I walked out of the studios at BBC Radio Suffolk at 9.15 this morning and said "That's it. I can't change my mind now!"
17 years at the BBC including three presenting the weekend breakfast show.... and I had resigned. The end of an era indeed. After 28 years in broadcasting, I don't have to be planning the next programme.
I had so many emails. texts and phonecalls from listeners - they will never know how much I appreciated the send-off. My colleagues managed to render me speechless with a surprise phonecall from my 1980's co-presenter from Radio Orwell and Saxon Radio, Melvyn Prior, who is now presenting on BBC Radio Lincolnshire. This was followed by a montage of very embarrassing clips from my time at BBC Radio Suffolk - ah, the joys of live radio.
Today's programme included some extracts from interviews with some real "stars" including Donny Osmond, Midge Ure, and Dame Kiri te Kanawa.
Actually the biggest response I have ever had from pop music fans was to the interview with Nik Kershaw that I first broadcast about four years ago . He has this amazing fan club who keep each other posted wherever he does a radio interview. http://z11.invisionfree.com/Nik_Kershaw/index.php?act=idx
This weekend I was getting good luck messages from across Britain and abroad! I just HAD to repeat part of the interview for them, and play a song of course.
Now I always like to say I am a "big" Phil Collins fan, and once spent two days on the phone unsuccessfully trying to get tickets to his gig at the Royal Albert Hall, but I have never belonged to a fan club.
Nik Kershaw is from Suffolk. He is a great guy and a good singer but does he know how devoted these fans are I wonder?
http://www.rachelsloane.co.uk/
Monday 24 March 2008
Monday 17 March 2008
Shaun the Sheep in my bedroom
One of the big disadvantages of presenting an early morning radio show is the small matter of the alarm clock. It wasn't until nearly four years ago when I took over BBC Radio Suffolk's Sunday breakfast programme (to be followed by Saturday too) that I realised that you could get up at that time if you didn't have a new baby to feed or a plane to catch!
Now I am quite a good sleeper. In my experience the words "pillow," "head" and "sleep" instantly combine, so I don't often have a sleepless night. Friday night was the exception.
In bed at 10.15 and alarm clock set for 4.10am I went sound asleep as usual.... only to wake up 30 mins later. Now when you know you have to get up early getting off to sleep becomes an obsession.
I tried everything.... a milky drink, a chapter or two of a soothing novel, a couple of biscuits.... nothing worked. My brain was on overdrive and refused to let me relax. I tried visualisation... lying on a pink beach in Bermuda ( "now, how long ago is it since my younger son lived there....how long did that rain last... when did I last see the blue dolphin jug I....."), gradually relaxing each part of my body (".. did I remember to put the washing out.....have I made the hair appointment......") . No matter what I tried I couldn't relax and drift off... thoughts kept leaping into my brain.
At 1.10am (with just three hours to the alarm going off) I resorted to the traditional solution of counting sheep. The Suffolk rams in my bedroom soon had wives and lambs to keep them company..... they were eating the pillows and bleating so loudly I am surprised they didn't wake
the street. The last thing I remember is that they had all turned into Shaun the sheep lookalikes and were holding a fashion parade around the bed!
So, in conclusion, forget the advice of the websites
Only ever go to bed when you are feeling tired and sleepy.
Try to create a bedtime routine, such as a warm bath and warm milky drink every night. These activities will then be associated with sleep and will cause drowsiness.
Do not take a nap during the day.
If the early morning sunlight or bright street lamps affect you sleeping, use thick blinds, curtains or wear an eye mask to create a dark environment.
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=216§ionId=9
or to turn yourself upside down - or do the washing up ...
http://www.nvo.com/isleepless/miscellaneousquirkyremedies/
My recommendation is Count Sheep - but make sure they are of the Wallace and Grommit type.........and if your computer is by your bed.....
PS My last weekend as the Weekend Breakfast presenter at BBC Radio Suffolk is Easter Weekend - and then I can put away the alarm clock at weekends!!
Now I am quite a good sleeper. In my experience the words "pillow," "head" and "sleep" instantly combine, so I don't often have a sleepless night. Friday night was the exception.
In bed at 10.15 and alarm clock set for 4.10am I went sound asleep as usual.... only to wake up 30 mins later. Now when you know you have to get up early getting off to sleep becomes an obsession.
I tried everything.... a milky drink, a chapter or two of a soothing novel, a couple of biscuits.... nothing worked. My brain was on overdrive and refused to let me relax. I tried visualisation... lying on a pink beach in Bermuda ( "now, how long ago is it since my younger son lived there....how long did that rain last... when did I last see the blue dolphin jug I....."), gradually relaxing each part of my body (".. did I remember to put the washing out.....have I made the hair appointment......") . No matter what I tried I couldn't relax and drift off... thoughts kept leaping into my brain.
