Misfits Mid-Life Crisis……..

Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures in East London & Essex.

Week 401, Saturday 19^th until Friday 25^th February 2022.

Happy bday this week to JBbomb.  

On a sad note an uncle passed away a few days ago, who met me once when I was a couple of months old.  The plan was to meet him properly later this year, R.I.P Uncle G.

This week I submitted a new article for The Doctor Who Appreciation Society (DWAS) magazine Celestial Toyroom (CT).  Late October, early November last year I was contacted and invited to submit a piece by end of Feb for the April 2022 edition.  The days, weeks and months passed and I had not written anything, because there was plenty of time to write the piece.  Last week I slightly panicked when I realised time was running out.  I knew pretty much what I wanted to write because I never find it difficult to talk about my favourite TV show, finding between 800 to 1000 words is not a problem, whether it will make sense or be interesting is another point.  The article is based on my current re-watch of the classic series one episode each evening which I started on November 23^rd the date that the programme first started in 1963.

Once completed it was emailed to the editor who replied the next day that they were happy with the piece.  A few days later l received an email asking if I still wanted to be included in the April edition as the submission window closes at the end of the month.  Reading this I was confused, it was then I noticed the name of the sender of that particular email.  The article had been sent to a different CT editor to the one that had originally asked me to submit.  To explain the magazine has a pool of people on a rota that each take responsibility for a putting together a particular month/issue.  Of course I replied  apologising straight away explaining what I had done all the time with fingers crossed hoping they will consider me in the future for another issue they are responsible for.

What happened this week has made me realise a couple of things, 1, don’t leave doing something until the last minute.  As I mentioned I have had months to write this but left it till almost the last minute because “I was busy” doing nothing.  And (Importantly) 2, check who I am supposed to be emailing.  I am putting together ideas and article for other non Doctor Who magazines; I better take note of the name of the person I am dealing with.  This really could have been very embarrassing, luckily the piece will be published I am just not sure when.

And Now For Something Completely Different……

This week I had an MRI, I was looking forward to lying in a futuristic tube hearing the strange noises the machine produced while enjoying music for 20 to 40 mins.  After reading the instructions I ensured that all my clothes were metal free.  While walking from the car to the medical centre I removed all jewellery including piercings.  My preparation pleased the technician in the MRI suite so much that I was handed ear plugs and instructed to lay down straight after walking in the room.  A small button was placed in my hand should I need assistance, apart from that I really was not told anything.

Before I knew what happened I was slide inside the hole of the donut that is the machine.  I realise this will sound silly, but I did feel disappointed about the fact  that I was not offered or asked about music I might want to listen to.  This meant for however long I was inside the hole I listened to the amazing sounds that the machine made, noises that really could have been composed and produced by the sadly defunct BBC Radiophonic Workshop.  I found myself listening to the sounds counting the gaps between beats treating it as if it was music.  The sounds were so strange i imagined the technician standing next to the machine banging it with a metal pipe while others played into the machine the sounds from a 1970s BBC Sound Effects record.  Am I strange that I was actually entertained by the weird noises?

Once out of the machine I was told results would be available in a few days, so of course I went home.  As I left the building I scratched my left ear and discovered with shock a piercing I had totally forgotten about. Standing outside I did consider walking back inside to mention it, I didn’t.  The technician had not noticed it while the scan took place and the stud had not been ripped from head as I enjoyed I strange noises the donut made.  If the results have been messed up because of my error then I will just enjoy the buzzes, bangs and rattling sounds all over again at a future appointment.  Lesson learned; check that ALL piercing are removed next time.

And Finally……

I overheard a woman on a phone as she passed me in a supermarket saying “I’ve left the package behind”.  What made me smile was the fact that the lady was heavily pregnant, I would have loved to have said that she had the package with her.  Of course I didn’t, but this thought did amuse me.

My Mid Life Crisis Conts……

This week I have watched:

“24”, (S1, 7am to  8am)(8am to 9am).  “Babylon 5“, (S1, ep 20).  “Behind The Scenes With Zoe Lister-Jones From Life In Pieces (CBS News)”, (YouTube)(TX: 28/02/18).  “Big Jet TV – Live From Heathrow Airport”, (Facebook)(TX: 20/02/22).  “Blake’s 7”, (SD, ep 6).  “Chosen”, (S1, ep 3).  “Click”, (TX: 19/02/22).  “Colin Hanks On Playing A Dad Vs. Being A Dad (The Late Show With Stephen Colbert)”, (YouTube)(TX: 20/01/16).  “Conversations With Life In Pieces (SAG – AFTRA Foundation)”, (YouTube)(TX: 29/03/16).  “Dad’s Army”, (S5, ep 7 to ep 13)(BBC DVD Extra, “We Are The Boys… John Laurie)(S6, ep 1 to ep 4).  “Dad’s Army – My Brother And I”, (TX: 26/12/75).  “Dad’s Army – The Love Of Three Oranges”, (TX: 26/12/76).  “Death In Paradise”, (S11, ep 7, TX: 18/02/22).  “Inside Job”, (S1, ep 5 to ep 10).  “Lexx”, (S3, ep 1).  “Life In Pieces”, (S1, ep 4 to ep 22)(S2, ep 1 to ep 22)(S3, ep 1 to ep 22)(S4, ep 1 to ep 13).  “Louis Theroux’s Forbidden America “, (ep 2, “Rap’s New Frontline”, TX: 20/02/22).  “Love Hurts”, (S1, ep 4 & ep 5).  “Raising Dion”, (S1, ep 4).  “Shakespeare And Hatherway – Private Investigators”, (S1, ep 3 to ep 5).  “Sisyphus: The Myth”, (S1, ep 5 & ep 6).  “Snowpiercer”, (S3, ep 5).  “Space Force”, (S2, ep 3).  “Stargate Atlantis”, (S4, ep 15 & ep 16).   “Starstruck”, (S2, ep 3 & ep 4).  “The Apprentice”, (S16, ep 8, TX: 24/02/22).  “The Apprentice You’re Fired”, (S16, ep 8, TX: 24/02/22).  “The Curse”, (S1, ep 5 & ep 6).  “The Graham Norton Show“, (S29, ep 19, TX: 18/02/22)(ep 20, TX: 25/02/22).  “The Last Leg”, (S24, ep 5, TX: 25/02/22).  “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”, (S2, ep 1 & ep 2).  “The Protector”, (S1, ep 4).  

“Doctor Who Watched This Week”……

“The Myth Makers”, (S3, Prod Code U).  Ep 3, (Loose Cannon Recon)“Death Of A Spy”, (TX: 30/10/65).  Ep 4, (Loose Cannon Recon)”Horse Of Destruction“, (TX: 06/11/65).

“The Dalek Master Plan”, (S3, Prod Code V).  Ep 1, (Loose Cannon Recon)”The Nightmare Begins”, (TX: 13/11/65).  Ep 2,“Day Of Armageddon”, (TX: 20 /11/65).  Ep 3, (Loose Cannon Recon)”Devil’s Planet”, (TX: 27/11/65).  Ep 4, (Loose Cannon Recon)”The Traitors”, (TX: 04/12/65).  Ep 5, “Counter Plot”, (TX: 11/12/65). 

This week I have listening to:

“Box Of Delights”, (S3, ep 16, 21/05/20)(ep 17, 22/03/20).  “Clinton Baptiste’s All-New Paranormal Podcast” (S5, ep 2, 25/02/22).  “Coronavirus Global Update”, (BBC World Service/Sounds) (19/02/22) (20/02/22) (21/02/22)(22/02/22) (23/02/22)(24/02/22) (25/02/22).  “Doctor Who – Toby Hadoke’s Time Travels  – Indefinable Magic”, (13, 21/02/22).  “Gossipmongers”, (New Series Trailer 19/02/22)(ep 1 to ep 4, 18/02/22).  “NASA: Gravity Assist”, (18/02/22).  “NASA: Houston We Have A Podcast”, (ep 233, 25/02/22).  ”Nick Abbot Whole Show”, (LBC) (19/02/22) (20/02/22) (22/02/22) (23/02/22 (25/02/22).  “Radio Astronomy (Sky At Night Magazine)”, (22/02/22).  “Rob Beckett And Josh Widdecombe Parenting Hell”, (S4, ep 9, 22/02/22)(ep 10, 25/02/22).  “Space And Things”, (STP29, 18/03/21)(STP78, 24/02/22).  “Spit Or Swallow”, (ep 57, 18/02/22).  “Star Trek Universe Podcast”, (17/01/19)(18/02/22).  “The All New Angelos And Barry Podcast”, (24/02/22).  “The Friendship Onion “, (S1, ep 40, 15/02/22)(ep 41, 22/02/22).  “The Nick Abbot Habit”, (2 x eps, 21/02/22).  “The Old Doctor Who Show Podcast”, (ep 125, 23/02/22).  “The Space Above Us”, (ep 152, 19/02/22).  “The Supermassive Podcast”, (25/02/22).  “Tripodscast”, (ep 7a, 19/02/22).  “WTB”, (S4, ep 4 (ep 64. 25/02/22).  “Wolf And Owl”, (ep 61, 23/02/22).  “What’s Your Problem With Nick Abbot And Carol Mcgiffin”, (ep 105, 21/02/22).  

Songs I Enjoyed This Week, Were By:

“Morrissey”,  “Ash”,  “David Bowie”,  “Blur”,  “Foals”,  “Foo Fighters”,  “Grace Jones”,  “Jamie T”,  “John Parr”,  “Kraftwerk”, “Manic Street Preachers”,  “Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds”,  “Razorlight”,  “Richard Ashcroft”,  “Semisomic”,  “The Cure”,  “The Housemartins”,  “The Jam”,  “The Sex Pistols”,  “Two Door Cinema Club”.

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Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures in Northamptonshire & East London.

Week 400, Saturday 12^th until Friday 18^th February 2022.

This week is the 400^th Week of this ramble; I never thought I would reach this milestone when this blog was started all those years ago.  Until recently I considered bringing this ramble to an end, but have decided to carry on.  It has been a busy week, but I just want to pat myself on the back and celebrate.

Come back next week for more of the usual moaning.  Thank you to everyone that has ever read shared and supported this tiny corner of the Internet.

Bye for now….

