2010 — 5 July: Monday
I was so wrapped up in the BBC Radio 3 "Words and Music" feature on clowns following the equally interesting programme about Leonora Carrington (I've had a "thing" about Surrealism,1 not to mention Bosch,2 for quite a long time now) that I actually forgot to switch over to Guy Garvey and his "finest hour" for quite some time.
Now, somehow, it's already well after midnight, again, so I'm off to bed. It's become almost chilly — maybe that will sort the ants out? G'night.
No signs...
... of further antics this morning as I inspect my kitchen defences. Doubtless they'll think of something. I've just skimmed the 200th issue of the weekly Ubuntu newsletter; amazing. (My server serves on.) I think the next spot of supplies shopping will precede breakfast as I fancy that will help me dodge the hordes. So, clothes and cuppa and it's off to wait on Rose I go. It's 08:47 and pleasantly sunny. The crop of grapes is growing almost visibly larger, day by day.
Speaking of antics:
The [BBC] trust is expected to publish its interim response to the BBC strategy review led by the director general, Mark Thompson, today, and the smart money is on a reprieve for BBC 6
Music, which was earmarked for closure.
The review was ordered by Lyons in a bid to save £600m to reinvest in programming, but he is now under huge public pressure to save the music station. Some believe BBC management
suggested it should be shut down in the knowledge that a backlash from listeners would make it impossible to implement the proposal. This is another example of BBC executives outmanoeuvring
the trust, according to its critics.
Is management there that Machiavellian? But then (personally) I'd prefer to see BBC 4 in hi-def, rather than the dreadful BBC 1. There's no pleasing some licence fee payers, is there? (Source.)
I think it's...
... time to start chivvying young Peter Green as, until I have the next layer of floor covering in place, my re-assemble-the-house plans are more than slightly stalled. But first, that breakfast. (The young chap who sold me my intended slice of lunch for today confessed it was his favourite choice [turkey, ham, and apricot pie] and that he thought he could probably eat a whole one, were it not for the cost.) It's 10:27 and the world looks about as mad as it always does. Blood sugar will help.
Tee-hee! (Gloat!)
So which set of management tossers is going to be sacked for being stupid enough to even suggest closure? (None, I expect.)
Lunch time meandering
While I realise Peter Green does a good job, I had no idea they were telepathic. Just returned from paying for that next layer (well, all but the fitting, which goes direct to the lads on the day — in this case, Thursday morning). So I have until then to excavate the space under the stairs.3 And clear the temporary clutter that was piled hastily into what was Christa's study to make sure Peter could actually get as far as his bed. Miraculously, the landing and stairs are still pretty clear, though I shall have to finalise my Ethernet cabling plans real soon now.
Since I was feeling virtuous, I also trimmed back the flowering shrub on the front where it sort-of overhangs the drive and truncated whatever it was that was growing up through the bit of fence between me and "her next door" before it exceeded my reach, as it were. That orange thing last week, by the way, was planted by Christa, I've been assured, as she also gave a cutting of it (it's some form of lily) to Shelagh in the bungalow — theirs, too, has briefly flowered and then relapsed into quietude.
I shall whizz my main co-pilot out for a celebratory cuppa in an hour or so; is this living it large, or what? It's 13:40 and very pleasant out there at the moment. Fluffy white things in a blue whatsit.
One of today's pundits has just told us that the computing power in a musical Christmas card exceeds the world's total computing power of 50 years ago. I don't think that's quite right, somehow... I can still remember 1960 and there were definitely some reasonable mainframes around.
Can we say "polarised"?
Well, I shall certainly go to see it at some point...
And, no doubt, buy the Blu-ray. The early "business" figures look promising, too. Stephenie Meyer is one rich lady (I presume).
It's 19:37, supper has been supped, and I'm now relaxing — no change there, then.
Fading fast
I know it's only 22:13 but I'm about to fall asleep here. Amazing. G'night.