meetings against his former side. Both teams crave the three points to continuing their dominance at the right end of the League table with just a weekend fixture before another international break.

Upcoming game that matter

• Tomorrow

Sheff Utd v Wolves

• Saturday

Burton v Wolves

Cardiff v Derby

• Sunday

Sheff Wed v Leeds

Two Weeks Into My Diet

I was interviewed by me this morning to see how my diet was going two weeks in and the interviewer was adamant I must be honest and true with my answers. I thought to myself so the interviewer knows strength is what you need and maybe a goal. But this time I will see where I go from here having set no goal. No planned weigh-ins if my trousers fall to the ground I lost weight.

Interviewer Peter: You have been on lots of diets but they rarely last for a few weeks the best lasted just over three months.

Pete: I easily succumbed to bouts of depression and in that mode; I eat even knowing it’s wrong. So I could walk past a shop and buy a pie and hate myself eating it or go around the shop for the papers and come out with a couple of bags of crisps and a chocolate bar and feel the same. It is easy to eat when I am depressed with so much on my mind food becomes something to fill a void.

Interviewer Peter: You say you have not set a weight goal why.

Pete: I always in the past set a weight goal. I write it down in my diary but soon forget about it so this time I will see how it goes. I am not sure of my weight now I have an idea but I don’t care which could be part of my problem that I don’t care.

Interviewer Peter: Will your diet work this time.

Pete: I hope so as I would like to live longer. The media tells us fatties will die soon and how many fat old people do you see wandering about the streets.

Interviewer Peter: So over the last two weeks have you been a naughty boy.

Pete: I know brown bread is better but I have been mixing it with some white. A lean bacon butty just doesn’t taste the same unless its wrapped in white bread. I have down sized my meals and cut way back on the sandwiches. I had a small bar of chocolate and a very expensive small sausage roll and that is about it in the last two weeks.

Interviewer Peter: What are you eating have you made drastic changes.

Pete: No as I said smaller portions also we has a family are looking to throw processed foods were we can into the bin. Many maybe convenient but sourcing fresh ingredients and cooking from scratch is better even if it takes a bit longer.

Interviewer Peter: What about exercising.

Pete: On the cards but no gym, my plan is for some serious walking soon as my knee is fixed.

Interviewer Peter: Knowing you has well as I do what about Saturday mornings.

Pete: Ok I will tell. I have declared Saturday special day and I have a treat and that is two small Burton’s pasties its good to have a treat it is something to look forward to.

Sunday Lust - Jamie Lee Curtis - True Lies

I was talking about my blog the other day with my friend Gillian and mentioned I was going to blog a series of posts on my lust for certain actresses in film. When I mentioned Jamie Lee Curtis, she was aghast I named her even after giving my reasons and she was still not impressed.

She (Curtis) was known as one of the best ‘Scream Queens’ in film. Her film career started in the Horror gene, she was soon showing off her impressive set of lungs making various appearances in horror movies like Prom Night, and Halloween as well as showing off her fine figure.

Still Jamie Lee in my book is smoking hot and there were so many scenes I could pick from other films. However, there is only one the strip in “True Lies”. The jist of the film a meek housewife believes she is married to a salesman who actually is some James Bond type working for the CIA. His wife was being pursued by a pretend spy who was looking to seduce her but her husband finds out and scares the wannabe spy, kidnaps his wife and gives her a mission where she is required to pose as a lady of the night.

She turns up for this hotel meeting with a dress she feels not suitable for this meeting so makes some drastic alteration in the hotel corridor turning it into a sexy little black dress adding lipstick and showing off her ample cleavage. In the bedroom not knowing, it is her husband skulking in the shadows she starts to strip. Soon down to a very nice underwear two-piece bra and thong set (see photos) but myself being greedy she was missing a suspender/grater belt for you Americans and stockings. That would have just gave the scene that little bit extra.

She puts a lot into her performance which is eye catching has she gyrates around the bed making me hot under the collar. She knows how to move and I watched it wondering if this were a regular scene at home. For sure if I was her husband, I would demand a replete performance in our bedroom.