My Mid Life Crisis Conts……

This week I have watched:

24”, (S1, 5am to 6am)(6am to 7am).  “1970: Man Alive: Kenny Everett”, (Facebook/BBC Archive)(TX: 12/02/22).  “Babylon 5”, (S1, ep 18 & ep 19).  “Big Jet TV- Storm Eunice – Heathrow Airport”, (Facebook)(TX: 18/02/22). “Blake’s 7”, (SD, ep 5).  “Chosen”, (S1, ep 2).  “Click”, (TX: 12/02/22).  “Dads Army”, (S5, ep 5 & ep 6).  “Dancing On Ice”, (S14, ep 5, TX: 13/02/22).  “Disenchantment”, (Pt 4, ep 3).  “Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom”, (1984). “Inside Job”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 4). “Inside The Heinz Factory”, (TX: 28/03/19).  “How Do They Do It?”, (S11, ep 20, TX: 19/12/14).  “How Its Made”, (S28, ep 11, TX: 10/11/16)(ep 12, TX: 24/11/16).  “Inside Job“, (S1, ep 1 to ep 4).  “Lexx”, (S2, ep 20).  “Life In Pieces”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 3).  “Louis Theroux: American’s Most Hated Family In Crisis”, (TX: 03/04/11).  “Louis Theroux’s Forbidden America”, (ep 1, “Extreme And Online“, TX: 13/02/22).  “Love After Lock Up”, (S5, ep 3 to ep 5).  “Mountain Gorilla (BBC)”, (S1  ep 3).  “Orangutan Diary”, (S1, ep 5, 2007).  “Raising Dion”, (S1, ep 3).  “Rob & Romesh Vs The NFL”, (S1, ep 2, TX: 01/02/19).  “Shakespeare & Hatherway – Private Investigators”, (S1, ep 1 & ep 2).  “Sisyphus”, (S1, ep 5).  “Some Mothers Do Ave Em”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 7).  “Snowpiercer”, (S3, ep 4).  ”Space Force”, (S2, ep 1 & ep 2).  “Star Trek The Next Generation”, (S7, ep 16).  “Storm Area 51”, (2019).  “The Apprentice”, (S16, ep 7, TX: 17/02/22).  “The Apprentice You’re Fired”, (S16, ep 7, TX: 17/02/22).  “The Great Pottery Throw Down”, (S3, ep 7, TX: 13/02/22).  “The Last Leg”, (S24, ep 3, TX: 11/02/22).  “The Masked Singer: Grand Final”, (S3, ep 8, TX: 12/02/22).  “The Walking Dead – World Beyond”, (S2, ep 10).  “The Weakest Link”, (S14 (S1 of Revival), ep 12, TX: 12/02/22).  “The Woman In The House Across The Street From The Girl In The Window”, (S1, ep 5 to ep 8).  “The Yorkshire Vet At The Great Yorkshire Show”, (S5, ep 1, 26/09/17).  “Top Gear”, (S17, ep 1, TX: 26/06/11).

“Doctor Who Watched This Week”……

“Galaxy Four”, (S3, Prod Code T).  Ep 1, (Loose Cannon Recon)“Four Hundred Dawns”, (TX: 11/09/65).  Ep 2, (Loose Cannon Recon)“Trap Of Steel”, (TX: 18/09/65).  Ep 3, “Air Lock”, (TX: 25/09/22).  Ep 4, (Loose Cannon Recon)”The Exploding Planet”, (TX: 02/10/65).  

“Mission To The Unknown”, (S3, Prod Code T/A).  Ep 1, (Loose Cannon Recon) & (University Of Central Lancashire 2019 Recon)”Mission To The Unknown”, (TX: 09/10/65).  “The Making Of Mission To The Unknown – University Of Central Lancashire”,(YouTube)(TX: 09/10/19).

“The Myth Makers”, (S3, Prod Code U).  Ep 1, (Loose Cannon Recon)”Temple Of Secrets”, (TX: 16/10/65).  Ep 2, (Loose Cannon Recon)”Small Profit, Quick Return”, (TX: 23/10/65). 

This week I have listening to:

“Box Of Delights”, (S3, ep 15, 20/03/20).  “Clinton Baptiste’s All – New Paranormal Podcast”, (S5, ep 1, 18/02/22).  “Coronavirus Global Update”, (BBC World Service/Sounds) (12/02/22) (13/02/22) (14/02/22)(15/02/22)(16/02/22) (17/02/22)(18/02/22).  “Doctor Who – Toby Hadoke’s Time Travels – Too Much Information”, (2.4, “The Ambush”, 14/02/22).  “Farscape (Muppets In Space)”, (The Incomparable)(16/02/22).  “Mystery Hour“, (LBC)(17/02/22).  “NASA: Houston We Have A Podcast”, (ep 232, 18/02/22).  “Nick Abbot Whole Show”, (LBC) (12/02/22) (13/03/22) (18/02/22).  “Radio Astronomy (Sky At Night Magazine)”, (28/07/18) (13/03/21) (22/03/21).  “Rob Beckett And Josh Widdecombe Parenting Hell”, (S4, ep 7, 15/02/22)(ep 8, 18/02/22).  “Screw It, We’re Just Gonna Talk About The Beatles”, (ep 13, 06/04/17).  “Smerch Pod – Diamonds Are Forever”, (Pt 1, 14/02/22)(Pt 2, 15/02/22).  “Smerch Pod – Side Special – Highlander”, (27/04/18).  “Smerch Pod – Side Special – Sextette”, (20/04/18).  “Smerch Pod – Side Special – Taffin”, (06/04/18).  “Smerch Pod – Side Special – Zardoz”, (16/03/18).  “Space And Things”, (STP28, 11/03/21)(STP77, 17/02/22).  “Star Trek Universe Podcast”, (17/01/19) (12/02/22)(16/02/22).  “Strange Times Show”, (ep 400, 15/02/22).  “The All New Angelos And Barry Podcast”, (17/02/22).  “The Audio Guide To Babylon 5“, (The Incomparable) (ep 65, 30/10/16).  “WTB”, (S4, ep 3 (ep 63) 18/02/22).  “What’s Your Problem With Nick Abbot And Carol Mcgiffin”, (ep 104, 14/02/22).  “Wolf And Owl”, (ep 60, 16/02/22).

Songs I Enjoyed This Week, Were By:

“Morrissey”,  “ABC”,  “Jim Carey (singing “I Am The Walrus”)”,  “Manic Street Preachers”,  “Ok Go”,  “PJ Harvey”,  “Pulp”, “Shakespeares Sister”,  “Suede”,  “Tatu”,  “The Flaming Lips”.

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Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures in East and South West London, Surrey and Northamptonshire.

Next week is week 400, for a while I had thought that once that milestone was reached the blog would come to an end. But recent thinking is this could just be a new start, a regeneration of an old possibly tired format (or is that just me). I will speak more about what will happen in next weeks ramble, now on to Week 399 of this blog…..

First another Chewie the Hamster update. After recently being unwell, he is healthy happy and back to his normal unsociable self, which is just the way we love him.

Now This…..

Looking outside it really could be spring in London, the temperature is not as low as normal (of course I don’t know this officially, sadly I do not have any contact with Michael Fish who could advise me). In the garden flowers/plants starting to grow/bud. There also appears to be a lot more birds on the feeders. Admittedly I am lucky because as a rule I don’t feel the cold like so many friends and family, for me spring really does feel like it has sprung.

This feeling continued when I visited Kew Gardens with a friend for the third time in the last couple of years. Each time I wish I lived nearer because volunteering or even working in a paid job might be a possibility. I am not a gardener but have over the last two years I have developed an interest in getting soil under my finger nails (yes I really have stopped biting them again since end of October last year) and developed a healthy Monty Don fixation. It really is a favourite place to visit.

The day before my visit the annual festival of Orchids from Costa Rica opened. Hundreds of people flowed through the glass house every hour gazing in awe at the beautiful flowers of all size from this Central American paradise, as well as art installations inspired by the country. At the end of the of the festival there was of course a gift shop, selling extremely overpriced merch (as young people say these days). But for me what was interesting were very short filmed retrospective about the artist (one is Costa Rican) who’s pieces are dotted around the glasshouse. But more interesting was a video of Carlos Andres Alvarado Quesada the President of Costa Rica talking about the exhibition and his country. Towards the end he gestures towards the camera and welcomes us the viewers with a warm smile to visit his homeland. I wonder what the boarder officials at Juan Santamaria International Airport would say if I said that I had arrived because of an invitation from the president. I somehow suspect I would be on the next flight back to Heathrow.

I really had a great day at Kew and look forward to another very soon. Out side there were plenty of plants and flowers starting to show there heads, very soon the place will be bathed in colour, I must visit soon.

And Now For Something Completely Different……

Over the last 399 weeks one subject I talk about a lot in this blog is creativity. When I recently visited my storage I found lots of note pads full of unfinished scripts and stories. These last 10 or so years I have written a number of short films which I dreamed could one day be made. Back in 2017 a friend adapted one of my fave scripts into a audio play, I will post a link when I have it. Since last November I have been working on how I could film the script.
A couple of weeks ago I woke up from a dream and had to make notes straight away because it was a full story. The dream featured actor Imedla Staunton who would of course be impossible to cast, but there really was a fully formed idea in the dream. The script is in the process of being written, I have spoken to friends asking if they would appear and also know exactly where I want to film this. All of a sudden I find myself actively in pre-production of 2 short films. The second idea will be a lot quicker to produce and will be attempted first. I will keep you informed over the coming months as to any progress there may be.

And Finally……

While at Kew gardens I heard a child say said to its mum (I assume it was the mother, I of course don’t know that), “if you cant hear me speaking, I am talking to myself”.

My Mid-Life Crisis conts……

This Week I Watched……

“24”, (S1, “Midnight to 1am)(1am to 2am)(2am to 3am)(3am to 4am)(4am to 5am). “Babylon 5”, (S1, ep 17). “Blackadder II” (ep 6, “Chains”, TX: 20/02/86). “Blake’s 7”, (SD, ep 4). “Cheaters”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 18). “Chosen”, (S1, ep 1). “Click”, (TX: 05/02/22). “Dads Army”, (S4, ep 1 to ep 13, Crimbo Special, “Battle Of Giants”, TX: 27/12/71)(DVD extra, “We Are The Boys – James Beck”)(S5, ep 1 to ep 8)(“The Coward Revue (Dads Army Segment)”, TX: 20/01/69). “Death In Paradise”, (S11, ep 6, TX: 11/02/22). “Disenchantment”, (Part 4, ep 1 to ep 2). “How Its Made”, (S28, ep 4, TX: 19/09/16)(ep 5, TX: 07/10/16). “Lexx” (S2, ep 19). “Love Hurts”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 3). “Raising Dion”, (S1 ep 1 & ep 2). “Stargate Atlantis”, (S4, ep 13 & ep 14). “Starstruck”, (S2, ep 1 & ep 2). “Sisypmus: The Myth”, (S1, ep 3 & ep 4). “Snowpiercer”, (S3, ep 3). “The Actual Movement Of The Earth Around The Sun”, (Facebook/ The Secrets Of The Universe)(TX: 20/03/21). “The Apprentice”, (S16, ep 6, TX: 10/02/22). “The Apprentice: You’re Fired”, (S16, ep 6, TX: 10/02/22). “The Curse”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 3). “The Graham Norton Show”, (S29, ep 18, TX: 11/02/22). “The Weakest Link”, (S14 (S1 of Revival), ep 10, TX: 29/01/22)(ep 11, TX: 05/02/22). “The Woman In The House Across The Street From The Girl In The Window”, (S1, ep 3 & ep 4). “VERY Gay TV Show Tweets! – Joe Lycett”, (Facebook/Joe Lycett)(TX: 05/02/22). “Walking Dead World Beyond”, (S2, ep 9). “Watch Blue Origins NS-19 Launch And Land From Inside The Capsule”, (Youtube/CNET)(TX: 06/02/22). “You”, (S3, ep 5 to ep 10).

Doctor Who Watched This Week……

“The Chase”, (S2, Prod Code R). Ep 5, “The Death Of Doctor Who”, (TX: 19/06/65). Ep 6, “The Planet Of Decision”, (TX: 26/06/65).

