Don told me, " I watched Benidorm this week to see if there was any improvement…absolute rubbish…badly written with a collection of mismatched characters who can’t act…with a string of unfunny jokes and a helping of bad taste…plus an appearance by Mathew Kelly to add to the trash….ITV have hit rock bottom with this one. The BBC are a bit worried about their viewers using modern technology to watch their programmes on I Player…because apparently the licence fee only applies to LIVE tele….so when you watch recorded stuff you may not need a licence….I’ve always said the Beeb want sorting out…they have just abandoned a set up which was to involve a “digital storer” designed to store thousands of programmes…it failed…it cost 20 million quid…which has now gone down the drain…nice to know where our licence fee goes. .I watched the Paul and Ringo get together on the Grammy Awards…I must say they both looked good…I’m going to invest in whatever make-up they were using….I thought Katy Perry was quality as she was burnt at the stake…and Pink who was hanging from a rope around her ankles and spinning round…makes me glad I’ve semi retired if that’s what you’ve gotta do to get a gig these days. There’s quite a lot on the tele about the Great War with it being the anniversary…the diaries were fascinating showing that there was a lot more to it all than “going over the top”…all this should be shown as it should never be forgotten…whether we will ever learn is another matter. Coach Trip is back with good old Brendan camping it up…I must say I love this programme…especially the last bit when they have to vote someone off….also there is another good programme with Griff Rhys Jones travelling around Wales..this week was Anglesey…brilliant. The latest is to make smoking in cars where there are children illegal….what next?....in my opinion people who smoke anywhere should be issued with a goldfish bowl to be worn over their head so they can recycle their own smoke…but then again I don’t endulge…..but the people who come up with these ideas should be employed to enforce them instead of giving the police more work." ....and we looked at other news headlines that are taking the eye.....

Big outcry from the road safety campaigners about a Wetherspoons pub they are building at one of the motorway service stations…I would doubt if it’s any campaigners – more the rip off motorway services who charge extortionate prices for their second rate food…bit of competition eh?...at last a bit of value on the motorways……they come up with nonsense like “It will encourage drink driving”…what a load of twaddle….they also sell coffee as well as good value food…..if drivers want to drink all they have to do is pull off the motorway and drive a few hundred yards. I wish these so called organisations would stop telling us what we can and can’t do !!!! I would like to congratulate the TV channels for managing to have absolutely NOTHING worth watching last Tuesday…that is unless you want to watch some overweight blobbys attempting to lose a bit of blubber…no thanks…….oh yes and Coronation Street which made the headline news with one of the characters dying…real cheerful stuff…and people think it’s REAL…..a sad situation all round. They are still going on and on about this MP who wont apologise for something he has been found innocent of…WE ARE NOT INTERESTED !!...get over yourselves ladies you are getting very boring….on a similar theme..they had a lady on the morning news who has created a “Cuddle Club”…whereby people who feel down can have a cuddle….sounds like a recipe for a few more court cases….I would urge blokes to steer clear of that one. The Anelka offensive salute….is that what it was?....I doubt if 99% of the terraces would have picked up on that one…including me…..what would they make of Denis Law showing his bare bum to the Liverpool Kop in the old days?....oh I forgot…they were the days when you could have a laugh…how I miss those days….when you didn’t live in fear of being taken to court by some holier than thou doogooder or some over sensitive female. Speaking of laughs I was reading in the paper about Lee Mack…who I rate as one of the best comedians….meeting Prince William who said “You need some new jokes”…to which Lee replied “I don’t tell you how to be a future king”…to which William replied “I was only joking…I really enjoy your sitcom”……OOOPS….but I love Lee Mack…

I’ve been in the Lake District this week doing a bit of walking….on the Sunday we went around Silverdale…on the Monday a car was hit by a train on a level crossing…in Silverdale…the crossing we had been over the day before….I know the area well and have always thought the crossing was a bit dodgy…so there you are I was right. 2.We have been informed that MP’s have their portraits up in Parliament…paintings which cost 12 grand a time….which begs the question why paintings?...why not photographs?...or indeed why any picture at all as NONE of them are worth looking at……I wonder if they pay for the work themselves…I am joking of course…nice to know where my taxes go. 3.The trials of Dave Lee Travis,Rolph Harris and Bill Roache have been all over the news….women who have suddenly remembered that they were indecently assaulted 50 years ago…whatever the outcome these guys are finished…the media have seen to that….nothing should be reported until there is a final decision…it’s a disgrace….remember Gerri Halliwell bragging about pinching Prince Charles’s bum….but THAT’S alright….there’s not a problem that way round….as DLT put it…they can smell money. 4.After the horrendous floods (and before the oncoming drought and hosepipe ban) our roads are full of potholes….it’s going to take 27 BILLION (that figure again) to fix them…it has been asked why the continent don’t have the same problems…the answer was that they spend more money on their roads than us…so that’s O.K. then…..I reckon I could find a few blokes who would do it for a few BILLION less than the above quote. 5.Headline News!!!...they have found Hitler’s bog…yes the toilet from one of The Fuhrer’s battleships….it was in a garage somewhere in the States and there’s been a big stink over it (sorry about that)….with all the morons out there it is bound to appeal to someone…I think I’ll pass on it….oops sorry again…..so there you are – something for your mantelpiece.

