Simple Pleasures

Who wasn't watching Big Jet TV as Storm Eunice blew in ? Mark your calendars for the next predicted wild winter weather fronts ... Fatima, Gertrude, Horace etc.

Driving eldest son into work at Heathrow during the pandemic, when public transport was a germ-laden hotspot of infection, we'd pass Jerry ( as I'd later come to learn his name) strapped to the top of his van whilst pointing his camera at incoming jets.

He was easy prey - a plane-spotting, bobble hat-wearing aviation enthusiast. There are hundreds of them lining the perimeter roads of the airport and you'd wonder what the attraction was. Seen one plane land, seen them all. The train-spotting analogies were everywhere. This flask carrying brigade jotting serial numbers in their reporter's notebooks became an easy target.

The (mis-attributed to Andy Warhol) quote of everyone having their 15 minutes of fame was never more applicable than to yesterday's edition of Jerry Dyer's Big Jet TV. Even the name has to be spoken in a Jeremy Clarkson tone of voice. As an assortment of jets lumbered into view into a headwind of around 80mph on their runway approach, cries of "Whoaa" , "Fair Play" and "Get it Down" reverberated on Twitter and beyond. TV and Radio stations who might have privately sniggered at the Avgeek's enthusiasm were queuing up to interview him.

Back in the days of 2-channel TV, you'd stand a good chance of being able to discuss what you'd watched on telly the night before with your workmates. The recent success of Wordle has its roots in the same concept. A collaborative game that you can share for a few entertaining moments every day with anyone and everyone. It's a bonding experience that enables you to reminisce, misty-eyed, about simpler days when Facebook wasn't in your face and Social Media was a mere glint in media moguls' eyes. Yesterday, Big Jet TV joined their hallowed ranks.

I started watching at 9am and finally crawled out of bed 5 hours later having been entertained beyond my wildest expectations. Fair Play Jerry - you Got it Done. 




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