Hi Eddy.:+)))))))))))))))))

Yes, can't wait, another 3 weeks of something to watch each night.

And the Strictly results, wonder why the Sundays results show is shown as if it's filmed on Sunday when everyone knows it's filmed Saturday after the main show.

Good evening everyone.


Hi Hicky.

I have no idea why it is that they continue with this pretence. It really is very silly.

I so agree, this pretence with Strictly and the results show gets to me every single week! It's pathetic, I know it's going to happen but listening to Tess - who I don't like anyway - talking about 'last night', annoys me every time! I like to see the pro dancers but I always look on DS on Saturday night to see who's gone home so I FF through most of the rest.

IACGMOOH is another animal all together, I love Ant and Dec so really looking forward to it.

Hi Eddy, for people to think that all the audience and the makeup team come back Sunday for a few minutes is crazy, it's ok recording it for Sunday but whats the point in pretending and talking about yesterday and tomorrow, some even have to think before they say something.


Hi JoJo, You would think the BBC would be telling the truth instead of trying to kid the public.

Yes, wait for this every year, wish it was twice a year like CBB.
I must admit, i do admire them, although a lot of the stuff i wouldn't mind doing, but my stomach wouldn't let me eat a lot of what they do.

I don't like to see them all losing a few stone during their time, that can't really be good for them even if it is to force them to do the trials.

This really made me chuckle, Eddy. You can tell you are a bit tiddly. It sounds like you had a great time.


I cant bear Tess. I dont know why, because she seems perfectly pleasant.

I was looking forward to it only to find myself too tired to watch it so it will have to wait until morning.

I bet you would do better than most on the eating trials, Hicky.

Good Morning Everyone.:+))))))))))))))

Warmer today, 13c here but heavy cloud, no wind.

Enjoyed the weekend TV, funny how we get nothing for ages then all the programs come at once.
Strictly, Planet Earth 2, X-Factor, the Jungle, Formula 1 Brazil, Citizen Khan.

Hi Honey.:+))))))))))))))))

do you think it's a female thing, M/H can't stand her either, i can't see why you don't like her, what has she done wrong?

I so love watching the Jungle, i do admire them for going in.

I do like all sorts of food, but most of what i eat is bought in the shops, dome of what they eat on the show would amaze me if what in the local food hall.

I have no idea why I dont like her much. It is completely irrational. Normally there is a reason, even if flimsy, but not in this case.
I cant stand Gregg Wallace either. Again, for no reason at all.

I have only just got back from an all day walk. (or lurch ) I have really overdone it and can barely move.
Mind you, it would have been much easier if i hadnt filled the walking trolley thing with heavy shopping. It was like pushing a tank home!

Did you see that St John's market is opening again? They said its a "soft opening" because not all the stalls are there.
I wonder if this means that they are charging so much for the stalls nobody wants them?

Evening guys - quite mild here too today, no frost.

Honey I have no idea why I don't like Tess, as you say she seems pleasant enough but I just can't take to her and she sets my teeth on edge.

I'm the same with Carol Vorderman although I find her very smug and she was very vocal when they ousted her from Countdown, so there's a slight reason for my dislike of her. Good job none of them knows me! I don't know what she's done to her face, especially her cheekbones, but she doesn't look good. If she loses weight in the jungle she'll look even more odd

Lovely moon tonight although there must be some cloud, it's not as good as some pics I've seen.

I dont think Carol was ousted from Countdown was she I am sure she quit as try as she did, it wasnt the same (for her) without Richard and so decided to make a clean break, she certainly hasnt looked back since

I dont know what Carol Vorderman was thinking. She was stunningly beautiful before she had the pillows in her face or whatever it is. She is still beautiful of course, but now she looks like everyone else on tv.


I doubt she can look back, Barra. Her face doesn't seem very flexible!

Ouch !

I don’t mind Tess, I like Claudia but I cannot stand Carol Vordeman. Another presenter I loathe is Lorraine Kelly – I don’t like simpering squeakers.

Hello Gemo.:+))))))))))))))

How the heck are you, haven't seen you for so long, i was hoping something serious hadn't happened, so pleased to see you, have you away taking pictures, exploying some far away country or what?

Claudia is the Hardy from Laurel &.

Are you watching the new Jungle show?

I have been being blind so no traveling at all, in fact no leaving the house on my own.


A year ago my retina tore in my only working eye when I was in Tenerife… and then it detached after I got home. That was fixed but the procedure (vitrectomy) led to a rapidly developing cataract. That was fixed last month and I am no long-sighted and not short-sighted. Very impressed with the NHS – Mr G emailed my surgeon a month before my check up for the progress of the cataract was due, he saw me a week later and I had my operation two weeks after that (it takes two weeks to have the replacement lens made).

