Bit of an early night yesterday, I realised that blogging can be exhaustive and ended up falling asleep at around 10:15-10:30pm fully aware that someone could wake me up in the middle of the night. It didn't happen of course although when I woke up myself I ended up switching on my radio randomly and hearing Macy Gray "I Try". Now there's a song that reminds me of that crush with Dawn. There really was no getting away from it and it reminds me of several taxi rides to and from school.
Actually, the rides back I used to really look forward to as at 3:20 Chris Finn, then at Invicta FM would take a delve into the "Invicta Files" with 3 back to back classic tracks which just about covered the whole journey back from Faversham to Canterbury.
Perfect! I'd be hoping every day that they'd play the brilliant cover of "Harvest For The World" by the Christians and when they did, they followed it up with "The Sun Goes Down" by Level 42, another popular band played by the station.
This was around the time when future XFM programme controller Andrew Phillips was in charge of the station. And it wasn't too bad a period really, a new strapline had been introduced "Today's Music For Kent" OK, not original but it didn't neccesarily stick to what it meant which was good. Also introduced at this time were "Just 80s" which went out for 3 hours every Friday and "Dance Decades" doing the same on Saturday both with the rather lovely John Osbourne.
And it didn't just play the usual rubbish, you got a few obscure gems as well such as "Southern Freeez" by Freeez, "Shame, Shame, Shame" by Shirley and Co, and "Galaxy Of Love" by the Crown Heights Affair. That last one was legendary, although it's quite a poignant one as well as I heard it being played the night after the visit to Mamma Mia and found it difficult to sleep that night. Not just because of the crush, but because John didn't even say what the name of the track was! Something I've tried to avoid since starting Soul Expression.
I never found out for 7 years, until Sandra C at Solar played the record on her show and I owe her a lot. I'm not sure if it was chosen by herself or her husband Kev but I know they've both got brilliant taste and have been supportive since the beginning.
Anyway, back to the original subject and I probably started listening to the station at the wrong time as Andrew Phillips left to join XFM and in his place came another Australian Jeff O'Brien. His tenure at the station resulted in tighter playlists which even extended to both the 80s and disco shows! Why?!
It also saw the departure of one of their longest serving DJs, Neil Francis who had been tempted by an offer from Capital FM to present their late show. This only lasted for two years before moving to his current home Virgin where he resides along with none other than John Osbourne.
Neil was replaced on the Morning Zoo by James Heming who's still there to this day.
A nice enough fella and Phil, one of my ex-colleagues at ASDA apparently knew him to prove it, but nowhere near as good as Neil was and everyone else, fellow students, classroom assistants, even taxi drivers agreed.
I'm lucky I discovered Essex FM when I did which happened to be on a bank holiday Monday and I still have that moment on tape somwhere! A really exciting ad break with ads for the Kevin and Perry movie and the Carphone Warehouse followed immediately by something that would probably change my outlook on radio forever: (lazer FX) "Essssex Eeehfehhm!".
Invicta FM hadn't used jingles like that for over 5 years and here was a station doing so but managing to sound up to date and uptempo at the same time!
After a rather heavy thunderstorm I was able to recieve the station in my bedroom and that's what I spent most of Summer 2000 doing. I remember the night well, it was when England lost Euro 2000 and the next morning on the Big Breakfast OB reporter Richard Bacon announced that he was "coming home".
Although I could recive Essex FM on my big stereo system, it wasn't strong enough to be recieved on my bedside radio which still stayed tuned to Invicta FM and I can remember John Osborne's link he made that night "Craig David on Today's Music For Kent, Invicta FM, Seven Days and England have just reached the end of theirs.."
Invicta FM's only real example of entertainment was on Sunday's after the Pepsi Chart with Rick Adams, yes him also off the Big Breakfast! He was really good although he only got the job because of new PC Luis Clark who used to work with him at 2CR in Bournemouth.
Here's an extract from the show and there's no denying that Rick is one of the most talented, underrated broadcasters and writers in the UK.
I didn't really listen to him that much although that was entirely because of the Sunday Night Carwash on Essex FM! I may have a listen back to one of them tonight and upload a few links because it's about time I did so.
There used to be a guy on the year before called Paul Deacon who was just as talented with silly characters who started off on a station where a certain Miss Impey now works on in South Bucks before moving to Invicta Supergold on the afternoon show. After the station got undeservedly transformed into Capital Gold in late February 1998 Paul made the switch to Invicta FM doing almost the same stuff but still very topical and entertaining, every Sunday night.
Sadly the arrival of Jeff O'Brien resulted in him being asked to "play it straight" and by October 1999 Paul left the station.
I was stupid enough to leave my window open one Saturday night after being hassled to stay the night on a nearby camping ground in Stelling Minnis just to keep Mum happy on her birthday. The next day I found out that my TV was screwed as it had been pissing it down the previous night and because we went on holiday, it took us a month to get it replaced.
Essex FM kept me entertained during that time and for that I'm grateful for, especially with Paul Lovett covering on breakfast with his competition "Beat The Toaster" which had a jingle to the tune of "Stop The Pigeon!".
When I got back from holiday and great radio on offer such as NRJ and Nostalgie, oh dear. Changes were being made. Rocket Rog had disapeared from sport, John Leech disapeared without trace on the Tuesday and I found out via Media UK that Essex FM had been brought by GWR a month earlier.
Now when I found out that Essex were owned by GWR I thought "wow all their stations must be brilliant" as I'd heard SGR (and even Orwell/Saxon FM), Broadland and so on whilst visiting aunties and grandparents etc in the early 90s.
How fucking wrong I was.
All of them had been taken over and forced to play "Today's Better Music Mix" and on the August Bank Holiday, I heard Martin Day utter the words "Now you know what we mean by Today's Better Music Mix..." Although they were still using the Power Positive jingles on air and had the Dancing Through The Decades shows on Sunday I noticed that they started to drop anything from before 1995 from their playlists. And guess who was in responsible for it all?
That's right, Jeff O'Brien!
No disrespect as I've heard some brilliant Australian radio such as Triple J (thanks Ashlee!) but with the excepetion of Andrew Phillips, my views on Australian radio programmers are the same as Paul O'Grady's on TV executives.
Over the next six weeks changes were slowly brought in which was a lot nicer than launching overnight without warning like Chiltern, Trent FM, 210 and so on.
Martin Day was joined by a woman from Leicester (?) called Su becoming "Martin and Su and the Morning Crew" and Peter Stewart expecting to do his final Carwash one Sunday in September got a two week repreive and was more than excited to show it on air!
But to be honest I think the Carwash sounded rather out of place amongst the blandness that made up the rest of the station and when it ended on the 8th of October 2000, I was gutted but at least I knew that the end was official.
I even rang up and got put on air but luckily that isn't included within this package looking back at the higlights from the final show.
All the support assistants at school could understand that it wasn't "just another radio show" or station and the following weekend only got worse. Paul Lovett made his departure from drive on the Friday as he'd just got a deserved position on sister station Mercury FM's breakfast show in Surrey. It was also expected that newsreader Tracy Cooper was leaving too but she ended up taking Peter Stewart's job as head of news when he went to work with his old boss at TalkSport in January 2001.
On the Saturday at 6pm it happened, instead of Chris Brook's Club show (can't remember the full name) we got Mel and Rob's "Saturday Night Live" (original!) and I thought, "oh no". This went on for four hours followed by the Party Mix or "Tea Party Mix" as several people called it on Media UK and compared to Essex's long established "Club Tasty" that was on, (only the previous night!) this was bollocks.
I didn't really listen to the Club shows on Essex that much but that didn't mean I didn't like them. This was giving the younger end of the market something special on both Friday and Saturdays, and the older, more maturer end would be catered from 10-10 on Sundays with Dancing Through The Decades.
Which continued as normal with "The Best 80s Show in the World Ever" at 10am, the 90s show at 1pm, Foxy between 4 and 7 and then, oh no. Sunday Night Live with Mel Everett interviewing none other than Nichola Holt off Big Brother!
If you don't remember her she was the bald contestant who released a single called "The Game" and got all the stick she deserved as a result. A answerphone message looking for sympathy that got played on the Big Breakfast summed it all up.
It wasn't all bad however as it was half term the next week and we were going up to Auntie Alison's in Stowmarket but this meant only one thing, Vibe FM!
I spent all of Sunday listening to Adi Linton's cracking "Lost In Music" with such gems as "Stop Me From Starting This Feeling" by Lou Rawls, "Turn The Music Up" by the Player's Association and "Get Up and Boogie" by Silver Convention
That made my weekend, oh yes!
And I still had Neptune Radio in Dover to keep me occupied with Simon West and Geoff Fitch, both ex Invicta jocks doing a top job amongst the rest of the team. It was the best one of the smaller stations launched in Kent, as back then, CTFM in Canterbury was abosolutley appaling.
They had great fresh talent such as Jon Holmes and Andy Hurst who were nominated for and won awards, but they were sacked in 1999 as a result of a programme controller who apparently had little undertstanding of radio overall, let alone great radio and no sense of humour.
I really hope I get to see Jon again at this year's SRAs although I'm not sure if Ali will be feeling the same!
Back to late October!
Unfortunately I ended up breaking my aerial extention and all was lost.
However 106 CTFM had relaunched with the slogan "The Best Music, Across the City and Along The Coast".
I gave it a listen but compared to what I'd listened to all summer, it was a wet blanket and sounded very empty at times.
There was a guy on Sunday nights who could have been about 18/19 who was simply dull as ditchwater and did features like "The Topical Tune" which speaks for itself, "Hello, Hello" involving a fake interview with a celebrity (and yes, they did use that bloody Beatles song) and "Pick Of The Week" which owed a big debt to the Radio 4 programme of the same name.
I may as well stop here as like I said, blogging does tire you to an extent. I'll continue the second part of my radio journey in the next post. It's like I'm giving away my life story but if you've made it as far as here I'm really grateful and know that it's not just me who has had to suffer a lot of crap radio.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Saturday, August 04, 2007
"This Is What They Want!"
I managed to uncover a rather dusty DVD although it's just over a year since the series ended, the highlights of Dick and Dom in Da Bungalow with a superb commentary by the pair along with director Simon Hepworth and producer Steve Ryde.
This really shows how much everyone enjoyed doing the show but it also proves once again that they had the right people on board to make it as great as it was. Steve being involved in children's television for donkeys years since appearing as a teenager on "You're Mother Wouldn't Like It" and the spin off "Palace Hill". Not to mention his stint as the voiceover on CITV throughout the mid 90s and as the scarecrow on "Wizadora".
But it shows how lucky people in the Midlands were that Central Television had a workshop for up and coming performers and Shane Meadows found many of his acting talents through the same place despite the fuckers at Carlton taking over.
The music used throughout the programme was brilliant with catchy tunes as composed by Andy Blythe and Marten Joustra who have a wide selection to their bow. One of them being stolen by Chris Moyles; the legendary "Celebrity Two Word Tango" which is great fun to play as well!
However the funniest part on the DVD was a sketch where the duo were in a boxing ring and making rather suggestive moves accompanied by a hilarious commentary by Ian Kirkby; also of "Your Mother Wouldn't Like It" and who later went on to play the equally hilarious Geordie detective Harry Batt. I won't give too much away but the boys revealed that they shot the sketch in a real gym with real boxers pissed off that they were wasting their time.
But at least it shows they were understanding of the people they could upset despite pissing themselves at the same time. Something I doubt Tiswas could ever own up to and if anyone disagrees, you're more than welcome to do so.
I read in an interview with Dom that his education was horrible, was always in the bottom sets whilst Dick was bullied just as badly. They definitely got what they wanted quicker than they thought although if you look at them presenting on CBBC back in 1997, they are completely different. More avuncular than anarchic.
Da Bungalow was very succesfull with the move to BBC 1 gaining a greater following and putting the BBC back at the top of the Saturday morning wars. Sadly success went a bit far with the final series (mooted a year in advance by the way) adding celebrities to the mix which did not work.
Off The Telly sum it up well through their reviews from 2005 and 2006 respectively.
Thankfully the final show just had a normal 10 year old in place of the celebrity guest proving that the team did their best to please their fans.
However, there wasn't really any friendly rivalry between them and ITV who with the demise of SM:tv in 2003 launched Ministry Of Mayhem with ex CBBC presenters Michael Underwood and the gorge Holly Willoughby along with other stalwart Stephen Mulhern.
The titles and set with white pink and blue primary colours reminded me heavilly of Motormouth and that was no surprise as producers Ged Allen and Vanessa Hill were part of the production team along with BBC reject Chris Bellinger and even Trev Neal and Simon Hickson on writing duties.
