Must see TV - Week beginning Sat 1 September 2018

THE autumn is here and you can tell the TV is awash with new programming thank god for catch-up and the iPlayer and such devices. So we have a full week of programming with ITV hoping for a strong showing for Vanity Fair on Sunday but it will be up against BBC’s Bodyguard.

Wanderlust is the BBC’s big release on Tuesday night and all you read about it is the sex content of the programme, which I suspect will be more hype than substance. And Gogglebox is back.

Saturday – ITV – The Jonathan Ross Show 9:15 (New Series)

The host welcomes another batch of celebrity guests to his famous green room, before subjecting them to an unrestrained bout of questioning. Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish talk about their new comedy film Night School, in which a group of troublemakers are forced to attend extra classes in the hope that they will pass the exam to finish high school. Plus, TV presenter Mel Giedroyc, stand-up comic Rob Beckett and Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista also drop by, and singer Jess Glynne performs in the studio.

Saturday – BBC4 – The Plague 9pm (New Series)

In the late 16th century, plague is decimating the crowded city of Seville, where many have arrived to embark for the New World to seek their fortune. Former soldier Mateo Nunez returns to find and extract his dead friend's son from the city, having fled Seville to escape the Inquisition. Spanish historical drama, starring Pablo Molinero.

Sunday – ITV – Vanity Fair 9pm (New Series)

Adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray's novel about an amoral woman who cunningly manipulates her way to the top of Georgian high society, while the Napoleonic wars rage around her. Costume drama are always popular. Starring Olivia Cooke and Claudia Jessie, with Michael Palin appearing as Thackeray himself.

Sunday – ITV – The Imitation Game 10:05pm (New Series)

Alexander Armstrong hosts the panel show, with Rory Bremner, Debra Stephenson and guests taking on challenges based around impersonating celebrity voices. Contestants must re-enact famous scenes from movies, provide alternative voiceovers to news footage, and put the most unlikely words in celebrities' mouths. The first episode sees the regulars joined by panellists Luke Kempner and Jess Robinson for a selection of show-stopping musical impressions and a disastrous attempt to date Christopher Biggins.

Monday – Channel 5 – Jeremy Vine 9:15am (New)

Out with the old in with the new has the Wright Stuff becomes the Jeremy Vine show So it will be a new future for the show as the broadcaster takes his place in the hot seat. A host of studio guests will be on hand to talk about the issues of the day. Storm Huntley will be on hand joining him for viewer phone-ins. I doubt there will be any change to the format but we will see

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Monday – BBC2 – Mother’s Day 9pm (New)

Following the 1993 Warrington bomb attack by the IRA in which their son Tim died, grieving couple Wendy and Colin Parry form an unlikely alliance with Dublin housewife Sue McHugh to try to bring about peace in Northern Ireland. Fact-based drama, starring Vicky McClure, Anna Maxwell Martin, and Daniel Mays.

Monday – Channel 5 – Undercover Girlfriends 10pm (New Series)

Five men think they are taking part in a reality TV show in Marbella are actually being watched by their partners, who are in control of the whole thing. It should be funny and lots of tears just a case of how long before the man start party with the talent on offer. Everywhere they go and their girlfriends, who use stealth, technology and a range of comical disguises to put their boyfriends to the test to answer some important questions about their relationships, control everything they do.

Tuesday – BBC1 – Wanderlust 9pm (New Series)

Therapist Joy Richards tries to maintain the spark with her husband Alan, following a cycling accident that has put their sex life on hold. Suddenly Joy and Alan find themselves drawn to new people, and both are tempted to make the ultimate indiscretion. With their marriage in crisis, Joy comes up with an audacious, unorthodox, but potentially brilliant proposal that will have huge ramifications for the future. Drama, starring Toni Collette and Steven Mackintosh.

Tuesday – Sky Witness – The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair 9pm (New Series)

The Truth About The Harry Quebert Affair takes place in coastal Maine and focuses on Marcus Goldman who is visiting Harry Quebert’s home to find a cure for his writer’s block as his publisher’s deadline looms. Marcus’ plans are suddenly upended when Harry is sensationally implicated in the cold-case murder of Nola Kellergan, a fifteen-year-old girl who has been missing for many years.

Wednesday – W – American Housewife 8pm (New Series)

Katie Otto, a confident, unapologetic wife and mother of three, raises her flawed family in the wealthy town of Westport, Connecticut, filled with "perfect" mommies and their "perfect" offspring.

