At the watch

Obviously the main advantage to returning to England is being finally able to watch the BBC I player, well okay that's second to being close to my family, well okay third if you count being able to buy trousers that actually fit you and don't actually cut of circulation to your waist, or fine fourth if you count not having to fire up a kerosene heater in the front room of your apartment during mornings where its that cold ice has formed in your bath tub...
but I digress...

When we first got back we've found English TV mystifying who was this bearded stranger offering people Schrödinger's cat in a box he looked strangely familiar like an uncle who had been away for many years (and would later turn out to be a bit ranty) Who the hell are these people? what happened to Tom?, Is Norris still on Coronation street? (yes he is)
Oh Eastenders... that's always been rubbish thankfully somethings never change.

Anyway the iplayer has meant a host of programmes that we might well have missed especially as we appear to be living in a digital black hole area CHANNEL FIVE DOES NOT EXIST HERE! oh and its saved us having to mess around with a video player for half the evening.
I wanted to mention a few programmes I've been watching the last few weeks, two thanks to the Iplayer the first Terry Pratchett's - Living with Alzheimer's. I grew up reading the discworld novels so it was sad news to hear that Terry Pratchett was one of the hundreds of people diagnosed ever year with a form of Alzheimer's. The two part program followed his first year since discovering the news, observing his daily routine, book signings, medical tests and possible cures/treatments for the disease.
I won't talk too much about the programme as you should watch for yourself, but, I was slightly dreading watching the programme, seeing a man who has written so many sharp witted books that affected by a cruel disease, but Pratchett and the programme makers produced a well made warm, balanced view of the situation. That's not to say there weren't moments of poignancy, such as seeing him stumble over words whilst reading his latest book in front a packed room of fans, or watching him meet other people suffering from Alzheimer's and the ones loved ones looking after them. But throughout Pratchett remained the voice of hope, trying new inventions (which all seemed to involve a hat) traveling over to America to speak to experts and sufferers (and their careers). Discussing with his assistant, Rob, the likely hood of possible cures and what might happen in the future Pratchett showed determination in facing the demon head on, and revealed the lack of research in England on the matter when compared to America (A friend of my family travelled over to America a number of years ago to work as a specialist in Alzheimer's, a number of people would apparently ask if it was because America paid better? To which he pointed out that it was actually as there wasn't any research being done in England at the time.). The programme never tried to be shocking or over the top, but rather informative and balanced and managed to be sad, funny, informative and hopeful rather like on of Terry Pratchett's own books.

If you would like to learn more about the disease the Alzheimer's research trust can be found here

As a side note, and this is a bit of a side step so bear with me, have you ever encountered someone with a tattoo or similar on display and have been dying to ask but felt too polite? The other day I was in a shop and the lady serving had what appeared to be Sir Samual Vimes of the city watch tattooed on her upper arm. Just as I was about to ask whether it was the for mentioned Sir vimes someone wandered into the shop and I felt too embarrassed imagine if she said "Sam who? No, its my dad." Told you it was a bit of a tangent, it looked quite good, although not as good as this beauty we saw in Moscow.

"No. Thats my dad!"

T.O.H and I have also been enjoying BBC 3's Being Human; about a werewolf , a vampire and a ghost sharing a flat. While that sounds like some sort of punchline the programmes a strange mix of humour and horror (horrour if you will, or humor) especially from Mitchell the vampire who has sworn off blood (haven't they all?). Although it suffers somewhat from the Tv programme ailment of people never actually telling their so called friends of quite important things to keep the plot going, its become a great intriguing programme that really really deserves a second series. Now if only they can stop George from occasionally talking in that weird high voice.

Oh and as for programmes hitting their stride, I should mention Fringe, made by the same people from Lost. It all Concerns an FBI agent working with a crazy doctor (not as in I'm crazzzy I wear a novelty tie to work but an actual...yeah anyway you get what I mean) and his son investigating a series of strange events labeled The pattern. (duh duh duhhh). I watched the pilot last year which was frankly a bit MEH! and the first half of the season suffered from some major faults including a real lack of tension in any way and Joshua Jackson given a rather underwhelming part. The main watching points had been Dr. Bishop who has managed to make me laugh at least once per episode and the regular exploding head that frankly makes any program (although songs of praise might be a little different). Anyway finally the program seems to have kicked into gear with a few Revelations, oh and exploding heads.