August 2014 ask Codfanglers

Cod, if you won the lottery, what would be the first 3 ways you would spend it. :)

Hmmmmmmmm. Three come to mind.

1. My wife and I are split when it comes to our house. A few years back we got a good deal on a small house in an average neighborhood. It is good, but things like finishing the basement, adding a bathroom upstairs, and more work on the yard are needed. If she had it her way we would move into a fancier house in a fancier neighborhood right away. But I see our house as "a diamond in the rough" and an exciting work in progress that I would like to see fully renovated one day. (add a vegetable garden, pave the drive way, redo the ventilation, etc.)

2. My wife is from Nairobi, Kenya, which is inland. So we would purchase two Kenyan homes. One in Nairobi where there are a lot of family and church connections and a lot of educational opportunities for our kids. The other would be in a coastal village where we would enjoy the beach and plenty of fresh tilapia, mangoes and pineapples. Kenyan restaurants made good chips as well! And for those beer lovers here, it might be hard to find in the UK or the states, but Tuster is a great Kenyan beer.

3. One of these answers should relate to Summer Wine, so here it goes. I would go on a big trip to England. Upon arrival in London I would rent a car and head to Torquay for Fawlty Towers interst, then Dartmoor National Park, through Cornwall, and then to Exmoor National Park. Then, I would head to the main destination, Holmfirth and surrounding areas for a good week of Summer Wine sightseeing and Pubs. Then I would swing by Hull and Bridlington on the way up the coast to Bamburgh Castle. (I just threw Hull and Bridlington in there because of the references from Entwhistle and Foggy).

In this trip I would have plently of Fish & Chips, Cornish Pasties, and Bangers and Mash.
 
3. One of these answers should relate to Summer Wine, so here it goes. I would go on a big trip to England. Upon arrival in London I would rent a car and head to Torquay for Fawlty Towers interst, then Dartmoor National Park, through Cornwall, and then to Exmoor National Park. Then, I would head to the main destination, Holmfirth and surrounding areas for a good week of Summer Wine sightseeing and Pubs. Then I would swing by Hull and Bridlington on the way up the coast to Bamburgh Castle. (I just threw Hull and Bridlington in there because of the references from Entwhistle and Foggy).

In this trip I would have plently of Fish & Chips, Cornish Pasties, and Bangers and Mash.

Sounds lovely! Stay awhile on Dartmoor and Exmoor, if you can spare the time. Both are wonderful. And make sure the bangers and mash come with onion gravy — they're just not the real deal without it!

Marianna
 
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Sounds lovely! Stay a while on Dartmoor and Exmoor, if you can spare the time. Both are wonderful. And make sure the bangers and mash come with onion gravy — they're just not the real deal without it!

Marianna

Marianna, you are definitely my Yank reference for travelling tips when I travel across the pond.
 
What are your thoughts on Roy Clarke`s other TV shows and what do you think about the return of Still Open All Hours?

What are your other favourite UK comedy shows?

And which recent US TV shows would you recommend to us bad teethed Brits? :42:
 
What is your favourite book?

I have six and a half years of college, yet I am not much of a reader. I guess all those years of mandatory textbook reading took its toll on me.

Back in the high school years, it was Catcher in the Rye.

A few years back my parents bought me "Teacher Man", since I am a school teacher. It is by Frank McCort, the author of Angela's Ashes. It was his teaching autobiography from when he left Ireland and eventually ended up being a high school teacher in New York City.
 
What are your thoughts on Roy Clarke`s other TV shows and what do you think about the return of Still Open All Hours?

What are your other favourite UK comedy shows?

:42:

1. I have only seen Summer Wine, the original Open All Hours, and KUA. I am happy that Still Open All Hours is airing but it may be quite a while until (if ever) we get it in the states. I don't get to see Open All Hours often (it is only on Monday's), but when I do get to sit down and watch it, I love it. It has great characters and it is a joy seeing the origins of Auntie Wainwright. I recall one episode where there were so many old, unlabeled canned product and they were trying to sell it as a mystery product. It was great.

2. Favorite UK Comedies- well it is tricky to compare Summer Wine (31 seasons) with other shows that had 6-7m Seasons and so many hilarious comedies that only lastes two seasons.

Summer Wine is clearly Number 1, especially considering my attachment to so many different characters and eras. It is more like Summer Wine is elevated to the status of an institution, rather than a sitcom.

