GOOD TV

[Stanley]

My target was to watch the programme about the East India Company on BBC 2 but as soon as I realised it was the dreaded Dan Snow (Who I can't stand, such a poseur) and found Billy Connolly on ITV talking about death following his diagnosis (in one week!) of prostate cancer and early onset Parkinson's. Brilliant programme and I like his take on death. It finished with him and Eric Idle singing 'Always look on the bright side of life'. I shall be watching the next episode.... (TELEGRAPH REVIEW)

[Stanley]

Kirsty Wark's programme on Blurred Lines on BBC2 last night. Very thought provoking.... (LINK)

[Nolic]

Has anyone else been fascinated by the BBC3 production of Generation War - Our mothers, Our Fathers - about 5 young adults and their experience of war from 1941. Well worth watching and can be found on iPlayer for catch up.http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... erent_War/ Nolic

[Stanley]

I watched the first part Comrade but as soon as I realised they had included the Token Jew I realised where it was going and being a wimp I ditched it. I had to stop reading the History of Krupps for the same reason, as soon as they got onto the use of Jewish forced labour it got too painful. It's not that I ignore it, just the fact that it affects me so much.....

[Stanley]

Watched Billy Connolly's programme on death last night. Just as funny and thought provoking as the first. [Mind you, I'll admit to a vested interest!]

[Stanley]

Watched a wartime Ministry of Information film on the War of the Blockades. Fascinating old films and so well made! Will Hay and Bernard Miles shooting down a Heinkel bomber from a minesweeper.....

[Wendyf]

Looking forward to the new series of Wallander which starts tonight.

[Tripps]

Thanks for that Wendy - I watched it, and enjoyed it. Rescued me from a dire Saturday night's TV. Aren't they all? Didn't like the subtitles - Had to read them all as I don't know a word of Swedish. Have you watched Inspector Albano (?) . I don't find them too bad there, since I know just a few words of Italian and it seems to make a difference. Nice pace, and well produced - but I couldn't help thinking of Anders Breivik during the outdoor boat and island scenes. Disturbing.

[Stanley]

I think that David's comment about subtitles is true. I get on fine if the language is German or French but struggle with the others.

[Wendyf]

I enjoyed Wallander even with the subtitles, though I was struggling to keep my eyes open towards the end which caused a few problems with my understanding of the plot! Way past my bedtime.

[Nolic]

I've never got into Wallender but have enjoyed the other Scandinavian thrillers that BBC have shown, The Killing, Borgen and The Bridge. I have to concentrate to follow the subtitles and cannot be distracted and I think that this enhances my enjoyment. Nolic

[Stanley]

All my TV is good now that Kev has sorted me! Well done OG and Kev!
I enjoyed the programme on Polio on BBC2 last night and learned a lot from it.

[PanBiker]

Did anyone else catch the documentary "Britain's Greatest Pilot: The extraordinary story of Captain Winkle Brown"?

What an amazing life that guy has had. Amongst his exploits is holding the record for flying the most different marques of aircraft, 432 or something like that. Everything from Bi-planes to fast jets. He was chief test pilot for the Fleet Air Arm during WWII and was responsible for developing the techniques for deck landing all types, the only person ever to land a Mosquito on an aircraft carrier. Fantastic documentary, could have posted this equally as well in the Winged Heroes.

The extraordinary story of Captain Winkle Brown - IPlayer

[Tizer]

I recorded it but haven't watched it yet and look forward to seeing the programme. I have a 1977 copy of `Wings of the Luftwaffe' by `Captain Eric Brown' and a 2006 copy of `The Colour Encyclopedia of Incredible Aeroplanes' written by Phillip Jarrett and with a Foreword by Eric Winkle Brown. I believe the two Browns are the same man as the one in your programme. Both books are excellent and I can wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone interested in aircraft. `Wings of the Luftwaffe' is an amazing book because it's based on Winkle Brown's own experiences and his work with ex-Luftwaffe men after WW2. He was in Germany as a boy in the 1930s and began his interest in aeroplanes by visiting the gliding events and observed for himself how the Germans were using that `hobby' as a way to build up a cadre of pilots. He became a test pilot and at the end of the war was responsible for bringing back (often as the pilot) examples of German aircraft to be tested and examined at Farnborough. Some of his colleagues died testing those aircraft but Winkle Brown made a point of employing some ex-Luftwaffe men to give him guidance of the aircrafts' foibles and dangers. The book almost reads like a novel at times and gives marvellous insight into the bravery of test pilots.

[PanBiker]

I watched an eye opener of a documentary last night about the growing problem of mobility scooters. I have never thought about this but program was quite revealing and showed perspectives from both users and others who have been directly affected by those using the mobility aids

First of all, something I was totally unaware of, there is absolutely no regulation about who can use one of these devices. Users do not have to undertake any training, they don't need any form of licence or insurance and are not subject to any form of taxation. Users do not have to wear any safety equipment, seat belts or helmets. Scooters fall into two categories apparently, those that are limited to use on the pavements and larger models that can be used on the road.

One the one hand, the pavement models have a top speed of 4 mph, not very fast but almost twice as fast as the average pedestrian pace on the pavement. This of course causes an instant problem in that all foot traffic is "always in the way".

The road versions have a top speed of 8 mph and as such are slower than just about every other form of road user so tend to create frustration from other road users and in some cases very nasty accidents. You can imagine what happens when one of these has an argument with a bus, articulated vehicle or "white van man". There have been numerous deaths.