Katie's perfectly imperfect world is upended when her neighbor's decision to move notches her up from her ideal social standing and sets her on a path to ensure that doesn't happen, regardless of the consequences.

Thursday – BBC1 – Press 9pm (New Series)

Drama following the goings-on at a left-leaning broadsheet newspaper and a thriving populist tabloid. At The Herald, deputy news editor Holly Evans is tasked with giving Wendy Bolt - a controversial right-wing commentator - a tour of the office, but she is itching to get back to a story she is following, the death of a young woman following a hit-and-run by a police car. Over at The Post, Oxford graduate Ed Washburn is tasked with speaking to the parents of a footballer who has committed suicide - only for things to get tricky when the couple withdraw the interview. Charlotte Riley, Priyanga Burford, and Paapa Essiedu star.

Thursday – BBC2 – The Mighty Redcar 9pm (New Series)

Documentary about the lives of people living in the North Yorkshire seaside resort Redcar. Mum and daughter Kat and Kaitlyn have had a tough time over the past few years but are now looking forward to the school prom. Nineteen-year-old James is the oldest of seven children, has no job and no GCSEs - and having been identified as a high-risk potential offender, he is receiving guidance to help keep him on the straight and narrow. Dylan dreams of being a professional musician to raise enough money to bring his younger brother out of foster care to live with him in Redcar.

Thursday – Discovery Channel - Alaskan Bush People 8pm (New Series)

Following the Browns, an Alaskan family of seven children who live off the grid and depend on each other to survive in the wilderness. The Wolfpack arrive on their new property in the most remote frontier of the lower 48. The Browns begin a barn build, the key to Billy's grand vision. As they attempt to start over, they reveal the relationships and values from decades in the wild.

Friday – Channel 4 – Gogglebox 9pm (New Series)

The fly-on-the-wall series turning the cameras on TV's most vocal armchair critics returns, as the show's regular gaggle of families, friends and viewing party acquaintances settle down to share their thoughts on what they have been watching during the week from the comfort of their own sofas. As usual, the programmes considered can range across any genre - comedy, drama, news, and sport, while personalities in the firing line often include politicians such as Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn, and President Donald Trump.

Friday – BBC2 – Mock the Week 10pm (New Series)

Topical comedy quiz show, hosted by Dara O Brian. Regular panellist Hugh Dennis looks back on another eventful week in news and politics, with the help of with the help of guests Angela Barnes, Ed Gamble, Rhys James, Nish Kumar, and Tiff Stevenson. Stand-up and improvisation are the name of the game as the contestants try to get one up on each other.

Bodyguard BBC1 - TV Review

I think the BBC have a hit on the hands with the “Bodyguard” starring Keeley Hawes and Richard Madden in this new political drama. I was intrigued with the opening episode it was heavily advertised by the BBC. It started with a highly tense opening sequence that set the tone for the rest of the episode for Richard Madden’s character protection officer David Budd. The outcome of the incident is a promotion to protection of a government minister.

He is a wounded war veteran with a broken marriage with two kids and problems he brought back from the war.

His new job is to protect home secretary Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes) and straightaway I thought there was more to this as Budd settles into the job. It also serves the purpose of establishing Budd’s principles front and centre has we see him checking the home secretary via the internet with him interested in her full support of the war and sending British troops.

This shrewd Home Secretary seems to have her eyes on the Prime Minister’s job as factions in government wrestle for control. Sound oh so familiar. She also wants to introduce invasive new surveillance laws; a desire hammered home complete with ‘nothing to hide, nothing to fear’ rhetoric.

Montague lives alone and single and with Budd’s wife about to enter a new relationship could these two begin some kind of affair but after the opening episode could Budd could have some else on his mind. Was there more to a colleague sharing a Chinese meal with the home secretary in her private residence, lover’s maybe.

Neither Budd nor Montague is especially likeable, but we care about these two and their developing relationship, and want to know which of the many turns it might take. I hope that this partnership doesn’t turn ridiculous with, say, some cliché sex scene but it has to happen, doesn’t it.

Budd is a genuinely damaged human being whose actions and behaviour tread an ambiguous line between fiercely sympathetic and dangerously disturbed. Going forward, the key quandary appears to be whether we are following a hero, anti-hero, or soon-to-be villain. And the way in which Bodyguard places us firmly in Budd’s corner, and plays off this uncertainty, is arguably its finest quality.

Hawes’ Montague meanwhile strikes a note-perfect air of pompous self-certainty, with just enough dry wit, self-awareness, and humanity to make you doubt the supposed monster on the surface and oozes sex appeal. In this way, the two form an ideal complementary pair. Both are utterly ambiguous to begin with, leaving space for our expectations to be met, subverted or played with in interesting ways.

