I Love Spam 80 Years Old Today

If you mention Spam to your friends the immediate reaction you can expect them to either love it or hate it, more hate than anything else. While I myself love the stuff with a spam sandwich up there in my list of much loved sandwiches.

Its 80 years today since the legendary SPAM® Chopped Pork and Ham was launched. It first hit the shelves in 1937 and became popular during World War II with some saying it helped win the war.

My first and one of my most lasting memories of Spam are from my early years. Going around Saddlers shop for a quarter of a pound of slice spam. He would (Mr Saddler) would drop the slab of spam onto a meat slicer and slice away... I would be transfixed watching the meat slider back and fore so much, I never forgot and a few years ago bought a smaller version of a meat slicer.

In school when I took sandwiches I was not popular when it came to a sandwich swap with my spam and tomato sarnies, which I was happy about anyway. It was not just in school anywhere my trusted spam sandwiches and I ventured we were treated with distain.

Even on Boxing Day on an away trip to watch Cardiff City play in some far flung city in England with a coach full of other people tucking into leftover Turkey sandwiches from Christmas Day. I was safe in the knowledge no one would be chasing me around the coach for my sandwiches. They were safe.

Who can forget the famous Monty Python sketch with Spam? Two customers are lowered into a greasy spoon café via wires and try to order a breakfast. The menu includes Spam in almost every dish, much to the consternation of one of the customers.(see video below)

Over here if Spam does not come in a tin then it is Chopped pork due to the American Spam company copyrighting the name SPAM. Seems a bit unfair but I like both. In fact, I celebrated with some spam sandwiches for lunch.

Spam is hugely popular in Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, there is a restaurant based entirely around Spam. The Spam Jam Restaurant features the Spam burger, Spam spaghetti, Spam, and egg, and a variety of other Spam-inspired dishes it could be right out of a Monty Python sketch.

A Midday Memory

We have some light rain today with the possibility of sunny times later in the afternoon so the lane at the back of our house should be full of kids playing. You never see them playing outside their front doors mainly because the road is busy as hell. If it was not for the lane, I do not think you see them out playing.

My playground growing up was our streets, park and around the river but we were always on the lookout for more fun things to do. The streets were empty of cars I was in my old street a while ago and cars were bumper to bumper. We would head across the other side of the river to seek out more adventures that was always fun or over Cardiff Docks to a place called by us ‘The Burning Ground’ an old coal slag heap. It was burning somewhere underneath the tons and tons of coal slag but was overgrown was grass and trees or we would go over the foreshore and just hung out if you could dodge the police.

This was in the late 60s and early 70s the older we got the more adventurous we became. Once we got bike’s we were on the receiving end of more freedoms.

I remember we descended on an adventure playground opened for our friends over the river. The volunteers were happy to see us anyway, the local youth maybe not and later the point was proven when we went home for something to eat we came back to find our den we built earlier was burnt to the ground.

Even with adult volunteers present, we still made the rules, and there was no shadowy organization called “Health and Safety” dedicated to ruining children’s fun like these days. We could jump, climb, and play with hammers and no safety gear in sight.

We would cycle up to Blackweir and beyond before the Taff trail or over to Cosmeston lake before what it has developed into today. I never remember telling mum were I was going she would say something like “Don’t go too far”, as I would. Out of sight out of mind was my goal. We would local most of the time there was so much for us to do.

Doctor Who Finale - TV Review

The Doctor Who finale threw up a huge shock, with David Bradley playing the First Doctor (William Hartnell) arriving in a snowy wasteland to meet Peter Capaldi's current Time Lord... who did not regenerate.

That will now happen in the Christmas special I guess, as we know Capaldi is leaving the show and it was confirmed his companion/sidekick (Pearl Mackie) Bill is also leaving the show after she dies or did she and human again thanks to Heather who we last saw in the opening episode of the series.

Bill develop what turns out to be a mutual attraction to Heather “The Pilot", fellow student in this finale, as she still wanted to make Bill her passenger. Heather is some kind of fluid based alien. Bill disappeared with Heather holding hands and jumping through the TARDIS door after Heather mysteriously sets the controls.

