Girls Aloud - violence and saxondale

Well, Girls Aloud finaléed a fantastic day yesterday. We had an early dinner on the quayside of Wells-next-the-Sea before going to Holkham Hall and queuing for a couple of hours (to ensure a suitably proximate viewing position). We enjoyed some fantastically childish banter with the hoards of 7-year old fans over who was truly the greatest fan of Nadine et al!

There was one moment, during the concert itself, of particular suprise. A man, holding his young daughter in his arms, moved a chair slightly to allow a young lad to stand next to him andf enable him a better view. The owner of the moved chair (a woman in her 30's with 3 young children) took perculiar umbridge to the furniture rearrangements and proceeded to punch the man repeatedly in the face (with screams cascading in from the associated - now hysterically crying - children of both parties). The man made absolutely no defence of himself nor did he exact any kind of retaliation. The woman was eventually dragged away from the scene [that she'd created!] and took her position atop the chair dancing with a provocative and contumelious attitude over her behaviour.

The whole episode was disgusting - for so many reasons. Firstly, the obvious impact it had on the children that wiotnessed (and suffered it) - especially the offspring of the two parties. Secondly, the fact that the woman thought her unprovoked and unrelenting tirade of jabs was what was necessary and, perhaps worse, that she went on to revel in her post-fight spotlight like she had, in some way, victored when all around scowled in pure disbelief. Thirdly - and what pesters me most - that something like this can even happen. I accept (and appreciate enormously) my sheltered, country-life upbringing which is perhaps why I found the occurence so incredible. But, it saddens me to think that there are people who would not find such and incident unbelievable - whether because of their own acceptable moral boundaries or because of their social structing which has eroded their levels of expectation of their 'fellow man'.

Anyway, I navigated my way out of the "die-hard fans's nucleus" and headed sideways for air and a better view of the stage. Thankfully, I stumbled past a collection of police officers, informed them of the afore-mentioned dispicable events and left them to do what was necessary of them. There was something strangely satisfying about watching the police drag the woman from the crowd as the fireworks crescendoed in the clear, dark Norfolk sky..

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BBC2 aired Steve Coogan's second installment of saxondale on Thursday evening. This series seems to cling-on to the same sort of 'scoring topics' as the first - Magz's larger-lady size, Tommy's past haunting (and often, dominating) his present, the 'Stang etc.. However, one brilliant improvement is that of Tommy Saxondale's conscientious neighbour, Jonathon - played by the the very talented Darren Boyd. His character is executed with perfection and really has 'made' the first two episodes for me.

While Saxondale is never going to be true comedy gold - it's certainly very much better than the current dross* that infects most of the BBCs comedy schedules.

By dross, I mean 2 pints of lager, Goodness gracious, Ruddy hell, it's Harry and Paul etc. Most of BBCs comedy output is saved by the talent that is; Caroline Aherne, Steve Coogan and Ricky Gervais.

Girls Aloud 1 day and counting..

Well, my teeth/gums are slowly getting better and the pain is either subsiding or I am simply acclimatising to it. The left side of my face does currently look like some sort of hamster harbouring food but I'm hoping that will soon recede.

I'm filled with unashamed childish excitement about tomorrow's trip to Holkham Hall, Norfolk to see 'the magnificent' Girls Aloud! I've managed to conceal my closet hankering to see the minxy quintet behind the fact that I bought the tickets as a present for a friend..

Inserted is an image of the glorious Nadine Coyle who is revered the world over for her incredible singing talent - Or so I'm told.. ;-) © Whoever took it, 2007.

Dental pain and Rhys Jones

Ok, well.. teeth are all done! After a few hours 'umming and arring' about whether or not the anaesthetist and surgeon were happy to operate, they eventually did it. My mouth is currently quite painful, but for the long term I suspect it's for the best. My stubborn reluctance to take medication for anything means I'll bear the pain until it subsides.

It got me thinking while I was in the hospital - elective surgery is a funny thing. A ward full of bright-eyed folk off the street; sitting around, chatting and joking. They get wandered down to theatre and, 30 minutes later, arrive back looking battered and bruised. Mouthes stuffed with cottonwool wads, blood trickling down their semi-numb chins and a weary and confused look on their barely-awake faces!

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Excuse me for changing the tone, slightly, but I thought I'd mention something that has played on my mind. The tragic story of the shooting Rhys Jones has, obviously, heavily populated the press in the past few days. What sits very uncomfortably with me, however, was the attendance of Rhys' parents - as guests of honour - to Goodison Park for the Everton home game on Saturday. What has happened to them in the past week is incomprehensible and I can't help but feel that visiting a football stadium of 35,000 - who applauded their 11-year old son for a minute less than 1 week after his untimely death - seemed horribly out of place.

I don't suggest, for a minute, that I know the best way for parents to greive and rehabilitate after the tragic death of a child, but I'm certain this wasn't it. I'm sure that as the police and media frenzies that surround the Jones family subside, the parents will be left with the peace and space to deal with things 'more naturally'.

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Back onto a happier note - the sun is out again today and, as a devout worshipper, I shall be enjoying every second of it!