If you missed the first episode last night, I urge you to quickly catch up on iPlayer, for Bodyguard is intelligent, psychological storytelling so gripping you’ll have to remind yourself to breathe.

Hero, anti-hero, or soon-to-be villain it’s up to you to make you mind up?

Bodyguard started at 9pm on BBC 1 this Sunday, but the next episode is tonight at 9pm. the remaining instalments will air on following Sundays.

FA Cup Preliminary Round on the road to Wembley

The FA Cup because of the number of teams entering comes fast and furious, it was the Preliminary Round the weekend, and for those following this segment will know that this season I decided to follow United Services Portsmouth FC.

Having won their opening fixture in the competition they faced a home game against Sholing FC Friday night who have had a strong start to the season and are top of the Sydenhams Wessex Premier League. While United Services are mid-table with a hundred percent record but have only played two games and are a league below Sholing FC.

The home team took a bit of a beating so that means a new team for me in the next round Sholing FC. United Services lost 3-1, having been 2-0 down by half time and for the two games they pocket in prize money £3.210.

Preliminary Round - United Services Portsmouth FC 1-3 Sholing FC Att 131

The Extra Preliminary Round - United Services Portsmouth FC 5 – 2 Andover Town FC Att -

The BBC via the iPlayer yesterday afternoon gave those interested Prestwich Heys v Radcliffe FC in the FA Cup Preliminary Round another game from the early rounds of the FA Cup. I love these games the lowest football you will see on TV and these two teams are step eight and below in the Football League structure. There were two leagues the teams and about five miles so another local derby.

It was a good game from both set of players. Radcliffe brought around 200 fans to the game as Prestwich were hoping for a bumper crowd. I looked 500 plus from the TV I would say. Radcliffe opening the scoring and at half time walked in with a 1-0 lead but Prestwich held their own for much of game opening half. In the second half, the visitor quickly added another goal and that was it for the game a 2-0 win.

Soccer Saturday, Radio, iffy stream, Final Score - All because the man loves Cardiff City

A trip today for Cardiff City to Huddersfield a game we needed to win and see a goal or two after going goalless for the two opening games of the season. Seeing the team, I thought ok manager Warnock knows his business so let’s go.

It was going to be an afternoon with Sky’s Soccer Saturday for me with former Liverpool defender Phil Thompson commenting on the game. An early pile up in front of goal between Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Huddersfield goalkeeper Ben Hamer at full pelt, the clash saw the game stopped with the Cardiff player Mendez-Laing coming off worst he was stretchered off a bad start for the Bluebirds just a bit later the keeper when off as well has he couldn’t continue.

I found a radio channel broadcasting the game, happy now but still watching Soccer Saturday. There were iffy internet streams but soon as I found one the screen fills up with advertisements, a pain in the ass. The game was five minutes behind and I gave up at half time.

The pundit watching the game Phil Thompson announced the game so far was dire and so did I from what little I was hearing and the bit I saw behind the adverts. The only hope for this game was Warnock throwing a grenade into the dressing room.

The second half was just as bad we barely saw Thompson, and little chance we would hear him shout ‘GOAL’ from the background as he had nothing to report. That was until some action in the penalty area nothing to do would football. Fight, fight, there were some handbags, pushing, shoving, finger wagging, holding back in the area nothing to do with the ball much. The referee missed the bit of trouble and have to wander over to the linesman to investigate.

Cards were flashed and Huddersfield were down to ten men after a sending off and for the second week Cardiff were playing 10 men. The game now picked up but still my feeling was another 0-0 draw, come on Cardiff. Now watching BBC’s Final Score (I always turn over for the start) there was a bit of excitement with a chance for the Welshman.

The game picked up for Cardiff after the sending off but they couldn’t kill the game off to collect the much-needed three points and in the end settle for another point. Worried! No goals after three games and after the Norwich EFL Cup game Tuesday the Bluebirds face three games from hell.

Saturday 2nd Arsenal Home

Saturday 15th Chelsea Away

Saturday 22nd Manchester City Home

No easy points here I would think let along goals. It will be interesting to see how he plays the Norwich game. I expect he will rest most of his first team squad for the Arsenal game or will he try and build their confidence in the team by playing them in the Cup game. We will have to wait for Tuesday to see how serious he takes the game.

Must see TV - Week beginning Sat 25 August 2018

A pretty poor week again with TV companies holding programming back for the big autumn reveal in a week or so. This upcoming week the BBC have broken a bit early with “Bodyguard” which the BBC are hoping will be a Sunday night blockbuster.

