La Giralda, Seville

101

Well now.....you turn your back for six months and look what happens!

First off, I have to say how delighted I am that you guys decided to carry on without me in April and that you’ve succeeded so brilliantly ever since. A man with less moral fibre and more professional insecurity than me could easily have broken down in quivering, shoulder-heaving sobs of misery on realising that The Nightshift’s progeny had in reality outgrown its parent and was leading an independent life of its own in the blogosphere, irrespective of BBC Radio Newcastle’s output.

I am, in fact, flattered almost beyond description that the community of ‘nightshifters’ is so strong that it seems to possess the will to continue in cyberspace without the originating blog. I even get the feeling that if - heavens forfend - The Nightshift was discontinued, the happy, curious, friendly and mutually supportive band of Truckshunters would ‘carry on regardless’ - and quite rightly, too. That’s quite an achievement and you deserve national recognition for it - at least you do as far as I’m concerned.

Of course, there’s nothing new about me singing your praises. I’m convinced that there’s never been a radio audience with quite the same qualities of wonderment, mischief, mutuality, affection and involvement in the history of the medium. Please accept that I’m as aware now as ever I was that I owe you a very great deal indeed.

One of the things I owe you is an explanation.

As I kinda suggested at the time, I stopped posting on the blog because......well, it seemed like the appropriate thing to do. Professionally, I had been told to stop mentioning the blog on-air because it wasn’t an official BBC blog. Inasmuch as this was so, it seemed pretty pointless to me to spend time writing posts to which I was not permitted to draw listeners’ attention. After all, the blog’s audience, loyal and affectionate though it was, could not expand without the blog itself being mentioned on-air.

My personal life, too, was a bit ‘brittle’ at the time. I felt an obvious need to devote as much of my personal time as possible to finding a way through the difficulties. Things are slowly sorting themselves out now. That’s one of the reasons I have returned to the fold.

Another reason is Gilly. After a long and worrying period of silence, I finally heard from her recently. Which is a very good thing indeed.

The other reasons I've decided to resume posting (though not every day!) are, I hope, reading these words right now.

So how are you all......?

CONTACT ME
Post comments on this blog or contact me in any one (or more) of these ways....
ian.robinson@bbc.co.uk
text 07786 200954 (while the programme is on-air)
call (between about 0545 and 0630 Monday to Friday) 0191 232 6565
Ian Robinson, The Nightshift, BBC Radio Newcastle, Spital Tongues, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE99 1RN (England)

NOTE
Please bear in mind that the views expressed in this blog are my own and NOT the views of the BBC.

49 comments:

Maureen said...

Hi Ian,
Whatever your reasons were, LOVELY TO HAVE YOU BACK, WE'VE MISSED YOU SO MUCH!!!!

Inga said...

Hello Ian, haven't missed you as long but as much nonetheless.

Vivienne said...

Welcome back Ian!

We've all missed you so much. Thank you for not only posting a new page for us to use, but also for your lovely photo of Seville and explanation for your absence.
I really appreciate your new posting very much.

I've just left a note with your blog address on murphyanddorastravels.blogspot.com
to invite people to come across and view Truckshunters. That's one way we can promote your blog.

Love, Vivienne xxx

Murphy and Dora said...

Hello Ian,

It's great to see you back on the blog again.

Luv Murphy xx and Dora xx

Inga said...

Mornin' You All !
Just checked in to do the box ticking thing which I forgot as usual.

Hildie said...

Ian,
you have really made my day!
I'm over the moon! Missed you millions!

Maureen said...

Just had a thought Ian ...boy have you got some reading to do, that's if you can find your way through the maze! Or have you been sneaking a peek now and again? Sid will be over the moon when he gets back from the allotment.

Sid said...

Ian, never mind hello, come here till I give you a hug. Sorry I smell of garden smoke but Maureen was right, I've just got back home from the allotment.
Gilly I know you will be reading this, the family's back together. I know we owe you so much, thanks.

Maureen said...

You see Ian it is ok to light a fire in the garden. Sid says so, and that'll do for me!

Sid said...

Hello everyone, can't help myself, have to keep coming back to make sure it's real.

Maureen said...

Psst! Sid are you still there? Like you, I can't settle! I hope that Loz is following this. We haven't heard from him.
That's two great anniversaries this week isn't it? Maybe we should do the anniversary waltz or something? I feel like we should be having a party. I hope that you are working on the Halloween story. I remember the last time, I would get my bit ready then someone had posted by the time I got in from work. Maybe we should have a rota! C'mon Miss Marples get in there!

