An unexpected Suprise!

A few weeks ago we had a gathering which I talked about in a previous blog, concerning a party for Eurovision. You know, the one were someone infected me with the lurgy....ah that one!

Well I'm over the lurgy, and suddenly remembered that I hadn't told you about a wonderful surprise that one of our guests brought with them.

My partner EJ had organised the get together, and invited some of our old 107 The Bee listeners along. Now, as alot of you fellow radio presenters will know, you often get quite a few fans who are a bit on the odd side....or as we call them in the industry...'window lickers'........but you also get some positively delightful listeners as well. These are the people that are a pleasure to bump into whilst out and about...buying toilet roll in the local store.......the 'window lickers' not so much.

Anyway, one of the guests at our get together was the lovely Michelle, who had said in previous meetings...in said local store....that she had something for me. So of course I was excited to see what it was, and when she arrived at our house she revealed all.......

After welcoming her into the house, she told me to shut my eyes...and hold out my hands.....normally this is weird at the best of times, even more so when it's a listener to your radio shows....god knows what they are going to put into your hands. As I held out my fingers, I felt something cold and hard in my hands....I opened my eyes, and the object you see above was in my grasp.

My response was something along the lines of...'f**k off'....said in a nice way....not in a, get out of my house way. I couldn't believe that she had first of all, found the item, and second saved it for so long, simply for the purpose of gifting it to me. I was flabbergasted to be honest. The item is a biscuit tin, in the shape of an old fashioned radio.....but with my radio nickname on the front.....AMAZING! It was just a lovely thing to be given....by someone who listened to me on the radio....it is weird the effect you have on people who hear you on the wireless, you don't really realise the fact that what you say sticks with people.....I mean, I just said whatever spilled out of my brain most of the time. 

It's just lovely to know that she enjoyed my shows that much, that she went to the effort of getting that tin, and saving it for me........I'm still totally taken aback by that.

Thank you Michelle, it now takes pride of place with my other novelty radio's.

Derek gets Commissioned

It's a bit belated, but I felt as though I should write something about Ricky Gervais's show 'Derek' getting commissioned by Channel 4.


I love everything that Gervais has done...even 'Life's Too Short', which let's face it, wasn't his best. It still had moments of brilliance though, that had me in stitches...falling out of his car...sleeping in the drawer...genius!


Derek is Gervais back to his best, the writing, the acting, the emotion...and the humour is bang on the money. 


I remember watching it and going through so many emotions, it is what great British telly is all about. If a program can take you on a roller coaster of emotion, make you cry and laugh at the same time...then as far as I'm concerned, it has ticked all the boxes.


I love how Gervais has once again managed to suck me into this world of Derek's.


The fact that Karl Pilkington is in the series as well, is a huge bonus as far as I'm concerned. The fact that Gervais has given the world Pilkington, is reason enough to give him a Knighthood! Idiot Abroad is one of the funniest shows ever conceived, and I cant wait for Karl and Warwick Davies new show to appear on my magic picture box. Karl just has a knack of making me smile from ear to ear, with his god given talent of producing natural comedy...love it!


Derek on the other hand does something entirely different...ok, it still has elements that made the Office and Extras such great shows, but it has so much more emotion in it. The fact that it is set in an old folks home instantly makes you attached to what is happening on screen...everyone has grand parents, and everyone fears growing old and ending up in one of those places.


Gervais portrays the character Derek so well, instantly you find him adorable..because he is so nice and caring...in his own special way. The attachment he has to the people in the home is heart wrenching, and quite difficult to watch at times.


I found it to be even more difficult to watch because I, like so many, have lost grandparents, and when I see things that remind me of them..I usually get very emotional. The scene where Derek is told that Joan has passed away really hit home, not just because I had sat with my Grandmother on her last day..but because of Gervais's portrayal of the emotions you go through, when someone you love passes away.


He truly is a great writer, producer, performer and comedian, and I really think we should thank him for being in our lives..and for what he has given us...the gift of laughter, and I for one can't wait for Derek the series to start!

15 Days Later

So, the Avengers movie has hit the cinemas, and I still haven't managed to go and see it. 


I have been waiting..nay, chomping at the bit, to go and drink in all the glorious action on the big screen, but for one reason or another (mainly cash flow), I haven't bought the tickets.


'Looking forward to this movie' is an understatement...there are certain films that come along and I get a kind of Spidey Sense, telling me that I must see this movie. From the announcement of it happening, my inner child began to giggle insanely! 


It happened most recently with the latest 'Transformers' movie, even though I knew that Mr Bay would be filling it with hardly any script as such...it didn't matter...mainly because Optimus Prime would be once again walking tall..in glorious CGI! To see him come to life in the first of Bay's outings was a shear delight...literally goose bumps all over me....and nearly a tear of utter joy!


I've had exactly the same feelings about this movie...allow me to explain a little further...remember when you were a child, and you asked your parents for a certain toy for Christmas? Then, on Christmas morning, you ran downstairs in your jimmy jams to see what Santa have left under the tree...all excited you rip open every prezzie, desperately searching for that one special toy! Then, you rip open one large box to reveal that certain item! You fill up with a warm fuzzy feeling...all over, and for that very brief moment, your life is complete. 


Well that is the feeling these kind of movies have given me, and seeing as these certain childhood emotions are very briefly felt...I need that buzz often...well as often as possible!


I remember as a child, watching all of the Avengers cartoon series, and often wondering why Iron Man's battery kept going flat....I always thought 'He can't be using Duracel'. Then as I grew up into adulthood, comic books and the movies turned my head. 


Each of the Avengers individual character films have had great elements, especially 'Iron Man' and 'Thor', both of which were superbly written and performed. Downey Jnr has been a total stroke of genius as Tony Stark, his wit and delivery is second to none.


I've read all the hype, and watched all the trailers.....and now of course, I know the movie is all I'd hoped it would be...but through third party reviews. You have no idea how much this drives me up the wall, that I can't just buy the tickets...for a viewing time specifically when there are no children / old people or chavs....sit in my half way up / middle of the screen, comfy seat...and drink it in...giggling insanely inside. 


That day will come soon....I hope......?