Come on Cardiff - Warnock

After a few days of illness, I am in the mood to blog and we have a game later this afternoon for the great and beautiful Cardiff City. Has I woke out of the mist of ill health I was looking forward to the game before a bit later realising the game was a Sunday kick-off? Yes, I was really that ill.

I am a believer until the impossible is impossible but this must be a necessary win game. 

Burnley todays visitors are on the list for any team in our position tagged as relegation fodder a must win game. The last three games have been a revelation on the quality of the football in the Premier League we only before seen on TV but we dreamt of playing the likes of your Manchester City and the like.

So still out of the mix for today is Aron Gunnarsson and right-back Lee Peltier who last week against Manchester City dislocated his shoulder and faces up to three months out joining other long team members injured like Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.

On the plus side, Sol Bamba is expected to return in defence.

Talk of certain manager at Manchester United could be in trouble especially after listening to 606 sports phone-in, which got me, thinking about Neil Warnock. I have to say I am not calling for the head of Warnock if we were to lose today. I have heard a few mumblings out on social media stoked up by Warnock’s preference for Championship Football.

At the end of the day, will Cardiff City owner stay loyal to his man as well as the board? A friend suggested the sooner the better for Warnock but I am not that brutal. I believe the owner may well have is finger on the trigger he’s a businessman and he as a product he may be willing to sell and the tag Premier League club is a big selling point.

The next three games after today will see the bluebirds face Tottenham, Liverpool split by a home game against Fulham and a win today would be a nice pick up for the Tottenham trip. But for today COME ON LADS, a near full house behind you.

Dark of the Sun – Film Review - Jack Cardiff

Hot sunny day and I am in doors watching one of my all-time favourite movies, again. I am watching ‘Dark of the Sun’ (also known as The Mercenaries in the UK) and I am in good company rating this film highly. Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino are two fans of the film.

Released in 1968 Rod Taylor plays Curry, a mercenary who has accepted $50,000 to rescue some people and $50 million in diamonds the real and only reason for the rescue. They have 3 days to get there, collect the diamonds and the people, and return to the government controlled area before the town is over run by the Simba’s.

Curry and his US educated Congo-born, sergeant Ruffo (Jim Brown) fit out a train and recruit 40 Congolese soldiers from the top unit Striker Blue Force, an alcoholic doctor (Kenneth More), and an ex-Nazi German officer named Heinlein (Peter Carsten) and (Olivier Despax) as Lt. Surrier. Curry was hoping news about the diamonds would stay secret but soon everyone knew including Heinlein the last person Curry wanted to find out.

Once underway the journey is fraught with dangers from an attack by a United Nations peacekeeping plane. On route the train was to stop a pick up a family but the Simba’s had already paid their plantation a visit with the only survivor being (Yvette Mimieux) as Claire the love interest for Curry in the film.

Curry and Heinlein, who dislike each other immensely, almost fight to the death after Heinlein kills two young children Ruffo stops the fight reminding Curry they need him. Worst of all, though, they arrive at their destination three hours early and have to wait until a safe's timeclock opens so they can get the diamonds. Meanwhile, an army of ruthless Simba’s are fast approaching the town. The doctor goes to help some nuns with a tough childbirth but when Curry returns to pick him up everyone is dead.

This last plot point turns into an action-packed sequence in which Ruffo and Heinlein hold off the enemy as Curry boards the train at the last second with the diamonds. Unfortunately, their escape is short-lived when an explosion disconnects the caboose from the rest of the train, sending the train car… along with its screaming passengers and the precious stones backwards into the hands of the enemy.

In the film's most harrowing scene, Curry and Ruffo return to the captured town to retrieve the diamonds and members of blue force who planned to steal some transport. Ruffo, posing as a Simba, carries Curry like a trophy on his back as they navigate through burning streets where innocent people are being tortured and killed.

The diamonds are spread out on a pool table along with Lt. Surrier he is been raped. Curry manages to scoop up the diamonds has he and Ruffo open up on the Simba’s but cannot save Lt Surrier and he looks happily as Curry throws some hand grenades in his direction has they make their escape.

This scene, plus a brutal fight at the climax, has earned Dark of the Sun a reputation as a grim, violent film.

The final fight between Curry and Heinlein is not pleasant. While Curry and corporal Kataki go to try to contact base for a fuel drop Heinlein kills Ruffo and searches for the diamonds but Ruffo put them in the jeep with Curry and Kataki. When he returns to find Ruffo dead, he seeks out Heinlein who is making his away down river on a raft. Curry bounces along the river in a jeep and when he does the fight is brutal, more like butchery that is witnessed by Kataki who refuses to walk the same path as Curry back to the others… he is ashamed.

Director Jack Cardiff cut several gruesome scenes in order to secure the film's release.

