The FA Cup Final and telly reception in the Athenaeum Club

I find that either tonight or tomorrow morning, I shall have to indulge in some more cocktail stick surgery with the back of the telly if I am to watch the FA Cup Final through the digibox. I can watch it on analogue, but would prefer to get a digital signal if possible as much for the fun of pixilation as anything else. The thing is, see, that even if the overall signal is good, there are moments where parts of the picture break up in a flurry of pixels. This is particularly entertaining if a player has just kicked a ball and it appears top have disintegrated. Similarly, there is fun to be had when the top half of a player runs off, leaving horribly pixelated legs on the other end of the screen. The trick is for this to happen only occasionally. The effect can be quite marvellous, but only if the general picture quality is good.

So, at some point in the next 24 hours, I shall be curled into an uncomfortable position around the back of the telly trying to wedge the SCART plugs into place so that the signal is only interrupted by poor broadcast conditions and not the vibrations from the clod-hopping feet of denizens of the Athenaeum Club.

As I’ve noted before, I really need a new telly, but I’m damned if I’m going to blow significant funds I don’t have on something that is digital compatible and wide screen until we have a reliable digital signal to read off.

I don’t know who I want to win, either. Overall, for reasons that involve me getting smacked around the head and having a scarf stolen by Chelsea fans near on 30 years ago, I find what few sympathies I have lie with Manchester United. In any other circumstances I should be cheering on the opposition, but I dislike Chelsea even more than them and for once for definable if time-distant reasons.

So, cocktails sticks ahoy!

The FA Cup Final and telly reception in the Athenaeum Club

I find that either tonight or tomorrow morning, I shall have to indulge in some more cocktail stick surgery with the back of the telly if I am to watch the FA Cup Final through the digibox. I can watch it on analogue, but would prefer to get a digital signal if possible as much for the fun of pixilation as anything else. The thing is, see, that even if the overall signal is good, there are moments where parts of the picture break up in a flurry of pixels. This is particularly entertaining if a player has just kicked a ball and it appears top have disintegrated. Similarly, there is fun to be had when the top half of a player runs off, leaving horribly pixelated legs on the other end of the screen. The trick is for this to happen only occasionally. The effect can be quite marvellous, but only if the general picture quality is good.

So, at some point in the next 24 hours, I shall be curled into an uncomfortable position around the back of the telly trying to wedge the SCART plugs into place so that the signal is only interrupted by poor broadcast conditions and not the vibrations from the clod-hopping feet of denizens of the Athenaeum Club.

As I’ve noted before, I really need a new telly, but I’m damned if I’m going to blow significant funds I don’t have on something that is digital compatible and wide screen until we have a reliable digital signal to read off.

I don’t know who I want to win, either. Overall, for reasons that involve me getting smacked around the head and having a scarf stolen by Chelsea fans near on 30 years ago, I find what few sympathies I have lie with Manchester United. In any other circumstances I should be cheering on the opposition, but I dislike Chelsea even more than them and for once for definable if time-distant reasons.

So, cocktails sticks ahoy!