THE LANE

Thank you for your well wishes. I am back tomorrow. I’ve rested up today because I had to go to the launch of THE LANE, Collin Browns new restaurant in Osbourne Street. It was a real swanky affair. My head hurt and my neck caned but Collin would have been gutted if I had stayed … Read more

Post Boat Spin

Spurs win 5-1 and I’ve taken to my bed. I awoke this morning with post-boat spin, nausea. I felt like I was going to die. Jim Davies is ‘me’ for a day, I hope I’m up for it tomorrow. Jackson is fine, although I don’t see enough of him. Gae, my wonder-woman, is doing it … Read more

To Dare Is To Do

Each day presents a new problem.
Working at the PC, the boss walks through, and I get like a kid in the 5th form, waiting to be tapped on the shoulder to be told I’m naughty and I’ve done it wrong!
I keep forgetting I’m 750 years old and I’m not an idiot, but let me tell you everyday presents a new learning curve.
Still in my infancy.
Today we talked about abortions, many of you phoned in even though it was such a sensitive topic. Thank you.
Then we talked about Ed Balls and cookery in schools.
As usual, you listeners kept the topic afloat.
It was very good.

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No rest for the wicked

I did not get to sleep until 6.am. this morning. The reasons were many and various. On todays show my top story was less than well received – I discussed January 21st being the most depressing day of the year and comely cures for my insomnia. My new headphones made me feel sick, by the … Read more

Categories LBC

Burns unit

Imagine a big bowl of cold roasted vegetables, with just a hint of lemon and lime. Imagine cold chicken, succulent and juicy. Imagine not having to do the washing up all courtesy of your little roomies. The perfect apres show meal. Now imagine a small studio on the 3rd floor of a radio station diagonally … Read more

The Primmies are up

Yesterdays show was as different from ‘Breaking News’ as building a snowman is from whizzing down the Cresta Run. We covered Public Displays of Affection, marriage, education, ageism and litter. I talked my lips off. Today I had my new quarter light fitted, my battery tested, bought a new pink and red rug, had a … Read more

Breaking news

Today I had the steepest learning curve since sitting on stage and playing a Debussy piano piece whilst my brain cells turned to hummus. A Boeing 777 crash landed at Heathrow airport. Nobody was hurt. 8 people had minor injuries, 128 passengers were safely chuted off the plane. A wheel fell off, several LBC listeners … Read more

Rats and Calls

I’m meant ot be going to TENDER’s charity do tonight in Soho.
I say I’m meant to be going but I do what I always do, put on my pj’s and then oscillate between conscience and armchair.
I’ve no excuse really.
I am understanding the show better, day by day, why I even went out for a pre-broadcast-power-walk.
My ankle isn’t totally better so running is still out of my reach but this morning I had ten minutes up to Battersea bridge and ten minutes back. The light was luminescent, the river dazzling and the boats by the bridge stood out in bold relief.
I had to walk really fast, my hands started out freezing, by the time I got back to the flat I was toasty warm.

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Soggy Tuesday

‘Caught some of Monday’s broadcast, the bit about make up.
About a year ago I watched a TV programme about troops liberating concentration camps after WW2 and one of the female survivors said that one of the officers managed to get lipsticks sent to the camp for the women, and that act of kindness made them feel like human beings again. It made me cry. So now every time I apply lipstick I’m reminded of that.
Love June.’
June’s blog made me realise that everything has a meaning, and that nothing is out of bounds.
I started feeling just a little complacent today, by that I mean I was relaxed.
I have to keep myself in check otherwise smugness creeps in, then you can kiss goodbye to a listenable programme.

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dy1wk 2

I had the same sort of heebie jeebies that I had last week, only this week I got in an hour later.
According to received wisdom, getting in too soon can make for a stale performance.
It’s like over rehearsing a song, or bashing away at a speech.
Taking too many bits of paper into the studio and writing a script doesnt work either, it’s about being as natural as you can be..
So I took advice and pootled around the flat until 11.00.
Made calls to two washing machine outlets, one for the flat and one for the cottage. When the new bits arrive I will be clean in London and Sussex, a relief for me and the old man let me tell you!.

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