Back to the Broch

Awoke a little earlier this morning - not too bad considering - it seems like the jet lag from one week on the East coast is a lot less than that after 3 weeks on the West Coast - the three hours time difference helps as does the slightly shorter time in the air. Mind you, I'm still constantly dozing in front of the TV - I was trying to catch up with the stuff that had been recorded on Sky + in my absence, but missed half of it!

I haven't had a response from the villa owner yet - hope this isn't more bad news! We need to get sorted soon.

Nothing much else to add other than I forgot to mention that I saw Mamma Mia on the plane on the way home - good fun - light and frivolous - looks just like a stage show filmed, which is what it is after all. Meryl Streep was excellent however and the music is great - uplifting stuff - just the job to help shorten the journey. Pierce Brosnan is truly awful, however - and Julie Walters was fine, albeit playing her usual role.

Today's list - you've been missing them, haven't you? - top pop music shows on TV:

1) Ready, Steady, Go - innovative, ground breaking - set the template and came at a great time, synchronising with the Merseybeat and Thames Valley booms, when British groups re-exported to USA revamped versions of the original music of the American rhythm and blues stars, who, until then, were virtually ignored in their own country.

2) Top of the Pops - it's gone now - deservedly - it was but a shadow of its former self, but, in its early days it was compulsive viewing for the whole nation, allowing parents to further develop their skills in such phrases as "who's that man with the girl's hair?", "turn off that racket" etc etc. In fact, for many years, it was the only way to see popular music on TV - getting on TOTP was a guaranteed way of breaking a new band.

3) Old Grey Whistle Test - often now seen on BBC Four and part of the ongoing nostalgia feast that every generation does - but don't believe everything you may have heard about it. In its day, it was definitely cultish - i.e. it could be pretty obscure and difficult viewing at times. In fact, you could liken OGWT in many ways to Monty Python - at its best, it was wonderful, but at times it was definitely cringe-worthy. Fortunately, we only ever seem to see (and remember) the good bits.

4) Later with Jools Holland - notice how I seem to have skipped a few decades? - I guess that tells you all you need to know about my opinion of music TV in recent years.