Knowing as you do that in Casa Uborka we are too snobbish to watch any TV other than University Challenge and the occasional film, you will be astonished to learn that we have been making more use than usual of our television licence.
It may be a little early in the day to recommend the new series of Doctor Who, but it was amusing to watch it with two other grown-ups who are nonetheless younger than me and had never really seen it before. Not proper Doctor Who, anyway, like with Tom Baker, or Peter Davidson at a push. They were unimpressed by the two most impressively pleasing elements, namely the fact that the new producers had meddled only minimally with the theme tune and the TARDIS noise. They appeared to be judging it on quality of acting and plausibility of plot. The kids of today, really.
I was happy with it. It felt authentic. I thought it was a good job.
The other TV show that we have surprised ourselves by watching is Joey. We were reasonably well entertained by Friends, although the world didn’t end if we missed an episode; so we decided to give Joey a chance. The first show made us laugh, so we extended its trial period and have continued to do so on that basis. It’s okay, but we expect it’s about to jump its shark, with the introduction of a new love-interest who resembles Skeletor wearing a Sindy doll wig.
I shan’t bother to mention Help, because everyone knows about it by now. Uborka: you heard it here last.

Book #16 of 2005
The attentive among you will recall that red clay kindly sent me a parcel, containing amongst other things a copy of The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving.
It’s a book that lurches from death to death, trailing in its wake such various horrors as rape, incest and bear impersonators. Parts of it are beautiful, and other parts, such as the hostage scene, should not be interrupted by Pete even when he is at his most linux-talking fascinating.
I don’t feel that I’m all John Irvinged-out, yet, which is lucky because I also have The World According to Garp on my to-read pile; but I do recognise a couple of recurring themes, including the dressmaker’s dummy.
A good read, narrowly missing out on a five star rating by going on just a little bit too long after it should have ended.
4/5

The title is slightly misleading, but you will admit that it is highly attention-grabbing. With a bit of luck, by the end of this tale you will understand the relevance.
Before I commence my divulsion of this marvellous tale, one that will amaze you like none that you have read before it, it is necessary that I give you some background information, an insight into my daily life that will be central to our story, though in a quite small way.

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