But just because you've got people with years of experience and great shows of the past to their bow, doesn't always mean they've got fresh ideas. What was even more shocking was that none of them wanted their names displayed on screen at the end of the show!
The Ministry ended up being relaunched in July disposing of the phone girls who spoke in unison and gradually dropped all pretences of being set in a ministry.
Hadn't they learnt from Motormouth, Ghost Train, or Parallel 9?
With the exception of 73, not all Saturday Morning shows with a set up location worked.
Further changes came in December when Michael disapeared for no firm reason and the title being changed to just MOM.
This resulted in the show reaching its peak in 2005 with Holly and Stephen at the helm and new features such as the infamous "Ram Ray", "Name That Tone" with Mr Lee, and a high point being when they celebrated ITV's 50th anniversary by getting past presenters of their Saturday shows reunited such as Pat Sharp, Jenny Powell, Neil Buchanan and even Sally James.
Just an aside, I know why I was getting crushes on my support assistants!
Because they reminded me of those who presented on these programmes!
Dawn was very similar to Jenny Powell, and Carol had a hint of Sally James in her.
They both laughed at the comparisons and even claimed to hate them respectively for obvious reasons!
But anyway, there was a lot of petty rivalry that showed on screen between Da Bungalow and the Ministry. Especially when the final series of Da Bungalow previewed a game in which children would sneak large items into unexpecting shopper's trolleys and MOM nabbed it off them! It was still entertaining all the same mainly because it had "Oh Yeah" by Yello as the theme.
I can even remember when James Bourne's Busted offshoot "Son Of Dork" performed their single "Ticket Outta Loserville" prompting Stephen to ask the leader singer "are there any bungalows in Loserville?"
I turned out that MOM were the losers in the end. Despite a brilliant 100th show in December 2005, changes were a foot as cutbacks meant the show had to be slimmed down and this resulted in another relaunch in January 2006 with the title "Holly And Stephen's Saturday Showdown", despite being billed as MOM in the ITV offices!
And oh my, whose bright idea was it to set the show in Holly and Stephens "own house"?!
Features such as "Supermarket Sneak" and eventually "Ram Ray" were brought back but it did look like the show was giving up at times, regardless of Holly Willoughby being a great excuse to get up on a Saturday morning.
In June the show disapeared from ITV1 in favour of Anthony Worral Thompson, becoming exclusive to the CiTV channel until it's demise on the 1st of July that year.
I've still got the final moments on DVD and it's sad in a way because it broke a long heritage of great Saturday morning shows on the channel. They did their best to go out in style with buckets of gunge being thrown everywhere and "Summer of 69" playing in the background!
Holly mentioned on the Paul O'Grady Show earlier this year that she really missed doing the shows, especially when it was MOM. This is what happens when those with no taste in such programmes take overall control and Paul had something to say about that when guesting on Richard and Judy's final This Morning in July 2001, "what they know about entertainment they can write on an ant's bum"
That's the sort of attitude for a performer to have, one that doesn't care about the direction of their career, but is interested in their guests. Never take yourself too seriously.
This really shows how much everyone enjoyed doing the show but it also proves once again that they had the right people on board to make it as great as it was. Steve being involved in children's television for donkeys years since appearing as a teenager on "You're Mother Wouldn't Like It" and the spin off "Palace Hill". Not to mention his stint as the voiceover on CITV throughout the mid 90s and as the scarecrow on "Wizadora".
But it shows how lucky people in the Midlands were that Central Television had a workshop for up and coming performers and Shane Meadows found many of his acting talents through the same place despite the fuckers at Carlton taking over.
The music used throughout the programme was brilliant with catchy tunes as composed by Andy Blythe and Marten Joustra who have a wide selection to their bow. One of them being stolen by Chris Moyles; the legendary "Celebrity Two Word Tango" which is great fun to play as well!
However the funniest part on the DVD was a sketch where the duo were in a boxing ring and making rather suggestive moves accompanied by a hilarious commentary by Ian Kirkby; also of "Your Mother Wouldn't Like It" and who later went on to play the equally hilarious Geordie detective Harry Batt. I won't give too much away but the boys revealed that they shot the sketch in a real gym with real boxers pissed off that they were wasting their time.
But at least it shows they were understanding of the people they could upset despite pissing themselves at the same time. Something I doubt Tiswas could ever own up to and if anyone disagrees, you're more than welcome to do so.
I read in an interview with Dom that his education was horrible, was always in the bottom sets whilst Dick was bullied just as badly. They definitely got what they wanted quicker than they thought although if you look at them presenting on CBBC back in 1997, they are completely different. More avuncular than anarchic.
Da Bungalow was very succesfull with the move to BBC 1 gaining a greater following and putting the BBC back at the top of the Saturday morning wars. Sadly success went a bit far with the final series (mooted a year in advance by the way) adding celebrities to the mix which did not work.
Off The Telly sum it up well through their reviews from 2005 and 2006 respectively.
Thankfully the final show just had a normal 10 year old in place of the celebrity guest proving that the team did their best to please their fans.
However, there wasn't really any friendly rivalry between them and ITV who with the demise of SM:tv in 2003 launched Ministry Of Mayhem with ex CBBC presenters Michael Underwood and the gorge Holly Willoughby along with other stalwart Stephen Mulhern.
The titles and set with white pink and blue primary colours reminded me heavilly of Motormouth and that was no surprise as producers Ged Allen and Vanessa Hill were part of the production team along with BBC reject Chris Bellinger and even Trev Neal and Simon Hickson on writing duties.
But just because you've got people with years of experience and great shows of the past to their bow, doesn't always mean they've got fresh ideas. What was even more shocking was that none of them wanted their names displayed on screen at the end of the show!
The Ministry ended up being relaunched in July disposing of the phone girls who spoke in unison and gradually dropped all pretences of being set in a ministry.
Hadn't they learnt from Motormouth, Ghost Train, or Parallel 9?
With the exception of 73, not all Saturday Morning shows with a set up location worked.
Further changes came in December when Michael disapeared for no firm reason and the title being changed to just MOM.
This resulted in the show reaching its peak in 2005 with Holly and Stephen at the helm and new features such as the infamous "Ram Ray", "Name That Tone" with Mr Lee, and a high point being when they celebrated ITV's 50th anniversary by getting past presenters of their Saturday shows reunited such as Pat Sharp, Jenny Powell, Neil Buchanan and even Sally James.
Just an aside, I know why I was getting crushes on my support assistants!
Because they reminded me of those who presented on these programmes!
Dawn was very similar to Jenny Powell, and Carol had a hint of Sally James in her.
They both laughed at the comparisons and even claimed to hate them respectively for obvious reasons!
But anyway, there was a lot of petty rivalry that showed on screen between Da Bungalow and the Ministry. Especially when the final series of Da Bungalow previewed a game in which children would sneak large items into unexpecting shopper's trolleys and MOM nabbed it off them! It was still entertaining all the same mainly because it had "Oh Yeah" by Yello as the theme.
I can even remember when James Bourne's Busted offshoot "Son Of Dork" performed their single "Ticket Outta Loserville" prompting Stephen to ask the leader singer "are there any bungalows in Loserville?"
I turned out that MOM were the losers in the end. Despite a brilliant 100th show in December 2005, changes were a foot as cutbacks meant the show had to be slimmed down and this resulted in another relaunch in January 2006 with the title "Holly And Stephen's Saturday Showdown", despite being billed as MOM in the ITV offices!
And oh my, whose bright idea was it to set the show in Holly and Stephens "own house"?!
Features such as "Supermarket Sneak" and eventually "Ram Ray" were brought back but it did look like the show was giving up at times, regardless of Holly Willoughby being a great excuse to get up on a Saturday morning.
In June the show disapeared from ITV1 in favour of Anthony Worral Thompson, becoming exclusive to the CiTV channel until it's demise on the 1st of July that year.
I've still got the final moments on DVD and it's sad in a way because it broke a long heritage of great Saturday morning shows on the channel. They did their best to go out in style with buckets of gunge being thrown everywhere and "Summer of 69" playing in the background!
Holly mentioned on the Paul O'Grady Show earlier this year that she really missed doing the shows, especially when it was MOM. This is what happens when those with no taste in such programmes take overall control and Paul had something to say about that when guesting on Richard and Judy's final This Morning in July 2001, "what they know about entertainment they can write on an ant's bum"
That's the sort of attitude for a performer to have, one that doesn't care about the direction of their career, but is interested in their guests. Never take yourself too seriously.
"Coming Out Of The Washbasket"
I spent most of lunchtime chatting to Honkit on MSN about lots of things really. Some that have taken up heavy amounts of this blog.
I tend to call him Hon quite a lot which he doesn't mind but I was really annoyed to find out that the reason for this was because of a short minded woman who founded and ran the Autism Unit at the Abbey School a year after I had arrived. I won't mention her name but she used to have the nickname "The Electric Wire".
I never realised that it wasn't just me who didn't get on with her. She didn't like it when things wouldn't go her own way and rather than calming down the pupils when they got tempermental (not a typo) she just bollocked them. That's not what the place was built for and Mrs Thompson, one of the lovely supporting assistants who worked there told me a year after the Wire's departure that she didn't like her either.
I wouldn't think Mr Walker the headmaster of the school would have been impressed and all.
I was flattered when he told me last year at the reopening that I was the main reason for wanting the center to be set up because he recieved a letter from someone wanting to set one up at the school and he responded to him the on the same day.
Even Hon didn't like "the wire" but didn't let the hyphenating or seperation of his first name get to him.
To be fair though, he had always been called Honkit and never Hon, where people have shortened my name to Rob for much longer which I've never complained about.
Eventually she left in October of my third year at the Abbey in 1998 followed by several people filling in before Susan arrived the following September and is still there today.
It's because of petty misunderstood teachers and classroom assistants that made me feel unable to trust the nicer ones whilst I was at secondary school and when you've been kicked in the teeth, no, in the bollocks, it's difficult to trust people.
Year 9 was the worst of all my time at the Abbey because it started off with great hope.
I had been intergrated into the Autism Unit and had people like Mrs Thompson with me in lessons which we both enjoyed. Sadly that wasn't to last as three weeks later I ended up back with mainstream helpers. And once again I'm suspicious that the Wire was probably responsible for that as well,
Or should that be helper? I was paired with a woman called Sharron who I'd had the year before and I didn't really get on with her that well I'm afraid.
She was like a female version of Holly from Red Dwarf (yes I know there was a female one in later series but a direct female version of the Norman Lovett one) and I was the equivalent of Dave Lister. Except in this case Sharron had no sense of humour. Or didn't have one at the same time as I did.
She would bollock me if I made a joke or laughed at a lesson disruption from one of the other pupils. One such example was when a geography teacher asked us to name some exports and that went OK. Then he asked us to name some imports and I won't say what was said but Bernard Manning would have found it hilarious. Unfortunately my helper didn't.
And for the record I was just laughing at what someone else said, I never said anything.
This was on the day I had a dress rehearsal for the production of Bugsy Malone that the school had put on which meant I got to miss the rest of the days lessons. But my uncontrollable laughter resulted in this response from my helper and I can remember the exact words:
(stern/firm voice) "I can see you coming into Science if you don't pack it in.."
Other helpers I had included a lovely woman called Carol who I am really grateful for listening to me and my obsessions, and one of a similar nature called Dawn, who didn't nag but just lightly told me off in a jokey manner or smile at me knowing that it was wrong. "now now, don't be rude!"
Not Sharron. She wouldn't have any of it and when I got bollocked for reacting to someone making fun of me I hit her with a ruler. That could have got me into the exclusion room but luckily the other staff were more understanding.
The amount of after school detentions I have escaped was immense.
That summer term was awful because both Carol and Dawn were taken ill and one morning Sharron ended up supporting me when I wasn't expecting it.
I didn't take kindly to it happening that morning as later on that afternoon, the same geography teacher had arranged us to use the food technology rooms to do Italian cooking which I was really looking forward too.
Carol or Dawn would have be supporting me in that lesson (although with making a mince and pasta dish I wouldn't have really needed it!) and I said behind Sharron's back "if I have her in that lesson this afternoon, I won't be happy". This was in a double CDT lesson and was only for the first period as in the second one a woman called Rachel who had a wicked sense of humour took over helping me.
As soon as she arrived there were students from the other classes coming in and telling me that "Sharron was crying" which I got told by Rachel to ignore but it wouldn't surprise me if it was true.
That was such a great cooking lesson though, making something that I actually liked.
I can remember the date as well, 2nd of July 1999 although that's mainy because of an exchange between teacher Mr Wright and a rather tubby fella called Jamie who walked into the room towards the end of the lesson:
MW: "Jamie you owe me £5 for saying that the world would end on Thursday"
JC: "What?! Eh?"
