c4countdown

Started a new thread just in case anyone has a need to post anything of this ilk again in the future.

This is Michael's letter to Edge that we were discussing here.



(left it nice and big so you could read it Michael)

Haha, nice one. I should make it clear for anyone who didn't read the other thread that this letter was primarily an excuse to try and win a DS, which is the prize for the month's winning letter in Edge, and that I'm not actually so concerned about my ability to play computer games that I thought a letter to a computer game magazine would make a difference.

Edit: I think if you search google carefully enough you can find a bunch of my letters to the Observer Sports Monthly where I briefly had a hobby of writing in with suggestions to the lists of 10 they did each month.

Does anyone still have Kirk's trainspotting letter?.......

Paul Howe wrote:Does anyone still have Kirk's trainspotting letter?.......

Alas, that day has yet to come.

Oh dear god

Charlie Reams wrote:Alas, that day has yet to come.

Beautiful. How old were you when you wrote that Kirk?
B+ for a passionate argument. Took a few marks off for missing question marks.

Wait. What's wrong with Thermos flasks?

Michael Wallace wrote:Wait. What's wrong with Thermos flasks?

Nothing, Kirk would need something to keep weak lemon squash tepid!

Sue Sanders wrote:weak lemon squash

And what's wrong with anoraks?

Sue Sanders wrote:

Michael Wallace wrote:Wait. What's wrong with Thermos flasks?

Nothing, Kirk would need something to keep weak lemon squash tepid!

If you're referring to the preferred beverage of the King of Hobbies, Simon Quinlank, as played by The Actor Kevin Eldon, then in the interests of accuracy it should be pointed out that his flask contained weak lemon drink, not squash.

I was in the audience for the penultimate episode of series 2 of TMWRNJ (I think I said on another thread it was the final episode - I was lying). When they played in the VT of that week's Quinlank item and he mentioned the flask of weak lemon drink, the studio audience all cheered loudly - and Kevin Eldon, in a piece that was pre-recorded on location a couple of weeks before, paused, glared at the camera and yelled, "SHUT UP!". Brilliant.

Interesting bit of trivia: Quinlank had to be brought back for the second series of TMWRNJ at short notice because the planned regular item, in which the "real Rod Hull" character got killed in a different way each week, had to be scrapped (including much already filmed footage) when Rod Hull himself rather inconveniently fell off his roof and died.

Some pics I just dug out (I apologise for my imbecilic gurning in both these photos, but I was in the process of meeting my comedy heroes):



Me on the TMWRNJ set (I'm covering up the word "Almost" on my Almost famous T-shirt)



Cuddling up to the easy-on-the-eye (if small-faced) Trevor Lock.

Of course, I've been in the Daily Sport (cheers to Steve Graston for finding this and sending it to me and apologies for the large size, but the text becomes a bit illegible at a smaller size):

Lol at 'came came up' and WANKERED.

What upsets me is that when people in bobble hats who wear glasses, have a thermos flask and are potentially quite sad are mentioned to anyone, they think of trainspotting. This is not the case.

Gavin Chipper wrote:What upsets me is that when people in bobble hats who wear glasses, have a thermos flask and are potentially quite sad are mentioned to anyone, they think of trainspotting. This is not the case.

Ah yes, but you have run a website devoted to the television series Countdown, Gevin, and the same kind of people who get off on making fun of trainspotters would probably think that was just as "sad".

Matt Morrison wrote:

Charlie Reams wrote:Alas, that day has yet to come.

Beautiful. How old were you when you wrote that Kirk?
B+ for a passionate argument. Took a few marks off for missing question marks.

15 or 16. I remember getting Cs and Ds for my English coursework with my English teacher slagging me off so I basically wrote that and took it in to school and showed it to her and said it's amazing for someone who is getting Cs and Ds can get their letter published, so thanks for the B+ Matt!

One of the media articles out there on me involved the 'Scrabble expert got a D in English' line of attack (pre-Countdown appearances).