Curry and Ruffo debate their motives for what they do. At the outset, Curry makes it clear that he is a "paid man doing a dirty job" whereas Ruffo wants to maintain the freedoms his country has only recently earned. Driven by his friendship with Ruffo, Curry evolves as the film progresses--as evidenced by his decision to ultimately pay for his crimes.

With the convoy a few miles from safety Curry stops the convoy and calls for Kataki and hands himself over for the murder of Heinlein. As he climb into the truck, Kataki salutes Curry who responds by saying, “You don’t have to do that corporal ” Kataki replies, “I know that captain”. Yet, one cannot help but think that Curry does not regret his violent actions...that he is still a mercenary at heart. Perhaps, it is his desire to reflect his friend's honour that drives his moral actions.

Surprisingly, that sums up Dark of the Sun pretty well: It is a violent adventure film with more heart and a little more intelligence than you might expect.

My Rating

Vampyros Lesbos (1971) – Film Review - Classic 1970s sexploitation horror

'Vampyros Lesbos' is one of the high points of 1970s exploitation movies. This movie has something for everybody! Vampires, gratuitous nudity, violence, pretentious symbolism, some aesthetically pleasing scenery and camera work, all bound together by one of the most unique genre-busting rock scores ever, chock full of fuzz guitars and electric sitar.

Whether it is the story, the atmosphere, the camera, the scenery, the beautiful women, or the famous psychedelic soundtrack, Vampyros Lesbos is Jess Franco's masterpiece. Is not one of his greatest films, it is certainly up there among his memorable ones, both for its cult-value as one of the essential Lesbian Vampire flicks of the 70s and for its surreal atmosphere.

This is a different type of vampire movie. Even though the script is weak or perhaps the subtitles to English are not totally accurate, the movie manages to deliver a sheer of brilliance for 90 minutes. Spanish director Jess Franco captured so many details in this movie to make it a classic in the genre.

The imagery and foreshadowing are elements that he knew how to handle and adapt to his movie.

The plot is, of course, secondary. Linda Westinghouse (Ewa Strömberg), a foxy blonde female lawyer, has recurring dreams of lesbian experiences with a mysterious beauty (Soledad Miranda)... As said, Miss Miranda is doubtlessly the greatest quality of the film. The other female cast members are also beautiful and (as usual for Franco films) extremely exhibitionist, but Soledad Miranda is simply too beautiful to be true. Sexy, seductive, and dangerous, it is tragic how this beautiful actress died so early.

As in other Franco films, the gorgeous Soledad Miranda enlightens the screen and delivers the best performance in her short career by portraying Countess Nadine Carody; Count Dracula's widow, a vampiress thirsty for female blood and full of anger against men. Not much in the way of horror but enjoyable.

My Rating

Bodyguard finale review

I rarely review a finale of a TV show but for “Bodyguard” why could I not. First, the cast and makers had better take a wheelbarrow to the Bafta TV awards they are going to clean up on the night I predict.

The millions hooked on the “Bodyguard” settle to watch the show’s finale on Sunday evening seeking answers while having their own ideas but I guess no one got this right. No rebirth of the Home Secretary Julia Montague she was dead as a dodo her reappearance would have been comical but what a finale.

The episode revolves around our hero David Budd now tentatively link to his army buddy who tried to kill the Home Secretary and after a meeting/date with Chanel, a former adviser to the late Home Secretary is world is about to fall apart. Chanel sets up Budd with crime boss Luke Aitkens who with some cronies drag him off and later wakes up wearing a suicide vest.

He walks around looking for help to phone the police as you do and realises the police are after him. When they turn up, he is quickly surrounded by barking counter-terrorism officers seeking authorisation to fire at their suspect, which is given. The police just don’t believe him then they walk Budd to a safe more open space to lessen the damage if the bomb goes off.

A bomb disposal man does a runner after having a look over the bomb the bomb is the same as the train in the opening episode. I really wanted to see the secret service to be heavily involved in the killing of the Home Secretary but I was beginning to doubt it. Later we find out it was the kompromat they were chasing to protect the Prime Minister.

Budd now in floods of tears believing the police moving back means he would be killed tells the police he knows were the kompromat is hidden at his flat. His wife runs to join him to hopefully protect him which works. He knew the secret service would pick up on that news knowing they would rush to the flat to beat the police. The secret service do get there first and it turned out to be our old friend Richard Longcross whose captured by the police happens after tripping Budd’s booby trap.

Now the long march to his flat to recover the kompromat with the police clearing the way still wearing the vest. Farfetched yes but its TV and it gave about the only escape option. Budd ops to disarm the bomb, single tension as he order everyone to back away next thing he jumps over a wall and legs it.

