UK TV programmes to watch this week : 30/04/2016

Gareth's Invictus Choir - 05-05-2016 - YouView appPaul Merton’s Secret Stations (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 1st May 2016)

More than 150 of Britain’s railway stations are request stops. You have to put out your arm to get the train to stop at the platform. In this series, Paul Merton travels around the country by train, only getting off at request stops. Paul hops on and off at a variety of different request stops to tell the story of why they are there, and who uses them. Meeting railways experts and enthusiasts, he explores the history of the stations and learns more about life in and around the stops. Paul’s journey begins in the Highlands, travelling on the stunning Kyle Line to the request stop of Attadale, where he meets Joanna and Alec Macpherson, who’ve recently moved from Peckham to look after a vast 30,000-acre estate at the shore of Lochcarron. Paul’s next two request stops are on the Cumbrian Coast Line.

The Tube: Going Underground (Channel 5 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 2nd May 2016)

Documentary series following the work of the staff who keep London’s underground train service running smoothly. The Tube takes on more than a thousand new staff. But the newbies are joining a system that now faces a level of terror threat unknown in the past.
(Subtitles, Audio Described, Episode 7)

How Scotland Works (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 3rd May 2016)

Documentary series exploring life in 21st-century Scotland. Today, life in Scotland’s most remote communities is changing, with new jobs and industries evolving, and the population growing. Innovative types of tourism like wreck diving and eagle spotting are being developed. Land-ownership laws are changing to give communities more of a stake in their crofts, and traditional work such as forestry is being transformed by 21st-century technology. Better communications keep the smallest island communities connected to the outside world, allowing new kinds of businesses and even international charities to be based there. This documentary tells the story of Scotland’s wild places through a diverse cast of characters including a dive guide, flying tree doctors, a global charity based on Coll and the world-famous Mull Rally.

Gareth’s Invictus Choir (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 5th May 2016)

Choirmaster Gareth Malone is facing his toughest challenge to date. He has been asked to form a choir of wounded ex-servicemen and -women to perform at the Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida. This first episode sees Gareth arrive at Kensington Palace to meet with Prince Harry, the founder of the games. Gareth wants to find out more about the challenges he faces in trying to form this unique choir. Next step is to set off around the UK to put his choir of 12 together, but Gareth is not looking just for singers, he is looking for people with stories to tell of the battles and struggles they have faced since their medical discharge. Next, he takes them off for three days to teach them how to sing but discovers it’s he who has something to learn – how to work with such a fragile group. The choir is surprised with his choice of song, and it soon triggers off unexpected emotions. Finally, Gareth makes a shock announcement after just four weeks.

Barging Round Britain with John Sergeant (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Friday 6th May 2016)

John Sergeant enjoys some of the best canal journeys Britain has to offer. He takes in the delights of the Lancaster Canal, which runs along the coast through the ancient city of Lancaster. On the way, he gets to re-enact his favourite scene from Brief Encounter, marvel at the amazing Lune Aqueduct and learns to smoke kippers before tucking into one of the little beauties.

All TV guide information taken from DigiGuide β€” www.getdigiguide.tv/?p=1&r=15119.

Longest cycle on the new bike…

That’s me not long back in from doing the longest cycle on the bike so far! I did 36.45 miles! I would have liked to have done over 40 miles! But all the rain, wind and even the hail was starting to do my head in! It’s feeling more like February, than late April! I am normally out in my shorts by now! It’s still way, way to cold for that!!

I will now leave you with the route map, elevation graph, route statistics and photos.

Route map:-

26-04-2016 - bike ride route map

Elevation graph:-

26-04-2016 - bike ride elevation graph

Route statistics:-

  • Start time: 1:00 pm.
  • Distance: 36.45 miles.
  • Time: 2:56:06 (h:m:s).
  • Elapsed Time: 3:20:30 (h:m:s).
  • Avg Speed: 12.4 mph.
  • Max Speed: 31.4 mph.
  • Elevation Gain: 339 meters.
  • Min Elevation: 10 meters.
  • Max Elevation: 88 meters.

Data from: Garmin Connect.

Photos:-

Specialized Crosstrail Sport Disc '16
Specialized Crosstrail Sport Disc ’16
Specialized Crosstrail Sport Disc ’16

First ride – Specialized Crosstrail Sport Disc ’16

At long last, I got out my first ride on my new bike. I got my Specialized Crosstrail Sport Disc ’16 on Tuesday from Edinburgh Bicycle Co-Operative. But I’ve had a cold/flu but thing most of the week! So going out on it, would not have been a good idea! But so pleased, I’ve got to use it at long last!

I went for a 22.81 mile cycle ride! Making it the longest Saturday ride, I’ve done this year so far! Think I’ve already, falling in love with it!



Garmin Edge 1000

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 23/04/2016

Caravanner of the_Year - 27-04-2016 - YouView appThe Mystery of the Crossrail Skulls (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 24th April 2016)

Engineers digging for Crossrail have made a chilling discovery: dozens of skulls under London’s Liverpool Street station. It’s clear the skulls are from Roman London, but nothing like this has been found before. This documentary unravels the mystery, using ground-breaking archaeological investigation. Who are these people and how did their skulls get there? There are many theories: they could be victims of a massacre, or gladiators; they could have naturally washed out of cemeteries in times of peace or be executed rebels; they could even be the victims of some grisly, long-lost ritual. Now the tools are available to solve the mystery. The investigation covers Boudicca’s rebellion, the bloody gladiatorial arena, and head-hunting sites in France. Does the investigation answer the mystery of the Crossrail skulls?