Ian Robinson said...

Believe me, I'm as glad to see YOU as you seem to be to see ME. Thanks for the cyberhugs; they mean a lot! I just wish there was some way I could publicise the blog without upsetting my paymasters. The murphyanddora link is a cool idea; any others?? As for Seville...WOW!!
Keep on truckshuntin' XXX

Maureen said...

Does anyone know who that skinny guy is? Loz, I think I've cracked it, the diet thing, you have to disappear for 6 months then go to Seville. I'm packing my bags as I speak! We've got LOADS of ideas Ian, we're just letting you in gently today!

Sid said...

Hello everyone, what a great day this has turned out to be.
Maureen, behave yourself, going 'psst' in here will get us both into hot water.
I think we need the smelling salts for Hildie, the surprise may have been just too much.
Maybe I need to compose myself before tackling the Halloween story.
Can't wait to hear Ian later.

Maureen said...

Sorry Ian, didn't mean to be rude, you know I'm only kiddin'! too much excitement for one day, Sid's right. I'd better settle down or I won't sleep, oh, that's the idea isn't it?. Anyway, I would have deleted it but I can't find the bin! Doh!

Vivienne said...

Good Evening Folks!

I've just been to my nephew's 21st birthday party, but had to check in tonight in case it was all a dream, or in case you changed your mind Ian, and deleted today's posting!!!

I'm a bit worried about Hildie, as I thought she would have filled up this new posting by the time I came in tonight. She's either on the floor waiting for Sid to run around with the Smelling Salts, or she's been blown out of her kitchen window.

Gilly, please call in and say, 'Hello.'

Loz, I heard you on the News this morning, although missed hearing you on with Mike.

Ian, it really doesn't take much to make us happy. It's been a super day.

Inga said...

It's wonderful to see all of you so happy and excited.
No one is more deserving of such accolades as Ian, star of the Truckshunters!

Hildie said...

It would be true to say I really am blown away! However, I have a visitor staying the week with me (my cousin Irene from Buckinghamshire) - and consequently I am lacking the opportunity to blog at will. She has just gone off to bed,shhh, so thought I'd drop in to see how inebriated you folk are ....
I think it's 'quite', isn't it?!!
Did you hear Ian last night asking if he over-does the catch phrases?
"The Nightshift" wouldn't be the same without them, would it? I suspect I may say them in my sleep mind! They do, however, demarcate the programme, and make it familiar ground. Like, for instance, you know what's coming next, and are aware that you've got time to go and make a cuppa while he gets it out of his system!
He's talking about Christmas at the moment, best go have a listen!
It seems he didn't really mean to talk about it. He actually intended to tell us that it's "People's Nightshift No.5" next Wednesday. You can follow the logic, can't you????

Inga said...

Hildie, glad you agree with me about Ian's catch phrases. I sent him an email [before I could have said it here] telling him that we would not want him to change. His business is like any other, images are most important for recognition. I also suggested that this "critic" should go and jump into the nearest lake.

Hildie said...

No lakes, Inga, but we do have the River Tyne and a fine choice of bridges! Have you sent him your Arkansas placenames yet? Go on, he's going to love those!
I'm going to listen to
"On Your Doorstep" then pop off to bed shortly. What time of day is it where you are? And what are you up to?

Inga said...

Hildie, the River Tyne will do just fine.
I haven't sent the Arkansas place names but I will soon, I promise.
This week it is 9 pm right now because we haven't switched back to regular time. Due to this I get the Nightshift one hour later effectively depriving me of about an hour or so unless I stay up later than normal. I am actually still working a little. I am preparing something on Photoshop for a customer and building a few frames. Back to "On your Doorstep"

Inga said...

Well, d...n I missed what Loz said which Ian thought so funny - had a phone call.
You still there, Hildie? If not maybe I'll hear it Sunday.

Lawrence said...

Hi all,

Welcome back to the blog Ian... :-)

Just back from Berwick Speedway's potential last ever meeting.... here;s hoping not, mind it was COLD!!!

Been a real (as Ian is sure to call me) media-tart, mike parr, news, on your doorstep and even online at the speedway passing info on to the live comms going on up there.

Hi Inga.... what Ian found so very (very, very,very very) funny was......

Giles disputed Lumley’s inheritance of the Thornton coffers leading to a duel in a ditch at Windsor Castle in which Giles was killed.