First Date With The Wife

32 Years next month

I watched “First Dates” last night and my thoughts drifted back to my first date with my wife that wasn’t actually a first date but that will unfold before you. It was a strange one as for a while I had been developing a major crush on my future wife who was a friend. We did a lot of socialising and a lot of drinking among our group of friends.

When I first met her, she was standing in front of me pint glass in hand, a comment was past, and my reply was not for me and left it like that. We became good mates and I began to warm to her has time passed I began to feel drawn to her with more than friendly feelings.

There was a problem, a big problem, she was dating a mate, and that made her off grounds, totally. I had other irons in the fire that I was hoping would mature but the one I wanted was never going to happen because we were lost to one another. So it looked like my on off girlfriend would continue with our ‘friend with benefits’ relationship.

So I knew this particular night she was meeting a friend for drinks while I was sitting at home wondering if it was worth going out on a cold January night. My peaceful night was then interrupted with a knock on the door. It was Glenys (the wife) coming a calling after her friend failed to turn up and I had no idea why she was at my door? I asked her if she remembered why this morning but for not feeling like going home, she couldn’t recall.

After a bit of a chat we decided to head for the pub The Great Western in town our normal drinking hole in the hope some of our friends were partaking of a drink or two. No, it was just us two so we sat about talking. I vaguely remember we talked about everything going on in our lives and the subject of my girlfriend was brought up and I explained about our strange relationship and why it was not love. I explained the word love was too important to mess about with and telling someone you loved him or her was a life commitment.

I have always thought the same about the word love since I was a young lad that it was too big of a word to throw around willy-nilly. I have only ever used it once and that was with the woman I married.

Anyway, she asked me if I liked her, which rather shocked me, but by now, it was as if cupid’s arrow, which had begun melting away, got a boost of life again. However, mindful she was dating a mate I replied all angst,

“Look you are dating someone, and yes I like you! If you were single who knows”.

A bit of awkward silence and we were soon heading toward the bus station.

As I made my way home, I wondered if I could have just blown a friendship for being a bit too honest. The next day we agreed to keep the previous night to ourselves. By the end of the week, she had broken off her relationship and quietly we started dating. It was a bit awkward to say the least keeping our flourishing relationship to ourselves and after a month or so broke our news to our friends.

Funny thing was my mum who had met Glenys before we started going out said she knew we were destined to be a couple. Mums always know.

Must see TV - Week beginning 23/09/2017 - My Choice

It was a fair week of TV viewing this week. I am really looking forward to October it will be going up a step and to top it all we have the return of “The Walking Dead”. My TV package doesn’t include AMC, which is exclusive to BT TV, and “Fear the Walking Dead” is back on the channel but with iffy internet streaming sites under pressure I will be unlike I will be watching any time soon.

Next week I hope you have time to support the “Invictus Games” coverage on the BBC from Toronto Canada. Where we will see wounded, injured, and sick Servicemen and women using the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation, and generate a wider understanding and respect.

Saturday – BBC1 – Strictly Come Dancing 6:25pm **New Series**

Yes, I am a fan and I don’t care who knows. I feel it is proper Saturday night entertainment for all the family. After seeing, the famous faces paired off with their professional dance partners two weeks ago, the show kicks-off tonight after some training.

No Bruce Forsyth and a new judge after Len Goodman stepped down from his role as head judge and replaced by new coming Shirley Ballas taking over the role. Regular panellists Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood, and Darcey Bussell will join her. I think it’s fair that there will be no farewell for a competitor this week but points gained will carry over to next week.

Sunday – Channel 4 – Escape to the Chateau 7pm **New Series**

Dick Strawbridge a former Lieutenant Colonel in the British Army who bought a French Chateau in the need of some major repair. So along with his family they cross the channel and headed for France.

For £280,000 they swap their two-bedroom flat in Southend they get 45 rooms, two turrets, six chimneys, 12 acres, a walled garden, an orangery and a moat. There’s no electricity, plumbing, or heating, it’s January and they’ve got two young children.

