UK TV programmes to watch this week : 25/04/2015

W1A - 30-04-2015 (YouView app)How Scotland Works (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 28th April 2015)

Documentary series exploring life in 21st-century Scotland. This first programme tells the story of modern Scotland at work through a diverse cast of characters including scallop divers, call centre workers, farmers and the software companies that are defining Scotland’s economic future.

Nick and Margaret: The Trouble with Our Trains (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 29th April 2015)

Nick Hewer and Margaret Mountford climb on board Britain’s trains to find out whether they offer value for money. On the trail of the £8 billion of fares and £4 billion of public money that go into the nation’s trains each year, they discover a rail system that is struggling to contend with outdated infrastructure and more passengers than at any time in living memory. Twenty years on from privatisation, Nick and Margaret are in for a bumpy ride as they meet irate commuters, polished train operating company bosses and the head of Network Rail. They unearth some mind-boggling bureaucracy and infuriating inefficiency, but also ask if there are signs of hope that the railway may be getting back on track.

W1A (BBC 2/HD | 10:00pm to 10:30pm | Thursday 30th April 2015)

The advertising of a new and important role – namely, the head of better – leads to a game of management musical chairs. Anna Rampton, head of output, thinks she knows all about better and goes for the top job. Top of the agenda for the damage limitation team are rumours that Newsnight anchor Evan Davis is to be a contestant in the forthcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing, which does not go down well with head of news and current affairs Neil Reid. Things get more complicated when it transpires that BBC brand consultant Siobhan Sharpe is behind it. It falls to Ian Fletcher as head of BBC values and arch-limiter of damage to find an elegant solution to the problem. Meanwhile, ex-intern Will Humphries, recently appointed PA to the head of values, makes life more difficult for Izzy, the object of his desire. He accidentally hijacks her computer software while showing off his newly acquired training on the BBC’s foolproof software Syncapatico.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Thursday 30th April 2015)

The award-winning gang show returns live to Channel 4 for a hat trick of topical shenanigans, culminating in an election night extravaganza. Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker are back to take on the main talking points of the week including all the latest election news. After Alex Brooker fired the starting gun in the race to rid political campaigning of ‘bullshit’ during his hilarious interview with Nick Clegg, the team reunite at this crucial time with their upbeat, unjaundiced brand of satirical comedy. Their guests include Jeremy Paxman.

Slow Train Through Africa with Griff Rhys-Jones (itv/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 1st May 2015)

Griff Rhys Jones makes five remarkable train journeys across the world’s most spectacular continent. In this episode, Griff takes the train through Zambia and Zimbabwe, via one of the most stunning natural wonders of the world – the Victoria Falls. He begins the 1,100-mile trip in Kasama in northern Zambia where the train arrives just 33 hours late. In Zambia’s capital Lusaka, Griff reveals the reason the first railways were built – to get at Zambia’s rich mineral wealth. The old railway was the dream of Cecil Rhodes, who wanted to join all Britain’s African colonies over a hundred years ago with a line that would run from South Africa to Egypt. It was never completed, but its greatest legacy is a bridge that spans the Zambezi gorge right next to the Victoria Falls. From here, Griff crosses into Zimbabwe. On the train heading south, Griff meets more friendly folk before arriving at Zimbabwe’s second city Bulawayo, which was once the main railway hub for southern Africa.

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

Found another great place to walk!

Just back in from another great walk! So many great places for long dog walks around here!!

Since it another warm day, give me a good reason to wear my Rangers Away Shorts 2014-2015, with Lycra under them of course!! 🙂

Rangers Home Shorts 2014-2015

Updated National Cycle Network section : 24/04/2015

I have just updated the National Cycle Network sub section of my website. By adding a new section for NCR 71.

I took these photos while on holiday, in Lake District.

More photos from this set can be found at www.gordon-valentine.com/zenphoto/days-out/07-04-2015/

More Rangers football kit photos!

Here are even more photos of myself out wearing my Rangers football kit! I do really need to get the socks that go with it!

The main reason for today’s photos, is that I wanted to give my new Manfrotto Befree Compact Travel Tripod, which I got today. A good try out! It’s the first full sized tripod, I’ve ever had, that I can fit in a normal walking bag. It’s closed length is only 40cm, when my old one was 65cm! Only down side, is it’s weight which is 1.7 kg. I could have got a lighter one, then would have had to pay a lot more than £119 for it (full price was £139)!

Hope you all enjoy these photos, can’t wait to read all the comments about them!!!

Rangers home shirt and shortsRangers home shirt and shorts
Rangers home shirt and shortsRangers home shirt + Sondico Core 6 Lycra shorts

Video: Driving to work, not so fast!

Another video of myself driving from Little Bytham to the Peterborough Greyhounds, my place of work. All thanks to video time lapse, using my Garmin VIRB Elite action camera.

During this video, I set the time lapse interval to every 1/2 seconds. Then used Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 11.0 to speed the video up a bit.

Was hoping to take the same route, has last time. But King Street, was closed at West Deeping. So had to go via Langtoft. Which is where, I am in traffic queue for a bit. Around 28 seconds into the video.

But still got to work on time, which is of course the main thing!

Love wearing my Rangers football kit!

Got to say, I love wearing my Rangers football kit! Also love that, I can walk around in it and no one even gives you a second look. Unless they support another team of course!! lol 🙂

Hope you all enjoy these photos, can’t wait to read all the comments about them!!!


Video: Driving to work in record time!

