Monday 5 April 2010

1418 More Glastonbury, Poor Amy Winehouse and more TV

I commenced the day unsettled because of many things I wanted to watch on TV conflicting with project work activities, and the in-tray. It did not prove to be a great or memorable day although there were except highlights.

The surprise of the day was an exceptional first part of Dr Who which saw the reappearance of. Billy Piper, the Daleks and the Dr commencing another transformation as he clearly leaves the series to play Hamlet at the RSC and someone else takes over if there is to be a new series. The acting was excellent and Catherine Tate has stopped being Catherine Tate and become an effective travelling companion, the story line is a good one with the whole earth hijacked with twenty seven other planets, and the pace and level of surprise was also significantly above average. It will become a classic episode, especially if the second part can match or excel the first.

I also enjoyed some of the acts on America has got talent which I have missed over a couple of weeks, included an amazing young illusionist but the main viewing was between sport and Glastonbury with a horrendous performance by England against New Zealand, poor bowling and bad batting with the captain's curse striking Petersen. Durham are to play Yorkshire again in the 20.20 quarter final at Chester Le street Riverside Monday week with a second day allocated if the weather continues as most of June. This will an exceptionally competitive game with a large crowd coming from Yorkshire, hopefully, to add to the occasion. Andy Murray commenced to conquer Wimbledon and replace Tin Henman with a concentrated professional demolition to reach the last sixteen with the fourth round match on Monday. He had a brief stutter losing his first set of the tournament, the second of the match when he lost his service rhythm but this was regained to complete the match in four sets, The centre court was full of personalities with Sir Bobby Charlton alongside Sir Bobby Robson and Nail Quinn, Terry Wogan and Matthew Pinsant along Sir Redgrave is it eight or nine gold medals for rowing between them. Tin Henman is making himself at home looking forward to the afternoon tea and evening meal, no doubt courted among the other personalities.

On BBCi I discovered a video recording of a Bruce Springsteen Sessions with the full 18 musicians to recreate the Album to the work of Pete Seeger. This was an unexpected bonus. I re-logged on to ITV on line which is just that with lots of information including clips about programmes but I am yet to find complete programmes. However on ITV music it is possible to listen to a few bars of all the tracks on records such as Amy Winehouse Back to Back and just about every other album in release The idea is that you listen to a bit and the download buy the whole number or album for a cheaper rate than in the high street.

The big disappointment of the evening was Amy Winehouse who looked on another planet, physically a wreck, her singer debateable and her chat incomprehensible. She and I thought she would pop out of her dress at any moment and it was not a promising prospect. It was very sad but she continues to have a lot of support among Glastonbury goers who hug the front of stage.

The biggest Glastonbury treat of the day was James Blunt although I have missed the full set recording which was not repeated but I was impressed with three numbers performed, one exclusively for BBC which were full of intense emotion and musicianship and what contrast to Amy. Will Young was interviewed and said it was his best performance experience but alas no video. Joan Armatrading sounded good without the wow factor and this also applied to the full set of Buddy Guy whose Mojo was working well and had Mustang Sally going. Likke Lil a Swedish acoustic stage group were interesting using a loud hailer for part of the number. Saw Shakkin Stevens who opened and 10.45. Understand the fuss about Jay Z who is evidently good at what he does and has a large following but I do not enjoy rap, but I understand the argument about his place in the order of appearance as headliner on the main stage on a Saturday night. Also saw bits of Neon Neon, Duffy the latest in bird, Crowded House and Elbow but nothing produced a new Wow or stopped me from going to bed as soon as I was tired.

A different experience was the decision to reorganise the upstairs work room so I couple starts a few sessions of working with my electronic keyboard. I need to learn to read music again after some sixty years. At present I can mess about playing with automatic rhythms and tones, sometimes using some of the includes tunes such as House of the rising sun and let it be. I use a good set of ear phones which also had a head microphone and in and out connections. All being well this will be a next winter activity.

Recently I wrote about the reappearance of Paul Temple on Radio Four so it is was a pleasant surprise when BBC audio books asked to be a friend. Coincidence or does someone check out the database re interests and references.

It is one year since Gordon Brown became Prime Minister and Labour losses deposit at Henley By Election polling less votes than the National Front. But who will be King Herod?

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