After two and a half years of renovation work on the chateau, there are still 20 rooms in a state of disrepair before he has completed the project.

Monday - MTV – Fear Factor 9pm **New Series**

MTV is giving viewers the chance to conquer their fears head on with a refreshing new look of the series "Fear Factor”. Ludacris will host the new instalment, custom-created for a generation that is increasingly empowered, while also more anxious than ever. Filled with new stunts inspired by urban legends, popular scary movies, and viral videos from today’s cultural zeitgeist. “Fear Factor” contestants will confront their fears, be pushed beyond their comfort zones, and take action against some of their biggest stressors.

Monday – Quest – Heavy Rescue 10pm **New Series**

The world’s busiest highway, the 401, is not a place for the fainthearted – but the unique challenges and difficult working conditions are all in a day’s work for heavy rescue vehicles on this unpredictable stretch of road.

The series follows multiple major tow operators, rescue and maintenance crews day and night, as they battle to keep traffic flowing along the USA’s most important trade route. These businesses work tirelessly to keep the roads open through any weather condition.

From monster, snowstorms creating kilometres of mayhem to overturned trucks, their efforts prevent the 401 from grinding to a crippling halt through the worst of the winter driving season. It’s about men and women facing incredible stakes in a fast-paced, relentless environment.

Jobs and lives depend on these highways - and it’s up to the heavy rescue teams to keep them open.

Tuesday – Sky Atlantic – The Deuce 10pm **New Series**

The Deuce chronicles the rise of the porn industry that began in New York City in 1971-72, driven by the gradual legalization of porn and a politically motivated effort to “clean up” Times Square.

Seizing the chance to cash in on the nascent porn business (and sometimes being consumed by it) are a vivid assortment of characters, including Vincent Martino (James Franco), a bartender with a vision and connections.

Frankie Martino (Franco again), Vincent’s identical twin, and dangerously freewheeling counterpart to his entrepreneurial brother; Candy (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a self-made, on-the-street sex worker eying a new career in porn filmmaking.

Wednesday – Comedy Central – Chris Ramsey’s Stand-Up Central 10pm **New Series**

Comedian Chris Ramsey is taking over from Russell Howard who as move over to Sky and will host the new eight-part series of Stand-Up Central. The shows was filmed in June 2017 at the Electric Ballroom, Camden featuring the same format of the previous shows. Each episode will involve the host welcoming two guests on stage to perform in front of a live audience.

Chris Ramsey himself says, "I'm over the moon to be given the role as host of Stand up Central. I do a lot of things on TV but stand-up is, and always will be, my main passion, so the chance to get to do more of it on TV and also bring other great comedians to the attention of the public is one I could not have missed."

Thursday – Sky Atlantic – Room 104 10:35pm **New Series**

The series is set in a single room of an American hotel, exploring characters who pass through it in each episode. Each episode is a different genre with some episodes more comical in nature and some more dramatic and some with horror and crime themes.

In this opener to this new series Mag (Melonie Diaz) gets more than she bargains for when she babysits young Ralph (Ethan Kent) who at first seems sweet and mild-mannered, but who turns out to have a temper.

Friday – BBC1 – The Graham Norton Show 10:35pm **New Series**

Friday night is great again, why! Because he is back, who! Graham ruddy Norton that’s who. I have missed him during his break/holiday the best talk show host in the country, maybe the world. He gets the best guests and leaves the reality stars to the others.

Tonight the sofa will be busting with A-listers as Graham welcomes Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling who discuss the forthcoming sequel Blade Runner 2049. Also on the show, the beautiful actress Margot Robbie promotes her new film Goodbye Christopher Robin and Reese Witherspoon talking about her new romantic comedy Home Again.

Still Graham as not stop giving with the beautiful girls of Bananarama performing one of their hits Cruel Summer.

Loading the Jukebox 10 - It's Getting Harder All the Time - The Mindbenders

This is a lovely little ditty from back in the sixties and from one of my favourite films, ‘To Sir, With Love’ and after some research I found out The Mindbenders had an America number one not with this song.