Most English teachers are rather useless in my experience, the relevant GCSEs were piss poor as well.


There's a lot of articles out there on me and Scrabble, but none that are interesting. Will be a few more out there in the next 2-3 weeks.

Craig Beevers wrote:One of the media articles out there on me involved the 'Scrabble expert got a D in English' line of attack (pre-Countdown appearances).

Most English teachers are rather useless in my experience, the relevant GCSEs were piss poor as well.


There's a lot of articles out there on me and Scrabble, but none that are interesting. Will be a few more out there in the next 2-3 weeks.

My English teacher when I was in Years 8 and 9 was utterly hopeless, he managed to turn a class of A-B pupils into C-D at best. I then got predicted a C-E for my English Language GCSE, showed up 35 minutes late for the exam, and still got a B.

Phil Reynolds wrote: If you're referring to the preferred beverage of the King of Hobbies, Simon Quinlank, as played by The Actor Kevin Eldon, then in the interests of accuracy it should be pointed out that his flask contained weak lemon drink, not squash.

Phil, you're right, of course. I can't believe that I could make a mistake over a portrayal by The Actor Kevin Eldon. Very curious (orange)

I was in the audience for TMWRNJ five days running at the Edinburgh festival when Rich and Stu used to auction tickets off each morning. One morning my husband and I each got in for 4p and got a complimentary copy of Moby Dick. The next morning we got in by offering back our copy of Moby Dick. Over the five days, we paid a total of £22.08 for the two of us to get in - our average made cruelly high by the stupidity of buying tickets for the first show we went to for full price at the box office.

Phil Reynolds wrote:

top drawer!

Derek Hazell wrote:

Gavin Chipper wrote:What upsets me is that when people in bobble hats who wear glasses, have a thermos flask and are potentially quite sad are mentioned to anyone, they think of trainspotting. This is not the case.

Ah yes, but you have run a website devoted to the television series Countdown, Gevin, and the same kind of people who get off on making fun of trainspotters would probably think that was just as "sad".

Trainspotting did have a useful serious side. I read that Ian Allen, the railway publisher, used lists of locomotive locations supplied by trainspotters in his magazines. The railway management also used them to find missing engines. Groups of young people would tour the Loco depots taking down engine numbers. They had permission and were escorted by a railwayman.

George Jenkins wrote:Groups of young people would tour the Loco depots.

They still do, but, alas, with spray paint instead of notebooks.

It still makes me cringe but 2:15 on this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e--w9xW05EY

Matthew Green wrote:It still makes me cringe but 2:15 on this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e--w9xW05EY

Jesus Matt. As soon as I loaded that up and saw the title I was like "ah please God let him just be in the audience, that's embarrassing enough, please don't let him ask a question...", cringey indeed. Congratulations though (??). The whole "this guy has asked a question, here he is, let's look at him but not actually let him ask the question out loud" format is pretty strange, but t'would have been even worse to hear you ask it.

I saw Sue (Kirk's fiancee) on Britain's Best Dish today! Showing the nation how to eat an oyster.

Kai Laddiman wrote: I saw Sue (Kirk's fiancee) on Britain's Best Dish today! Showing the nation how to eat an oyster.

Bloody hell - thanks Kai - I didn't know they'd used that as the F**kers didn't let my dish through!) My use of ** there is due to having met you and suffered a sense of responsiblity over swearing on the forum but who am I kidding? Like you don't know Fuckers!!!

For more on how I eat oysters go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR3btpU1DuQ and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r_U-XeFpZM. Sorry - it's not ladylike

Sue Sanders wrote:Like you don't know Fuckers!!!

Ah, but knowing it and seeing it being used by someone whose example may be followed are two different things.

Alec Rivers wrote:

Sue Sanders wrote:Like you don't know Fuckers!!!

Ah, but knowing it and seeing it being used by someone whose example may be followed are two different things.

