I missed my daily deadline last night due to a very welcome visit from my lovely friend Emma. Before I knew it, I was halfway through a bottle of champagne and, when paired with a naked kebab*, I was no longer able to coherently blog. So instead, we thoroughly enjoyed what I now know to be Spy In The Wild.

The key USP with this programme is that they have managed to capture very natural (and fascinating) behaviour from the animals by combining cameras and animatronics. Robot meerkats, sloths and orangutans have breen created and discretely placed in the wild where they interact with the ‘real’ animals, filming their behaviour and interacting with them. In one scene, the robo-orangutan saws a piece of wood in half; the real orangutan then copies its behaviour, even showing off and sawing whilst lieing down. It really is brilliant to watch!

Newsround did a little piece on it too.

It really is brilliant watching. Our cat Echo agreed too – she was quite intent on catching herself a meerkat. Spoilers: she didn’t.

Spy In The Wild is on BBC 1 on Thursdays at 8pm. You can also watch it here on iPlayer.

* A kebab without pitta bread

Spontaneous combustioniser
Picture credit: Richard Cannon & Chris Capstick/Guardian

My daughter has an addiction. It’s name is Justin Fletcher. Currently, the only way she can get her fix is continued repetition of The Hokey Cokey from his latest album. As for Justin’s House, we watched three episodes on the trot yesterday. Should the day ever arise where he appears on our doorstep, I genuinely think she might implode.

As for me, I’m not blameless in all this addiction talk. I am addicted to my phone. Ironically, not because of its use as a phone. It’s a constant circle of checking Facebook, email, Twitter. A quick check of my Carrot to do list results in another circuit. Every message received, every calender appointment results in a twee notification sound and another circuit. I finish my circuit then start it over just in case something has happened in the meantime.

This is a problem.

I don’t actually need to know the ins and outs of people’s lives. Reality tv and Social Media have made us voyeurs. I am missing out on my family because I can’t ignore the urge to check my phone. My daughter is in the bath – a quick circuit. We’re out for dinner – a quick circuit. “Good morning darling” – a quick circuit.

Enough.

This week, I will be attempting to use my phone for only the following:
– Phone calls
– Texts
– Sat nav (it’s replaced our Tom Tom)
– Restricted email use (I need to keep an eye out for work emails when I’m out)

I’ll let you know how I get on.

Ashes to Ashes – Gene Hunt, Alex Drake
Doctor Who – any of the Doctors, Ace, Rose, Martha, Cyberman, Dalek, Captain Jack
Family Guy – Peter, Lois, Chris, Meg, Stewie, Brian, Quagmire, Cleveland and all the rest
Firefly – Captain Mal, Zoe, Wash, Inara, Jayne, Kaylee, Simon, River, Shepherd
Futurama – Fry, Leela, Bender, Hermes, Dr Zoidberg, the Professor, Amy, Zapp Branigan
Life on Mars – Gene Hunt, Sam Tyler
Red Dwarf – Lister, Arnold Rimmer, Ace Rimmer, Kryten, Cat, Dwayne Dibley, Kochanski, Mr Flibble, Holly
The Simpsons – Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie, Flanders, Nelson and all the rest
South Park – Cartman, Kenny, Kyle, Stan and the rest
Top Gear – if you can go as all three (plus the Stig) you’re on to a winner *new*

