Has anyone else yet got into The Wire?

Hi there Mem Bookers - an an early happy new year t'y'all...

Anyways, I was wondering if anyone else has got into The Wire yet?

It was only shown on an obscure Sky channel - FX - but it has become such a word of mouth classic that I decided to invest in series one after reading about the fifth major national newspaper article saying it was the 'best TV programme ever'. Everyone has been lauding it (including Irvine Welsh, the Trainspotter author) so I thought I'd better check it out myself as I love losing myself in long running box sets...

And, folks, all the hype is worth it. It is brilliant. Utterly brilliant. As an example on Amazon the fourth series (which I am ploughing through) had about 35 reviews the last time I checked and ALL 35 have given it five stars. That never happens.

But once you watch it you know why - because once you watch it you are hooked.

It is basically all about drug dealing in Baltimore and is completley authentic in terms of the language etc. It takes a while to get to grips with that street lingo (most unlike Bath I can tell you), the fact that in some shows not much happens (it is all about character and subtle plot developments) and the bewildering amount of different people involved. It is also refreshingly 'neutral' - not all the police and politicians are good and not all the drug dealers are bad.

Race is often an issue which is ironic because there is simply nothing 'black and white' about the characters - The Wire doesn't do easy stereotypes and isn't very PC.

It is brilliant, classic, unforgettable, original TV. And nothing comes close - no, not even Terry and June.

Go buy!

You (didn't) read it here first!

Boxing Day

Who's coming out? I am!

Mx

Nope. I have no idea what you're on about

Thought I'd start a list of things where everyone knows what's meant, but wait, hang on a minute, no I don't know what you mean. Atcherly.

1. The Father The Son and the Holy Ghost.

The Holy what now? Is the holy ghost in the bible or did some church make it up later on? And what is it? What does it do? Don't assume we know.

2. Stewed coffee.

'Oh that coffee's been on for ages, it tastes horrible'. Nope, I have no idea what you're on about, if coffee's still hot it's still good. In fact when it's cold it's still good sometimes. There must theoretically be a point where, if you keep ladling new coffee on top of old coffee grounds in a cafetiere, it would eventually be undrinkable. But, for me, that'd only be when the mold sets in.

3.  Garlic breath.

Oh grow up. Does this even exist? Or is it a remnant of early 70s Brits abroad eating their filthy muck.

Tories Grooming Senior Civil Servants

Wel Mas? Any "Groomed" you? Yuk!

What did you nick from "woolies"?

Strangley we used to nick darts, and sell them to the trade in post. I saw the first ever space shuttle launch in woolies and played very first video game, pong.

I got a work blog now...

We have gone all bloggy at work to try and enter the blogosphere so I have used this fine template to set myself up for a work one.

Should you remotely care about my musings on Bath etc my blog is at..

samholliday.blogspot.com

The big winners following the PBR

Sign makers selling 97 1/2p signs to pound shops in Tamworth. And, er... no one else. Fiscal policy is not what it was when I was a lad.