Duran Duran on BBC 4

BBC 4 had an evening with Duran Duran last night showing the career to date. The BBC had exclusive access to the band, two newly filmed documentaries bring incredible insights, display previously unseen archive footage and rare demo tapes, and reveal the thoughts and inspirations of the band across the decades.

In the eighties Duran Duran where the band to hate if you thought yourself cool and your tastes led to the sounds of reggae, ska, and two tone, a more credible taste. All the New Romantic crap filled the newspapers, musical press and the TV because the style of dress and boys in make-up. Some punk boys wore make-up but you would never get their sexuality wrong. With it turned into new wave the dressing up started to calm down. They were a tribe without a natural enemy just a lot of hate towards the make-up waring males of the species. I have to say as a male without make up that the girls of the tribe were hot, hotter, then punk girls.

My first encounter with the tribe was when the said band played the Casablanca Club not far from my home I remember cycling past their fans queuing for the gig and a strange lot they looked. I recall getting the sexuality of the singer Marilyn wrong and may have said I fancied him in a carefully plan trap my friends led me to.

Duran Duran turned into one of the UK’s greatest and most enduring pop bands of all time. In the space of four years, five lads with one dream became the biggest band in the world and fulfilled their dream. They went from playing at the Rum Runner, a small new-wave nightclub in Birmingham, to filling Japan’s Budokan stadium and arenas around the world.

This extraordinary success came at a price, fame is never easy, in 1985, the band imploded, the tolls of excess took over and creative differences caused them to fracture. At one, point the band when down to two original members and after many years the five originals re-formed, today only four remain.

I just couldn’t get over the image but a few years later I remember watching MTV, listening to an acoustic version of - Save a Prayer – it was beautiful, and I thought I shouldn’t dish the band on an image. I not saying I was a fan but some of their music was strong. Then there was the videos filled with some of the most beautiful woman in the world.

I checked my YouTube stats to see which Duran Duran song I have played the most. It was really no surprise to me, Ordinary World closely followed by The Chauffeur, and Girl Panic the latter two will be of no surprise. If you miss anything, get over to the iPlayer and watch it.

Ordinary World

The Chauffeur

Girl Panic

Must see TV - Week beginning Sat 30 June 2018

Last week TV was dead… On the up side, there was a lot of football as the World Cup and Tennis in a smaller way took control of the TV. This upcoming week we have more football and Wimbledon starts Monday on the BBC the schedule will be packed with sports the complaints will be flooding in to the BBC.

I know this post is about TV shows but I would like to announce Movies 24 are having an early Christmas in July I will be a customer as I love a Christmas film any time of the year.

Saturday – Channel 4 - The Big Narstie Show 12am ***New Series***

The Grime MC and co-host Mo the Comedian present a late-night, alternative entertainment show, joined by guests Ed Sheeran, OT Fagbenle, Sherrie Silver, Keith Lemon, and Krept and Konan to discuss the week's news, TV and trends. The presenter also goes on the road to hang out with some unlikely people and inject some Big Narstie flavour into their lives, while Mo brings his razor-sharp wit and high-energy comedy to proceedings as all formalities go out of the window. 

A bit late for me midnight, so catch-up for me.

Sunday – BBC 2 - The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan 9pm ***New Series***

The comedian visits countries that are rarely visited by tourists to get a sense of the local culture and find out if they deserve their reputation as he wanders a bit off the beaten track. His first destination is Haiti, a country mostly famous for a dictatorship and a series of natural disasters. Accompanied by journalist Jeremy Dupain, he visits the iron market, attends voodoo ceremonies, and explores a cathedral destroyed by an earthquake.

Monday – Quest - Aussie Gold Hunters 9pm ***New Series***

In the desert looking for gold with no water for a washout but instead, you have a dustout to find the goal from their diggings. Water is too precious in the desert! Most find the precious metal with metal detectors while some like The Dirt Dogs bring in the machines.

The Dirt Dogs are determined to get the gold-tally up after last year's season. Meanwhile, the Scrappers are stuck building their machine. I am a frustrated gold miner who would just like to find gold.

Tuesday – Shades of Blue – Sky Living 9pm ***New Series***

Jennifer Lopez and Ray Liotta return for the third and final series of the crime drama. As Brooklyn cops Harlee Santos and Matt Wozniak continue to deal with the trauma of their near-death experience, they encounter a grisly crime scene that launches a new mystery. I was late to this series mid-way through season two so had to play catch up and glad I did.