Driving from Little Bytham to the Peterborough Greyhounds, my place of work in record time! All thanks to video time lapse, using my Garmin VIRB Elite action camera.

I am just playing around with time lapse. Since, next time I drive to Scotland. I am hoping to film the whole journey.

During this video, I set the time lapse interval to every 2 seconds. Will try every 1 second the next time.

Getting ready for the next Scottish Highlands tour!

That’s me staring for the next Scottish Highlands tour! Set off on the 3rd May, getting the train from Grantham to Aviemore on 3rd May. Then staying in the Aviemore area for two nights. Then on the 5th May getting a train to Elgin, there for just one night. Then Aberdeen for one night (6th May). Before getting the train back to Grantham on the 7th May!

Here are some of the books, I am taking with me :).

DSC09272

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 18/04/2015

Reggie Yates' Extreme Russia - 20-04-2015  (YouView app)Reggie Yates’ Extreme Russia (BBC 3/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 20th April 2015)

In the second of three programmes revealing the extreme side of Russia, Reggie Yates finds out what life is really like for young people in what has been described as the hardest place in Europe to be gay, a year after the introduction of the anti-propaganda law. He travels to St Petersburg for Queerfest, a 10-day arts and culture get-together for the LGBT community. Reggie spends time on both sides of the battle lines – with the Queefest team as they face the daily fight to keep their festival open, and the homophobes who want to see it closed. He also meets Dayra, a young lesbian viciously stabbed and left for dead by homophobes, and activist Kiril who is still fighting back and who shows Reggie how Putin’s repressive laws make it almost impossible to protest without risk of arrest. On the other side, Reggie meets leaders of Orthodox pressure groups like God’s Will, who would stone gays to death if the law allowed it, and Vitali Milonov, the architect of the anti-gay propaganda law.

The Restoration Man (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 22nd April 2015)

George Clarke chooses four of his favourite church conversions from the show, celebrating the creative dreamers brave enough to take on the challenge of restoring them, from a couple who hoped their old fisherman’s church in Devon would bring them together, to a young father whose single-minded dedication to restoring a medieval Welsh chapel almost broke his young family apart. In idyllic rural Cumbria, restoration novices risked financial ruin to transform the village church’s iconic spire, while a couple from Newcastle battled the elements to create a bohemian artistic retreat 400 miles away in the Outer Hebrides.

Secret Britain (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 22nd April 2015)

Series exploring the hidden corners of the UK and revealing landscape secrets. In Scotland, Adam Henson climbs the fearsome, secret side of Ben Nevis and Ellie Harrison probes a monster mystery at the heart of Britain’s deepest water, Loch Morar. The most extraordinary map of Scotland is revealed, overgrown and hidden in the landscape. In the heart of the Highlands, Adam is delighted to discover a cattle ranch that allows him to live out a boyhood dream; while on the Black Isle Ellie visits the mysterious and atmospheric Clootie Well. It’s been a shrine to healing since Celtic times, but why are its ancient rituals still popular today? Together Ellie and Adam also go hunting for Bonnie Prince Charlie’s secret hideaway, a tiny but timeless cave in the very same landscape where commando warfare was invented during the Second World War. And they conclude their journey of discovery with a magical ride on the real Hogwarts Express.

W1A (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 23rd April 2015)

A one-hour special marks the return of the award-winning comedy about the BBC. One year on and head of values Ian Fletcher has finally got his own office. He and the team have a new set of challenges to rise to, including the impending visit of HRH Prince Charles. The question is, which of the management team will get to shake the royal hand? Head of BBC brand Siobhan Sharpe and her team at Perfect Curve have been tasked with giving a makeover to the BBC coverage of Wimbledon following rumours of a bid from a rival broadcaster. Her response is a brand mash-up to end all mash-ups. Meanwhile, over on the creative frontline, entertainment-format producer David Wilkes is trying to come up with the next big factual-entertainment series after Britain’s Tastiest Village failed to fly. He’s got the title – Up Town, Down Town – he just hasn’t got a show. Finally, intern Will Humphries’s security pass won’t let him into the building. Is it a technical problem or something more significant?

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Thursday 23rd April 2015)

The award-winning gang show returns live to Channel 4 for a hat trick of the usual topical shenanigans, culminating in an election night extravaganza. Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker are back to take on the main talking points of the week including all the latest election news. After Alex Brooker fired the starting gun in the race to rid political campaigning of ‘bullshit’ during his hilarious interview with Nick Clegg, the team reunite at this crucial time with their upbeat, unjaundiced brand of satirical comedy. Piers Morgan joins the team for the first of these three special episodes.

Slow Train Through Africa with Griff Rhys-Jones (itv/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 24th April 2015)

Griff Rhys Jones attempts five remarkable train journeys across the world’s most spectacular continent, Africa. In this episode, Griff attempts to zigzag his way across 1,200 miles through Kenya and Tanzania. The journey proves a challenge, with large sections of the railways relics from colonial days. Boarding a vintage steam locomotive built in Glasgow, Griff begins his journey on the high plateau of south west Kenya. Built by the British, this railway became the backbone of a colony and Griff visits a cattle ranch established by an English aristocrat a century ago. The climate of the Kenyan highlands is pleasant enough for Griff to go for a run, and he meets two young athletes who are aiming to compete in major international competitions. In Nairobi, he finds the very railway carriage which was the scene of one of the country’s most gruesome tales – the man-eating lions of Tsavo.

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