BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday

Subject: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: MBSLynne
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 02:36 AM

On Thursday at 8.00pm on BBC 2, Mudcatter Gervase and his lovely partner Mary Jane (both Middle Bar Singers) are on telly in a thingy about doing up their old Welsh farmhouse. Don't miss it!

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 03:25 AM

We'll be watching it and recording it!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 03:38 AM

"British TV Utter Tripe"?

Havn't seen his mug for years so I'll give it a go.

Keith.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Gervase
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 04:13 AM

Argh! Outed, just when I hoped everyone I knew would be off to a rollicking Thursday night session at their local pub or folk club.
Thank you very much Lynne! I fear Keith's got the right handle on it - I'm bloody dreading the programme. After seven months of filming you get lulled into a false sense of security with the production team, along the lines of "Ah well, we've been through a lot together, we're all bestest mates, what can possible go wrong..." and then you realise that you've got absolutely no control over the final edit, and that they've got to boil down over 60 hours of video into a one-hour programme and make it entertaining.
Which is why I'm worried I'll come across as a total tit! I see the Radio Times has already described me as "fanatiucal" and "obsessive" in its preview. Ho hum.
I just hope they wren't filming when I was, er, bonding with that sheep. It really wasn't the way it looked, honest...

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: breezy
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 04:51 AM

How will the sheep look?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: MBSLynne
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 05:06 AM

Hehe! Sorry Gervase! But I had to do it! I'm really looking forward to it. :-)

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 05:35 AM

Gervase, if she hadn't, someone else less sympathetic might have... just be grateful there were no videos around that afternoon at Towersey... remember the round of applause?!!!

Must admit to having missed the review in the RT, but will scuttle off downstairs to look now!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Mr Red
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 08:02 AM

this could lead to page 3 of the Sun ................

it has been known .........................

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Micca
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 08:08 AM

I hope Here is a close as he comes to appearing on Page 3 of any publication!!! except perhaps, Transvestites weekly

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 05:55 AM

To the top!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 06:34 AM

Please note it is not on till 11:25 pm in Scotland, must be showing the full unexpurgated version after the watershed, for we northern sheep lovers.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Micca
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 08:55 AM

There is a rumour that Mary Jane showed her dissaproval   after the BBC folks had annoyed her by........... but thats only a rumour and I am sure it is totally untrue... still.....

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 11:47 AM

Tsk, the sheep didn't even get a mention....

        

Restored to Glory
Thu 24 Nov, 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm 60mins

Each year, hundreds of historic homes across the UK are destroyed through demolition, neglect or bad renovation. But there is an army of dedicated restorers determined to protect our heritage whatever the cost. Restored to Glory follows seven brave home owners who are about to embark on one of the most gruelling challenges of their lives. They have each bought a run down house and, under the watchful eye of three of the country's top restoration experts, are going to try and restore them back to their former splendour.

In an effort to escape the rat-race, Gervase and Mary Jane bought a run-down Victorian farmhouse in a quiet village in Wales. However, obsessive restorer Gervase is determined to bring his Victorian farmhouse back to life single-handedly, and his fanatical approach is in danger of jeopardising their moving in day.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: My guru always said
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 12:28 PM

Oh I'm really looking forward to seeing this! Wonder what gossip we're going to hear afterwards......

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 04:10 PM

Wonderful programme! It's great to see the progress you have made on the house and the love you have put into it.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Micca
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 04:25 PM

Gervase, you didnt appear as big a tit as you might have!!, I thought you both retained your well known sang froid quite well considering!! House looks good by the way, many "well dones" to you both Micca

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: MBSLynne
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 04:28 PM

I really enjoyed that! You both came across really well and the house looks beautiful...can't wait to see it when it's finally finished!

As far as the controversial fireplace goes...I understood completely why Mary Jane wanted it left exposed, but I also think I would have reluctantly allowed it to be covered up.

Well done both of you...what hard work and what a wonderful job...I'm really quite envious

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 04:28 PM

I have this mental image of Chris Gorniak sat on a cloud, watching Gervase splashing cowshit up the chimney, and pissing himself laughing.

I'm glad I wasn't the only person Chris infected with a love of lime.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 04:53 PM

Excellent programme, very informative, Gervase and Mary Jane were the real stars, and the tit that went on about the fireplace was just that. Favourite moment: The look on Mary Jane's face when the "experts" said that Gervase was indeed the "class swat".