The government have announced there will be major cuts in legal aid…which has resulted in a mini “strike” by solicitors….they say it will reduce their clientele…thus losing money. I think these guys should compare their hourly rate to that of a council worker or shop assistant…..how will they survive without their brand new BMs and Mercedes every year?...I feel so sorry for them. A pal of mine went on jury duty and said it was a farce…nobody on the panel,including the chairman,had a clue about the law…they were judging people by how they looked. I’ve never been able to grasp the jury system…they should consist of intelligent educated people with a good knowledge of the law…SOLICITORS FOR EXAMPLE…there you are I’ve found jobs for them. There is a big thing at the moment regarding cyber bullying….youngsters are getting threatened on twitter etc….now I know I am from the 50’s but isn’t the answer to not read the tweets?...or is that too simple. It strikes me that anyone who makes threats on the social media is an idiot who needs to get a life…so why bother with them?...or am I too old to understand? Immigration…now there’s a word…all we hear on the news is people complaining about so called foreigners coming into the country and getting a free ride….personally I am totally confused…one minute they are telling us that immigrants can come here and get benefit for 3 months until they get a job (sounds like a good deal) BUT then we are told that they should have a job lined up before they get here…perhaps someone will eventually tell us what is going on…because I haven’t got a clue. It’s that old humbug again on the news about over enthusiastic parents at school sports events……it’s NEVER going to change…parents want to live through their kids (at least the dopey ones do)…in my opinion sport is for winning…that’s why it’s there….and you’ll always get morons on the touchline…it will never change….so move on eh?

We are bracing ourselves for the next storms and high tides…you watch the tele and you’d think this had never happened before….talk about scare mongering…80 mile an hour gales forecast here for Friday morning….I had 18 holes of golf in a bit of a breeze…Because of the bad weather down south there have been power cuts leaving folk with no electricity over Christmas and the power companies have come under heavy criticism…,because they took so long to get the power back on….now I don’t know enough about the situation but I would have thought it’s the fault of the weather…which no-one has any control over…but I suppose in true British style SOMEONE has be blamed. .I am getting rather miffed at modern American films with dialogue which is impossible to decipher…the trend seem to be to deliver the script with a whispering growl…you turn the sound up and then the music blows you out of the room…will SOMEBODY teach the Americans how to act and ENUNCIATE !!!!......I watched a film called “Shooter” with Mark Whalberg…gave up after 20 minutes…couldn’t make out a word they were saying…similarly I watched a film on the story of Chess Records which I found very interesting except again I couldn’t hear a word…not only that - they grumble without their lips moving. Train fares have gone up by 3%....which makes travelling by train a bit on the pricey side….a contract from Dover to London will now cost over 5 grand…one from Manchester to Liverpool will cost 3 grand. I don’t travel by train but it sounds expensive to me…they had a half witted official from the railways prattling on about how people will be travelling 16000 miles and it is a lot cheaper by train than by car…er excuse me….I’ve worked out that 16000 miles in a car that does 35 to the gallon will cost less than 3 grand (and that is diesel)…so I don’t know where Mr.Railwayman gets his figures. …Oh I forgot they need to rip everyone off to get the money for the high speed train service that no-one wants….do me a favour. I watched the first in the series of “Benidorm”…oh dear…oh deary deary me….totally lost it’s way…I’m only glad it’s not coming out of my licence fee…..I also enjoyed the new year fireworks in London…always nice to know where our taxes go…did someone say “recession” ??...don’t be daft.

