Halloween @ theDogs!

At the Peterborough Greyhound Stadium (my place of work) we all dressed up for Halloween.

More photos from this set can be found at www.gordon-valentine.com/zenphoto/england/peterboroughgreyhounds/halloween-2014/

UK heritage railways list : updated 27-Oct-2014

Victoria Bridge, Severn Valley RailwayThat’s me just added another line to my UK heritage railways list. This time I’ve added the Severn Valley Railway to the list!

Victoria Bridge, Severn Valley Railway
Victoria Bridge, Severn Valley Railway

Now to getting thinking what line, I should do next! Got any recommends? Then let me know!

Severn Valley Railway photos : 26-Oct-2014

That’s yet another UK Heritage railway line off my list! This time it’s the Severn Valley Railway.

Here are some photos from yet another great day out! Was hoping to get more, but by the time we walked from Arley Station to Bewdley Station it was fully dark! But I will be back! Think, I will wait till next year. When we have more hours of day light!

More photos from this set can be found at www.gordon-valentine.com/zenphoto/days-out/26-10-2014/

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 25/10/2014

Speed with Guy Martin - 26-10-2014 (YouView app)Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 8:20pm to 9:05pm | Saturday 25th October 2014)

One morning in every city and town in the world, the human race wakes up to face the most surprising invasion yet. Everywhere, in every land, a forest has grown overnight and taken back the Earth. It doesn’t take the Doctor long to discover that the final days of humanity have arrived.

Speed with Guy Martin (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 26th October 2014)

Speed junkie, motorcycle racer and lorry mechanic Guy Martin loves pushing the boundaries of speed in search of a buzz. He returns with a second series of Speed with Guy Martin, taking on four new speed-based challenges. From racing a motorbike at altitude to trying to break the speed record for a hovercraft, Guy wants to find out what makes things go fast by getting his hands dirty in a range of unique engineering projects.

Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands (BBC 1 Scotland/HD | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 27th October 2014)

Paul Murton sets out to experience island life on the myriad of islands that lie off the Scottish coast. In this final episode, he visits the ‘Atlantic Twin’ islands of Coll and Tiree. Paul begins his journey on Coll, where he meets the charismatic owner of Breachacha Castle, who runs a charity on the island encouraging young volunteers to work there. Paul then heads for Tiree, which boasts one of the best sunshine records in the UK but is also one of the stormiest places in Europe. Paul discovers some of the interesting ways in which resourceful locals harness the island’s assets, before taking a boat trip out to the lighthouse on the rocky outcrop of Skerryvore.

Waterloo Road (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 29th October 2014)

Rhiannon takes pride in the virtual-baby project, but Darren can’t understand why she is taking it so seriously. Carol spots an opportunity to exploit the school when she fakes an injury, but will Vaughan see through her scheming ways?

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 29th October 2014)

Kevin McCloud returns to a unique Japanese-Welsh fusion home in the Wye Valley, completely transformed from a damp old forester’s house in 2013. Tamayo Hussey has missed Japan ever since she moved to the UK 15 years ago with her husband Nigel. To stave off the homesickness they decided to transform a tired old 60s forester’s lodge into a one-of-a-kind Japanese house – complete with Japanese roof bath, tatami room and paper sliding walls. Kevin finds out how this somewhat improvised building weathered one of the wettest winters on record and if it has brought the calm and tranquillity Tamayo remembers from her childhood in Japan to Wales.

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 30th October 2014)

George meets the man trying to build the first UFO-styled pre-fabricated Futuro house seen in this country for half a century, but with the kit in 16 pieces, he struggles to bring this retro vision of the future back to life. George meets a woman trying to build a magical garden room using techniques hundreds of years old, including earth, sand, straw and even human hair. George’s Italian road trip takes him to a traditional old village, where he discovers the most modern of houses with an extraordinary design featuring a floating swimming pool. And, as George and Will get down to work on their wilderness retreat, there’s a close shave for George as a 50-year-old oak is felled a little bit too close for comfort.

Underground Britain (Channel 5 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 30th October 2014)

Documentary series in which engineer Rob Bell explores the subterranean world beneath our feet. In this episode, Rob explores beneath the green and pleasant land of central England from Mansfield to Buckinghamshire, with a diversion over to East Anglia. Under the city of Nottingham Rob explores the largest system of man-made caves in the country, before uncovering a bloody secret below a humble back garden. In Norfolk he learns about Britain’s first industry that was established 5,000 years ago and he also explores an 18th Century den of debauchery below ground level in Buckhamshire.

Life Story (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 30th October 2014)

David Attenborough explores how animals attempt to overcome the challenges that face them at each of the six crucial stages of life as they strive towards ultimate success – passing on their genes. This episode follows animals as they grow up in the adult world, developing new skills and learning how to survive on their own. A tiger cub grows up in a dangerous society. She needs the support of both parents if she is to become an independent adult, but the appearance of a rival to her father may change everything. The veined octopus spends almost all of its time feeding as it races towards adulthood, but this leaves it exposed to predators. In order to protect itself it searches for bits of discarded coconut shell that fit neatly together. Then it uses them as protective armor. A pair of young cheetah siblings are in a race against starvation. They can only survive by working together to bring down big prey for the first time – an impala weighing more than both cheetahs put together.

Have I Got News for You (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 31st October 2014)

The popular satirical news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Damian Lewis and guest panellists Andy Hamilton and Roisin Conaty.