In addition, Bake off is back but I still find it funny being on Channel 4 but I rather have overcome the loss of Mary and Mel and Sue.

Sunday – BBC1 – Bodyguard 9pm (New Series)

A specialist protection officer is assigned to guard an ambitious home secretary who may be the target of a terror plot following her support of a controversial new surveillance bill. The bodyguard's experiences in the army have left him harbouring deep-seated resentments - which may make him a threat to the politician he is supposed to protect. Thriller, with Keeley Hawes and Richard Madden.

Monday – Channel 4 – Speed with Guy Martin: Classic F 1 Special 9pm (New Series)

Guy takes part in his first-ever Formula one race as he goes head to head with 2009 world champion Jenson Button around Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. Guy is driving a classic 1983 Williams FW08c, working for six months with the Williams heritage Division to restore it from museum piece to racing condition, and learned how to drive Formula 1 style. He will be under the direction of Karun Chandhok, formerly of the Hispania Racing F1 Team, while Jenson takes to the track in a prototype six-wheeled Williams from the 1980s.

Tuesday – Channel 4 – The Great British Bake-Off 8pm (New Series)

Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding welcome 12 contestants to the tent, where judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith oversee them in three challenges. This year, the competition kicks off with Biscuit Week, and the bakers are challenged to make signature biscuits that will say something both about them, before tackling one of Paul's childhood favourites in the Technical. Finally, the bakers are tasked to make a 3D biscuit portrait in their first Showstopper.

Tuesday – Pick – Day 5 10pm (New Series)

Apocalyptic drama starring Jesse C Boyd one of my favourite genre and on a plus side I have never hear of the show, seen a trailer or even read a review but for the basic out line below. So I have just about a virgin going into the show very unusual for yours truly. After a two-day drug binge, addict Jake ventures out into the streets, unaware that most of the world has died in their beds.

Wednesday – BBC1 – Shop well for Less 8pm (New Series)

Alex Jones comes home to Wales along Steph McGovern and head to Caerphilly to meet the Ingram family, who are struggling to cope financially after having two sets of twins in less than two years. Parents Liam and Emma's desire for big name brands is also crippling their finances, so in an effort to get their spending down, the family's budget-blowing belongings are replaced with alternatives disguised in plain packaging.

Thursday – BBC4 - The No.5 War 9pm (New)

The story, both thrilling and dark, of the world's most famous perfume. In 1921, Coco Chanel's revolutionary perfume concept was as audacious as her outlandish designer clothing. At its launch, it was an instant hit. From the 1920s to the 1940s, the Number 5 brand was at the centre of a war between the celebrated designer and her entrepreneurial business partners, the Wertheimer Brothers. During the Second World War, with the help of her high-ranking Nazi lover, Coco Chanel attempted to oust her Jewish partners - who had fled German occupied France and were operating the business from New Jersey - to take control of the highly lucrative business

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Thursday – Sky One – A League of their Own 9pm (New Series)

It’s time to bring on a sub because, after six years in which he tried synchronised swimming, Mexican wrestling and had paintballs fired at him by Billie Piper, Jack Whitehall has left the sports-based quiz show. Taking his place on the Blue Team is Romesh Ranganathan, who joins the show’s regulars: host James Corden and captains Jamie Redknapp and Freddie Flintoff. Ranganathan has said he’s looking forward to “adding some eye candy to the show”.

Do you remember doing this?

It was a simple game to play on a hot summer’s day during the school holidays if you were of the right age. I can remember playing it more than a few times myself mostly as a joke but a few times, it was real and it was a fishing expedition to see if there was any interest.

The game was simply as I said the only prop you needed was a ‘Daisy’. Someone playing the game alternately speaks the phrases "He (or she) loves me”, and "He loves me not”, while picking one petal from a daisy is the official and historic way to play the game. If the last petal is ‘loves me’, your relationship was true love.

We played it somewhat different, for example. If you were with a girl you liked, you would pick a daisy, name a girl (Jokingly of course), and start plucking a petal one by one. Each time saying she loves me she loves me not with the idea the last petal would end, as ‘she loves me’, probably dreading her laughing because if you liked the girl it could be heart breaking.

I had a few tries optimistically testing the water as you do when you are young and stupid. Of course it never worked! Did it ever, not to my knowledge I would be shocked if it had. What normally happened you both burst into laughter? If it were too land on ‘she loves me’ your mates would get overexcited shouting stupid thinks like “Peter is you boyfriend” while nursing a broken heart.