Tuesday – Netflix – Good Girls ***New Series***

When sisters Beth and Annie and their best friend Ruby become fed up with playing by the rules and not getting the respect they deserve, they decide to take control of their lives – by holding up a grocery store.

But their new life of crime soon drags them in over their heads who would have thought crime brought trouble.

Wednesday – History Channel – Track Night 9pm ***New Series***

Truck enthusiasts (which I am not) show their mettle as their driving ability, grit and innovation are tested. It's old versus new as five decades of trucks pull up to the line, including a 1947 Dodge Power Wagon and a 1978 Jeep CJ7. I enjoy the garage stuff the fixing and up grading of there vehicles.

They launch a surprise in the Slingshot, and medics are called in when the Green Hell claims another victim.

Thursday – W – John Bishop: In Conversation with 10pm ***New Series***

Stephen Manderson, aka rapper Professor Green has become as acclaimed for his BBC3 documentaries (Suicide and Me, Hidden and Homeless) as for his musical career. 

The pair bond over their shared experience of becoming rich and famous after a rough, working-class childhood. (“Someone who gets it!” Green cries, delightedly.) He discusses that childhood (“I was scared of the world”), his stabbing aged 26, his 2016 divorce after his unlikely marriage to socialite Millie Mackintosh, and his father’s suicide in 2008. As he often does, Bishop gets at the revealing truths other chat shows don’t reach.

Friday – BBC 4 – Smashing Hits! The 80s Pop Map of Britain & Ireland ***New Series***

Midge Ure, lead singer of Ultravox and one of the men behind Band Aid, and Kim Appleby, who had a string of hits with her sister Mel in the Stock, Aitken & Waterman-produced band Mel and Kim, revisit the 1980s to determine why certain cities produced their own diverse tunes. In the first episode, they explore London's New Romantic movement, travel to Coventry to investigate the rise of Ska and speak to some of Sheffield's electronic music pioneers.

Cardiff City open their cheque book undisclosed

More news on Cardiff City with manager Neil Warnock fourth new signing from over the Bristol Channel is time. Bristol City striker Bobby Reid as signed for an undisclosed fee reported in the press as £10million. I cannot understand why clubs just can’t say what the transfer fee is. Anyway, he has signed a 4-year contract and must have sent out a worrying feeling to other strikers in Warnock squad.

The 25 year old scored 19 League goals last season for the Robins.

Speaking to Cardiff's official website, he said: "I'm delighted to be here and to be a Premier League player.
"I want to show my high energy and work rate, as well as being creative and working for the team. I'm buzzing to get started."
Bristol City fans are not happy with the sale to us, it hasn’t gone down well, and that gives me a smile. Don’t cry for us Bristol City because we are truly the bigger club.

It’s been busy at Cardiff with an earlier signing when Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Alex Smithies joined Warnock’s revolution for this season campaign in the Premiership. Again, the fee was reported undisclosed while reports suggest £4million with add-ons.

While Warnock’s number one Neil Etheridge had an outstanding campaign when Cardiff clinched promotion to the Premier League last season, Smithies will bring “healthy competition” to the position. With Etheridge’s native Philippines in the Asia Cup in January and could be away for up to 5 weeks if the Philippines reach the final a good back up was always going to be needed.

Also, welcome by the club and the fans Junior Hoilett commits his future to Cardiff for another three years after signing a new contract. The Canadian international winger was one of the stars of last season’s promotion push and Cardiff with determined for him to re-sign.

Cardiff manager Neil Warnock said: “Junior had a fantastic season for us last year and I think his new contract is just rewards for that.
“I think he’s looking forward to the challenge next season and I’m sure he’ll play a major role in helping us try to stay in the Premier League.”

Now everyone is waiting on midfielder Aron Gunnarsson re-signing soon as possible now is World Cup adventure is over he needs to sort out is future with him being out of contract in a few days. Back in March manager Warnock claims Aron Gunnarsson would be "daft" to leave if they win promotion so fingers cross on a new future for the Icelandic star in Cardiff.

Other new washing around the transfer rumour mill about Cardiff is Warnock is reportedly keen on taking midfielder Marko Grujic on loan again, after a successful spell last season. There have been have reports of a number of teams interested in his signature on loan or cash. Another name floating around is Rangers star midfielder Josh Windass could be a target after reports Cardiff have triggered the release clause of the Rangers star and on the two we will have to wait and see.