The stuff Kai hears on an average day in the playground would make Matthew Green blush. The only reason I don't swear in front of kids is because their parents wouldn't like it. If someone can give me a decent reason for not swearing in front of kids that doesn't rely on appeals to tradition then I'll stop swearing on this forum. Actually I won't, but I'll at least respect you for coming up with a novel argument.

Ben Hunter wrote: The stuff Kai hears on an average day in the playground would make Matthew Green blush. The only reason I don't swear in front of kids is because their parents wouldn't like it. If someone can give me a decent reason for not swearing in front of kids that doesn't rely on appeals to tradition then I'll stop swearing on this forum. Actually I won't, but I'll at least respect you for coming up with a novel argument.

If kids don't know the word fucking then they can't try it. And thats, you're know, axiomatically a good thing.

Ben Hunter wrote:

Alec Rivers wrote:

Sue Sanders wrote:Like you don't know Fuckers!!!

Ah, but knowing it and seeing it being used by someone whose example may be followed are two different things.

The stuff Kai hears on an average day in the playground would make Matthew Green blush. The only reason I don't swear in front of kids is because their parents wouldn't like it. If someone can give me a decent reason for not swearing in front of kids that doesn't rely on appeals to tradition then I'll stop swearing on this forum. Actually I won't, but I'll at least respect you for coming up with a novel argument.

Hey, I've got a get-out. I actually SPOKE TO KAI'S MUM about it on Saturday and she's totally cool!

Charlie Reams wrote:

Ben Hunter wrote: The stuff Kai hears on an average day in the playground would make Matthew Green blush. The only reason I don't swear in front of kids is because their parents wouldn't like it. If someone can give me a decent reason for not swearing in front of kids that doesn't rely on appeals to tradition then I'll stop swearing on this forum. Actually I won't, but I'll at least respect you for coming up with a novel argument.

If kids don't know the word fucking then they can't try it. And thats, you're know, axiomatically a good thing.

I'm know and agree that's a good thing, but how many kids are actually aware of the definition of swear words? Few people I know tried buggery when they were kids, despite knowing the word.

Ben Hunter wrote:I'm know and agree that's a good thing, but how many kids are actually aware of the definition of swear words? Few people I know tried buggery when they were kids, despite knowing the word.

I was just being facetious. I would be equally interested to hear the argument you request.

Charlie Reams wrote:

Ben Hunter wrote:I'm know and agree that's a good thing, but how many kids are actually aware of the definition of swear words? Few people I know tried buggery when they were kids, despite knowing the word.

I was just being facetious.

I thought you might be you cheeky devil.

Ben Hunter wrote:

Alec Rivers wrote:Ah, but knowing it and seeing it being used by someone whose example may be followed are two different things.

The stuff Kai hears on an average day in the playground would make Matthew Green blush.

lol. I wasn't intending on starting a big discussion, tbh, but I would like to mention that my point was missed here. I'm sure Kai doesn't bat an eyelid when his peers overuse bad language, but to see respected adults (particularly those he looks up to) repeatedly doing it does little to encourage respect and decency. I think we have a duty to set a good example, that's all.

Kai Laddiman wrote:Discuss.

I've started a new topic because there are one or two interesting aspects of 'bad language' that haven't been covered.

Ben Hunter wrote:

Charlie Reams wrote:you're know

I'm know

I'm not sure if this counts as being in the media, since I wasn't one of those
interviewed, but you can just about spot me in the background of some BBC coverage
of the Mass Lobby of parliament I went to yesterday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFcuAt7oDiA

Towards the end I spotted myself on the coverage before the last speaker, about
1 min 50 secs in. Henry (my youngest - 12) is in front of me in denim shorts and
a red T shirt and I'm the large woman behind in a pink T-shirt and orange/purple/flowery
skirt (same one I was wearing at CoLei2 on Saturday). Fame at last, LOL!

I mentioned it to Kai and Naomi on Saturday - we were protesting about proposed
new legislation regarding Home Education.