We have had some horrific storms … mostly down south…poor folk flooded out as the torrential rain burst river banks…I don’t know how these people can get insurance..let alone sell up. We haven’t had it too bad here…but I went on line to insure my house and one on the questions was “do you live within half a mile from a river…if so we wont insure you”…bad news. The damage at New Brighton after the recent high tides has been sorted…I went down there on my bike on Xmas morning (bit of pre dinner exercise) …there weren’t many takers…probably because it was very cold…but everything looks O.K…..until the next high tide and 60mph gale. What I will NEVER understand is the mass panic to the build up to ONE day….I went into TESCOS to buy a jack plug (£2.50)…I couldn’t get out…there were raving loonies at the checkout with trolleys piled to the ceiling….it’s like a disease…and as for the boxing day sales….unbelievable…we are a sad lot really. 4.I don’t gig a lot these days…so I can relax up to Xmas without worrying about getting a cold or damaging my fingers etc….so I watched a bit of tele…oh dear…the BBC put on a three hour drama about the Great Train Robbery….same old stuff…we KNOW the story !...we’ve seen it a hundred times before !!...so why waste our licence fee (£145) on old hat?...fortunately I spent Xmas day at my lad’s house so I was spared the television…and as for the variety shows words fail me….I’m thinking of going back on the road. I have just completed a DVD about the history of my birthplace..Wallasey…I did all the filming throughout our lovely summer and recently finished the music and narration (which takes a long time)…I enjoy making these local DVDs because you learn a lot of things you didn’t know….for example The Guide Dogs For The Blind was founded in Wallasey in 1930 and there is a statue of a dog outside The Floral Pavilion commemorating this (I must have walked past it a hundred times)…also the Stableford system of scoring in golf was invented in Wallasey Golf Club in 1930 by a doctor Frank Stableford….plus a long list of powerful men from the early 1900s who were involved in shipping and the slave trade……all good stuff…..I intend to distribute the DVD through my website to those who know the area…it has limited appeal but ex pats will definitely enjoy it.

Don told me, "We have had some incredible storms here over the past few weeks….on the Wirral Peninsula where I live there is a place called New Brighton which is on the coast and it has just been rebuilt after previous storm damage….so what have they built …cafes and huge department stores…which all got flooded out…..in 1979 the same thing happened…the tide destroyed a ballroom (which was attached to New Brighton Baths)…I know…because my band were playing there on that night…it needs a bit more sea defences because it will happen again… Stonehenge has had a facelift….you could drive past up until recently but not any more….they have taken down the small visitor centre and replaced it with a fancy new one…at a cost of …wait for it 27 million pounds!!.......I don’t know how these people arrive at these figures…it’s a bunch of rocks for goodness sake…but no doubt someone will be making a load of money. Our MPs have come under some criticism regarding “signing in” to Parliament…apparently if they “sign in” they get paid…even if they are only there for a few minutes…..a radio presenter was on and said that he interviewed an MP who “signed in” before he came to his programme…which meant the MP must have simply gone in and out….along with their 11% rise and all the expenses scandals you’d think they would learn wouldn’t you…. The words “dress code” really get up my nose….nowadays you get an invite to a wedding and the “dress code” is “black tie”….which means you have to fork out for a dinner SUIT followed by a present…followed by drinks at extortionate rip off prices followed by bed and breakfast….it’s bad enough being invited to a wedding reception of someone you hardly know without being taken to the cleaners by some overpriced hotel cashing in on snob value….but it’s their big day so that’s alright….there’s a hotel not far from here where you can pay up to £500 for a bottle of champagne…are they havin’ a laugh or what? Rock and Roll is still very much alive on Merseyside…despite our ages…Harry Prytherch (once the drummer in the Remo Four) had a Xmas bash at Fort Perch Rock last Sunday afternoon which was great fun…the actual venue is a cellar so it was shoulder to shoulder…they had three bands on and a good time was had by all….then we had our Cheshire Cats party last Wednesday…rockin’ from 8.30 til 11.45…all the money goes to kids charities …great stuff…we can be checked out on www.thecheshirecats.co.uk .....we can still ROCK…providing we have a lie down afterwards…

With wonderful timing the Government MPs have been awarded an 11% rise in their salaries…taking them to over 74 grand a year. This is when everyone else has to accept 1%....but it has been said that this brings them in line with surgeons and doctors etc… Soon we will not have to get a tax disc for our cars….we do it online and go on record….now this will be great for our older citizens who can’t even switch on a computer…and for the traffic wardens who will have to check with the central set up set up to see if cars are taxed…I’m wondering why?...ah well they must know what they are doing…I suppose….sounds like another disaster to me. Football is under scrutiny after a few lower league guys have been accuse of match fixing…it’s a disgrace….pure greed…they should be banned for life.On the subject of football John Terry was seen in Poundworld buying his wrapping paper and crisps….he’s on 170 grand a week…which shows you can take the man out of Poundworld but.... …there is a move afoot to do away with FM radio and replace it with DAB…they had a chap on from a local station saying it would cost a fortune for them to transfer over…and I wonder about our car radios?...good stuff eh?...I don’t know whether this will come off or when but there you are….someone has made this wonderful decision probably without thinking it out as usual. finally…did you see The Royal Command Performance?....Hmm…Oh Dear…..it started well but went steadily downhill…..the comedians they had on were appalling .. not even slightly funny…who books these blokes? And as for Dame Edna I think it’s time to call it a day. The show has always been second rate with some acts trying to suck up to the Royals and others ill prepared…I would have thought by now they would get it right. But there’s always Harry…what a guy…he’s just reached the South Pole on foot with some disabled army lads…he’s fourth in line to the throne…I say crown him now!!!

