Okay, it's Christmas now!

Picked up the Christmas TV guide for Flyingpops (in my bag ready for the trip home)...

...and if you didn't already see on Flickr, I wore a completely over the top Christmas jumper (etc.) for charity on Friday (which went down extremely well) -

- and then *today* the work is picking us all up from the offices in Wapping, loading us all on to coaches (at 11am-ish) to go to our big Carol Concert in Southwark Cathedral (next to the new offices) and then super secret Santa on Thursday (which is my last working day before Christmas day)!  There is absolutely no doubt about it...It's CHRISTMAS! ;)

Will post some pics from the office Carol Concert later on if I get a chance...!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

TFL Wasting Money

This does annoy me, and I hope it annoys you too...a big fat flat panel TV, purchased and mounted at some expense at London Bridge underground station...it's apparent purpose?  To display a digital rendering of a much cheaper analogue clock (which would have been perfectly fit for purpose)...

Hopefully (and I really mean that) there are great plans for it in the future, but at the moment it sits there (day after day) looking like a rather stupid waste of passengers hard earned money...

World Cup update...

...to this post...all the TVs in the office are turned on, and tuned to the action (volume extremely quiet, but audible)...

Now unable to turn and avoid football...wondering if this was anterior motive for said object's installation earlier in the year... ;)

Top Gear Filming Canary Wharf

Wow, it seems like *ages* since anything interesting awaited me upon exiting the tube station at Canary Wharf, but today, a big crowd had formed around a selection of small cars, wherein (you can just see him leaning by the door of this one) Jeremy Clarkson was interviewing whoever was driving it -

- and behind him, if you look carefully, is the tiny Richard Hammond (looking bored)-

- so (and I'm just guessing here), it looks like they were busy filming a feature for the BBC show Top Gear...

So keep an eye out for me if you watch the show, I was in the background (taking these pictures) in a number of shots with my trusty(ish) Nokia N73... ;)

IT Crowd Season 3 - Starts Friday!

Absolutely can't wait! The internets favourite utterly absurd TV show is back! If you have never watched it before (especially if you enjoyed Father Ted - as it's the same guy responsible) immediately stop what you are doing and go back and watch season 1 until you have seen all the episodes, then watch season 2 (each show is only about 25 minutes each so it won't take you long)...those links are to youtube, but all the episodes are also on 4OD...

This is the only tears-running-down-your-face, laugh-out-loud television of the last two years (that didn't involve a camcorder, a small child, a bat and someone's genitals)...In essence it's the tale of an extremely uptight young professional female - Jen Barber - (who knows nothing about technology but pretends she does, with cringe-worthy results) being put in charge of one (slightly mad and extremely lazy) Irish help desk technician (Roy "Did you try turning it off an on?" no-surname) and one (slightly confused and extremely innocent) über-geek (Maurice "hot ear" Moss) and the utterly farcical situations they get into working in the impossibly surreal office environment of Reynholm Industries...

Season three kicks off at 10pm tomorrow....Woo Hoo!

The Amazing Race

This is just such an excellent treat....right off the back of discovering (thanks to a friend at work) that the televisual treat HBO's "The Wire" existed at all (the show that actually kicked American TV into life after years of total drudge - I'm now about 8 episodes into season 5 and have loved every minute of it), last week I discover another incredible US show called "The Amazing Race"...this one has been running for an astonishing 14 seasons(!) (very naughtily) without my knowledge and is just spectacularly good television (perfect material for me to consume on the commute)...in each competition 11 or 12 couples set off from somewhere in the States on a journey vicious race around the globe competing for a $1,000,000 prize...each stage is set in a different country and the teams must beg, borrow or steal their way to each objective and challenge (some of which look absolutely impossible) including booking all transport, one couple being eliminated at each stage if they make it to the "pit stop" last...no joke - it is just electric!

A load of episodes are available on YouTube if you fancy having a peek, or they run on Challenge TV on NTL/Sky from time to time too by the looks of things...

Why is there *nothing* like this being produced on British TV at the moment??  It's all just talent shows (which are sooooo boring in comparison)!

Come back Anneka Rice, all is forgivedid! ;)

Stephen Fry in America

I had the pleasure yesterday of being lured into catching up (via BBC iPlayer) with watching the first episode of the extremely entertaining new show "Stephen Fry in America" by first discovering a small excerpt of the accompanying text on Mr Fry's blog...and I actually think it was the right way round to do it...As the episode played, I had the privilege of knowing what was going through his head as each experience unfolded (including being able to chuckle as I recalled the odd "embellishment", shall we say?)...interestingly (and somewhat obviously) the TV show, while highly enjoyable and decidedly educational in it's own charming way, in this case seems like just an executive summary for the rich detail, measured insight and beautifully woven prose in the book - which I have made up my mind to buy...as in this case it's clearly the richer element of the pairing (and not just a limp money spinning ploy as is occasionally the case)...

