Food / Sport / Television

FOOD: Until last Saturday, it had been about 15 years since I'd eaten fried bread. With enough salt to preserve the biggest bloodiest bovine through the harshest of mid-winters, it was great.

Have you revisited any old foody flames? What was it? And, how was it for you?

SPORT: The airwaves, news print and online media are full of reaction to UK Sport's funding allocations, as British sports organizations gear up for the London Olympics of 2012. The discussions are made most interesting by the implicit question of, 'Does that sport matter?', which underpins the post mortems (post morta?) of why some sports have received funding, whilst others have not. Rarely do we get the opportunity to hear from leaders in Shooting, Table Tennis and Fencing, in one hit (or smash, or lunge).

Do you hold any affection, whimsy, or flaming passion for any minor sport?

TELEVISION: I listened to debate this past week which has, at times, suggested that the great tradition of British and European TV cop drama may be at risk of being lost to American multi-writer ensemble pieces. This, on the back of an impressive first - and perhaps unlikely - outing of Kenneth Branagh, as Wallander - the Swedish detective. Here, the casting of Branagh was most interesting to me.

Could you envisage any good - but unlikely - castings in the 'TV cop' role? Name names. (On the theme of odd castings, I recall once hearing the suggestion of Germaine Greer as Dr Who)

Good whelk to you.

Time / Television / Tonic

Time: Yesterday, just as I began to imagine what today's tasks would be, a friend and colleague mentioned that she was taking a day out from her usual routine. She would travel to Manchester, in search of good food and relaxation.

Let us imagine that today was to have been different from your usual routine (such that there might be one). How would you have used the day differently?

Television: Just this week, publicist Max Clifford mentioned that had he been advising the minor British celebrity, Kerry Katona, that her television appearance - with slurred speech and questions over her well-being - would never have happened.

Do you recall any television moments (any genre) that - had you been advising - would never have happened?

Tonic: I'm on earl grey. I might have a bottle of Cobra, later.

What can I get you?