Wales needs its own Red Top newspapers

This morning while ploughing through pages and pages of excitement about the English football team I am beginning to think Wales needs a morning newspaper. I know we have the “Western Mail” but have you read it recently – boring comes to mind and the other papers like my local effort “The Echo” is just as bad. Although both papers mentioned are morning papers I leave them in the newspaper rack more times than not.

We need our own red top paper along the lines of the Mirror, Sun or Star that are call national papers but are really English dominated.

The elite, people who somehow believe they are superior so read “The Times” or “Guardian” and regard red tops working class rubbish, tabloid media . Until The Times went subscription I would read it daily on line and still read the Guardian and others via the internet. Still I like reading physical papers, turning pages is still a turn on for me the same as books.

You would be surprised how many papers have Scottish additions of London based papers like the Scottish Sun for instants and others why not Wales. Is this country unworthy? I remember The Daily Mirror would put the Welsh dragon on their masthead on their Sunday edition but don’t get excited the only difference between the two was in the sports section and it no longer happens.

I think there is a place for a Welsh national red top newspaper in English, as I do not think a Welsh language addition would work for now. It would prioritise Welsh stories covering Wales with politics, news, general life, television, celebrity and of course sports. If we want to be a country we need a truly national paper to add a different slant of Wales then the Western Mail and the others.

I watched Love Island and feel dirty - TV Review

It had to happen eventually that I would find myself watching Love Island and last night I did for the first time. The closest, I had ever been to watching it before was the odd time I flick past the channel with my remote control looking for something better to watch. There is always something better to watch.

God help me I chose to watch a bumper episode and my heart sunk along with my intelligence, which took a holiday for the period of the show. I really have no real idea who they are but the headlines in the press and of course, pictures all over social media and press rather give me some idea about it without reading any of the crap.

Tonight’s big thing was Megan stole Wes from Laura in an explosive episode if you care I didn’t.

Wait the dramatic story sees the aforementioned Megan dumping Eyal and after a little chat between her and Wes, they get the ball rolling where by Laura promptly dumped him. Megan and Wes forever are you joking. 

His response after two weeks of telling Laura he was falling for her to tell her “That’s fine”. I would reckon is chances of winning the show just plummeted. As Laura departed the scene after a few words calling out his less-than-gentlemanly behaviour in front of the whole group - including a smirking Megan - watched on in shock.

She then lashed out at Megan.

"Nice one Meg, cheers for telling me," Laura said, "f**king sl*g."

"Did she just call me a sl*g?" reacted Megan.

"Yeah I did, you stupid b***h," added Laura.

Megan and Wes

I found out two of the shows inmates have done the deed! Sex we are lead to believe how nasty is that and would you believe who the couples were. Yes, Megan and Eyal were the first up for some x rated naughty and the other couple to have had a bit of the other are Wes and Laura. So next in the hideaway must be the newly coupled Megan and Wes for some under the sheet action.

There parents must be proud rushing out telling the neighbours my son/daughter had sex on TV I can see why actor Danny Dyer was worried letting his daughter into this madhouse. He made it clear if she was to have sex on the show he would be disappointed and she is listening to her Dad and good on her.

Looking at it, as a comedy couldn’t save this waste of space it’s just about celebrity. Whoever wins the show is awarded £50,000, which they can either steal for themselves or share with their partner. I can’t see that going smoothly based on my visit last night in the world of celebrity 50 grand is pocket money. The Sun newspaper reported the inmates would earn under £3 an hour but I am not sure if that is correct with bosses reported to be planning to take 10 percent of all future earnings for three years after the show has aired.

Megan and Laura having an after chat

Three years! Most will have a few months if they are lucky selling stories to the press before they have run out with the crap. Then it’s the case of the guys to seek out a girlfriend from the low grade fellow Z celebrities with the likes of Katie Price with a news presents. The girls hunt down the same hoping to hook up with a wallet.

The numpties in Love Island are looking to forge careers out of the show many of the aspiring reality stars cash in on their five minutes of fame before making cash out of promotional appearances. That as a short shelf life before the next load of wannabes enter the cattle parade.