The program featured a woman who is campaigning to try and get some regulation, mandatory training and insurance introduced for users. This comes after her 8 year old daughter was hospitalised after being "run over" by a lady who reversed over her on the pavement. It showed her on the streets canvassing opinions, one mobility scooter user that she asked told her that the accident was her daughters fault as she should have got out of the way! She has collected thousands of signatures of support for regulation of some kind and petitioned government. They have replied stating that they cannot see a problem!

Despite the lack of support from central government and odd local authority is offering practical awareness courses for scooter users. They have built a mini town centre in a warehouse with street furniture and typical hazards and ask the users to negotiate the obstacles and then give practical advice. It showed one man who arrived on foot with a white stick and said he was considering getting a mobility scooter but wanted to try one out before committing himself. The fact that the guy had no peripheral vision at all would not preclude him from using a scooter on the road. Scary thought and the potential for mayhem perfectly demonstrated by the gent when he took a pavement scooter for whirl around the training facility. Thankfully he decided to stay on foot.

No insurance requirement of course means no third party liability. A sobering example of this was a lady who has been ordered by the court to pay £32,000 in damages to someone who she ran into on her scooter and who has sued her for injury and subsequent loss of earnings.

The scooters are seen as a lifeline for many who use them and in many cases are just that but it seem incredulous to me the total lack of regard for the safety of both the users or the general public through their use.

[Tizer]

I didn't see the TV programme but I've heard a Radio 4 report along the same lines and it is worrying. We used to have a local churchman, a canon in his 80s, who I thought of as a `loose canon' because he would drive his scooter at full pelt down the single track lane outside our house and into the village and I wondered how he survived - I suppose he would have told me God was taking care of him! But it's the ones on the pavements that worry me, they aren't going very fast but the vehicles are heavy and can cause a lot of damage to your legs.

[PanBiker]

4 mph compared to the normal pedestrian traffic is fast and this is the problem, everyone else has to get out of the way. Many of the scooters do not have a warning device unless fitted as an after market accessory but even if they had it would be permanently in use in a busy town centre or shopping precinct. Being electrically operated makes them almost silent in operation which adds to the danger for the unaware pedestrian. As you would expect most injuries to non scooter users are caused by the pavement models. Injuries to scooter users is greater with the 8 mph road versions (which are also used on the pavements as well).

Some enterprising people are actually offering customised scooters where they remodel or pimp them up somewhat. The program showed one that looked like a miniature Jeep (complete with US Army markings), another was done up as a bus and a third (favourite with the ladies) a Harley Davidson motorcycle!

I think the program said that 7 million had been supplied since their inception a few years back. There is a very active 2nd and 3rd hand market. New road models can cost up to £8,000.00, you could buy a car for that! Oh! hang on a minute you need to pass a test for one of them, have insurance, MOT, road tax and it's generally accepted you don't drive on the pavement or run folk over (in forward or reverse).

Regulation now please.

[Sue]

My Dad and I often discussed the use of mobility scooters. He had to have one to get around, having only one leg. He thought he ought to be insured. We decided a good idea would be to have to pay insurance at the going rate except in cases of absolute need, when only a minimal charge should be paid. This we thought would discourage casual uses who were just using them as a cheap form of transport, often instead of walking!

[Stanley]

I meant to watch the programme but missed it. I too often wonder if they are all strictly necessary....
[I loved the 'loose canon']

[PanBiker]

"The Fifteen Billion Pound Railway" part 1 of 3 BBC2 23.20. Story of the construction of London's new Crossrail tunnels and stations. Heavy engineering and tunnelling operations under the streets of London, fascinating logistical problem solving. First part good, covers "threading the eye of the needle" which involves guiding the 900 tonne tunnel boring machine over the top of the live Tottenham Court Road underground line. Crossing at right angles to the the existing Northern Line tunnel it has to pass overhead with 1 meter clearance over the top of the tunnel and less than 30cm below the station escalator foundations. I will be recording or watching the second two episodes without doubt. Next episode is at 9.00pm on BBC2 next Wednesday.

[Stanley]

I agree Ian, fascinating programme. Have tried to watch all three episodes of 'The Honourable Woman' but given up on them. Too many flash backs, confusing plot and so I have switched across to BBC4 and watched the rerun of Simon Schama and his history of Britain.

[Stanley]

Very powerful report on BBC2 last night about the collapse of the Rana Plaza textile factory in Bangladesh. One poor woman couldn't be reached by the doctor so he handed her the saw so she could amputate her own left arm above the elbow. I've often talked about the price of coal and fish, this is the price of cheap clothing..... The sad fact is that the big chains, no matter how much they protest, are obsessed with low prices and if the factory owners improved conditions and wages the buyers would find another country with cheaper labour. If furs could be boycotted, why not cheap clothing produced in sweat shops?

[Tizer]

"The Fifteen Billion Pound Railway" - Yes we watched it too, a good programme and great to see proper project management at work. What struck me was how can the bankers etc justify their enormous salary packages when compared to the jobs these guys do? I enjoyed it at the end when the Wolverhampton bloke in charge found Wolves had won 4-0, then they prepared to leave, with him saying: "Right lads, let's get back up North!"

[Stanley]

I liked his comment about the price of coffee in London! I'm sorry to say it but I really do believe that the lads from the north are a completely different breed from those in London. I thought that 50 years ago when I was running down there regularly and haven't changed my mind. Ask someone the time in Glasgow and you got a polite conversation from the roughest characters, do it in London and like as not you were ignored.....
I shall be ignoring the latest instalments of 'The Mill'. Too painful to watch TV people dramatising history....

[PanBiker]

Not to worry, more tunnelling from the Crossrail blokes tonight, part 2 at 9.00pm I believe.