Then it all begins to unravel as Budd breaks in to Chanel’s flat and force her to phone Luke Aitkens telling him Budd knows everything and hoping to be lead to whoever. It worked; scratch the secret service in was his own boss. So the assassin of Julia Montague turned out to be gangland drug lord Luke Aitkens, with Lorraine Craddock who was is inside woman within the police feeding him information a bit of a let down.

It turnout ha Nadia was actually the master bomb-maker – and supplied the bomb to Aitkens at killed the Home Secretary and arranged the attack on Budd’s children school. Most of us watching at home, into the belief that she was a ‘victim’ of coercion by her husband and his Jihadi superiors. But in actual fact, in a subversion of dramatic tropes, she was the real terrorist mastermind all along.

David finally deduced that it was she who had put his children in danger, from prison, after he showed her a picture of his kids and gave her their names and ages. A gloating Nadia ultimately explained that she was the bomb-maker all along, being a trained engineer and devoted Jihadi, but she was happy to play along after David assumed she was just a meek, manipulated woman.

Jersey want a join the English football pyramid system

Love reading the Sunday papers sports sections and I was interested today of an article in the Non-League Paper about another second Channel Island team hoping to entering the English pyramid, Jersey Bulls.

The newly formed club are looking to follow the footsteps of Guernsey who joined the Combined Counties League Division One the same division Jersey hope to enter next season two divisions below sister Island Guernsey.

I have no problem with new teams as long as they have the backing in cash. Look at Rugby League two years ago a team from Canada joined their league and are knocking on the door of the Super League. I have debated with friends if a deal like that could happen in football. With many clubs in foreign ownership and travel time getting shorter one day I think someone may take a punt.

Jersey will undertake the same deal made when Guernsey made whereby they will undertake to meet the expenses of ALL clubs visiting the Island as well as their travelling costs. Russell Le Feuvre director of operations for the Bulls said that the club are financially secure and have much sponsorship lined-up waiting on the all clear.

Le Feuver told the paper “It would be the first time a Jersey football club has competed in the English leagues and represents an exciting new challenge for the Island’s top players whilst offering a pathway for juniors progressing through Jersey football”.

I remember the idea of a Jersey team in the English system before with a group also hoping to follow Guernsey but news just disappeared I think the Jersey FA were unsupportive unlike the Bulls attempt. 

According to the Jersey Evening Post, Guernsey’s travel bill for 2017/18, which included opposition travel and accommodation, exceeded £125,000. It would be the same the other way on Guernsey’s bills.

FA Cup on the road again Second Qualifying Round

The turnover of FA Cup games in this lower level is incredible this round is the fifth round of games not including replays since the beginning of the season. Ok I will explain once more… I don’t go to the games I wish I could. I follow virtually from my armchair the same with the Welsh Cup.

My team Sholing FC had an away fixture at National League South, Slough Town no stroll in the park for the Wessex League club. The home team opened with the first goal in the first ten minutes, were soon 2-0 up from the penalty spot, and looked to be coasting to a victory.

However, the visitors were not out for the count as many may have thought as they pulled back the first half deficit. The game ended all square so both are in the hat for tomorrows draw for the next round. Tuesday night’s replay will decide who goes forward into the next round.

BBC iPlayer aired the FA Cup second qualifying round game between Lymington Town and Torquay United ninth tier and sixth tier of the English league. It was a quaint little ground with a decent crowd with Lymington holding the visitors for most of the first half until an unfortunate own goal and that was quickly followed by another goal saw Torquay at the interval with a 2-0 lead.

A fact one of Lymington defenders was nearly 48 years old. Lymington maybe should have stayed in the nice and warm dressing room as the second half turned into a massacre with the visitors scoring another five times to finish the game at 7-0 another great game via the iPlayer.

The only Welsh club in this round were dumped out of the competition when Merthyr Town were well beaten at home by Winchester City 4-1. They were three rounds away from possibly facing a league team the goal of many of the non-league clubs.

Route to Wembley (Bold my Team)

Second Round Qualifying (Replay) – Sholing FC v Slough Town FC Att

Second Round Qualifying - Slough Town FC 2 – 2 Sholing FC Att 465

First Round Qualifying (Replay) - Hamworthy United FC 0 - 1 Sholing FC Att 149

First Round Qualifying – Sholing FC 0 - 0 Hamworthy United FC Att 230

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 -

Cardiff face Man City and no worries here

Cardiff City face Manchester City today who are recovering from an unexpected defeat in the Champions League home against Lyon. Still on the lookout for their first win in the Premier League, the Welshman could do nothing better than give Manchester City a whipping, I will like to think so as I am staying positive.

According to Neil Warnock, Manchester City’s defeat against Lyon “might give them a kick up the backside”. Whether that turns out to be the case or not, this game is one of those games that could get a little lively. There is some ill-feeling from last season, when Joe Bennett committed a poor challenge on Leroy Sane that saw Pep Guardiola call for players to receive more protection. 