“The Time Meddler”, (S2, Prod Code S). Ep 1, “The Watcher”, (TX: 03/0/65). Ep 2, “The Meddling Monk”, (TX: 10/07/65). Ep 3, “A Battle Of Wits”, (TX:17/07/65). Ep 4, “Checkmate”, (TX: 24/07/65).

This Week I Have Listened To……

“Coronavirus Global Update”, (BBC World Service/Sounds)(05/02/22)(06/02/22)(07/02/22) (08/02/22)(09/02/22)(10/02/22)(11/02/22). “Clinton Baptiste All -New Paranormal Podcast Trailer”, (09/02/22). “Clinton Baptiste Paranormal Podcast”, (S3, ep 6, 07/02/22). “Doctor Who – Toby Hadoke’s Time Travels – Happy Times And Places”, (30.5, “The Of Death”, 07/02/22)(30.6, 11/02/22). “Mystery Hour”, (LBC, 10/02/22). “NASA: Houston We HaveSeeds A Podcast”, (ep 231, 11/02/22). “Nick Abbot Whole Show”, (LBC, 05/02/22)(06/02/22)(10/02/22). “Rob Beckett And Josh Widdecombe Parenting Hell”, (S4, ep 5, 08/02/22)(ep 6, 11/02/22). “Screw It We’re Just Gonna Talk About The Beatles”, (ep 10, 16/05/17)(ep 11, 23/03/17)(ep 12, 30/03/17). “Space And Things”, (STP27, 04/03/21)(STP76, 10/02/22). “Smersh Pod – Smersh Side Special – Meteor”, (17/02/18). “Star Trek Universe”, (07/04/21)(09/02/22). “The All New Angelos And Barry Podcast”, (10/02/22). “The Audio Guide To Babylon 5”, (ep 64, 16/10/16). “The Friendship Onion”, (S1 ep 39, 08/02/22). “The Incomparable”, (The Incomparable)(ep 601, 11/01/22). “The Nick Abbot Habit”, (07/02/22). “The Space Above Us”, (ep 151, 06/02/22). “Tripodcast”, (ep 6, Pt 2, 05/02/22). “WTB”, (S4, ep 2 (ep 62), 11/02/22). “What’s Your Problem With Nick Abbot And Carol Mcgiffin”, (ep 103, 06/02/22). “Wolf And Owl”, (ep 59, 11/02/22).

“Morrissey”, “Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine”, “Death In Vegas”, “Dodgy”, “Echo And The Bunnymen”, “Embrace”, “Lush”, “Manic Street Preachers”, “Placebo”, “Shed Seven”, “Sleeper”, “Stereophonics”, “Suede”, “Texas”, “The Bluetones”, “The Cardigans”, “The Charlatans”, “The Cult”, “The Cure”, “The House Of Love”, “The La’s”, “The Sisters Of Mercy (ft Ofra Haza)”, “The Wannadies”, “The Wombats”, “The XX”.

Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures in East London and Essex.

Week 398, Saturday 29^th January until Friday 5^th February 2022..

First off this week, a Chewie the Hamster Update.  

If you haven’t read the last couple of weeks ramble Chewie the adopted Hamster was not well with an abscess on/in his left cheek.  Pleased to say the vet has discharged him and commented what a great patient he was.  The twice a day meds ended this week, our little boy is back to normal.

And Now This……

This week I tried to book a Doctors Appointment and was told there is nothing until Feb 28th.  The receptionists said to either go to A&E or call the NHS non-emergency contact number 111.  I certainly will not go and clog up A&E sitting in the waiting room for 4 to 5 hrs before being seen about a non-serious matter.  The NHS 111 service is a call centre run by non-medically trained operators who use screen prompts to assist them, though I believe they have access to medical professionals if needed.  It’s not an option I want to use, I am not saying it’s not good, the people do excellent work but they are not General Practitioners.

I just want an appointment with a local Dr my practice is still only doing phone appt as a rule, only inviting people into the surgery if they have to.  The local NHS service was critically Ill before Covid, it couldn’t cope due to underfunding.  But Covid really has brought the whole service to its knees even a defibrillator wouldn’t help.  I live in East London not in the middle of nowhere the service should be given the last rights.

And Now For Something Completely Different……

For the last few months I have been doing what is described as a “Mystery Shopper” project with the organisation I have worked for over the last 4 years.  My manager gave me a long list of telephone numbers within the company all I do is ring them up randomly noting the time they took to answer and many others details.  If the call is answered all I need to say is “wrong number”, then moving on the next.  It’s so much less stressful than what I was doing, plus I get to watch stuff or listen to pods while working which also makes it very appealing.

I mentioned it was less stressful than what I had been doing, that changed a little this week when a couple of people started to ring me back.  My face would have looked horrified if you could have seen it as the phone rang, even I don’t know the number of the work phone I have used for 23 months.  Of course I didn’t answer it, I frozen sitting completely still as if that would help until the ringing to stop.  Since then as soon as I have made a call I ensure that the line is busy so no one can ring me.  The stress level went up another notch a couple of days ago when someone called me by my name, I panicked said sorry and ended the call very quickly.  When I started this in November I asked if my contact info will appear on the screen of the person or dept I am ringing, of course I was assured they wouldn’t know as this is an anonymous project.  Obviously my info is being seen, this has been mentioned but I suspect nothing can be done.

I am not sure how much longer this project will last, as long as they pay me I am happy to ring up and say “wrong number” all day.  It’s not a challenging position but after the last few years it is wat I needed.  Thinking about the project, my managers really should have sent something around the organisation to inform other departments about what we are doing and why.  The people I ring must get real wrong number calls every day, but if they knew of the project and keep hearing my voice they wouldn’t wonder what is happening.  Will I still be ringing people up and ending the call by the end of the month, time will tell.

And Finally……

Two friends were chatting when the smart speaker in the corner of the room piped up it could make fart noise, the friends had not been talk g about bodily functions.  One of my friends couldn’t resist and took the machine up on its request (it’s always listening).

I got very excited one morning this week, when I saw the blue eyed cat walking through the garden.  My friend stopped work, walked across the room to have a look.  The cat stopped looked at us and started to do a big dump in my friend’s garden.  Oops.

Last week this blog had a lot of views from Ireland.  I have never been there, but would love to.  Hello to anyone and everyone on the beautiful Island of Ireland.

My Mid Life Crisis Conts……

This week I have watched:

“A Tale Dark & Grimm”, (S1, ep 1 to 3).  “Alias”, (S1, ep 22).  “All Of Us Are Dead”, (S1, ep 1).  “Archive 81”, (S1, ep 3 & ep 4).  “BBC Archive: 1984: Think Of A Number”, (Facebook)(TX: 2/02/22).  “Babylon 5”, (S1, ep 16).  “Big Jet TV – A321 TOGO And Tail Strike! – Live At Heathrow Airport”, (Facebook/Big Jet TV)(TX: 31/01/22).  “Blake’s 7”, (SD, ep 3).  “Business Insider: Why Spacesuits Are So Expensive”, (Facebook)(TX: 20/04/20).  “Click”, (TX: 29/01/22).  “Dads Army”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 6)(S2, ep 1 & 2, ep 4, DVD extra, “We Are The Boys – Arnold Ridley)(S3, ep 1 to ep 14).  “Death In Paradise”, (S11, ep 5, TX: 04/02/22).  “Entertainment Insider: Mirror Shots”, (Facebook)(TX: 26/01/22).  “Into The Night”, (S2, ep 4 to ep 6).  “Lazy Susan”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 4).  “Lexx”, (S2, ep 17 & ep 18).  “Love Thy Neighbour”, (S8, ep 1 to ep 6).  “Love Thy Neighbour”, (Movie, 1973).  “Murderville”, (S1, ep 1).  “Physics Girl: Faster Than Light?”, (Facebook)(TX: 01/12/21).  “Primal Space: How Far Can Voyager 1 Go Before We Lose Contact?”, (Facebook)(TX: 20/11/21).  “Robinson Crusoe Suite (1964 TV Series Theme by Robert Mellin And Gian-Piero Reverberi)”, (YouTube)(TX: 09/10/12).  “Sisyphus: The Myth”, (S1, ep 1 & ep 2).  “Snowpiercier”, (S3, ep 2).  “Spies In Disguise”, (2019).  “Star Trek (Animated)”, (S1, ep 5).  “Star Trek Picard”, (S1, ep 6 to ep 10).  “Sue Perkins’ Big American Road Trip”, (S1, ep 1, TX: 16/01/22(ep 2, TX: 23/01/22).  “The Apprentice”, (S16, ep 5, TX: 03/02/22).  “The Apprentice You’re Fired”, (S16, ep 5, TX: 03/02/22).  “The Expanse”, (S6, ep 5 & ep 6).  “The Graham Norton Show”, (S29, ep 16, TX: 28/01/22)(ep 17, 04/02/22).  “The Last Leg”, (S24, ep 1, TX: 28/01/22)(ep2, TX: 04/02/22).  “The Mind Of Herbert Clunkerdunk”, (S2, ep 4 & ep 5).  “The Protector”, (S1, ep 2 & ep 3).  “The Secrets Of The Universe: Is This The End Of The Voyager Spacecraft?”, (Facebook)(TX: 31/10/21).  “The Woman In The House Across The Street From The Girl In Window”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 2).  “Westworld”, (1973).  “Winterwatch 2022”, (ep 8, TX: 28/01/22).  “You”, (S2, 8 to ep 10)(S3, ep 1 to ep 4).  

“Doctor Who Watched This Week”……

“The Space Museum”, (S2, Prod Code Q).  Ep 1, “The Space Museum”, (TX: 24/04/6).  Ep 2, “The Dimensions Of Time”, (TX: 01/05/65).  Ep 3,“The Search”, (TX: 08/05/65).  Ep 4, “The Final Phase”, (TX: 15/05/65).

“The Chase”, (S2, Prod Code R).  Ep 1, “The Executioners”, (TX: 22/05/65).  Ep 2, “The Time Of Death”, (TX: 29/05/65).  Ep 3, “Flight Through Eternity”, (TX: 05/06/65).  Ep 4, “Journey Into Terror”, (TX:12/06/65).  