The work you've done is amazing, and I for one could not have matched it in diligence, persistence, research, attention to detail, neither could I match the optimism on Gervase's face through thick and thin. Prize pedant? Hell, if that's what it takes to produce such results, it's worth it.

I loved the little personal moments: Gervase acknowledging that he had originally painted the picture a bit too rosy for Mary Jane; Mary Jane acknowledging Gervase's hard work. They are not just lovely individually, they're brilliant together. And the house they restored will be a legacy to their relationship as well as to the work they put it.

In short: I'm f***ing jealous. Well done kids! And I for one will give you a free concert in the village any time you want, for the privilege of staying one night in that house.

I mean it.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 05:16 PM

I did enjoy it too, and found the 'tit' absolutely hilarious, when I saw him arrive for the first visit with the hat and the red trousers, I thought 'what a tit'. You could tell from the elegant hand flapping at the conference where you first saw the three of them, that this was going to be a poseurs joy.
As George said, nice house, mind you the thing I was most jealous of was the raised beds, and all the lovely fresh veg.
Good luck to you both, and more power to your elbow.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Morticia
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 05:43 PM

Wonderful... M-J, Gervase, Jack and the house ( not to mention the sheep and the veg).......total stars IMO.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Nemesis
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 06:04 PM

I think this might get to be a Mudcat TV appearance theme - I'm on TV in February - also involving a run-down house, sheep/ goats/ (and feather-trimmed rubber gloves, altho' not worn by me!!)

:0)

Is there a repeat cos I've missed tonight's episode? :(
Love
Nem
x

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 06:17 PM

I am gutted that you didn't ask any of us to come up and help stir cow shit!

I'm also very proud of you both.... and that beard could provide more than enough hair for the plaster - it was interesting to see it come and go through the programme!

Well done both of you... you seem to have come out best of all the 'restorers' that have been featured so far.. and certainly the most tenacious and caring.

So when can we come and visit?! (and is there any more cow shit to play with??)

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: My guru always said
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 06:23 PM

Crazy Girl LtS! Personally I'm glad I experienced the 'cow-shit' experience through the ether of TV, hilarious from a distance....

Fab program, great TV, by far the most real of the series to date. The experts seemed delighted with the results and were obviously impressed with the 'practice makes perfect' method. 'Class Swot'? Now there's a MudCat name to be proud of. Well done you guys!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 03:49 AM

I wondered why he had not been posting so much lately.
Have to say I was impressed.
Well done,
keith.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: pixieofdoom
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 04:24 AM

Great programme, thoroughly enjoyed it. Thought those experts were a bit pretentious though, as M-J so beautifully pointed out

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Gervase
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 04:28 AM

Cor, isn't telly rubbish these days?
Having finally seen the freak show, I think a hair cut might be called for!
We were relieved to have had such a gentle ride from the pundits, but disappointed that they didn't show some of the footage of friends helping us and the village as a whole rallying round and being supportive (which they have been, tremendously). Overall, though, no complaints - just a massive sigh of relief that it's all over. And the sheep issue was sensitively handled, I thought...
Now, where did I put that plastering trowel?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 04:49 AM

Was it a bit of bad editing or did you leave some of the ceilings unplastered, and just covered with reeds?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Gervase
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 05:05 AM

It's nowhere near finished yet - I'm working on one of those there reed ceilings today (while the snows swirls around outside and all the schools in the country are shut - glad the heating's working well in the house and that everything is snug and dry at last)
And as for playing with cow shit - there'll be plenty more opportunities for finger painting!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 05:07 AM

Not sure that this will be the end of the sheep episode, Gervase. Chasing sheep is one thing - running after lambs below the age of consent is another. Not to mention the foot fetish where you were sniffing its hoof.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Shiplap Structure3
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 05:08 AM

My wife called me in to watch the programme with the words you'll have to watch this he keeps on saying things that you say, I loved the bit about reassessing time scales.I've been rebuilding an old place for years theres never enough time as work justexpands to fill what ever time is available.I was given some advice when I fisrt started this project regarding refurbishment and it took a while to understand what was meant I was told "a jobs not finished untill your fed up with it" which sounds a bit dismal but I heard an artist answer a question about what made him decide when a piece of work is finished,and he said Its finished when youre fed up with it and then you can feel pleased about it!"