The time lords plus sidekicks are now on a level of the colony ship, which contains a solar farm where some adult humans and a large number of children are being protected from the Cyberman. Nardole the other companion/sidekick was also set to leave the Doctor’s side he was left behind on the giant colony ship in the event horizon of a black hole after beating off the Cyberman.

Other huge shock saw The Master and Missy who are one in the same and a bit creepy when The Master hit on Missy but it lead to an epic showdown.

Missy gets the first move when they embrace and she stabs The Master who collapses into Missy’s arms. She helps him onto the lift as Missy turns and walk away to help the Doctor she receives a blast from The Masters sonic screwdriver. She lays there looking dead while The Master heads down to the first floor in the lift and his TARDIS clutching a wound.

What an episode for The Doctor himself, and we see Capaldi at is best and it looks like he will now regenerate on Christmas Day after seemingly being killed by a blast from a Cyberman, then doing everything to try to prevent regenerate.

Has he lays there in a blackened and smouldering countryside his eyes slowly close. We then see Nardole standing in a bright green field outside the lift door. Then the Bill and Heather scene where Bill is standing outside her Cyberman suit, which falls to the floor and Heather, appears from a puddle and they kiss and take the Doctor back to the TARDIS. Has he lays there regeneration looks to be beginning and then we are treated to some flash backs to previous Doctor’s and companions and he then jumps up saying he does not want to go.

He stumbled from the TARDIS into a snowy wasteland to be greeted by the First Doctor, the grumpy old granddad first played by William Hartnell when the sci-fi series began in 1963. Doctor Who writers had delivered a huge shock and a brilliant twist!

The First Doctor is central to the upcoming Christmas special, which will see Peter Capaldi’s Doctor at last regenerate into the latest incarnation of the Time Lord. But who exactly that remains a closely guarded secret…

Then We Had Colour - A Memory

I am old enough to remember the time black and white TV was the norm and then the roll out of colour TV I was there when it arrived. It was big news in the press telling everyone they needed to own a colour TV.

We rented our TV from Granada and we pay to view via a coin meter which mum preferred because if the TV needed repair or replacement it was sorted as it was all part of the deal.

I cannot really remember but before Decimalisation Day, I think we were putting a Half-crown in the meter and afterwards 50p coin. I think each coin gave you two/three hours viewing before you had to put another coin in the meter. It seemed more than fair amount of time with only the three channels and the amount of time the TV channels were not broadcasting.

The first colour TV broadcast was on Saturday, July 1, 1967, BBC 2's coverage of the Wimbledon tennis tournament, hit our screens but at 4 Pomeroy St we were still in the Dark Ages of black and white TV . The Granada man had no joy selling this new-fangled technology nonsense. It was down to mum not liking the new rental terms. She was in it for the long game knowing the rental price would come down. Any way most programming was still black and white anyway. It was a long wait, two years but I did not care I was happy playing in the street.

It was just before Wimbledon 1969 we saw colour in our house as mum explained to me years later. The Granada man was at the house emptying the meter and mum was saying she was looking forward to Wimbledon giving the green light to the collector the turn on the charm and so hard sell. “Mrs Ugarte watching Wimbledon in colour is a whole different experience” that kind of thing.

With a rental deal agreed mum stipulated only if it was install tomorrow, it normally took a week, or more, but mum was adamant tomorrow or no deal. Given the thumbs up mum left it quiet from the rest of us so on Friday coming home from school there it was colour TV and I even remember what I saw… horse racing.

That night we all sat there watching our new colour TV with mum enjoying Coronation Street and dad could not wait for some football. Has for me, I was soon bored and back outside in the street with my mates.

Movie Date - Transformers: The Last Knight

So yesterday I was hoping to surprise the wife with a film date seeing has we were both in town for eye tests. I said surprise however; I first needed to make sure she was carrying her CEA card. I checked her purse and it was nowhere so I had to ask where it was so spoiling my planned surprise.