It was what I was expecting utter rubbish full of pretty, pretty people hell bent on those five minutes of fame. However, I have said to myself never again but a part of me wants to know what is happening next the problem with trashy TV and why it’s so popular.

Zomie Stippers - Jenna Jameson

Do you like 'B' movies! I do especially zombie/vampire horror movies with plenty of gore, and you can throw a bit of titillation I don’t really mind. With a title such as “Zombie Strippers” (2008), you can expect over-the-top soft-core sex and head-exploding gore in all its glory. What more could you ask for well I could ask for more.

It is the near future, President George Bush has been just elected for the fourth time with his vice president Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the USA are that war against many nations, among them Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Venezuela, France, and Alaska.

All you need to know about the plot is that ex-hard-core porn star Jenn Jameson is a stripper who is infected by a government super virus that was supposed to make soldiers continue to be able to fight... even after they are dead. The bloody American Government are always messing about with viruses in these films.

Jenna Jameson (Kat) is attack by a soldier carrying the virus and as the infection takes hold, the customers of the club cannot get enough of her, which does not go unnoticed by the owner of the club Robert Englund (Ian). Kat whips the crowd into a frenzy so the place soon packs out with customers and the rest of the girls find themselves with a choice to make. Do they stay human and stay second best to the zombie stripper or do they conform to the latest 'fad' and become a zombie. Some do and the money comes rolling in but its death and blood they crave.

The film creates a dark and seedy atmosphere, which really benefits the tone of the film and makes for a great backdrop for the girls' strip dances! The leading lady is the lovely Miss Jenna Jameson. I cannot say I have ever seen anything else with her in it, joking and while she is not really my 'type', ha, ha, she certainly knows how to put on a performance - her introduction and first dance as a zombie are the highlights of the film. The other strippers turn on a good show dancing and with a professional show dancer in Jenna Jameson what would you expect?

What can I say I liked the film and would recommend it.

My Rating

Sunday Crush – Deborah Kerr

I am digging back, way back for my crush today she was a regular on my TV as her films were classed as safe. By safe, I mean nothing that would embarrass Mother. Besides being a great actress, she was elegant and easy on the eye.

There are so many films I could site as a favourite but I like so many here are a few. A very favourite one but there was Black Narcissus where she played Sister Clodagh a film Martin Scorsese has called one of the earliest erotic films, no sex it was all done by eyes and basic lust. In From Here to Eternity, she played an officers wife bored with a reputation of sleeping round and starts an affair with one of the base sergeants. The beach scene between them make the censors twitching.

If I had to pick one film to watch of hers now … I would say “The Innocents” (1961) where she played a governess for two children who becomes convinced that the house and grounds are haunted. At the time, I saw it in the mid-seventies the horror of the film slipped away but still, it still had its moments. She was from the era where I liked the dress style of the times adding her to my collection of actress of the period.

She was very mummies to the young me but I soon developed the attitude where she become more of a sexual like I would if I was old enough even if I did really know what to do with a full bodied woman. But I was getting there.

Spam Curry - Food and Drink

Last night I sat down to something I have been thinking about for a while and yes, you read it right yesterday’s nosh up was a Spam Curry made with the simplest of ingredients. I would call this a poor man’s curry.

Mayflower Frozen boil in the bag Chinese Curry

Uncle Ben’s microwave rice

Tin of Spam

Small onion

I did say simple, I started with the curry by popping the frozen curry sauce into a saucepan of boiling water, and it takes round 15minutes for it to be ready. I have to say the curry sauce is hard to find I know only one shop selling it and that is my local corner shop. Just before the curry was done, I popped the rice in the microwave for two minutes. I then chopped up the onion and some of the Spam into squares and it was all ready to put together.

I fried the onion and then chucked in the Spam after turning down the heat… I was just warming up the Spam before I poured the curry into the frying pan before mixing in the rice. It really did look fantastic in the pan with the smell getting me excited.

If I was concerned about the Spam as the main meat of the dish I shouldn’t have worried it was gorgeous who would have thought a joke curry would blow me away. I was soon wishing for more but it’s on my menu from now on and lucky for me I am the only Spam eater in the house.

Woman in football - World Cup

Vicki Sparks

This World Cup is refreshing on two points first the unpredictability of the games and the number of woman as pundits and another first a woman commentating on a game BUT sadly not always welcomed.

