I Think I've Caught The Sun

Today was the first birthday of The New Fleetwood Inn in Banks. DuneFm were invited to provide the entertainment for the day.

We did everything from a pop quiz to an egg and spoon race and the ABC quiz.



With a Bouncy Castle BBQ and face painting there was something for everybody.

The BBQ was a huge success, keeping everybody well fed throughout the day

Apart from lots of regular listeners, it was great to have Heather from our sales team, Dan from Drive time Dune an Andy from Sunday Afternoon (and Nightfreaks) plus our Boss Anna. Not to forget Carol and Charlotte from Turley Towers.



Oh look its a DuneFM listener nearly burning her Bits

joking aside it was a joy to be out and about meeting our loyal listeners and making new friends.

Ten Pin Bowling

Wednesday evening saw the first Ten Pin Bowling Challenge as part of Southport’s Charity Fun Fest.

Nineteen teams gathered at Premier Bowl at Ocean Plaza in Southport for a night of fun and to raise money for local charities.

Entrants included the local newspaper The Southport Visiter, Dune FM,and lots of local busineses.

Our Radio station managed to get enough volunteers to make up three teams. In honour of my daily quiz on the Radio, rather than have silly names, we just called ours team A, B and C ( like my ABC quiz, ...good eh )



This is our Team... TEAM B. Me, Dan Roach, Neil Jackson and Katie Collins (she's a girl )

After the first game, our team was winning our inter Dune competition. It was at this stage John Storey (our PC and Brekie jock)from TEAM A bought us all a pint, and possibly tampered with our balls.

Not only did we lose our inter station game. But out of the Ninteen teams playing, we came Nineteenth..... oops

That said it was a great night that raised over six hundred pounds for charity.

SOUTHPORT’S Charity Fun Fest takes place at Princes Park, Southport, noon-5pm on Saturday, June 2.


For more details phone Andrew Brown on 01704 398271 or e-mail: visiternews@southportvisiter.co.uk

See you there.

Happy Easter Holiday

Its been five years since our last holiday. This year I am determined to break the cycle.

To ease ourselves back into getting away, a short break to Wales seemed like a good start. A few people including my Mum and Producer Paul from Dune FM had recommended a hotel called The Grand in Llandudno ( its big. )

So we packed up the car, and, to speed things up a touch I took my extra Ladies with us. The ladies being My Sat Nav and My Cars Traffic Master. The pair of them never shut up, all the way there,every two seconds, it was ( turn left turn right Que ahead Turn Bl**dy left)

On arrival, both Carol and myself felt like we were in that film Cocoon. I was about the youngest there...... Honest. We got stuck in though, we bought dabbers and played Bingo, and even went to the Ballroom to watch a stream of nightly entertainers reminding the audience how old they actually were and singing along to endless medleys, all of which seemed to include such classics as, "Pack up your troubles","If you were the only girl in the world" and "The Ovaltinies".

I have to admit some of the elderly guests did seem to lap it up, but I have to wonder if they were just being polite.

Just as we were at meal times.( Carol wouldn't let me kick off ) Things had changed since my mum had been there, Cold soup, veg cooked in milk, Rubber eggs for breakfast and rock hard cold toast. (YUK)

I must have really needed a break because at the end of it all, I feel like i've had a great time, I even managed to get Carol up the Great Orm (on a tram) What a view.

What a shame I didnt manage to win Producer Paul a Crazy Frog.

If my mates can do it !!!

I bet you didn't know it, but I have got some seriously famous mates.

Radio Presenter and all round good egg (That reminds me ,,, It's nearly Easter) Mark Blackman and his mate Gary are set to grace our TV screens with Dale Winton's Supermarket Sweep very soon.

My Other mate Derek (That doesn't mean I've only got two)Has been on TV for ages. Derek used to work with me at Dune FM and is also a great bloke. Well Derek has mastered the art of Presenting on a shopping Channel.

If I lost about three stone had my teeth whitened and re grew my hair..... I could do that. I would be really good with Power tools and Gadgets,,,, Oh I would need to regrow my finger nails too.