Oh, and funnily enough, this isn't actually the first "Stephen Fry incident" of the week either...On Tuesday I discovered (via Big Blue), that Mr Fry twitters...so I thought I would add myself to his adoring fan list (as you do) and tune in to his tweets from time to time...it was only when checking my gmail a little later in the day that I noticed the update which had arrived shortly afterwards..."Stephen Fry is now following you on twitter"...wow...

I'd better make an effort to be interesting then...! :0

Dexter - Differences between the book and the TV show

I decided (as I mentioned previously), to take a dip into the original books after enjoying the TV series so much, and guess what? They are *rather* different (same basic storyline, but the TV show adds a lot more depth to the sub-characters)...

Hmm, now can I do this without any serious spoilers...?

Right at the start of the book Dexter himself introduces the reader to his "Dark Passenger" - when he is comitting murder he tends to refer to himself as "We" and "Us" (even when speaking out loud) - it isn't until season 2 of the TV show that this dual personality is in any way acknowledged and even so he always refers to himself as "I"...

Dexter's 'methods' vary, following a "searching for some hidden truth" theme, like by using his knife (in one example) he can literally find tangible answers hiding under the skin, it's just a matter of discovering the correct method...oh and he always wears a mask...

Dexter uses the word "important" a lot in the book, for example "the body was completely drained of blood, this was important" or "the girls were all fair haired, this was important" without a lot of further explaination, as if the reader were just supposed to understand (which is quite haunting and powerful)...not a mention of the word on TV, but I think I can understand the need for them to make him a more 'friendly' person...

The book is all from Dexter's point of view, a little like you are taking a ride along with him (sat quietly next to the aforementioned passenger), the TV series explores all sorts of different characters point of view (expanding many of them considerably into side-plots)...

Deborah in the book is suspicious of Dexter right from the start - saying things like "How do you *know* that?", prompting Dexter to carefully insert little mistakes into his predictions of what killers might be thinking...it doesn't work though (and without going into details) from the conclusion of the first book, she discovers that her brother is a serial killer (which is going to make things interesting!), in the TV show she is still none-the-wiser as of the season two finale...

Rita’s abusive ex-husband Paul doesn't exist, or isn't mentioned anyway...(much simplifying the girlfriend situation)...

Angel is referred to as "Angel (no relation)" and we don't hear much about him, and even less about his ex-wife (nothing in fact)...

Dexter doesn't have a real 'buddy' at the station (sorry Masuka)...the Dexter in the book actually rather dislikes him...

It's not the "Ice Truck Killer" it's the "Tamiami Butcher" (smacks a bit of dumbing down, I think I could have been introduced to the area with a nice panning shot of a "Welcome to Tamiami" sign)...

Camilla Figg is much younger and infatuated with Dexter (working nearby in the lab) rather than a filing clerk and mother figure who worked with Dexter's father (back in the day)...

Oh and one of the main characters is murdered...but I'll let you find out who, where, how and why... ;)

I have also learned that the second book ("Dearly Devoted Dexter") has virtually nothing to do with the TV show (yes!)...the first one did actually follow the same story arc, only the end being *considerably* different (but I won't ruin it)...so that means I have some nice fresh Dexter fiction to chew on while I wait for September...excellent... ;)

Devouring "Dexter"

Really can't hype this up enough, I discovered it through (of all places) TV on Demand on Virgin on "Last chance" and have absolutely devoured the episodes since...I'm currently on episode 7, season 2...so only 5 episodes left (ulp)!

Just to give you an idea - Dexter is a US drama series based on the series of novels (which I will get hold of as soon as I have finished watching season 2) starting with "Darkly Dreaming Dexter" by Jeff Lindsay...it's set in modern day Miami, following the exploits of one Dexter Morgan (played by the incredibly tallented Michael C. Hall) who has a day job working for the Miami Metro Police Department as a blood spatter analyst at homicide scenes, and by night (in a delicious twist) is himself a vigilante serial killer...

I don't want to ruin it, but the plot is incredibly fast moving, has plenty for "'shippers" (get out your fandom dictionary) and is just (albeit tongue-in-cheek) just blood spattered and graphic enough to keep it dark and edgy...

Only problem is now I have to wait until September for season 3... ;)

Canada Square - Tennis on huge TV

Just had to pop down today to take some shots of what is going on in Canada Square, all week (up until today) they have been showing Wimbledon on this giant screen -

- and then today, when I finally manage to hit ground floor with a decent camera it's some sort of Jazz band!