One of those "hadda be there" moments, Ian laughed, I read on, I looked up at Ian, Ian laughed more, set me off laughing, and so it grew to the hysterics you heard.... funny radio mind you.

Mad morning that was but a good laugh and that does us all good.

Well speedway's finished for 2008, but with the sale up at Berwick I have a feeling I may be in for a busier winter than normal.

Im off to bed now, left the house at 5.45 to get rats ready for Mike Parr, .... I need sleep...

Nite all!

Good to have the leader back with the pack.

Cheers (thanks for listening to Doorstep!!)

Lawrence

Murphy and Dora said...

Top of the mornin' to you all,

Just wanted to let you know that we've added a reference to this blog in our 'Header' on murphyanddorastravels.blogspot.com

We've also posted a photo of Lumley Castle, Loz. We'll try and take a full picture of the castle when the sun is shining.

Luv Murphy xx and Dora xx

Sid said...

Afternoon everyone.
Inga, I changed the first word of Ian's "award" to Humour. On reflection I thought the 'bravery' word should be kept for other people who really deserve it.
We have had a foretaste of winter here, well not really here, but in the south of the country, where it has snowed.
A long range prediction as to how the winter will be has been released. It is said to be a milder, and wetter winter than usual. So that means we shall have lots of snow and freezing temperatures.
Mike Parr said this morning that "all Radio Newcastle's programmes are available on listen again". I nearly choked on my porridge. I sent him a text about our Nightshift show. These people just have to be told.

Vivienne said...

Sid,

I've heard Mike say that all shows are available on 'Listen Again' or the BBC i-player a few times, and last week I'd had enough. I sent
Mike a text, which he ignored, then he repeated his comments later in the show!

Ian, please will you have a word with Mike, as it's really annoying.

Thanks, Vivienne xxx

Inga said...

LOZ, thanks for taking time to let me in on what was behind Ian's amusement. By the time you guys got through I was laughing my head off and didn't even know why! Also took your "Cheers" to heart and had another glass of wine :-)

SID, I agree, humour is a better word than bravery. Any plans as to when and how this award will be presented?
It was 54 F this morning and I am freezing. The high will be 21 F ! and we still think of that as pretty cool here in Ahhkansaw :-)

SID and VIVIENNE I think I'll send an email to RN requesting a link to the Nighshift Listen Again.

Sid said...

Hello again,
Inga I sent Ian his 'award', from all of us, last night via e-mail.
Tonight I e-mailed RN, pointing out that Mike Parr (another presenter) insisted on saying that ALL the programmes were on listen again, when clearly they are not. Maybe (as you have pointed out in the past) we can irritate them into submission.

Ian Robinson said...

I'm just about to go out for a beer with Paul - yes, THAT Paul. I'll give him a hug from YOU!
I really don't understand why anyone would want to be even remotely sarcastic about the picture I've posted on my blog profile. It's true that it was taken a little while ago ( - OK, 25 years ago - ) but, as anyone who has met me will tell you, I've hardly changed at all.
ALRIGHT????
As for Mike Parr's assertion that 'all' the station's programmes are available on iPlayer - well, listen in to the handover from me to him tomorrow (Friday) morning....

Vivienne said...

Hi Ian,

Please tell Paul we all miss him very much on Radio Newcastle, and particulaly your double act!

Thanks in anticipation for sorting out Mike. I don't know why he's ignored our texts.

Love Vivienne xxx

Inga said...

SID - Great. Could you post the award email here? Would love to see it. Also someone give me the gist of what Mike Parr said , I'll be snoozing. I did send email to RN as promised.

IAN, enjoy your evening

Vivienne said...

Hi Inga,

Mike has obviously been asked to advertise other shows, at intervals throughout his show. He always slips in an advert after Gilly Hope finishes her Traffic & Travel update. Sometimes Mike will say something like, 'Of course all of these shows are available on 'Listen Again.' You can find every show on the BBC i-player.'

I text Mike and said that he kept announcing that all the shows were available on, 'Listen Again,' but Ian's Nightshift wasn't, but should be! He completely ignored my text, which I knew had been delivered, as my mobile received a delivery report from Radio Newcastle.

It really rubs salt into the wound when it's such a sore point with us all. Good luck with your email.

Sid said...

Here is the e-mail that I sent Ian yesterday on all our behalfs..
Morning Ian,
Thanks to a rather splendid idea from Inga, it has befallen me to present you with an award. We decided amongst ourselves that we should mark the 1st anniversary of the Truckshunters blog in a fitting manner. So with this in mind, I take great pleasure in presenting you with the Truckshunters HITFOOO award. In the spirit of the BBC's current policy there isn't actually a medal, or certificate. Had there been one it would have read,"Presented to Ian Robinson, for Humour In The Face Of Overwhelming Odds". Well done Ian, and thanks from all of us. (loud applause). Sid.