I may leave it for a while.

Charity Fun Day with 107.9 DuneFM

Saturday morning was spent out and about. My mate Andy Hilbert was doing his very first outside broadcast. He was presenting a show "Live!" from the Charity Fun Day at the Somerfield Store on Fylde Road in Southport.
The event was to raise money for the Antony Nolan Bone Marrow Foundation, The Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and most of all to help two little people who are desperate for a bone marrow transplant, Little Ella & Sam Wright from Birkdale.

Here is Andy Hard at work.

As you will see, rather than broadcast from a little table or flashy "Roadshow trailer" We enlisted the Help of Jack and Kim and their MONSTER TRUCK (they even held an auction to win a ride in it) Pictured is Me, Andy Hilbert, Neil Jackson and Jack.

Lucky winners on the day. (A Signed Steven Gerrard Picture)

Dan Roach wasn't so lucky, we paid for him to take a little ride. He got himself a sore A*se.

The Day was a huge success, plus it was great to meet so many of our listners.


well done Andy

A Day out at Last

Well not quite a day out. Saturdays weather turned out a little better than everybody thought, so the opportunity was siezed to load up the car, in readyness for a trip to the tip. One thing led to another and the trip never happened.

Sunday, and with the car pre loaded a quick trip shouldnt take long, and you always get lots of help. On arrival at the tip, I was amazed to see so many people working on a sunday (They cant all be on double time,can they ?.

All of the staff were wearing council jackets saying "Recycling Asistant). I thought my luck was in, because I had a car full of bricks and stones.

The only help I got was directions to which skip to use. No help lifting... well I am telling a little lie.

I took Carol with me and she helped. (what a shower of lazy ba*tards)

Lunar Eclipse

Saturday night at Turley Towers turned a little chilly tonight. On the early evening news the very efficient news team informed us of a Lunar Eclipse.

Quick !! Lets our telescope out, its tonight, and luckily the weather man got it well wrong, a clear night. But alas no telescope...... in the loft because we had a new carpet... (Don’t ask...Ok, it was carols orders.)

So armed with my little digi camera I went to investigate. And wow can’t believe the Picture I got. And for good measure one of my favorite star constellations, Orion.



Well chuffed with myself.

Look its Twins

My Niece Debbie has been on my case for ages. She has been asking me to put a picture of her beautiful twins (Alicia and Samantha) on my Blog. Well here they are, and what a pair of stunners. Alicia is on the left Samantha is on the right. They were 4 months and 1 week old when the picture was taken on New Years Eve in Portugal. With Debbie was hubby ste, My Sister Ann (Debbies mum)her hubby brian, Sister Sharon, chris, callum, and ste's other two daughters kady and lois.
It has took me this long to put the picture on because I have been so jealous, (New Year in Portugal eh)
Debbie made me laugh, she says they would have looked more lady like if they closed their legs,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, especially in a dress!!

Being a bloke, I forgot to ask how much they weighed when the were born, so I cant give you all the gossip. (why do people need to know the weight, its not as if your going to cook them)

well Done Deb

I've Had Bird Flu..... Honest

As you will have noticed, I've been missing for ages.

Two reasons. Firstly I blew up my PC and secondly I have been ded sick... Honest

I have in fact been off work ill for ages. (five weeks)been back for two weeks and things are just about back to normal. So my appologies if you have been logging on looking for a little bit of gossip.

Radio is one of those industries where a week is a long time off. so five weeks is pushing it. But wow the support I've had has been fantastic.

My Listeners have been great, they have been ringing texting and generally driving people mad asking where I am.

I cant tell you what I've had cos a Chest Infection,Tonslitis and a dodgy liver doesnt seem that bad. But it was Honest.

Glad to be back.

I will have to get my finger out and do some typing.

X Rated Studio Visit

Sometimes going into work can be a bit of a treat. Well today was one of those days. My mate Dan Roach from the Hits and Headlines Drive programme had arranged for the X-Factor finalists Eton Road to come into our Radio Station for a little chat.