This week I have listening to:

“A Legitimate Salvage”, (The Incomparable)(ep 38, 29/12/20)(ep 39, 06/01/22)(ep 40, 14/01/22).  “Box Of Delights”, (S3, ep 14, 18/03/20).  “Clinton Baptiste’s All-New Paranormal Podcast”, (Trailer, 04/02/22).  “Coronavirus Global Update”, (BBC World Service/Sounds)(29/01/22)(30/01/22) (31/01/22) (01/02/22) (02/02/22) (03/02/22) (04/02/22).  “Doctor Who – Toby Hadoke’s Time Travels – Happy Times And Places”, (30.3, “The Seeds Of Death”, 31/01/22)(30.4, 04/02/22).  “Mystery Hour”, (LBC) (03/02/22). “NASA Gravity Assist”, (28/01/22).  “NASA Houston We Have A Podcast”, (ep 230, 04/02/22).  “Nick Abbot Whole Show”, (LBC) (29/01/22) (30/01/22) (04/02/22).  “Not Before Coffee! A Bookish Podcast”, (S2, ep 17, 17/06/21).  “Radio Astronomy (The Sky At Night Magazine)”, (25/03/21)(29/01/22).  “Rob Beckett And Josh Widdecombe Parenting Hell”, (S4, ep 4, 01/02/22).  “Screw It We’re Just Gonna Talk About The Beatles”, (ep 9, 09/03/17).  “Smersh Pod – Christsmersh Special 3: Jaws The Revenge”, (24/14/17).  “Smersh Pod – Side Special – Spiceworld The Movie”, (19/01/18).  “Space And Things”, (STP41, 10/06/21)(STP75, 03/02/22).  “Star Trek Universe”, (17/01/19).  “The All New Angelos And Barry Podcast”, (03/02/22).  “The Audio Guide To Babylon 5”, (The Incomparable)(ep 63, 02/10/16).  “The Friendship Onion”, (S1, ep 38, 01/02/22).  “The Nick Abbot Habit”, (31/01/22).  “The Old Doctor Who Show”, (ep 124, 02/02/22).  “The Writers Life”, (#27, 08/01/19)(#150, 11/06/21).  “Tom Swarbrick, (Midnight To 1am Segment)“, (LBC)(03/02/22).  “WTB”, (S4, ep 1 (ep 61), 04/02/22).  “What’s Your Problem With Nick Abbot And Carol Mcgiffin”, (ep 102, 31/01/22).  “Wolf And Owl”, (ep 58, 02/02/22).

Songs I Enjoyed This Week, Were By:

“Morrissey”,  “ABC”,  “Blink – 182”,  “David Gray”,  “Electronic”,  “Florence And The Machine”,  “KLF ft Tammy Wynette”,  “Kasabian”,  “Kiaser Chiefs”,  “Pet Shop Boys”, “REM”,  “Razorlight”,  “Reverend And The Makers”,  “SIA”,  “Simple Minds”, “Supergrass”,  “Tori Amos”,  “U2″,  “Zoe”.

Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures in Surrey, East and Essex.

Week 397, Saturday 22^nd until Friday 28^th January 2022.

To start this week an update on Chewie the Hamster.

Ten minutes after I posted last week’s ramble Week 396, Chewie appeared from sleeping all day in his bed.  His left cheek which had been inflamed looked normal; the abscess appeared to have gone, earlier that day it had definitely been still swollen.  During the rest of the evening of 21st I realised that his fur appeared to have fallen out I could actually see his bare skin.  Had the abscess burst, or did he catch the area with his paw.  The Vet we saw the week before pointed out they were not a specialist when it came to dealing with small furry creatures.  So we took the plunge and found a surgery 30 miles away which had a vet who specialises in Hamsters and other small mammals.

Cutting a long story short I have been to this practice a few times this week.  The abscess has gone; the new vet was very happy with his condition and has given him another course of meds just to make sure that there is no chance of any further infection.  My friend and I have become experts in giving a small creature medication; we bribe him with his fave food.  The vet explained that Hamsters pouches are not just in the cheeks as I thought, but go down to their hips.  To check for any obstruction they wanted to do a couple of X-rays, this meant dropping him off really early one morning and collecting him later that afternoon.  To X-ray an animal so small the vet needed to knock him out to keep him still; because he weighs just 46g the amount of aesthetics needed was minute.  Looking at any X-rays is always fascinating, but ones of a small creature are even more interesting.  A small piece of food was found deep in the pouch that had been infected and washed out just to make sure that the pouch was empty.  The Vet has reassured us that fur should grow back which will be nice as at the moment he looks like a Sensorite (an alien from the seventh Doctor Who called The Sensorites from summer 1964).  We are just so pleased that Chewie is better, we have had him 22 months and both realise that little creature like this don’t have long lives.  All we have ever wanted is for him to be happy and healthy.  Looking after a Hamster like this might seem strange, but others wouldn’t think twice if it was a Cat or a Dog.  I genuinely love all creatures, each time I have lost a previous animal companion I have always said “never again” because it’s always so heart breaking I hope we have this little Hamster for a while to come.  But of course we are prepared.

And Now For Something Sort Of Related……

Working from home I spend a lot of the day looking out of the window watching the birds in the garden and on the many feeders.  This weekend I will take part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch spending just one hour counting the different birds that visit the garden during that time.  This will be my 2nd year helping to collect stats like thousands of other bird fans.  I am planning on doing my count on Sunday, but really wished I had had time earlier today (28^th Jan).  The reason for this was because I spotted a female Sparrowhawk with her back to me looking beautiful just sat there.  I snapped away excitedly until she moved slightly so I could see that she was sat top of either a House or Tree Sparrow pinned to the soil by in her talons.  By the time I reached the spot the Sparrowhawk and the victim had gone.  I searched the area just in case there was a body lying in the soil, I don’t know if the little bird got away or was carried aloft by the predator to be enjoyed later.  Seeing this remaindered me how truly wonderful and amazing nature is, but of course it is also so brutal.  Couldn’t the Sparrowhawk have waited until I was actually doing the count on Sunday, my results would have looked a lot more impressive.  Over these last 2 years while working from home this is the 2nd or 3rd time a beautiful bird like this has sat in the exact same spot.  The camera is ready if they return.

And Finally……

My niece celebrated her 10th birthday last weekend.  The highlight was being asked to go with her and her family to Go Ape.  I particularly made her smile and laugh every time I attempted the Zip Line at the end of the tree top course we completed together.  I really felt sorry for employee who had to rake over the crater left by my huge lardy arse because I landed each time on my BUM.  One of my favourite parts of the trip was watching a Robin watching us as we got strapped into the various safety harnesses and listening to the briefing about what to do.  This little bird seemed very comfortable being near people, it was a delight to watch and hear it.

Spending time with “my” little girl on her very special day is something I will always remember.  I really love being an Aunty and really can’t believe its 10 years since I was first introduced to her in Hospital aged 1 day old.  I really look forward to many more adventures in the future as she get older.  HAPPY B’DAY ANOODLE.

My Mid Life Crisis Conts……

This week I have watched:

“8 Extremely Strange Borders In The World”, (Facebook/Knowledge Junction)(TX: 30/05/21).  “Another Life”, (S2, ep 10).  “Archive 81”, (S1, ep 2).  “Bounty Hunters”, (S1, ep 4 to ep 6)(S2, ep 1 to ep 5).  “Click”, (TX: 22/01/22).  “Death In Paradise”, (S11, ep 3, TX: 21/01/22).  “Geometry & Illusions In Cinema Effects”, (Facebook/Extra-math)(TX: 19/01/22).  “Greed”, (2019).  “How Long You’d Live On Different Planets”, (Facebook/ right Side)(TX: 20/01/22).  “Imagine If Your Parents Owned A McDonald’s Store!”, (Facebook/It’s Gone Viral)(TX: 16/10/21).  “Into The Night”, (S2, ep 2 to ep 3).  “Jaws”, (1975).  “Junior Bake Off”, (S7 (S3 on C4), ep 10, TX: 21/01/22).  “Lexx”, (S2, ep 16).  “Love Thy Neighbour”, (S4, ep 7 & ep 8)(S5, ep 1 to ep 6)(S6, ep 1 to ep 7)(S7, ep 1 to ep 7).  “Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes Of Apollo”, (2017).  “Ozark”, (S1, ep 1 & ep 2).  “Silver Lining Playbook”, (2012).  “Snowpiercer”, (S3, ep 1).  “Stargate Atlantis”, (S4, ep 12).  “Star Trek Picard”, (S1, ep 5).  “Star Trek Voyager”, (S7, ep 24).  “Tales From The Darkside”, (S4, ep 8).  “The Apprentice”, (S16, ep 4, TX: 27/01/22).  “The Apprentice You’re Fired”, (S16, ep 4, TX: 27/01/22).  “The Expanse”, (S6, ep 1 to ep 4).  “The Mind Of Herbert Clunkerdunk”, (S2, ep 1 to ep 3).  “The Protector”, (S1, ep 1).  “The Weakest Link”, (S14 (S1 of Revival), ep 9, TX: 22/01/22).  “The Wall Versus Celebrities“, (S4, ep 2, TX: 22/01/22).  “The Walking Dead World Beyond”, (S2, ep 8).  “Winterwatch 2022”, (S10, ep 4, TX: 21/01/22)(ep 5, TX: 25/01/22)(ep 6, TX: 26/01/22)(ep 7, TX: 27/01/22).  “You”, (S2, ep 9).  “Zen Motoring”, (S1, ep 2).

“Doctor Who Watched This Week”……

“The Web Planet”, (S2, Prod Code N).  Ep 4, “Crater Of Needles”, (TX: 06/03/65).  Ep 5, “The Invasion”, (TX: 13/03/65).  Ep 6, “The Centre”, (TX: 20/03/65).

“The Crusades”, (S2, Prod Code P).  Ep 1, “The Lion”, (TX: 27/03/65).  Ep 2 (Loose Cannon Recon), “The Knight Of Jaffa”, (TX: 03/04/65).  Ep 3, “The Wheel Of Fortune”, (TX: 10/04/65).  Ep 4 (Loose Cannon Recon), “The Warlords”, (TX: 17/04/65).  

This week I have listening to:

“A Legitimate Salvage (The Expanse)”, (The Incomparable)(ep 36, 18/12/21)(ep 37, 24/12/21).  “Coronavirus Global Update”, (BBC World Service/Sounds) (22/01/22) (23/01/22)(24/01/22) (25/01/22)(26/01/22)(27/01/22)(28/01/22).  “Doctor Who: Toby Hadoke’s Time Travels – Happy Times And Places”, (30.1, “The Seeds Of Death”, 24/01/22)(30.2, 28/01/22).  “Farscape (Muppets In Space)”, (The Incomparable) (26/01/22).  “Lazy Doctor Who”, (The Incomparable)(ep 226, 23/01/22).  “Mystery Hour”, (27/01/22).  “NASA Houston We Have A Podcast”, (ep 229, 28/01/22).  “Nick Abbot Whole Show”, (22/01/22)(23/01/22)(28/01/22).   “Producing The Beatles”, (ep 11, 13/04/20).  “Rob Beckett And Josh Widdecombe Parenting Hell”, (S4, ep 3, 25/01/22).  “Screw It We’re Just Gonna Talk About The Beatles”, (ep 8, 02/03/17).   “Smersh Pod – Christsmersh Special – Love Actually”, (22/12/17).  “Smersh Pod – Christsmersh Special 2: Santa Claus The Movie”, (23/12/17).  “Space Boffins”, (28/01/22).  “Space Fall: A Blake’s 7 Podcast”, (ep 27, 23/01/22).  “Space And Things”, (STP25, 18/02/21)(STP74, 27/01/22).  “Star Trek Universe Podcast”, (15/01/19).  “The All New Angelos And Barry Podcast”, (27/01/22).  “The Audio Guide To Babylon 5”, (ep 62, 18/09/16).  “The Friendship Onion”, (S1, ep 37, 26/01/22).  “The Nick Abbot Habit”, (24/01/22).  “The Space Above Us”, (ep 150, 23/01/22).  “The Supermassive Podcast”, (28/01/22).  “What’s Your Problem With Nick Abbot And Carol Mcgiffin”, (ep 101, 24/01/22).  “Wolf And Owl”, (ep 57, 27/01/22).

