Poetry Everywhere!
The Odyssey, Robert Burns, and Rob Auton filling up my week
Here is my single resolution for 2026.
I will write six episodes of ‘The Troupe’ by the end of this year
But you might not hear much about that for a while…and it might now be a novel first.
Since the last post, I’ve been away in London for a work trip, and am currently on our summer holiday to Dumfries for Spectacular Jousting Part 2, and back for a third time to Center Parcs at Whinfell Forest. So, no new writing, but enough to be inspired by regardless. And a lot of it is poetry related!
Fancy Falls This Week
Tuesday - Ann Droid Eps 4-6 (iPlayer)
This was a disappointment. I keep saying to friends and family that there’s a much brighter, funnier and sillier sitcom struggling to get out of this one. It’s hampered by dislikeable characters, who I guess are attempting to be “realistic” and that’s why they’re pretty horrible, but I don’t want to see mean people being mean. Certainly not the main regulars (Michael the son and his wife Renee).
If there was more of a focus on Sue and her charity shop friends, or her son Michael was well-meaning but too busy with other commitments to care for his mum, it would be a sitcom that could run for many series.
I think I’m really done with cringe as the main mode for a comedy.
Wednesday - Train to London
I’m on the platform in Edinburgh, awaiting my train in 15 minutes. I had a lovely drop off and send off from TTW and TTD, bought a reasonable lunch with snacks for both ways and am waiting to see how busy and hot the train will be. It’s never easy to work on the train, but I usually get something done.
Wednesday - Hotel Bar
I’m sitting in the hotel bar for the first time, despite having stayed here three times before. I have been in the restaurant for dinner then headed out to Foyles or the theatre or the cinema, but tonight I’m catching up with an old friend, and he suggested we meet here. I imagine we’ll head somewhere else soon, but it really feels like I’m on a work trip when I’m sitting alone in the hotel bar.
[Update After the Catch Up] - A brilliant time finding out about all the exciting things going on, and a great dissection of a possible future for fixing the broken world of TV comedy. I’m actually genuinely excited for writing comedy again after this evening. And I had a delicious steak and a free ice cream in Flat Iron. Wonderful.
Paraphrased quote of the evening “When watching comedy, we have to remember that we are drug addicts, so immune to the laughter high that we can forget what is funny or not”
Thursday - Nerves
No matter how many times I run the meeting I’m in London for, I always wake up feeling a little nervous in the morning. I’m sure it’s a good thing to get the adrenaline flowing, but I was feeling happy and confident last night!
The King bed to sleep in was nice though...
Thursday - The Odyssey (in cinemas now)
It was the right thing to do, on a night alone in London to go and see the Odyssey on the biggest screen possible. IMAX was not possible as it was completely sold out at the BFI, Odeon and Cineworld, so the Vue Epic screen was the best (only) bet.
But I think I’ve outgrown Christopher Nolan. The film was beautifully put together and with solid performances, but never gave me the soaring feeling of my favourite of his previous films. It’s all a bit straightforward and expected... Little humour, very self-serious and no depth of feeling or character that I could latch on to. I felt exactly the same with all of the trailers we were served tonight too - gritty, grim and dark and I can’t muster the energy to care, or remember what they were for. That’s a personal taste obviously.
But as spectacle, The Odyssey is pretty great. It was obnoxiously loud at points though. A solid 3/5 for me, just like the last film I saw at Vue West End, Naked Gun, but for very different reasons.
Friday - Star Trek: Strange New Worlds S4 Ep1: Valles Mineris (Paramount+)
10pm and I’ve done as much packing and tidying as I’m able before we head off on an actual holiday for all three of us tomorrow!
It’s this season opener then bed, so I hope it’s good!
[Update] - It was good! The story and concept ties in nicely to themes of inevitability and destiny that the show sometimes remembers to be about, and the commander of the new species was very nicely played. The away team dialogue left a lot to be desired, and I worry it’s because the female characters are rather poorly drawn... But I’m hooked back in, by an absorbing episode that felt like proper Star Trek to me.
Saturday - First Day of Summer Holiday
We’re in a Premier Inn Family Room, watching some My Little Pony with the curtains drawn at 8.15pm. I am not opposed to this quiet time of reading and maybe some TV on a headphoned laptop as imposed by the one room situation.
We’ve had a brilliant trip over to Dumfries today, the cafe stop I found worked out beautifully (The Wee Crook Cafe just outside Tweedsmuir) and we did four museum trails in one day around Dumfries itself. The contrast between the fascinating history and kindness of all the museum staff, and the rundown buildings and even more run-down people we’ve seen populating the centre is vast, and sad. Hopefully there’s a route to regeneration for this potentially wonderful historic town.
One bright spot was the amazing Ukrainian Bakery we read an article about, and made a beeline for. The rainbow and raspberry mini-cake for the Televigion Daughter disappeared in its entirety with no morsels for parents, but I enjoyed my cheese and honey swirl, and later the apple and kiwi cake pictured below.
We would have purchased multiple loaves of their fascinating and delicious sounding bread, had we not been hotel bound.
Saturday - Spectacular Jousting Part 2
After the tease of Lady Sophia joining in the Jousting at the end of the event at Linlithgow, we decided to extend our Center Parcs trip backwards over the weekend to see part 2 at Caerlaverock Castle.
[Update] - A better event because it was a little less crowded, and less hectic for visitors, staff and re-enacters. It’s a wonderful place to spend some time, if only because it attracts those of a nerdy disposition, and I feel very much at home.
Sunday - Podcast Nights
In the darkened hotel room tonight my eyes got too tired for the Kindle, so I moved on to podcasts.
Rob Auton on The Adam Buxton Podcast - A name I know well from many Fringe posters, reviews and awards, but I didn’t know his shows or material. I love his ability to see and describe the world slightly askance, and his natural wit. And also the inspiring chat about making the things you want to see1. His website has a recording of the full show Time, which I’d have watched in full, if not for the previously mentioned eyes.
Olivia Wilde on The Louis Theroux Podcast - A woman I know as the director of the excellent film Booksmart first, as an actor in House second, or maybe third after whatever the media furore about her second film Don’t Worry Darling was.... She seems smart and funny, with some great perspectives on long term relationships (which her new film The Invite is all about) and a real love for Oscar Wilde.
Monday - Center Parcs Begins
We’re off to leg two of our summer holiday, Center Parcs with the Televigion Daughter’s cousin’s, auntie and grandparents. It will be fun to be back, our third time in a few short years.
[Update] I’m sat in our lodge living room, with bedtime going on across the hall, and the calm of a forest just outside the patio doors. It’s serene and relaxing. I described it as Disneyland for nature earlier on, and I think that’s a good description (that I’ve probably stolen from somewhere).
Footnotes
I think I’m so dissatisfied with a lot of my TV and film watching just now as I want to see my own stuff!
I really enjoyed Ann Droid, James. Thought I might find it cringey, but was quickly won over. Yes, the son is a bit of a tit, but it fits with the premise of fallible humans who might need more help than they care to admit. It’s not perfect, but I found it funny and touching.