Media studies

As mentioned on the front page, it is a week of anniversaries.

30 years ago, with Allan Callow, I tried to improve the communication within our club by the production of a newsletter which was largely hand delivered.

10 years ago today I launched the manxathletics.com website. I republished the four objectives which hold true after 10 years. I didn't envisage the use of videos, or even photos to the extent used, but I think they have added to the enjoyment aspect mentioned in the second objective.

And we've just had the 50th Peel to Douglas Walk.

Quite a bit has changed since the first of the Peel to Douglas walks. There are 60% more people living on the Isle of Man, there are several times more cars and there are even a few more walkers. But they still walk the same distance (give or take a bit) and they still cover the same roads - only a few corners have been widened in 50 years.

And it is 50 years of Coronation Street this week.

The first episode featured a bicycle tyre being repaired in a living room, a man being told he was becoming a snob and a debate about whether a shop should give credit.

50 years later, although the actors talk slower, during the same time on screen a woman leaves her husband because she was having an affair with his business partner, the man leading a double life whilst covering up a  death has an argument and murders his lover, panic spreads through the street when a young child goes  missing, a woman about to be married days later is having a liaison with another man, there is a big brawl in a bar, a building goes on fire and a tram crashes off a viaduct.

And people say the pace of life has changed over here!

Corrie was so OTT that it had me in stitches laughing because I was just waiting for the next episode as one by one they all defied death to jump in to the fire. But when I really roared was when a single policeman arrived he said that they had been unable to get there quicker because there was so many other things on including a massive accident on the M62.

You would have thought that with the number of murders, fights etc in that street they would have a rapid response unit.

But at least you never have a problem parking in that street - they only ever seem to let one in at a time!