Songs I Enjoyed This Week, Were By:

“Morrissey”,  “ABC”,  “Blur”,  “Biffy Clyro”,  “Bowie”,  “Deep Blue Something”,  “Elbow”,  “Evan Dando”,  “Gorillaz”,  “Hall And Oats”,  “Madonna”,  “Manic Street Preachers”,  “Snowpatrol”,  “Stereophonics”,  “Sugarcubes”,  “The B-52’s”,  “The Beatles”,  “The Communards”,  “The Killers”,  “Voice Of The Beehive”.

Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures in Surrey, East and Central London.

Week 396, Saturday 15^th until Friday 21^st January 2022.

This week I spent a couple of hours at the vets because the Hamster that my friend and I adopted nearly 2 years ago had a very swollen left cheek.  We all know that they store food in them, but this puffed cheek didn’t go down, it had been like this for a couple of days and looked extremely uncomfortable.  He didn’t appear unwell, when he cleaned his face he would rub his paws over the area as he always has done, surely he wouldn’t do this if it was tender.  This lovely little chap is still as active as ever rummaging for treats, playing and generally continuing to be being very cute, but he just didn’t look right.

The reason for the long wait was because it was a Sunday, there was only one vet on duty and there were a couple of emergency cases.  Watching people come in with a pet carrier or the animal wrapped in a blanket and concern on their faces was tough to see.  Everyone in the waiting room with Cats or Dogs totally understood the reason for the delay.

Our little boy was diagnosed with an abscess, which it seems is common for Hamsters.  We were given 2 lots of medicine that would be dispensed via small needleless blunt ended syringes.  Of course he wriggled and fought when we attempted to give him the meds in his mouth aiming for the cheek.  He was annoyed and I felt stressed, doing this for a week was going to be tough.  When we discovered that we could bait his favourite food with the medication we knew this was going to be a lot easier than it first seemed.  Happily I can report he licked and eat everything given to him each time.  The cheek is better but still not right.  

The vet we saw mentioned we might need to contact a small animal specialist if at the end of the course of meds he doesn’t appear completely better.  That appointment has been made for next week; of course if the cheek deflates and looks normal we will be able to cancel the session.  At the time of writing he has one day of medication left, the next appointment is a few days after, our minds were put at ease when told that the medication will still be in his system by the time of the next appointment.  Of course if we need to book him in earlier we have been told to ring them.

Some people might think that this is an awful lot of time, effort and money to have been spent on a very small creature.  Sadly Hamsters are considered by many (I believe) as disposable companions/pets because unlike Dog, Cat, Rabbits etc you can’t really interact with them.  But that’s simply not true, the interactions I have are of course different to those of bigger creatures but he does communicate his emotions and does seem to enjoy being with my friend and me.  There is a lot more to a small Hamster than many people think.  Also he has really helped me and my friend since we adopted him in March 2020 on the day of the start of the first lockdown.  The other thing is these small creatures don’t live long, we feel we have to do all we can to make him happy and comfortable for however much more time we have with him.

Must just mention that while waiting in the vets waiting room, what kept me occupied by for a few minutes was watching a man walking round the shop (the vets is upstairs in a huge shop that sells everything you might want for an animal friend) with a live Snake around his neck.  If I had just been in the shop as just a customer then I would have been one of the people that kept approaching him to admire and stroke his friend around his neck.  The man was a customer he didn’t work there; maybe he regularly brings the snake out with him.  It certainly made the wait a little more interesting and less stressful.

The smallest member of the household has been the biggest cause for concern this week.  I really don’t have very much else to say so I won’t waste any more of your time.  The coming weekend is going to be busy; I will have a lot to report next week from the various activities I will be taking part in.

My Mid Life Crisis Conts……

This week I have watched:

“A Discovery Of Witches”, (S3, ep 6 & ep 7).  “After Life”, (S3, ep 1 to ep 6).  “Archive 81”, (S1, ep 1).  “Babylon 5”, (S1, ep 15).  “Blake’s 7”, (SD, ep 2).  “Bountyhunters”, (S1  ep 2 & ep 3).  “Click”, (TX: 15/01/22).  “Entourage The Movie”, (2015).  “Into The Night”, (S1, ep 5 & ep 6)(S2, ep 1).  “Lexx”, (S2, ep 15).  “On The Buses”, (1971).  “Love Thy Neighbour”, (S3, ep 3 to ep 6)(S4, ep 1 to ep 6).  “One Night In Legoland”, (S1, ep 4, TX: 14/01/22).  “Replacing Tracks Inside The Clayton Tunnel, (Geoff Marshall)”, (YouTube)(TX: 20/01/22).  “Spider-Man: Far From Home”, (2019).  “Spider-Man: No Way Home”, (2021).  “Stacy Dooley: Stalkers”, (Pt 1 & Pt 2, TX: 19/01/22).  “Stargate Atlantis”, (S4, ep 10 & ep 11).  “Star Trek (Animated)”, (S1, ep 4).  “Star Trek Picard”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 4).  “Superman And Lois”, (S1, ep 4).  “Superstore”, (S6, ep 12 to ep 15).  “The Apprentice”, (S16, ep 3, TX: 20/01/22).  “The Apprentice: You’re Fired”, (S16, ep 3, TX: 20/01/22).  “The Good Life”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 3 & ep 6).  “The Graham Norton Show”, (S29, ep 14, TX: 14/01/22).  “The Great Pottery Throw Down”, (S5, ep 3, TX: 16/01/22).  “The Silent Sea”, (S1, ep 5 to ep 8).  “The Weakest Link”, (ep 8, TX: 15/01/22).  “Vicar Of Dibley: Inside Out”, (TX: 14/01/22).  “Winterwatch 2022”, (S10, ep 1, TX: 18/01/22)(ep 2, TX: 19/01/22)(ep 3, TX: 20/01/22).  “Why Ships Crash”, (TX: 18/01/22).  “You”, (S2, ep 5 to ep 7).  “Young Shelden”, (S1, ep 1).  “Zen Motoring”, (S1, ep 1).  

“Doctor Who Watched This Week”……

“The Rescue”, (S2, Prod Code L).  Ep 2, “Desperate Measures”, (TX: 09/01/65).

“The Romans”, (S2, Prod Code M).  Ep 1, “The Slave Traders”, (TX: 16/01/65).  Ep 2, “All Roads Lead To Rome”, (TX: 23/01/65).  Ep 3, “Conspiracy”, (TX: 30/01/65).  Ep 4, “Inferno”, (TX: 06/02/65).

“The Web Planet”, (S2, Prod Code N).  Ep 1, “The Web Planet”, (TX: 13/02/65).  Ep 2, “The Zarbi”, (TX: 20/01/65).  Ep 3, “Escape To Danger”, (TX: 27/01/65).

Live On Stage This Week:

“The Shark Is Broken”, (The Ambassadors Theatre, 20/01/22).

This week I have listening to:

“30 Animals That Made Us Smarter”, (BBC World Service/Sounds)(S2, ep 30, 17/01/22). “Coronavirus Global Update”, (BBC World Service/Sounds)(15/01/22)(16/01/22) (17/01/22)(18/01/22)(19/01/22)(20/01/22)(21/01/22).  “Doctor Who: Toby Hadoke’s Time Travels Happy Times And Places”, (29.3, “The War Machines”, 17/01/22)(29.4, 21/01/22).  “NASA Houston We Have A Podcast”, (ep 227, 14/01/22)(ep 22i, 21/01/22).  “Nick Abbot Whole Show”, (15/01/22)(16/01/22)(21/01/22).  “Radio Astronomy (The Sky At Night Magazine)”, (25/07/18)(19/04/21)(19/01/22).  “Rob Beckett And Josh Widdecombe Parenting Hell”, (S4, ep 1, 16/01/22)(ep 2, 18/01/22).  “Producing The Beatles”, (ep 10, 09/09/19).  “Screw It, We’re Just Gonna Talk About The Beatles”, (ep 7, 23/02/17).  “Smersh Pod – Smerch Side Special – Connery: Man, Legend, Accent”, (24/11/17).  “Smersh Pod  – Smersh Side Special – North Sea Hijack”, (24/11/17).  “Space And Things”, (STP23, 04/02/21)(STP24, 11/02/21)(STP73, 20/01/21).  “Star Trek Universe”, (2 x eps 19/01/22).  “The All New Angelos And Barry Podcast”, (20/01/22).  “The Audio Guide To Babylon 5”, (ep 61, 06/09/16).  “The Detail (Polly Scattergood And Katie Melua) With Special Guest Elizabeth Parker”, (ep 10, 17/01/22).  “The Friendship Onion”, (S1, ep 36, 18/01/22).   “The Incomparable”, (The Incomparable)(ep 597, 15/01/22).  “The Nick Abbot Habit”, (16/01/22).  “What’s Your Problem With Nick Abbot And Carol Mcgiffin”, (ep 100, 17/01/22).  “Wolf And Owl”, (ep 56, 19/01/22).

Songs I Enjoyed This Week, Were By:

“Morrissey”,  “ABBA”,  “Air”,  “Biffy Clyro“,  “China Crisis”,  “DJ Otzi”,  “Da La Soul”, “James”,  “Joni Mitchell”,  “Keane”,  “Kylie Minogue”,  “Lou Reed & John Cale”, “M.I.A”,  “Mumford And Sons”,  “Modest Mouse”,  “Natalie Imbruglia “,  “Peter Bjorn And John “,  “Queen”,  “Smiths”,  “Tasmin Archer”,  “Tear For Fears”,  “The Average White Band”,  “The Cranberries”,  “The Rubettes”.

Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures in East London & Surrey.

Week 395, Saturday 8^th until Friday 14^th January 2022.

Things I learned this week, always check when buying online, let me explain.  I brought an old CD for a friend for Crimbo, when it arrived I was impressed because there were 2 discs in the case.  This week my friend played the CDs, both discs were wrong and not what she expected.  Looking closely one was MGMT first album “Oracular Spectacular” from 2007, which is very good.  The second disc was a mystery the picture didn’t give any clues, the small copyright writing said 1996 and mentioned it was a compilation.  Listening to it I knew a few tracks. after searching online I discovered this was the soundtrack for the 1995 film “Empire Records”.  Luckily my friend liked both, though this was funny and kept both.  Of course I have since re-bought the correct album cheaply and will definitely be checking that the correct disc is in the case.  I really must learn to look and check what arrives through the letterbox.

On A Slightly Related Topic…..

The Crimbo decorations have come down, I believe the date that people say they should have been put away way was 6th January.  Ours went down a little later, if the authorities decorations squad want to come round and deal with me they can I am in all day.  Personally I wanted to leave the strings of lights up, but sadly it’s not my house.  For the few weeks they are up each year I get used to them and like seeing them more and more.  Every year when they are packed away I really mourn there disappearance.  When I lived alone a long time ago in a small flat, one year I just left the lights up only being switched on occasionally to brighten the place up.  The real reason of course (and nothing has changed) is I am very lazy it was easy to just leave them on the wall.

Yes even my icy heart really misses the Crimbo decorations this time around.  One day when I live on my own again I will deliberately put up coloured lights and allow them to gather dust for 11 and a half months, only actually switching them on for a couple of weeks at the end of the year.