Adam Ant – stand and deliver!
Alf (US link) – I have no idea how you’d do this, but I’d be impressed.
Back to the Future – will you be Marty McFly or Doc Brown?
Bananaman from Acacia Avenue.
Basil Fawlty offering the back of his hand to Manwell.
BBC Test Card – blonde wig, chalkboard and freakish cuddly toy.
Beetlejuice who says an alarming number of naughty things.
Blues Brothers – you’ll notice that some of the best and most iconic films were made in the 80s.
Boy George (Culture Club) with braids and every colour of the rainbow.
Breakdancer – don’t forget your bling and practice your moves.
Care Bears – with the Care Bear stare.
Carrie – white dress, red colourant, ace costume.
Charlie’s Angels because it grants the best team pose.
Cocktail – black logo tee and shaker. Everyone’s friend at a party.
Dangermouse with his faithful companion Penfold.
Darth Vader/Princess Leia/Luke Skywalker et al from the Empire Strikes Back.
Debbie Harry (Blondie) with the big blonde hair and dark roots.
Dirty Dancing – don’t spend the whole night in the corner.
Doctor Who was Tom Baker in the 80s. Big hair and big scarf.
Edward Scissorhands although perhaps not in a confined space.
ET – remember to phone for a cab at the end of the night, not just home.
Flashdance – in dance outfit or in overalls, just leave the water at home.
Fonzie from Happy Days. Eehhhhhhhh!
Frank Spencer – keep referring to Betty in your flasherjacket.
Frankie Goes to Hollywood – hey – relax!
Freddy Krueger from Nightmare on Elm Street.
Ghostbusters – because it must be in as many of my lists as possible.
Gizmo/Gremlin – I will love you forever if you do this costume.
Grotbags – the greenest witch pre-Elphaba.
He-Man compelte with sword. Could even have a fight with Skeletor.
Indiana Jones – a whip can be very handy you know.
James Bond is the costume for every decade.
Jason Vorhees – the one with the hockey mask from Friday 13th.
Jessica Rabbit from ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’
Knightmare – with an oversize horned helmet.
Labyrinth – but only if you play with your glass balls.
Madness – bonus points if you do the walk.
Madonna all in white with lace and bows. Remember your beauty spot!
Magnum PI – genius excuse for a massive moustache.
Mermaid from ‘Splash’
Miama Vice with a white suit and coloured tee, remember to roll up your sleeves.
Michael Jackson with his silver glove, white socks and loafers, team with black leather jacket for a ‘Bad’ look or a red leather jacket to give a ‘thrill’.
Mork from Ork in his red lycra suit with shiny triangle.
Mr T or indeed anyone from the A Team.
Olivia Newton John from the ‘Let’s Get Physical’ video – legwarmers, headbands and lycra agogo.
Orville the Duck with the man attached.
Ozzy Osbourne as the Prince of Darkness always lights up a party.
Pob – no spitting please.
Prince all in purple with a bit of stubble for ‘Purple Rain’
Prom night – consider your taffeta gown, your corsage and your perm.
Punk was all the rage. Think black leather mixed with denim and bright hair. Love your lipstick.
Queen in a group of four, each wear a black top and choose a member of Queen to dress the head as. When questioned on who you are, run into a group? with your heads in the right place and start singing.
Rainbow – such choice in puppetry!
Rainbow Brite – shiny fabrics ahoy!
Ralph Macchio (the Karate Kid) in your white uniform, head tie and a bit of wax on, wax off.
Red Dwarf with a H head, robot face, Cat clothes or boiler suit, you’re set. Or just a black rollneck.
Robert Smith (The Cure) – black black black, with a smidgeon (or smudge) of red lipstick.
Rod Hull & Emu available from all good retail outlets.
Rocky – ADRIAAAAAAAAAN!!!
Roland Rat – Alright ratbags!
Rubix Cube – it’s amazing what you can do with a cardboard box.
Scarface – white suit, water pistol and scar.
She-Ra – Brilliant chance to wear a cape.
Smurfs and of course, Smurfette
Spit the Dog worthy of his own entry.
Superman – see, that stag night costume *can* be worn again.
Superted with his friend, Spotty.
The Breakfast Club if you can blag a gang of you to go, this would be mega fantastic.
The Incredible Hulk – green it up!
The Young Ones – choose from Neil, Vyvyan, Rick or Mike.???? ***new***
Thundercats because everyone fancied Cheetara as a boy.
Tiswas – Are you OOOOkaaaaay, the Phantom Flan Flinger, or HoudiElbow?
Toni Basil in a cheerleader outfit from ‘Hey Mickey’.
Top Gun with a jumpsuit and helmet. Don’t forget the shades.
Toyah Wilcox because we love her. Colour, glam and attitude!
Transformers – hey, people are really inventive with cardboard!
V – get with the lizard face!
Weird Science – jumpers + bras on heads. Pazzaz.
Wham – choose life, and a quiff!
Willo the Wisp with Mavis Cruet the Fairy.
Withnail gives you the golden opportunity to demand booze.
Wonder Woman – the tv heroine of the 80s.
Worzel Gummidge – don’t forget the robin inside your tummy. And Aunt Sally.
WWF – not the animal one, the wrestling one. Spandex, masks, and the occasional snake in a bag.
Yuppie – with the introduction of mobile phones the size of a large brick, another sleeve roller. Remember the hair slick.
Zombie from ‘Day of the Dead’

Date: Friday 20th March 2009
Time: 1pm
Location: Somerset House
Reason: To prove the power of Twitter in getting the word out!

Jason Bradbury can only use Twitter to organise this, so do please follow him to keep fully updated or check here for more news. However, you, my wonderful lovelies, are free to spread the word any way you wish!

Andy Pandy
Animaniacs – Yakko, Wacko or Dot?
Art Attack
Astrix / Oblix
Bagpuss
Basil Brush
Bertha
Bill and Ben plus Little Weed
Bugs Bunny
Byker Grove
Care Bears
Chip and Dale? **new**
Daffy Duck
Dangermouse? **new**
Dogtanian
Duck Tales – Huey, Louis, Duey or Scroodge McDuck?? **new**
Dungeons and Dragons? **new**
Ed the Duck
Elmer Fudd
Fireman Sam
Fraggle Rock
Fun House contestant / Pat Sharp
Gordon the Gopher
Grange Hill pupil
Grotbags
He-Man / She-Ra
Henry’s Cat? **new**
In the Night Garden
Inspector Gadget
Knightmare (This would be my choice)
Maid Marion / Sheriff of Nottingham
Marvin the Martian
Paddington Bear
Penny Crayon
Phantom Flan Flinger
Pink Panther
Pob
Poddington Peas
Pokemon (I didn’t want to include this but Alex said I had to)
Postman Pat / Jess
Rainbow Brite
Rentaghost
Rod Hull and Emu (get yer puppet for only ?20 in the shops!)
Roland Rat
Sesame Street – Yip Yip Yips, Oscar the Grouch, Bert and Ernie
Shoe People
Spit the Dog
Spongebob Squarepants *new 22/1
Taz the Tasmanian Devil
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teletubbies
The Raccoons
Thomas the Tank Engine
Thunderbirds / Lady Penelope / Parker
Timmy Mallett
Tin Tin / Snowy
Transformers? **new**
Tweenies
Wizbit
Worzel Hummidge /Aunt Sally
Yogi Bear