OneGuyFromBarlick

Watched it Ian and Cloud Lab as well. Good interesting TV. I liked the reaction of the American lady to the hydraulic mortar in the arch they had to take out, she'd evidently never come across it before. Have a look at this WIKI ARTICLE.

One thing that surprised me, they only sought out the original drawings for the tunnel after they had run into the problem. I would have thought that a full appraisal of all existing information on what you were dealing with would have been high up on the project management scale before you even busted earth. Pretty impressive when the boring machine hit the target with millimetre precision, also noted that all the heavy boring machines were all made in Germany!

Team leader on the under the Thames operation another northern bloke, if you want something doing.....

...get a woman to do it?

Aye, quite a few of those about in heavy engineering and project management, certainly on the Crossrail project. The American lady though seemed to find the Victorian engineered tunnel that she had to deal with a bit of a surprise. Like I commented in my previous post, you would have though they would have looked at the original drawings first, it might have avoided a number of the pitfalls they came across which eventually only allowed them to re flood and open up the the bit they were working on at the very last minute, pouring concrete on the morning of the deadline. I liked the young woman managing two cranes and a bunch of burly blokes though while manoeuvring the mega tonnage cutting head of the boring machine.

Don't give too much away, Ian - I do hope to watch it eventually!

By coincidence, the bloke I am editing for at the moment is complaining because the producers of C4s The Mill have ripped off his material. Cut throat business TV, they eat material!
As I understand it, the rogue arch under the dock wasn't on the original drawings, a Victorian afterthought.....

When I worked in a science research institute in the 1980s there were many women scientists and women engineers at the research centre, and they were just as likely to be managers as were the men. In science things had changed by then from the early days of men being given preference but unfortunately it's taking longer in many other spheres of life.

My ladies, Thelma and Joan at Ellenroad were a complete success. Good engine tenters who took notice of my instructions and never put a foot wrong.

I watched Melvyn Bragg on the Peasants' Revolt 1381 last night. (Saturday night - don't tell anyone )
He's usually a bit advanced for me (on Radio4), but I enjoyed it. Helped by visiting the places where the events actually happened. It constantly amazes me how far people were prepared to walk for a good battle.
It's Tom Paine next week - that should be good too.

I finally got to see the third programme about Crossrail yesterday evening - or some of it; fell asleep part way through...

I missed Melvyn but no doubt it will be repeated....

We enjoyed the programme about the Red Arrows (Inside the Bubble) and I was impressed to see how the mechanics (engineers, technicians, in today's terminology?) were so disciplined, standing at attention by their aircraft, marching back and forth. Each aircraft has a special nominated mechanic who travels from place to place in the back seat - now that's travelling in style!

Scrappers. Didn't pay much heed when it was advertised on BBC 1, but in a quiet moment I had a look on iPlayer. I loved it. Life in a scrapyard in Bolton.

First episode : http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... -1-pay-day

Thanks for that. I had a quick look, and watched it all. Goodbye Benefit Street - I think we have the next bunch of stars.

"I've only got one nerve left, and he's getting on it"

I have watched two episodes of Scrappers. They could all be professional actors, they are that good. Watched Melvyn last night on Tom Paine. Good TV.

Viewed Scrappers on iPlayer last night after Pluggy's recommendation. Every bit as good as you say but why no hard hats? Nolic

They seem to be a moveable feast in that yard Comrade!

"Watched Melvyn last night on Tom Paine. Good TV."

i recommended this following last week's programme, then got engrossed in Inspector Montalbano, and missed it. My Italian is improving no end though, but I read that there are references to the Sicilian accent which rather goes over my head. I'll find Tom Paine on iplayer. I have a biography which I've just dug out - the text is very small for the current state of the vision, but I'll give it a go. I think he came from the same town as Julie from Norfolk.

Thetford.....

Watched 'Who Do You Think You Are' last night. Brian Blessed over the top as usual. You can have too much ebullience.....

Professor Mosley’s programme on eating meat last night gave some very interesting information for the carnivores who care about the planet. I liked the mussel farm and the back to nature farmer in Dorset.

BBC 2 put out a good programme on allergies last night. The findings confirmed what I have always believed, that exposure to a wide range of microbes at an early age is good for our immune systems. Children reared on farms in close proximity to animals are far less likely to develop allergies as are babies delivered by C section because they don't get the initial dose of beneficial microbes secreted in the mother's vagina. I seem to remember that years ago a spray containing these organisms was routinely given to babies thought to be at risk. The researchers found a clear link between the lack of certain gut microbes and susceptibility to allergies. Most impressive of all was the faeces transfusion where an extract from a healthy person's faeces was transfused into the bowels of allergy sufferers to re-populate their gut. Also the warnings that antibiotics kill the beneficial microbes as well as the baddies! A good informative programme....

Panorama on Rotherham last night. Essential viewing and just the role TV is best at. In depth reporting of social evil.

The Clangers are returning to our screens!
Michael Palin to narrate The Clangers series (BBC News)
"Comedian and presenter Michael Palin is to narrate a new series of classic children's TV programme, the Clangers. The show centres around pink, mouse-like creatures who live in craters covered by dustbin lids, whose noisy "clang" gave the show its name. The CBeebies programme will air in the UK next spring. "The world of the Clangers is delightful and irresistible," Palin said. The original show first aired in 1969 on BBC One. The clangers communicate with unusual whistles while the narrator comments on the events that take place in their universe."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-29107225

I've been enjoying Brian Cox's latest series and last night 'Trust me I'm a doctor' was good as well. The following programme on the Gunpowder Plot was fascinating as well. Nice to see there is still some good TV still being made!