Recommended Book: Pigs Have Wings by P.G. Wodehouse

Recommended Play: Naked by Mike Leigh

Having reached my mid-late thirties and pleased that I have so far avoided the vain temptations of the five shades of brown offered by Just4Men, my deluded belief that I am merely in my late youth pushes me to make some comments on the past few decades of existence that you are free to ignore, disagree with, and/or comment on:

1. Fair weather friends: whether it is at college, school, university, societies, political parties or work, we often come across people who, at first, seem cool, chilled out or interesting enough for us to go ‘I MUST be their friend!’. Unfortunately, this illusion can sometimes dribble away like treacle off a zebra’s back when you discover that this person, whom you may have shared traumas and secrets with, is little more than an arse. (Apologies if language offends). This should not be a reflection on you for making friends, but a lesson in being more discerning in the future. Do not take any more abuse from this fair weather friend – you are in control.
2.  Television: When criticised by the right wing press for spending too much on new drama or arts programming, there seems to have sprung up in the last few years a tendency to cow tow to the criticism by broadcasters, leading them to promise to cut spending in these areas. In the 1990’s for instance, the BBC would often give new writers a free hand in what they wrote and produced. Do they still do this? Are we condemned to flick through Freeview channels night after night wondering ‘shall I watch:

(A) Peter Andre fly-fishing with chimps

(B) Big Brother: Mensa challenge

(C) Keith Lemon vandalises a Suffragettes grave

(D) The Valleys

(E) I’m a non-entity, Get me a new contract!

(F) Putting my foot through the screen of the TV in frustration...on ice

Television and radio were created to bring culture, be it drama, comedy, plays, musicals, dance, opera, concerts etc to the mass of people in this country, most of whom cannot afford to nip off to the West End and see a show, or are so knackered from working all day in the home or in workplaces that the idea of going to a play can be daunting.

The Only Way Is Essex, The Valleys, Geordie Shores etc are, in my opinion which anyone is free to disagree with and to ignore, an insult to the millions of ordinary people out there whose intelligence and attention-spans are so underrated that the broadcasters feed them mush like this.

(The Macilroy Chronicles – time travel in a Welsh Dresser – Amazon.co.uk kindle store - now for only 75p)

(Free Kindle app available to download to Laptop, PC or Mac if, like me, you’ve got better things to spend £110 on than a Kindle device.)

(What happened to tape Walkman’s, they were great. And VHS – am I supposed to just re-buy the Lord of the Rings films on DVD just because some CEO...)

More rants next week.