March 28th, 2009
My Formula One season began as usual in the early hours of Friday morning. Like many F1 fanatics I used to turn to Germany to get my fix of comprehensive free to air coverage. With a cheap dish and old analogue Sky box I have not had to rely of ITV’s lamentable output.
The news channel n-tv used to broadcast the practice sessions, with qualifying and race day covered by RTL. RTL’s coverage is very impressive with a comprehensive warm up show that includes the driver’s parade and extensive post race analysis, showing the responses of all the drivers in the press conference and not just the German driver.
So to the BBC’s red button coverage of the first two practice sessions.
The station’s first practice session broadcast was covered by David Croft and former Super Aguri driver Antony Davidson.
I am sure that Anthony Davidson would rather be in a car than the commentary booth, but his personal loss is to the gain of those wanting to get a sense of what it is like to drive a car and what the team is trying to achieve in the session. His experience enabled him to accurately interpret the track action, almost demonstrating a psychic ability to predict what was likely to unfold later in the session.
A good start which unravelled a bit for the second session which was covered by Maurice Hamilton and Ian “Arthur Mullard” Phillips. When I last wrote about this pair it was about how they spent a lot of time trashing the skill and ability of Felipe Massa. I haven’t seen their brief but it surely can’t be to waffle on about anything that comes to mind? They were so busy responding viewers’ questions it was like listening to Test Match Special when play has been suspended. Someone should have told them that they were broadcasting to a TV audience and not just the 5 or 6 listeners to Radio Five Sports Extra.
“Formula England’s” finest had a novel approach to their golden boy’s lack of form – largely ignore talking about him. It was quite refreshing not to hear breathless references to Lewis Hamilton every few seconds and actually devote some airtime to other drivers.
I am not going to complain – except to remark on the elephant in the room with regards to McLaren’s poor form this season; this is the first season in a few years where we can be reasonably certain that McLaren have not been able to incorporate stolen proprietary information from Ferrari in the design and set up of their cars. Why won’t the British media even contemplate that there may be a link?
Posted in BBC, Felipe Massa, Formula 1, Formula England | No Comments »
March 22nd, 2009
In the early hours of the morning searching the internet to try and find former colleagues who are poorer and less successful than me (an unlikely outcome), I ended up creating a Facebook profile. This has caused lots of work not least due to this blog.
It has been a while since my last posting. One of the handful of readers has asked why I haven’t been updating. Here’s why
- As I don’t suckle at the teat of the public sector, nor no longer work for a multinational, I am no longer able to spend large parts of the day sat in front of a screen blogging, booking holidays, looking at stuff on eBay checking football scores and filling out quizzes about old children’s TV programmes
- I am not deluded enough to believe that perspectives from Pontrieux is of enormous interest.
- It’s very easy to be negative and cynical about everything. A friend’s father is a relatively famous academic and children’s author. He has been the subject of and presented numerous Radio 4 programmes. When you hear him on the radio or meet him is extremely charming and good humoured. You know that you are in the company of someone who has enhanced your day. If however, you should read his blog or his column in the local paper, he comes across as a bitter angry man.
- It’s quite difficult to talk about your daily life without mentioning people. The interesting things that happen involve my neighbours and customers, particularly when they demonstrate ‘interesting’ behaviour. My logs show that a number of people have come to my blog from the Google France translate service, particularly the post about names – the locals are watching.
The solution
- From now on I going to try and post at least twice a week. This will help give the impression to my thousands of new readers that I am leading a successful charmed and fulfilled existence out of the rat race.
- I am going to post more about what actually happens when people enter my premises and this may involve naming names.
- To make 1. easier I am going to post more about what actually happens in France. Much of what is reported in the UK media is very Paris centric and bears no relevance us here in the sticks. I have the regional paper “Le Telegramme” delivered daily so will pass some of the daily news about stabbings, serious car accidents, teen alcoholism, domestic violence, child abuse and strikes that fills the paper.
Posted in French life, Pontrieux | No Comments »
June 12th, 2008
Watching David Davis making his statement I was instantly transported back to the eighties and Wogan. I was open mouthed then watching another David begin a very public nervous breakdown. Thankfully unlike with David Icke, David Davis hasn’t started accusing senior government figures of being lizards – not yet.
