25 Apr 2008
But then I encounter Primark FM…
After listening through to CSI:Ambleside it was hard to know where to start, but hey, let’s go with the six-minute album closer National Shite Day. Remarkable. As has been commented elsewhere, this is close in spirit to A Country Practice: lots of things not to like, some dark undertones and a rather catchy choon. Oh god, is there really a Primark FM?
See lyrics to National Shite Day
73 Letters Sent:
Tom
‘spotted a Marsh Fritillary during association’
And I think it’s ‘Fat kids and sausage rolls, whoresons conducting polls’. Much more Nigel.
Apr 25th, 2008
chris
Clearly I’m not a butterfly collector. Thanks! Not so sure about the other one, still sounds like “poor sods” to me. Anyone else?
Apr 25th, 2008
Bob
Sounds like “His exposed skull a perch for the quartering crow” to me ??
Apr 28th, 2008
Hoagy
I think it’s “Fat kids with sausage rolls, poor sods conducting polls”
and “What news you?, I felt sorry for him”
Apr 29th, 2008
Giles Pattison
I’m sure “quartering crow” is correct. Found this “The four quarters of John Stevens, who is hanged, drawn and quartered for treason, are displayed on the City gates, Salisbury, where the crows have a feast Date: March 1635″ with a picture of the four quarters of said Mr Stevens on spikes. Each quarter has a crow perched on it.
Apr 29th, 2008
chris
You guys justify your selection every week.
Apr 30th, 2008
Seb Patrick
It’s TVM, not TVAM. It stands for “TV Movie”. Stockard Channing has been in rather a lot of them.
May 1st, 2008
Houtini
“poor sods” is right, as is “what news you?” I used to have a friend who would use this irritating misappropriation, much like “what can I do you for?”, “how goes it?” etc.
May 1st, 2008
chris
@Seb: Very good – makes much more sense, and sounds right! A TLA which had heretofore eluded me.
@Houtini: “what news you?” – I need to get out more, obviously.
May 1st, 2008
leigh
The note to Phil Cool was “read” not “said”.
May 5th, 2008
tupper
I think it’s “More bog roll”, not “No bog roll”, but I’m happy to sit corrected.
I tell you what, this song is a feckin BELTER! One of their best.
May 9th, 2008
tonei
A proper gem of a song. ‘New Face in Hell’ {das Falle} vs. ‘Bone Machine’ {Pixies}. Funny as fook. I thought it was ‘sadolin’ {the wood preperation treatment} but on further investigation, the ‘sanderling’ is indeed a wading bird. Last LP I bought was ‘Back in the DHSS’ when it came out !! so I’ve a lot of catching up to do. Great site BTW.
May 17th, 2008
SeanyMac
Hi Chris
You’ve missed out that wonderful quiet bit in the middle, where Nigel drones:
“Float… float on /
Float… float on /
Barry… herpes”
(As in “Larry… Cancer” from Float On by The Floaters).
Marvellous stuff!
May 20th, 2008
chris
Thanks! It’s added!
May 20th, 2008
Gavin
To up the pedantry, Millets has only a single t.
May 24th, 2008
chris
That’s the kind of pedantry which makes this all worthwhile. Top marks.
May 24th, 2008
Nick
I think quartering crow refers to the verb to quarter, from AsxOxford.com:
“4. range over (an area) in all directions.”
I’ve seen it used in reference to crows here:
http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Anov01issue/crows.htm
Jun 4th, 2008
Petrovic
@Seanymac
Thanks for pointing that out – just looked up the lyrics to Float On and you’ve improved an already brilliant song for me.
Jul 20th, 2008
Phil
“And brace the margins” rather than “embrace the margins”?
I’m sure I’ve heard the phrase before (or maybe it was just a dream).
Sep 25th, 2008
neville
Regarding the “bus replacement service” lyric, though I’d agree this is incorrect I’d also say that the “train replacement service” would likely lead to confusion amongst the less able members of society.
The “replacement bus service” is the best option of all, being neither grammatically incorrect nor ambiguous.
Yours Sincerely,
N. Erdington.
Stoke Poges.
Nov 17th, 2008
Paul F
“embrace the margins” is correct I think.
Nov 18th, 2008
Richard
I agree with Paul, although I think ‘margin’ is singular not plural.
