Pika Chuuuuuuu

Ok, I am sorry, I admit it – I downloaded my version of the app yesterday.  Tried playing but their servers were too busy to register me so had my first game today, and would you believe it, there was a damn Pokemon on the aft deck !!

I soon finished that one off and plan a walk around Palma tomorrow morning to look for more of the little critters.  Most likely finishing up at Cappuchinos where a very juicy slice of carrot cake will be waiting for me.

I had a little trip back in blighty the other weekend.  One thing I was keen to do was catch up with Top Gear to see if it was as bad as all the media were saying.  Now let me get my initial bias out of the way immediately – I think Chris Evans is an annoying little gob shite, never have liked him, never will.

Armed with my prejudice, I watched my first show – it also happened to be the last in their current series. Something struck me immediately.  I had watched Clarkson, May and Hammond and gradually grown bored with their predictable presenting and delivery style.  What I hadn’t bargained for was just how scripted Top Gear was.  The new guys were delivering the same lines with the same emphasis, same facial expressions, pauses, body language etc etc as the old three did.  That surprised and saddened me.  I was sad because I thought that the style that the old presenters worked in, was their own personal style – apparently not.  The BBC had hoodwinked me.

Top Gear had grown long in the tooth a long time ago.  The best bits, the only bits really worth watching were the specials – watching those 3 old guys squirming in the real world, would always be funny.  So for me, when it ended, it was just inevitable really.  The new guys, you can easily match up with the old 3 – Clarkson/Evans, Le Blanc/Captain Slow, Hammond/Reid.

Sabine was absolutely first class, especially when she looked into that Mini rally car at Le Blanc and said ‘look at the fat American’.

I wonder if anyone has told Chris Evans that pixie boots went out of fashion in the 80’s?

So now we wait for the new offering from the old stable.  If they have been smart, they will have changed the format.  The fact that they will present from a different place each time makes me think they have been shrewd and may even pull it off.  As for the old Top Gear, drop an axe on it – Le Blanc is no good as a front man and that style is now old hat – reinvent or bury.

Ok, running – or lack of it.  Still suffering from a knee injury that means I haven’t ran for over a month now.  Making up for that with cycling every day but climbing a mountain is tough in 31º heat, even worse in direct sunlight.  Maybe tomorrows Pokemon hunt will help entertain me or better still, a snorkel session at one of the local beaches could be good.  One thing I know for sure – the carrot cake will be sublime.

Apart from that – we are almost done here in Palma, returning to the South of France next month.