TIME WAITS FOR NO MAN – AND NEITHER DOES THE 8.28 TO CARDIFF.
For decades, the possibility of time travel has fascinated scientists, writers, film makers and people like me who have never been able to grasp the concept of the Space Time Continuum.
But, then, I’ve never been able to grasp the Offside Rule; Piers Morgan’s rise to fame; and the bottle of tomato ketchup that the last person to use failed to close properly, allowing the red stuff to escape and form congealed, sticky streaks down the sides, like lava pouring from Mount Vesuvius.
Although some great books and exciting films and TV series have featured characters able to travel back and forth through time, it’s always been a fantasy.
Until now…
Ah, I see I have your attention, Mr. Bond!
The respected physicist, one-time 90s pop star and bouncing fringe Professor Brian Cox announced not long ago that he thought time travel ‘could be possible at some point in the future’, a startling statement that would leave most people open to ridicule.
But when you’re a respected physicist you can say pretty much anything and your listeners will nod sagely, mentally chewing over the more easily digestible bits.
An audience that doesn’t giggle or guffaw at what you’re saying is good news if you’re Professor Brian Cox, but bad news if you’re ‘Phil Evans, comedian.
I don’t have to go very far back in time to remember that.
Brian seemed so supremely confident when he made that statement it made me wonder if he actually came from the future.
Ah! I see I still have your attention, Mr. Bond!
No, of course Brian Cox doesn’t come from the future.
But he might next week.
On reflection, Brian’s pronouncement isn’t that fanciful.
We lived yesterday. We’re living today. And, if we lay off the fags and white sugar, there’s a good chance we’ll live tomorrow.
Which makes us all time-travellers.
Here’s another example.
On weekend afternoons when I’m slouched in front of the TV, chilling-out before an evening performance, I often feel like I’m in “Groundhog Day”, the film in which Bill Murray’s TV weatherman re-lives the same day over and over….
I often feel like I’m in “Groundhog Day”, the film in which Bill Murray’s TV weatherman re-lives the same day over and over…
Because at weekends, certain channels that remain nameless (Okay, if you insist – Channel 5, 5* and all four ITV channels) repeatedly show the same small selection of films time and again – hoping no one will notice.
But I did!
Apart from the ‘ James Bond season’, which runs from January to December, it seems “The Mummy”, “The Mummy Returns”, “The Mummy – Tomb Of The Dragon King”; the “Jurassic Park” trilogy; and “The Green Berets” are dragged out every weekend.
The same three ancient episodes of “Columbo” have been screened so many times, the print is more faded than the detective’s raincoat.
Broadcasters, if you’re going to show the same film every weekend, why not “Groundhog Day”, the film in which Bill Murray’s TV weatherman…