I am pretty proud of that bit of pedantry
Nov 18th, 2008
Paul F
Well done Richard! Good point.
Nov 18th, 2008
Charles Exford
I can’t help but commenting (because the alternative at this precise time would be joining Jools for the Jam Sketch and it’s ANNIE LENNOX), that this – NATIONAL SHITE DAY is probably THE GREATEST SONG RELEASED BY ANYONE IN 2008. I am pretty confident that had the great man been alive this would have been number one in The Festive Fifty 2008.
I notice that the Festive 50 at dandelionradio.com, the site which probably preserves Peelishness as well as any, has NSD at Number 21. What a travesty !
Personally me and the Mrs. will be playing this song tonight at midnight and we count ourselves blessed that we saw it played on its live debut … no coincidence that that was on April 23rd, either. It is the UK’s new national anthem as far as I’m concerned. It looks like it is now a set list staple and how lucky we are that it is so …
I’d just like to quote the splendid Mike Cresswell, who did a definitive review of the excellent Edinburgh gig back in October on hmhb.co.uk. He said what I’d wanted to say about this classic and I couldn’t have put it better meself. I quote:
“Finally, then I will shut up. Through the fog, through the struggling sound system, a shining light; almost like Monty Python’s stream of bat’s piss (Python ‘Oscar Wilde’ I merely meant, Your Majesty, that you shine out like a shaft of gold when all around is dark).
National Shite Day is an immense song. An instant ‘classic’ that defines the feeling that we all have at times (some more than others) that the microcosm, that is our life, is being replicated throughout the wider community. It is cathartic; an accolade that is so oft used but rarely, in my opinion, justified.
This song is that Premier League player that your club (supporters of the big 5, generally; oh, and Spurs) have just bought for Euro 30 million and looks pretty good on first viewing; but then after a few weeks, is absolutely stunning. There are a few. Messrs Veron and Pizzaro may be considered unlikely members of that club.
In my view, it is a song that should be pre-loaded onto every Ppod. It is there to enjoy, but also to deflect the suffering of a bad day at the office, ground, etc. It just gives that reality check that we all need to inlay a little bit of perspective.
It was stunning when it was given a live debut at Nottingham, but at Edinburgh, it just seemed even better. Perhaps it was because of the incessant drum and bass beat booming out through the fog, the fact that last Friday was one of the worst days of my life for a long time, or just because it is such an incredible reflection of the way that life can annoy you in such a complex manner; almost by stealth and only when distilled into this song, does it allow you to rationalise it and shrug it off as, ‘that’s the way it is’?
Enough already. Roll on London. I would expect true Biscuit-lovers to arrange a pre-gig meet at The Falcon in Camden. Well, maybe not. I think it is now derelict. Perhaps the Hawley Arms for a pint or two with the Winehouse? Oh, hang on, that was gutted by fire as well, I think? Don’t worry, there are boozers galore. It is also cruel to expect an Ipswich fan to have to go to Norwich in November, but I will grin and bear it. A plea to the band – NSD to be installed as a staple on the set-list. Inked in, like Cantona would be. Fin.”
Jan 1st, 2009
Charles Exford
As an alternative, somewhat inebriated and wildly over-optimistic approach to possibly learning some of the stories behind the lyrics, Mrs.Exford and I got a bit of a chant going at last Friday’s gig, between songs, not once but twice, and several of our fellow moshers at the front joined in with:
‘Who the f_, who the f_, who the f_ is Stringy Bob ?’
[we didn't wait till he played NSD though cos we thought it might be v. late in the set, which indeed it was]
NB seemed to acknowledge that he’d heard it the 2nd time, but wasn’t impresssed. No response. We won’t be trying anything like that again in a hurry.
But that’s what I say every time I make a fool of meself at HMHB.
Feb 4th, 2009
George
I have looked at the Festive 50 and have noticed that both National Shite Day and Took Problem Chimp are both on there.