And Now For Something Completely Different……

One thing that has helped me get through the last couple of years of working from home and various lockdowns has been feeding the birds.  There are a number of feeders which I fill up each day and enjoy looking after.  I have signed up for the second year running to the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) Big Garden Birdwatch.  During the final weekend of January millions of people will count for one hour the birds that they see.  

A newcomer to the garden this week is a Jay, never seen one before.  Hopefully it will hang around and appear during the hour I do the Birdwatch.  But the real highlight of the week was seeing three Blue Tits together and a Robin shortly after, both I have not seen for months.  I can’t describe the joy that these small birds feeding and just being in the garden give me.  Fingers crossed during the actual count all of these birds will make an appearance.  Don’t get me wrong, Sparrows, Starlings, Magpies, Crows and Pigeons all make me smile but seeing any of the Tits (Blue, Coal and Great) and Robin’s would really make my hour of standing beside the window or sat outside on a step so much more rewarding.  I really am becoming a Twitcher more and more each day.

And Finally……

I love space and looking up at night.  I do have a small kids telescope, which is nice but never easy to use which is why it doesn’t come out very often.  Last year I did see Jupiter and the 4 Galileo Moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto).   This week the biggest planet in our solar system was well placed for viewing so I tried again with my phone on standby.  I managed to get a couple of bad pictures, which was not easy to take I actually had to use the car resting the scope on a wing mirror to keep it still and stable.  What I find truly amazing is the light for my terrible pictures took about 47 minutes to travel roughly 853,7754569 km to reach Earth.  

Even though the image is terrible I am so pleased to have seen Jupiter and a couple of the moons again.  I am very tempted to purchase a proper adult telescope; this is something I have wanted for a very long time.  There is a lot I need to think about in 2022, could buying a Telescope be part of the plan.  Until then I will carry on looking at.

My Mid Life Crisis Conts……

This week I have watched:

“A Discovery Of Witches”, (S3, ep 1 to ep 5).  “Alias”, (S1, ep 21).  “Andy Warhol’s America”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 3, TX: 06/01/22).  “Another Life”, (S2, ep 9).  “Around The World In 80 Days”, (S1, ep 8).  “Babylon 5”, (S1, ep 14).  “Blake’s 7”, (SD, ep 1).  “Click”, (TX: 08/01/22).  “Death In Paradise”, (S11, ep 1, TX: 07/01/22).  “Digging For Britain”, (S9, ep 1, TX: 04/01/22).  “Into The Night”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 4).  “Lexx”, (S2, ep 14).  “Love Thy Neighbour”, (S2, ep 2 to ep 6)(“All Star Comedy Carnival”, “Love Thy Neighbour” Segment, TX: 25/12/72)(S3, ep 1 & ep 2).  “PMQ’s (Prime Minister’s Questions)”, (BBC News)(TX: 12/01/22).  “Star Trek (Animated)”, (S1, ep 2 & ep 3).   “Stargate Atlantis”, (S4, ep 7 to ep 9).  “Superstore”, (S6, ep 9 to ep 11).  “The Apprentice”, (S16, ep 2, TX: 13/01/22).  “The Apprentice You’re Fired”, (S16, ep 2, TX: 13/01/22).   “The Graham Norton Show”, (S29, ep 13, TX:07/01/22).  “The Good Life”, (S3, ep 1 to ep 7)(S4, ep 1 to ep 7)(“Silly, But It’s Fun”, TX: 26/12/77)(“When I’m 65”, TX: 10/06/78).  “The Man With The Golden Gun”, (1974).  “The Silent Sea”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 4).  “The Sky At Night”, (TX: 09/01/22).  “The Walking Dead: World Beyond”, (S2, ep 7).  “You”, (S2, ep 3).

“Doctor Who Watched This Week”……

“The Dalek Invasion Of Earth”, (S2, Prod Code K).  Ep 1, “Worlds Ends”, (TX: 28/11/64).  Ep 2, “The Daleks”, (TX: 21/11/64).  Ep 3, “Day Of Reckoning”, (TX: 05/12/64).  Ep 4, “The End Of Tomorrow”, (TX: 12/12/64).  Ep 5, “The Walking Ally”, (TX: 19/12/64).  Ep 6, “Flashpoint”, (TX: 26/12/64).

“The Rescue”, (S2, Prod Code L).  Ep 1, “The Powerful Enemy”, (TX: 02/01/65).

This week I have listening to:

“30 Animals That Made Us Smarter”, (BBC World Service/Sounds)(S2, ep 29, 10/01/22).  “Anglophilia”, (S3, ep 5, 18/06/19)(S6 ep 6, 11/01/22).   “Coronavirus Global Update “, (BBC World Service/Sounds)(08/01/22)(09/01/22)(10/01/22)(11/01/22) (12/01/22)(13/01/22).  “Doctor Who – Toby Hadoke’s Time Travels – Happy Times And Places“, (29.1, “The War Machines”, 10/01/22)(29.2, 14/01/22).  “Game Of Thrones”, (The Incomparable/TeeVee)(S7, ep 5, 14/08/17).  “Mystery Hour”, (13/01/22).  “Nick Abbot Whole Show”, (08/01/22)(09/01/22)(14/01/22).  “Producing The Beatles”, (ep 9, 22/07/19).  “Rob Beckett And Josh Widdecombe Parenting Hell”, (S4, ep 1, 11/01/22).  “Radio Astronomy (The Sky At Night Magazine)”, (21/05/18)(22/06/18) (23/07/18)(23/04/21).  “Screw It, We’re Just Gonna Talk About The Beatles”, (ep 6, 16/02/17).  “Smersh Pod – Smersh Side Special – “Theatre Of Blood”, (27/10/17).  “Something Who”, (Ep 54, 27/12/21).  “Space And Things”, (STP22, 28/01/21)(STP72, 13/01/22).  “Star Trek Universe”, (14/01/19)(16/01/19)(09/01/22).  “The All New Angelos And Barry Podcast”, (13/01/22).  “The Audio Guide To Babylon 5”, (ep 60, 21/08/16).  “The Friendship Onion”, (S1, ep 35, 11/01/22).   “The Nick Abbot Habit”, (10/01/22).  “The Old Doctor Who Show”, (ep 123, 12/01/22).  “The Radio Times Doctor Who Podcast”, (28/10/20).  “Tripodcast”, (ep 5b, 08/01/22).  “What’s Your Problem With Nick Abbot And Carol Mcgiffin”, (10/01/22).

Songs I Enjoyed This Week, Were By:

“Morrissey”,  “ABC”,  “ABBA”,  “Blondie”,  “Bruce Springsteen”,  “Bryan Adams”,  “Elbow”,  “John Travolta And Olivia Newton John”,  “Lou Reed”, “Lulu”,  “MGMT”,  “Smiths”,  “The Beatles”,  “The Mock Turtles”,  “The Muppets”,  “ The Velvet Underground & Nico”.

Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures in East London.

Week 394, Saturday 1^st until Friday 7^th January 2022.

By the time this is published New Year will seem like a long time ago; however you celebrated I hope it went well.  Because this is the start of the year, it’s another excuse for a slightly shorter blog and the traditional look back at the previous year’s stats.

Once again I didn’t miss a single week of last year, the majority were published on a Friday but some were admittedly a few days late, but each week there was a new blog.  2021 started with blog 341 on 1st January and ended with number week 393 published on the last day of December.  Writing this blog is always fun and a little challenging because on the day after publishing a new one I start to think ‘what can I write about next week’.  It’s always very personal because I am writing essentially for my nephews and niece.  This blog commenced when I was living and working in Mozambique during 2014, my thinking was that that someday in the future small members of the family might want to read about my adventures abroad.  Once I started as you can see it never stopped.  I like to think of this as a written Time Capsule (with pictures) for my sister and brothers children and maybe grandchildren in the future.

For the last few months I have felt that week 400 due on 18th February 2022 will be the last ramble.  Personally I am still unsure what to do, if this version does come to an end, I could possibly come up with something more themed once or twice a month that might appeal to a bigger audience.  This year I have plans and objectives which will need a lot of my time, time I would normally devote to writing this.  These next few weeks I really do need to consider what is more important to me.

My head is constantly spinning with ideas for stories that I want to turn into short film scripts (next to me as I type is a pile already completed).  A couple of years ago I sent scripts off to a number of agents unsuccessfully, this is something I would like to try again.  Something I have considered is filming and editing one of my favourite scripts myself, partly to prove I can do it, but also the finished product could be shown to agents and other industry professionals as a proof of concept.  I would like to have more time to draw and paint which I didn’t do as often last year as I would have liked.  Later this year I want to travel abroad once again, this will need a lot of time to plan.  I suppose I shouldn’t forget normal boring work that actually pays me money to keep dreaming.  All of the above take time, time that I have used these last few years to write this weekly.  As you can see I do have a lot to consider these next few weeks.

Before this week comes to a close, here are the stats for 2021.

In 2020 this blog got a total number of views of 2,712.  Last year the ramble managed to get 2,951 which is 239 more than the previous year (about 8%).

In 2020 people from 42 different countries passed by.  During 2021 that number fell slightly to a still respectable 36.

I am not a competitive person in anything I do, apart from this blog always hoping that I get a few views that add up to beating the previous year.

That’s it for the first week of 2022, next week will be back to normal I suspect.  When I have made decisions about what the future holds, you will be one of the first I tell.

My Mid Life Crisis Conts……

This week I have watched:

“8 Places On Earth Planes Are Banned To Fly Over”, (Facebook/Bright Side)(TX: 12/10/21).  “Around The World In 80 Days”, (S1, ep 3 to ep 7).  “Babylon 5”, (S1, ep 13).  “Betty White Has Died At The Age Of 99″, (Facebook/ News.Com.Au)(TX: 31/12/21).  “Big Jet TV – BA Smack Down!”, (Facebook)(TX: 28/09/20).  “Big Jet TV – Tail Strike!”, (Facebook)(TX: 04/01/22).  “Blake’s 7”, (SC, ep 11 to ep 13).  “Click – Short Edition”, (TX: 01/01/22).  “Elves”, (S1, ep 6).  “Four Lives”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 3).  “Four Weddings And A Funeral”, (1994).  “Have I Got 2021 News For You”, (TX: 31/12/21).  “Happy New Year David Tennant & Michael Sheen – Staged”, (Britbox)(TX: 31/12/21).  “Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull”, (2008).  “Indiana Jones And The Last Crusader”, (1989).  “Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom”, (1984).  “Jaws”, (1975).  “Lexx”, (S2, ep 13).  “Love Thy Neighbour”, (S1, ep 4 to ep 7)(S2, ep 1).  “Mandy”, (S2, ep 1 to ep 6).  “Mrs Brown’s Boys – Mammy’s Mickey”, (TX: 01/01/22).  “One Night In… London Zoo”, (S1, ep 3, TX: 30/12/21).  “Paddy And Christine McGuinness: Our Family And Autism”, (TX: 01/12/21).  “Rail Grinder Train In Action”, (Facebook/Fossbytes)(TX: 31/12/21).  “Skydivers Perform Incredible Synchronised Jump”, (Facebook/National Geographic Adventures)(TX: 10/08/20).  “Stargate Atlantis”, (S4, ep 6).  “Superstore”, (S6, ep 7 to ep 8).  “Taskmaster’s New Years Treat”, (TX: 01/01/22).  “The African Continent Is Slowly Splitting Apart, Giving Birth To A New Ocean”, (Facebook/Hashem Al-Ghaili)(TX: 30/07/20).  “The Apprentice”, (TX: S16, ep 1, TX: 06/01/22).  “The Apprentice: Meet The Candidate (S16)”, (TX: 04/01/22).  “The Apprentice: You’re Fired”, (S16, TX: 06/01/22).  “The Good Life”, (S2, ep 1 to ep 7).  “The Graham Norton Show”, (S29,“New Years Eve”, TX: 31/12/21).  “The Great New Year Bake Off”, (TX: 01/01/22).  “The I-Land”, (S1, ep 7).  “The Last Leg – The Leg Of The Year”, (TX: 31/12/21).  “The Man In The High Castle”, (S2, ep 2).  “The Mike Skipper New Years Quiz”, (Facebook)(TX: 01/01/22).  “The Story Behind – Love Thy Neighbour”, (YouTube)(TX: 13/04/15).  “The Tourist”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 6).  “The Weakest Link”, (S14 (S1 of Revival) ep 6, TX: 31/12/21)(ep 7, 01/01/22).  “Toast Of Tinseltown”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 6).  “Walking Dead: Beyond World”, (S2, ep 6).  “William Shatner Talks Star Trek V With Adrian ‘The Highlander’ Paul”, (YouTube)(TX: 02/09/21).