Unbeknown to me, although I'd emailed him to say I was coming, my MP, Grant
Shapps, had already seen a group of Herts Home Edders with some other Herts Tory
MPs, so was too busy to see me. Someone from his office came down though, and
said that Grant is behind us, doesn't think the legislation will get through
anyway, and if it did, if the Conservatives get in at the next election they
would overturn it. I gave her some printed anti-Badman stuff anyway. They're all
for letting parents get on with parenting without regulation. Sounds good!

Was a great day for Home Edders: we certainly made our presence felt and
feelings known. Over 400 of us were there, and took 2 hours to queue up to see
our MPs!

If anyone is interested enough in the subject to sit through an hour long
parliamentary committee meeting, especially those keen to hear the other side of the
argument, there was one this morning, which I watched online:


http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Playe ... 5&wfs=true

BTW, I'm having a ridiculously long lag between typing stuff on the forum and
it coming up on the screen, so now type stuff on a notepad doc and then copy and paste.
I only have this problem on c4c, not any other forums. Any thoughts?

Julie T wrote:BTW, I'm having a ridiculously long lag between typing stuff on the forum and
it coming up on the screen, so now type stuff on a notepad doc and then copy and paste.
I only have this problem on c4c, not any other forums. Any thoughts?

Sue Sanders said same sin san searlier spost: http://www.c4countdown.co.uk/viewtopic. ... 989#p61989

Julie T wrote:BTW, I'm having a ridiculously long lag between typing stuff on the forum and
it coming up on the screen, so now type stuff on a notepad doc and then copy and paste.
I only have this problem on c4c, not any other forums. Any thoughts?

Maybe a different browser would help. If you're using Internet Explorer, I recommend downloading Firefox instead. It's faster, it's free, and it has become very popular.

Julie T wrote:BTW, I'm having a ridiculously long lag between typing stuff on the forum and
it coming up on the screen, so now type stuff on a notepad doc and then copy and paste.
I only have this problem on c4c, not any other forums. Any thoughts?

If it only happens here, and a few other people are also affected, perhaps you are all under surveillance. If you will campaign against the government's control-freakery...

Thanks for all the various ideas on the lag.

I'm typing this on Firefox as we speak, and it's fine. I've used both Internet Explorer and Firefox for ages, as if one isn't working well, I use the other. As I use either, and hadn't thought of that aspect, I can't remember whether my problems were just on IE.
That might well be it.

The only other users on my laptop are my kids, so intentional spying is highly unlikely. Though it might be worth running a virus scan in case something picked up via the internet is the cause.

Thanks again.

Julie T wrote:I can't remember whether my problems were just on IE.

It's made by Microsoft. That should be a clue.

Matt Morrison wrote:

Matthew Green wrote:It still makes me cringe but 2:15 on this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e--w9xW05EY

Jesus Matt. As soon as I loaded that up and saw the title I was like "ah please God let him just be in the audience, that's embarrassing enough, please don't let him ask a question...", cringey indeed. Congratulations though (??). The whole "this guy has asked a question, here he is, let's look at him but not actually let him ask the question out loud" format is pretty strange, but t'would have been even worse to hear you ask it.

I'm just surprised that the question didn't involve rape on any level. Or if it did, I missed it.

Gavin Chipper wrote:

Matt Morrison wrote:

Matthew Green wrote:It still makes me cringe but 2:15 on this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e--w9xW05EY

Jesus Matt. As soon as I loaded that up and saw the title I was like "ah please God let him just be in the audience, that's embarrassing enough, please don't let him ask a question...", cringey indeed. Congratulations though (??). The whole "this guy has asked a question, here he is, let's look at him but not actually let him ask the question out loud" format is pretty strange, but t'would have been even worse to hear you ask it.

I'm just surprised that the question didn't involve rape on any level. Or if it did, I missed it.

IAWTP. You look so fresh-faced and innocent, Matthew. Whatever happened to that lad?