1. Took Problem Chimp should be higher than National Shite Day
2. Why isn’t FOR WHAT IS CHATTERIS on there? best Biscuit song ever
3. Im probably the youngest fan of them ever. Age: 12
Feb 5th, 2009
Jan
I’ve always thought the first chorus in the middle –” I guess this must be National Shite Day/This surely must be National Shite Day/Don’t tell me, it’s National Shite Day” — was a bit weak in the first two lines (I know, hark at me, which I’ve never written a song in my life) because they are so similar. But I have heard Nigel and the lads perform it twice now and both times Nigel has sung it as “I guess this must be National Shite Day/I’ll wager it’s National Shite Day/Don’t tell me, it’s National Shite Day” and I think he’s found the right and true lyric he wants to put in there, the one that — in his genius — he always knew belonged in that space. Anybody going to Glasgow? Fancy listening out to see if he keeps it up? I’ll be at Bath.
Apr 26th, 2009
Charles Exford
Now this is the kind of obsession with detail we shall need as we run out of unknown lyrics to dispute. Well spotted, Jan, and yes please, Glaswegians, please do be alert on our behalves.
Jan – I’m off to see your mate Eddie & his arty brutes on Friday. Must admit Maud & I still haven’t formed the band he told us to when last he joined us down in the mosh at one of his gigs. It’s definitely on our ‘to do’ list though.
Apr 28th, 2009
Jan
Brilliant, Mr E, I was hoping to make their Kingston in-store but some urgent pedantry intervened. Mind you, there’s nothing like the Brut on stage in full cry. Hope you and Maud have a right night of it.
Apr 29th, 2009
Ricardo
Right. After extensive digging by my crack team of literary sleuths (Ricardo, Mrs Ricardo and the bloke who hangs round the library all day smelling faintly of beetroot), we have managed to unearth precisely one reference to a “Stringy Bob.” He turns up as a minor character in “Children of Noah: Glimpses of Unknown America” by Ben Lucien Burman, which is a sentimental account of bygone days by the Mississippi. OK, it’s not the Dee Estuary, but there are the allusions to Southern Blues, of which Nigel Blackwell is obviously a big fan, but for me the clincher is that Burman’s Stringy Bob is also a prisoner – though rather than sending dead wading birds to obscure comedians…
“…Stringy Bob was a valued resident, serving a considerable term because of some carelessness in his moonshining. An accomplished musician in the native fashion, he had fashioned a guitar out of a cigar-box to while away the time; all afternoon he entertained me and his prison mates with a rich store of doleful songs. Several days later, court was opened, accompanied as usual by an old fiddlers’ contest. My praise of Stringy Bob was so enthusiastic, he was permitted to leave jail and enter the competition. From the moment of his appearance there was no doubt of the result; the judges without consultation awarded him first prize. Next day, though his sentence still had a considerable time to run, I saw him walking about the town wearing the tight, white duck suit borrowed for his recital. The music-loving authorities has properly decided that the community’s leading talent could not be thwarted by prison bars, and had given Stringy Bob his liberty.”
The book’s rubbish, mind.
Mar 29th, 2010
Charles Exford
Wow. Brilliant literary exploration and yet in its own way strangely Shackletonian. At least no-one died in the attempt.
We should play HMHB “Call My Bluff” (or perhaps some sort of version of Radio 4′s “Unbelievable Truth”) on the extremely rare (well actually virtually unique) occasions when we happen to know the truth of the matter. I’m sure NB57 won’t mind too much if I self-indulgently play “Call My Bluff” with this one.
Is Stringy Bob in National Shite Day:
A) inspired by the above Mississippi jailbird bluesman character as researched by our Richard ?
B) a well known local Wirral rough sleeper, with an incredible love and knowledge of the natural history of the Dee Estuary but an equal antipathy towards HM Constabulary?
C) a kind of roadie for a band they once shared a studio with in Warrington, basically a sort of mate of the bloke ?
Mar 29th, 2010
Ricardo
Ricardo guesses “C”. Exford unfolds card revealing the word “TRUE.” Ricardo heads back down the library.
Mar 29th, 2010
Ricardo
Or maybe “B”
Mar 29th, 2010
Jon
I keep coming back to this lyric:
“I try to put everything into perspective
Set it against the scale of human suffering
And I thought of the Mugabe government
And the children of the Calcutta railways”
What I find ‘wrong’ is that the Mugabe government have it quite cushy really – it’s the people under the Mugabe government that suffer.
Is there a place for ‘wrong’ lyrics…..?