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

YouView adds BBC connected red button

At long last the UK connected TV platform YouView has added the BBC’s Connected Red Button service. Which means that viewers will also be able to access an increased choice of video and streaming content across news, sport and weather by pressing the red button (on BBC SD channels only) on their YouView remote control while watching BBC TV channels.

Also means when major sporting and music events are running, the red button is also your window onto all the live streams that aren’t being broadcast on any of the BBC’s traditional channels.

Just wish it had been ready in time for the Glasgow 2014 Games! But hey, it’s here at long last! 🙂

Here are some screen dumps of the BBC’s Connected Red Button service.

BBC connected red button p100

BBC connected red button - news

BBC connected red button - weather

More information can be found at www.youview.com/news/2014/10/23/youview-adds-new-bbc-iplayer-and-bbc-connected-red-button-to-line-up/.

Ben Swift photo group on flickr

I am sure that many of you will know, I am big fan of Ben Swift, who is a professional cyclist that rides for Team Sky. So back in April 2009, I set up a flickr photo group. Check it out at www.flickr.com/groups/ben-swift/.

ben-swift-flickr

Irn-Bru photo group on flickr

Got bored this evening! So made a photo group on flickr for my favourite drink, Irn-Bru!! Right now it’s only got 10 photos, but I am sure that will change very fast indeed! Check it out at www.flickr.com/groups/irn-bru/.

irn-bru-flickr

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 18/10/2014

Gunpowder 5/11: The Greatest Terror Plot (YouView app)Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 8:25pm to 9:10pm | Saturday 18th October 2014)

Separated from the Doctor, Clara discovers a new menace from another dimension. But how do you hide when even the walls are no protection? With people to save and the Doctor trapped, Clara goes against an enemy that exists beyond human perception.

Casualty (BBC 1/HD | 9:10pm to 10:00pm | Saturday 18th October 2014)

A man dies from a mysterious injury, leaving Connie wondering whether she missed something, and Cal and Ethan discover a rare virus that connects two patients.

Bad Education (BBC 3/HD | 10:00pm to 10:30pm | Tuesday 21st October 2014)

It is the summer term and Alfie Wickers is back as the self-styled maverick of Abbey Grove. With exams over it’s careers advice day for Form K, but it is Alfie who makes the biggest decision of all when he realises he can’t go on teaching without his beloved class and quits Abbey Grove. Fraser is devastated to lose his best friend and takes the news badly. Alfie reveals he has landed himself a job at the Playstation factory and cannot be tempted back despite Gulliver and his class begging him to return. But will the truth about Alfie’s new job be exposed and will they manage to convince him to return to Abbey Grove? And who will be crowned prom king and queen?

Waterloo Road (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 22nd October 2014)

Nicola Stephenson, Neil Pearson, Max Bowden, Zebb Dempster, Leo Flanagan, Sammy Oliver. School-based drama. It’s the launch of Waterloo Road’s big community initiative and Vaughan is desperate for the day to go without a hitch. But with Lisa and Shaznay causing mischief and tensions with George at boiling point, can the new head pull it off?

Gunpowder 5/11: The Greatest Terror Plot (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 22nd October 2014)

For the first time, the inner secrets of the gunpowder plotters are dramatised using the actual words of their most senior captured leader Thomas Wintour, Guy Fawkes and state interrogators investigating the 18-month conspiracy in which a family circle of militant Catholic gentlemen tried to blow up King and Parliament. Wintour’s insider account of this epic tale of faith, fanaticism, persecution and betrayal is told in detail, from his recruitment of both Fawkes and his own brother, to his capture in a dramatic siege and bloody shoot out on November 8th. The hopes, fears and plans for a Midlands rebellion, royal kidnap, the plotters’ penetration of the King’s bodyguard and Fawkes’ attendance, sword in hand, at a wedding attended by the King in December 1604 are shown, as well as a dramatisation of the thrilling, forgotten story of the final days after 5/11 as the conspirators are hunted down and then face the terrible punishments reserved for traitors.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 22nd October 2014)

Kevin McCloud returns to an astonishing restoration project in the heart of France. Back in 2003, when Denise Daniel and Doug Ibbs gave up everything in the UK to start a new life in a remote part of central France, they couldn’t have known what was ahead of them. Most people would have regretted falling in love with a massive, dilapidated manor house with just four crumbling walls and half a roof, but not Doug and Deni. This impressive, extraordinary and utterly determined couple rolled up their sleeves and slogged away day and night, doing everything themselves, year after year, until slowly but surely they created a magnificent edifice out of the ruins they bought off the internet. It’s now the 70th anniversary of the destruction of the original 19th century manor house by the German army and the house is finally finished. Kevin returns to find out how Denise and Doug have got on, and how they’ve written the next chapter for a house with a remarkable history.

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 23rd October 2014)

The series celebrating ingenious and eccentric small builds returns. In this opening episode, George meets a man who bought the wreck of a £20 million private jet for just £4,000 and plans to transform it into the ultimate crash pad for him and his wife. There’s also a gypsy tattoo artist who swapped his truck for an old railway carriage, which he hopes to turn into a home for him and his two children for only £7000. George teams up once again with master craftsman Will Hardie to hand build a woodland retreat for less than the price of a family holiday. And he heads to Italy to see some incredible spaces, starting with one so high up in the mountains that it’s only accessible by helicopter and features one of the best views in the world.

Have I Got News for You (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 24th October 2014)

The popular satirical news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Victoria Coren Mitchell and panellists including Katherine Ryan.

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