I went to Malta last month – it was booked because I know it’s not very scenic but they have excellent food. I didn’t expect to be able to see much but I could and here are my pictures from the trip.

I am watching the jungle show. No opinions yet.

Excellent pics Gemo, glad your eye is better!

It is possible for clouding to happen behind the new lens but that is just a quick fix with a laser.

Good Morning Everyone.:+))))))))))))))))

Not cold today, sun and rain showers with some light wind.


Wow, Gemo, you have been through it haven't you?

So glad to see you are so much better, that must have been such a traumatic experience for you.

And to have a holiday in Malta was a lovely end to you eye problems, an a holiday with fantastic food is my dream as well but never heard of anyone going for food.
I'll look through your pictures when i post this, i can't imagine them not being up to your very high standard.

Good afternoon everyone.

Rather nice today, dry and sunny. Not too cold at 14c. The sort of autumn day that I love.

Because I thought I wouldn’t be able to see we thought it would be good to enjoy a different sense. The food was delicious but the portions far too big. Several times we were asked if we didn’t enjoy it which we had done but couldn’t get near to finishing the enormous platefuls – we ate all the protein and left the carbs. Different restaurant each night and different dish. It would have been quite cheap too if the exchange rate wasn’t so rubbish. This is where we had our first meal.

Hi Eddy, it was cool at 4pm the temperature dropped some but the wind didn't help.


Hi Gemo.:+)))))))))))))))

A lot of places give massive portions, i would have thought they would alter the portion size according to how much is returned uneaten, if thye asked you how the food was it seems they are not used to people leaving any, or not much anyway.
The eating place looks nice enough, couldn't find a menu, it seemed like a Burger place.

The pictures you took are lovely, so professional, really top quality, your eyes have changed looking at them anyway.

hope you will enjoy the Jungle,, they do seem a nice bunch this year, compared to last anyway.

They did do burgers but I didn’t have that.
I had: Roger Rabbit ......................................................... €15.50
Traditional Maltese rabbit stew, cooked in a red wine, vegetables & tomato sauce, served with fries
and Mr G had: Tagliolini Gamberi ................................................ €11.25
Prawns, garlic, cherry tomatoes, parsley & white wine sauce

(cut and pasted from a pdf of the menu – not easy to do a link to a menu).

A dish I’ve had in Maltese cooking is octopus or squid cooked slowly as a stew. It becomes totally different from the chewy rings and I shall try cooking it that way at home.

Many people seemed to have no trouble finishing the food, but the Maltese people were very large.

Thank you for the comments on my pictures. Because I don’t need to wear specs I can get closer to the viewfinder and compose better. All I could do when my sight was at its worst was get the light and dark bits in a pleasing shape.

Evening everyone

Gemo, I am so glad to hear that your eye is better.

Is that very likely to happen? I do hope not.

The burger looks nice, but im not keen on the chips in those baskets that are all the rage. They remind me of wastepaper bins and i keep thinking i have got old chewing gum on my chips.

I was accidentally slapped with a squid on Saturday by a fishmonger carrying it through the market.

Both my brother-in-law and his wife had their eyes done a few years ago. She had the clouding, he didn’t. The correction is not much more than the procedure used to measure the eye. I’m hoping it doesn’t happen but not worried by it. My surgeon knows that when this is sorted I want to get my right eye fixed – that will involve a corneal transplant. My son has the same condition (keratoconus) and has got hybrid lenses to fix it but I have asked three different experts if this would work for me and they all said no.

In Pike’s Place Market in Seattle they throw fish from stall to stall.

Hi Gemo, I like any food like that, couldn't see a food menu on that link so wasn't sure of what the selection was.

I like Octopus and squid, had them in a seafood tub from Costco and it was very nice, not sure how they had been cooked, i assume they were cooked anyway.

The way your eyes are now will be great as long as they stay the same for future missions.


Hi Honey.:+))))))))))))))

Not sure what the chips are in has to do with the chips, they only hold them after all.
Chewing gum on your chips, you are so funny.

Doesn't everyone get slapped with a squid walking through the market, or are you just the lucky one?

The octopus slow cooked in the red wine and tomato in the Maltese dish tastes more like a delicately textured meat than anything else. I got some frozen, stuffed squid from Farmfoods and I shall experiment.

I’m really enjoying my eyes now. I want to go back to places where I struggled before and have a good look round and I want to visit some museums because the labels were often difficult to read with my short sight