Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures in East London (Watching birds in the garden).

Week 316 Saturday 4^th until Friday 10^th July 2020.

Over these last few months I have got used to all kinds of distractions while working in a corner of the living room.  Such as the neighbour who has been constructing a man cave from scratch in his back garden.  Another neighbour has developed shed envy and this week started to convert an existing shed into his own private hide-a-way.

 “Happy Bday this week to RAC”.

Then there are the small children in the house next door, which since March have gone completely feral.  Their poor tired parents have lost control and occasionally turn up the volume up of children’s TV to 11 trying to drown out the screams and shouts.

 “I had a metal cat in a (my) hat”.

There is a new noise, something potentially very annoying threatening to disrupt me while I work.  Last weekend road working barriers and equipment appeared all the way down the road.  A letter fell on the doormat stating for 3 weeks there will be essential maintenance taking place.  Sure enough Monday morning at 7.30, I could hear drilling and pounding further down the road.  Over the course of the coming weeks this Hi-Viz fashion parade will make its way towards me getting louder and more upsetting all the time!

 “This sticker was on a package delivered to a friend.  Yes there really was a retro time piece inside”. 

If I had to choose which noise or disruption from those previously mentioned I would prefer.  It would have to be the neighbours banging and screwing!  Even the singing of Mr Tumble through the wall is preferable to the sound of heavy plant machinery.  Let’s not mention the smell of the chemical port-a-loo sat on the pavement (I wonder how long it will be before that is tipped over by bored teenagers for a laugh).  

And Now For Something Completely Different.

 “Bread has been made (in a machine) this week”.

Lockdown felt like a period of hibernation, personally I am still locked down, I don’t really want to be out and about. This week I had an experience which made me want to hide under the under the duvet even more.

 “MOZ modelling her new Bread bin”.

One lunchtime while visiting a local shop a man approached with his dog.  He had obviously been enjoying the recent reopening of local drinking establishment because he was totally pissed (he was apologetic about this).  The alcoholic fumes mixed with stale nicotine made my eyes water.  I nodded and smiled as he slurred and spluttered random words in my direction, while I worried about the computer at home counting down the 60 minutes of free time I enjoy daily in the afternoon.  I really needed to rush off but didn’t want to appear rude and upset him.

 “No, drunks in the park”.

Things became very uncomfortable when he stepped towards me reached up and touched my forehead and hair.  Of course I stepped back straight away.  Luckily the man then became distracted by something shiny (the dog, if you were wondering was minding its own business licking its balls) I saw this as my opportunity to escape.  Anyone watching me as I rushed down the hill constantly looking over my shoulder must have wondered if I was wanted by the authorities.

 “I wish my afternoon was this much fun”.

This experience has confirmed what I already knew; I am not ready to be out and about.  My lockdown continues (if I can stay in bed even better).

And Finally……

Quote of the week “Thick and Gloopy”.  This was said by a very clever scientist on a new Horizon documentary about Pluto. I repeated that line a number of times with a smile.

 “This week i have been enjoying…… Arrack”

And

One evening I found several tiny baby Spiders. With the help of a disposable coffee cup I use when attempting to paint, the family where collected and relocated to the garden to roam through the grass.

 “This is me rushing home”.

My Mid Life Crisis Conts……

This week I have mainly been watching:  

“A Touch Of Class”, (1973).  “Alex Brooker: Disability And Me”, (TX: 05/07/20).  “Big Jet TV: Live From Heathrow Airport”, (Facebook)(TX: 06/07/20).  “Blinky”, (YouTube)(TX: 14/10/12).  “California Suite”, (1978).  “Click”, (TX: 04/07/20).  “Comedians: Home Alone”, (S1, ep 6).  “DEVS”, (S1, ep 8).  “Fox 26 Houston News Hour Live at 5pm, With Tom Zizka”, (Facebook)(TX: 04/07/20).  “Genius Of The World”, (ep 3, TX: 19/08/15).  “Horizon 2020: Pluto Back From The Dead”, (TX: 06/07/20).  “I May Destroy You”, (S1, ep 9 & ep 10).  “Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, (Original TX: 05/04/2000)(Rpt TX 10/07/20).  “National Theatre Live: The Deep Blue Sea”, (Original TX: 01/09/16)(Rpt TX: 09/07/20).  “Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience”, (S4, ep 3, TX: 26/06/13)(ep 4, TX: 03/07/13).  “Storyville: Collage Behind Bars”, (Pt 1 & Pt 2, TX: 15/06/20).  “The Art Of Persia”, (S1, ep 1, TX: 15/06/20)(ep 2, TX: 22/06/20).  “The Long Song”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 3).  “The Mike Skipper Lockdown Saturday Quiz”, (FaceBook)(TX: 04/07/20).  “Two’s Company”, (S3, ep 2 to ep 8)(S4, ep 1 & ep 2).  “Warrior Nun”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 4).  “You’re Only Young Twice”, (S3, ep 1 to ep 5).                                