There have been some interesting results in the opening groups. Argentina surprisingly held by debutants Iceland and in their next game losing 3-0 to Croatia the biggest shock. At leaves them depending on others to progress into the last sixteen.

Vicki Sparks was the main commentator for the BBC on Portugal v Morocco and I thought she did a great job. I have to say when I came in and switched the game on it was a shock for all of a few seconds. I watched the game and didn’t feel the need to turn the sound off she interacted well with her male colleague covering the game I was happy to watch and listen. But social media in some cases were not supportive one being former player Leon Knight who posted on Twitter a number of uncalled for remarks 

The former England defender and Captain John Terry posted on "Having to watch this game with no volume”. This was during the Portugal vs Morocco game, and it didn't go unnoticed that Terry had decided to post during a game for which the lead commentator was a woman.

In an Instagram video, he said, "I just wanted to address an Instagram story that I posted earlier today that I have since deleted.

"I came home from holiday at the Maldives today around two o'clock, to find there's no audio in the house working whatsoever.

"Since then they've been able to fix it, so everything's working again now but I was watching the game with no volume".

True or false who knows I have my opinion.

Aluko and Evra 

While over on ITV’s coverage former Manchester United player Patrice Evra was called 'sexist' and 'patronising' for his reaction to Juventus forward and fellow pundit Eni Aluko clapping after she made a point, and even said 'she even knows more than us [the male pundits]' why would she not.

Woman are here in football to stay and who knows one day a woman will maybe break into management of a Football League club. The involvement of woman in football gets thumbs up from me. Woman are flocking to football their boyfriends or husbands are not dragging them along to games these days it could be the opposite. Not just single woman but families, it would be beneficial if clubs could remember that when it comes to pricing games.

It is not unusual to see groups of woman decked out in a team’s shirt heading to the game or sitting in the pub waiting for kick-off. If just before kick-off, you asked woman in the crowd to leave it would seriously deplete the crowd so the Neanderthals who believe it’s a man’s game please sit down.

Did you see the jubilant Iranian women fans cheering their World Cup team they are banned back in Iran from entering football stadiums. But are things about to change with female fans allowed to watch the game at a stadium in Tehran on a big screen. It was the first time in 37 years and hopefully continue after the World Cup.

She was a pornstar you know

Most woman fans and some men are taking issue with cameraman and directors seeking out pretty and beautiful model type female fans like Russian fan Natalya Nemchinov who can be tagged as “seen on TV” after the Russia v Saudi Arabia game. Now outed as a former porn star and you have to hope her husband and family knew about her past employment.

Even today we have (Peru’s number one fan) Nissu Cauti promising to whip her top off if Peru scores against Russia later today. I have no problem if woman fans want to dress/look sexy at games but I do they are used for titillation.

Totally the wrong image for modern day football. A footnote to woman in football looking forward to Wales woman playing England in August where the winners of the game will win a place at next summer's Women's World Cup finals in France.

Nissu Cauti known as the 'girlfriend' because of her love

of the Peruvian national football team

Streets Of Fire (1984) – Film Review

I love this film the whole concept of the film and its comic book style amuses me. It is directed by Walter Hill, whose fine directorial achievements include "Hard Times", "The Warriors", "Southern Comfort", "Crossroads", "Johnny Handsome" and "Extreme Prejudice" but this self-proclaimed "rock and roll fable" crashed at the box office.

We have a clear line between good and bad characters with Michael Pare playing a mercenary (Tom Cody) the good guy who comes to the aid of his sister (Deborah Van Valkenburgh) Reva, he agrees to rescue former flame Diane Lane (Ellen Aim) from the clutches of evil Willem Dafoe (Raven Shaddock) and his biker gang. Her manager/currant boyfriend Rick Moranis (Billy Fish) agrees to provide the cash for a rescue attempt. Amy Madigan a former Army mechanic (McCoy) tags along with Cody.

The ambiance of the various sets seriously smokes, creating the perfect backdrop for this engaging bit of pulp storytelling, the story definitely hearkening back to "The Warriors" as our unlikely group have to embark on a bit of a journey to get back to where they need to be. And, while the movie is not without its dramatic moments, it never pretends to be truly serious about what it's doing. It's all in fun.

