Back to the Beans

While I was away, and with limited and sporadic connectivity, I decided that I needed something more than music to keep me occupied. And so I delved back into the world of podcasts.

Now I have tried this before on a number of occasions, but it’s never worked for me. Always something unappealing or uninteresting about the choices I have made.

And yet despite this, for some reason, I went back to a couple of previous attempts. The first was the BBC Radio 4 Comedy of the Week podcast, which was incredibly hit and miss. One funny, one actually horrifically painful to listen to, with awkward and sycophantic laughter.

So we’ll leave that again.

But I did really get into Three Bean Salad.

And that’s probably because I had chance to give it a few episodes. There are plenty of in jokes and call backs which can make it difficult to appreciate at first, but if you persevere, there are some truly hilarious moments to be had as well.

Especially their knack of delivering standalone lines which even out of context are just funny and lure you into wanting to know more.

So scared I couldn’t even take my clothes off.

Crime is never glamorous. Well, apart from diamond theft, obviously.

So was Stonehenge moved halfway across Britain by crabs?

Unless you’re wearing a protective nougat mesh over your face.

Yeah, sure. You had to be there, but in case you haven’t noticed, that’s exactly what I’m suggesting you do. Lots of fun, and loads of back episodes to delve into to fill the gaps between current offerings.

Albert Pierrepoint: a long read

…but a really absorbing one.

Here’s the story – well, a story – of Albert Pierrepoint, Britain’s Last Executioner.

I say “a story” because there seem to be numerous conflicting tales surrounding him, including several versions of the truth from his own mouth. But maybe it’s that lack of clarity, together with the rather unusual and gory nature of his work, which helps augment the mystique around this enigmatic character.

Either way, while the article jumps around a bit, and certainly doesn’t answer all the questions – far from it – it’s definitely a really interesting read into how differing people, differing organisations, and differing times viewed Pierrepoint and his profession.

Worth 10 minutes of your time.

My Sunday

Yes, yes. A few days early or late, but that doesn’t really matter.

If you were about my age in the UK when I was my age in the UK, then you might remember Timmy Mallett and his Wide Awake Club on ITV: a Saturday morning staple. The co-star for some of the series was wildlife expert and now Hout Bay resident Michaela Strachan.

It also featured Mallett’s Mallet: a massive foam hammer.

But that’s beside the point.

Wide Awake Club ran until 1989, and was followed by Wacaday, which ran during the school holidays.

In 1990, Mallett released a cover version of Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini with Bombalurina. It reached number 1 and, together with its Europop vibes, it was the perfect song for him: deliciously wacky and zany and juvenile and just silly.

Quite reasonably, I’d forgotten all about Timmy Mallett until I came across the piece below, published in a UK Sunday supplement.

And it’s amazing.

It’s all massively Monty Pythonesque and wholly fabricated, except, you kind of get the idea that some of it might not be. But, like watching Bob Mortimer on WILTY, you’ve really no idea which bits are made up, which are genuine, and which are “embellished truths”. Whichever they are, they conjure up some wonderful mental images.

Anyway, you’ve likely read enough of my spoutings, so do take a minute or two to properly read Timmy’s.

The Impossible Dream

It’s been a hot day in Cape Town, and it’s been a busy one too. I would love to be sitting at home in front of a warm TV right now, but it’s Monday evening and it’s Dodgeball training, so I’m out in my car park. Given that I am out here, I would love to be sitting in my car park with the windows down and the fresh breeze blowing the heat of the day away.

Sadly, there appears to be a raw sewage issue somewhere in the vicinity. It’s literally nauseating.

Anyway, not much I can do about the thick pooey odour enveloping everything here.

So here’s a video I watched earlier. A great tale, 17 years in the making, some amazing videography, and some important lessons about recognising when it’s time to give up.

We all have our impossible dreams and we all have our limits. How we choose (or are able) to balance one against the other, and how much value we place on each will likely define our successes. It doesn’t have to be running marathons. For example, Forest Drive (Bishopscourt, not Pinelands) kicked my arse again today. That’s a 750m bit of asphalt, not 42km of American city roads, but that’s my current nemesis. But I’ll return on a cooler – but equally steep day – to fight back.

And I will beat it. Or I’ll give up.

One of the two.

Puzzled

A bit of a gentle day today. I’ve been burning the candle at both ends, and simple conservation of energy dictates that the light that burns twice as bright burns half as long.

I also appear to have swallowed a book of clichés.

And after a bit of a sleepless night, I chose to have something of a day off.
Not great, but lucky to be able to have that luxury.

Anyway, I’m going to turn in another early night, but not before I have linked you to a couple of Puzzgrids I chucked up today. My lack of oomph is other people’s pleasure. Or something.

What’s Puzzgrid? Well, it’s a spin-off of the Only Connect Wall and it definitely pre-dated NYT Connections. But if you like either of those, you’ll definitely like this.

Please enjoy #92135 & #92139. They shouldn’t be too difficult, but I do always say that they’re only easy if you know all the answers. I do know all the answers.