Warnock admitted Bennett’s tackle was “a disgrace” but said Kevin De Bruyne put Jazz Richards out for 17 matches while Sane who from reports would be out for months in fact he was back within three games...

Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock will assess the fitness of several players who are carrying niggling injuries or have been affected by a virus. Harry Arter returns after illness but Aron Gunnarsson has suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee injury, which is very disappointing.

No one will expect anything from Cardiff other than a defeat just look at the pundits and the bookies but no negativity here. Until it is impossible, I will believe relegation is not a certainty unlike most in football but wins and the points that come with it will happen. I just want to give the finger to the doom and gloom merchants.

Must see TV - Week beginning Sat 22 September 2018...

Saturday – BBC1 – Strictly Come Dancing 6:15pm (New Series)

The pro-celebrity dance contest makes its return to our TV two weeks after a special introductory programme announced this year's partnerships. Now though, the competition is ready to get under way, with the judges getting their first taste of what the dancing duos are capable of achieving. None of the 15 stars taking to the dance floor this weekend will be exiting this week, though. Instead, their scores will carry over to next weekend, when viewers get a chance to vote for their favourite couples.

Saturday – BBC4 – Mystery Road 9pm (New Series)

A beat-up pick-up truck sits abandoned in the desolate Australian outback, the two occupants, farmhands from a sprawling cattle station, nowhere to be seen. A missing persons investigation brings laconic, big-city detective Jay Swan (Aaron Pedersen) to the remote territory to assist local police Chief Emma James (Judy Davis). Swan’s single-minded approach is set to ruffle feathers in a community where the fact he’s aboriginal makes him stand out further.

This simmering cop drama moves slowly, steadily peeling back layers to get at the nasty underside of the local town. Pedersen and Davis spark off each other nicely, and the expansive skies and wide-open landscapes are stunning.

Monday – BBC2 – Sam & Shauna’s Big Cook Out 7pm (New Series)

Barbecue chefs Samantha Evans and Shauna Guinn travel around Wales to create huge outdoor feasts to reward the work of a variety of organisations and individuals. They begin by celebrating football club Barry Town United's promotion to the Welsh Premier League, including cooking a whole pig, Hawaiian-style, in a huge brick fire pit, to be served with pit beans, cornbread and an apple and fennel slaw, with fruit-filled toffee apples.

Tuesday – Channel 5 – Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild 9:15pm (New Series)

Ben journeys to the Ozark National Forest in Arkansas, to live with master craftsman Robert, learning why this 70-year-old former medical student ditched his education for America's counterculture 20 years ago, bought 200 acres of land deep in the woods, and raised a family of six children. Ben sees how far-reaching Robert's skills are, including cabin-making techniques dating back to the 13th century, and how his family have supported him in his dream.

Tuesday – ITV – Queen of the World 9:15 (New Series)

Part one of two. A documentary examining the Queen's role on the global stage and the baton she is passing to the younger members of the Royal Family as they continue to build the Commonwealth connection. Featuring cine footage from the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's private film archives and treasures of the Royal Collection, cameras focus on her early years as Head of the Commonwealth.

Cameras spent more than year shadowing royals up to and including the Queen herself.

Tuesday – ITV4 – Football Genius 10pm (New Series)

I like sport game shows and still watch ‘Question of Sport’. Here we have funny man Tim Vine hosting this comedy football quiz, as two teams of football supporters captained by Paul Sinha and Sam Quek answer questions. In the first episode, Paul and Sam lead fans of AFC Wimbledon and West Bromwich Albion respectively into battle.

Wednesday – Sky One – The Last Ship 9pm (New Series)

The Last Ship is an American action-drama television series that saw 80% of the population has been obliterated by a deadly airborne virus. Captain now Admiral Tom Chandler and his ship the USS Nathan James seen many battles to rescue the world from many dangers.

Three years after the Red Rust epidemic, the United States is about to unveil its new Navy to the world but nothing is that easy. Now heroes set sail for one last voyage when a crisis sparks a global war. Final series of the hit military thriller.

Thursday – Comedy Central – South Park 10pm (New Series)

The return of the satirical animation following the adventures of Stan, Cartman, Kenny and Kyle, who live in a town famed for its weird and inexplicable happenings. Cartman has to be my favourite character he is such shit and asshole you have to love him. They live in the dysfunctional town of South Park, Colorado where just about anything could happen.

One of my favourite episodes was 'The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers' where the boys and their friends set off on a mythical quest to return a copy of 'Lord of the Rings' movie to their local video store, while defending it from a group of sixth graders.