The Tube: Going Underground (Channel 5 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 25th April 2016)

Documentary series following the work of the staff who keep London’s underground train service running smoothly. Management has decided to crack down on fare dodgers, but it is revenue inspectors Simon and Paul who have to deal with an aggressive passenger refuses to pay at the Angel. At Tottenham Court Road, John is supervising the tricky restoration of Eduardo Paolozzi’s famous mosaics. At Walthamstow, the installation of a new escalator is causing bottlenecks. On Poppy Day, Dame Barbara Windsor helps to fund-raise by becoming a Tube driver for the day.

How Scotland Works (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 26th April 2016)

Documentary series exploring life in 21st-century Scotland. In Scotland today, travel and transport is changing, with trains, planes and ferries all busier than ever. New services like the Borders Railway and a seaplane to Skye are connecting remote communities. In Aberdeen, hydrogen-powered buses are revolutionising public transport and cutting carbon emissions, while in Dundee electric taxis are making travel cheaper and cleaner. Meanwhile, older systems like the Glasgow subway are being updated for the modern world. This documentary tells the story of Scotland on the move through a diverse cast of characters including a train driver, a ferry captain, the subway nightshift engineers, a pioneering pilot and one of the original architects of Glasgow’s groundbreaking urban motorway system.

Caravanner of the Year (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 27th April 2016)

It’s the final, and all three couples who have made it to this stage have been working on their winning strategy. Whether it’s planning and precision; soft toys and costumes or breaking out new recipes – they all want the title. The Caravan Club has promised even tougher challenges and a demanding navigation test with road restrictions and no sat navs quickly takes its toll. While some search for missing landmarks crucial to their route, a cake break is the stress-reliever for others. To pile on the pressure, driving skills also come under scrutiny when the judges take a back seat, literally. Grenville Chamberlain, Caravan Club Chairman, and motorhome journalist, Andy Harris, are joined by guest judge, Martin Dorey, the camper van cook, to face a stamina trial of their own when the competitors go all out to impress in the crucial hospitality challenge. From unusual recipes to amateur dramatics and a full 60s revival, these competitors all want the title of Caravanner of the Year.

Secret Britain (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 28th April 2016)

Series exploring the hidden corners of the UK and revealing landscape secrets. Ellie Harrison, Chris Hollins and Denise Lewis explore Northern Ireland. As one of the least touristy places in the UK, the province is brimming with secrets. Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis is chastised for a lack of focus when she competes in an unusual and unique local competition. Chris Hollins goes in search of a witch’s lair on the top of a mysterious mountain. And Ellie Harrison uncovers the secret history of an army training base that has been closed to the public for over a century.

Barging Round Britain with John Sergeant (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Friday 29th April 2016)

John Sergeant enjoys some of the best canal journeys Britain has to offer. John barges along the Rochdale Canal from the busy city centre of Manchester and over the beautiful Pennines. Along the way, he struggles to get to grips with traditional 19th century technology at a cotton mill, tries to make his own pair of clogs in one of the country’s few remaining clog factories and gets well and truly stuck when the canal springs a leak.

All TV guide information taken from DigiGuide β€” www.getdigiguide.tv/?p=1&r=15119.

Gimme The Love / On My One 7″ Limited Edition

Even more vinyl to add to my very small but growing record collection. This time Gimme The Love / On My One 7″ Limited Edition, by Jake Bugg.

Still can’t believe, I am going to see, his home coming gig this June, at Sherwood Pines Forest Park!! πŸ™‚

Just ordered the Vermarc Etixx Quick-Step Short Sleeve Jersey

I’ve just ordered the Vermarc Etixx Quick-Step Short Sleeve Jersey. Doubt I will look everywhere near has good, has Marcel Kittel does! I will of course, also be ordering the shorts at some point. Just need to save up for them first!

You can of course, look forward to many photos and vlogs of myself wearing them!

kittel-etixx-2016-kit3
kittel-etixx-2016-kit

Specialized Crosstrail Sport Disc ’16

So happy my new bike got delivered today from Edinburgh Bicycle Co-Operative. It set me back Β£550. The only reason I got it, was since my Mum give myself and my bothers Β£1,000 each, for her 70th Birthday! Think I’ve got the worlds best MUM!!! πŸ˜€

I’ve still to give it a test ride. I really wanted to give it a go today, but trying to get over a bad cold/flu bug thinly!

Of course the big question is, do I remove the bell??



13 years at the Peterborough Greyhound Stadium

OMG! I can’t believe it! I started working at the Peterborough Greyhound Stadium on the 19th April 2003. Meaning I’ve been there for a full 13 years!! Where has that time gone???

I will leave you with some photos taken over the years at work…

Red Nose Day 2005
Red Nose Day 2005

Children In Need 2006
Children In Need 2006

Children In Need 2008
Children In Need 2008

Children In Need 2009
Children In Need 2009

Bar team 2011
Bar team 2011

Children In Need 2011
Children In Need 2011

Sports Relief 2014
PBK Team Long Sleeve Skinsuit 2009

Hard at work!
Hard at work!

Children In Need 2014
Children In Need 2014 @ theDogs