Oh well, you get the idea...nice touch from Canary Wharf management... ;)

Lost Season 4 - Episode 1 and 2 review

...see here, looks like the lucky journos got a sneak preview of episode 1 and 2 of season 4...summary?

"Three words for Thursday's first episode: Oh. My. God."
"ABC kindly sent the second episode as well. Three more words: Oh. My. God."
"And there's plenty to shock, that's for sure"
"roller coasters of fast action and revelation"
"Lost continues to be back on track"
"Episode 1 ends too quickly."
"Episode 2 ends too quickly."

Could I be any more excited? Probably not...roll on Thursday! ;)

Preview Vids here and here...

Ipswich Ripper - Subliminal messages on Watchdog

So, although admittedly, the police haven't released all the details, from what I have read at least *one* of the (now 5) victims was suffocated in some fashion, so why on earth is the press calling the killer "The Ipswich Ripper" (apart from the obvious prostitute connection)?

Surely, if the press had thought about it, it would have been "The Suffolk Strangler"? Much more catchy and appropriate! Someone in the press has really dropped the ball...*unless*, as I said, we have some more details to be presented with by the detectives in question and the press are keeping their muzzles on, for some reason...wouldn't be the first time...

On the same note, and on the more "interesting" side, I was sat watching "Watchdog" on the BBC this evening, and the female presenter was wearing a white shirt with the word "NO" clearly emblazoned in massive black letters across her breasts...I can't help but wonder if this is anything to do with it...and I'm sorry, but there is no way that wasn't deliberate *and* for some very good reason (even if I am a little off the mark as to exactly why) -

Update - As of the 14th December issue of the Metro, they are now calling him, lo and behold, the Suffolk Strangler... ;)

ITV Saturday Cooks

Well...what can I say...Anthony Worrall Thompson, Ken Hom and Gino D'Acampo...three wonderful, professional and personable celebrity chefs...put them together and what happens?

None of them manages to recommend a specialty dish (admittedly) apart from AWT right at the end, but that was in the caller vote! It's almost painful to watch Ken Hom suggest an Italian-style stir fry to a caller asking for advice with her wok and then so transparently, and guiltily look over to Gino for approval, leaving Gino to awkwardly suggest a lame rissoto stir fry and AWT to have to finish off by cautiously listing the core components of what the caller was actually after - a classic Chinese recipe - thus forcing him into looking back to Mr Hom for approval...THIS IS NOT GOOD...

Don't get me wrong, these chefs all obviously have a huge amount of respect for one another and are awe-inspiringly skillful...but next time guys, just stick to what you know best...I'm not sure anyone in England really wanted to hear Ken's Italian-American-Chinese stir fry pasta carbonara fusion recipe (tasty or not)...his classic Chinese recipes? Gino's classic Italian? Now you're talking!

Bring it on, I'll be all ears...(promise)... ;)

England vs Trinidad & Tobago

Well well well...left it a little late, didn't we... ;)

FIFA World Cup 2006 - It is time...

Think I'm ready...just got to plump up the cushions on the sofa... ;)

update - 1-0 England in the first 3 mins...
update - that ref must *really* hate Paraguay...
update - mmm...beer is nice...
update - eeek, free kick to Paraguay...!
update - Almost at half time, score at 1-0, Paraguay still not looking good...Ooooh! Very close Beckham miss there though...! ;)
update - I wonder how many supporters need to be sacrificed to the spider-god that keeps overwatch on the pitch to stop it eating the players?
update - 2nd half - pace is slower...as hot there as it is here...and nasty ref moaning about players drinking water...bah...
update - Oh dear, England looking rather nervous.... :(
update - Some ofthe England players seem to be wearing pink ladies shoes...
update - last ten minutes!
update - and now the ref hates England!!
update - and the final result - a weak limp home... :(

The Urban Chef BBC2 / The Prince Albert, Kings Cross

Cool! A new (ten part) TV show starts airing tonight on BBC2, it's called "The Urban Chef", it's set in Kings Cross (i.e. right around the corner from me!) in the restaurant owned by new-face celebrity chef Oliver Rowe, not sure of the name, but it apparently lurks behind the dark green facade that was the "Prince Albert" pub at the actual Kings Cross...now, this is interesting for two reasons -

1. It's nearby, and apparently fairly reasonable, so I might be able to go and eat there...(although I wish I had found out about this before the TV show, as it's going to be impossible to get a table now as a result)...
2. He is a man with a mission, every single ingredient used in the resturant has (by self imposed rules) to be locally grown/produced and sourced from within the M25...(so where does he get his black pepper from then? ;)

Anyway, hopefully I can get back in time to see the start (1830hrs)! ;)

Update - Missed about 5 mins, but a really good show!

Update update - Finally made it to the resturant to eat! Check out my pics and write up!