This prompted another student to respond "what if it did?, you still wouldn't have got your money!"
A briliant end to an almost superb day with similar weather conditions to the ones outside as I type.
Back to the main subject and another Carol, Caroline Baber who was the Speech Therapist employed by the Autism unit was asked to try and arrange a social session for myself and Sharron which was a disaster from the beginning.
I refused to speak to Sharron whilst she tried to be polite with me and ask me questions but I wouldn't have any of it. I didn't want to know.
After a two week break for outings for those who couldn't go on the camping holiday they tried it again to similar results. It was then decided I wouldn't have Sharron helping me in year 10 and that meant the rest of my time at the Abbey was predominantly happier.
But I probably ended up liking the helpers I had a bit too much and hated going away with my parents to far flung places because the helpers weren't there.
I'll admit it, I ended up having a crush on Dawn after an outing with her to "Mamma Mia" in December of 1999 which went too far resulting in me being upset and not finishing my time at the Abbey as I'd have liked to when the exams ended. She liked most of the things I liked, I just approached her in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It was also around the time I developed my obsession for radio and disco music and this was not coincidental.
However two years later just as I was finishing my AVCE course I saw her in Canterbury town center and it was like nothing had happened. She was happy and I was happy. Still the case now I reckon.
It's worth keeping these things in mind. When they happen again (ooh they will) I'll tell someone straight who I can trust in wanting me to deal with them. I have a few people in mind who aren't lazy, arrogant, or untrusting. And good looking and comforting at the same time, not just to me but for everyone!
I tend to call him Hon quite a lot which he doesn't mind but I was really annoyed to find out that the reason for this was because of a short minded woman who founded and ran the Autism Unit at the Abbey School a year after I had arrived. I won't mention her name but she used to have the nickname "The Electric Wire".
I never realised that it wasn't just me who didn't get on with her. She didn't like it when things wouldn't go her own way and rather than calming down the pupils when they got tempermental (not a typo) she just bollocked them. That's not what the place was built for and Mrs Thompson, one of the lovely supporting assistants who worked there told me a year after the Wire's departure that she didn't like her either.
I wouldn't think Mr Walker the headmaster of the school would have been impressed and all.
I was flattered when he told me last year at the reopening that I was the main reason for wanting the center to be set up because he recieved a letter from someone wanting to set one up at the school and he responded to him the on the same day.
Even Hon didn't like "the wire" but didn't let the hyphenating or seperation of his first name get to him.
To be fair though, he had always been called Honkit and never Hon, where people have shortened my name to Rob for much longer which I've never complained about.
Eventually she left in October of my third year at the Abbey in 1998 followed by several people filling in before Susan arrived the following September and is still there today.
It's because of petty misunderstood teachers and classroom assistants that made me feel unable to trust the nicer ones whilst I was at secondary school and when you've been kicked in the teeth, no, in the bollocks, it's difficult to trust people.
Year 9 was the worst of all my time at the Abbey because it started off with great hope.
I had been intergrated into the Autism Unit and had people like Mrs Thompson with me in lessons which we both enjoyed. Sadly that wasn't to last as three weeks later I ended up back with mainstream helpers. And once again I'm suspicious that the Wire was probably responsible for that as well,
Or should that be helper? I was paired with a woman called Sharron who I'd had the year before and I didn't really get on with her that well I'm afraid.
She was like a female version of Holly from Red Dwarf (yes I know there was a female one in later series but a direct female version of the Norman Lovett one) and I was the equivalent of Dave Lister. Except in this case Sharron had no sense of humour. Or didn't have one at the same time as I did.
She would bollock me if I made a joke or laughed at a lesson disruption from one of the other pupils. One such example was when a geography teacher asked us to name some exports and that went OK. Then he asked us to name some imports and I won't say what was said but Bernard Manning would have found it hilarious. Unfortunately my helper didn't.
And for the record I was just laughing at what someone else said, I never said anything.
This was on the day I had a dress rehearsal for the production of Bugsy Malone that the school had put on which meant I got to miss the rest of the days lessons. But my uncontrollable laughter resulted in this response from my helper and I can remember the exact words:
(stern/firm voice) "I can see you coming into Science if you don't pack it in.."
Other helpers I had included a lovely woman called Carol who I am really grateful for listening to me and my obsessions, and one of a similar nature called Dawn, who didn't nag but just lightly told me off in a jokey manner or smile at me knowing that it was wrong. "now now, don't be rude!"
Not Sharron. She wouldn't have any of it and when I got bollocked for reacting to someone making fun of me I hit her with a ruler. That could have got me into the exclusion room but luckily the other staff were more understanding.
The amount of after school detentions I have escaped was immense.
That summer term was awful because both Carol and Dawn were taken ill and one morning Sharron ended up supporting me when I wasn't expecting it.
I didn't take kindly to it happening that morning as later on that afternoon, the same geography teacher had arranged us to use the food technology rooms to do Italian cooking which I was really looking forward too.
Carol or Dawn would have be supporting me in that lesson (although with making a mince and pasta dish I wouldn't have really needed it!) and I said behind Sharron's back "if I have her in that lesson this afternoon, I won't be happy". This was in a double CDT lesson and was only for the first period as in the second one a woman called Rachel who had a wicked sense of humour took over helping me.
As soon as she arrived there were students from the other classes coming in and telling me that "Sharron was crying" which I got told by Rachel to ignore but it wouldn't surprise me if it was true.
That was such a great cooking lesson though, making something that I actually liked.
I can remember the date as well, 2nd of July 1999 although that's mainy because of an exchange between teacher Mr Wright and a rather tubby fella called Jamie who walked into the room towards the end of the lesson:
MW: "Jamie you owe me £5 for saying that the world would end on Thursday"
JC: "What?! Eh?"
This prompted another student to respond "what if it did?, you still wouldn't have got your money!"
A briliant end to an almost superb day with similar weather conditions to the ones outside as I type.
Back to the main subject and another Carol, Caroline Baber who was the Speech Therapist employed by the Autism unit was asked to try and arrange a social session for myself and Sharron which was a disaster from the beginning.
I refused to speak to Sharron whilst she tried to be polite with me and ask me questions but I wouldn't have any of it. I didn't want to know.
After a two week break for outings for those who couldn't go on the camping holiday they tried it again to similar results. It was then decided I wouldn't have Sharron helping me in year 10 and that meant the rest of my time at the Abbey was predominantly happier.
But I probably ended up liking the helpers I had a bit too much and hated going away with my parents to far flung places because the helpers weren't there.
I'll admit it, I ended up having a crush on Dawn after an outing with her to "Mamma Mia" in December of 1999 which went too far resulting in me being upset and not finishing my time at the Abbey as I'd have liked to when the exams ended. She liked most of the things I liked, I just approached her in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It was also around the time I developed my obsession for radio and disco music and this was not coincidental.
However two years later just as I was finishing my AVCE course I saw her in Canterbury town center and it was like nothing had happened. She was happy and I was happy. Still the case now I reckon.
It's worth keeping these things in mind. When they happen again (ooh they will) I'll tell someone straight who I can trust in wanting me to deal with them. I have a few people in mind who aren't lazy, arrogant, or untrusting. And good looking and comforting at the same time, not just to me but for everyone!
"If You Want To Make A Purchase, Please Come To The Nearest Till..."
The chapter in Chris Moyles's book which looked back at Radio Topshop got me thinking.
They didn't half have cracking jingles!
First of all this set from TM in 1986. Resung from a package called "Powerplay" this really demonstrates how classy Tom Merriman's jingles were and it definitely showed Capital the way forward as they ended up having a similar sounding package on their station a year later. Steve Collins even used his shout jingle from Top Shop on air after joining the Euston Tower!
Other DJs back then included Gary King, Jonathan Miles who went onto do a great job on Invicta FM's "Late Night Grooves" a few years ago, and some bloke called
Andi Peters.
But it wasn't just Top Shop as Top Man decided it wanted it's own jingles so they went to Alfasound and ended up with this package which is definitely of it's time!
Both stations by the late 80s ended up using this effort by AJ Productions, some of which ended up being resung for Steve Wright and I reckon Anthony James has made some of the most underated jingles used on radio. The Radio Topshop package being one of the highlights.
But if you think they're cheesy, then have a listen to what I had to put up with for four years with these offerings from ASDA FM! Ugh!
Whilst it's got the unmistakable vocals of Steve Butler on the Stereophonics and Blue soundalike jingles, they are incredibly tacky and on arriving at the store I wasn't impressed having heard so many better jingles before my arrival.
If you thought it couldn't get any worse, every weekday at four they would announce for all the managers to "rumble" (that's moving everything on the aisles upfront so as to avoid empty spaces) by playing the PJ and Duncan record of the same name!
Thankfully they stopped doing that two months after I started working there although I didn't actually mind rumbling when I worked in the home and leisure department for a couple of months.
That was great fun, we had a lift which we'd use to send up stuff and if you pushed the button when the lift door was open it would set off a siren like the one you'd hear on a ghost train at a travelling fairground!
I'd happily return to that department any day especially as we had a radio/CD player on the first floor of the warehouse.
They didn't half have cracking jingles!
First of all this set from TM in 1986. Resung from a package called "Powerplay" this really demonstrates how classy Tom Merriman's jingles were and it definitely showed Capital the way forward as they ended up having a similar sounding package on their station a year later. Steve Collins even used his shout jingle from Top Shop on air after joining the Euston Tower!
Other DJs back then included Gary King, Jonathan Miles who went onto do a great job on Invicta FM's "Late Night Grooves" a few years ago, and some bloke called
Andi Peters.
But it wasn't just Top Shop as Top Man decided it wanted it's own jingles so they went to Alfasound and ended up with this package which is definitely of it's time!
Both stations by the late 80s ended up using this effort by AJ Productions, some of which ended up being resung for Steve Wright and I reckon Anthony James has made some of the most underated jingles used on radio. The Radio Topshop package being one of the highlights.
But if you think they're cheesy, then have a listen to what I had to put up with for four years with these offerings from ASDA FM! Ugh!
Whilst it's got the unmistakable vocals of Steve Butler on the Stereophonics and Blue soundalike jingles, they are incredibly tacky and on arriving at the store I wasn't impressed having heard so many better jingles before my arrival.
If you thought it couldn't get any worse, every weekday at four they would announce for all the managers to "rumble" (that's moving everything on the aisles upfront so as to avoid empty spaces) by playing the PJ and Duncan record of the same name!
Thankfully they stopped doing that two months after I started working there although I didn't actually mind rumbling when I worked in the home and leisure department for a couple of months.
That was great fun, we had a lift which we'd use to send up stuff and if you pushed the button when the lift door was open it would set off a siren like the one you'd hear on a ghost train at a travelling fairground!
I'd happily return to that department any day especially as we had a radio/CD player on the first floor of the warehouse.
"Learning Can Be Fun!"
When I was struggling at the beginning of the HND Media course in late 2003 I asked if it would be possible to bring a tape recorder into lectures and the cross college support team immediately agreed. Whilst the aim was for me to use it for revisiting lectures I'd also wanted it for entertainment as well.
The example below proves a point from when someone mentioned "Pop Idol" as one of the most popular audience grabbing programmes prompting lecturer Mike Moss, a very passionate and experienced man who's background consists of sport and scheduling, to ask whether that, Big Brother were the sort of programmes that allowed you to learn things.
Unfortunately, from what can be heard in this clip we didn't find out the answer due to an unwelcome interruption.
Having listened back to that clip several times I decided to ask that question in a seminar I did on Public Service Broadcasting in the second semester and actually got the answer, which was yes they are enlightening because you get to see the contestants inside a recording studio, recording vocals and how messed up the record industry can be. (My words not Mike's!)
And I don't blame Mike for getting uppity at people's ignorance towards the media. At the end of one lecture he asked us to do a little (and it would only take two minutes) research as to how television companies would be affected by OFCOM. As in most cases we had one student who thought he knew better than everyone else and ended up being humiliated by everyone else!
That was another addition to my black list as I was unfortunate to end up with him in my documentary group where he said he would go down to Dover and interview a policeman about underage drinking and didn't come back for the rest of the term!
When he did return he decided to come into the lecture to announce to us all that he was re-doing the first year and proceeded to shake hands with everyone and when he came up to me I hugged him and said "it was a fucking pleasure".
However I don't think Mike was impressed when he was in the lectures second time round and according to one of the support asssistants he said "I don't understand why you're re-doing this course.. Because the things you are saying are still very wrong"
And that's not intentional humiliation, it's proving a point to those who really do want to learn and I'm pleased I got to know all the first years towards the end and on the Venice visit proving another example of the divided being united.
