Oh Noe Soopergran!

[lupestripe]

I'm just heading back after a fantastic 24 hours in Manchester, during which we had an excellent pub night followed by a whole day of watching Supergran, the hit Eighties children's TV programme.

My journey to the North-West was pretty eventful, having to sit alongside the rubbish in vestibule class from Dewsbury to Manchester before boarding a delayed Virgin train at Piccadilly. I knew things were going to get dicey when a man with a push hair claimed he had a reserved space in the vestibule blocking the door. I couldn't be bothered to argue so I moved to another luxurious vestibule but shortly afterwards, with the train still delayed with no announcements whatsoever, a burly Russian mafia type boarded with a glint of trouble in his eye. He stared at me menacingly and I felt the tension ratchet up. Luckily he didn't have to wait long as a big burly David Haye lookalike wanted off the delayed train and took exception to Russian guy's two big bags blocking the corridor. Words were said, sarcastic ones about somersaulting and vaulting over the luggage but I darted out before it reached its fisty conclusion. I was only going to Stockport - eight minute away - and with a range of trains to choose from, I didn't want to hang around there any more.

So I boarded another train, on which I found a £2 coin discarded, and eventually got to Stockport, looking at the pretty view over the town from above the viaduct, nice with the lights in the dusk. Needing the toilets, I went to the ones at the station to see two drunk tramps comparing each others' penises and inspecting the taps for minutes on end. One of them was called John.

The evening after this was rather fantastic. It was an unexpected pleasure to meet up with Fairlight, who drove us to Baloki's place, from which we all departed to the nearby (10 minute walk my arse, more like 20) Toby Carvery for noms. The meat - I had all four on offer - was delightful but the vegetables were either soggy or in the case of the roast potatoes, dry. Well it was late and I guess they had been there a while. The conversation was fantastic and it was great seeing Fairlight in particular again, someone with whom I have a fair bit in common but who I rarely see. I could have done without the One Direction song as I got into Fairlight's car though, someone told him I was a huge fan :(

After this, we double backed on ourselves and headed towards downtown Stockport to a rundown yet friendly Northern boozer where it was £1.90 a pint. They struggled with Fairlight's request of half lager half Coke, which wad surprisingly refreshing on trying, while I was also shown a bizarre scatty squirrel game with a cute protagonist and a big breasted sunflower, which made me wish I was more into these things.

After this, we dropped Baloki home and Fairlight dropped us back at Ent's. He said he would come in for a minute but such was the excellent conversation, he ended up staying two and a half hours, eventually going home after 2am. We just kept talking and it was a really relaxing and fantastic way to end an excellent night.

For some reason I had to get up three times to use the toilet during the night, whether this was the food, beer or partially inflated inflatable mattress I'm unsure. Anyway, around 10am a combination of Ent and the homely smell of bacon woke me up and I was soon raring to start the Supergran marathon.

This idea came about after the CITV weekend in early January (see posts passim), and it's taken this long to achieve it. Supergran was broadcast in 1985 and 1987, so I just missed it as a kid, or at least from what I can remember. I saw it back in January and as it's made by Tyne Tees, there were quite a few references to home contained within. Plus watching what things were like 30 years ago is always interesting.

When I say it's a children's programme, it is in the way that Doctor Who is, it's a programme that adults can and did enjoy too. The budget was £2million, which was a lot at the time, largely because there is an awful lot of special effects and imagery needed. Plus there are many characters so costs are quite high. The plots are engaging though and clearly developed over time, while the A List celebrities queueing to appear in the show was impressive. The Gary Glitter one in particular, in which he plays a pidgeon fancier, was particularly weird considering subsequent events. George Best, Spike Milligan, Lulu and Billy Connolly (who also wrote and sang the theme tune) also guest starred, along with a myriad of celebrities who were big at the tome bur are not so now.

The special effects are everything you'd expect from provincial TV in the Eighties but no doubt they were good for their time. Other social changes were interesting to observe too, there was a lot of smoking going on, plus a can of beans cost 27p. Furthermore, Supergran kept being referred to as a "minge bag", something you certainly wouldn't get away with today. The same is true with some of the plots, in one Supergran jumps off the Tyne Bridge (which is in the fictitious town of Chisleton but is clearly the Tyne Bridge) to thwart a robber (her nemesis called Scunner) in a Spiderman style. No way would that be shown now.

We saw 12 episodes plus the Christmas special today, half of those ever made. We had cheese and biscuits and Pizza Hut at regular intervals but ultimately it was a nice relaxing day of reminiscence. I really should do more of these ^^

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Comments

[porsupah.livejournal.com]

It seems like almost every time you write about trains thereabouts, it sounds like one would be best advised to wear full American Football protective gear. ^_^;

a programme that adults can and did enjoy too

That's an excellent target to hit. It's not achieved all that often, sadly, but the results can be wonderful when it's managed, as with Doctor Who and MLP:FiM. Though I'll admit, I'll probably have to watch The Bells again, as it was a little overshadowed by the beer of the evening, Adnam's Solebay. =:)

half lager half Coke

O.o I'll admit, I'm not quite getting that either. But, I'd happily give it a shot. ^_^ (Reminds me, I need to try locating a good Long Island Iced Tea recipe. I'm not, by nature, much of a cocktails sort, but I have fond memories of the LIITs the Elbo Room served. If they're still around, I ought to drop by there next time I'm in the area..)