Vivienne said...

Bravo, Bravo, Clap, Clap, Clap!!!

(That's for you Ian. It isn't my car breaking down. That's also a Bravo!)

Inga said...

SID, absolutely tops! Giving credit where credit is due, you are the one who put a name to the award.

VIVIENNE, thanks for the info and please, one of you tell me what Mike P. said Friday morning during the handover.

Inga said...

Maureen, thanks to you, too. You reminded everybody of the anniversary.

Inga said...

It appears that everybody is sawing logs tonight after all the excitement yesterday! Well, I am wide awake and just heard Ian read a great joke about a nun and a cab driver. When he finished I tried to quickly write it all down and I think I've got it all. So, if any of you are not familiar with it, I'll post it. It was submitted by the couple who send him the questions for the Quiz from Hell.

Ian Robinson said...

I'm sorry to have disappointed those of you who listened in this morning (Friday) specially to hear my 'showdown' with Mike Parr over the non-availability of The Nightshift on BBC iPlayer. I decided it would have sounded churlish and curmudgeonly to 'carp' at Mike about it. Instead, we discussed the issue off-air. Things may need to stay as they are but if they change, you will be the first to know. Watch this space.
I will have a lot more to say about the singular honour you have bestowed on me in my next posting. THANKYOU!

Sid said...

Morning everyone, I hope you're all keeping warm and dry.
I'm glad Ian didn't have a 'showdown' with Mike this morning. That isn't his way of doing things. I love his command of words, who else could come up with curmudgeonly. Now that I know what it means I can't wait to use it myself!!.

Vivienne said...

Hi Folks,

Thanks for having a word with Mike, Ian. I've been trying to listen to the beginning of his show, just in case your conversation with Mike had been recorded. Seems I didn't miss anything!

Unfortunately I'm having problems using the 'Listen Again' feature. I can listen live, but there's no sound on 'Listen Again.' Yes, I've tried the volume buttons, and yes I've tried reinstsalling the updated i-player. I'm now giving up in disgust!

I'm looking forward to reading your next post Ian.

Inga said...

I hate to tell you, but you missed a fantastic show last night, outrageously funny, informative [I'll never look at another armadillo in quite the same way], and the music !!!!! I did enough aerobics to last me all week.

SID, WE NEED ANOTHER AWARD! This one for Radio Newcastle. I suggest the following: SITFOOL [Stupidity in the Face of Overwhelming Loyalty]. What do you think? Maybe can you think of something better.
We could - of course - just nominate RN for the Darwin Award. The DNA of the person in charge definitely deserves to be removed from the human gene pool.
Ok, Ian, I hear you - steady on, right? Don't worry we won't turn into curmudgeons as long as we can vent our frustration every once in a while!

Inga said...

P.S. Besides the great dance music there was dance music of a different kind. A classical composition for Halloween called "Dance Macabre" [by Camille Saint-Saƫns]. We also had some "funeral" music like "Wake Me Up When You Go Go" !

Hildie said...

hi folks. you will need to forgive me me for this as I have been been made aware from my daughter that I am rather inebriated tonight. I have been out to the OX INN = a kind of family gathering. My cousin Irene is here (*until Wednesday) from Buckinghamshire and Kelly, my daughter, drove up from Manchester after work tonight. We went oput for a family gathering with my son , Liam, my sister , Mary, brother in law Tony, nephew Ross and his girlfriend Rachel. I think I have had too much red wine ( a rare event). I tried to leave a comment on the blog last night but it just didn't happen. I was telling you I had listened to "On Your Doorstep" and that I didn't really have much idea obout the Lumley Castle story - between their laughter and mine I had lost the thread of the story completely! I lost the plot to the point that it didn't really matter!! Also, I think that Inga and I need to explain that Ian's critic was the person who was critiscising his catch phrases, and not
(as Ian thought)
what he looked like twenty five years ago. I don't know how Ian would feel about my own reaction to seeing the photo but it was very much on the lines of "what a waste" - this is the red wine talking!! I will regret this tomorrow, have no doubt!
Anyway, one of the things I was trying to post for Inga last night was the suggestion that maybe we should try to arrange a time on the blog when we could converse with one another - a kind of Happy Hour - a pre arranged time when we could come onto the blog and know that we would find other people here to talk to. I have no idea at this moment if any of you understand what I mean. Sorry about the red wine but I had a super night out with my family - I am downstairs on the sofa bed tonight - they have all disappeared . I am really so pleased that my daughter is here for the weekend, I just can't tell you how pleased I am! I don't see her often enough. Ian, please feel free to delete this comment if it has upset you in the least.
p.s. You won't go away again , will you?