There was a girl I kept running into who wasn’t a friend but I had seen her around just a girl walking her dog. Over the weeks, we got talking about school mainly I remember and that kind of thing. I was not thinking girlfriend material not that she wasn’t pretty we just talked. We were sitting around one evening and for some reason I did the daisy thing it fell on ‘she loves me’, no laughter just silence which I didn’t follow up.

That was a Friday on the Monday she wasn’t there and for weeks no sign of her until a month or so later I saw her walking with some guy who I took to be her boyfriend. I often wondered if I was to have said something at that time what would have happened.

Out for a pint and some eats

With the wife out with her carer giving me some rest bite care I get bored easy and I normally filling in my time watching films, blogging, listening to music or on the internet but today, I fancied a change.

I was thinking maybe I could just get on the bus for a ride but I slowly went off the idea. I always end up down Cardiff Bay and just sit and watch the world go by. I have a habit of reminiscing about my youth something I have to change and think more about my dwindling future, I am not getting any younger.

I decided I would go out for a meal and a drink and having heard great things about “The Grange pub” I decided to give it ago and it should be top notch being the Pub of the Year in Cardiff. I gave friend Gillian a message to see if she fancied it, but she was unavailable but I shall venture out in to the big world. This was no mean step for me with my long-term mental problems but the other day I push myself beyond my comfort zone twice in a week is big for me.

The owners of the pub are the same that own the popular Canton pub “The Lansdowne” so I was looking forward to the visit and enjoy their food. I was a kind of regular at the old Grange many years ago, not the best experience there were shifty characters who frequented the establishment.

It has stepped up a grade or two since those days and with reviews king now The Grange as plenty of impressive reviews online. The outside looks the same the lay out inside had changed a bit if my memory is right but it was a breath of fresh air. From the posters the pub is looking to for fill the niche as a local entertainment/events venue.

I jumped the bus down to Grangetown, which has changed so much since my youth when the shops were typically white owned with their shop selling the standard kind of British goods. Today you would be hard pressed to recognise the shops with the demographic of local people changed over the years. There are two Polish shops one being a mini-supermarket another catering for a number of eastern European countries and a myriad of Asian shops, takeaways and others.

I thought it opened at 11am, but add an hour stupid Peter - so there I was hanging around waiting for a pub to open I hadn’t been in that position in donkeys years. Once inside it was comfortable I checked out the menu board but I had an idea what I wanted which was recommended ‘Three fried eggs and chips’. I have been told I must try the chips if it was the last thing I do on this earth.

On the menu board they made a big thing about the chips being ‘Proper Chips’ not frozen. I can confirm they serve real chips not frozen as many do. Even some fish and chip shops use frozen chips, sacrilege. Hands down, these were the best chips I have eaten in a restaurant or pub since that mystery pub we found coming home from a football match back in the early eightes. It helped me that it was very quiet helpfully in the pub as this was part of my ongoing battle with my mental illness so a big tick for me today. I nearly headed for home during my wait for the door to open but I stood firm to my plans.

Later as I stood on the junction of Clare Road and Penarth Road, I could see the shops now long gone. Standing out was the old Ninian cinema which as not changed I remember jumping out pretending to be a cowboy or Flash Gordon after Saturday morning club. There are many good memories.

Teacher was Hot

We’ve all had teachers we fancied maybe more than one which I am guilty of — I know girls who swooned over male teachers too — and, such was the impression they made on our young psyches, we can still remember their names. Mine was one of our English teachers, married with kids and her husband was a teacher at the school. Yes, I know her name and fondly remember her.

The good old days where teachers kept there knickers on unlike today were they are discarded fairly regular according to the press. All I had was the blackboard where if she were wearing tight trousers (She normally did) I would have and hope for a wiggle of her tight backside, and the odd bit of cleavage.

My boyish lust never went further than a longing look from afar, (the back of the class) but she did catch me out one time. After a moment of day dreaming she called me to her desk and finding myself a little aroused kind of shuffled to her desk wishing I had sat at the front of the class. Things were made worse because while standing next to her I could see down her blouse to her pert boobs, not helpful, and raised a laugh.

It was a mixed school so there were plenty of girls round it was not as if I was some frustrated boy stuck in an all-boys school. I just liked the older teacher I wasn’t really into inquiring a girlfriend because the girl I liked wasn’t interested.

