The White Whale Is In Sight, But I Might Have Trouble Reeling It In

Do you remember at the start of this month, when I mentioned having set myself a goal to find and watch Hallmark's movie which has a Buffalo Bills theme? Well, Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story aired in the USA last weekend. Since then, I have been trying to uncover its availability over here in the UK. 

My 'white whale', as I call it, is now in sight. The film will premiere on the Christmas 24 channel at 3pm GMT on Sunday 7th December. 

After finally coming across it on my Virgin Media box's TV guide, I scheduled it to record. I did so feeling like I had scored a touchdown of my own.

The reason why I have had a Ahab-esque obsession with finding this particular movie is because my friend, Vicki, pointed the film out to me a few weeks before she passed away over the summer. I told Vick I hoped it would make it to the TVs on these shores so I could watch it. 

It has been a goal of mine to have the film as the main event of this year's Diet of Christmas Films. It would be fitting for this year's post - which will be the eighteenth edition, by the way! - to close with me watching the movie set in Vick's home and with the Bills - her favourite team - being part of the plot.

I went to bed last night chuffed that I have the chance of doing that.

But. 

A plot twist has appeared.

When I opened the Virgin Media app this morning, to delete the Monday Night Football game from last night because I've already watched it, a message popped up informing me that my cable box and app will no longer be compatible from the next time the app updates. 

In the same message, my service provider offered me a free upgrade to a newer box. I had no choice but to take the free opportunity. I did so knowing a few things.

My current box will lose all of its content. That means everything I've recorded, or plan to record, will no longer be available to me.

That means, even if I do manage to snare the white whale, I might have a problem keeping it until Christmas Eve.

Or does it?

You'll find out what happens, or doesn't happen, in thirty days from now.

Still Legit (To Quit)

I ALMOST did it.

After finding out that the Indianapolis Colts' visit to the Kansas City Chiefs was set to air on Channel 5 last night, I thought to myself 'should I give them another go?'

Ultimately, the rational part of my brain concluded I had subscribed to GamePass. Therefore, GamePass it was.

For the past few months, those critiquing the great start the Colts had in the 2025 pointed to the week twelve game to decide whether they were legit or not. This despite the Chiefs starting their campaign 0-2 (giving them a longshot chance of making the playoffs). 

Well, the Colts came to play. They were in the lead for most of the game, but then let it slip away in the latter part of the fourth quarter.

Tied at 20-20, the two sides duked it out in overtime with the home side getting the W from a field goal.

Despite the result, and maybe this is rose-tinted glasses on my part, I consider the Colts as LEGIT. All facets of the team are working. It felt that the Chiefs needed the result more.

I shall continue to fly the flag.

Roald Dahl Passed Away 35 Years Ago

Today is the thirty-fifth anniversary of Roald Dahl's passing.

I wrote about the Cardiff-born author a few weeks ago, and thought I'd revisit the topic today to commemorate the day.

Back in October, I mentioned that I had never read one of the last books Dahl wrote. So, a few weeks ago, I finally sat down and read Esio Trot.

It was a bit funny. It's about how a man woos the lady in the apartment downstairs by pretending he knows how to make tortoises grow. Instead, he his plan involves buying a bunch various sizes of the animal and switching them.

His plot eventually wins the lady's heart. It actually ends without the neighbour marrying with the wooer.

Her actual tortoise, well - it ends up with another family because the subterfuge was not revealed to the unsuspecting lady.

A peculiar conclusion because that man has tricked his way into that woman's life and gotten rid of her real pet!

That's Roald Dahl for you.

Esio Trot wasn't the only Dahl book I've read recently.

This week, I've picked up Boy and Going Solo for the first time since my childhood. I have a few fond memories of reading Dahl's first autobiography. As for Going Solo - I was given it by my mum for Christmas in the year it was first published in paperback. I struggled with it, to be fair. But, it was mainly because it covered Dahl's participation in the Second World War. 

Don't get me wrong, I appreciated it back then. However, I am finding it more enjoyable reading Going Solo with eyes that have matured by forty-plus years since I first opened it.

I learned of Roald Dahl's passing during the News at Ten thirty-five years ago tonight. As I wrote last month, I often wonder how my infant and primary school would have dealt with such news. 

We read a lot of Dahl there. And I mean lot!

I'm glad we did.

Tapping Out Of IAC '25

'I'm out of here.'

Those were the words I said on Thursday night, realising I was in a hole in my attempt to catch up with the episodes of I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here awaiting me on my cable box.

I managed ONE episode. And that was watched late in midweek.

With only one in the bag, I opened up the app late on Thursday evening and concluded I was not all-in on this year's series. 

I would have fallen behind again on Sunday, and then Thanksgiving Thursday, even if I had managed to drag myself up to date.

It's a shame. It's all on me - the worst TV binger ever.

Going in, my favourite to win was Jack Osbourne. He remains the person I'd like to be crowned King of the Jungle. I feel it's quite a challenge for him to do something like that so close after his father passed away. And to do it in front of millions of eyeballs, on top of that. I refuse to use the word 'brave' but it's in the ballpark.

I hope he does well.

Watching The Bills At Houston In Prime Vision

I have avoided certain parts of the Internet since I woke up today. The reason why is because I am trying something new  - I'm watching Thursday Night Football using the Amazon Prime Vision feature that is available to US viewers. I am now able to catch TNF games in this manner thanks to my subscription to NFL GamePass.

Today's game, or rather last night's one, sees the Buffalo Bills taking on the Houston Texans. I obviously have to root for the Bills here. First because they were Vick's team, second because they're Indianapolis' division rivals and three - I have a bet on the Bills to win the Super Bowl.

And yes, I am wearing the socks with buffalos on them. I always do on days when the Bills play and the Colts don't. 

I know, I know - technically the Bills played yesterday. BUT - it kicked off on Friday for me. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Speaking of the Colts, I tore off my page-a-day calendar just after the game kicked off. Funnily enough, there's a Bills theme to today's trivia question.

The page reads 'on this date in 2021, during the Colts' 41-15 romp at the Bills, who became the first player in franchise history to score five touchdowns in a game?'

'Jonathan Taylor!' was my answer.

And it was right.

Speaking of running backs, James Cook has just scored the first touchdown of the game I am watching. This Prime Vision thing is quite cool because you get to see him run it in and the angle he took to the end zone. 

1:27PM Update: Houston won 23-19. It was an interesting way to watch an interesting game. I know this is after-eventing, but I was thinking about using Houston +6 as one of the plays in the handicapping contests I participate in. My reluctance to bet against the Bills made me go in a different direction.

12 To Go

I am just about to tune into today's episode of Neighbours.

Once it's over, if my calculations are correct, that'll mean there are twelve eps to go.

We've obviously been on the 'the end of Neighbours is neigh' thing before. Maybe it's because of that I am feeling 'whatever?' about the current countdown to closure.

Don't get me wrong - I have enjoyed the additional two years plus we've been given when the Aussie soap opera was brought back from extinction. It's just that, knowing that we've already seen Neighbours' death and resurrection, it makes me subconsciously reluctant to consider it done.

Yet, I know this truly is it. This time.

Weird, right?

Opening A Bag Of Christmas Joy

I had this bag containing some joy yesterday.

Yes, inside was the first Greggs Festive Bake I had for Christmas 2025.

This has often been one of the signs to warn me that Christmas is just around the corner.

I thought I was quite late getting to the Festive Bakes this year. However, I looked back at previous posts from over the years and it would appear I have kept to a similar schedule.

I don't really know how many I'll have this year. I have other Christmas items to try. These include some other offerings from Greggs.