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: GUEST,mr animal
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 05:24 AM

Cor Gervase, what a shock. Knew were in Wales but not that you had turned into Geraint. Do you have his smelly jacket?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Gervase
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 05:42 AM

I'll admit it, sniffing sheep is a problem. It started with cats, and then I felt the need for something stronger. As for Geraint's smelly jackets - I've got enough to those to guarantee a carriage all to myself if ever I feel the urge to hop on the Circle Line again! (Must see if I can persuade him across Offa's dyke to see the match against the Aussies tomorrow).

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Moses
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 05:44 AM

Geez Gervase, a shit-lined chimney. Only a Mudcatter could have come up with that one.

Seriously - I really enjoyed the programme. Funny, informative and generally entertaining.

Well done both of you. Would love to see how the inside is coming along. Are all the ceilings done?

Christine

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Gervase
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 05:50 AM

Fuuny that Chris Gorniak should get a mention. We'd hoped that he would be well enough to come up late last year to see the place instead of just looking at pictures we'd emailed him, but it wasn't to be.
And many, many times over the past few months I've wished Chris was standing beside me - if only so we could argue about the pros and cons of gauging lime with cement and then invent some daft pointless repointing shanty. It made me realise just how much I miss the old bugger, and that I'd like a bit of him to be rememered in what we've done.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: MBSLynne
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 06:11 AM

So...when El Greko does his free concert in the village...are we all invited? Have you got room for tents? Could this be the start of a new folk festival?

Love Lynne
PS...how delicately, but definitely Mary Jane told that guy he was going to defy medical science and disappear up his own bottom! Really a high point of the programme.
PPS If you need any help to stir cow muck, I've got lots of experience..... in fact, if you need me to bring some with me when I come to visit....

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Dave Earl
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 06:24 AM

Yes Gervase there is still a lot to do but you have made a lot of progress since we were with you earlier in the year.

The External work seems to be about complete and the centre upstairs window that I helped you instal doesn't seem to have fallen out yet.

The programme showed you in a good light and, sod what the experts think, carry on and do it as you think it should be done.

Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Gervase
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 06:56 AM

There's a link to some more words and pix here and some BBC blather about the prog here

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: the animal
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 08:47 AM

'Ere..My Dear Fellow. Knew you have gone native in Wales, but isn't it going a bit far metamorphosising as the bearded Welsh buffoon Geraint? Liked the shirt though.. at least you haven't taken over the smelly Barbour jacket. House looks wonderful despite your many "vicissitudes". Good word. When was the last time you used that one in an intro?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Gervase
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 09:18 AM

Last use of "Vicissitudes"? This very day!
As for the hairiness, the simple answer is I couldn't be arsed to shave or get it cut over the past year, and I've spent far to much of my life faffing around with shaving, ties, collars and all that bloody nonsense.
Given Max Hastings' horror of both beards and the Welsh, I'd love to see his reaction if I strolled into the Reform Club and tried to blag a bottle of Rioja wearing a Wales shirt!
And I bet my Barbour stinks a lot worse that Geraint's after this year's lambing season...

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: the animal
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 09:36 AM

Jane sends her very best. She loved the program and noted the absence of pink fluffy handcuffs. They might come in hand on scaffolding in blizzard conditions.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Mr Red
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 09:38 AM

I must say I did not notice the lack of pink fluffy handcuffs - but since you point it out .....................

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: ard mhacha
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 10:55 AM

Fair play to you Gervase you have a heart like a lion taking on that house,I would have gladly settled for a tent.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 11:37 AM

Nice house. Nice work! I agree with Giok about the vegetable beds - they look fantastic.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Cllr
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 03:08 PM

fantastic program about fantastic people. I'm very impressed by you both and the place looks lovely. Cllr

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: GUEST,balding red miser
Date: 26 Nov 05 - 04:52 AM

I can understand your efforts to make a recreation on an almost biblical scale and that is admirable in itself But it is a monstrosity, a carbuncle I mean I appreciate the work and time you must have put in but why you would consider it appropriate to inflict its appearence on an unsuspecting remote welsh village is beyond me and how the fragrant mary jane could put up with it I really dont know, and as for,the colour scheme I suppose you had no choice about those stripes, and its obviously frightening the sheep. I was wondering if the film crew were filming at different parts of the lunar cycle because by the end of it I thought you were turning into a werewolf possibly sheepdog I know its your facial hair but did they have to dedicate a whole program to the restoring of a traditional folkie beard in the style of last known survivor of the english civil war...Cont pg 94

