Some of these rants appeared as ‘My Pet Peeves’ for a blog on The Argus. Everyone has pet peeves. Maybe yours is ‘people who have pet peeves’. That’s fine. You bog off and be peevish about that. These are my peeves and I’ll cry if I want to.You can also go to www.rantsreviewsreflect.co.uk for more. I also review for Pause Live Action
What is the relevance of basic income to the arts?
This was part of the introduction for the Basic Income: Backbone for the Arts panel discussion I chaired in Oct 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJWlpJHkXVA&list=LL&index=1 The arts are an essential part of our lives, yet this country does not support those that work [...]
The Archers: 0, Staged: 1
Often, it’s the smallest things that introduce a moment of disquiet. As lockdown started, news came that The Archers would be reducing the number of broadcasts per week to eke out its recordings. In fact, I discovered that it was [...]
Corona Life
My 12 year old wondered why we don't have a king. My attempts at explaining royal succession to him. Astonished I knew the names of all 3 royal children... It’s been weeks since I set my alarm in [...]
Shakespeare’s Women on Dating Sites
Recently, a piece entitled 'If Literature's Complicated Men were on Tinder' was circulating. I notice it was written two years ago, but I only saw it a couple of months back. https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/if-literatures-complicated-men-were-on-tinder So, whilst in lockdown, I thought I'd like [...]
Masterchef: It’s a Knockout!
Anything that has been filmed before This Time looks odd now, as sequestered in our homes, we resemble alien life forms peering down. We observe the contestants; hugging, high-five-ing, slapping each other on the backs: Where’s your social distancing?! Thank [...]
Masterchef: The Streamlined
These are lean, mean, streamlined times in 2020, chaps. With us undoubtedly going to hell in a handcart, the collective teeth-sucking at the continued existence of the BBC licence fee means some tough conversations have almost certainly taken place offscreen. [...]