“Doctor Who Watched This Week”……

“The Reign Of Terror”, (S1, Prod Code H).  Ep 1, “A Land Of Fear”, (TX: 08/08/64).  Ep 2, “Guests Of Madame Guillotine”, (TX: 15/08/64).  Ep 3, “A Change Of Identity”, (TX: 22/08/64).  Ep 4, Tyrant Of France”, (Animated Recon, DVD 2013)(TX: 29/08/64).   Ep 5, “A Bargain Of Necessity”, (Animated) (TX: 05/09/64).  Ep 6, “Prisoners Of Conciergerie”, (TX: 12/09/64).

“Planet Of Giants”, (S2, Prod Code J).  Ep 1, “Planet Of Giants”, (TX: 31/10/64).  Ep 2, “Dangerous Journey”, (07/11/64).  Ep 3, “Crisis”, (TX: 14/11/64).

“The Dalek Invasion Of Earth”, (S2, Prod Code K).  Ep 1, “Worlds Ends”, (TX: 28/11/64).

“Eve Of The Daleks”, (TX: 01/01/22).

This week I have listening to:

“30 Animals That Made Us Smarter”, (BBC World Service/Sounds)(s2, ep 28, 03/01/22).  “Anglophilia”, (S3, ep 4, 11/06/19).  “Box Of Dlelights”, (S3, ep 11, 10/03/20)(ep 12, 13/03/20)(ep 13, 17/03/20).  “Coronavirus Global Update”, (BBC World Service/Sounds)(01/01/22)(02/01/22)(03/01/22)(04/01/22)(05/01/22)(06/01/22) (07/01/22).  “Doctor Who Flashcast”, (The Incomparable)(01/01/22).  “Doctor Who Toby Hadoke’s Time Travels – Happy Times And Places”, (Crimbo Bonus ep, “The Next Doctor”, 25/12/21)(28.4, “Warriors Of The Deep”, (03/01/22).  “Doctor Who Toby Hadoke’s Time Travels – Indefinable Magic”, (12, 07/01/22).  “Game Of Thrones”, (The Incomparable/TeeVee)(S7, ep 4, 07/08/17).  “Mystery Hour”, (06/01/22).  “NASA Houston We Have A Podcast”, (ep 226, 07/01/22).  “Nick Abbot Whole Show: A to Z”, (V to Z, 31/12/21).  “Nick Abbot Whole Show”, (01/01/22) (02/01/22) (03/01/22) (07/01/22).  “Producing The Beatles”, (ep 7, 31/12/18)(ep 8, 11/03/19).  “Radio Astronomy (The Sky At Magazine)”, (20/04/18).  “Radio Times Doctor Who Podcast”, (21/10/20)(23/04/21)(27/10/21)(01/01/21).  “Screw It, We’re Just Gonna Talk About The Beatles”, (ep 5, 09/02/17).  “Something Who”, (ep 13, 14/02/20).  “Space And Things”, (STP21, 21/01/21)(STP71, 06/01/21).  “Star Trek Universe”, (04/1/22).  “The All New Angelos And Barry Podcast”, (07/01/22).  “The Audio Guide To Babylon 5”, (The Incomparable)(ep 59, 07/08/16).  “The Friendship Onion”, (S1, ep 34, 04/01/22).  “The Space Above Us”, (Supplement 7, 06/01/22).  “Wolf And Owl”, (Bonus New Year Ep, 07/01/22).

Songs I Enjoyed This Week, Were By:

“Morrissey”,  “Bronski Beat”,  “Cataonia”,  “David Bowie”,  “Deacon Blue”,  “Dinah Washington And Brook Denton”,  “Dusty Springfield”,  “Elbow”,  “Elvis Presley”, “Kim Carnes”,  “Nancy Sinatra”,  “Pet Shop Boys ft Dusty Springfield”,  “Pulp”,  “Soft Cell”,  “Suede”,  “Terry Blair And Anoushka”,  “The Chemical Brothers”,  “The Cranberries”,  “The Communards”,  “The Divine Comedy”,  “The Police”,  “They Might Be Giants”.

Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures in Surrey, East, North & Central London.

Week 393, Saturday 25^th until Friday 31^st December 2021.

There are now Seven weeks left of this ramble.

This is the Crimbo blog, and that means I write very little and mainly post pictures.  Crimbo day was spent with family many I had not seen pretty much all this year, it really was lovely to meet up once again.  It was a day of relaxing, playing games and of course my favourite activity eating.  I mentioned in a previously blog that I was responsible for bringing Cheese and associated foods to the table. Blowing my own trumpet (I think I am allowed to do this once a year) I think I did very well, there was so much left over that everyone went home with something from the selection I bought.  Cheese really was the gift of 2021 that kept giving.

The rest of the week was spent in East London basically doing nothing which is what Crimbo is all about!  There were a couple of occasions when I actually had to get out of my PJ’s putting on proper clothes to visit North and Central London to see live theatre.  Both shows “A Crimbo Carol” starring Mark Gatiss and Nicholas Farrell and “The Shark Is Broken” a behind the scenes drama about the making of the classic 1975 film Jaws were just great.  Live Theatre always gives me a thrill, I love to sit in a dark room and watch people doing what they do best in front of me on stage.  Also I like to imagine what my life might have been like if I had got to be an actor or worked professionally back stage (I did work as an Assistant Stage Manager and an Actual SM at a very prestigious “amateur” Theatre in West London during the late 80s early 90s for a number of show).

This Ramble is being published on New Year’s Eve, if you are reading this when published let me be one of the first to wish you a Happy New Year.  If you’re reading this after, then I hope you had a good celebration.

My Mid Life Crisis Conts……

This week I have watched:

“A Crimbo Carol Goes Wrong”, (DVD)(Original BBC TX: 30/12/17).  “A Comic Relief Panto For Crimbo: Beauty And The Beast”, (TX: 19/12/21).  “A Ghost Story For Crimbo: The Mezzotint”, (TX: 24/12/21).  “Around The World In 80 Days”, (S1, ep 1 & ep 2).  “Beauty And The Beast”, (2017).  “Bounty Hunters”, (S1, ep 1).  “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”, (1968). “Click – Clickmass 2021”, (TX: 25/12/21).  “Death In Paradise –  Crimbo Special 2021”, (TX: 26/12/21).  “Encanto”, (2021).  “Far From The Tree”, (2021).  “Goes Wrong Noug – The Mischief Cast On A Crimbo Carol Goes Wrong”, (DVD Extra).  “Ghosts – Crimbo Special”, (TX: 23/12/21).  “Gogglebox 2021: Review of the Year”, (TX: 25/12/21).   “Jason And The Argonauts”, (1963).  “Launch Of James Webb Space Telescope”, (NASA TV)(TX: 25/12/21).  “Lost Boys: The Tribe”, (2008).  “Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing”, (“Gone Crimbo Fishing”, TX: 26/12/21).   “Mrs Brown’s Boys – 2021 Special: 1. Mammy’s Mechanical Merriment”, (TX: 25/12/21).  “My Fair Lady”, (1964).  “Not Going Out: Panto 2021”, (TX: 23/12/21).  “Raiders Of The Lost Ark”, (1981). “Sing”, (2016).  “Superstore”, (S6, ep 5 & ep 6).  “The Great British Bake Off Crimbo Special 2021”, (TX: 25/12/21).   “The Good Life”, (DVD)(S1, ep 1, Original BBC TX: 04/04/75)(ep 2, TX: 11/04/75)(ep 3, TX: 18/04/75) (ep 4, TX: 25/04/75)(ep 5, TX: 02/05/75)(ep 6, TX: 09/05/75)(ep 7, TX: 16/05/75).  “The Greatest Snowman”, (TX: 24/12/21).  “The Last Leg Crimbo Special 2021”, (TX: 24/12/21).  “The Morecombe And Wise: 1970: The Lost Tape”, (Original BBC TX: 08/10/70, Recent TX: 25/12/21).  “The Morecombe And Wise Show: Crimbo 1971”, (TX: 25/12/71).  “The Mysterious Return Of NASA’s Centaur Rocket”, (Facebook)(TX: 29/11/21).  “The Rebel”, (1961).  “The Royal Institution Crimbo Lectures 2021”, (ep 1,”The Invisible Enemy”, TX: 28/12/21 )(ep 2,”The Perfect Storm”, TX: 29/12/21)(ep 3, “Winning The War”, TX: 30/12/21).  “The Vicar Of Dibley – The Vicar In White”, (TX: 01/01/07).  “The Weakest Link (2021)”, (S1, ep 2, TX: 23/12/21)(ep 3, TX: 28/12/21)(ep 4, TX: 29/12/22(ep 5, TX: 30/12/21).  “Top Gear”, (S31, “Driving Home For Crimbo”, TX: 24/12/21).  “Top Of The Pops: 2021”, (TX: 25/12/21).  “Travel Man: 96 Hours In Iceland”, (TX: 27/12/21).  “Worzel Gummidge”, (S2, ep2, “Twitches”, TX: 28/12/21)(ep 3, “Calliope Jane”, TX: 29/12/21). “You”, (S2, ep 2).

“Doctor Who Watched This Week”……

“The Senorites”, (S1, Prod Code F).  Ep 2, “The Unwilling Warriors”, (TX: 27/06/64).  Ep 3, “Hidden Dangers”, (TX: 27/06/64).  Ep 4, “A Race Against Death”, (TX: 18/12/21).  Ep 5, “Kidnap”, (TX: 25/07/21).  Ep 6, “A Desperate Venture”, (TX: 01/08/21).

Seen Live On Stage……

“A Crimbo Carol: A Ghost Story”, (Alexandra Palace Theatre, 29/12/21).

“The Shark Is Broken”, (Ambassadors Theatre, 31/12/21).