The beat pop band, groovy baby, and I can see the International Man of Mystery Austin Powers bopping to this tune were popular in America.

They were part of the sixties British invasion of the American music scene but had limited success chart wise in the States but a bit more over this side of the pond.

Following the departure of frontman Wayne Fontana, the Mindbenders got off to one of the most promising starts any band could enjoy, when their debut single "A Groovy Kind of Love" soared to number two in the U.K. and topped the chart in America.

Faltering after the success of "A Groovy Kind of Love" the group was invited to contribute two songs to the soundtrack of Sidney Poitier's movie To Sir, With Love. The band performed “It’s Getting Harder All the Time” in the end of film scene in the school gymnasium at a dance. Due to some errors with the release of the single "Off and Running"/ “It’s Getting Harder All the Time” it barely registered in the charts on both sides of the Atlantic pond.

Unusual Sandwich Fillings

I was watching TV and there was a discussion about racism surrounding the Paddy Power betting slogan “Always bet on Black” that received a number of complaints, nine actually and was pulled. Taking offence has become a national sport.

Watching some America news over the internet this morning there was a segment about crafts store Hobby Lobby in trouble over a shops display with a woman is calling “racist”. What was it about? Raw cotton on what looked like twigs and it’s racist because of the connotation to slaves’ and cotton picking. The person who made the complaint posted it on Facebook and in the process gained little support for her statement.

(Picture: The New Cake and Sandwich Shop)

All this lead me to what really got by back up this morning. In the Metro paper, they have come up with one of those crazy food stories I enjoy reading about. In Manchester at the New Cake and Sandwich Shop, they came up with some interesting sandwich fillings you may like or not but one at least caught my eye.

First having opened up on racism maybe it was too strong when I am really writing about regionalism. The article in the Metro this morning suggesting at Northerners should rejoice because chip butties, pies, and, of course, gravy is Northern food favourites. Wait a minute Metro they are favourite foods all over the UK not just in Northern England. I have been eating chip butties here in Cardiff, down south since I progressed on to solids as a baby. The same with pies and as for gravy my mum made the best in the world.

The owners of the said shop have come up with a ‘Sandwich of the Week’ initiative to come up with different and maybe unusual sandwich fillings. The one that caught my eye was the ‘Pie Face’ and interested me not because I would ever eat it the picture made me laugh. A soft bap layered of chips, before adding a homemade steak pie and topping it with mushy peas, (see picture) it doesn’t look appetizing.

(Picture: The New Cake and Sandwich Shop)

Cost just £3 – including optional gravy.

The ‘Pie Face’ may not get me all hot under the collar but one of their Pie of the Weeks interested me more and that was ‘Captain Cods Eye’ with a filling of a layer of chips with baked beans on top and fish fingers finishing the creation. Not really, a new idea I have made a sandwich with the same ingredients myself the only difference was I used white sliced bread.I could write a book on unusual sandwich fillings.

Dear Elza - Film Review

While the wife was getting her two-hour soap opera feast, I retreated to the internet and YouTube in search for something more cultural to watch. I was interested in finding a film tonight something Second World War would suit me fine and after a few minutes bingo, Dear Elza.

It was subtitled but I didn’t care it was something new and the subject matter was interesting, Germans v Russia through the eyes of a Hungarian soldier.

It’s the end of 1942, eastern front, Ukraine. Private Lombos, tied to his family and his homeland by a strong loyalty, is serving in the Royal Hungarian Army. Due to an administrational error, he cannot go back home on leave. Despite his sorrow, he does his duty and takes up arms again to march further into the hell of the eastern front.

During an attack, he is wounded and he's forced to spend a night behind enemy lines hiding out in a pit, where he meets an old man. They talk through the night, and the old man's words tremble his unbroken faith in his family and his country. As the dawn approaches, soviet shtrafbat soldiers find them and Private Lombos falls into captivity, then soon he's forced to join the "mine tramplers", a penal battalion whose soldiers clear minefields by stepping on them.

