GOOD TV

[Big Kev]

If I did anything it would be to get the latest Freesat box Kev but I can live without it at the moment....
(PS.... Everything is into 3 figures these days!)

The £199 for a Freesat box is why I went for the £39.99 Firestick. My old Humax 1100S works perfectly for satellite channels, I'm happy to switch to another device for streaming.
The new Freesat branded boxes don't get very good reviews either.

[Stanley]

Useful information Kev. Thanks.....
As for TV. I am of course enjoying the snooker!
(PS. Every time I use the toggle function after a caps lock cock-up I call down blessings on the Blessed Kev!)

[Big Kev]

Despite negative reviews I have persevered with the latest BBC adaptation of Great Expectations. It is certainly different to 'traditional' adaptations and I'm enjoying it. Just a shame the full series isn't on the iPlayer, I've got to wait for the next episode to be broadcast before I can watch it.

[PanBiker]

So have we Kev and I concur with your thoughts and comments.

[Stanley]

Wonderful snooker, Ronnie O'Sullivan v. Hossein Vafei who has been upsetting the snooker world by his behaviour.
The scoreline last night was 6-2 in favour of Ronnie.

[Stanley]

I watched Ronnie complete the demolition of Vafei. You got the impression he was on a mission. He warned Vafei before the match against winding him up but Vafei took no notice (see the pool style break-off shot) and paid the price being beaten in two sessions. This gives Ronnie a rest day..... Very satisfying watching him do it.

[Tripps]

I'm watching the London Marathon. I think thew BBC is adding crowd noises in the same way they add canned laughter to comedy programmes. It remains at a farily constant level even when there is no crowd.

[Stanley]

An AI crowd?

[Stanley]

I watched Ronnie v Brecel on the morning session. Riveting stuff, Ronnie leading 6-2 at the end of the session. They are back on at 07:00.

[Tripps]

For me the gloss has come off the snooker a bit. First nearly all the Chinese players have had their tap stopped. Their hearing started yesterday, and I learn that the player Mark King deliberately lost to Joe Perry in February this year by 4- 0. Unusual betting patterns again, and those who watched said it was obvious what was happening. John Higgins of course should have been banned for life for offering to lose a match for cash in a sting operation.

I still watch it a bit though. . . .
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Channel 5 at 9 00 pm looks OK - a Steam Journey.

[PanBiker]

Channel 5 at 9 00 pm looks OK - a Steam Journey.

When I first saw the trailer for this I thought that the expert (Piglet apparently) was one of our Jacks mates at school, local Barlick lad Noel who is chief driver on the Flying Scotsman and other famous steam engines now. He was train mad as little lad.

[Wendyf]

Piglet was a regular on the programmes about the North York Moors Railway.

[Big Kev]

We've been watching The Bay, on ITVX, started with season 1 at the weekend and have just finished season 3. It's a quite watchable police 'whodunit' set in Morecambe (which is what prompted today's trip out to Morecambe). The new Firestick has opened up a lot of ITV content we lost access to with the demise of the ITV Hub streaming service, and ITVX on the first gen Firestick was constantly buffering and dropping out. All is good now

[Stanley]

I've been looking at Firestick Kev. Which of the three should I get? I have looked and have an HDMI 2 port available.
I am back up after second sleep and have to watch last night's TV now (Ronnie v Brecel) so I can watch the end of the match this afternoon....
Later at 12:30. Well, it's a lousy job but someone has to do it. Ronnie was not at his best but Luca Brecel played erratically and didn't capitalise on Ronnie's mistakes. The session ended with him 4 frames down on 10-6, which was where he started. The final session is this afternoon so I shall go and have a walk..... and then some more punishment!

[Tripps]

Looks as if Luca Brecel can be added to the list of famous Belgians.

Just saw the end of proceedings. Did "The Rocket" lose seven frames in a row? Went from 10-6 to 10-13. When did that last happen?

Check the betting?

I've been watching the chess - that's very exciting - so they tell me. Six all with one to play. . . .

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I bought a ROKU stick a few years which I think sounds like the Firestick. I didn't get on with it as the navigation was ponderous, and the content wasn't my cup of tea. It was qute cheap so maybe they are better now.

[Stanley]

I watched the whole sorry session at the Crucible. Ronnie was AWOL all afternoon, yes he lost seven frames and didn't have a break better than 30. Luca Brecel was brilliant and brushed Ronnie aside.
Ah well...

[Big Kev]

I've been looking at Firestick Kev. Which of the three should I get? I have looked and have an HDMI 2 port available.

I bought this one when it was on offer for £39.99, plugs into an HDMI port.
Fire TV Stick 4K with Alexa Voice...

[Stanley]

[Tripps]

From just a few days ago.

Ronnie was AWOL all afternoon, yes he lost seven frames and didn't have a break better than 30.

Now that has comfortably been beaten as Mr Si loses eleven consecutive frames. It's hard to take it all seriously when such things occur. Especially as ten of his compatriots are having a 'stewards ' this week for fixing the results of games.

The world chess has gone to a best of three, a speed tie break - I'll be watching that in preference. Live from Kazakhstan- isn't that amazing?


PS They call him "The Jester from Leicester" Nice rhyme but I've seen little to justify it. He seems a miserable cove to me. . .

PPS The Chinese gentleman Ding Liren is the new World Chess Champion.

Wonderful to hear all the experts get it wrong in the last game. They unanimously agreed it was an inevitable draw, and would go to a 'blitz' phase. Luckily Mr Ding didn't hear them - and went on to win.

So much for experts (again). I'm quite pleased that I don't have to learn to spell 'Ian Nepomniachtchi'


PPPS I watched quite a bit of "Dinner Ladies" this afternoon -scripted of course by Victoria Wood. Her jolly quips about trans women would get her instantly cancelled for life these days. Times change don't they.

[Stanley]

I've often wondered where they got 'Jester from Leicester' from as well David. I see they ended last night with Selby only trailing 9-8 after making a maximum break. I must watch some catch-up today!

[PanBiker]

Probably the most evenly matched final for years. I have to say I am rooting for Luca, time for some new blood, Selby has won it enough times.

[Gloria]

Watched the second Malpractice last night, it is excellent.

[Wendyf]

The new series of Canal Boat Diaries begins at 7.30pm tonight. I hope fame and fortune hasn't gone to Robbie's head!

[PanBiker]

Bit of a blip in the last few frames with a fight back from mark but Luca managed to take the title.

[Stanley]

I watched the afternoon session but was in bed of course for the evening one. See THIS BBC report of the 18-15 victory. It was no walkover as Brecel admitted himself and at times his play was erratic but on the whole he played brilliant snooker and deserves the title. I shall watch on catch up later....
(At one point I heard a news report that described him as being a 'Central European'! Geography teaching isn't what it used to be.