It's Cold Outside

Last night I was watching a bunch of TV programmes about the writer Alan Bennett. It started off with a documentary about a hotel called Dinner at Noon, then a play called An Englishman Abroad based on a true story when the actress Coral Browne (who played herself in the show) met the British spy Guy Burgess (played by Alan Bates) who defected to the Soviet Union in the 1950s, in Moscow. Then there were a couple of Bennett's Talking Heads shows, which were kind of half-hour monologues, basically one actor playing a character talking to the camera for half an hour. Lastly there was a documentary about Bennett. After that I watched a few episodes of The Wire on DVD.

Today I decided to stay in. It's really cold outside, and to be honest I don't really feel like braving the crowds, until I know exactly what I want to get people for their Christmas presents. I've got something for Dad already, so that's okay, but my Mum and my brother are a different matter.

I'm listening to the second part of the radio adaptation of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, based on the John le Carre novel. It's been pretty good. I've read the book and seen the 1970s TV version so I know the story very well.