David Davis’ statement also had a whiff of Jonathan Aitken about it, when he resigned his government post to carry wield his trusty sword of truth.
It is not clear if David Davis is a nutter or that it is his vanity that contributed to today’s impulsive behaviour. Neither of these traits is appropriate for someone who could have been Home Secretary one day.
Today David Cameron had won a get out of jail free card. The Tories used to pride themselves on being the party of law and order. Yesterday on the Today programme David Davis was going solo with party policy committing a future Conservative government to rescinding 42 days.
On David Davis’ watch the Conservatives have gone soft on terrorism. In seeking to gain short term political capital by opposing the government they have also taken a stand against the British people who are largely in favour of the government’s anti-terror proposals.
Little should be made of the appointment of Dominic Grieve. David Cameron had to make a quick replacement without getting bogged down by a full shadow cabinet reshuffle. By the time of the election David Cameron will have appointed someone more in tune with the public mood.
David Cameron will go to sleep a contented man tonight, that troublesome “What are we going to do about David Davis?” problem is no more.
Posted in David Cameron, David Davis, David Icke | 1 Comment »
April 4th, 2008
My lunchtime nap today coincided with listening to the second practice session of the Bahrain Grand Prix on 5 Live Sports Extra.
Felipe Massa had run over a kerb, which led to a display of ‘Formula England’ at its worst, with much trashing of Felipe’s driving ability, about how undisciplined he is, how he hasn’t a long term career as a Ferrari etc. I can’t envisage them taking a similar approach to talking about an English driver, Anthony Davidson for example.
The bitching about Felipe only came to an end when a car smashed into the tyre barrier. “It’s not Nelson Piquet Junior”. No it wasn’t that foreigner or any other, it was Formula England’s Golden Boy who had made a mess of his car and probably his pants.
As the second practice session came to an end Felipe topped the timesheets for the second time today – without trashing his car.
PS. Note to the Arthur Mullard sound alike who was commenting with Maurice Hamilton. As there were only about 10 of us listening to 5 Live Sports Extra, is doesn’t really matter if you use the term “Pissed off”, but if you want to get a gig on 5 Live proper during the day, you’ll need to watch the mouth.
Posted in BBC, Felipe Massa, Formula 1, Formula England | No Comments »
February 2nd, 2008
In the idle moments of a Saturday afternoon in France I notice that a Mr Daniel Homo is putting himself forward as a candidate for March elections in the town of Trélivan. Meanwhile in Guingamp you can vote for Mona Bras. On Monday’s literally seconds of fun can be had at Pontrieux’s market if you visit the fruit and veg stall run by Mme. Bastard.
Indeed you may be so overawed with the hilarity of funny foreign names you may want to pop into my tearoom for a lemonade. I should warn you that I only serve Pschitt! lemonade. “Would you like your Pschitt! in a glass or with a straw?”
Before tutting commences I would like to point out that the French manufacturer is fully aware of the word play – why else would their website have sections labelled “Pschitt! Attitude” and “Pschitt! Yourself”?
Posted in French life, Pontrieux | 1 Comment »
January 23rd, 2008
It has taken a while, but it looks that Gordon Brown has finally got the measure of PMQs. In what was his most impressive performance to date he has conquered his stuttering and dispensed with all those irritating trite phrases.
The details of the Northern Rock are perhaps not of great interest to the wider public; however I would hope that people recognise that the government is trying to do something to safeguard the future of the bank. Gordon Brown was quite right to point out the lack of any alternative plan from the Tories.
David Cameron’s jokes were rather lame. The fact that he persisted in trotting them out rather than suggest any alternative for the bank only underlines his reputation for vacuousness. Jolly japes are fine from the stand-in leader of a minor party; one expects a bit more substance from someone who aspires to lead our country. The more personal and spiteful Cameron becomes, the more he resembles a public schoolboy bully. Hardly a vote winner in the long term.
Posted in David Cameron, Gordon Brown, PMQs, Vince Cable | 1 Comment »
January 19th, 2008
I fear I may have committed yet another faux pas, this time with the local artist community, some of whom used to use my tearoom as a meeting place to plan their exhibitions and events.
