The last race of a long year is almost with us, the qualifying is still to run, and it marks the end of an era. F1 has always been available free-to-air in the UK except for a short time when Ecclestone had a dedicated channel that removed a lot of the info and in-car from the free-to-air. That proved to be a failure and it all returned to the public feed.
The coverage improved over time, the only hick-up was when it moved to ITV and the dreaded adverts, even with this overall the coverage improved. The BBC regained the coverage and improved it even more to a point where I could not see where more improvements could come from. We all looked forward to many years of such quality coverage when the rug was pulled from under us and the coverage moves behind the SKY paywall with a restricted feed on the BBC seemingly designed to discorage people from watching and instead paying £300-£600 per year to get the new SKY channel.
I will continue watching it on the BBC as I do not have the money to spare for SKY and I am unwilling to give up my fast Internet connection with Virgin to downgrade to copper internet with SKY and BT.
Saturday, 26 November 2011
Friday, 25 November 2011
Christmas is coming!
As I write this post we have only 1 month till Christmas. Have you got all your presents yet? No! Me neither.
I really need to get my arse in gear and buy some goodies for the Wife. She has presented me with a list of things and, of course, I will also have to use my wit and cunning to find her something not on that list so as to keep on her good side.
Tidying up the kitchen area so it is now free of all my model railway 'rubbish' (as she so wonderfully puts it) should earn a few brownie points and I plan to tackle some of the stuff in our bedroom over the weekend as well as getting the Xmas decs down from the loft for a quick once over to see what we need for this year.
Work, work, work! :-)
I really need to get my arse in gear and buy some goodies for the Wife. She has presented me with a list of things and, of course, I will also have to use my wit and cunning to find her something not on that list so as to keep on her good side.
Tidying up the kitchen area so it is now free of all my model railway 'rubbish' (as she so wonderfully puts it) should earn a few brownie points and I plan to tackle some of the stuff in our bedroom over the weekend as well as getting the Xmas decs down from the loft for a quick once over to see what we need for this year.
Work, work, work! :-)
Saturday, 12 November 2011
Remembrance Poppy
On the lead up to the remembrance weekend there has been a lot of negative postings on social networks about the red poppy that we wear to show respect to the fallen in the great wars. It has been accused of being a symbol to glorify war and as a fashion statement with the glittery ones worn by several celebrities being held up as examples.
What we need to remember is that the poppy was chosen as it flowered in great numbers on the battlefields in France after the war had ended and became a symbol for soldiers when remembering their fallen comrades. It was taken up by the people as a national sign of remembrance and we now wear it every November to show a united front against those who would rather the memories were forgotten.
The alternative white poppy means nothing, it has no valid symbolic meaning and is worn by those very people who would rather the soldiers names were wiped from history.
I for one remember the stories my Grandad and his friends told of the war. Many were happy memories but most were of their friends who are no longer with us. I realized then how much the horrors of war affected people and still realize that war should never be glorified however the act of remembering those who did fight in a war against tyranny and oppression and who still fight that war is an important one.
Wear your poppy with pride and show those who wish to tarnish the memory of the sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, uncles and aunts who fell on the battle field and at home that they will never win this war.
What we need to remember is that the poppy was chosen as it flowered in great numbers on the battlefields in France after the war had ended and became a symbol for soldiers when remembering their fallen comrades. It was taken up by the people as a national sign of remembrance and we now wear it every November to show a united front against those who would rather the memories were forgotten.
The alternative white poppy means nothing, it has no valid symbolic meaning and is worn by those very people who would rather the soldiers names were wiped from history.
I for one remember the stories my Grandad and his friends told of the war. Many were happy memories but most were of their friends who are no longer with us. I realized then how much the horrors of war affected people and still realize that war should never be glorified however the act of remembering those who did fight in a war against tyranny and oppression and who still fight that war is an important one.
Wear your poppy with pride and show those who wish to tarnish the memory of the sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, uncles and aunts who fell on the battle field and at home that they will never win this war.
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Good news, bad news
It has not been a very good end to the year for some. What with the deaths in motorsport we have also lost Jimmy Saville and, from the boxing world, Joe Frazier, plus just this afternoon we have news that a second Red Arrows pilot has died in what looks like an accident with his ejector seat. Nothing there to make you smile.
On the good side we have seen Alex Zanardi, an ex-Formula One driver who, despite a huge accident that saw him lose both legs, still managed to return to the cockpit in a BMW touring car. He has also taken up the sport of Handbiking and recently won the class in the New York Marathon and we may well see him in London next year for the paralympics.
One other good thing was the reaction to the deaths of Dan and Marco with drivers and riders marking their passing at the last race meetings. The MotoGP was perhaps the most poignant with the entire field, 125's, GP2 and Moto GP's all riding round the circuit joined by Kevin Schwantz on Marco's bike. It bought a real lump to the throat.
On the good side we have seen Alex Zanardi, an ex-Formula One driver who, despite a huge accident that saw him lose both legs, still managed to return to the cockpit in a BMW touring car. He has also taken up the sport of Handbiking and recently won the class in the New York Marathon and we may well see him in London next year for the paralympics.
One other good thing was the reaction to the deaths of Dan and Marco with drivers and riders marking their passing at the last race meetings. The MotoGP was perhaps the most poignant with the entire field, 125's, GP2 and Moto GP's all riding round the circuit joined by Kevin Schwantz on Marco's bike. It bought a real lump to the throat.
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