Jul 5th, 2010
Shirley Dimensions
There should be a question mark after what news you. Get in!
Aug 10th, 2010
Shirley Dimensions
Also as it’s the text of the letter as received being read, rather than NB summarising what the letter said (I think this is made clear by the ‘what news you?’ ending, and the fact that if the author is potentially suicidal then the note is likely to be in a summarised ‘brief and to the point’ style – come on, we’ve all sent notes like this whilst being checked every five minutes for sharp objects and belts. No? oh…well, anyway…in my opinion it should be as follows: -
“Still on suicide watch
Screws not happy
Spotted a Marsh Fritillary during association
Was roundly ignored
What news you?”
in the same way as “is this your Sanderling?” is. I’m easy me on the capitals at the beginning of each line, not that fussed. Please feel free to hang me from a lampost and kick me to death if not in agreement, or just say ‘actually that’s rubbish SD’ if it’s easier
Aug 11th, 2010
Neil G
Wow! I’ve just noticed that it should be ‘whether or not’ it should be called a train replacement service. Why wasn’t that spotted before?
Aug 11th, 2010
Shirley Dimensions
@Neil G Wow indeed! Quality spot, gets a ‘stand up and salute a bit’ from me
Aug 12th, 2010
Neil G
@ SHIRLEY DIMENSIONS
Thank you for the stand up and salute a bit. I think you deserve an even greater stand up and salute for your interpretation of the lyric regarding Stringy Bob’s letter. I don’t know why but it hadn’t occurred to me that the part you mentioned was actually the letter being read out. The ‘What news you?’ line seemed, as a consequence, very strange. Now it fits perfectly. Thanks for your insight.
Aug 13th, 2010
Shirley Dimensions
@Siteowner Chris
As you’re blatantly ignoring my pleas for some of these little fellahs ” ” before Still and immediately after ? (see August 11th post) could you perhaps bung the word ‘had’ between I and always (line 54). I’m making you count 54 lines down as a punishment of sorts. Also Outlook Express spelling checkermybobby says that line 17 should be i.e. and not i.e and I’m not going to argue with it, especially as it’s taken me ages to get it into HMHB
Oct 27th, 2010
Chris The Siteowner
It was 50 lines down. Bastard. You can love someone and hate them at the same time, you know. Anyway, I’d overlooked your support from Neil G on the “little fellahs”, which (given there was no opposition) should immediately have got the change implemented. Sorry, don’t know what happened. I felt like I was on a tightrope at the time, kind of like a precipice – it was all a bit deranged. As for the addition of “had”, I’ve listened to it about fifteen billion times, and can we settle on “I’d”?
I know “i.e.” is technically correct, but I like my version without the second full stop, if only because it annoys Microsoft. What say you?
Oct 27th, 2010
Shirley Dimensions
Thanks Chris, aye ok…we’ll go for “I’d” and by all means leave the second full stop off, if only for the slim chance that Mr Gates may one day visit and it’ll hopefully irk him should he notice its absence ( btw he used to be in Evil Gazebo you know).
Oct 29th, 2010
Dick Drake
pedantry Corner again Ladies and gentlemeN.
Marsh fritillary should not be capitalised surely. Nowadays books tend to do so with all animal/plant names, but a mate who has spent his life in museums (working) sez they are technically incorrect.
Who is correct?
Dec 27th, 2010
Bobby String
You are quite correct on the butterfly issue, Mr.Drake. I just looked at a pdf file I have of butterfly species found in the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens, Johannesburg, and all their non-scientific names have the first word capitalised and the second all in lower case. This list was compiled by The Lepidopterists Society of Africa and I’m pretty sure they know their stuff. The first one on their list is the oddly named Striped policeman!
As for the Sanderling, I think the capital is correct as, trying to remember my English lessons from school, I think it’s a proper noun. No doubt the purists will be irked by that if it’s wrong. Here in South Africa, where I now live, the ‘bible’ of bird watching is Roberts Birds of Southern Africa and they give all the English names with capitals and the scientific names in italics with only the first word capitalised, thus:
Ovambo Sparrowhawk
Accipiter ovampensis
or
Sanderling
Calidris alba
So, I reckon it’s “Marsh fritillary” and “Sanderling”
Ô¿Ô
Dec 28th, 2010
Neil G
Bobby,
Don’t you find it very hot with that anorak on in South Africa?