Although not a particularly artistic type I embraced my new found friends, happily publicising and attending their events. They didn’t seem to mind getting trapped in my toilet - I didn’t mind their impromptu pagan dancing and singing in my courtyard.
All was well until I noticed that they had stopped dropping off flyers for their events, the invites to the ‘gala’ openings dried up and the realisation that they hadn’t popped in for a coffee since June.
Perhaps toes have been trodden on. After seeing a price list for one of their pieces of work, I commented that it was a lot of money. The piece in question was 5000€. To put this in perspective I would need to let a room in my B&B for over 100 nights to get that sort of money. I didn’t say it was too dear or not worth the money, just factually that it was a lot of money. This did not go down well.
Failing that, it is all my mother’s fault. While on a visit I persuaded her to come along to one of the exhibitions. This was perhaps not a good idea as my mother is even less of an arty type than me.
The exhibition consisted of a number of rough drafts of poems with assorted paperbacks tied up with string and pinned to the wall. Another exhibit consisted of various wine glasses glued to a French window. This work is by Pontrieux vitrailliste Julian Lannou and looks stunning.
What was not expected was someone breaking the silence by playing this exhibit with drumsticks and wailing. This was followed by three people walking round in a circle hitting cowbells and chanting, finishing off with a bagpipes and a rendition of The Wild Rover
I knew the effect this would have on my mother. She was attempting to hide behind me, tears rolling down her cheeks and her fist in her mouth in a vain attempt to suppress the laughter. My mother’s critical response to the spectacle unfolding may have been the most honest, but I fear may have harmed Pepworth-Artist relations.
Posted in Pontrieux | No Comments »
November 28th, 2007
A mixed performance from Gordon Brown at PMQs today. He has clearly listened to my advice to lay off “I think people will…” and “I’m not going to take any lessons”. Sadly he hasn’t got to grips with the stutter. I hope the Hansard stenographers d-d-d-d-d-don’t leave them in.
Less impressive was his parting shot at Cameron, “As for competence I remind him, I remind him, that in 1992 he sat there when interest rates went to 15%…….”
What was David Cameron, who at the time was not even an MP, doing sat on what were then, the Labour benches?
On the first and 3 subsequent hearings of Vince Cables “Stalin to Mr Bean” joke, I am convinced that he got the gag wrong and actually said Mr Beam. Not to worry, he won’t have been the first Lib Dem leader to appear at PMQs with lunch on his mind.
Posted in Gordon Brown, PMQs, Vince Cable | No Comments »
November 27th, 2007
One of the players in “Cash for Peerages scandal” was a certain Jack Dromey. He thought it would be helpful to appear in a TV studio and ‘sing like a canary’ about how he had no knowledge of the loans despite being the Treasurer of the Labour Party. He was so indignant I thought he was going to burst a blood vessel.
I couldn’t understand his motive for so publicly airing his grievances on the inner workings of the Labour Party other than to undermine Tony Blair and hasten his departure.
A few years on, there was found to be no scandal and regrettably Tony Blair has moved on and Jack Dromey is still the Labour Party Treasurer.
I am looking forward to seeing an appearance on the news by the Labour Party Treasurer telling us what he knew of the latest donations. Was he aware of them or not? Also was he aware of the donation received by the winner of the Deputy Leadership contest? The problem for Mr Harriet Harman is that this time he can’t credibly play the “I was kept in the dark” card.
Posted in Jack Dromey, Labour Leadership, UK Current Events | 1 Comment »
November 27th, 2007
Listening to you floundering in defence of the latest cock ups under your leadership, some observations:
You need to get a grip on that stutter under pressure. It makes you sound evasive and nervous. You don’t want the tabloids to start referring to you as Arkwright of Open All Hours fame.
Stop trying to tell us what we think. You have developed what you believe is a clever phrase to use as your shield (now you can no longer hide behind Tony) – “I think people will (+ verb)”. The trouble is that you have over used it and it lacks effect. Worse still people could infer the phrase as your own distress signal, like the “I’m going not to take any lessons……” line you use at PMQs when you get rattled.
Posted in Gordon Brown, Labour Leadership, UK Current Events | No Comments »