Thursday – Fox – American Horror Story: Apocalypse 10pm (New Series)

I have enjoyed most of this series from the beginning in this reported final series. In the near future of April 2020, nuclear missiles destroy the world and starts a nuclear winter. The world as it is currently known ends and a new world begins with an organisation known as The Cooperative selecting young adults to save from the apocalypse, based on their genetic make-up.

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

Multi-Oscar-nominated Bradley Cooper and pop superstar Lady Gaga, both featuring in the hotly anticipated musical romance A Star Is Born, will join Norton. Broadchurch and new Doctor Who Jodie Whittaker, shortly to begin her new incarnation as Doctor Who, enjoys a chat alongside double-Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling, who is playing astronaut Neil Armstrong in biopic First Man.

Legendary pop star Rod Stewart also shares a word or two prior to performing his single Didn't I, and an another bunch of intrepid audience members attempt to recount an anecdote from the dreaded red chair.

How about a Christmas treat… A foot long Pig in Blankets

Yes, people moan about Christmas adverts and chatter coming early and early, some of the prestige stores have open there Christmas departments, and we are only nearing the end of September. I have myself no problem what so ever when Christmas starts so much so I am actually looking forward to the hype.

However, we are finding something new and magnificent coming out of Aldi, for Christmas. They have the technology and are building a foot long pigs in blankets, yes I know what I feel about the news I am f**king in dreamland. Yes, we will have Halloween next month who gives a toss even Bonfire Night is not exciting as in my younger days it was a major event then.

The supersize pigs in blankets will be available to buy as part of the range from 6 December but I will be on the train to London with the wife so I will have to wait to get my hands on one.

It’ll set you back just £2.99 for two of the 12-inch sausages, which come wrapped in streaky bacon and are pretty cheap but it is Aldi the German discount supermarket prices are low. However, will the sausage and bacon be of a high standard? Nevertheless, until I have that all-important taste there is no guarantee it will make the plate come Christmas.

From the released press photo it looks like as well as the normal pigs in blankets and the new mega foot long monster they have plans for a three-barrelled version (three small sausages wrap in bacon)

John Lewis has opened the doors to its Christmas shop where you'll be able to create your own pick & mix Quality Street tins. Do the same for Celebrations and I would be more than happy.

Imagination (2) - What makes a sexy/erotic picture?

I recently posted a picture I found online it was a very erotic picture, which opened my imagination to the meaning of what I thought, was happening in the picture. There was no description with the picture and it is the same with today’s offering.

Well she is putting on a stocking and attaching the top to a suspender belt strap that is obvious now time for imagination to kick in and what can I see in the picture. First, I am thinking this must be the early sixties and she from what I can judge, young but I could be wrong. Is she a girlfriend or wife? Could she be getting ready for a photo shoot they were popular back in the sixties with amateur photography clubs taking pictures of semi-professional models earning a fee in some shaggy clubhouse? It still happens today in a bigger way but it is called Instagram modelling.

But it would not be me if I did not sexualise the picture would it.

What I see perhaps someone getting ready to go out partying with friends in that era many of the sixties dress in this underwear going out or on a date, you would hope if you were the date. It was a popular underclothing for young and old alike. It was how the wife turned up on our first date was I not lucky.

Could this be the end of a night out and she has company however how to explain the camera? No mobile phones back then to snap a quick picture chances he was not carrying a camera around unless it was back to his place for a cup of tea, some mucky pictures, and sex.

I said it before the black and white picture makes it interesting to me and the era, and why not the subject.

Food and a trip on a morning out

I had planned to meet friend Gillian in our new breakfast meeting place this morning but she was under the weather so I made a house call instead. Message to myself - never try catching a bus around 9am the bus a full and I do not like crowded buses and I am known to refuse to board them and wait for a less crowded bus, it is a mental health thing.

After a search for my missing keys, I was running late and when I finally got on the bus almost straight away, I found I was in the need of some eats; I was planning to get breakfast down Cardiff Bay before popping into Gillian’s for a chat. I targeted “Eli Jenkins” but with me running late, I decided to pop into Cardiff’s indoor market.

I went upstairs to Woody’s I can’t remember what it was call back in 1975; yes it’s been at long. Of course, it had changed but as I was walking along, I swear I could picture the young me sitting there waiting for my food and drink and dad standing in the queue. It was the family pit stop back in the day and every time we were in the market it was fingers crossed to see the animals, fish in the pet shops and something to eat. I would get a ham sandwich, a bottle of orange with a straw.

Today I called in for breakfast and it may have changed but it brought back many good memories sitting at the rail and looking below at all the other stalls. I remember my brother and me checking out the rabbits, dogs and others in their cages and the sign not to put your finger in the cage. As I grew up, I would look on enviously at the trendies shopping at Gwyns, and the girls.