Cody, Fish, and McCoy enter a rough area of this un-named city 'The Battery' where low-lifers hang out, and Raven has holed up with Ellen. Cody starts blasting away at bikers as they careen around the Battery while McCoy keeps several of them distracted long enough for Cody to snatch Ellen. Raven confronts Cody as Ellen and he are about to depart eilling him it not over.

"Looks like I finally ran into someone that likes to play as rough as I do”, Raven observes and then vows to come after Cody. "I'll be coming for her, and I'll be coming for you too."

Cody is terribly unimpressed with Raven's threat as they make their way out. Eventually, Raven and Cody square off in a daylight brawl wielding firefighter axes. Predictably, Cody defeats Raven. Ellen is pleased that Cody rescued her, but these two—no matter how much they loved each other before—cannot walk off hand-in-hand.

Cody explains, "Look, I know you're gonna be going places with your singing and stuff, but then I'm not the kind of guy to be carrying your guitars around for you. But if you ever need me for something, I'll be there." They walk away from each in a bittersweet finale.

Nevertheless, I love this film having seen it many times including on the big screen when it was released, and think the soundtrack is fabulous. The dialogue is very good, too. Nobody gives a bad performance. Michael Paré is ideal as the wandering soldier, and Diane Lane looks like a real heartbreaker. Amy Madigan is superb as the gun-toting mechanic. Of course, Willem Dafoe makes a terrific villain. "Streets of Fire” is great with loads of atmosphere and catchy dialogue.

My Rating

650 words - That Diet Part 3 the Return

Ok the diet is back on today. It is Tuesday not a Monday my normal jump off point for me to start a diet. Bought a £1 bar of chocolate yesterday as a final treat and along with chocolate and other sweeties, they are binned as of today. If I want a little treat, I would rather a pastie or sausage roll from Burton’s or Pettigrew Bakeries.

I plan to make a number of changes to my diet, eat little, but eat regular and with the best ingredients that will have a cost to the food we buy but if it adds years to my life that is a win win for me as I close in on 60 years old.

I am thinking about a gastric band seriously. I would have to prove I can lose weight and will have to come to terms being left looking like a bag of skin not a pretty outcome. Told to lose the weight as everyone bangs on about it but the outcome will leave me carrying folds of skin that is ok for some, it worries me. It is difficult to get help on the NHS to sort out the excess skin problem with so many barriers up against you as a friend of mine can testify. He hates himself more now than when he was a fatty.

Weight loss surgery, also called bariatric surgery, is used as a last resort to treat people who are dangerously obese (carrying an abnormally excessive amount of body fat) well I fit that description. This type of surgery according to the last conversation I had with my doctor was only available on the NHS to treat people with potentially life-threatening obesity that will not respond to non-surgical treatments, such as lifestyle changes. Again fits me down to the ground.

However, the decision to undergo weight-reducing surgery needs to be considered very carefully since it will have a life-long impact on the way you eat. Truly I would like to do it myself I would feel it a greater accomplishment. I have even taken the photo (never done that before) to show a then and after picture board to be published at a later date.

One of my main problems as always been… white bread, because I love toast and sandwiches so back to brown bread, yip… not really. Everything else it sorted really I just need to stick to the plan. Then you have scientists telling you white bread could curb diabetes (which I have) so should I stay white until other scientists tell me it gives me diabetes. I just wish they would make their mind up.

I better get to the doctors/nurse and get the ball rolling again, if and it’s a big if right now I was to consider a gastric band I would need to go along the official proving my ability to lose weight healthily before they throwing £5000+ at you for an operation. I would decline going along the route of joining weightwatchers or the like my mental health problems shut the door on that possibility.

I am going to have a diet where I cut out as much processed food as possible, fresh is best with lean meats and I plan to reduce the always untouchable Sunday dinner. Yes, I did say that because of all the diets over the years it as been sacrosanct.

Looking round the kitchen I had a slice of toast for breakfast and the possibility Beans on toast for lunch and after a search in the freezer I found some lean mince so Spaghetti Bolognese later. That should be a fair first day of my new diet launch.

This time I set a goal/target, which I will kept private for now because I don’t want to disappoint myself again. I have set a target weight loss to reach by Christmas.

JezFest a bit of a hit and a miss

When Jeremy Corbyn played Glastonbury last year and parted the crowd like Moses parted the Nile someone at the Labour party HQ shouted “he has returned” and pictured a mass crowd of Corbynistas gathering at Labour Live (JezFest) so a venue was found, date set and they will come. I smelt Momentum’s fingers all over this Jeremy love-in.

