People I know on Telly

Well two of my favourite TV programmes are currently airing on BBC 2 and strangely they've both shown people I know, the fist is 'Only Connect' which has moved from BBC4 to BBC 2 it's considered cerebral in comparison with the most of the other TV quiz shows.

Virginia (Fassnidge)  is the contestant I recognise from my days volunteering with the National Trust at Osterley.

Osterley National Trust

Virginia is part of a team (Linguists) with her son and his partner but sadly it's not looking too good for them as well as knowing about plants she's a bit of a Leonard Cohen fan as I saw at one his concerts at the O2 a few years ago - Go Virginia.

BBC 2's Allotment challenge

the other programme that we caught today with a familiar face was BBC's second series of The Big  Allotment Challenge, the programme has been somewhat revamped since last year and it's still about growing and using produce but the first run had competing couples and this has now been changed to  individuals.

Well programme one of the new series featured the youngest contestant so far Matt who happens to have the plot (on his regular allotment) next to mine - sad to say Matt was the first contestant to leave - seems to me we (the viewers) should have a few weeks getting to know the 'allotment-eers' before they are removed - Matt is an interesting character and his engineering take on Horticulture would have been good to follow.

That Matt's shed the bright coloured one

Odd that there should be two people I know on such TV Programmes and that they should both be on BBC 2 - I guess I'm their target audience?

More shopping & Finding Tolstoy and The Death of Ivan Ilyich

New shoes and they smell nice too.

I think some times there's too much choice I bought some new trousers this week (quite easy) and wanted some more 'winter shoes'.

So yesterday off to Harrow and I must say I'd forgotten how I enjoy Nando's (what's not to like?) for me Nando's know chicken in a way Colonel Sanders never can - it's a fantastic lunch and the mechanism works well - order, pay wait for food, eat and go.

Well after eating came the shopping- I've been battling to  find the shoes I want and it's been a bit difficult (1st world problems - I love that site!) - they need to hit the right price point (under £40) not looking too much like an old man's shoe  (no Velcro or 'rounded' connection from the uppers to the sole) nor something that looked like it should be worn with Trackie bottoms - ended up with these  from Deichman

Tolstoy a larger than life figure

So have finished the Tolstoy short story that I had requested for Christmas and am contemplating starting 'The Devil' which is in the same volume.

Having found the book a useful one - (why is it so few books are written about death? )
Tolstoy was a philosopher as well as a writer and one may take some lessons from this book that chronicles how life may look when we anticipate our departure from it - Questions we might ask ourselves such as have we wasted our lives ir Have we realised our potential?

For me currently my mind is drawn to conundrums around determinism - if we operate as part of a 'Newtonian' universe why would we blame people for their actions - yet even determinisms it seems wrestle with their behaviours,  giving up cigarettes or trying to be a better person, and if we say okay that person committed that act as a result of their genes/upbringing we should we expect better from ourselves (answers on a postcard or e-mail please)

I find Tolstoy everywhere including a full day of War and Peace on Radio 4 which I'll try to catch up with.

Tolstoy found his privileged upbringing a challenge - there are some interesting facts about him here as well as the fact there's an amazing BBC documentary on Youtube - an interview with his youngest daughter Alexandra who acted as an aide/PA to him for some years .

Despite being  Count Tolstoy he spent a,lot of time with peasants, became a vegetarian and made his own shoes - a pioneer of alternative lifestyles  in many respects.

Election 2015 and issues we should considers (I say)

Well to me it doesn't seem that long since election 2010 but the political landscape is certainly looking different (although seismic shifts might be an exaggeration).

A dove is what we need

If we review the progress of the economy since the Tory-led  coalition government was formed it looks a mixed bag to say the least, in terms of meeting the economic aims that George Osborne set himself it is pretty much a failure (rebalancing the economy and reducing Government borrowing) when judged dispassionately and the idea of us all being in it together  has been shown to be patently absurd.

The rise of UKIP has driven the Conservatives to taking an ever more Euro-sceptic  position and the so called greening of the Tories is revealed a lie that  can only be seen disappearing in the rear view mirror as we near the next election.

There are though some (small) positives that we can look at in terms of movements in society, mental health has become an issue that can be addressed in a more balanced way (thanks in part to the importance that the Lib-Dems have attached to it) , the ageing of the population too is not now something that is totally avoided by politicians as it has been before and same sex marriage is now permitted in the UK.

 And The World

On a wider perspective the best hope for increased living 'standards'  and one which is looking increasingly possible  is a US led economic recovery driven by a resurgent business sector there helped by the lower fuel costs that shale oil has enabled, this has the dual benefit of lowering costs in the USA and putting more money in consumers pockets and purses.

More money will increase both consumer spending and confidence thus creating demand, demand which will though unleash inflation again.

Foreign Affairs 

Conditions in both the Middle East and parts of North Africa remain worryingly unstable and North Korea remains unpredictable  -it is in such areas that calm counsel is required from the US state office and Foreign ministers within the EU, any diminution of British influence in Brussels in this respect would be serious and a result of Tories pandering to an unrealistic go it alone Britain.

The other problem which although having limited global financial effect that was resolved in 2014 was that of Cuba, Cuba is one of the best places (for a holiday anyway) that I have visited, I hope the move to a more balanced relationship benefits the people of both the USA and Cuba it appears that the current Pope played an important role in the rapprochement be great if his diplomatic skills  can be used to end other stalemates  in 2015.    

Thermal Sock Time and a Happy New Year to readers

Quiet in Ealing as the shopping frenzy seems to have subsided - took the opportunity to buy winter socks at Primark, (we've been here before) Feet Heaters £4.00 (quite similar pairs were £6.00 at Tesco) and a double pack of non Tog rated ones at £4.00 will compare and contrast.

Where have all the shoppers gone?

My new socks

Happy New Year

As well  as enjoying Mapp and Lucia on BBC 1 over the last 3 nights and ITV's dramatisation of late period Tommy Cooper last night  I am getting well stuck into The Death of Ivan Ilyich  -books could be preferable to TV dramatisations as I find myself drawn to notice the tight angles often used to make sure only  period details are shown  and that crowd effects are created with absolute  minimum numbers of actors/extras.

I'm not sure if I enjoyed seeing Mapp and Lucia because of the earlier production (with Geraldine McEwan and Prunella Scales - C4 I think) or from reading E F Benson's books - but the vitriol was certainly to the fore in this latest rendition.