Lombos has a hard time fitting into this new scenery, but the old man, who goes about the enemy's lines like a shadow visits him frequently and tries to keep him alive with his advices no matter what. During his journey, he meets friends who betray him and enemies who help him out. In the end, he starts believing the words of the old man; the effort of military morality and the ancient instinct of survival cannot coexist.

FA Cup Second Qualifying Round - Road to Wembley

No sooner, as First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup as gone, it’s the Second Qualifying Round on the road to Wembley and for this round Chipstead are my team who travelled to AFC Sudbury.

Who are Chipstead? Where is Chipstead? Well the where was soon sorted with the help of google it is a village in Surrey. Has for who they are they play in the South Division, Bostik League level 8 of the English football pyramid. They play at High Road the ground currently has a capacity of 2,000, of which 150 is seated and 200 covered and their record attendance is: 1,170.

The game at AFC Sudbury was a one-sided game but it was not the visitors in control but the home team who run out winners with a 3-0 victory. Sudbury caretaker boss Danny Laws was happy with the win after the decision to sack manager Jamie Godbold and his assistant Andy Reynolds in the week.

It just goes to show that even at the lower end of football the pressure on managers to win is just as intense has the top managers in the Premier League but we never hear of them.

So, the draw for Qualifying Round Three earlier through up a visit to Cornwall for AFC Sudbury to play Truro City a team that fascinates me because of their location. Following Cardiff City, I must have visited every county in England but I have never being to Cornwall for football.

The only Welsh team in this round Merthyr Town had a tough trip to Havant & Waterlooville and despite a battling display, the Welshman lost 2-1 so ends the Welsh participation in the FA Cup until Wrexham of the National League enter the draw.

Route to date

• Second Qualifying Round AFC Sudbury 3-0 Chipstead Att - 169
• First Qualifying Round (Reply) Chipstead 4-0 Littlehampton Town Att 129
• First Qualifying Round Littlehampton Town 2-2 Chipstead Att 229
• Preliminary Round – Littlehampton Town 3-2 Eastbourne Att 177
• Extra Preliminary Round - Little Common 1-3 Eastbourne Att - Played at The Oval, Eastbourne

Sunday Lust – Joy Harmon – Car Wash scene in Cool Hand Luke

This is a one-lust wonder, just like a one off hit in the singles chart that maybe reaches the top ten and you never hear of the artists again. Well it is the same with the film scene I only remember her for this piece of work and it was something else to watch.

If I mention the film ‘Cool Hand Luke’ you may just have an idea what I have on my mind, the memorable egg-eating contest, no the car wash scene! I felt the heat caused by Joy Harmon. It must go down has the hottest car wash scene with clothes on.

I don’t really care what others may say, agree or not but this is quite possibly one of the hottest car wash scenes in the history of film. It starts with a hot blonde country girl coming out and putting her radio on loud to get the prisoners attention. But the prisoners had already sniffed her out leading me to believe it could be a regular occurrence.

She then takes a firm yet gentle grasp on a long stiff water hose, and soaps up more than the car before leading into her pressing her wet, soapy ample boobs against the glass of the car and culminates with her taking a long cool drink from the hose.

One of the prisoners Koko comments: “God she don't know what she's doing”.

But Luke hits back: “Oh boy, she knows exactly what she's doing. She's driving us crazy and loving every minute of it.”

But what pushes an extra button was the fact she was deliberately sending temperatures into over load for the prison chain gang toiling by the roadside. The George Kennedy character Dragline, the prisons top dog, named the mysterious girl saying, anything so innocent and built like that just must be named Lucille. She is no innocent that’s for sure.

“Hey, Lord... whatever I done, don't strike me blind for another couple of minutes.” Cries Dragline.

No complaints. But it’s hard to complain about anything in Cool Hand Luke. Before I saw the scene on TV, I saw it in a Playboy or another adult magazine in a series of still pictures, not the same I can tell you. An interesting point of the car wash scene it was planned to be shot in half a day, Harmon's scene took three. For the part of the scene featuring the chain gang, Rosenberg (Director) substituted a teenage cheerleader, who wore an overcoat.