Dec 28th, 2010
Bobby String
@ Neil G
No, I’m not allowed to wear my anorak any more. In 1994 the ANC banned anoraks, thermos flasks, binoculars, notebooks and pens. I can now only do my birdwatching under cover of darkness, which means my list is pretty much restricted to owls, nightjars, the occasional dead pigeon etc. If they decide to ban torches I’ll be in trouble!
Ô¿Ô
Dec 28th, 2010
Bobby String
P.S. I’ve never seen a Sanderling as I live 650km from the nearest beach.
Ô¿Ô
Dec 28th, 2010
John Anderson
@Bobby String.I was in South Africa in the summer and absolutely loved the hadedas.
Dec 29th, 2010
Bobby String
Your summer or our summer, John? Since that little footie kickabout we had here in June / July (our winter), I think it was called the World Cup or something, the Hadedas ( Bostrychia hagedash ) have become known as ‘flying vuvuzelas’. Anyone who has been awakened at 5am by one of these (a Hadeda or a vuvuzela) will know why!
Ô¿Ô
Just to get back on topic, when I was a kid growing up in Scotland I once found a dead Herring Gull, but there was no such thing as Phil Cool then so an opportunity was missed.
Dec 29th, 2010
Charles Exford
A favourite bird book of mine ends its introductory section on nomenclature with the sentences. “Actually this is a good yardstick of a bird book. If the English names begin with small letters, throw away the book immediately.” However, that is only the convention in specialist literature. In normal prose and verse, it can and usually does, as Dick suggests, look distinctly eccentric.
Therefore I propose no upper case for the following winter visitors from the lists thread:
BIRDS
sanderling or crow (rubber) ducks (Carry on Cremating)
linnet …nightingale …game-bird park devoid of pheasants (Chatteris)
eider (down) (Restless)
finches (Vagaries)
pigeons (Evening Sun)
falcon…. buzzards (Get Kramer)
hummingbirds
two jackdaws (Ready Steady Goa)
swan (lock up)
goose(rule) (Blood on the quad)
owl (Vitus)
owl (Evil Gazebo)
woodcrest (Footprints)
pigeons (Mr Cave)
hen’s teeth (Makes the Room Look)
lark (Descending)
duck(stab) (whiteness)
FLYING INSECTS
marsh fritillary
mayflies (A Country Practice)
wasps (Achtung Bono Cover)
By the way Bobby I love the way you agreed with Dick & then argued the opposite. Are you in perhaps in politics?
Dec 29th, 2010
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
I’ll go along with the no upper case for winter visitors or indeed for our indigenous feathered friends also, on the grounds that as common nouns they simply do not merit the exclusivity of a capital letter. However the falcon in Get Kramer refers to the now defunct Camden Falcon, which as a pub and music venue of some unique character, qualifies for capital letters on account of its proper nouniness. The lyrics refer to it as ‘the Falcon in Camden’, which was never its name – it was always the Camden Falcon. Needless to say ‘the Falcon in Camden’ scans better but the fact remains ‘they call me ‘the Falcon in Camden’ – that’s not my name.’
Dec 29th, 2010
Gregg Z
(National Shite Day from a Yank’s perspective)
Though lyrically unrelated, the backing track is culled, consciously or not, from “Bone Machine” by the Pixies. By the way, I’ve read on another HMHB thread that the name of this group is technically “Pixies” (no “The”). That might well be the case, but having listened to them throughout my university years, and having several friends who have done the same, I’ve never heard anyone refer to this band simply as Pixies, without the article (had I heard this, I would cease to associate with that person).
Anyway, referring to another thread, the word “shite” is particularly and irretrievably British. I’ve never heard an American use it, nor would I feel comfortable doing so. I get enough strange looks when I use the word “dodgy”. Particularly British, I know, but a terribly useful word.
And speaking of insular terminology, on my one and only visit to Manchester about 15 years ago, I met some locals in a pub, who, friendly though they were, insisted on hearing me say the phrase “motherfucker”. Apparently, not an epithet (then, anyway, not sure about now) used by the majority of Mancunians, nor, I imagine by most folks outside the US. I remember telling my new English friends that, though I was proud to share my culture with them, that I had only really heard Richard Pryor use the word with any regularity.
