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World Affairs

Oh – so that was it, was it?

For my sins – to be honest, it felt as much a duty as an imperative – I duly watched the live Sky Sports TV coverage of the Third Test between the Springboks and the British & Irish Lions in Capetown yesterday (kick-off 5.00pm UK time) which ended in a 19-16 victory, and thereby an [...]

August 8, 2021 // 0 Comments

Fings ain’t what they used ter be …

There are those among the contributors to this organ – and probably also its readers – who are familiar with – and/or are even habitual visitors to – the Talking Pictures television channel whose particular raison d’etre is to broadcast popular British and other television [...]

August 6, 2021 // 0 Comments

Thinking the unthinkable

Last week brought media reports of a new study undertaken by Professor Willie Stewart at the University of Glasgow which apparently demonstrates that professional footballers who play in defence for ten to fifteen years are five times more likely to suffer dementia that the general population, [...]

August 5, 2021 // 0 Comments

Write around the world/BBC4

I was attracted to this programme presented by actor Richard E Grant for several reasons. Firstly, I had seen his programme on the art of The French Riviera and enjoyed it. Secondly I knew the Analfi coast which he was visiting well. Thirdly most of the books he was discussing set in that region I [...]

August 4, 2021 // 0 Comments

Olympic coverage

Like my colleagues on the Rust I find the back drop of empty seats in the stadiums a distinct turn off. In the week of track and field I miss the winning athlete draped in the national flag going over to supporters. I am also less than impressed by the BBC coverage. The BBC has so few sporting [...]

August 3, 2021 // 0 Comments

It’s about everything – and nothing …

As I begin my post today, reflecting upon some of the issues thrown up by the Olympics currently belatedly taking place in Tokyo, I’m conscious that I’m sailing gingerly into choppy and potentially hazardous waters and also simultaneously at significant risk of losing my thread or even [...]

August 3, 2021 // 0 Comments

One-all … and one to go

Family events conspired to prevent me watching the entirety of the rugby union Second Test match yesterday between South Africa and the British & Irish Lions in Capetown as I had originally planned. I did not reach the sanctuary of home until just before half-time last night and made an [...]

August 1, 2021 // 0 Comments

Withdrawal and well being

One of the features of this year’s sport has been the withdrawal from participation by elite sportswomen and sportsmen. Naomi Osaka was followed by Simone Biles and the latest is Ben Stokes. Generally the media attitude is sympathetic. Gone are the days when Frank Bruno was cruelly mocked by the [...]

August 1, 2021 // 0 Comments

THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA

Inspired by the excellent Ken Burns documentary of Ernest Hemingway I decided to read one of his works. For Whom the Bell tolls I read at school and found it heavy going. Farewell to Arms I knew the story from the film. I’m not a reader of short stories so I plumped for the audio version of The [...]

July 30, 2021 // 0 Comments

The dictatorship of the cycling brigade

Every stout and upright member of the British public over the aged of fifty will be familiar with the notion that the 21st Century’s “woke” Generation X do-gooders have a regrettable supposedly politically-correct stranglehold over the thinking and policies of the craven UK [...]

July 30, 2021 // 0 Comments

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