At 1.10am (with just three hours to the alarm going off) I resorted to the traditional solution of counting sheep. The Suffolk rams in my bedroom soon had wives and lambs to keep them company..... they were eating the pillows and bleating so loudly I am surprised they didn't wake
the street. The last thing I remember is that they had all turned into Shaun the sheep lookalikes and were holding a fashion parade around the bed!
So, in conclusion, forget the advice of the websites
Only ever go to bed when you are feeling tired and sleepy.
Try to create a bedtime routine, such as a warm bath and warm milky drink every night. These activities will then be associated with sleep and will cause drowsiness.
Do not take a nap during the day.
If the early morning sunlight or bright street lamps affect you sleeping, use thick blinds, curtains or wear an eye mask to create a dark environment.
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=216§ionId=9
or to turn yourself upside down - or do the washing up ...
http://www.nvo.com/isleepless/miscellaneousquirkyremedies/
My recommendation is Count Sheep - but make sure they are of the Wallace and Grommit type.........and if your computer is by your bed.....
PS My last weekend as the Weekend Breakfast presenter at BBC Radio Suffolk is Easter Weekend - and then I can put away the alarm clock at weekends!!
Monday 10 March 2008
Why does wind close schools?
There are some days when I am very glad that I can work from home. The wind and rain are beating on my window, the Orwell Bridge is closed to traffic and BBC Radio Suffolk are announcing some schools are closed.
I can never get my head around why the schools close for bad weather now. When I was at Luther Road Primary school in Ipswich, I don't ever remember it closing unexpectedly. We'd wade through the snow with frozen mittens ( safely on a crocheted string through our coat sleeves), battle against gales or arrive with soaked gabardine macs but School Would Open. A teacher delayed on their journey? We piled into the next door class or waited in the school hall until she got there. Power failure? We put our coats on.
My sons went to Grange Junior School in Felixstowe then to Deben High School. The only day that closed was the day of The Great Storm, in October 1987.
Working in local radio I battled into Ipswich that day, and through numerous snowy days, so that I could join my colleagues ensuring that Snowline, or Stormline or whatever, could be broadcast. Mind you, I did get the despairing call or two from listeners who had told their bosses that Felixstowe was cut off and they wouldn't be at work and were anxious that because I was so publicly at my desk they would fired!
So why does the current young generation have so many days when schools are closed? Will they assume that they will be allowed a paid day off work when they are earning a living, whenever the weather is inclement?
I can never get my head around why the schools close for bad weather now. When I was at Luther Road Primary school in Ipswich, I don't ever remember it closing unexpectedly. We'd wade through the snow with frozen mittens ( safely on a crocheted string through our coat sleeves), battle against gales or arrive with soaked gabardine macs but School Would Open. A teacher delayed on their journey? We piled into the next door class or waited in the school hall until she got there. Power failure? We put our coats on.
My sons went to Grange Junior School in Felixstowe then to Deben High School. The only day that closed was the day of The Great Storm, in October 1987.
Working in local radio I battled into Ipswich that day, and through numerous snowy days, so that I could join my colleagues ensuring that Snowline, or Stormline or whatever, could be broadcast. Mind you, I did get the despairing call or two from listeners who had told their bosses that Felixstowe was cut off and they wouldn't be at work and were anxious that because I was so publicly at my desk they would fired!
So why does the current young generation have so many days when schools are closed? Will they assume that they will be allowed a paid day off work when they are earning a living, whenever the weather is inclement?
Just realised I sound like one the Grump Old Women off the TV! The talk today is that the weather is getting worse so perhaps the schools that have opened and decided now to close are right.... poor parents though!
I have just spotted a great set of photos posted by Margaret Nelson from Suffolk - some-one I have interviewed many times in my career but usual; about being a Humanist.
Perhaps I should arrange an interview with her about cloudspotting?
Monday 3 March 2008
Give up your seat for a monk
Should children give up their seats to adults on public transport?
Recent letters in the Times newspaper about a school party claiming all the seats on the London Underground made me smile. I have just returned from my first visit to Bangkok where the custom is that adults should give up their seats for children to use. A sign on the train asks passengers to give priority to the elderly and disabled, pregnant mothers, children……and monks!
Travelling on the Skytrain, I saw a middle-aged male passenger smilingly lifting a child onto his lap ( imagine that happening in the UK or America!) but when the five year old was understandably reluctant to stay with the stranger, the man laughed and stood so the child could use his seat.
I couldn't find out at what age this priority ends – but can you imagine the reaction of a child, used to being cosseted and given priority, suddenly finding that this status no longer applied because they were too old? What a shock!
Apparently in China they have designated the 22nd of each month “Give up your Seat Day"... but children and monks don’t appear to qualify.
The Women’s Institute has campaigned for many things in their 93 year history including community hospitals, apprenticeships and the need for local abattoirs …perhaps when I am at the annual meeting of East Suffolk Federation of Women’s Institutes this week, I could suggest children on public transport as a subject….
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