The Liverpool lads, Anthony, James, Danny and David, were very relaxed and very open and honest about the whole X-Factor experience, and game for a laugh. (They even took a phone call from DuneFM regulars Randy Rene from Rufford and Mavis) And I may add, Even did our Traffic and Travel News. Pictured is Anthony (on the job)


which seemed to tickle James

We think the lads would have stayed for ages but they began to show me and Dan up. So much talent in one room.
We didn't have time to ask the guys if a closer mag article was true as listed on the Eton Road Online website saying
"Coleen McLoughlin has revealed that she used to babysit Anthony Hannah from X Factor Finalist Eton Road. Coleen, 20, lived in the same area of Liverpool as Anthony, 17, and she told Closer: “He was tiny and his nan would say to me ‘Look after our Anthony now!’.” Now engaged to Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney,"

We wish the lads all the luck in the world for the future and look forward to the X-Factor tour.

For more info check out The Southport Visitor Our Local Newspaper http://icseftonandwestlancs.icnetwork.co.uk/icsouthport/

It was a Happy New Year

With all the talk of bad weather, the thought of going out and doing the rounds with the neighbours wasn't the number one plan.

First thought was to try and seize the opportunity to let a few more of our fireworks off. These are the ones left over from Bonfire night. It was a bit windy so it wasnt long before we gave up, plus the sticks from the rockets started to land in our own garden. We should have waited till Big Ben too.

As the midnight Hour approached Carol and I donned our big coats, and headed out to await midnight, and the chance to let in the New Year armed with our trusty piece of coal.

Once outside, the adventurous side of us, set us on a mission to find a man in a Kilt armed with some bagpipes. We found him with no trouble what so ever, he still lives around the corner, and is the Grandad of Charlotte's friend Jessica (who played Claire Sweeney's daughter Kylie in Brookside.)

We all paraded around the block until Grandad and his pipes ran out of wind. It was at this stage we got ourselves invited into the house of our new neighbours, Jim and Val and some relatives from Formby. Managed to get, and pass on, lots of gossip but got far too drunk to remember what.

I wonder if they will have us back, or as always, is that the last we see of our neighbours (till next year)

Interviewed Claire a while back. She was a joy see link to her site

Resolution

New Years Eve, eve, and my thoughts are turning to 2007, and the possibility of a New Year resolution.

Two years ago, for both financial and health reasons, the decision was made to stop smoking. However whilst preparing for my Radio show, I came across some statistics which led me to believe that my attempt was doomed to failure within a matter of days.

Holding back just a few weeks gave me the edge. A good two years have now passed and I remain a non smoker. I feel No better off financially nor health wise but that leaves me a couple of options for this year.

So my advice to you is to try your best to be realistic with your resolutions.

If you wish, follow my example and don't tell anybody what your plans are. This way, should you fail, so what, nobody knows, and you can try again later.

This year however I am going to spill the beans. I have two resolutions.1, Bearing in mind I am not allowed to use a gym, so getting into shape will be a hard one, but I am going to give it a go. I may even post my weight on my web site and let you help me.

2,My career will be another thing to get some attention this year. There may even be a total change in direction, but lets see. One step at a time maybe.

Was that it ?

Doesn't time fly? One blink and its gone for another year. I hope you got everything you hoped for this year, if not, fear not as another one will be along before you can say It only seemed like yesterday.

Christmas day as always runs with one or two minor disasters, firstly my body knows when i have time off work and gives me full blown man flu with a smokers cough (even though I stopped smoking two years ago)

And (bless her) Carol said to me, "just so you have something funny for your blog, I have cooked the Turkey with the bag of gibblets inside"....... She wasnt joking !!!! She had

Maybe the Turkey Growers know that people are getting dafter as the years move on. I think ours had a Fire proof Gibblet bag. Because it survived intact without any harm to our Christmas dinner.

Another busy christmas and a well deserved rest on boxing day.

Best Wishes to yo all

TRACK SANTA

At the time of updating this Blog, I have in on very good authority that Santa will be on his way within Two Hours.

