Bookworm or Couch Potato

Something is changing. I love books, I love bookshops, they’re my favourite kind of shops. I also love the feeling of sitting down watching television, a big show, live programmes and knowing millions of others doing and sharing exactly the same thing at the same time – it seems more of an event. Remember when the day after watching the Brit Awards, which are on tonight despite always being on Pancake Day, you would go into work and discuss who was good/bad/controversial? The final of Wimbledon, X Factor or whatever you enjoy becomes a talking point and just not the same two days later.

Now, we want entertainment on demand and as and when it suits us.  We rely on kindles, e-readers, which you can’t share with your friends and when it  comes to TV you daren’t say what happened in a show as at least one person will have recorded it, part watched it or ‘series linked’ it! TV and radio is becoming a more selfish experience.

In some ways, watching and reading doesn’t quite seem so easy these days but in fact it is the exact opposite. Even with all my sentimental ways, I still know that carrying books on a tablet in electronic form will save me a lot of room in my suit case and me putting my back out when I am travelling (I read a lot!) and if I need a book when I am in ‘remote’ Korea or somewhere which doesn’t have many English language books, I can just buy one instantly online. Instant entertainment.

Now after three months in UK I am preparing to head off on my travels and that means making friends with ‘Series Link’. I always think I don’t watch much television but recently I have been enjoying Mr Selfridge, always look forward to The Good Wife and loving Nashville.  It also means that the day after I come back or wake up jet-lagged in the middle of the night, I can snuggle down and catch up on my favourite shows.

Today I am stocking up on books from kindle, which I will buy from a lovely bookshop (like www.dauntbooks.co.uk in the top photo) if I enjoy them enough.  Of course the old ways are the nicest but the new ways are the easiest.

Any suggestions of must reads to help me on my travels then please let me know.

Lee x

Trying to look good... and Game Shows!

It is official. I have come out of hibernation! Despite the cold, I put on nice clothes, went into London and got a pre-Spring pamper or as I call it, a Lee MOT.

I got my nails done, a wicked (in every meaning) matt black with sparkly black tips at Nails Inc . It sounds sinister but it goes with an outfit later in the week.  More importantly, I got my hair chopped and quite short for me!  My inspiration was the supermodel Karlie Kloss – the hair was the closest I could get!  Scott at Daniel Hersheson did a great job so now I just need to make it look this everyday!
My couple of days in the big smoke wasn’t all play though and I did have some work which consisted of very exciting meetings involving presenting on some different programmes from sport to music.

I also popped into the BBC to visit my former colleague Jake Humphrey who was filming his new quiz show Beat The Pack!  Randomly, one of the topics was Formula One and Jake took great pleasure quizzing me over lunch in his game show host way!  Fortunately I would have scooped the £2500 had I been a contestant! 

Beat The Pack is filmed in front of an audience and I always think for those who take the time to come to these shows as a member of the audience, they get great access and a look behind the scenes. It is not only a fun day out but a very good way for anyone looking to get into Television to see firsthand how it works.

Here are a few links to see if you can go and watch your favourite show live. 

www.bbc.co.uk/tickets/

www.itv.com/beontv/tickets

www.applausestore.com/

Lee x

 

Hello and welcome...

Over the years as a writer, journalist, TV Presenter and tweeter (in no particular order) I have written about what I have been paid to write about. I always have loved reading other peoples blogs, magazines and newspapers hearing different opinions and finding out about the most simple pleasures; good restaurants, coffee, hidden gems and anything which can entertain me.
 
Now I am going to try my hand at it and hopefully entertain a few of you! I am lucky enough to travel to over 15 different countries around the world every year and have done so for the last 8 years.

I love discovering new places but, more than anything, I love getting back home to Scotland. I had considered calling this blog "We See the Same Sun" as I always think that no matter where you are in the world, there are some things that bind us and make the world seem a very small place. I always think of that if I am feeling far away from loved ones.

 
As it happened I went for something a little less serious although somehwhere that we should all aspire to go. Cloud 9 and a half is happiness + a little bit more!


I hope you enjoy this blog and it gives you even a few minutes entertainment in your day - wherever you are in the world.

Lee x