Julie T wrote:You look so fresh-faced and innocent, Matthew. Whatever happened to that lad?

He became a personal trainer. Or possibly a refugee support worker. Or possibly something else. Depends on which (if any) of his accounts of himself you choose to believe.

Phil Reynolds wrote:

Julie T wrote:You look so fresh-faced and innocent, Matthew. Whatever happened to that lad?

He became a personal trainer. Or possibly a refugee support worker. Or possibly something else. Depends on which (if any) of his accounts of himself you choose to believe.

I don't think I've ever been so scared.

Personally I think IE and Firefox are both horrendously slow for what they do, I use Google Chrome mostly.

Craig Beevers wrote:Personally I think IE and Firefox are both horrendously slow for what they do, I use Google Chrome mostly.

Is this the same Chrome that uses 3 to 4 times as much memory as Firefox?

(There should probably be a 'shameless plugs' topic for this sort of thing, but here will do for now...)

My latest theatrical appearance is in the multi-award winning play The Weir which opens tomorrow night (Wednesday) and runs until the end of the month at the Loft Theatre, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. It's a cracking piece of theatre for which performance rights are rarely granted for amateur companies so we are privileged to be be doing it. Even better, it's only an hour and a half long so there's plenty of drinking time afterwards. If any C4Cers within range care to come along, I'd be glad to see you in the bar after the show.

All the details are here.

Charlie Reams wrote:

Craig Beevers wrote:Personally I think IE and Firefox are both horrendously slow for what they do, I use Google Chrome mostly.

Is this the same Chrome that uses 3 to 4 times as much memory as Firefox?

Chrome loads pages way faster on my computer than IE and Firefox, that's pretty much all I care about.

Phil Reynolds wrote:(There should probably be a 'shameless plugs' topic for this sort of thing, but here will do for now...)

My latest theatrical appearance is in the multi-award winning play The Weir which opens tomorrow night (Wednesday) and runs until the end of the month at the Loft Theatre, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. It's a cracking piece of theatre for which performance rights are rarely granted for amateur companies so we are privileged to be be doing it. Even better, it's only an hour and a half long so there's plenty of drinking time afterwards. If any C4Cers within range care to come along, I'd be glad to see you in the bar after the show.

All the details are here.

End of the month - that's a pisser. I'm not back in Leam til next month. However - there is your offer of tea and biscuits to take up???

Phil Reynolds wrote:If any C4Cers within range care to come along, I'd be glad to see you in the bar after the show.

All the details are here.

Here?

Derek Hazell wrote:Here?

I've already been told that the jumper makes me look like Philip Madoc as the U-boat captain in Dad's Army, so bring it on.

Your name will go on ze list.

Sue Sanders wrote:Your name will go on ze list.

Mikey Lear's list?

Derek Hazell wrote:

Sue Sanders wrote:Your name will go on ze list.

Mikey Lear's list?

Don't tell him Mike

A most excellent multi layered joke!

Whistle while you post
Derek jokes the most
Sue is charming
Phil's alarming
Whistle while you post

No, I haven't finally lost my marbles!

For those of you who haven't got the reference to the Dad's Army episode that the other jokes were about, my ditty is based on a similar one in that episode.

I hope your play is going well, Phil!
Too far for me to travel, though, unfortunately.

Phil Reynolds wrote:(There should probably be a 'shameless plugs' topic for this sort of thing, but here will do for now...)

My latest theatrical appearance is in the multi-award winning play The Weir which opens tomorrow night (Wednesday) and runs until the end of the month at the Loft Theatre, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. It's a cracking piece of theatre for which performance rights are rarely granted for amateur companies so we are privileged to be be doing it. Even better, it's only an hour and a half long so there's plenty of drinking time afterwards. If any C4Cers within range care to come along, I'd be glad to see you in the bar after the show.

All the details are here.

Nuts. I passed through Leamington Spa on my way back to Shef on Wednesday. This would have made a delightful pit-stop had I known