WATCHING TV IN LONDON (4 june 2004)
In 1989, I went to London with my mother.
In case you think a holiday with your mom is something for sissies, I can assure you I'm glad I did it. My mother died a few years later; and I'm glad I have this extra memory of her.
At the time, my mother was seventy-seven years. The flight, all the waiting and the trips by taxi and public transport were very fatiguing to her. When we were finally admitted to our rooms, she first wanted to take a nap.
While my mom was sleeping, I watched some television in my room. While I was watching, I saw how a few BBC people started to quarrel. It didn't take long before more people were pulling and pushing each other in what seemed to be a rather serious fight.
Why auntie Beeb behaved in such an unexpected manner became clear when I realized it was 1 April.
As far as 1 April hoaxes are concerned, the BBC has a certain reputation. Probably the most famous hoax was launched in 1957. The BBC site has this report:
The BBC has received a mixed reaction to a spoof documentary broadcast this evening about spaghetti crops in Switzerland.If you like hoaxes like this, I will devote some more weblogs to these hilarious stories.The hoax Panorama programme, narrated by distinguished broadcaster Richard Dimbleby, featured a family from Ticino in Switzerland carrying out their annual spaghetti harvest.
It showed women carefully plucking strands of spaghetti from a tree and laying them in the sun to dry.
But some viewers failed to see the funny side of the broadcast and criticised the BBC for airing the item on what is supposed to be a serious factual programme.
Others, however, were so intrigued they wanted to find out where they could purchase their very own spaghetti bush.