This week I have listening to:

“30 Animals That Made Us Smarter”, (BBC World Service/Sounds)(S2, ep 27, 27/12/21). “Coronavirus Global Update “, (BBC World Service/Sounds)(25/12/21)(26/12/21) (27/12/21)(28/12)(29/12/21)(30/12/21)(31/12/21).  “Bitter Sound Radio”, (31/12/21). “Doctor Who: Toby Hadoke’s Time Travels – Happy Times And Places”, (28.3, “Warriors Of The Deep”, ep 3”, 27/12/21).  “Lazy Doctor Who”, (The Incomparable)(ep 224 to ep 226, 25/12/21).  “Muppets In Space (Farscape)“, (The Incomparable)(30/12/21). “Radio Astronomy (The Sky AT Night Magazine)”, (30/12/21).  “Space And Things”, (STP70, 30/12/21).  “Star Trek Universe”, (25/12/21).  “The Adam Buxton Podcast”, (ep 172, “Adam And Joe Crimbo Ramble Chat”, TX: 25/12/21).  “The Friendship Onion”, (S1, ep 33, 28/12/21).  “The Nick Abbot Whole Show A to Z”, (D to F, 25/12/21)(G to H, 26/12/21)(J to L, 27/12/21(M to O, 28/12/21(P to R, 29/12/21)(S to U, 30/12/21).  “The Radio Times Doctor Who Podcast”, (26/12/21).  “The Supermassive Podcast”, (24/12/21).  “Tripodcast”, (Holiday Special,25/12/21).

Songs I Enjoyed This Week, Were By:

“Morrissey”, “ABC”,  “Adam And The Ants”,  “Band Aid (1984)”.  “David Bowie And Bing Crosby”,  “Diana Ross”,  “East 17”,  “Greg Lake”,  “John & Yoko/The Plastic Ono Band With The Harlem Community Choir,  “Jona Lewie”,  “Kate Bush”,  “Kajagoogoo”,  “Limal”,  “Mel Smith & Kim Wilde”,  “Michael Buble”,  “Nirvana”,  “Paul McCartney And Wings”,  “Ransid Minibreak (As mentioned in Travel Man: 96 hours in Iceland)”.  “Snow Patrol”,  “Starsailor”,  “The Communards”,  “The Darkness”,  “The Kooks”,  “The Pretenders”,  “The Style Council”,  “Toyah”,

Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures in East And Central London, Hertfordshire & Surrey.

Week 392, Saturday 18^th until Friday 24^th December 2021.

There are now Eight weeks left of this ramble.

Due to all the final Crimbo madness, this ramble maybe a little shorter.  Plus I have spent a lot of time making something special for my mum, a picture will appear in next week’s Crimbo Blog.

And Now This……

Earlier this week I noticed traffic cones and concrete slabs placed at intervals down my road.  Surely the local council were not doing road works this week, I thought.  Later I discovered that cones have appeared all around because gutter drain covers have been stolen.  Personally I have never lifted one but I assume there pretty heavy, so whoever did this couldn’t have just parked late one night in a car, this operation would have had to be planned, needing a van and a number of people to help.

Money is tight for us all I know, but stealing like this in such quantities is going to cause the already overstretch local council serious issues as they try to replace them (I wonder how long this will actually take).  It is also of course very dangerous having these gaping holes exposed, the people who have done this really don’t care about others or animals that could fall in.

Whoever stole them will hopefully get a decent price at a scrap yard, as this might stop them coming for the ones they left or worse start nicking road signs.  One thing that did cross my mind is that the cones could have had tinsel and other decorations draped on them to make them look more festive (it’s just an idea).

And Now For Something Completely Different…….

My excitement level reached 11 this week when I spotted a Blue Tit in the garden.  I haven’t seen one for months; they are always such a lovely sight.  What really would have made this week feel complete is if I saw a Robin, sadly this amateur armchair Twitcher has not seen a red breast for quite a while.

And Finally…….

Senior moment this week, all the minutes wasted looking for a new electric toothbrush bought that morning.  I looked everywhere, including on the floor searching in nooks and crannies only stopping when I saw the device standing charging where I left it.  I am wondering which government department I can complain to and get a refund on those wasted minutes.

Happy Crimbo or Holidays depending on what you celebrate or observe. Eat, drink and be merry, I certainly will.

My Mid Life Crisis Conts……

This week I have watched:

“Alias”, (S1, ep 20).  “Babylon 5”, (S1, ep 12).  “Blake’s 7”, (SC, ep 10).  “Click“, (TX: 18/12/21).  “Comedy Legends”, (S3, ep 4, “Kenneth Williams”, TX: 29/10/20).  “Elves”, (S1 ep 4 & ep 5).  “Gardeners World: Winter Special 2021/22”, (ep 1, TX: 10/21/21).  “Hacksmith’s World’s Brightest Flashlight – Guinness World  Record”, (Facebook)(TX: 16/10/21).  “Hanna”, (S3, ep 6).  “Jupiter Ascending”, (2015).  “K9 & Company: A Girls Best Friend”, (TX: 28/12/81).  “Lexx”, (S2, ep 12).   “Making Of Lexx S2″, (YouTube)(TX: 11/10/15).  “Mandy: We Wish You A Mandy Crimbo”, (TX: 20/12/21).  “Money Heist”, (S5, ep 8 to ep 10).  “One Night In Alton Towers”, (TX: 16/12/21).  “One Night In Hamleys”, (TX: 24/12/20).  “One Night In The Natural History Museum”, (TX: 16/12/20).  “Rob And Romesh Vs Crimbo”, (TX: 19/12/21).  “Superstore, (S6, ep 4).  “Stargate Atlantis”, (S4, ep 4 & ep 5).  “Star Trek Concepts You’ll Never See And Here’s Why”, (Facebook)(TX: 30/01/20).  “Stath Let’s flats”, (S3, ep 5 & ep 6).  “That Riviera Touch”, (1966).  “The Galaxy Britain Built: The British Force Behind Star Wars”, (TX: 16/12/19).  “The Great British Sewing Bee- 2021 Specials 1: Celebrity Crimbo Special”, (TX: 22/12/21).  “The Girl before”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 4).  “The I-Land”, (S1, ep 6).  “The Lost Boys”, (1987).   “The Matrix Resurrections”, (2021).  “The Ranganation Crimbo Special 2021”, (TX: 19/12/21).   “The Royle Family – Barbara’s Old Ring”, (TX: 25/12/22).  “The Tomorrow People”, (S3, “Secret Weapon”, ep 4, TX: 19/03/75).  “The Walking Dead: World Beyond”, (S2, ep 5).  “The Weakest Link (2021)”, (S1, ep 1, TX: 18/12/21).  “Why Living On The Starship Enterprise Would Actually Be Awful”, (Facebook)(TX: 25/11/20).  “You”, (S1, ep 7 to ep 10)(S2, ep 1).

“Doctor Who Watched This Week”……

“The Aztecs” (S1, Prod Code F).  Ep 1, “The Temple Of Evil”, (TX:23/05/64).  Ep 2, “The Warriors Of Death”, (TX: 30/05/64).  Ep 3, “The Bride Of Sacrifice”, (TX: 06/06/64).  Ep 4, “The Day Of Darkness”, (TX: 13/06/64).

“The Sensorites”, (S1, Prode Code G).  Ep 1, “Strangers In Space”, (TX: 20/06/64).  

Seen Live On Stage……

“2:22 A Ghost Story”, (Gielgud Theatre, 18/12/21).

This week I have listening to:

“30 Animals That Made Us Smarter”, (S2, ep 26, 20/12/21).  “Anglophilia”, (S6, ep 3, 21/12/21).  “Brian & Roger Crimbo Special 2021”, (24/12/21).  “Coronavirus Global Update”, (BBC World Service/Sounds)(18/12/21)(19/12/21)(20/12/21)(21/12/21) (22/12/21)(23/12/21)(24/12/21).  “Doctor Who Flashcast”, (The Incomparable)(S13, ep 2, 07/11/21)(ep 3, 14/11/21)(ep 4, 21/11/21)(ep 5, 28/11/18)(ep 6, 05/12/21).  “Doctor Who: Toby Hadoke’s Time Travels  – Happy Times And Places”, (28.1, “Warriors Of The Deep”, 20/01/21)(28.2, 24/12/21).  “Griefcast”, (S8, ep 11 (ep 160) 22/12/21).  “Maximum Power – A Blake’s 7 Podcast”, (Retrospective Of SA,19/12/21).  “Mystery Hour”, (23/12/21).  “Nick Abbot Whole Show”, (18/12/21)(19/12/21).  “Nick Abbot Whole Show A to Z”, (A to C, 24/12/21).  “Producing The Beatles”, (Intro Trailer, 16/08/18(ep 1, 03/09/18)(ep 2, 17/09/18)(ep 3, 01/10/18)(ep 4, 15/10/18)(ep 5, 29/10/18)(ep 6, 20/11/18).  “Radio Astronomy Shorts (BBC Sky At Night Magazine)“, (21/08/17)(19/10/17)(29/03/18)(25/04/21)(20/12/21)(23/12/21).  “Radio Times Doctor Who podcast”, (14/10/20).  “Rob Beckett And Josh Widdecombe Parenting Hell”, (S3, ep 47, 21/12/21)(ep 48, 24/12/21).  “Screw it, We’re Just Gonna Talk about The Beatles”, (Trailer, 12/01/17)(ep 1, 12/01/17)(ep 2, 19/01/17)(ep 3, 26/01/17)(ep 4, 02/02/17).  “Since We’re Here By Steff Callas”, (ep 1, 22/08/21)(ep 2, 05/09/21)(ep 3, 24/09/21)(ep 4, 08/10/21)(ep 5, 17/10/21).  “Smerch Pod – Batman”, (24/12/21).  “Smersh Pod – Side Special – The Wild Geese”, (13/10/17).  “Space and Things”, (STP20, 14/01/21)(STP42, 17/06/21)(STP43, 24/06/21)(STP69, 23/12/21).  “Star Trek Universe”, (15/01/19)(20/12/21).  “The Audio Guide To Babylon 5”, (ep 58, 24/07/16).  “The Friendship Onion”, (S1, ep 32, 21/12/22).  “The Nick Abbot Habit”, (20/12/21).  “The Old Doctor Who Show”, (ep 122, ”K9 And Company: A Girls Best Friend” , 22/12/21).  “The Space Above Us”, (ep 149, 23/12/21).  “What’s Your Problem With Nick Abbot And Carol Mcgiffin”, (20/12/21).  “Wolf And Owl”, (ep 55, 22/12/21).

Songs I Enjoyed This Week, Were By:

“Morrissey”,  “Athlete”,  “Band Aid (1984)”,  “Biffy Clyro”,  “Chris De Burge”,  “David Bowie”, “East 17”,  “Echo And The Bunnymen”,  “Elton John”,  “Foo Fighters”, “Heaven 17”,  “Run-D.M.C”,  “Slade”,  “St Etienne ft Tim Burgess”,  “The Darkness”, “The Flying Pickets”,  “The King Singers”,  “The Pet Shop Boys”,  “The Pretenders”,  “The Waitresses”,  “Wizard”,  “Yvonne Elliman”.