Saturday morning TV

Saturday morning telly's great, isn't it? My viewing has evolved like this:

Coronation Street Weekly Updates

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street update has just gone live here.

This week the Barlow's marriage is on the road to ruin (again) and this time it's the fault of leek and potato soup.

Head space

When my head's in a good place - i.e. not feeling too homesick / hating London / stressing about work - I not only read, I devour books. And it's in that zen state of mind that I'm reading one after the other of my Christmas present books right now.

First off was Nick Davies' Flat Earth News about the way all newspapers reprint information without checking the truth. Gripping, disturbing stuff.

Then it was Ska'd for Life, the autobiography of Horace Gentleman, bass player of The Specials. A rollicking read, well written, I couldn't put it down and carried this book with me everywhere. May 6th can't come soon enough.

And finally was Suzi Quatro's autobiography. I'm loving the book so much I went out and bought the Best Of.. CD today. The story of her life is gripping and well written but the bits about seeing angels, spirits, ghosts and other spooky things that go bump in her night, I could have done without.

Slumdog Millionaire

To the flicks this week to see Slumdog Millionaire. It was an unusual film but very good and quite moving in parts. And just for the record, I wasn't crying at the end, I just had something in my eye.

Coronation Street Weekly Update

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street update has just gone live here.

This week the update comes with no fizz for Fiz.

Big Brother

This new series of Celebrity Big Brother has sucked me in and is chewing me up.

Coolio is being far more sexist than Jade Goody was ever racist, but still the show continues and his comments and actions deemed suitable for broadcast. It doesn't make sense.

The Seven Year Pitch

Today is the 7th anniversary of moving into our London home. It's probably about time I did some housework, then.

Hit Me! The Life & Rhymes of Ian Dury

Reasons to be cheerful on a cold January night included a trip to the Leicester Square Theatre. This is a great little venue tucked away down a flight of stairs off the main drag away from the tourists and McDonald's wrappers.

The show was Hit Me! The Life & Rhymes of Ian Dury, a two-man show which was absolutely fantastic. I can't recommend it highly enough.

As I like to keep my blog posts short and sweet you can read a full review of it here.

Doll Soup

The weird, wonderful and slightly disturbing Doll Soup website is back online after too many years spent away. This time it's a blog. Waste no time and click here now.

Coronation Street Weekly Update

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street update has just gone live here.

This week's update includes Corrie's 73rd wedding when Molly Cozette and Tyrone Sylvester tied the knot.

Lady Bloggers of the World Unite

Are you a lady? Are you a blogger?

Then make your pledge to blog about a woman in technology you admire, on March 24th. The Ada Lovelace Pledge Day sounds a great idea and I've signed up already.

Media glare and stare

Today was the first day back at work (boo, hiss!) after two weeks off but was sweetened by a couple of media moments.

First off, I had a letter published in The Guardian. Then I had an email asking if I'd like to be interviewed on the radio about Coronation Street followed by an email asking if I'd like to take part in a BBC2 quiz. To the first I said yes but to the second I declined, as I always do when asked to go on TV to talk about Corrie. But still, it was smashing to be asked.

January sales

This week we hit the sales and came back with an orthopaedic pillow (me) and a pair of slippers (my bloke). Getting old is no fun.

Coronation Street Weekly Update

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street update has just gone live here.

No pigeons were harmed in the making of this week's update.

Sir Nigel of Slater

At Christmas, and indeed throughout the year, I swear on the Book. I hold it in my hands and read its words with hushed reverence. It guides me through difficult times. It inspires and gives me hope.

Yes, I'm talking about Nigel Slater's Real Food. Give the man a knighthood, if only for his ginger cake with clementine frosting which is sitting, already half-eaten, in our fridge now.

Our New Year's Eve feast included the cake along with Nigel's recipe for smoked haddock fishcakes, which were well worth having the kitchen stinking of fish on the first day of the year. The man is a genius and if I knew where he lived, I'd go round and wash his feet.

Theatre treat

An inbetween Chrimbo and New Year treat was a visit to the National Theatre to see the play August: Osage County. It was fantabulous and I highly recommend it, even if it was so long that it needed two intervals.