By the way, the breakfast was top notch but a part of me thought maybe I should have gone all nostalgic and gone for a ham sandwich, and a bottle of orange and with the all-important straw.

On to friend, for a laugh and a giddle I always feel happy went I walk into our old street before heading home and I forgot to hand her the bill for my breakfast it was her turn to pay that can wait for another time.

Killing Eve - TV Review - Another hit BBC Drama

The BBC have only done it again with another spy drama hit on their hands to follow the Bodyguard, with Killing Eve, which premiered last night. It clashed with the crap that is X-Factor and I can’t believe people are still watching the rubbish get on iPlayer and catch-up with Killing Eve. You can watch the full series on the iPlayer

A brutal and wickedly funny thriller, the eight-part series launched on BBC One last night after its US airing earned a rapturous reception earlier in 2018. The BAFTA-winning Phoebe Waller-Bridge developed the show for television she of Fleabag fame a fantastic comedy.

The opening sees a young woman in a cafe smiles at a little girl eating ice cream a few tables away from her. The girl does not respond, but smiles at the guy behind the counter when he grins. The woman imitates the grin and the girl smiles back at her. The woman gets up, pays her bill, and, as she leaves the cafe, tips the bowl of ice cream into the child’s lap and leaves with a grin we have our first glimpse of the hit woman Villanelle.

I thought to myself there was some quality here and was hooked straight away and within the first 10 minutes, I was so happy to have made the decision to watch over the film “Murder on the Orient Express” the 2017 star laden reboot.

She keeps her bullets in a drawer next to her tampons and other aids, and likes to relax with the occasional threesome and by faking her death in her handler’s apartment. By the end of the episode, she nipped to Vienna to slice a visiting Russian politician through the femoral artery while with his Polish girlfriend who flees to London. Her next hit she used a small boy to lure his grandad away from a Tuscan wedding, stabbing him through the eye with a poisoned hairpin she turned up for the hit in a pair of daisy dukes. She lays waste to half the hospital guarding the Polish girlfriend who was the only witness to his murder.

A British MI5 agent Eve (Sandra Oh) who we are introduced to suddenly as she cries out in pain, no she was not in danger unless you call laying on both her arms in bed dangerous. At work she is bored with her desk job and comes up with the idea the politician was not threaten by the killer due to the fact the killer was a woman. She starts to investigate the case but after the hospital killings, she is fired. Someone higher up the espionage food chain comes to her with an offer to continue her investigations.

What I like is Villanelle (Jodie Comer) the hit woman only uses her femaleness to get physically close enough to slice, stab or shoot her victims, not seduce them. It could have been easier for her to bed her victims and kill them in the throes of passion or has they sleep. There is sex in the drama for those who like that kind of thing and a warning to those who are prudish.

Her handler, as become worried for her mental health, or could she be enjoying her job to much. She was told to make killing the Polish girlfriend’s death look like suicide but went in guns blazing killing four or five. Eve has met Villanelle in the hospital scene and yet to realise it.

One of my favourite scene was the one where she was looking around a room and she was disturbed and needed to hit but where. The wardrobe! under the bed! no in a suitcase... Yes Jodie Comer hidden in one must be her party trick.

Cold toast the best

More butter please

I watched a discussion this morning on BBC breakfast as they debated hot or cold toast and thought I have an opinion on this subject it something I think about a lot, time to write something for my blog. A topic regularly discussed around many a breakfast table, which can cause a family argument.

I am an anytime is good for some toast kind of bloke but I insist on my toast being cold, stone cold. As for a spread, margarine is ok but butter is better just out of the fridge. I like my spread solid not melting away on some hot toast, which turns the bread all mushy like baby food or food for a toothless somebody. Something that turns my stomach up is people like my dad who dip their toast in their cup of tea! This should be banned.

As a youngster I loved making toast over an open fire either with a toasting fork or put a rack on the fire absolutely the best toast ever and giving me fond memories. These days I drop my toast into a toaster not romantic as using the fire but that is modern day technology for you.

I like my toast well browned but not burnt then I leave it to go cold before getting the butter out of the fridge it’s not spreadable so you have to slice it finely and drop it on the toast or slice it thicker for a calorie busting delight. I prefer white bread to anything else. I don’t see any reason to add anything to my toast unless I am having eggs or beans but I don’t have that for breakfast unless I am eating out.

The bread you use can make a major difference to the quality of you toast and the butter. I am not a fan of mass-produced bread I normally shop at the bakers and with butter, Anchor is my favourite by a long way. I prefer the ends of the bread, the crust for my toast and every time we have a new loaf, I AWAYS have first dibs at the crusts.

Cardiff City visit Chelsea

Cardiff City face unbeaten Chelsea tomorrow looking for their first win of their Premier League season. The Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock as defiantly stated he would not park the bus in front of Cardiff’s goal it rarely works anyway.