The card allows a disabled person to take a carer in free for a yearly registration fee of £6 plus a photo, which entitles you to reduced admission to cinemas. Which meant our trip cost us £2.50 each on a shared bases.

We were early for out test and while sitting around outside waiting and who popped up in my line of view… friend Gillian. We had a chat and then Dad just appeared out of nowhere. I got the all clear on my eyes, which have improved a nice surprise but I still need glasses.

I had it in mind to go to Premier Cinema it was the closes to our opticians but first I was not too happy with the disability facilities you had to press for assistance to get in for wheelchair users. And the next film was My Cousin Rachel, which I declared a non-event and the wife gave the thumbs down to Transformers: The Last Knight so we decided to wander to Cineworld were we would have more choice.

There was a lot more on offer a Cineworld. I was hoping for The Mummy or Wonder Woman but neither were showing until later but there was an action film on offer, yes you can guess, Transformers. With a bit of pressure I got my way and Transformers it was going to be. I owe the wife a film, a chicky film and hopefully my plus one reserve her friend Karen could go in my place.

I love the cinema in the afternoon as they are always nearly empty and besides us, there will five other people in the theatre.

On the screen was the reported final instalment of this franchise, which I must say is getting tiresome now. To prove the point the film opens in the Dark Ages as King Arthur and Lancelot are preparing to enter a brutal battle against the Saxons.

The battle is not going Arthur’s way as he waits on Merlin to materialize with some magical surprise that could be of the metal kind. When Merlin finally turns up it is with a three-headed metal dragon, which vanquishes the Saxon army, and he returns with a newly acquired magic staff of some importance. Remember the round table and the knights well I bet you do not remember the twelve Transformer Knights of the Round Table.

Bang and we are back to the present day and the Transformers are no longer allies, humanity in the guise of the Transformer Reaction Force (TRF) who are now hunting them down and destroying them worldwide but for Cuba where they are free to frolic on the beach. Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) is still team Transformers hiding them in his junkyard with the TRF on his trail. Where is Optimus Prime? Floating through space to home world, Cybertron where he meets a sorceress named Quintessa Prime who is on a mission to find the magic staff, turns Prime to a badie, and is rename Nemesis Prime by the sorceress.

The Eye Candy

We learn the Transformers have been around for centuries helping worthy causes for humankind – including helping to destroy the Nazis in World War II. How they remained hidden to the general public all these years is never really explained. I mean they are somewhat hard to miss and they do substantial damage when engaged.

This is only the leading edge of a plot involving an ancient secret society, headed by Lord Sir Edmund Burton (Sir Anthony Hopkins). Surely, he must have been in the film for a payday. He is also on the lookout for the magic staff and sends his butler come robot Cogman to the USA to bring Yeager to England where he joins up with a sexy upper-crust professor Viviane Wembley (Laura Haddock) the eye candy. We find Wembley is a descendant of Merlin and can wheeled the magic staff and stop Quintessa Prime plans to destroy earth to make a new home world for the Transformers.

Fleeing the TRF who followed Yeager to England he and Wembley follow clues left by the latter's father that lead them, Bumblebee, and Cogman to take the submarine HMS Alliance being use as a museum into the sea to find the Cybertronian Knights' sunken ship, in which they discover the tomb of Merlin and the staff.

The rest of the film you can guess there is plenty of crash bang wallop. A devilish car chase with Transformers duking it out with earth soldiers fighting their ground bravely. At the final battle around Stonehenge, there is a brief appearance of British Troops and tanks.

OK I Watch Big Brother last Night

I am not a fan of Big Brother other than in memory of my dear old mum who love BB I watch the launch night and the finale night. I do have a bit more interest in Celebrity Big Brother depending who is going in.

Yesterday my social media timeline lit up especially Twitter with news of some guy called Lotan a Dreamboys stripper who was removed from the Big Brother house following an explosive ruckus in the house. I made the decision to watch the highlight show later in the evening.

I remembered most of the inmates from launch night with a few new faces. Savannah, wow from Ireland and Isabelle a strangely orange lady. Some help was provided on the previous night action via some flash back and it was spicy with Lotan and Isabelle at the centre of most of the arguing with Dreamboy at one point smashing his way our but cool down and later returned.