Well, back to my initial point, of several sentences ago. So what if “National Shite Day” bears a striking similarity to a song by The Pixies. Originality is criminally overrated, anyway. Besides, HMHB offer immeasurable joy, insight, humor, etc. without nicking anything from anyone else.
The interesting point is that The Pixies were originally on the 4AD record label. (Although I think Nigel’s diatribe probably referred more to bands like Cocteau Twins, Throwing Muses, Dead Can Dance and the like).
OK, I’m glad I got all that out of my system. Happy New Year.
Dec 30th, 2010
Ricardo
The last few posts on this thread stand as a representation of everything I absolutely adore about this site.
Happy New Year to you all.
J
Dec 30th, 2010
Bobby String
@ Good old Charlie ‘on the sly’ Exford
Yes perhaps I should be in politics, or maybe I should just read more carefully before replying! I thought Dick was proposing we capitalse ‘Marsh’ and not ‘fritillary’ In fact, he is the one who should be in politics because he says we shouldn’t capitalise Marsh but he has actually capitalised it himself. Saying one thing whilst doing the exact opposite = politician.
My favourite piece of political speak came in an epsiode of Auf Wiederseh’n Pet, where Ant and Dec were supposed to turn up at a publicity event arranged by a slimy politician played by Bill Nighy. “are Ant and Dec here yet?” asks Jimmy Nail. “Nobody’s told me they’re not” replies Bill Nighy, knowing full well they never were going to be there.
Donning my anorak once more, I could be really pedantic and tell you that the Sanderling (I don’t care, I prefer the capitalised versions, so there!) is not actually a wading bird. Although it is regarded as a member of the Sandpiper family, it actually catches its prey by running along sandy shores and probing in wet sand. Its realtively short bill, in comparison to other Sandpipers, is not suited for probing through water into the sand therefore it does not wade.
Of course, perhaps the question should be does Nigel pronounce them with capitals in the song?
Ô¿Ô
Dec 31st, 2010
Third Rate Les
Good point Gregg Z. Calling them “The Pixies” is a good way to get sneered at by alternative musos and Factory completists, but there’s something definitely quite cretinous about saying “I am going to see Pixies tonight” or “I am listening to Pixies”. And anyway, annoying these people is fun.
Dec 31st, 2010
Bobby String
As my final salvo in this particular battle, and my final post of 2010, if we agree on the capitalisation thing, then surely we are all listening to half man half bicuit and not Half Man Half Biscuit? In fact, it should be Half man half biscuit, if you think about it.
Anyway, I consulted my fellow birding anoraks on simplybirding.com and a very knowledgeable chap from Wales posted the following link: http://www.worldbirdnames.org/rules-caps.html Perhaps not the definitive answer, but it’ll do for me.
@ Third Rate Les
Listening to Pixies sounds like something akin to communing with imps!
A happy and pedantic New Year (note the capitals!) to all Biscuiteers the world over, may 2011 be full of new HMHB albums, numerous PBR’s and unbounded pedantry!
Ô¿Ô
Dec 31st, 2010
Kendo
Just finished reading a novel called King Crow by Michael Stewart which seems to feature a number of sly references to HMHB lyrics. For example, the protagonist makes reference to finding a Sanderling along the Dee estuary and also notices ‘fat kids with sausage rolls’ during a scene towards the end of the book. There is also a scene where they use the services of ‘Dial-a-Pizza’. Coincidence? Be interested to know what other pedants think or whether I’m being paranoid. It’s a good read by the way. See http://www.bluemoosebooks.com
Jan 5th, 2011
Charles Exford
You’re not being wacky, Mr. Nagasaki. The author is an avowed Biscuitista. For example, when he interviewed Mark E Smith on stage at Huddersfield Lit Fest in 2009, Mr. Stewart asked MES about Nigel’s lyrics.
M. Stewart: “Do you think there are good lyricists out there ?”
MES: (long pause with no answer)
M. Stewart: “For example, I like a lyricist called Nigel Blackwell. Have you heard of him ? Half Man Half Biscuit ?”
MES: Not really. I don’t keep up…..