Attractive young/older female teacher soon gather fan clubs and there were always the newbies being dropped into the boiling swamp of hormonal young males starved for a glimpse of anything, Miss Cross comes to mind. The opposite sex were also on the lookout I remember Mr Ackerman being popular. I never heard of a teacher or pupil getting it on but for a story about an out of the way spot, a teacher’s car, but that could be campfire stuff.

It must be an occupational hazard of being a teacher surrounded by all those teenage hormones looking for away out.

Dawn of the Dead (2004) - Film Review - The Remake

This film is a remake of the 1978 film Dawn of the Dead, a horror film written and directed by George A. Romero. I liked both versions but I think the remake just edges it for me but it was a close call.

I like a good horror movie it helps me to escape from reality at times. The only trouble is Hollywood doesn’t cater for the needs of us horror heads thank god for smaller independent filmmakers who tend to revel in horror.

The original Dawn of the dead gave you a feel of terror and helplessness... but probably due to a low budget it couldn't go all the way, so it wasn't ferocious enough. Every missing aspect of the original has been integrated in this update and it never lets you down. 

A mysterious virus is bringing the dead back to life as vicious re-animated corpses that go fast and feed upon the living. One morning, a nurse wakes up to find her husband missing from bed so like a dutiful wife goes to find him, but surprise, surprise he is a zombie and she needs to escape from her house and her husband who can smell dinner. She escapes in her car has her neighbourhood explodes with zombies chasing the living. 

In her bid to escape, she crashes off the motorway where she seeks to team up with a reluctant police officer who helped her out of her car. Later some others who like them were looking for some shelter join them. They come across a large shopping mall. Inside the mall, there were a few monsters in the shape of the security guards. Who are reluctant to share their safe haven with the newcomers jailing them up in one of the stores until the tables are turned and they join forces?

Meanwhile the carpark was filling with more and more zombies.

Dawn of the Dead is not just a good remake... it is a good zombie film in general. 28 Days Later basically kicked started the zombie genre again in 2003 and in a sense helped this movie get the green light. It shows that the zombie genre is in full force because Dawn of the Dead 2004 does not disappoint. The director Zack Snyder really knew what we wanted. He did not just do a remake and carbon copied the original. He made the film stand out on its own and one of the things he added was fast moving zombies. In my opinion, it worked and made the film intense.

The movie wasted no time getting to the blood and gore. Within the first 10 minutes we are treated to an intense zombie opening followed by one of the best opening credits ever. What better way to start this bloody film than with Johnny Cash? We have some cool actors some whom I have never heard of that are good in this movie.

Lastly, when the end credits roll. Do not turn it off. The movie continues through the credits. The movie gets 9/10 not because it is the best movie I ever seen but because the movie worked on so many levels and that is surprising for a remake.

Favourite part of the film for me was the breakout from the mall and I would give the film a 10 but for the ending. I was left with no conclusion to the film leaving me to decide the ending not what I wanted. There is plenty to this film and packed with action as the group are whittled down.

My Rating

Summer Holiday the Musical - Date Night

It has been awhile but I ticked something off my bucket list yesterday! I took the wife to the theatre (The Millennium Centre) Cardiff Bay to see “Summer Holiday” not my choice I wasn’t expecting to be going.

That all changed when for some reason I decided to book a room in a local hotel, Christ why. There was no reason to go I am sure my plus one would have loved to go in my place and I could have saved the money on the hotel. So I booked us into the Travelodge just around the corner from the centre.

We booked in and our room was ok for a night and fully accessible for the wife it was like living in the land of Lilliput for me. The toilet was so low I was glad of the grab rail to help me up. Comedy moment of the night, me jumping around the room after an all too powerful leg cramp. All I was doing was lying on the bed next I was jumping around from the worst cramp I have had, and I have had a few. It also lasted the longest as well as being the most painful. The other moment is private but funnier.

After we got ready, we sorted about looking for somewhere to eat and ended up at “The Bay Tavern” with us both going for the steak. I checked the on line reviews and they were pretty bad maybe I should have check before ordering but for a dollop of some kind of sauce on my steak and a short wait we had than ok visit. I did ask for just steak, peas, and chips but the sauce just comes with the steak unless you particularly ask for it to be removed, next time I will. I scraped it off.

Over to the Millennium Centre where we were booked in to watch “Summer Holiday” it was our first time watching a show at the Welsh ionic venue and something off my bucket list. After nearly 32 years of marriage it was the first time I had taken her to a show. This happen because of lack of money at the beginning of our marriage and these latter years due to my mental health something I have yet to resolve, but this was a small step forward.