Last night it was the normal shit until the BB controllers dished out the alcohol to the inmates/kids and topping it off with a game that was always going to lead to trouble and insults to each other. I have seen this game by BB before where they lit a fuse in a group knowing it could spark conflict and generate ratings for a dying show.

The bad blood between Lotan and Isabelle was still simmering all Sunday after Saturday the whole group were tense. The housemates were handed a game sure to cause trouble and the game mixed with alcohol were they have to describe one another it soon kicked off. Isabelle told Lotan he was vain always checking himself out in the many mirrors around the house. Isabelle then said 'You're supposed to be a role model for your son as well.'

Clearly, touching a nerve with Lotan, he shouted: 'Can you stop talking, you are boring the s*** out of me.'

Enraged, Lotan jumps up and throws water at Isabelle, hitting other housemates and within seconds, everyone was shouting, pushing trying to have their say while Lotan heads for the dairy room with his little sidekick Tom who himself is on a final warming for sexual intimidation. Ellie (team Lotan) then attempts to block others trying to catch Lotan with it turning into a mega shouting and finger pointing fest. House security rushed in an attempt to quiet the situation down.

Lotan had been digging at Isabelle constantly from what I could see to her face and behind her back, and what kind of role model was that to his son or anyone. He deserved to be given the boot

He will be heading for the dole queue and the Dreamboys after kicked him out following his ejection from the Big Brother house for violent aggression on more than one occasion,

Releasing an official statement online, the Dreamboys company said: “We can confirm that Lotan is no longer a part of The Dreamboys. His contract with the group ended when he entered the Big Brother house, win, lose or draw, and he will not be returning to The Dreamboys show.

“Lotan had been part of The Dreamboys for seven years but we believe his time had come and Lotan wanted to pursue other ventures, which we recognised and respect.

Sunday Crush - Caroline Munro - Lambs Navy Rum

Nothing secret about this crush because she was everywhere in the streets, Newspapers and Magazines has the promotion girl for Lambs Navy Rum I am talking of Caroline Munro.

Yes she was everywhere from billboards to adverts in papers and you could not help but notice her fine body and other attributes, a mean cleavage. I like boobs what can I say I still do but I know there is more to woman a than their chests but they are interesting. She was very easy on the eye.

According to the bio on Caroline Munro, her break into the celebrity live style was when a friend sent a headshot picture of her into The Evening News's "Face of the Year" contest. On winning her prize was a photoshoot with, David Bailey one of the biggest fashion photographers around at the time. It opening up to the world of fashion and Vogue magazine.

That led to some film credits and then a screen test for the home for all British busty actresses, Hammer Film. In 1971, she appeared alongside Vincent Price in The Abominable Dr Phibes playing his young wife and the sequel.

The mid-seventies was the peak of Caroline’s celebrity, as she took part in the classic fantasy The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (maybe her most cherished role among her fans), The Devil Within Her, At the Earth’s Core, and a James Bond movie, The Spy Who Loved Me (which depicts her as a helicopter pilot).

Blur - No Distance Left to Run (2009 Documentary)

With the wife in full soap opera mode last night, I was in the need to while away two hours of crap so I put the headphones on and dived into YouTube. I have nothing prepared so I when along my playlist picking the odd tune and while listening to some Blur I spied a documentary of the band and decided to sit back and give it a watch.

I soon realised I had seen the starting 20 minutes or so but I could not have finished it. It was a very interesting look into the band from their beginnings, Britpop, Oasis, the break up and the healing to them coming back for their 2009 reunion gigs.

During the Britpop frenzy between Blur and Oasis I was on the fence as I like both although I would not call myself a fan of either really.

There are very few Brits of the time could deny that Blur helped define a pivotal moment in modern music. Their recent mammoth shows, after a 9-year hiatus, were a testament to the support that remains for them. Hearing the opening for Song 2 at the beginning of the trailer takes you straight back to remembering a period in music that was incredibly exciting and dramatic.