Inga said...

HILDIE, your late night message is absolutely delightful! Keep in mind what a dear friend pointed out to me a few days ago: "I believe in restraint and moderation in all things - including restraint and moderation" [Oscar Wilde].
Tell us more about your "Happy Hour" idea.

Sid said...

Morning everybody,
Hildie, you little tinker you. Anyone who can spell 'inebriated' after a night out with family, has passed the sobriety test in my opinion. Hope the head is fine this morning, I reckon it will be.

Hildie said...

Oh, dear!! it's not so good, Sid !
There were two compliments in last night's posting ( one about Ian and one about 'On Your Doorstep') but I'm concerned now that they were not phrased very delicately. I woke up worrying about it.
Hope you all have a good weekend.

Maureen said...

Hello All,
I find now that I'm not sure which blog to use so I'm trying to follow the threads on both, please bear with me. Hildie, I love your Happy Hour idea, do we need to bring a bottle? I think we would be 'less restrained' in our comments! That's the pair of us added comments that we regretted this week. I'm sure Ian knows by now that we mean no harm and it's just our sense of humour and then the British reserve takes over when we regret stepping out of line! As I said, if I could have found the bin I would have deleted my comment but I couldn't so I just have hope he's forgiven me by now.
Harking back to the funeral songs. I once heard of a man who always enjoyed a laugh when he was alive and requested 'Bring me sunshine' at his funeral. The pall bearers solemnly placed his coffin at the front of the church, then danced back to their places Morecambe and Wise style! I hope you know what I mean Inga, they were a comedy duo who used to do a silly dance to that tune on their programme every week. Apparently everyone burst out laughing and remembered the good times they had spent with him as it was so typical of him to want to see them happy and have the last laugh! What a lovely thought.

Inga said...

MAUREEN, I've heard of the comedy duo of Morecambe and Wise but never came across their show. What was/is the name of their programme? It may be on Radio 7. If it is I'll certainly check it out.
Well, I had a bit of excitement today. After work I went to the Democratic Campaign headquarters to pick up a yard sign for Wendell and was greeted by Sheryl Crow and her mother! I almost forgot to go but I turned around and am I glad I did! Her mother introduced me to her and so I told her that I bragged about her and her family to Radio Newcastle pointing out that I did not get paid to do so. I had no idea that either of them would be there. I don't get involved in politics, it's not a good idea when you have a business.
Couldn't find "sussed" in the Geordie dictionary. Vivienne, does that work like wikipedia? Maybe someone needs to add it :-)

Inga said...

SID,[re: your M&D posting] I didn't mean to put any pressure on you and sincerely hope you will get a response from RN - I never even got one of those automated responses to any of my emails.
I was just venting my frustrations and anger at whoever is in charge at that station. But if all of you decide that this award thing, or anything else you can think of, might make them sit up and listen, let's do it. At the same time I would not expect any of it to do much good in the near future.
However, I do believe that in one way or another it would not hurt to keep up the pressure.
I just want to inject a somewhat emotional angle at this point. As I've told you I have listened to all sorts of BBC programmes in the past but NOTHING as ever impressed me as much as Ian's Nightshift. He has inspired me - as he has obviously all of you - into giving a lot of thought to all kinds of issues. Ok, other programmes may do that but his is the only one which invites active interaction from us. You guys may have all sorts of inspiring TV and radio programmes but we don't. I got rid of my television back in 1989 and haven't seen the need to replace it, given the trash presented on American TV. Our radio station no longer broadcast locally, it's all on tape. They have names like The Quake, The Eagle, the Rock and other idiotic names. I could go on and on, but I think I've said enough for you to get a glimpse of why I appreciate what Ian is doing. BBC is amazing in scope and coverage but even within BBC Radio, Nightshift stands out as a unique experience. Oh, dear - I do get carried away sometimes. But not as much as somebody who sent an email to Radio Kent. When the presenter printed it out it came to - wait for it, as you say - 13 A4 pages !!!!
So before this becomes 12 pages, I bid you - let's see what time is it now over your way - oh yes, Good Morning