Dr Who?

November 23rd, 1963, a half hour before the BBC National News slot, we heard this. Then we were taken into a set and introduced to a straight faced and slightly intimidating old man.

We have never looked back, well maybe to check to see if the Daleks or the Cybermen are on our tails.

It is the longest running Sci-fi series ever and is popular across the globe. The sets were cheap as were the special effects, but it scared us all to death. Remember that in 1963, we still had monochrome TV sets. There were no bright colours to make it all seem more playful.

After the first showing of the Daleks, I doubt that there was a schoolboy alive who didn’t walk into school, extend his arm and exclaim “Exterminate”.

Eventually, William Hartnell morphed into Patrick Troughton, then Jon Pertwee and for me, finally Tom Baker. As each character appeared, I liked the new one better, but when Tom Baker morphed into Peter Davison, I couldn’t watch it anymore. He just didn’t come across as Dr Who to me. I tried to watch the newer ones, I really did.

I picked up watching it again maybe three years ago having seen it in the cable TV program listings here in Canada. The doctor was played by David Tennant and I have to admit to liking the character.

Why is Dr Who better than Star Wars and StarTrek.? There is no sanitization in Dr Who. Space travel is haphazard and a generally dangerous business. Dr Who doesn’t try to befriend his enemies, and they wouldn’t want to be friends anymore than we would want to be friends if some strange beings arrived tomorrow with powers so obviously well in advance of our own.

Dr Who isn’t about ‘they all lived happily ever after’. It is a continuing struggle just as life has been a continuous struggle on our planet. This is why Dr Who is still being produced and why the others have all finished their missions.

For more on the best Sci-fi series in the Universe, start here.. http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw

Ford’s Transit

The most popular van in Europe for many years, you name it and the Transit has been there and done it.

Apart from ‘white van’ delivery tasks, it is used by the Emergency services (all branches), and Royal Mail. There are four wheel drive conversions, camper van conversions, ice cream van conversions, whatever you want and as long as you have the cash.

You can have long wheel base or short wheel base, regular top or high top, pickup, mini-bus, twin rear wheels for greater load capacity, and all of these choices lead to many more uses than already mentioned. 

Fancy a vacation? Large or small, the Transit can handle the load. This one is high end.. You can get them as small as the Police vehicle, but if you want comfort, the one on the left is cool.

The great thing about the Transit, and what really made it popular was the huge range of factory options, the size and the fact that Transits are comfortable and drive like cars.

I remember sitting in a South Manchester cafe, the King and Castle. There was a couple there extolling the virtues of their recently converted Transit which was basically the long wheel base delivery style van but now sporting a 3 litre engine from a Ford Capri. They talked as if it was a Rolls Royce, and I had to smile. I looked for it when I exited the cafe, and sure enough, there it was. Rust and patchy paint work didn’t bother them at all. It was the performance which put it at a level above transport used by their friends.

Don’t think that all Transits are rusty and patched up. Customisers like them as well, giving them fancy paintwork, lowered suspension and of course the 3 litre conversion. There is one more conversion which deserves a mention. The stretched Transit..

No problems getting your party into this one..

For more on this remarkable vehicle.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Transit

Edible yeast extract..

Better known as Marmite, it is a fairly sharp-tasting spread. The more you apply, the sharper it gets. In raw form, its been around for centuries, but until a German guy discovered that yeast extract could be worked on and made into an edible form, Marmite was conspicuous by its absence.

So, what has Marmite done for us and the rest of the world? Well. it can be spread on bread and butter, toast and butter, added to recipes, is the spicy part of Twiglets, can be licked directly from whatever is used to apply it, has helped win two world wars and is available across the world.

Marmite lovers are instantly recognisable as being British, and most of us born after WWII will have been introduced to soft boiled eggs and Marmite soldiers. What is a Marmite soldier, I hear you ask. It is Marmite spread onto hot/cold buttered toast, and cut into strips narrow enough to be dipped into the top of the egg. The secret is not to apply it in thick layers. Even the toughest of Brits struggle if it is laid on with a trowel.

It is available from the Brit sections in Spanish grocery stores, and can be found in Canadian grocery stores too. Here in Canada, the locals see the words ‘yeast extract’ on the label and promptly put it with other baking goods like baking powder and paper cup cases. Is it any real wonder that without instruction, Canadians don’t know what to do with it? Baking? I don’t think so..

I can see that you are itching to become a member of the Marmite Fan Club and find out more about this heroically British foodstuff.. See here..

http://www.marmite.com/ 

Lots of history, why it was called Marmite and of course the fan club..