The Blur band members (Damon Albarn - Singer/Guitar, Graham Coxon · Guitar, Alex James - Bass, and Dave Rowntree - Drums) give exceedingly honest accounts of their feelings towards each other. their emotions, their ambitions, the stories behind the songs / albums, their personal lives, the split-up and the reunion ... all interlaced with great gig footage and behind the scenes "never seen before" footage that really draws you into the inner circle of the make-up of the band.

The four members of the band have always been intriguing and their post-blur careers very varied, from James’ cheese making antics, Dave’s foray into politics and Damon’s enormous success with other musical interests like Gorillazs.

But it's shy guitarist Graham Coxon who steals the show, he seems the unlikeliest of pop stars, which explains much of why he found his fame so hard to deal with. He did not same to like much about the time in the band including the music and hated the label Britpop.

Filmed throughout the band’s 2009 rehearsals and acclaimed summer tour, No Distance Left to run finds all four members of Blur together for the first time in nine years. With previously unseen archive material alongside new interviews, the film recounts the highs and lows of a British band from the late 80’s to their headline return at Glastonbury and Hyde Park. The result is a musing on Englishness and identity and a portrait of friendship and resolution.

This is a very interesting film/documentary - and it is great to get an inner perspective of what motivates drives bands such as Blur in this "fly on the wall" way - as well as getting the real take on what the creative influences were behind many of their songs albums

The outside BOG a memory

Not our toilet but enough to give
me the 'he be je bes'

While sitting on the toilet (bog) earlier surrounded in comfort my mind drifted to my childhood and the toilet arrangements back in my distant passed in Pomeroy Street. It wasn’t really a pleasant memory has we lived in an old Victorian terrace house with an outside toilet and it wasn’t the best of places in the world to spend some time contemplating the ‘meaning of life’ or even read a newspaper.

It was a miserable place to visit seeing it was impossible not to spend any time there because everyone needs a number 1 or 2 more than once daily. Built to the side of the house out our back yard it never looked inviting. If you had a small washbasin, it was deemed the height of luxury and wealth. Our toilet had no such luxurious, the roof leaked, the paint was flaking off the wall, the door was drafty, and I remember the floor tiles were even freezing in the summer.

The last thing anyone wanted to do was be caught short in the middle of the night especially in the dead of winter. In door potties were popular although I was not versed to having a sneaky pee out of the bedroom window, no really I didn't. I can easily remember having to use the toilet with the water frozen and with nothing else to do but pour hot water down the pan and salt. If the water cistern and pipes were frozen, they would stay frozen until the thaw set in. Then while we waited, it would be down to the bucket, which was a shocking state of affair.

You would be sitting or standing with all kinds of creepy crawlies scurrying around I just hated it and remember I was doing this daily until we moved and I was 21. Newspaper for toilet paper, shoved behind the pipe and it was rough as hell on my tender backside the outside toilet was one of the reasons my mum hated visitors. Funny thing was I don’t think any visitors were eager to use our toilet facilities they would prefer to sit there with their legs crossed.

Even when I went to school, there was still an outside toilet block I didn’t much like them preferring the black hole of Calcutta at my house. I remember the first time I used an indoor toilet, and heading towards the backdoor only to the told the toilet was upstairs. In the house and upstairs! It was all too much to take in really.

There was no way our landlord would be up to modernising our house his agent was only interested in collecting the rent. He was happy for mum and dad to part with what little money they had to do small upgrades.

Fixtures Out - First game away at Burton Albion - First home gave Aston Villa

We have the 2017/2018 Championship fixtures released earlier this morning. I was overjoy with excitement at the prospect of the new upcoming season hoping my club Cardiff City have a better season. I know it is a few months away from the kick off, but I still get a tingling feeling run up my back.

The people behind compiling the fixture list for 2017/2018 will had to fit 2,036 matches, across the Premier League and Football League over a nine-month period leaving space for schedule Cup fixtures and International breaks. So many variations have to come into play in compiling the fixture like if Cardiff City are playing at home Swansea must play away. Liverpool and Everton never play home games on the same days and just think of London. That must be a nightmare.