Doctor Who Watched This Week:

“Arc Of Infinity”, (S20, Prod Code 6E)(ep 1, TX: 03/01/83)(ep 2, TX: 05/01/83)(ep 3, TX: 11/01/83)(ep 4, TX: 12/01/83).

“Snakedance”, (S20, Prod Code 6D)(ep 1, TX: 18/01/83)(ep 2, TX: 19/01/83)(ep 3, TX: 25/01/83)(ep 4, TX: 26/01/83).

“Mawdryn Undead”, (S20, Prod Code 6F)(ep 1, TX: 01/02/83)(ep 2, TX: 02/02/83)(ep 3, TX: 08/03/83)(ep 4, TX: 09/03/83).

“Terminus”, (S20, Prod Code 6G)(ep 1, TX: 15/02/83)(ep 2, TX 16/02/83)(ep 3, TX: 22/02/83)(ep 4, TX: 23/02/83).

“Enlightenment”, (S20, Prod Code 6H)(ep 1, TX: 01/03/83)(ep 2, TX: 02/03/83)(ep 3, TX: 08/03/83)(ep 4, 09/03/83).

“The King’s Demons”, (S20, Prod Code 6J)(ep 1, TX: 15/03/83)(ep 2. TX: 16/03/83).

“The Five Doctors”, (20th Anniversary Special)(Prod Code 6K)(TX: 25/11/83).

This week I have mainly been listening to:  

“Coronavirus Global Daily Update”, (BBC World Service)(04/07/20)(05/07/20)(06/07/20) (07/07/20)(08/07/20)(09/07/20)(10/07/20).  “CNN, Coronavirus: Fact Vs Fiction”, (ep 92, 06/07/20)(ep 93, 07/07/20)(ep 94, 08/07/20)(ep 95, 09/07/20)(ep 96, 10/07/20).  “Doctor Who: The Missing Episode Podcast”, (ep 5, 05/07/20).  “Dear Joan And Jericha (Julia Davis And Vicki Pepperdine)”, (S2, ep 1, 03/10/19)(ep 2, 10/10/19).  “In Poor Taste”, (ep 121, 08/07/20).  “In The Village”, (Intro, 05/09/17)(ep, 29/09/17)(ep 2, 06/10/17)(ep 3, 13/10/13).  “Lazy Doctor Who”, (ep 92, 06/08/17)(ep 93, 09/08/17(ep 94, 16/08/17)(ep 95, 24/08/17)(ep 96, 02/08/17)(ep 97, 11/09/17)(ep 98, 13/09/17)(ep 99, 06/10/17)(ep 100, 07/10/17)(ep 101, 15/10/17)(ep 102, 16/10/17)(ep 103, 26/10/17)(ep 104, 14/12/17).  “NASA: Houston We Have A Podcast”, (ep 152, 10/07/20).  “Nick Abbot (Whole Show)”, (04/07/20)(11/07/20).  “Rob Beckett And Josh Widdecombe’s Lockdown Parenting Hell”, (ep 21, 07/07/20)(ep 22 10/07/20).  “Strange Times”, (ep 349, 04/07/20).  “Sue Perkins: An Hour Or So With…”, (S2, ep 5 (ep 16), 08/07/20).  “The All New Angelos And Barry Podcast”, (10/07/20).  “The Late Night Alternative With Iain Lee”, (06/07/20)(07/07/20(09/07/20).  “The Nick Abbot Habit”,(04/05/19)(10/05/19)(06/07/20).   “What’s The Problem? With Nick Abbot And Carol McGiffen”, (S1, ep 24, 06/07/20).  “Morrissey”,  “James”,  “The Strokes”,  “The Wombats”,  “Ocean Colour Scene”,  “Blur”,  “Bloc Party”,  “Linkin Park”,  “Bastille”,  “Blink 182”,  “Jamie T”,  “The XX”,  “The Bangles”.