We are now out of the top 20 when it comes to children’s education…which is hardly surprising considering the country is run by morons…..the teachers are on a hiding to nothing these days…it needs a qualified teacher to get into the government and run the system instead of the chinless wonder we are stuck with…..a coach of a young village football team has got the sack for telling the kids he has no time for losers…only winning will do !!!....OH this caused a major outcry from the parents…we can’t have winners and losers…EVERYONE must be the same…no wonder it’s difficult to find an English footballer in the Premiership. The panto dame will soon be a thing of the past…because a bloke dressing as a woman is not PC….I’ve heard it all now….and as for the principle boy…what are the dads supposed to watch if she goes?…..a principle boy slapping a long shapely leg…Yes Please !!!! The latest thing from the police is to shop anyone who you think is over the limit…even your own mates…and if they get a prosecution you get £200….interesting eh?....…I think we need to try and get older heads on to the youngsters. Chester has been given an award for being an historic city…it beat the likes of Venice,Bruge and Prague……personally I think Chester is a masterpiece….the town itself is class and has a great atmosphere not to mention the walk around the Wall….I am fortunate enough to do a bit of kayaking in The River Dee which runs through it…scenery doesn’t get any better than that…Chester Rocks !!! There are quite a few ageing popstars making a bit of a come back….Boy George has got a good song out and he sings it well and has developed a likeable way about him…unlike uncle Rod Stewart who has made an album all about himself…….I was never a fan of Sinatra because all he ever did was sing about himself….and I wish Robbie Williams would get over himself…he is a GREAT performer (one of the best) but he always has to be stupidly suggestive… Russell Watson is a good lad and he has made a record showing the rough edge to his voice and it’s brilliant….I’m not into the opera stuff..it all sounds the same..but this one is the biz…go Russ!!!

The news has been full of this Scottish independence thing…what is it with people these days…we are a small island…LET’S GET ON WITH EACH OTHER!!...O.K. the English once marched on Scotland…and Wales…and Ireland…I’M SORRY!!! But I WASN’T AROUND AT THE TIME!!!...Get over it….I have absolutely nothing against my fellow countrymen but when I wander into the odd pub in Wales I get the feeling I am an illegal alien. It all seems like one way traffic…it’s always the English who are the bad guys. The Scots want to go it alone BUT keep the Bank of England…and the Queen etc…come on guys give us a break….if they get this it will be their biggest mistake I feel. I also get a bit annoyed at the rugby and football events when Wales Scotland and Ireland sing their own anthem…and we sing the NATIONAL one….which is also theirs….I think we should sing Land of Hope and Glory….or even better Googi The Liverpool Duck? ”I’m a celebrity get me out of here” is on tele EVERY night…with Ant and Dec trying to convince us that it’s all gonna kick off any minute….I’m not quite sure what we (including me) are turning into when we sit and watch celebrities sleeping and sunbathing and getting 80 GRAND for their efforts….….is that paint dry yet? There is a big shortage of male primary teachers in the country….in our day it was mostly men…but then again if your teacher got hold of your arm in them days he wasn’t faced with parents kicking doors down screaming paedophile!!.....what do they expect….you can’t speak to a kid these days without becoming a major suspect…..so why apply for a job with so much hassle?….…..it’s the parents who need educating not the kids. Because the television is so bad I have decided to include “Netflix” to my TV package……this gives me the opportunity to have hundreds of films at my disposal…and do you know what…try and find a decent one!!….they seem to have lost the art of making decent films these days…it’s all sci-fi…and vampires….and special effects..with NO story…the trend seems to be to mumble their way through a two and a half hour film with a 10 minute plot……what happened to ACTING?...and enunciation?...and the problem is you get so far into a film that you are FORCED to see it through…and 99% of the time it’s a complete load of rubbish…..come back all you Hollywood Greats!!....or am I getting old? How do you know when Christmas is coming?....out come the CDs of all the same old played out songs….PLEASE someone give us a decent NEW one if we MUST be subjected to them. Every shop and supermarket has the same old stuff every year droning away in the background….I HATE Christmas songs….but at least I expect “stars” to give us original ones instead of regurgitating all the old stuff. Just use the Slade one and bin all the others…Cliff…Bing…even Buble…..for goodness sake……