Like many fans I was sitting back waiting on the 9 am release with my chosen port of call was the reliable BBC website. Just a bit of a hiccup with the loss of the internet had me in a bit of a panic but it was easily sorted. Today is better since the arrival of the internet the days of listening to the local radio for a snippet of news until the full list was in the Echo later. Now at 9am like magic the full list will appear on my computer screen.

I always have my eye on those relegated from the Premier League. They are nearly always flagged up with the bookies to be favourites for a speedy return back to the Promised Land but that is not always the case.

I have a bit of a tradition I follow every release day I always check out the first and last games and then the Christmas/New Year fixtures before perusing the rest of the list at my leisure.

Who knows what next season will bring but let us hope more joy than heartache fingers crossed.

Full List

Cardiff have an away fixture to kick off their season on August 5 against Burton Albion and the first home game the following Saturday is against Aston Villa. Those of us interested in the ‘Sevenside’ derby against Bristol City have to wait until November 4 and that is the away fixture with the home game end of February at the Cardiff City stadium. I would not be surprise if both these fixtures were likely to be subject to change and could be televised.

Over the Christmas and New Year Cardiff, have two home games. Boxing Day Fulham with visit the Cardiff City Stadium and a few days later Preston are visiting. New Year’s Day hungover Cardiff fans have to travel to the ‘smoke’ and QPR.

Come May 6 and the last game of the season and hopefully a promotion party at the CCS Reading are the visitors.

The fixtures are not written in stone just yet. Now the police will be having their say about the spicy games high on the polices radar. Then the TV companies have their say although the Premiership take most of the TV schedule there is still bits left on the table for the Football league. Cardiff must also play second base to Rugby international fixtures. There some interesting team coming out of Division 1 with Sheffield Untied, Bolton, and ruddy Millwall. The Championship will not be a walk over with many teams capable of a league finish in the top six. It could be another interesting season.

Sunday Crush – Claudia Cardinale - Actress

I did not have to think too hard about this week’s crush she just fell into my lap as I watched ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’ 1968. I was about 13/14 when I first saw the film on TV and she made her mark on me playing a whore marrying for money.

I actually saw her again last night in another film ‘Lost Command’ 1966, were she played an Arab terrorist. I am talking about Claudia Cardinale and she is just major sex appeal on legs.

She is an Italian Tunisian film actress who appeared in some of the most acclaimed European films of the 1960s and 1970s, mainly Italian or French, but also in several English films.

The unmistakable, naturally deep voice, the sun-kissed olive tan, the long, dark, and silky hair... Claudia Cardinale is, in my opinion, one of the undisputed European sex kittens of the last century. With a look that makes you want to wrap yourself around her with her beautiful killer smile.

Her way into the movie business was by way of a beauty pageant. She was 17 years old and studying in Rome when she entered a beauty contest, which resulted in her getting a succession of small film roles. It also lead to plenty of photo shoots for magazines.

She was soon in demand in Europe and soon Hollywood were she found it difficult to settle.

Cardinale epitomised the hot-blooded Italian vixen! It is disappointingly clear that God just do not make women like her anymore.

The Cruel Sea (1953) - Film Review

A Saturday afternoon when the football season is over can be incredibly boring I have no interest in the Confederation Cup. However, I lucked on to the film “The Cruel Sea” a film I have seen umpteen times but still it is one of the greatest war films ever.

"The men are the heroes. The heroines are the ships. The only villain is the sea, the cruel sea." A quote from the film made by that accomplished actor, the late Jack Hawkins, as Captain Ericson of His Majesty's Ship, Compass Rose, a flower class corvette.

The Atlantic battle was the longest fought campaign of the war. Only ending when what was left of the German U-Boat fleet surfaced.

The film opens with the refit of the Compass Rose before sea trials. Ericson’s fellow officers are all recently commissioned "green" young officers, Lockhart tells Ericson that his only nautical experience was sailing a 5-ton yawl on the Solent. The overbearing first lieutenant, known in naval terms as number one, is Bennett soon the officers plot to help him leave the ship by dropping the hint that a suspected ulcer could put him ashore. He quickly becomes ill and leaves the ship.

