After a sweaty weekend of shooting I took a day off yesterday and, amongst other things, watched the Australian Grand Prix courtesy of a download of the Star Sports UK coverage.
The Star Sports Grand Prix offering shown locally is abysmal, with a drooling idiot called Steve Slater as the commentator. You’d get a better idea of what is happening in the race by turning off the sound. I am not a violent man, but I get the urge to smash his teeth in with a hammer every time he starts his inane giggling. As you may gather, I don’t watch the local Star coverage any more.
But the Star coverage from the UK is in a different league. They have taken over the contract from the BBC to show the races (although the BBC will also show some of the rounds live, and will also show highlights from all the races) and obviously want to put on a good show for those who now have to pay for the privilege to watch (unless you download the race after the event like I did).
Excellent coverage and great race; looking forward to the season ahead.
Also watched the Hollywood remake of “The girl with the dragon tattoo”. Didn’t see the Scandinavian original, but enjoyed this very dark treatment from David Fincher.
These, and other distractions, were just a means to put off what needs to be done; the processing of the 2,466 horsey photos I took over the weekend. I really need to get on with it; but it can be hard to get started.
On the thyroid front, I continue to consume my own bodyweight in food on a daily basis; with a particular fondness for ice cream pushing it to the top of the “crap snacks I have forced down my throat today” league. Radiation week is now officially over, which means I can now cuddle babies (no thanks) and kiss she who must be obeyed (yes please). It also means I can start taking even more pills which will settle down my thyroid again pending its death over the next couple months; so my massive consumption habits should decrease over the next few days.
Right, now on with the photos. I promise not to share any with you. Allegedly.
Comments 🔗
2012-03-21| ChangFai saysI presume you mean Sky TV ?
2012-03-21| Spike saysThen you must be correct. Sky something.
2012-03-21| Wally saysWhilst I totally agree with your comments on Steve Slater, at least it is shown live in Thailand on ESPN Star Sports. The other good news is that he will be joined by different guest commentators during the season, including Martin Brundle. Maybe Martin will smack him in the mouth (let’s just savour the sound of that!!) when he continuously interupts.
2012-03-21| Jock saysMartin Brundle (IMO) is equally irritating … arrogant bastrd .. I met him once .. still I guess he earned the right.
I´ll tell you a little secret about Spike … he´s also a closet racing driver .. when he lived in Aberdeen and worked for the Great Pecten he built his own kit car … a Dutton … and raced it aggressively up the KnockHill Circuit in Scotland … mostly with consummate ease … The death of the Dutton came when he allowed a coleague, Ron Lumsden, to race it … with just as much aggression, but less consummate ease, such that he ran it into a hillside … with all his mates watching from the top of the hill :-) Maybe not 100% accurate .. but never let the truth get in the way of a good story !!!
2012-03-21| Spike saysThanks for the expose Jock; but sadly it has already been covered at length in this very organ at 2011_03_not-a-gearbox-story Apart from the bit about Lumsden crashing on the track. Being a man whose skill at holding his liquor was only slightly better than the quality of his driving, he rolled the Dutton into a ditch on the way home from the pub; a fate that befell most of his cars.
2012-03-21| Grant saysCould he find it the next morning? That’s the big test…
2012-03-21| Jock saysOOPs guess I missed that one .. but wonderfully written … and that photo of the younger Spike when you used to be my boss brought back memories … or should I say nightmares ! Trying to appear sober on a Monday morning was a real test of charachter (and continues to be so). I should have learned at an earlier age not to try and compete with Lumsden … I met him a few months back …. he now has shares in a local brewery …
2012-03-22| Spike saysI recall he woke up under the car in a ditch; so it was hard to avoid finding it.
2012-03-22| Spike saysTrust me Jock, I still shudder at the memory of you rolling back from lunch at 1500 with a whiskey in one hand and an attitude in the other. The Personnel Handbook was strangely silent on how to deal with such situations.