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Cats
Date: 26 Nov 05 - 07:10 AM

We both think what you are doing is brilliant. Old buildings have a time scale of their own and they do dictate how you live in them, not the other way round. So, if you want the slates above the fire place showing ~ show them! After all, we have massive slate floors here, wooden partitions which are now exposed and floor boards over a foot wide which are stripped back, but when the house was built over 400 years ago, and for much of the time since, they would have been covered.
Kathy & Jon

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: GUEST,balding red miser
Date: 26 Nov 05 - 07:18 AM

Must admit I did like the building/restoring stuff you were doing in the background. BRM

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 26 Nov 05 - 07:32 AM

Amazing, Gervase.I , who am to DIY what Gengis Khan was to anger managemnt, was in awe at how you coped with all those jobs virtually single-handed.


RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: GUEST,DB
Date: 27 Nov 05 - 04:40 AM

Gervase,

Fascinating programme. You must have the patience of a saint! I must say all that fiddly plastering etc. is my idea of hell (but, then, I've got the attention span of a gnat, these days)!
By the way, I loved the way that you refused to submit to time pressures. One of the most irritating aspects of reality TV is spurious time pressures. I love 'Time Team', for example, but why do they have to excavate priceless archaeological treasures in "just 3 days"? I suppose it must be something to do with filming schedules etc. - still irritating though.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: MBSLynne
Date: 27 Nov 05 - 06:10 AM

The most amazing thing about the whole programme was Gervase's total unruffledness. I can't believe he manages to keep that up all the time?? Surely he occasionally throws things down and swears? Mary Jane?

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 27 Nov 05 - 06:25 AM

It did seem rather that you were doing it all alone... I feel a letter to the Times (Radio) coming on.....

It also seemed as if you spent a great deal of time sitting in a plastic chair reading the Gruaniad, but we all know different. Love the excuse for not being able to work in the sunshine.... and the grudging remark from the presenter that you were indeed, correct.

So when do we get an invite? I'm sure Jack and Limpit would get on.....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Gervase
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 04:58 AM

Unruffled? Ah, the lying magic of telly. Or rather the magic of lying to the telly!
When we were negotiating with the BBC over the filming, we felt very strongly that we didn't want it to turn into one of those cliched make-over programmes where the presenter mutters in a doom-laden way: "They're thousands over budget, months behind schedule and just when they thought it couldn't get any worse they run out of extra virgin olive oil...", "The weather's closing in and there's still no sign of progress on the jacuzzi...", "Day ninety-six in the Big Brother house and the Peruvian trannie is at pains to find out who put Tabasco on his butt-plug..." (sorry, wrong reality show).
Thus we decided to remain ludicrously optimistic and unflappable throughout. It did piss them off a tad, but it meant that there was none of the doom, gloom and angst that make up so much of such fare. Several times the producer almost pleaded with me to show some angst, but I was buggered if I was going to cave in to the cliche, so in the end she grudgingly admitted that I'd won that particularl battle.
That's not to say that I haven't lain awake at nights worrying about the state of the roof, the weather, the money or a thousand and one other things; it's just that if you take on such a huge roject you can't afford to let things get you down. And driving us on is the thought that, one day, the place is going to be done the way we like it and in a fit state to pass on to the next generation.
As for invites: You might have noticed the old dairy, the barns and other outbuildings. Plans are in hand for those; one is going to be the forge and workshop, one converted into two small self-catering holiday lets, one into a brew-house and smokery and the large stone cowshed into a studio/function room where we plan to hold monthly dinners and regular music sessions. The local response to the idea has already been hugely positive, so watch this space...
Meanwhile, if anyone does fancy roughing it and being bored to death about lime and other traditional techniques, let me know. Willing hands are always welcome, as a number of Middle Bar Singers will testify (and thanks Dave, the window's standing up a treat to the vicissitudes of a wild west Wales winter!).

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcatter on UK TV Thursday
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 08:49 AM

Count us in Gervase - Manitas will babysit whilst you and I spread lime and cowshit to the four winds!

LTS