I really can't get away from that Rasmus Faber song. Never mind "One Station One Sound etc" what's more important are the lyrics "One Nation, One People" and the really nice melody that it's sung over. Hearing it in mono doesn't really do the song justice but it's still equally important.
I got an e-mail back from Mike last week and I'm really pleased that he put me down to size over certain things, but like all the other lecturers I'm pleased that he knew what direction I wanted to take. I seem to remember him criticizing my video showreel for not having enough jingles in it!
It just goes to show how important a course is when taught by someone who has "been there".
The example below proves a point from when someone mentioned "Pop Idol" as one of the most popular audience grabbing programmes prompting lecturer Mike Moss, a very passionate and experienced man who's background consists of sport and scheduling, to ask whether that, Big Brother were the sort of programmes that allowed you to learn things.
Unfortunately, from what can be heard in this clip we didn't find out the answer due to an unwelcome interruption.
Having listened back to that clip several times I decided to ask that question in a seminar I did on Public Service Broadcasting in the second semester and actually got the answer, which was yes they are enlightening because you get to see the contestants inside a recording studio, recording vocals and how messed up the record industry can be. (My words not Mike's!)
And I don't blame Mike for getting uppity at people's ignorance towards the media. At the end of one lecture he asked us to do a little (and it would only take two minutes) research as to how television companies would be affected by OFCOM. As in most cases we had one student who thought he knew better than everyone else and ended up being humiliated by everyone else!
That was another addition to my black list as I was unfortunate to end up with him in my documentary group where he said he would go down to Dover and interview a policeman about underage drinking and didn't come back for the rest of the term!
When he did return he decided to come into the lecture to announce to us all that he was re-doing the first year and proceeded to shake hands with everyone and when he came up to me I hugged him and said "it was a fucking pleasure".
However I don't think Mike was impressed when he was in the lectures second time round and according to one of the support asssistants he said "I don't understand why you're re-doing this course.. Because the things you are saying are still very wrong"
And that's not intentional humiliation, it's proving a point to those who really do want to learn and I'm pleased I got to know all the first years towards the end and on the Venice visit proving another example of the divided being united.
I really can't get away from that Rasmus Faber song. Never mind "One Station One Sound etc" what's more important are the lyrics "One Nation, One People" and the really nice melody that it's sung over. Hearing it in mono doesn't really do the song justice but it's still equally important.
I got an e-mail back from Mike last week and I'm really pleased that he put me down to size over certain things, but like all the other lecturers I'm pleased that he knew what direction I wanted to take. I seem to remember him criticizing my video showreel for not having enough jingles in it!
It just goes to show how important a course is when taught by someone who has "been there".
Friday, August 03, 2007
After A Lie Down
OK.
I've had a read through of the last post and it does seem a little bit negative doesn't it?
I'd best start looking at the positive side of things and typing this whilst adding my Incognito discography to my iTunes library is making me feel really good and I'm looking forward to coming back and letting everyone else understand where I'm coming from.
This isn't just music neither, it has meaning and I think I understand now what Kim meant when she posted on the much missed Smoke Radio message board saying that she liked the Kyoto Jazz Massive track "Deep In Your Mind" which I played on the very first show.
The chorus went like this
"Never give up on everything when one thing is too hard,
Never give up when it falls down just go back to the start
Never give up on music, never give up when you can still believe"
There's another song of the more rockier variety that got played twice on KCFM yesterday although one was via request! "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey which I reckon would be the perfect song to end a night at the Undercroft.
Two songs from completely different genres but with the same message.
I'm feeling a lot more inspired now and can fully understand how important music is and not just something to add background.
I've realised I'm not the only one who looks closely into cars whilst waking past them at the traffic lights to find out what station they're tuned into! It says something about the person driving and I'm finding myself becoming interested in people in the same why as radio!
Why would I like this individual? Why don't I like this person?
Luckily it's been more of a case for the former.
A tip for anyone doing vox pops, only look out for those who are smiling, you'll have a better chance. The public do come out with the most unexpected statements!
I've had a read through of the last post and it does seem a little bit negative doesn't it?
I'd best start looking at the positive side of things and typing this whilst adding my Incognito discography to my iTunes library is making me feel really good and I'm looking forward to coming back and letting everyone else understand where I'm coming from.
This isn't just music neither, it has meaning and I think I understand now what Kim meant when she posted on the much missed Smoke Radio message board saying that she liked the Kyoto Jazz Massive track "Deep In Your Mind" which I played on the very first show.
The chorus went like this
"Never give up on everything when one thing is too hard,
Never give up when it falls down just go back to the start
Never give up on music, never give up when you can still believe"
There's another song of the more rockier variety that got played twice on KCFM yesterday although one was via request! "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey which I reckon would be the perfect song to end a night at the Undercroft.
Two songs from completely different genres but with the same message.
I'm feeling a lot more inspired now and can fully understand how important music is and not just something to add background.
I've realised I'm not the only one who looks closely into cars whilst waking past them at the traffic lights to find out what station they're tuned into! It says something about the person driving and I'm finding myself becoming interested in people in the same why as radio!
Why would I like this individual? Why don't I like this person?
Luckily it's been more of a case for the former.
A tip for anyone doing vox pops, only look out for those who are smiling, you'll have a better chance. The public do come out with the most unexpected statements!
Wireless In My Hands
I am loving this, Jamie Wilkinson's soul show on BBC Radio York which is really coming up with the goods and covering the entire soul spectrum. He's played a cracking cover of "Purple Haze"by Johnny Jones, "Used Ta Be My Girl" by the O'Jays, the latest one from Beverley Knight "After You" and as I type the brilliant CeCe Peniston (only one N!) and "We Got A Love Thang". That finishes at 10pm but then it's back over to home shores with Richard and KMFM Rocks!
Having listened to Radio York on and off throughout the summer I can sense where Ricky's got a few ideas for Smoke in the last year and if he had more control from his own perspective, then those ideas could have been implemented further. To be honest he was the only editor on the station who would give me the time when it came to radio stuff and let me get on with it on a good day. I guess we both forgot why we enjoyed radio and that's where things got a bit rocky with me blaming him for things that he wasn't responsible for, which was totally wrong.
I keep going on about it but there was a big divide throughout the year of the station members and the editors and I think the editors realised that themselves towards the end of the year.
Although when they met up at Baker Street with Matthew and I quote entirely from those who were there;
Ross T told the new comittee that Phil L and Sam would be the overall ones in charge prompting the softly spoken Matthew Linfoot to respond by saying "nooo!" then going on to explain that it was a team effort.
As soon as I was told about that at the end of the semester I was furious and it made me realise that we have to keep that going throughout the summer and towards next year.
I actually suggested to Matthew a few weeks earlier that we should bring back a proper committee to Smoke Radio and I'd like to think he took that suggestion further after agreeing with me although explaining at the same time that each management team had their own way of doing things, Tim and Sam, Joey and Jacko and so on.
Having spoken to people who finished the radio course, they weren't afraid to tell me what they really thought and why they left the station thinking that it was "all about Joe and Mark". I didn't realise that at the time as Joe was probably the most encouraging person I'd ever met and Jacko despite being dry most of the time was also supportive. Even the most stupid things I said could make him laugh for some reason.
Joey and Jacko realised halfway through the year that a comittee needed to be set up so we could get the petty techies to realise how much work went into the station and for us to get it noticed. I'm really pleased I was allowed on there as well because it meant I got to meet more people such as Tudor who was on the receiving end right from the beginning! That's confidence for you.
However not everyone was happy with the comittee and thought that it should have been put to a vote to decide who went in, but did they turn up to weekly meetings? Did they balls.
The comittee more or less disbanded after the summer although my production role was safe. However I felt threatened when Ricky told me that Jon wanted to have a go at doing production having helped out at Radio Aire during the summer recording vox pops for the station.
I was really pissed off when Seb and Jon came in one day and got CK to record liners for specialist output without telling me or acknowledging my suggestions and I'm afraid things got a bit frosty throughout the year.
I didn't think CK had the best imaging voice but a bit of modification on Adobe Audtion did the trick and I got the lovely Hannah to add to the set and actually did something with the liners!
Arse licking, backstabing, only letting your mates on air (and win awards for their "hard work") that's not what Smoke Radio's about and whilst that wouldn't look good in a remit with those words, it's what we've got to avoid as I tried my hardest last year to keep people involved with the station therefore keeping it alive.
Incidents like the fuss over Studio 4 were just as important as if you put it into perspective I had every right for going against people being forced to use it.
One solution for next year would be to rearrange the equipment for easy use and health and safety otherwise the following could happen.
She's been really nice to me when I've spoken to her personally and I'd appreciate it if she treated everyone else in the same way.
It all makes sense as Smoke Radio is not neccesarily for those who are serious about radio despite having the best facilities on any radio course.
People like Sefura who presented Jazz Etc were doing it because they loved the music and Seffy has one of the best reasons for joining which if I'm being honest tugged at my heart.
The University Of Westminster doesn't have an orchestra or a jazz band. Fuck all.
Sef used the opportunity to join Smoke Radio in her own words "to talk about the music if I couldn't play musical instruments" and with the lack of support she tended to make mistakes at times although like a good pro she laughed her way through them.
That proves that it's more than just a radio station
The then Comms officer Rob Watson at the Smoke Awards in 2006 corrected himself when making his speech saying "when we started, no, when you started this radio station...". I kept that in mind and I was worried throughout last year that everyone else had forgotten despite Tudor recording and uploading the awards for all to see.
Thankfully Rob has been supportive of us throughout and has said very kind words for both myself and the station and I hope to be seeing more of him in my final year.
I don't want anyone to feel upset over what I've written but I had to get it out eventually.
This is purely designed as something to look back at to ensure that 2007-2008 will be the best year Smoke Radio and the University of Westminster has ever seen.
And that won't just happen, there's a lot of work but when there's a great team of people involved NOT just in the comittee, we can do no wrong. And I'm using the word we, it's not all about one (or three) people overseeing it all.
If a team effort is involved then that team effort will spread towards the listeners and that's who we will be thinking about all the way through next year.
I need to lie down now. Typing does exhaust you to an extent.
Having listened to Radio York on and off throughout the summer I can sense where Ricky's got a few ideas for Smoke in the last year and if he had more control from his own perspective, then those ideas could have been implemented further. To be honest he was the only editor on the station who would give me the time when it came to radio stuff and let me get on with it on a good day. I guess we both forgot why we enjoyed radio and that's where things got a bit rocky with me blaming him for things that he wasn't responsible for, which was totally wrong.
I keep going on about it but there was a big divide throughout the year of the station members and the editors and I think the editors realised that themselves towards the end of the year.
Although when they met up at Baker Street with Matthew and I quote entirely from those who were there;
Ross T told the new comittee that Phil L and Sam would be the overall ones in charge prompting the softly spoken Matthew Linfoot to respond by saying "nooo!" then going on to explain that it was a team effort.
As soon as I was told about that at the end of the semester I was furious and it made me realise that we have to keep that going throughout the summer and towards next year.
I actually suggested to Matthew a few weeks earlier that we should bring back a proper committee to Smoke Radio and I'd like to think he took that suggestion further after agreeing with me although explaining at the same time that each management team had their own way of doing things, Tim and Sam, Joey and Jacko and so on.
Having spoken to people who finished the radio course, they weren't afraid to tell me what they really thought and why they left the station thinking that it was "all about Joe and Mark". I didn't realise that at the time as Joe was probably the most encouraging person I'd ever met and Jacko despite being dry most of the time was also supportive. Even the most stupid things I said could make him laugh for some reason.
Joey and Jacko realised halfway through the year that a comittee needed to be set up so we could get the petty techies to realise how much work went into the station and for us to get it noticed. I'm really pleased I was allowed on there as well because it meant I got to meet more people such as Tudor who was on the receiving end right from the beginning! That's confidence for you.
However not everyone was happy with the comittee and thought that it should have been put to a vote to decide who went in, but did they turn up to weekly meetings? Did they balls.
The comittee more or less disbanded after the summer although my production role was safe. However I felt threatened when Ricky told me that Jon wanted to have a go at doing production having helped out at Radio Aire during the summer recording vox pops for the station.
I was really pissed off when Seb and Jon came in one day and got CK to record liners for specialist output without telling me or acknowledging my suggestions and I'm afraid things got a bit frosty throughout the year.
I didn't think CK had the best imaging voice but a bit of modification on Adobe Audtion did the trick and I got the lovely Hannah to add to the set and actually did something with the liners!
Arse licking, backstabing, only letting your mates on air (and win awards for their "hard work") that's not what Smoke Radio's about and whilst that wouldn't look good in a remit with those words, it's what we've got to avoid as I tried my hardest last year to keep people involved with the station therefore keeping it alive.
