Back to the Beans

Posted on

While I was away, and with limited and sporadic connectivity, I decided that I needed something more than music to keep me occupied. And so I delved back into the world of podcasts.

Now I have tried this before on a number of occasions, but it’s never worked for me. Always something unappealing or uninteresting about the choices I have made.

And yet despite this, for some reason, I went back to a couple of previous attempts. The first was the BBC Radio 4 Comedy of the Week podcast, which was incredibly hit and miss. One funny, one actually horrifically painful to listen to, with awkward and sycophantic laughter.

So we’ll leave that again.

But I did really get into Three Bean Salad.

And that’s probably because I had chance to give it a few episodes. There are plenty of in jokes and call backs which can make it difficult to appreciate at first, but if you persevere, there are some truly hilarious moments to be had as well.

Especially their knack of delivering standalone lines which even out of context are just funny and lure you into wanting to know more.

So scared I couldn’t even take my clothes off.

Crime is never glamorous. Well, apart from diamond theft, obviously.

So was Stonehenge moved halfway across Britain by crabs?

Unless you’re wearing a protective nougat mesh over your face.

Yeah, sure. You had to be there, but in case you haven’t noticed, that’s exactly what I’m suggesting you do. Lots of fun, and loads of back episodes to delve into to fill the gaps between current offerings.

About Germany

Posted on

Every time I need to cross the North-South railway line to the East of our place, I curse the apartheid spatial planning system. Back then, the railway acted as a physical (but also a strong metaphorical) boundary between the more affluent suburbs and the less well off.
And yes, everything else that went with that divide.
The crossing points are few and far between, I’m guessing to make it actually quite difficult to traverse from one side to the other, and that’s still the case today. Even more so, in fact, given that there are far more cars on the road and thus the crossings become pinch points for jams and frustration.

It’s just one of the many ways that SA’s past is still visible each and every day, and although we’re getting somewhere, it will take years of continued hard work before anything close to parity and equality is achieved.

But that’s for another post.

And it won’t be written by me.

South Africa isn’t the only previously divided country though. Remember Germany? The Berlin Wall fell in 1989, but even though we’re now a whole generation and a bit on from there, and even though there are no restrictions on who goes where anymore, the divide between East and West clearly still exists. I came across this amazing collection of maps on this tweet, and I’ve popped the gif here as a video for your ease of viewing (it’s easier to pause):

It’s really interesting to look at each of the individual maps and try to work out what’s happening and why it’s happening, but it’s also fascinating to just let it play through and watch the border – which isn’t actually there, of course – perpetuated through all of those different habits, experiences, demographics and customs.

35 years is clearly nowhere near long enough to overcome decades of – in this case – communism (or, I suppose, if you want to look at it another way: capitalism. Although, back in the day, no-one was trying to flee to the East for a better life, now were they?)

Cheese

Posted on

This tweet with this video has been doing the rounds on “the socials” today. And while you could watch the video anywhere, I feel that the caption here absolutely hits the nail on the head.

I’ve been on a TV quiz show, and yes, it’s nerve-wracking. Incredibly so.

But even with that extra pressure, this is an impossibly, ridiculously stupid answer.

Still, having visited the crumbling Kent coast, I guess it does explain all the deBrie on the beaches at the bottom.

Albert Pierrepoint: a long read

Posted on

…but a really absorbing one.

Here’s the story – well, a story – of Albert Pierrepoint, Britain’s Last Executioner.

I say “a story” because there seem to be numerous conflicting tales surrounding him, including several versions of the truth from his own mouth. But maybe it’s that lack of clarity, together with the rather unusual and gory nature of his work, which helps augment the mystique around this enigmatic character.

Either way, while the article jumps around a bit, and certainly doesn’t answer all the questions – far from it – it’s definitely a really interesting read into how differing people, differing organisations, and differing times viewed Pierrepoint and his profession.

Worth 10 minutes of your time.

UPDATE: Oh noes! Some readers are complaining about a paywall on this article. If only there was a hastily downloaded PDF version available.

Back once again

Posted on

A much nicer flight home yesterday, passing over the Blyde River Canyon, OR Tambo International Airport, Ellis Park, the FNB Stadium, Fraserburg, Inverdoorn (and its nearby wind farm) and the Matroosberg Nature Reserve.

(There was a lot less snow yesterday.)
We probably went over a lot of other stuff as well, but I either wasn’t looking at it or didn’t recognise it.
As we swooped in for a northward landing, I did notice that there was Congestion Before Victoria.

Obviously.

A good trip in general, I think. I hope I got everything that they wanted. Many kilometres were covered. A few challenges, but there are always going to be a few challenges.
The cutest little airport. One dodgy hotel. One amazing hotel (thankfully in that order).
HEAT! Wildlife. Birds.

Potholes. Scenery. Friendly people. Interesting stories. HEAT! Much fruit. Some cracking biltong.

And now, back to it. A good night’s sleep last night, some catch-up at gym this morning – hard work after a week off – and while I did well over 10,000 steps each day, the opportunity and environment were wholly unsuitable for a run.

And today? Some decent coffee, maybe a beer or two, and the intention to watch a lot of football this afternoon.