After that the absolute two funniest shows are
1. Fawlty Towers
2. Young Ones

Behind Summer Wine, my sentimental favorite is A Time Goes By. My Wife and I see ourselves as a younger version of Jean and Lionel. It is a simple show with a simple plot, but absolutely adore the characters. Whenever Lionel and Steve get together (against Lionel's will) it is just pure gold.

Others high on my list are...
The Old Guys
Vicar of Dibley
KUA
Chef
Open All Hours
Waiting for God
 
Been a fairly quiet month regards the questions Codfanglers but have you enjoyed them??
 
Been a fairly quiet month regards the questions Codfanglers but have you enjoyed them??

Yes, it has been fun.

Folks, in the US we have a 3 day weekend to finish up the month of August. So, get a few more questions in.

Also, for those keeping track, I have returned to school and like last year, I will be BUSY. My wife is in college, my older son started a new school, and my younger younger one is starting pre school. It will be a bit hectic so I might be a little scarce around here for a few seasons. However, I will try to sneak in a comment now and then.
 
Hey Cod, I have been away for a few weeks and wanted to get back before your time was over. My question for you is": On SW you had the trio going for walks all of the time, Wesley in the garage, Barry on the golf course, which group could you see most being with? Which character is most like your personality?
 
Hey Cod, I have been away for a few weeks and wanted to get back before your time was over. My question for you is": On SW you had the trio going for walks all of the time, Wesley in the garage, Barry on the golf course, which group could you see most being with? Which character is most like your personality?

1. Without any thought whatsoever, it is definitely the lifestyle of the trio. I view that as the ideal retirement. Just imagine, roaming the hills and creeks throughout the day, probably going in different directions without planning and stopping at random pubs for a brew. Also, roaming in town stopping in at the cafe. I would actually love this.

2. I think my mannerisms might be a little like Alvin. I can tease people the way the Alvin often teased Nora. Now I believe Clegg and Entwhistle were similar in that they made unusual and random observations, so I am a bit like them as well.
 
I like the idea of roaming too, is there anywhere near where you live to have a good roam?

( By the way brew usually means tea here :D )
 
Would a beer be a pint (even if one actually orders a half?

Marianna

A pint is a pint, if you were having a half you'd say something like a " Swift half" but not many men would go in a pub and and ask for half unless it was for the wife/girlfriend. ;)

They might say bevvy or a quick one.
 
As it is the last few hours of August,well it is in the UK I must say thanks to Codfangler for being in the hot seat this month,didn't he do well
 
I like the idea of roaming too, is there anywhere near where you live to have a good roam?

( By the way brew usually means tea here :D )



Hold on Terry, I got one more to answer.


I am from Pennsylvania and that is more mountainous and woodsy than Maryland. However, I am much more into hiking/roaming in Maryland because of the marshland areas around the Chesapeake Bay. There are so many interesting areas in Maryland and Virginia around the Potomac River and the Chesapeake (Kent Island, Great Falls, Occoquan, Black Water Wildlife Refuge, etc.) These areas are 45-90 minutes from us. One smaller area, Lake Artemesia is only 10 minutes away and sometimes we sea Herons and Otters.

-Note, I expressed interest in Exmor and Dartmoor Parks

However, having little kids hampers are love of hiking quite a bit. People often to offer to babysit our kids for a "few hours" so my wife and I can get out more, but one needs at least half a day to really spend quality time at these places. The sights are much more spread out than the Summer Wine setting.
 
Thanks for your answers Cod and beautiful hiking treks you mention in the US. Nice to know of different areas to explore if we ever wander out of our State we live in. Something we all have in common is the love of the views that we see on the show and in our hometowns. As someone mentioned , I am not sure where I heard this, but they called the hills in Holmfirth English pornography. We all have our Holmfirth hills within our community, and SW brought us all together to enjoy. Hope you and your wife get your time to enjoy hiking again, as you know those babies will be gone soon.:'(
 
Thanks for your answers Cod and beautiful hiking treks you mention in the US. Nice to know of different areas to explore if we ever wander out of our State we live in. Something we all have in common is the love of the views that we see on the show and in our hometowns. As someone mentioned , I am not sure where I heard this, but they called the hills in Holmfirth English pornography. We all have our Holmfirth hills within our community, and SW brought us all together to enjoy. Hope you and your wife get your time to enjoy hiking again, as you know those babies will be gone soon.:'(

Thanks so much Brenda. When our younger one goes off to college, we will properly celebrate!
 
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