04 Aug 2025
Reflection – Those who spend all their time in their own heads rarely see what’s going on in anyone else’s.
Christmas already -WTF!
There was some talk today about Christmas. It was on the radio, and somebody was going on about whether it was appropriate or not – timing wise. For most people ‘not’, if those I speak to are anything to go by.
However, there are those who, looking to shift something off the back of the Christmas vehicle, know there must be muppets out there who are already hugging themselves and bouncing around like five year olds – apologies to the normally adjusted children who are saving the histrionics until December – despite the fact that their sun tan lotion is barely dry.
These will also be the people who buy innappropriate gifts – a pet hate of mine. These people treat the giving of gifts – don’t say ‘gifting’, I’ll probably vomit – as some kind of obligatory box ticking exercise.
There are three categories of gift giver;
- 1. The gift where the buyer choses something they would like while completely ignoring the person on the receiving end. It may appeal to their sense of humour, excused with practicality, like Gnome Boxers or Reindeer slippers. (How I do hate novelty gifts!). In years to come many such items – Ronco, K-Tel etc – for removing fluff fron Gran’s cardy, rebuttoning said cardy with plastic rivets or chopping up the few vegetables her pension allows her – become collectable for people who like to laugh at junk like that. Alternately they might just be cheap.
- 2. Next comes the impressionable buyer who, while not immune from the items at 1. above, prefaces presentaion of their gift with the words ‘the sales lady in the shop said…’ or ‘they are really on trend right now’.. (another sick bag please -this one is full), or ‘my neighbour’s got one, and they have a Range Rover!..’ They often distrust themselves so much they are scared of getting it wrong, or are just pointing out, via the gift choice, how very avant guard they are. They’ll probably use that phrase as it sounds pretentious enough…..errr?
- 3. Lastly, my favourite person. The one that actually takes an interest in you, and knows what you’re about and reflects that in your gift. That really does mean something. Perhaps noticing you spend time outdoors or reading books. Maybe you like cooking or collecting bobbleheads, things they may not like, but know the gift is not for them, but you. Friendship (not the concept peddled on Facebook), like it’s sibling ‘Love’, means not putting ‘you’ first, that’s what your real friends do. It’s not about fashion or cost, it’s about care.
“Fashion is something barbarous, for it produces innovation without reason and imitation without benefit” – George Santayana
In a couple of years it seems that after Easter stock is cleared from the shelves they’ll soon be filling the space with blow up santa’s and cheap jumpers with smutty Elves emblazoned across the front. You know it’s coming!
31 Jul 2025
Reflection – ‘Insecurity is a disease, it kills everything bar selfishness..‘.
A little knowledge is an embarrassing thing
I was reading some comments online recently criticising the film (I’m English) Child 44, set in 1950’s soviet russia. It’s not too bad – Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy – What’s not to like!
Anyway, this individual was claiming it wasn’t credible because none of the ‘Uniforms’ were wearing medals at all times, because that’s what they did – on operations and in combat!
What a plonker!
Why? For a number of reasons;
Photographs portraying soldiers wearing field uniforms showing off their medals are numerous. However, these are all official propaganda snaps – taken in the field. Nobody owned/used a camera. The Soviet Union was notoriously poor at providing consumer goods. A pair of shoes were like rocking horse shit, ones that didn’t fall apart even rarer. Secondly, buying food was the priority then, even if you had an option. Lastly, the Secret Police were not fans of amateur photography and it was dangerous to one’s health to go waving a camera around. The point being official ‘Courageous Peasant Soldiers’ snaps only – anything impromtu, unstaged or spontaneous was not possible.
Soviet soldiers did not own ‘Best Uniforms’ – just ones for fighting in. The idea of supplying 70 million troops with Imperialist inspired best dress, instead of more tanks, was a non starter. Therefore to conflate field uniforms and medals as being worn together in the field is mistaken. What else were they going to hang their medals on for Pravda photos? Pyjamas! Although these were rarer than shoes.
Perhaps more importantly this concept would be incredibly unpopular. Anyone daft enough to wear all that glittery metal in the field would be Billy No-mates. It would attract enemy fire like flies to a turd, which ironically would be what his colleagues would be calling him. It’s a complete non-starter. Nothing screws a surprise attack up like a load of blokes jangling across the battlefield lit up like a capitalist Christmas tree. What commander would condone that!
How some people look at a few bits of ‘info’ – fail to ask common sense questions or find corroborating facts – and throw themselves into the arena, subsequently complaining that a lion bit them, astounds me. Making yourself look like a idiot, then saying you didn’t know better, only makes it worse.
It’s ignorance in this case.
27 Jul 2025
Drama? – What Drama?
Why does much of the UK drama on TV seem to consist of? ;
- Everything shot with a grey or blue filter. No uplifting sunshine to be seen.
- Everybody is confrontational – not just the antagonist, all the good guys too!
- Incredibly stroppy junior staff members who can’t see the bigger picture. Very stereotypical.
- Interdepartmental rudeness/tardy co-operation when everyone has the same goal. Really? – No!
- Hierachy who pester and threaten top staff members beneath them. Very inspiring for juniors.
- Public servants who are blatantly rude and beligerent toward members of the public. Rung the council lately?
Is this really ‘Drama’? What a depressing crappy world we apparently live in. In some ways it is, but have we forgotten good stuff happens too? Talk about mental heath issues!
These mythical scenarios only occur rarely. Ninety nine percent of professionals; Police, Fire, Health Services, Legal, Financial… etc cultivate good, happy and respectful working environments because they produce the best results for all concerned, not the dysfunctional small minded tyrannies portrayed. Obviously some upset occurs but good communication resolves it quickly. It has to, as moving forward is paramount. However, what we get is cheap and crude ‘Drama’ most of which is soon forgotten. Like a sensationalist tabloid headline. Is this the best such a large talent pool can produce?
I can hear the gainsayers now -It’s only pretend, people know it’s not real life. Bollocks! I’ve lost count of the number of actors who have been abused online and in the street because of the character they portray on TV. There are people who emulate and stalk others as they aspire to be just like the person they portray. Numerous contestants on game shows cite the likes of ‘The Crown’ as the source of knowledge, despite the producers admitting large chunks are made up. Many online tabloids mix real life storylines with plotlines from soap operas or reality tv on the same page. Clearly many cannot tell fact from fiction, reality from pretend. Often that divide is consciously, perhaps deliberately obscured.
I would have thought quality drama should be getting more sophisticated rather than plumbing the depths of vulgarity. There is only a finite number of plot lines, but people love a good story even if they’ve seen it many times. I know people who have watched; Zulu, Star Wars, Pride and Prejudice (BBC), Friends, assorted Dickens and many others scores of times, but still settle on the sofa with a smile on their face when a favourite pops up on screen.
There is no substitute for a good story, credible characters/acting talent, and a well thought through and executed script.
So, come on main channels step your game up and give us some quality drama. Don’t drag us all down – Lift us all up. We deserve it.
L C McCarthy 
Leave a comment