Incidents like the fuss over Studio 4 were just as important as if you put it into perspective I had every right for going against people being forced to use it.
One solution for next year would be to rearrange the equipment for easy use and health and safety otherwise the following could happen.
- Presenters will leave the station
- Negativity will spread further
- The UWSU will close down Smoke Radio
She's been really nice to me when I've spoken to her personally and I'd appreciate it if she treated everyone else in the same way.
It all makes sense as Smoke Radio is not neccesarily for those who are serious about radio despite having the best facilities on any radio course.
People like Sefura who presented Jazz Etc were doing it because they loved the music and Seffy has one of the best reasons for joining which if I'm being honest tugged at my heart.
The University Of Westminster doesn't have an orchestra or a jazz band. Fuck all.
Sef used the opportunity to join Smoke Radio in her own words "to talk about the music if I couldn't play musical instruments" and with the lack of support she tended to make mistakes at times although like a good pro she laughed her way through them.
That proves that it's more than just a radio station
The then Comms officer Rob Watson at the Smoke Awards in 2006 corrected himself when making his speech saying "when we started, no, when you started this radio station...". I kept that in mind and I was worried throughout last year that everyone else had forgotten despite Tudor recording and uploading the awards for all to see.
Thankfully Rob has been supportive of us throughout and has said very kind words for both myself and the station and I hope to be seeing more of him in my final year.
I don't want anyone to feel upset over what I've written but I had to get it out eventually.
This is purely designed as something to look back at to ensure that 2007-2008 will be the best year Smoke Radio and the University of Westminster has ever seen.
And that won't just happen, there's a lot of work but when there's a great team of people involved NOT just in the comittee, we can do no wrong. And I'm using the word we, it's not all about one (or three) people overseeing it all.
If a team effort is involved then that team effort will spread towards the listeners and that's who we will be thinking about all the way through next year.
I need to lie down now. Typing does exhaust you to an extent.
They'll Always Be Pitfalls
I'm starting to go back over a few things written in my last post. But then again the people responsible only have themselves to blame.
Having just checked my e-mail I lost 10 stone when I found that one of the messages was from Geoffrey Davies but it wasn't anything serious. Just a work experience opportunity with a post-production company.
But this is all part of the continuing challenge; am I really as thick skinned as I think I am?
This is probably going to take some time but the header on the top of my blog is there for a reason.
You just have to keep expecting bad things to happen although it's laziness and money dominated minds that are overly responsible. I just found out that a load of DVDs sent to me went missing in the mail and I'm glad I've got all sorts of other nonsense to keep me occupied, therefore reducing, no, eliminating disapointment.
I've now understood what others, mainly classroom assistants and psychiatric nurses have said to me about wanting to do well at all times. I've now been able to realise that myself although I can understand how others may not be as appreciative.
This is why it's important with the team running Smoke Radio next year that they stick to their roles that have been given but at the same time lending a hand if they can.
I'll admit it though, I do want a hand in everything and I mean everything. I could even try and show the people running the USWU or the bar how things could be improved having spent a hell of a lot of time in the Undercroft.
A few of the third years last year however, were moaning about it not being as good as it was in the first year.
That's what happens when you move to far flung locations! (Well, three Underground stops away from Northwick Park at least)
Having just checked my e-mail I lost 10 stone when I found that one of the messages was from Geoffrey Davies but it wasn't anything serious. Just a work experience opportunity with a post-production company.
But this is all part of the continuing challenge; am I really as thick skinned as I think I am?
This is probably going to take some time but the header on the top of my blog is there for a reason.
You just have to keep expecting bad things to happen although it's laziness and money dominated minds that are overly responsible. I just found out that a load of DVDs sent to me went missing in the mail and I'm glad I've got all sorts of other nonsense to keep me occupied, therefore reducing, no, eliminating disapointment.
I've now understood what others, mainly classroom assistants and psychiatric nurses have said to me about wanting to do well at all times. I've now been able to realise that myself although I can understand how others may not be as appreciative.
This is why it's important with the team running Smoke Radio next year that they stick to their roles that have been given but at the same time lending a hand if they can.
I'll admit it though, I do want a hand in everything and I mean everything. I could even try and show the people running the USWU or the bar how things could be improved having spent a hell of a lot of time in the Undercroft.
A few of the third years last year however, were moaning about it not being as good as it was in the first year.
That's what happens when you move to far flung locations! (Well, three Underground stops away from Northwick Park at least)
Petty Selection
In school, at college, and at Uni, most times when we've been given serious instructions or advice of what to avoid I've just cracked up laughing for no apparent reason.
I understand others may not feel the same but it's because I know full stop that the things they want us to avoid doing are completely wrong.
On the first day of our HND course one of the lecturers told us that he was fed up with people not using correct language when writing essays, even resorting to writing
"innit" and "bruv" in essays! Come on!
Or more recently when Matthew was reading out his individual feedback for my Tarot Card feature and I ended up laughing when he noted that I could be heard breathing during a phone interview!
But there have been times and even at University when the lecturers seem to want to make their students feel shit scared.
That very same college lecturer said "and remember, you'll be set your first essay pretty soon..."
No constructive suggestions, just "you must do this", "I want this in by Friday" etc
What has pissed me off for such a long time is why do lecturers not speak to their classes, the same way that they speak to students one to one?
The answer. Because the way Universities choose who gets into where is completely fucked up.
This is why you get yobs (for warrant of a fairer description) starting courses and why I had big problems in my first year in halls with one of the most anti-social people ever on the commercial music course in the same flat as me. The same person had a nerve in the second year to put up an advert in the radio rooms advertising his "services for making jingles" and I bet you can guess how I reacted to that. Not to his face of course.
And I'm bright enough to realise that I won't be wanted just anywhere.
Birmingham University refused to offer me a visit to their campus and to add insult to injury one of their radio lecturers from New Zealand was enlisted to help Matthew out on the Introduction To Broadcasting module in my first semester at Wesminster.
Oh, how I hated that module which almost resulted in my laptop being destroyed, which Geoffrey Davies didn't appear to give two shillings about.
I bet he's had too many people piss on his rasperberries.
Oh, and if you're reading this and prepared to tie up any loose ends then you're more than welcome.
That goes for anyone who isn't happy about what I've written in recent posts.
The only decent part of the first six weeks were the gigs I went to including Swing Out Sister at the Jazz Cafe and I was impressed that Matthew was a fan of them, as I found out on my first one to one with him at the beginning of the year.
Then again you'd be surprised who would be on the CD stack in that residence in Elephant and Castle.
I was sat in on the first course comittee meeting of the year last Autumn, where I laughed for no apparent reason once again when Matthew admitted that he didn't know how to use SADiE or other similar editing equipment.
His reasoning was that he didn't pretend to know how things worked which is fair enough but I hope they stick to their word about setting up a mailing list for the first year radio students and arranging a social three weeks before practical lectures begin.
Most of the TV students did not want to learn about radio and likewise for radio students in the TV lectures. Having been interested in both, I was not impressed by that module but I'm pleased we got TV students involved with Smoke Radio with Tudor, Ross G, and Alex heavilly involved proving that radio can be visual!
I'm obsessed with people at this time, I've found out since coming to University that I'm not the only one who feels this way. Steph, one of my first year flatmates moved out halfway through the year to Jo and Immy's before they got a bit too ambitious and decided to move to Central.
Steph had taken Cat's room who also moved as far from Harrow as possible to Cricklewood and she ended up dropping out by November that year. She had so much potential as well, but just let the idiots get to her and make her act weaker than she actually was.
She's still on my Windows Live list so I may ask how she's getting on when I next see her online.
It's going to be a really interesting third year and I'm prepared for anyone to put me down at any time. I just need to keep in mind having had it said to myself endless times "can you do any better?" or "what would you do in that situation?"
I think I've taken over from fellow student Ina as "The Question King!" Or queen depending on your point of view.
I understand others may not feel the same but it's because I know full stop that the things they want us to avoid doing are completely wrong.
On the first day of our HND course one of the lecturers told us that he was fed up with people not using correct language when writing essays, even resorting to writing
"innit" and "bruv" in essays! Come on!
Or more recently when Matthew was reading out his individual feedback for my Tarot Card feature and I ended up laughing when he noted that I could be heard breathing during a phone interview!
But there have been times and even at University when the lecturers seem to want to make their students feel shit scared.
That very same college lecturer said "and remember, you'll be set your first essay pretty soon..."
No constructive suggestions, just "you must do this", "I want this in by Friday" etc
What has pissed me off for such a long time is why do lecturers not speak to their classes, the same way that they speak to students one to one?
The answer. Because the way Universities choose who gets into where is completely fucked up.
This is why you get yobs (for warrant of a fairer description) starting courses and why I had big problems in my first year in halls with one of the most anti-social people ever on the commercial music course in the same flat as me. The same person had a nerve in the second year to put up an advert in the radio rooms advertising his "services for making jingles" and I bet you can guess how I reacted to that. Not to his face of course.
And I'm bright enough to realise that I won't be wanted just anywhere.
Birmingham University refused to offer me a visit to their campus and to add insult to injury one of their radio lecturers from New Zealand was enlisted to help Matthew out on the Introduction To Broadcasting module in my first semester at Wesminster.
Oh, how I hated that module which almost resulted in my laptop being destroyed, which Geoffrey Davies didn't appear to give two shillings about.
I bet he's had too many people piss on his rasperberries.
Oh, and if you're reading this and prepared to tie up any loose ends then you're more than welcome.
That goes for anyone who isn't happy about what I've written in recent posts.
The only decent part of the first six weeks were the gigs I went to including Swing Out Sister at the Jazz Cafe and I was impressed that Matthew was a fan of them, as I found out on my first one to one with him at the beginning of the year.
Then again you'd be surprised who would be on the CD stack in that residence in Elephant and Castle.
I was sat in on the first course comittee meeting of the year last Autumn, where I laughed for no apparent reason once again when Matthew admitted that he didn't know how to use SADiE or other similar editing equipment.
His reasoning was that he didn't pretend to know how things worked which is fair enough but I hope they stick to their word about setting up a mailing list for the first year radio students and arranging a social three weeks before practical lectures begin.
Most of the TV students did not want to learn about radio and likewise for radio students in the TV lectures. Having been interested in both, I was not impressed by that module but I'm pleased we got TV students involved with Smoke Radio with Tudor, Ross G, and Alex heavilly involved proving that radio can be visual!
I'm obsessed with people at this time, I've found out since coming to University that I'm not the only one who feels this way. Steph, one of my first year flatmates moved out halfway through the year to Jo and Immy's before they got a bit too ambitious and decided to move to Central.
Steph had taken Cat's room who also moved as far from Harrow as possible to Cricklewood and she ended up dropping out by November that year. She had so much potential as well, but just let the idiots get to her and make her act weaker than she actually was.
She's still on my Windows Live list so I may ask how she's getting on when I next see her online.
It's going to be a really interesting third year and I'm prepared for anyone to put me down at any time. I just need to keep in mind having had it said to myself endless times "can you do any better?" or "what would you do in that situation?"
I think I've taken over from fellow student Ina as "The Question King!" Or queen depending on your point of view.
Digging Even Deeper
I am stuffing myself stupid this morning, I am currently enjoying a gorge apple pastry with stripes of icing as brought from Morrisons earlier. This was after enjoying a doughnut also filled with apple but a bit too much sugar for my liking.
In fact, with the exception of beans on toast, vegetarian substitutes for meat products, and processed crap, any food can be gorge and delish if it's done properly and made with great care.
Once again, right place at the right time.
I've also recived another delight from James in Derbyshire, a DVD of the last episode of the ITV Chart Show as transmitted on the Vault, originally from the 27th of April 1991.
I'll probably be watching another one tonight preceeded by another hilarious stand up from Richard Herring, Talking Cock (courtesy www.fistoffun.net)
The show actually made an appearance at the Gulbenkian a few days after this recording in Hull in early 2003 which I'm sure would have cheered me up no end if I went along to see it.
If "Oh Fuck I'm 40" visits London next year then there's no way I'm going to miss the performance. In fact if the boys in Addiscombe Close are kind enough and I continue pulling my weight (well physically there's not that much to pull) I may ask them if they can become the delivery spot for my mail as the halls staff are dreadful. I've timed the delivery from Mum who I can trust with the arrival in the halls reception and the lengths have been apalling.
Especially with train and concert tickets.
But then again although very unlikely, if Herring decides not to perform in London then I'll go elsewhere. I'm heading up to Oxford in late September to see the stage show version of I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue which looks set to be stunning. One of the funniest radio comedy shows that unlike a certain Nicholas Parson's doesn't talk down to the listeners.