Click on the link to Track Santa (with the help of Norad)

It's getting very exiting.

Elf Expression

Have you seen what Andy My web expert has done to me.

Must admit, I am a bit of a mover.

Merry Christmas

click on the Link or Title to see me move.

The Fog

How Strange is this.?

I have just finished my latest book,(not writing but reading it) The Title of the book was "The Fog" By James Herbert. A Story of (you guessed it ) some fog.

Not, I may add, any ordinary fog, fog that drove people Mad, Crazy , Loopy. With this story fresh in my mind, I actually found time this week to go into Southport for a little Christmas shopping.

Carol has actually done most of the present shopping, but you can never have too much help. can you?

after a short time, I found myself, not so much shopping, but watching other people shopping. What were they buying? why that? who for? And before long found myself thinking "Had we had any Fog" are they infected.

Women who should be buying scalextric for their hubbies or boyfriends were looking at really Cr*p presents and new pan sets.

I was in so much shock, I returned dis-heartend and empty handed. Must try again tommorrow.

ahhhhhh

Managed to get a little time over the weekend to do a little Christmas shopping and, a little web surfing. What do yo think. Bet it's Ahhhhhhhhhh

Click on the Link to see clip

Big Night Out

For many years I have donated some of my spare time to Hospital Radio. Having a huge interest in radio, made this hobby a great way to put a little back into the community, have a great time, and, as it turned out prepare me for a brand new career.

Radio Whiston was my very first station. This was a breeding ground of great radio talent. Derek Webster, John (Gilly) Gillmore and Tony Cookson to name just three all under the watchful eye of Ray Ferguson plus many of 1067/KCR the Rocket's presenters, all cutting their teeth on Avenue 3.

After a short break I returned to Hospital broadcasting, this time at Radio Ormskirk General. What a station. I have made many very good friends at the station over the years, and still bob in to say hello.

Radio Ormskirk General have also had a lot of success in the way of radio and TV talent. John Culshaw (dead Ringers) and the legend that is Allan Beswick, and I am very proud they list me too. I was the regular Tuesday Night Presenter after taking over from Andy Williams (na not that one)

tomorrow night is the Tuesday Posse Christmas Night out and I've been invited.. How good is that.? Barbara and Jean, two of the original Tuesday posse girls will be there. (they are still at it, how devoted are they).

Brian my old programme controller and all some of the new kids. It should be a great night. So look out The Hayfield in Ormskirk.

Check out the link below for info on Radio Ormskirk General, maybe you could get involved.

Cheeky Sods

Not because Carol is a bad driver (Honest). One of my summer jobs was to knock down one of our gate posts with a view to widening the driveway to Turley Towers.

As I have been so very busy doing the bathroom, livingroom and garage roof. I have , as yet, not got around to finishing the job. Mainly because it involves replacing a wall and I haven't bought my Bricky Mate (or what ever its called)Yet.

This tool makes anybody a top brick layer (Honest, I've seen it on TV).

Anyway, because we have no gate post , we have no gates. This is proving to be a complete pain in the arm. For some reason every car that comes up our road wants to turn around.

Lets think, shall we drive a hundred yards up the road, or turn into this nice wide driveway.
I am really tempted to put a spike strip in the drive, but sods law says I would be its only victim.

isn't the world full of cheeky bas*ards

Cor isn't it windy

With all the work virtually finished on the house, who would have thought nature would stick its nose in and start piling on the jobs.

The porch has been finished for quite a while now. Thursday turned out to be quite a windy one, and, just before 12 o'clock it became a victim of a gust of wind.

On hearing a strange noise outside the front window, it seemed a good idea to send Carol out to investigate. That way, if Carol got into trouble, I could go out in the wind and rain and rescue her.

"Its all over the front lawn" was Carols observation. With this news, I was forced to go out and see for myself "What was"

The whole apex fasia of the porch had indeed blown off. And is now on the top of my to do list.

Tell you what. ..............That saying is true..... No rest for the wicked.