Yes, I am a socialist and no fan of Momentum and don’t like them. I have seen these love-ins before and they rarely do much to inspire people at the end of the day. Remember Red Wedge or Tony Blair having a love-in at Downing Street with celebrity supporters it just never works. It is not just Labour all-political parties are the same.

The party and unions laid out the cash but the event has been beset by difficulties from slow ticket sales to failure to secure headline acts. Where are all the headline acts who are not standing with their brothers and sisters? Not even Charlotte Church as thrown her ten-penneth worth in… I know she is no headliner but this gig would be right done her street low key. ‘Labour are for the many,’ said Eddie Izzard as he told a half-empty field.

Even the presents of the backing of the biggest trade union Unite could not help it needed last minute giveaways, transport by Unite and price reductions. With the gig in North London, an area notable for its Jewish community a late local walk-in was unlikely with the problems between them and the Labour party.

Can you feel sorry for all those lefty traders who paid for the pitch at the event with their t-shirts, mugs and other tack expecting selling out, but are left out of pocket? The festival was half-empty more or less for most of the day… but they insist it was still a success, which comes right from the bible of Donal Trump inauguration crowd.

After a slow start to the day they started to arrive mostly due to the price reductions maybe and not the rumour at Unite boss Len McCluskey put out press gangs to entice people to attend the Corbyn speech with a hundred virgins each for their presents were false, they trickled in.

Just days before the festival, an eBay seller was essentially asking to be paid to attend the event. The bidding price was £10.50 I just wonder if he made it, I forgot “What no left wing Lilly Allen”, and she has a new single to promote. I can see this slipping out of Jeremey’s planner for next year because why bother with such event when the converted are present. How many today were not already converted to the words of Jeremey most I would say.

Must see TV - Week beginning Sat 16 June 2018

I am looking forward to these eight TV shows with Channel 4 the channel of the week with the most new content for the upcoming week. The surprise of the week is the return of “The Swingers” it was every much unexpected and I am looking forward to seeing what happened after the end of the explosive first series. Back next Friday “The Last Leg” always good for a Friday night laugh with the mixed of comedy and politics.

18 June Sunday – BBC 4 – Julius Caesar 9.50pm ***New Series***

All-female production of Shakespeare's play about a conspiracy to assassinate the beloved leader intending to claim absolute power, and the subsequent conflict that divides a nation in two. I love off the wall productions like “King Lear” shown on the BBC network a few weeks ago, so hoping for another treat come Sunday.

Harriet Walter, Jackie Clune, and Jade Anouka head the cast of a performance with the story set in a women's prison.

18 June Sunday – Channel 4 - The Swingers 10.05pm ***New Series***

I enjoyed the first series and I had no idea there was a second until I seen it in the upcoming TV schedule. Not saw if there will be much of the swinger element in this series.

In the first episode of the second series of the Dutch drama exploring the dark side of a suburban neighbourhood. Steef is in jail following a confrontation at the end of the previous series, but does not plan to stay there. Once he escapes, he only has two things on his mind - taking back his son and getting revenge. In Dutch. And like the first series after this episode will become available online.

20 June Tuesday – BBC 2 – Conviction: Murder in Suburbia 9pm ***New Series***

Documentary following the investigation of an alleged miscarriage of justice, with registered charity Inside Justice re-examining the case of Glyn Razzell, who was convicted of murdering his wife Linda in 2003. Led by Louise Shorter, the team enlists criminal lawyers, ex-police officers, and forensics experts to see if there is any new evidence that could challenge the conviction.

20 June Tuesday – Channel 4 - A Year to fall in Love 10pm ***New Series***

With the explosion of dating apps, the way people find love has changed forever dumped before you have a chance to express yourself as you get swiped a side. In a world where image appears to be everything, 20 singletons across the UK have given themselves up to a year to find romance - filming every raw moment of their dating lives as they go. Cameras reveal which of them, if any find love.

20 June Tuesday – Sky One – The Late, Late Show UK Special 10pm ***New Series***

James Corden has come a long way since 2015, when he was first introduced to the US public as the host of this entertainment institution, telling his audience all about High Wycombe (his hometown) and nearly crying when he paid tribute to his parents.