Neil Warnock is not overly pleased with Chelsea over his attempts to sign Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham. The Chelsea boss said the player wanted to stay at Chelsea and was surprised he changed his mind and said he wanted to go to Villa. His efforts to sign the striker failed but now Welsh international sensation Ethan Ampadu is reported as a possible new loan target.

The Premier League will test video assistant referee (VAR) technology at the Chelsea game and it will be interesting. Personally, I am on the fence over its use with mistakes made at the World Cup. The trial, will be over all five Saturday 3pm kick-offs, and like in the World Cup any decisions will be at the central VAR hub.

Communication will be with the referee and no one at the grounds at which the games are taking place. The trial limits the use of VAR to goals, penalty calls, direct red cards, and cases of potential mistaken identity.

A big decision for Warnock both Josh Murphy and Aron Gunnarsson could be available for selection for Chelsea, will he risk starting Gunnarsson who is yet to play a game this season or start him on the bench. Murphy will be assessed before Cardiff’s side is named he was a £11million buy from Norwich in the summer.

The Chelsea boss said Fabregas is training with the team and believes he could be available for the bench. He also intimated he could rest some of the players back from the international break and a few players are carrying minor injuries.

No light around the corner when it comes to predictions with Daily Mirror columnist Robbie Savage calling a 3-0 defeat but Hollywood to the rescue in the shape of Mark Wahlberg. He predicts a 2-1 for the Welshman but before you have a rush of excitement, what Wahlberg knows about football can be written on the back of a postage stamp.

Must see TV - Week beginning Sat 15 September 2018

After the last two weeks of madness with all the new programming this week, it is a bit quieter. I am still mad about ‘Bodyguard’ now I am waiting on the BBC’s ‘War of the World’ I have seen some snippets and it has me excited. Grand Design is back with a new series so be prepared to be in ore of some of these homes.

I would also like to recommend ‘Alone’ on the History Channel 10 people are hoping to spend a year in the wilderness.

Saturday – Channel 4 - The Real Football Fan Show 12:05am (New Series)

I have not been interested in this show before but with Cardiff City now in the Premier League, it must be worth a watch on catch-up later as I will be in bed when it airs.

Robbie Lyle gives supporters the chance to air their views on the latest twists and turns in the Premier League.

Saturday – BBC1 - Killing Eve 9:15pm (New Series)

Another BBC spy drama, which sees a desk-bound MI5 security officer Eve Polastri, is bored in her job and yearns for a more exciting life. When a Russian politician is murdered, she is given the task of protecting the only witness and soon finds herself on a collision course with a psychopathic assassin known as Villanelle. After the episode, the full series will be available on BBC3 on iPlayer.

Sunday – BBC2 – King Arthur’s Britain: The Truth Unearthed 9pm (New Series)

A major new excavation on the Tintagel peninsula in Cornwall sees Professor Alice Roberts pulls together the latest evidence to reveal what Dark Age Britain was really like. Long known to have been a Dark Ages settlement, the new evidence reveals that Tintagel was also a seat of power, and Alice explores the link between the location and Arthurian legend, tracking down the early sources for the period and the first written reference to King Arthur.

Monday – E4- Tattoo Fixers: Extreme 9pm (New Series)

Why I like this show I really can't say when I have no fan of tattoos! It is because I love dickheads who get stupid tattoos plastered on their bodies. Who would get these kind of tattoos! Drunk Brits that is who. Why is it fun to think it funny to have a dick tattooed on your body.

Two new artists, brothers Pash and Uzzi, join Sketch, Alice, and Paisley as they deal with more tattoo shockers, including a shocking tribute to a holiday hat trick.

Tuesday – Fox – Constantine 9pm (New Series)

Fantasy drama based on the DC Comics character John Constantine, a British exorcist, and occult detective who actively hunts supernatural entities. Constantine receives a supernatural warning about Liv Aberdine, who is threatened by mysterious forces. There was a film of the same name starring Keanu Reeves.

Tuesday – Discovery Channel – Treasure Quest: Snake Island 9pm (New Series)

More treasure hunting, which I am a sucker for hoping that one day one of these shows will hit the jackpot and find the treasure. There are believed to be thousands of treasure maps in the world with most being fake.

In a daring new expedition, the team takes on the treacherous Bolivian Andes to track down the legendary Sacambaya treasure.

Wednesday – Channel 4 – Grand Design 9pm (New Series)

In this episode, Kevin McCloud meets Spanish architect Jaime and his wife Mimi as they embark on a mission to convert a Grade II listed folly into a family home in Buckinghamshire. Giving themselves a wildly optimistic six-month deadline to finish before the birth of their second child, it's not long before the couple hit trouble. Jaime puts all his energies and creativity into the project, using innovative 3D mapping to squeeze living spaces into the tower, but it proves to be an exhausting struggle.