The first scenes of war at sea; and close up, are sobering and ugly. Shots of rescued survivors from sunken merchantmen. Cold wet and gasping for breath and trying to hang on to life. Coughing and throwing up oil, their lungs full of the smelly black slime. Some of the poor devils make it. Others do not and are committed back to the deep cruel sea...And into God's care.

The hunt for U-Boats is well filmed. One boat? Maybe a wolf pack lurking out there with deadly intent. Compass Rose manoeuvring, its asdic/sonar equipment working like a bloodhound's nose, sniffing for a kill.

Ericson's falters when he orders depth charges to be dropped among struggling survivors in the water when he suspects a U-boat lurking under them, as the depth charges explode one of his crew can be her shouting “bloody murderer”. Later, alcohol does not really help to save his conscience a group of captains come to his cabin to tell him he was right in what he done, they understood.

On another convoy, the Compass Rose develops engine trouble and as to stop for repairs on a calm sea with the possibility, they could be attacked at any time. Repairs fix they come across a U-Boat stalking the convoy and attack sinking it making the first kill for Compass Rose.

Back in port, the love interest enters the film ‘The lovely from Ops’ who Lockard immediately falls for. On the return from another convoy, their homeport has suffered a major air attack the captain orders local men with families to get the first shore leave. In another poignant scene Petty Officer Tallow is give shore leave and heads for his sister's house accompanied by Petty Officer Watts only to find his sister's house demolished, and his sister killed during a night time Luftwaffe raid.

It is the turn of Compass Rose to become a victim of a U-Boat's torpedo. It strikes at night with surprising suddenness. Before abandoning the bridge, he can hear the men blow screaming for help as the ship begins to capsize.

Ericson is appointed to command a new class of corvette with the, Saltash Castle, his new ship along with promotion to full commander he tells Lockhart he could have his own ship but he decides to stick with Ericson. They are ordered to escort duty in the arctic run to Murmansk via the North Cape of Norway. Near the end, Ericson claims a second U-Boat sunk forcing it to the surface and finally gets to see the enemy close up.

In the closing scenes of the film with the war over, Saltash Castle slowly slips by a group of surrendered U-Boats moored together, as she arrives at her anchorage. After anchoring, Ericson's call, "Finished with main engine”, gives a nice ring to the final scenes in this film. There is an air of relaxation between Ericson and Lockhart as they reminisce on the ship's bridge. They talk of men who never made it through to the end. Ferraby, who was a broken man in hospital and Morell, Stratton, Tallow, Watts and the other crewmembers who all when down with the Compass Rose would out see this sight.

Carsbao Cup ... Pompey Home

Cardiff City’s first fixture was announced early today for the EFL Cup now rebranded the Carsbao Cup a Thai energy drink company with a tiny toe in football. They are main sponsors of EFL Championship side Reading plus Chelsea and Reading ladies and training kit for Chelsea.

The draw took place in Bangkok, Thailand and was streamed to the UK must have been part of the reported £18million, three-year deal with the EFL to become the competition's title sponsor. Has for the stream it must have been an embarrassment to the new sponsors. No sound at my end and it seemed the same for everyone else watching via Facebook and then the feed went dead, very disappointing.

The opening round of the competition, which was split into a Northern section and Southern, will be played in the week commencing 7th August. The draw is regionalised to minimise travelling time for supporters in the first round.

There were seventy EFL clubs in the draw including relegated Sunderland. Cardiff City my team were seeded in the Southern round and have a home game, which is good and against newly promoted Division 1 club Portsmouth.

The League/Carsbao Cup is not that popular with managers or the fans with neither taking the competition seriously but an early cup victory can often go a long way to settling the nerves within the squad.

It is also one of the easiest ways to reach a Wembley final with the apathy shown by Premiership club playing reserve teams. This is why, in my view its essential not to take the opposition lightly by fielding a string of reserve team players. Winners also qualify for European football with a place in the UEFA Europa League.

That would be nice some European football back in Cardiff.