Corden has already brought the show back to the UK’s capital before, with a rousing visit that came in the wake of last year’s London Bridge terror attack and celebrated Blighty’s bulldog spirit.

Tonight is the first of four shows from Central Hall Westminster and the guest list is more than decent – with Cher, Cate Blanchett and Orlando Bloom among the stars.

21 June Wednesday – BBC 2 - Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing 10pm ***New Series***

Cameras follow old friends Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer as they embark on an angling trip round the UK. The first stop is Norfolk, and while fishing for trench, Bob tries to impress Paul with his childhood fishing rod - and fails. They share nostalgia for their younger years and reveal how they recently came face to face with their own mortality due to heart disease.

21 June Wednesday – Channel 4 – Britain’s Refugee Children 10pm ***New Series***

At a time when the way the Home Office treats immigrants and asylum seekers is under fresh scrutiny, here’s a way to ground the debate. It’s straight-ahead reporting of the stories of refugees from Syria and Somalia hoping to start a new life in Wales. Eighteen-year-old Mariam describes her treatment by al-Shabaab in Somalia (she was threatened with execution after her hand brushed against a man’s in a marketplace) and nightmarish journey across the Mediterranean. She has since been waiting ten months to hear the result of her asylum application and we see the moment she learns her fate.

Meanwhile, siblings Abdul and Rawan adjust to life at school in Cardiff.

23 June – Friday – Channel 4 – The Last Leg 10pm ***New Series***

A live audience and big named guests from the worlds of comedy, entertainment, and politics join Adam Hills, Josh Widecombe, and Alex Brooker to help dissect the week's events and talking points. As ever, the hashtag £isitok paves the way for the gang to round up, examine and explain the leading and most entertaining stories via their acerbic wit, discussions and unique sketches.

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) - Film Review

Sometimes there can be a film you rate so highly it slips your mind and it’s hidden away until a moment in time and something triggers that memory. Well it happened to me yesterday while watching a film leading me to conduct a search of an actors other films and there it was.

The film in question was the 1946 film “The Best Years of Our Lives” and winner of 7 Academy Awards including best film if you like “It’s a Wonderful Life” this is a film for you.

The end of the Second World War three servicemen meet ready to ship home and hitch a ride on a bomber going to their home town Boone City the three are unknown to each other even though Boone City is small town America .

Fred Derry (Dana Andrews) is returning from Europe as a decorated captain and bombardier from the Eighth Air Force. Homer Parrish (Harold Russell), was a petty officer in the Seventh Fleet when he lost both hands from burns suffered when his fleet aircraft carrier was sunk, and now uses mechanical hook prostheses and Al Stephenson (Fredric March) served with the 25th Infantry as a platoon sergeant in the Pacific the oldest of the group.

This is an entirely character driven story that doesn't depend on sex and violence to carry the narrative. The chemistry between the three male leads are largely responsible for this. The women are also a revelation. Myrna Loy as March's wife Milly Stephenson hits all the right notes as the beleaguered wife, Teresa Wright shines as their bewildered daughter, unwillingly caught in a love triangle between Fred Derry and his wife, Marie, memorably portrayed by Virginia Mayo. Cathy O'Donnell is achingly poignant as Homer Parrish's girlfriend Wilma Cameron.

The three veterans have their own personal story. Fred Derry before leaving for the war, impulsively married a showgirl (Virginia Mayo) who turns out is only interested in money and having a good time. Homer and his long-time girlfriend Wilma had plans to marry, but fears she won't accept him with his physical disability, and Al Stephenson returns to his banker's job and a family who has grown up while he's been away. Fred falls for Al’s daughter leading to friction between the two friends.

The relationship between Homer and Wilma I find fascinating and with three main characters the film is just shy of three hours long and well worth your time.

The home coming for Homer was bitter sweet is young sister and family comes rushing out to greet him and his girlfriend Wilma who lives next door rushes to greet him and as she hugs him he just coldly looks in to space. Then the family begin one by one to notice his hooked hands. In another scene, he invites Wilma to his bedroom showing her how when he takes his hooks off he feels no better than a baby unable to do anything himself but she loves him.

The wedding scene between Homer and Wilma are the focuses of the entire room, when it comes to putting the ring on Wilma finger which he succeed in doing but as Homer and his girl are getting married, we can also see Fred and Al's daughter, Peggy, professing their love to each other. I would recommend this excellent film to anyone who loves movies.

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