trivial things that make you smile,or make you feel good

[Red Frog]

Just finishing my first half-marathon in Paris last weekend was enough to make me happy. A little over two hours - i can't conceive how people go on for another lap!

[Bogus Dave]

Just finishing my first half-marathon in Paris last weekend was enough to make me happy. A little over two hours - i can't conceive how people go on for another lap!

Whats it like? In terms of spectators, organisation, course hillyness etc?

[Reg Smeeton]

Whats it like? In terms of spectators, organisation, course hillyness etc?

Spectators will exhibit a haughty disdain, smoke Gauloise and smell of garlic. Organisation will resemble France in May 1940, and hillyness, nothing to match Liddington on the Swindon half marathon. Hope this helps.

[wiggy]

Going on a long dog walk in the sun.

[jayohaitchenn]

If it's anywhere near the centre of Paris then there are no hills.

[Bogus Dave]

How grand

[Red Frog]

How grand

Well obviously just like Reg said, except he forgot the berets of course. The slightest incline felt like climbing Strawberry Hill to me, but Jayo's right, not too many hills on the Paris route.

[Bogus Dave]

Good stuff. First visit to Paris. Looking forward to it

[Reg Smeeton]

Well obviously just like Reg said, except he forgot the berets of course. The slightest incline felt like climbing Strawberry Hill to me, but Jayo's right, not too many hills on the Paris route.

I was trying to avoid obvious cliches...

[Honkytonk]

The new series of Top Gear.

It should annoy me. There are some very good arguments as to how bad a show it is, how it has too large a budget, that Jeremy Clarkson is a hateful hateful person, how Richard Hammond is one of the most annoying things ever conceived of, and so on.

But I like love cars and it has repeatedly made me laugh out loud this season. Great programme. Really is. Will defend it to the death. And I can't stand Richard Hammond anywhere else!

[woolster]

The new series of Top Gear.

It should annoy me. There are some very good arguments as to how bad a show it is, how it has too large a budget, that Jeremy Clarkson is a hateful hateful person, how Richard Hammond is one of the most annoying things ever conceived of, and so on.

But I like love cars and it has repeatedly made me laugh out loud this season. Great programme. Really is. Will defend it to the death. And I can't stand Richard Hammond anywhere else!

my mate was at top gear last week, said hammond is a complete diva, I love may, clarkson is like marmite, i like marmite

[Honkytonk]

my mate was at top gear last week, said hammond is a complete diva, I love may, clarkson is like marmite, i like marmite

It's important to me that the other two rip on Hammond for being so high maintenance. I like Clarkson on the whole, though I do find him quite tiresome at times when he starts getting a bit bigoted about things- the man's cleverer than he lets on, so I wish he'd use his brain a bit more. Of course, the real reason the show works is because He, Hammond and James all bounce off each other in an honest, matey kind of way that isn't forced like so many 'friendships' on TV. The Africa challenge they're doing atm is a fantastic example of that. What's additionally interesting now is that they are all obviously starting to feel the years- when they did the Polar expedition, I think it was Clarkson who said how amazing it was not only that the car got to the Pole, but that it was driven by two old duffers who'd never even thought about polar exploration before (and their support crew of course, but it's the sentiment that's important).

The closest analogue I can think of on regular telly to the 'feel' of Top Gear is probably Time Team (about as far to the opposite end of the spectrum as possible from Top Gear)- the archaeologists/diggers/geophys people/production team are obviously all friends, used to working long days with each other and ending up in the pub, and it shows. It's something a lot of other shows have struggled with, and I really wish they wouldn't bother.

Actually, Top Gear USA is pretty good as far as cameraderie goes- some of their challenges (particularly the cheap car ones) have the same, unforced, 'matey' feel to them. It's not as consistent as the UK version, but the challenges are great. The mix of uppity racing driver, new yoik comedian and 'redneck' (who isn't really a redneck but has southern sensibilities) works really well as they all piss each other off and laugh with each other at the same time.

This is an essay I know, but I suppose I like this all because so much TV (particularly BBC news) has this shit, copied-from-American-tv 'forced friendliness' nowadays when it really isn't needed.

[woolster]

It's important to me that the other two rip on Hammond for being so high maintenance. I like Clarkson on the whole, though I do find him quite tiresome at times when he starts getting a bit bigoted about things- the man's cleverer than he lets on, so I wish he'd use his brain a bit more. Of course, the real reason the show works is because He, Hammond and James all bounce off each other in an honest, matey kind of way that isn't forced like so many 'friendships' on TV. The Africa challenge they're doing atm is a fantastic example of that. What's additionally interesting now is that they are all obviously starting to feel the years- when they did the Polar expedition, I think it was Clarkson who said how amazing it was not only that the car got to the Pole, but that it was driven by two old duffers who'd never even thought about polar exploration before (and their support crew of course, but it's the sentiment that's important).

The closest analogue I can think of on regular telly to the 'feel' of Top Gear is probably Time Team (about as far to the opposite end of the spectrum as possible from Top Gear)- the archaeologists/diggers/geophys people/production team are obviously all friends, used to working long days with each other and ending up in the pub, and it shows. It's something a lot of other shows have struggled with, and I really wish they wouldn't bother.

Actually, Top Gear USA is pretty good as far as cameraderie goes- some of their challenges (particularly the cheap car ones) have the same, unforced, 'matey' feel to them. It's not as consistent as the UK version, but the challenges are great. The mix of uppity racing driver, new yoik comedian and 'redneck' (who isn't really a redneck but has southern sensibilities) works really well as they all piss each other off and laugh with each other at the same time.

This is an essay I know, but I suppose I like this all because so much TV (particularly BBC news) has this shit, copied-from-American-tv 'forced friendliness' nowadays when it really isn't needed.

[ghanimah]

The new series of Top Gear.

It should annoy me. There are some very good arguments as to how bad a show it is, how it has too large a budget, that Jeremy Clarkson is a hateful hateful person, how Richard Hammond is one of the most annoying things ever conceived of, and so on.

I've met Clarkson on a couple of occasions and it's surprising how diffident he comes across as in real life. He can make some excellent documentaries, like on Brunel and on the Victoria Cross, if he puts his mind to it I wish he would make more of them.

[flammableBen]

Stewart Lee always makes me happy.