Wolf Hall

Oh my God this is just so boring.  But not only is it tortuously slow and dull TV but it is bad history, added with a script which tries, pathetically, to be 'relevant' and to 'connect' with modern audiences by sprinkling modern idioms about and making the 'hero' Thomas Cromwell behave in a 'modern' way.

Perhaps I should not surprised at how awful this series is as I did try to read the book - yes I really tried - but it was just so badly written I gave up.  Now actually I am a bit of an expert on historical novels having been bought up in a house with no TV and by a father who considered that the only books worthy of being read by his children where those which contained masses of bloody thirsty scenes where plucky English lads whacked smelly foreigners.  This love of GOOD historical novels continues to this day - sadly though - with the odd exception like Robert Harris - really good historical novelists are very scarce

As with historical novels so with historical TV and films.  If you want to see what I mean get the box set of the superb Henry VIII and his Six Wives TV series of 1970 starring Keith Michell or the follow up, Elizabeth R, starring Glenda Jackson to see just how good historical drama can be with a decent script or give yourself a treat and settle down to watch the superb film Man of all Seasons  starring the incomparable Paul Schofield as Sir Thomas Moore.  Because it is by these yardsticks that Wolf Hall needs to be measured and - when it is - you see just how dreadful it is.

Still - I suppose I will keep watching it - if only because my wife enjoys it and I don't want to miss out in him getting his come uppance and having his head chopped off.

Paternity leave

What planet does Ed Miliband actually inhabit? I ask because if he actually thinks extending 'paternity leave' from a fortnight to a month is a vote winner he is barking.  Apparently he wants to do so to allow fathers to 'enjoy more of the first crucial days of their child's lives.'  Well speaking from experience (four children) there is not much to enjoy about those first 'crucial days' in fact the complete opposite.  I have vague memories of white slug like creatures who needed endless feeding and - of -course - nappy changing. Not -and I put my hand up here- that I got involved in much of the latter but, because we had twins I did do sterling work with the bottle once our brilliant monthly nurse-Ollie of blessed memory - had departed.

Anyway I'm looking forward to the Election Poster - I can just see it - a smiling dad with a smiling partner (But wait - a question - should the partner be same sex as the Dad or should the partner perhaps be obviously 'transgender' and - even better - from an ethnic minority? or why not make it  really EDGEY and make Dad a Lesbian?  I only ask)

The slogan could read -  VOTE LABOUR AND GET TO CHANGE NAPPIES - to which some unfair wag would probably add VOTE LABOUR AND GET COVERED IN SHIT -