I've lost count of the many times on Just A Minute that Nicholas has said
"those are the rules!" whenever the audience has booed or jeered at a challenge from another contestant. The same for Chris Tarrant on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, have they ever looked up the definition of "predictable"?
As long as I don't fall into the trap I'm happy, although this blog appears to have fallen in already! Rant after rant...
Now Playing: Katrina And The Waves: "Walking On Sunshine"
In fact, with the exception of beans on toast, vegetarian substitutes for meat products, and processed crap, any food can be gorge and delish if it's done properly and made with great care.
Once again, right place at the right time.
I've also recived another delight from James in Derbyshire, a DVD of the last episode of the ITV Chart Show as transmitted on the Vault, originally from the 27th of April 1991.
I'll probably be watching another one tonight preceeded by another hilarious stand up from Richard Herring, Talking Cock (courtesy www.fistoffun.net)
The show actually made an appearance at the Gulbenkian a few days after this recording in Hull in early 2003 which I'm sure would have cheered me up no end if I went along to see it.
If "Oh Fuck I'm 40" visits London next year then there's no way I'm going to miss the performance. In fact if the boys in Addiscombe Close are kind enough and I continue pulling my weight (well physically there's not that much to pull) I may ask them if they can become the delivery spot for my mail as the halls staff are dreadful. I've timed the delivery from Mum who I can trust with the arrival in the halls reception and the lengths have been apalling.
Especially with train and concert tickets.
But then again although very unlikely, if Herring decides not to perform in London then I'll go elsewhere. I'm heading up to Oxford in late September to see the stage show version of I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue which looks set to be stunning. One of the funniest radio comedy shows that unlike a certain Nicholas Parson's doesn't talk down to the listeners.
I've lost count of the many times on Just A Minute that Nicholas has said
"those are the rules!" whenever the audience has booed or jeered at a challenge from another contestant. The same for Chris Tarrant on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, have they ever looked up the definition of "predictable"?
As long as I don't fall into the trap I'm happy, although this blog appears to have fallen in already! Rant after rant...
Now Playing: Katrina And The Waves: "Walking On Sunshine"
A List Of "Arrrgh!" Or "Woooh!" Records
I reckon it would be an idea to write down a list of the records that have given me the buzz listening to KCFM this morning, here goes...
09:40 Cathy Dennis: "Touch Me (All Night Long)"
09:46 Fleetwood Mac: "Little Lies"
09:56 Billy Griffin: "Hold Me Tighter In The Rain" (A record I heard on Invicta FM's Dance Decades in October 1999 and converted me to an extent)
(Mystery Years Competition, 1977)
10:06 Gladys Knight And The Pips: "Baby Don't Change Your Mind"
10:10 Hot Chocolate: "So You Win Again"
10:14 Brotherhood Of Man: "Angelo" (Well, you can only have so much of a good time!)
10:23 Boney M: "Ma Baker" (Now there's a band that defines summer!)
10:29 Donna Summer: "I Feel Love"
(Mystery Years Competition Part 2 1988, Yes!)
10:34 Yazz and The Plastic Population: "The Only Way Is Up"
10:43 Kim Wilde: "You Came"
10:49 Transvision Vamp: "I Want Your Love"
10:54 Salt 'N' Pepa: "Push It"
10:58 Glen Medeiros: "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You"
Clare Westwood is on top form once again and I've finally managed to work out who she reminds me of. Kirsten O'Brien!
A woman who's also from the North East, she's been a CBBC stalwart for over a decade, when viewers "voted" for her by touching their TV screens as part of an April fools stunt in 1996 where she was up against a beardy looking floor manager and a rather ugly production assistant.
This is getting serious, I was planning to go to Morrisons to get a few wares but I'm being held up because of this constant supply of really good music and personality. Thank heavens I'm not working this summer.
It's Only Radio? Absolute rubbish, B.S., tosh, nonsense, cobblers,
Celine Dion, Elaine Paige, Junior Giscombe...
09:40 Cathy Dennis: "Touch Me (All Night Long)"
09:46 Fleetwood Mac: "Little Lies"
09:56 Billy Griffin: "Hold Me Tighter In The Rain" (A record I heard on Invicta FM's Dance Decades in October 1999 and converted me to an extent)
(Mystery Years Competition, 1977)
10:06 Gladys Knight And The Pips: "Baby Don't Change Your Mind"
10:10 Hot Chocolate: "So You Win Again"
10:14 Brotherhood Of Man: "Angelo" (Well, you can only have so much of a good time!)
10:23 Boney M: "Ma Baker" (Now there's a band that defines summer!)
10:29 Donna Summer: "I Feel Love"
(Mystery Years Competition Part 2 1988, Yes!)
10:34 Yazz and The Plastic Population: "The Only Way Is Up"
10:43 Kim Wilde: "You Came"
10:49 Transvision Vamp: "I Want Your Love"
10:54 Salt 'N' Pepa: "Push It"
10:58 Glen Medeiros: "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You"
Clare Westwood is on top form once again and I've finally managed to work out who she reminds me of. Kirsten O'Brien!
A woman who's also from the North East, she's been a CBBC stalwart for over a decade, when viewers "voted" for her by touching their TV screens as part of an April fools stunt in 1996 where she was up against a beardy looking floor manager and a rather ugly production assistant.
This is getting serious, I was planning to go to Morrisons to get a few wares but I'm being held up because of this constant supply of really good music and personality. Thank heavens I'm not working this summer.
It's Only Radio? Absolute rubbish, B.S., tosh, nonsense, cobblers,
Celine Dion, Elaine Paige, Junior Giscombe...
Beyond Parody
Backing yourself up is important whenver you're making a statement, and not just in a poncey media theory essay.
To prove a point, about a year ago I once introduced a record by Junior and the brilliant "Mama Used To Say" by describing him as "the man who could have been the new Stevie Wonder but ended up being the new Delbert Wilkins".
And I'm afraid it's very true, Junior Giscombe at the time was now DJing on Solar Radio for 4 days each week proving a point that those who make the music aren't great at playing it and the same can be said for radio presenters vice versa.
Here's the man in action just to give you an idea.
You can tell that Junior's enthusiastic and there were some stunning records in that show but EVERY DAY! How could you put up with that constant shouting, repetitive features and someone who's ego's big enough to play his own records on his own show!
I'd love to meet Junior and he has a wicked sense of humour, but please never go near a studio desk again unless it's in a recording studio. I can remember him in an interview on Solar where they played one of his lesser known hits "Too Late" resulting in him getting really annoyed about other radio interviewers playing "Mama Used To Say".
Lisa Stansfield can put up with the fact that "All Around The World" is what she'll be remembered for and on a lower, well very low note, Chris De Burgh and "The Lady In Red".
Stephen H was telling me when he and his wife Elle were at a dinner with Frank McComb that Junior, also present was one of the nicest guys but in Elle's words "didn't half like talking about himself..."
Overall it's another area to add to the guide to making great radio and great music and how the two don't always mix...
Oh and the answer to Junior's teaser, by definition, is Tina Turner.
To prove a point, about a year ago I once introduced a record by Junior and the brilliant "Mama Used To Say" by describing him as "the man who could have been the new Stevie Wonder but ended up being the new Delbert Wilkins".
And I'm afraid it's very true, Junior Giscombe at the time was now DJing on Solar Radio for 4 days each week proving a point that those who make the music aren't great at playing it and the same can be said for radio presenters vice versa.
Here's the man in action just to give you an idea.
You can tell that Junior's enthusiastic and there were some stunning records in that show but EVERY DAY! How could you put up with that constant shouting, repetitive features and someone who's ego's big enough to play his own records on his own show!
I'd love to meet Junior and he has a wicked sense of humour, but please never go near a studio desk again unless it's in a recording studio. I can remember him in an interview on Solar where they played one of his lesser known hits "Too Late" resulting in him getting really annoyed about other radio interviewers playing "Mama Used To Say".
Lisa Stansfield can put up with the fact that "All Around The World" is what she'll be remembered for and on a lower, well very low note, Chris De Burgh and "The Lady In Red".
Stephen H was telling me when he and his wife Elle were at a dinner with Frank McComb that Junior, also present was one of the nicest guys but in Elle's words "didn't half like talking about himself..."
Overall it's another area to add to the guide to making great radio and great music and how the two don't always mix...
Oh and the answer to Junior's teaser, by definition, is Tina Turner.
Avoiding Deception
I know that this is almost old news, but I stumbled on Digital Spy and discovered a thread where I found out that Bob Harris revealed last week on his show that he had cancer and would be taking time off from the Saturday night show for a few months whilst undergoing treatment.
It's been kept pretty low key but it's treatable so I can fully understand why it shouldn't be too much of a big deal and the Country show will still continue albeit pre-recorded on Thursdays.
I guess that means I can still go into the dining room whilst Dad's listening and still make the joke about the heavy emphasis on the first syllable which I ended up using on my final soul show last May.
Steve Lamacq's said to be covering the Saturday night show in the Whisperer's absence who is the perfect choice and hopefully it won't be too much of a big deal.
Still listening to the station up in 'Ull and Steve Jordan's still sounding excited about the wide range of music the station has to offer. That says something about how radio can still be fun but also with a wide selection of music that makes you go "wow" or in my case "aaaargh!" followed by a rather high pitched laugh.
After seeing the Big L documentary I can remember seeing many people on message boards trying to defend the station by stating that it played a wide choice of music that wouldn't be heard elsewhere. But was this programmed in such a constructive way, hell no. Just let the jocks choose what they want with inane babble and hypocrisy. I still like to watch that documentary now and again for a good laugh as it made me realise that some radio stations are run by utter loonies.
It's made me think about everything that I've done and what the consequences would be of my next move. You can't go around being upbeat all the time becuase it may upset others. But there's a difference between being comforting for someone who wants to be happy but is rather downtempo as opposed to individuals who just wish ill on people and go back on what they've said in the past. Through jingle collecting and the radio course I've had to deal with fucking loads of them and wish they would get their act together and try to please everyone rather than just who they like.
The lesson here: be careful who you trust, in any situation.
It's been kept pretty low key but it's treatable so I can fully understand why it shouldn't be too much of a big deal and the Country show will still continue albeit pre-recorded on Thursdays.
I guess that means I can still go into the dining room whilst Dad's listening and still make the joke about the heavy emphasis on the first syllable which I ended up using on my final soul show last May.
Steve Lamacq's said to be covering the Saturday night show in the Whisperer's absence who is the perfect choice and hopefully it won't be too much of a big deal.
Still listening to the station up in 'Ull and Steve Jordan's still sounding excited about the wide range of music the station has to offer. That says something about how radio can still be fun but also with a wide selection of music that makes you go "wow" or in my case "aaaargh!" followed by a rather high pitched laugh.
After seeing the Big L documentary I can remember seeing many people on message boards trying to defend the station by stating that it played a wide choice of music that wouldn't be heard elsewhere. But was this programmed in such a constructive way, hell no. Just let the jocks choose what they want with inane babble and hypocrisy. I still like to watch that documentary now and again for a good laugh as it made me realise that some radio stations are run by utter loonies.
It's made me think about everything that I've done and what the consequences would be of my next move. You can't go around being upbeat all the time becuase it may upset others. But there's a difference between being comforting for someone who wants to be happy but is rather downtempo as opposed to individuals who just wish ill on people and go back on what they've said in the past. Through jingle collecting and the radio course I've had to deal with fucking loads of them and wish they would get their act together and try to please everyone rather than just who they like.
The lesson here: be careful who you trust, in any situation.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
"Funny In A Rich Man's World"
Except in this case I'm pretty skint but still smiling.
I'm still reading through Chris Moyles's autobiography with Steve Jordan still spinning the electrifying 80s gems, a fucking brilliant hour opener in the form of Hue and Cry's "Labour Of Love" the best Scottish duo apart from the Proclaimers of course! Oh, and they were on Celebrity Popmaster with Ken Bruce this morning and proved to be dry and witty as always.
Anyway, one thing that has saddened me but hasn't really shocked me is when Chris goes on about the pay packets that come with radio and how he wanted his to be bigger than what was offered.
To use one of his old catchphrases "COME ON!"
I really think that money is just an afterthought for me and radio as none of it that I've been involved with has resulted in any bob (apart from travel expenses at BXFM).
Money is one of, if not the big things that's been responsible for fucking up radio throughout time around the world.
Whether it would be DJs wanting bigger wages or shareholders giving in to big corporate bastards who know less about radio than those who owned the station(s) they've brought.