The transcript has some treally funny moments.
http://www.visi.com/fall/news/2009-06-14_hudlitfest-transcript.pdf
The bit I’ve quoted is maybe half way through, about page 9.
***********************************************************************
I would suspect that Mr.Stewart has asked NB57 for a similar interview or ‘lecture’ in the past but been turned down.
Jan 5th, 2011
Charles Exford
Bobby, it may interest you to know that BBC’s Countryfile show has been filming at the gem of Dee Estuary birdwatching spots, Hilbre Island, and it’ll be broadcast this Sunday evening 6th Feb. I’ll be in Germany so like you I’ll be catching up on the BBC i-player.
High tide bird watch apparently, so not sure how many sanderling we’ll see a-scuttling.
http://hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/
We are also promised some industrial heritage on the show. My money’s on Port Sunlight. I’m not sure Cammel Laird or any of Birkenhead Docks will ever be on Countryfile.
Feb 1st, 2011
Bobby String
Thanks for the heads-up, Charles, but I don’t think BBC iPlayer is allowed to show anything here in South Africa, or at least they didn’t when I arrived here in 2008. I’ll have another look to see if that’s changed – ah, if only this were still a British colony!
Ô¿Ô
Feb 1st, 2011
Bobby String
Just checked, BBC iPlayer can’t be used outside the UK
Ô¿Ô
Feb 1st, 2011
a_p
Bobby
Not sure if this works outside UK but get_iplayer works a treat without resorting to running iplayer direct from BBC site. Allows you to download a local copy of most BBC radio/TV shows (some caveats regarding DRM, blah…), watch at your leisure using a media player of your choice. Then delete!
Windows: http://www.infradead.org/get_iplayer_win/get_iplayer_setup_latest.exe
Linux: ftp://ftp.infradead.org/pub/get_iplayer/get_iplayer-2.79.tar.gz
Feb 1st, 2011
Charles Exford
The Dee estuary near Rafa’s house was looking resplendent in the sunshine on today’s Football Focus just now, for an interview that must have been filmed a few days ago. It looked like Goofy, the Benitez family spaniel, has had pretty much all the sanderling by now. Point of Ayr (from I, Trog) is the headland in the background acros the estuary by the way
I should have known you couldn’t get the BBC i-player for Countryfile tomorrow, Bobby. Actually I don’t think you’ll miss that many PBRs. Here’s a clip of Hilbre Island where a passing heron is mis-cast as a sanderling. And it turns out that he industrial heritage bit I mentioned is a report the National Waterways museum. Not a shire horse in sight on this clip from there.
Feb 5th, 2011
Ceri
It seems to be “I suggested they learn some pedestrian etiquette” rather than “I suggest that they…”. Tense agrees then too.
Mar 8th, 2011
john burscough
My birthday! On National Shite Day.
Oct 17th, 2011
Paul Rodgers (Crimond)
@ John Burscough National Shite Day is losing to Burscough in the FA Cup First Round proper when your team and Burscough are the furthest apart by league position.
Oct 18th, 2011
John Burscough
No, it’s getting knocked out by Clitheroe. (The HMHB Lyrics Project is full of Bad Wools.)
Oct 18th, 2011
John Burscough
What’s Victoria Park if you can’t see the Linnets?
Oct 18th, 2011
Dave Wiggins
Playing in the Liverpool County Premier, within two seasons, I fear…..
Oct 18th, 2011
SPENCER THE HALFWIT
Is there any better way to start the day than to hear a four year old singing along to the chorus while it plays in the kitchen? Thank you my son.
Dec 17th, 2011
Strømsgodset IF SoS
True. It’s always a great favourite with our Under-Fives and they still can’t understand how a certain other tune got anywhere near the final. It’s been a strange year all right.
Dec 17th, 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
‘There’s a man with a mullet going mad with a mallet in JD Sports‘ loses alliterative allure for sure, but I’m sure the company employees won’t lose too much sleep over that.
Jan 6th, 2012
John Burscough
Contender for the dismal Stockard Channing tug-of-love TVM here (although it could also have been the sequel, ‘An Unexpected Life’. Or ‘The Baby Dance’. Or David’s Mother’. She’s been in a lot of dismal tug-of-love TVMs.)
Jan 22nd, 2012
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