Wednesday – History Channel – Mountain Men 9pm (New Series)

I love the idea of living off grid somewhere like Alaska it’s the old romantic in me. But it is a pipe dream unless my homestead comes with full internet connection, and all the mod cons and a local supermarket not really off grid living. As winter approaches, Morgan battles nature to get a head start on the season.

Wednesday – History Channel – Alone 10pm (New Series)

Channel 5 is showing a programme about some TV celebrities spending 5 days alone in a warehouse inside shipping container. On the History Channel ten survivalists from previous seasons return for redemption and another chance to win the cash prize. But this time, they face the dangers of Northern Mongolia for a year.

Thursday – Channel 5 – Michael Palin in North Korea 9pm (New Series)

Oh BBC what have you done allowing Palin to slip through your fingers to Channel 5 of all places. The comedy actor presents the first of two programmes documenting life for many of the millions who live, work and have families in North Korea. Michael's arrival coincides with the historic meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and South Korean president Moon Jae-In, as he embarks on a journey of some 1,300 miles of the reclusive nation south to north visiting sites and locations rarely, if ever, explored by Westerners, he is determined to spend time with everyday Korean citizens from all walks of life.

Thursday – Yesterday – World War Weird 8pm (New Series)

Many weird weapons have come out of wars. Who would have thought a bouncing bomb would have worked. What about Churchill's plan to create a giant ship out of ice, ghost planes that fly themselves who would have thought that, and a Nazi treasure hunt.

Friday – Netflix – Maniac (available today) (New Series)

Based on the Norwegian television series of the same name it has now been Americanize by Netflix starring Hollywood big names Emma Stone (Annie Landsberg) and Jonah Hill (Owen Milgrim). The two strangers drawn to the late stages of a mysterious pharmaceutical trial, each for their own reasons. Annie’s disaffected and aimless, fixated on broken relationships with her mother and her sister. Owen, the fifth son of wealthy New York industrialists, has struggled his whole life with a disputed diagnosis of schizophrenia.

My 1st Doc Martins memory

I was reading last night about the style icon that are Doc Martens, better known as DMs. I remember the first time I bought my very first pair the beginning of 1976. Why so late because mum would normally buy me anything I needed and if I asked for new shoes they would just appear. Now she was loosening the grip with me reaching 16 years old I was trusted to do my own shopping which was a bit of a mistake.

Not as if we were loaded but I could always depend on a top-up from Nan, which meant I would have a bit more disposable income so I could shop where I wanted to shop.

In the early 60’s they were seen has, just working men’s shoes/boots but that was going to change when they entered the skinhead culture towards the end of the sixties. With football violence on the rise with skinheads in the forefront of the trouble part of their tribal uniform was steel tip working boots highly dangerous if you received a kick from them.

So the plod would make the skinheads take their boots off before entering the ground for collection after the game. To put a finger up to the plod, they started wearing DMs boots no steel cap. They have been adopted by many youth cultures up to the present day.

I had a pair of platforms, yes, they were the fashion of young males of the time, and after wearing them to death, I smash the heel off for a day off school. So I was in the market for a new pair of something and I wanted to make a statement so with money from Mum and Nan I headed to town.

One thing for sure no platforms this time I was thinking a nice pair of loafer shoes with tassels very popular footwear for your average teenager. I managed to sneak the platforms past mum, she would have never bought them by going shopping with nan. I went from shop to shop looking but was not feeling it. I was looking to be inspired! Then I remembered the shoe warehouse in an old church in Fredrick Street long gone now so I headed in that direction.

Inside it was like Aladdin's Cave of shoes but down the back was where the good stuff was hiding, Loafers of all kinds and other shoes the youth wanted but it was the stack of Doc Martins that caught my eye. It was love at first sight; perusing them, the price was just a bit more than I could afford. I was supposed to be out hunting down some shoes for school but a few tales and heavy saving and a top-up I was back the following Saturday.

With the words from mum suitable shoes for school echoing round my head I was drawn to a pair of  Oxblood Doc Martin boots, black would be ok but as I said l was in love. Without again parent guidance, it was the cherry red boots at tempted me not the shoe but it was the boot then home to a disapproving mum. On the Monday it was the same in school as expected, “Don’t wear them to school again Ugarte, black shoes only” oh well it made a change from telling me to get my haircut.

So it was to school with a grubby old pair of shoes but come home time I was straight into my DMs, Ben Sherman shirt, flair jeans, and my longish hair for a strut around. They were only the 5 lace hole boots not a pair of those 14 lace hole skyscrapers beloved by your hardcore skinhead.