The amount of people who start off in radio because of money is shocking. That's why we have little in genuine talent on the airwaves in favour of people who can't be constructive with regards to how they spend their money but I'm sure in the long term they'll be the ones in debt if they aren't careful.
KCFM doesn't sound like that at all from what I've heard today, the presenters really sound like they're enjoying themselves which gives me a buzz but they've been doing it for years and have learnt the ins and outs the long way which deserves recognition.
And this 80s show really is the bollocks. THE bollocks, not "bollocks" on it's own.
I have been hollering and cackling at the beginning of just about every song and that's what radio should be about when it comes to music.
Steve has mentioned several times that this is not a one off it's every Thursday night and if this keeps up by the time I'm back in London I will not be spending that many nights in the radio rooms as last year. And because Friday interchanges between the live Rugby coverage and disco music, the former being a stand out point of the station despite not being a huge rugby fan, it's another reason for me wanting to spin the soul on Fridays.
In the words of Was (Not Was) "It's not just a phase, he's one step over the line"
Although in the eyes of Matthew Linfoot I reckon he'd think "Everybody kill the dinosaur" would be more suited to me.
I'm still reading through Chris Moyles's autobiography with Steve Jordan still spinning the electrifying 80s gems, a fucking brilliant hour opener in the form of Hue and Cry's "Labour Of Love" the best Scottish duo apart from the Proclaimers of course! Oh, and they were on Celebrity Popmaster with Ken Bruce this morning and proved to be dry and witty as always.
Anyway, one thing that has saddened me but hasn't really shocked me is when Chris goes on about the pay packets that come with radio and how he wanted his to be bigger than what was offered.
To use one of his old catchphrases "COME ON!"
I really think that money is just an afterthought for me and radio as none of it that I've been involved with has resulted in any bob (apart from travel expenses at BXFM).
Money is one of, if not the big things that's been responsible for fucking up radio throughout time around the world.
Whether it would be DJs wanting bigger wages or shareholders giving in to big corporate bastards who know less about radio than those who owned the station(s) they've brought.
The amount of people who start off in radio because of money is shocking. That's why we have little in genuine talent on the airwaves in favour of people who can't be constructive with regards to how they spend their money but I'm sure in the long term they'll be the ones in debt if they aren't careful.
KCFM doesn't sound like that at all from what I've heard today, the presenters really sound like they're enjoying themselves which gives me a buzz but they've been doing it for years and have learnt the ins and outs the long way which deserves recognition.
And this 80s show really is the bollocks. THE bollocks, not "bollocks" on it's own.
I have been hollering and cackling at the beginning of just about every song and that's what radio should be about when it comes to music.
Steve has mentioned several times that this is not a one off it's every Thursday night and if this keeps up by the time I'm back in London I will not be spending that many nights in the radio rooms as last year. And because Friday interchanges between the live Rugby coverage and disco music, the former being a stand out point of the station despite not being a huge rugby fan, it's another reason for me wanting to spin the soul on Fridays.
In the words of Was (Not Was) "It's not just a phase, he's one step over the line"
Although in the eyes of Matthew Linfoot I reckon he'd think "Everybody kill the dinosaur" would be more suited to me.
Acceptable Beyond The 80s
Despite being rather cloudy it was still pretty warm as I made my way from Canterbury to lovely Ramsgate. And oh my there weren't half a load of nutters, a bickering family on the train who had to make the whole carriage know of their problems, loads of 5-15 year olds messing about in the sea despite it being pretty dark above and there was even a funfair!
Although as always is in these cases, a lot of music was clashing with each other, the guy on the waltzer was playing what sounded like "The Clubbers Guide to 2001" with Rui Da Silva "Touch Me", Iio and "Rapture" etc, whilst the guy on the dodgems was playing Bob Marley's greatest hits back to back.
I'm back safely now and oh my, Steve Jordan really knows great 80s music. So far he's played "Happy Hour" by the Housemartins, "Change Your Mind" by Sharpe and Numan and right now, one of the best 80s records ever; "Calling All The Heroes" by It Bites.
I can remember being so exicited when that song was featured on the intros round on Never Mind The Buzzcocks and so it seems were the panelists despite one of them thinking it was "Maneater" by Hall and Oates!
Ina take note, this is what an 80s show should sound like!
Although as always is in these cases, a lot of music was clashing with each other, the guy on the waltzer was playing what sounded like "The Clubbers Guide to 2001" with Rui Da Silva "Touch Me", Iio and "Rapture" etc, whilst the guy on the dodgems was playing Bob Marley's greatest hits back to back.
I'm back safely now and oh my, Steve Jordan really knows great 80s music. So far he's played "Happy Hour" by the Housemartins, "Change Your Mind" by Sharpe and Numan and right now, one of the best 80s records ever; "Calling All The Heroes" by It Bites.
I can remember being so exicited when that song was featured on the intros round on Never Mind The Buzzcocks and so it seems were the panelists despite one of them thinking it was "Maneater" by Hall and Oates!
Ina take note, this is what an 80s show should sound like!
"Raining Through My Sunshine"
It's getting rather dark and overcast and still I feel the need to lay down on the nearest beach.
I'm heading down there and if end up getting wet then there's always the lovely mince and pasta meal I plan to make tonight to keep in mind. And if everyone else isn't feeling the same and wants to go elsewhere tonight then that will mean I'll be able to reuse it for second (well third) helpings tomorrow evening!
KCFM is still sounding good, Clare Westwood is fantastic and a really lovely presenter who is an all rounder whether it comes to interviewing which she did with local photographer Andrew Crozier who gave his expert advice on taking photos. And I can guarantee that after dropping out of the suplementary photography course at college I will never go into a foul smelling dark room again.
Digital all the way although unlike some of the callers I'm not too fussed about what model my camera is.
And real requests as well, she's such a charmer when it comes to answering the phones and speaking to listeners who are saying nice things about the new station. I may ring up tomorrow and see if I can get something short and sweet on air, maybe "Do You Know The Way To San Jose?" Dionne Warwick wouldn't go amiss.
The lunchtime news roundup "Newswire" could be improved in terms of structure but it's only the beginning and it hopefully it won't be long before it sounds just as strong as the presenters. They've got some great newsreaders on board with plenty of potential.
To be honest I don't think I've been more interested in journalism than I am now although I'll try and pace myself until after Freshers Week as I think I've got enough on my hands already and will never be as good as our Scotsman Stevie (well Steven when introducing him on air) McIntosh!
The best news voice in the UK bar none! If I do get to co-present on a daytime show I will definitely be getting him involved with the show in some form or other.
I'm heading down there and if end up getting wet then there's always the lovely mince and pasta meal I plan to make tonight to keep in mind. And if everyone else isn't feeling the same and wants to go elsewhere tonight then that will mean I'll be able to reuse it for second (well third) helpings tomorrow evening!
KCFM is still sounding good, Clare Westwood is fantastic and a really lovely presenter who is an all rounder whether it comes to interviewing which she did with local photographer Andrew Crozier who gave his expert advice on taking photos. And I can guarantee that after dropping out of the suplementary photography course at college I will never go into a foul smelling dark room again.
Digital all the way although unlike some of the callers I'm not too fussed about what model my camera is.
And real requests as well, she's such a charmer when it comes to answering the phones and speaking to listeners who are saying nice things about the new station. I may ring up tomorrow and see if I can get something short and sweet on air, maybe "Do You Know The Way To San Jose?" Dionne Warwick wouldn't go amiss.
The lunchtime news roundup "Newswire" could be improved in terms of structure but it's only the beginning and it hopefully it won't be long before it sounds just as strong as the presenters. They've got some great newsreaders on board with plenty of potential.
To be honest I don't think I've been more interested in journalism than I am now although I'll try and pace myself until after Freshers Week as I think I've got enough on my hands already and will never be as good as our Scotsman Stevie (well Steven when introducing him on air) McIntosh!
The best news voice in the UK bar none! If I do get to co-present on a daytime show I will definitely be getting him involved with the show in some form or other.
Radio = Radiance!
Well I've definitely not been lead up the garden path. KCFM 99.8 is fantastic and you could really hear the enthusiasm coming out of Breakfast presenter Steve Jordan this morning on day two of transmission. And some really good music too, "Hanky Panky" by Madonna, "Don't Fear The Reaper" by the Blue Oyster Cult, Viola Wills and "Gonna Get Along Without You Now" and the current one by Amy McDonald which the name escapes me.
That and Jon Culshaw guesting all adds up to making great radio!
I will definitely keep listening especially tonight as Steve's back to do an 80s show which his enthusiasm is enough to make me want to tune in. And I really mean it, he was saying himself that he wasn't doing the show because the station was short staffed, just because he loves 80s music.
And that's what radio should be about, music is part of the business so any DJ should let their musical passions come out on air to show that it's not just about the mouth.
This is exactly why I want to do daytime on Smoke during Freshers and the Soul Show on Fridays because it will all blend in together, I'll have the chance to establish myself and more importantly the station and then set Friday alight which no one and I mean no one has done on the station since the beginning.
My main reason for liking radio is because it allows you as a presenter to keep yourself happy but also make the listeners feel the same way. And I'm really pleased that a lot of people I've spoken to (outside my house obviously) feel the same and if all presenters took that angle (within reason of course, John Peel wouldn't be anywhere near as good as he was if he wasn't irreverant) then everyone would be more positive.
But radio isn't all about presenting, I have to get my hands on wherever but keep others in the picture at the same time. I sent an idea for a promo to Phil H one of our marketing editors because it's very important that we use the station to say to our listeners
"we want to get you on air, do you have what it takes..." and so on.
That's just an example though, I wouldn't give the actual script away on this site because other stations might be reading!
That and Jon Culshaw guesting all adds up to making great radio!
I will definitely keep listening especially tonight as Steve's back to do an 80s show which his enthusiasm is enough to make me want to tune in. And I really mean it, he was saying himself that he wasn't doing the show because the station was short staffed, just because he loves 80s music.
And that's what radio should be about, music is part of the business so any DJ should let their musical passions come out on air to show that it's not just about the mouth.
This is exactly why I want to do daytime on Smoke during Freshers and the Soul Show on Fridays because it will all blend in together, I'll have the chance to establish myself and more importantly the station and then set Friday alight which no one and I mean no one has done on the station since the beginning.
My main reason for liking radio is because it allows you as a presenter to keep yourself happy but also make the listeners feel the same way. And I'm really pleased that a lot of people I've spoken to (outside my house obviously) feel the same and if all presenters took that angle (within reason of course, John Peel wouldn't be anywhere near as good as he was if he wasn't irreverant) then everyone would be more positive.
But radio isn't all about presenting, I have to get my hands on wherever but keep others in the picture at the same time. I sent an idea for a promo to Phil H one of our marketing editors because it's very important that we use the station to say to our listeners
"we want to get you on air, do you have what it takes..." and so on.
That's just an example though, I wouldn't give the actual script away on this site because other stations might be reading!
The Best R.E. Lesson!
Last night I was remembering a chat I had with Aussie Ashlee during the Easter holidays in the first year about University Societies and whether they can be trusted. For example I'm sure those who have been in the same shoes will have joined a "Friendship Society" which is really a religious society in disguise and as soon it develops throughout the semester, you ask yourself why you joined.
Ashlee was saying that she had "no problem with religion, just deception".
She was also telling me about the pettiness of people setting up their own societies for the same interest. Having Sarah Vaughan playing whilst thinking about this with "Nothing Will Be As It Was" from her swansong "Brazillian Romance" with Milton Nascimento
(that'll keep both mum and dad happy!) made me feel rather disheartened about the issue and it's upsetting to think that people would sink so low.
I'll really need to be careful at this year's Freshers Fayre although having known the people involved I may be tempted to join either the Drama Society or the one of the Uni sports teams.
In order to lift myself up I decided to indulge in what has to be one of the most funny and meaningful stand up routines I've ever sat through, Richard Herring and "Christ On A Bike" (audio courtesy of Fistoffun.net) Although it's in audio form and Herring relies on visual aids, I think it adds to the intimacy and he's great at bringing pictures to the audience's mind.
If you have an hour to spare then just listen to this piece of genius that says
everything I've thought about religion but have been too thick to understand fully.
You may need to turn your speakers up however.
After listening to this I had to keep my excitement going so what better way than another classic countdown from the 19th of January 1991?
A very good show too, with Smiths sampling duo The Soho Girls in The Chart News,
EMF with their follow up to "Unbelievable", the similarly titled "I Believe" and a cracking Hot Shot from the Simpsons and just about the entire video for "Do The Bartman".
Now there's a tune and a half!
The Top Ten? Once again, brilliant with The KLF and "3 AM Eternal". Turns out that the duo got banned from Amsterdam after allowing the audience to come on stage, turn up the mixing desk on full blast and blow up the PA system of the venue they were at!