Has for the show it was ok… it was the wife’s choice but she didn’t have me in mind when booking it, sorry Karen. It was the last thing I was expecting to do last night. But I surprised her by booking a hotel for the night. Lots of singing, it was a musical at the end of the day and very well executed but it was not the film but for my first musical I would highly recommend it if you get a chance. It is youthful, boisterous, and loud. We found the staff very helpful and it was great to see a fully operating disable toilet with plenty of room.

Back to the hotel, I decided to go straight upstairs instead of having a drink at the bar. I found size does matter. While at home, I have a 60” plus TV at the hotel I had to make do with a 14” TV yes it did matter. Being on the third floor, it gave me a chance to partake of some voyeurism watching the world go by. The breakfast was great all you could eat but I did not go over the top and full my plate. Another something at as followed me home is the tune 'Summer Holiday' out of my had. We were soon on our way home but until next time, December in London and the Old Vic and a 'Christmas Carol.

New venue for breakfast meet-up

Since, Gillian and I have re-connected once a month we meet up for a chat and breakfast. Things have changed now, no, we haven’t fallen out, but we have lost our meeting venue. Yes a change in management, new opening time, and name as seen the old Plum Tree consigned to memory.

A new menu but no breakfast.

Why I liked the Plum Tree it was quiet, the quality of the breakfast was pretty much ok. Probably why the change because of the quietness when there is a Wetherspoon across the road with their cheap breakfast and ingredients. At the Plum Tree, it was nothing but cheap about the place.

So a new venue was needed for today’s meet-up it was an easy choice in the end. There are enough cafes in Canton but call me a snob I don’t consider them an enjoyable experience sitting in a café they want you out has quick as possible. I like to sit back and have a chat for a while.

The only place offering what I like is the Chapter Arts Centre and seeing as I was there only the other day why not see if it could be our new meeting place, if Gillian is happy with the venue, I can’t see why not.

For her first visit to the Chapter Gillian was impressed with the venue and her poached egg on toast while I was more than happy with my sausage and bacon sandwich. It was much livelier it’s popular with the yummy mums with their toddlers. “Caffi Bar Chapter” is popular with a general mix of people and outside the café, there is plenty happening in the centre. Not cheap again but I saved money by missing a full breakfast but I will be reviewing it soon.

There is even a Cinema and a fully stock bar we were finished too early to sample the bar. On the way home I nipped into the pub formally known as the Plum Tree, now renamed Tafarn Treganna checking out the menu. It was a standard Brains Brewery menu but for a bit of furniture being move round, little had changed. I had a pint.

Celebrity Big Brother Returns Thursday

Celebrity Big Brother begins its run on Thursday and the line-up has been leaked, maybe but the newspapers are reporting names. The people at Big Brother insist the list is “pure speculation” but all the names linked have one time or another been linked to the show. It’s The Sun claiming to have the thirteen names entering this year. There will also be one mystery guest entering the house on Thursday night according to the paper…

Love interest is always a favourite on the show but with this rumoured line-up but the only possible player I can see, Dan Osborne with a possible target Chloe Ayling.

In memory of my Mum, I will be watching she love the show and this could be the last with Channel 5 rumoured to be pulling the plug. They should think about keeping hold of the Celebrity version, as it’s better than the joe public edition there are enough Z-list celebrities doing the rounds. She would really love that the live feed is back.

The theme this summer is The Eye of The Storm all of this year's housemates have faced media scandals in the past has the makers of CBB hope for some juicy tickle tackle. There will be a few famous and slightly less famous names in the show. The Americans lead the way on the famous names with former Cheers star Kirstie Allen reported going into the house and the biggest catch must be Stormy Daniels who is caught up with President Trump.

Stormy Daniels:

Stormy is the former porn star who claimed to have had an affair with President Donald Trump in 2006 and I have seen as much of her as Trump. The adult entertainer hit the news with the Trump scandal, which Trump and his bank of lawyers deny, the affair. There are alleged suggestions of hush money paid to silence Daniels about the affair. If she goes in the most avid watchers will be Trumps lawyers and maybe Trump himself! An early morning twitter or two?

Why would anyone want to shag Trump? It must be the money. They do say money can blind you to age just look at all the old men with young wives/girlfriends on their hands.

Is she going in! There is no proof she is in the UK on twitter a few hours ago she twitted she was in LA.

Kirstie Alley:

Actress Alley remember her in the Look Who's Talking series of films or her role in Cheers in the 1990s, playing Rebecca Howe on the sitcom from 1987 to 1993. She is no stranger to reality TV and starred twice in the America version of Strictly Come Dancing, Dancing with the Stars coming second in her first attempt.

