As I walked into my favourite department store this afternoon and saw how busy it was, I could smack myself upside the head. I'd completely forgotten about the annual '3-day Silly Sale' which closed yesterday, despite having drawn countless circles around the picture of the DVD I've been wanting and looking for for a very long time in the promotional brochure that came through my letterbox last week. Now my only option is to order it from Amazon at a much inflated price. If my memory hadn't let me down, I could have been watching Peter Brooke's Mahabharata this very moment.

I first saw this film in 1990, when it was shown on TV in its entire length, while most of my compatriots were watching the Europe Cup final on the other channel. I think Italy won that year. I didn't care; I was totally transfixed by the programme I was watching. To date, I still think that was the best day's telly I've ever seen.

Oh well. Top Gear tonight!