As well as that there was Queen and another future number one with the title track of the album "Innuendo" although this week's number 1 was the inimitable Enigma and "Sadness Part 1".
I was singing to just about everything including the musical stings especially the rocket preceeding the Number 1! I was even making surfer movements to the intro for
the Top Ten!
But I know I'm not the only one who's done so, I can remember watching the programme back in 1989 and I'm certain Dad used to make a few subtle but embarrassing moves to the opening titles with the rollercoaster. They were that infectious, don't deny it Dad!
Chris Andrews and Jonathan Sorrell were musical geniuses and I'm sure they're pretty modest by it all which is no problem whatsoever.
When I saw Peter Hinds playing keyboards at the Brit Funk Reunion last year he seemed really unphased when Kenny Wellington thanked him for co-writing "Everyday" with along with Bluey who was playing guitar at the gig.
Anyway back to the subject and I don't think I can actually remember seeing that episode of the ITV Chart Show first time round as it included the video for Rick Astley's "Cry For Help" in the Chart News.
I'm sure I saw the video for the song on Going Live! that morning as we were going to Canterbury to do more house hunting. That explains why we were up so early and I got a rare opportunity to see the opening titles to the popular Saturday morning show with one of the best theme tunes ever! Despite those annoying shouty voices screaming
"Going Going Going Live!" towards the end.
As I type I'm listening to KCFM 99.8 which launched yesterday in East Yorkshire and has a great line-up of presenters who will be known to it's residents such as Steve Jordan on Breakfast, and Al Dupres both formerly of Viking FM. Another of their ex-colleagues will be guesting on breakfast, Jon Culshaw also of Viking FM back in 1989 . I'm sure I've got his name jingle lurking somewhere from that package which is just hilarious.
The music is great too and I'll definitely be listening throughout the week. Ooh I'm on the East Yorkshire Coast already!
Speaking of jingles they've got a really good set from JonesTM resung from a package done for KVIL in Dallas Texas. I'm guessing Paul Chantler was a big influence having been hired as a consultant for the station's launch.
I got a lovely message from him this morning saying that he really liked my version of
The Beat 92 Cut 2 from JAM although it's not surprising having comissioned the jingles resung for both The Hot FM network and The Breeze in Essex.
If you look at the stations he's helped out at on his client list it's no surprise as to why they sound so good.
And if you're reading this Paul, you're more than welcome to pop over and give your words of wisdom to Smoke Radio! Although it's easy to get an idea what he'd suggest just by listening to any of the station's he's visited.
Overall each to their own.
Ashlee was saying that she had "no problem with religion, just deception".
She was also telling me about the pettiness of people setting up their own societies for the same interest. Having Sarah Vaughan playing whilst thinking about this with "Nothing Will Be As It Was" from her swansong "Brazillian Romance" with Milton Nascimento
(that'll keep both mum and dad happy!) made me feel rather disheartened about the issue and it's upsetting to think that people would sink so low.
I'll really need to be careful at this year's Freshers Fayre although having known the people involved I may be tempted to join either the Drama Society or the one of the Uni sports teams.
In order to lift myself up I decided to indulge in what has to be one of the most funny and meaningful stand up routines I've ever sat through, Richard Herring and "Christ On A Bike" (audio courtesy of Fistoffun.net) Although it's in audio form and Herring relies on visual aids, I think it adds to the intimacy and he's great at bringing pictures to the audience's mind.
If you have an hour to spare then just listen to this piece of genius that says
everything I've thought about religion but have been too thick to understand fully.
You may need to turn your speakers up however.
After listening to this I had to keep my excitement going so what better way than another classic countdown from the 19th of January 1991?
A very good show too, with Smiths sampling duo The Soho Girls in The Chart News,
EMF with their follow up to "Unbelievable", the similarly titled "I Believe" and a cracking Hot Shot from the Simpsons and just about the entire video for "Do The Bartman".
Now there's a tune and a half!
The Top Ten? Once again, brilliant with The KLF and "3 AM Eternal". Turns out that the duo got banned from Amsterdam after allowing the audience to come on stage, turn up the mixing desk on full blast and blow up the PA system of the venue they were at!
As well as that there was Queen and another future number one with the title track of the album "Innuendo" although this week's number 1 was the inimitable Enigma and "Sadness Part 1".
I was singing to just about everything including the musical stings especially the rocket preceeding the Number 1! I was even making surfer movements to the intro for
the Top Ten!
But I know I'm not the only one who's done so, I can remember watching the programme back in 1989 and I'm certain Dad used to make a few subtle but embarrassing moves to the opening titles with the rollercoaster. They were that infectious, don't deny it Dad!
Chris Andrews and Jonathan Sorrell were musical geniuses and I'm sure they're pretty modest by it all which is no problem whatsoever.
When I saw Peter Hinds playing keyboards at the Brit Funk Reunion last year he seemed really unphased when Kenny Wellington thanked him for co-writing "Everyday" with along with Bluey who was playing guitar at the gig.
Anyway back to the subject and I don't think I can actually remember seeing that episode of the ITV Chart Show first time round as it included the video for Rick Astley's "Cry For Help" in the Chart News.
I'm sure I saw the video for the song on Going Live! that morning as we were going to Canterbury to do more house hunting. That explains why we were up so early and I got a rare opportunity to see the opening titles to the popular Saturday morning show with one of the best theme tunes ever! Despite those annoying shouty voices screaming
"Going Going Going Live!" towards the end.
As I type I'm listening to KCFM 99.8 which launched yesterday in East Yorkshire and has a great line-up of presenters who will be known to it's residents such as Steve Jordan on Breakfast, and Al Dupres both formerly of Viking FM. Another of their ex-colleagues will be guesting on breakfast, Jon Culshaw also of Viking FM back in 1989 . I'm sure I've got his name jingle lurking somewhere from that package which is just hilarious.
The music is great too and I'll definitely be listening throughout the week. Ooh I'm on the East Yorkshire Coast already!
Speaking of jingles they've got a really good set from JonesTM resung from a package done for KVIL in Dallas Texas. I'm guessing Paul Chantler was a big influence having been hired as a consultant for the station's launch.
I got a lovely message from him this morning saying that he really liked my version of
The Beat 92 Cut 2 from JAM although it's not surprising having comissioned the jingles resung for both The Hot FM network and The Breeze in Essex.
If you look at the stations he's helped out at on his client list it's no surprise as to why they sound so good.
And if you're reading this Paul, you're more than welcome to pop over and give your words of wisdom to Smoke Radio! Although it's easy to get an idea what he'd suggest just by listening to any of the station's he's visited.
Overall each to their own.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Moving With The Times...Nah!
Rather quiet round here, Mum and Dad have gone to the beach hut as planned and I may be visiting somewhere similar tomorrow if it's still the same outside. Although it's starting to get a very tiny bit overcast but as I've said before, there's something comforting about being in a seaside town on a rainy day. Well any day to be honest.
I've just been sending messages and making wall posts on Facebook, and playing R-Type.
It's a game that I'd never get bored of but I have to take regular breaks if I've got really far within the level only to be shot and returned to a much earlier part of the game.
When R-Types 1 and 2 were re-released for the Playstation, the bundle was reviewed on Live And Kicking in the section of the show called "J-Drive" which had taken over from the rather annoying Adem Ay who ended up being the subject of a rather funny joke by Lee and Herring on TMWRNJ.
Basically Jamie Theakston said that R-Type was "my favourite game, 11 years ago! I used to like Kid Creole and the Coconuts 11 years ago but I wouldn't play that now!"
I don't think I'd want to share a flat with the former Priory presenter!
Now that was a brilliant show, livening up Tuesday nights and one of the last I can remember which got talked about at school the following morning but unlike it's fellow show from the same stable TFI Friday, it decided to bow out whilst still on top in what was a rather depressing summer in 2001.
Chris Evans once appeared as a guest on SM:tv the year before his sacking from Virgin Radio and was more than happy to rip the piss out of his past career with the ever pleasant Cat Deeley to keep him under control. Although I've learnt from her that you will get a lot of stick if you plan to move Stateside although going there on holiday again would not be off my to do list!
I've just been sending messages and making wall posts on Facebook, and playing R-Type.
It's a game that I'd never get bored of but I have to take regular breaks if I've got really far within the level only to be shot and returned to a much earlier part of the game.
When R-Types 1 and 2 were re-released for the Playstation, the bundle was reviewed on Live And Kicking in the section of the show called "J-Drive" which had taken over from the rather annoying Adem Ay who ended up being the subject of a rather funny joke by Lee and Herring on TMWRNJ.
Basically Jamie Theakston said that R-Type was "my favourite game, 11 years ago! I used to like Kid Creole and the Coconuts 11 years ago but I wouldn't play that now!"
I don't think I'd want to share a flat with the former Priory presenter!
Now that was a brilliant show, livening up Tuesday nights and one of the last I can remember which got talked about at school the following morning but unlike it's fellow show from the same stable TFI Friday, it decided to bow out whilst still on top in what was a rather depressing summer in 2001.
Chris Evans once appeared as a guest on SM:tv the year before his sacking from Virgin Radio and was more than happy to rip the piss out of his past career with the ever pleasant Cat Deeley to keep him under control. Although I've learnt from her that you will get a lot of stick if you plan to move Stateside although going there on holiday again would not be off my to do list!
In Need Of Elocution
Still steadily going through Chris Moyles's book, reading it out as always but I'm trying not to read it like Moyles, but in my own voice and only giving Yorkshire accents to other people such as the quotes from programme controllers. I'm on the section about his time at Radio Aire in Leeds, just to paint a clearer picture.
However in trying to adapt, I must admit I'm not all that good as everytime "FUCK OFF" comes up which it often does, I end up saying it like Jeremy Clarkson!
Now he was born in Yorkshire but I need to think about how I read that line as I know lots of people can't stand the man and it's not such a great move trying to be him.
But even the most respected broadcasters of both local and national levels can have a lapse into the vernacular now and again with Chris Moyles of course being no exception.
One I can remember on a slightly lower scale was when I was staying over in Wells in Norfolk where apparently the fish and chips are second to none
(Mum's words NOT mine).
Well, in this weather I'd love to be there provided that I've had a few bottles of Archers beforehand.
Anyway this was back in April 2001 and as always I was very keen to hear what radio was on offer and was lucky enough to recieve Lincs FM and was up pretty early on the Sunday listening to the delightful Maria Richmond who's gone even further to BBC Radio Lincolnshire.
Not a radio babe as such but she doesn't claim to be! A less annoying Sarah Kennedy I'd like to describe her as.
Anyway it was a rather special day as Digby Scott who presented the farming programme had turned 50 and Maria had given him a mole ornament as a gift to which he retorted
"that's a crap present!"
However, Maria did explain beforehand that the presents were basically designed to get him back on behalf of all the farmers he'd wound up for the last 9 years!
I'll have to upload the audio of that when I can get a decent line-in cable.
I must have a listen back to the station sometime as they now broadcast online and even Kelly from the radio course who comes from that area has said really nice things about the station.
Now there's someone on the radio course who's definitely got good looks and enthusiasm to match!
However in trying to adapt, I must admit I'm not all that good as everytime "FUCK OFF" comes up which it often does, I end up saying it like Jeremy Clarkson!
Now he was born in Yorkshire but I need to think about how I read that line as I know lots of people can't stand the man and it's not such a great move trying to be him.
But even the most respected broadcasters of both local and national levels can have a lapse into the vernacular now and again with Chris Moyles of course being no exception.
One I can remember on a slightly lower scale was when I was staying over in Wells in Norfolk where apparently the fish and chips are second to none
(Mum's words NOT mine).
Well, in this weather I'd love to be there provided that I've had a few bottles of Archers beforehand.
Anyway this was back in April 2001 and as always I was very keen to hear what radio was on offer and was lucky enough to recieve Lincs FM and was up pretty early on the Sunday listening to the delightful Maria Richmond who's gone even further to BBC Radio Lincolnshire.
Not a radio babe as such but she doesn't claim to be! A less annoying Sarah Kennedy I'd like to describe her as.
Anyway it was a rather special day as Digby Scott who presented the farming programme had turned 50 and Maria had given him a mole ornament as a gift to which he retorted
"that's a crap present!"
However, Maria did explain beforehand that the presents were basically designed to get him back on behalf of all the farmers he'd wound up for the last 9 years!
I'll have to upload the audio of that when I can get a decent line-in cable.
I must have a listen back to the station sometime as they now broadcast online and even Kelly from the radio course who comes from that area has said really nice things about the station.
Now there's someone on the radio course who's definitely got good looks and enthusiasm to match!
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