However, in recent years she’s become more notorious for her ties to Scientology and its defence on twitter and her yo-yo dieting.

Rodrigo Alves:

The human Ken Doll is reported to be going into the house every single year, but show bosses finally have him. Rodrigo is best known for completely transforming his image with over £518,000 of surgical procedures, including a fake six-pack, rib removal, and 10 nose jobs, the last of which jeopardised his chances of competing in CBB in 2017, according to previous reports.

He is a creepy looking bloke and looks like some kind of Frankenstein monster but made by plastic surgeons god knows what he will look like in the mornings.

Other, slightly less A-list names, include former Love Island star Gabby Allen, The Only Way Is Essex’s Dan Osborne, TV psychic Sally Morgan, Married At First Sight’s Ben Jardine, Bad Girls Club’s Natalie Nunn, former Emmerdale Roxanne Pallett, kidnapped British model Chloe Ayling, shamed trader Nick Leeson. It will be interesting to see how many will be there on the night.

The Road to Wembley begins again

I nearly missed the opening of the FA Cup yesterday the news just slipped me by and thankfully, I was reminded while watching Football Focus. Last season the BBC via the iPlayer showed a game from the Extra Preliminary Round and it was back again. Well down BBC. I decide to watch this game over Sky Sports offering of Newcastle v Tottenham.

The BBC camera (yes just one camera on the centre line) headed for Haverhill Rovers who were taking on neighbours Haverhill Borough and when I say, neighbours their grounds are virtually next to one another. Rovers claimed the bragging rights in this Suffolk derby winning 2-0 in front of a bumper crowd of 602.

I picked my team to follow a few weeks ago, United Services Portsmouth who played Andover Town both of whom play in the Wessex League Division One. I was not at the game but reading match reports on the internet it was a closely fought first half a 1-1 was a fair refection of the half. But in the second, the home team stepped up a gear with the game ending 5 – 2 and United Services Portsmouth FC progress into the next round.

Winning clubs will receive £2,250 from The FA prize fund, with the losers each picking up £750.

The Preliminary Round next with another home fixture against Sholing FC after they beat Knaphill FC 0 – 3. Sholing FC play a league above them in the Wessex Premier League.

Preliminary Round - United Services Portsmouth v Sholing FC Att

The Extra Preliminary Round - United Services Portsmouth FC 5 – 2 Andover Town FC Att -

Sunday Crush – Jane Fonda - Klute

When you announce a crush on Jane Fonda. Others immediately think it is because of her film Barbarella, in which she was definitely eye candy but I would say she was a figure of lust in that film. I am talking about a crush, not lust, which is sex. All my crushes in life and fantasy come from a moment in time, as with a real person it is kind of the same with a moment on the TV or big screen.

All the fantasy entry’s in the ‘Sunday Crush’ come from a taken a time within a film when you go wow. I had seen Fonda in other films and it took this film to see her different from all her other movie roles.

She caught my eye in ‘Klute’ as Bree Daniels a New York prostitute/call girl. She oozes sex appeal in this film and we first see Bree in a line-up of models at an audition. Asked to show her hands but the casting directors pass her by much to her anger. In is film the whole package from the clothes she wears to her voice draws you in to this fantasy world.

After the casting, she picks up a john/punter and goes to a hotel room where she poses sexually on a couch, her legs crossed to show off the slit in her skirt.

“We could have a good time for fifty,” Bree says, nodding her head, her voice challenging and very husky. “If you wanted something extra it would be a little more.” He whispers to her his special request, she laughs and says, “Oh, that’s so exciting!” her voice a sexy purr. “But it’s going to cost you more”, she says, the tone of her voice barely changing.

Then comes the famous moment: “Oh, my angel!” she cries, as he wimpily humps her (we never learn what his special request was). Bree moans and moans takes a quick peek at her watch, then keeps on moaning no happy hooker here with Bree it is just a business deal.

The scene that wowed me came late into the film where she is dressed in a shiny black metallic dress that clings to her body with a feather boa has an accessory and haircut makes he look stunning and I think it made me fall in love with her. He pays her to undress while talking to him the background music adds to the scene along with her voice talking of the virtues of older men.

Fonda, with that unforgettable haircut, delivers the performance of her career. Bree is a layered, complex, and conflicted woman, both attracted and repelled by her chosen career, unable to connect with men except when she senses their desperate submission to her sexuality. Jane Fonda won an Academy Award for her performance as Bree Daniels

My Rating