TUESDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2007
MODEL RAILWAYS
You’ve got to admit, haven’t you, how heavily ironic it is that Rod Stewart - of all people - is a model railway enthusiast. A raunchy rebel with such a carefully-built reputation for woman-chasing doesn’t quite match up to the HO-gauge nerd of folklore. Perhaps even more surprisingly, his enthusiasm is shared, as we heard, by Phil Collins, Lionel Richie, Roger Daltry and - for pity’s sake - Bruce Springsteen.
So what is it about model trains? The periodic fairs held at Gateshead Stadium are testament to their enduring popularity - there was one last weekend. I almost went there myself because - yes, I have to admit it - I’m a big fan too. Along (apparently) with Hermann Goering. I hope that’s all I have in common with him.
Do any Truckshunters have a train set? With a name like ours, we ought to have one really. Come on - out yourself as a model train enthusiast and I promise I won’t ridicule you on-air any more than I will ridicule myself. I promise.
Maybe - just maybe - we should start a Nightshift layout. With Auden’s Night Mail playing on a continuous loop!
BRIDGES BRIDGES BRIDGES
It’s a short hop from railways to bridges. The Know Your North-East question about the bridge on which the Tyne and Sydney Harbour Bridges were modelled has generated considerable heat and - eventually - light as well. Here, I must thank Loz for the monograph he sent me about this. It was exhaustively researched and cogently presented. Loz - I’m overawed. Working at BBC Radio Newcastle, you very quickly learn that our listeners can provide the answer to virtually any question you care to ask. You are collectively a huge and apparently inexhaustible mine of knowledge, experience and information. What a resource I have at my disposal!
SOCIAL NETWORKING
The internet address of the social networking site for older people which I mentioned on today’s programme is SagaZone. If you try it, can I have a report please?
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Suomi is what the Finns call Finland. Interestingly, it’s thought to mean ‘fish-scale people’ from the fish skins the ancient Finns are thought to have worn. Which is why we call them Finns - the word really is related to modern English fin.
Today’s question is......which nation’s English name means ‘the foreigners’?
LISTEN TO THE BANNED
Today’s track - banned by the BBC in 1932 - was She Was Only The Postmaster’s Daughter But... performed by the Durium Dance Band. Awful, wasn’t it?
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
NOTE
Please bear in mind that the views expressed in this blog are my own and NOT the views of the BBC.
MONDAY 19 NOVEMBER
ALFIE JOEY
Due to my innate stupidity, I gave you the wrong date for Alfie's first show. It's actually on Monday 26 November. Sorry.
THE LONDON DOG WALK
I thought this was a really charming idea. Dogs featured in some of the best and most popular stories ever told, of course, and to have some of them commemorated with plaques and benches round the bandstand in Battersea Park is really touching. Gromit, Lassie, Greyfriars Bobby, Bullseye (from Oliver Twist) and Toto will all be there. It's made we wonder, though, why so many other animals go unremembered - or at least uncommemorated - especially if they played important roles in the real world. The famous World War I pigeons, perhaps. Or Copenhagen, the Duke of Wellington's horse. And here in the north-east we should surely have
some sort of memorial to the humble pit-pony, whose life was as dark and miserable - and often just as short - as the pitman's himself. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I like it. A sculpture of a miner and his gallowa would be truly awe-inspiring in Durham City's Market Place - a fitting replacement for the statue of the appalling Marquess of Londonderry which has besmirched it for far too long.
JESMOND
Whatever anyone else tells you, there is no doubt at all that Jesmond does not mean 'Jesus' mound'. It is Anglo-Saxon Old English 'Ousemouth', altered by the Normans to sound pleasanter to their ears. Nor does Pity Me mean ' small lake' (petit mere). And don't get me started on Quakinghouses or Glororum.....
Today's What's In A Name question is......What's the English name of the country its natives call Suomi?
THE WATER OF TYNE
Lorraine Bulloch, of Heaton, asked to hear this in our local music slot. I hope she doesn't mind me saying that I think it's awful. Surely Sting and Jimmy Nail could have dropped the mid-Atlantic popsong accent; it's not The Wahder 'f Dine, after all. Sorry, Lorraine.
A LETTER TO THE GUARDIAN
'First Worcester is flooded and now Tabasco. Can we expect to see a thousand islands under water by the end of the year?'
I thought that was clever!
ER.....
Kev has just sent me an intriguing set of visual puzzles and booby-traps. Read the words in this triangle aloud.
Notice anything odd?
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
NOTE
Please bear in mind that the views expressed in this blog are my own and NOT the views of the BBC.
ALFIE JOEY
Due to my innate stupidity, I gave you the wrong date for Alfie's first show. It's actually on Monday 26 November. Sorry.
THE LONDON DOG WALK
I thought this was a really charming idea. Dogs featured in some of the best and most popular stories ever told, of course, and to have some of them commemorated with plaques and benches round the bandstand in Battersea Park is really touching. Gromit, Lassie, Greyfriars Bobby, Bullseye (from Oliver Twist) and Toto will all be there. It's made we wonder, though, why so many other animals go unremembered - or at least uncommemorated - especially if they played important roles in the real world. The famous World War I pigeons, perhaps. Or Copenhagen, the Duke of Wellington's horse. And here in the north-east we should surely have
some sort of memorial to the humble pit-pony, whose life was as dark and miserable - and often just as short - as the pitman's himself. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I like it. A sculpture of a miner and his gallowa would be truly awe-inspiring in Durham City's Market Place - a fitting replacement for the statue of the appalling Marquess of Londonderry which has besmirched it for far too long.
JESMOND
Whatever anyone else tells you, there is no doubt at all that Jesmond does not mean 'Jesus' mound'. It is Anglo-Saxon Old English 'Ousemouth', altered by the Normans to sound pleasanter to their ears. Nor does Pity Me mean ' small lake' (petit mere). And don't get me started on Quakinghouses or Glororum.....
Today's What's In A Name question is......What's the English name of the country its natives call Suomi?
THE WATER OF TYNE
Lorraine Bulloch, of Heaton, asked to hear this in our local music slot. I hope she doesn't mind me saying that I think it's awful. Surely Sting and Jimmy Nail could have dropped the mid-Atlantic popsong accent; it's not The Wahder 'f Dine, after all. Sorry, Lorraine.
A LETTER TO THE GUARDIAN
'First Worcester is flooded and now Tabasco. Can we expect to see a thousand islands under water by the end of the year?'
I thought that was clever!
ER.....
Kev has just sent me an intriguing set of visual puzzles and booby-traps. Read the words in this triangle aloud.
Notice anything odd?
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
NOTE
Please bear in mind that the views expressed in this blog are my own and NOT the views of the BBC.
FRIDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2007
NIC
It wasn’t an easy decision to ‘go public’ about my reasons for visiting Cardiff in Wednesday’s posting. On balance, though, I decided that you may as well know what was topmost on my mind as not know. After all, many of you have shared your innermost worries and concerns with me. Your reaction to Wednesday’s posting was stunning. I was genuinely moved by the many messages I received from you.
When I wrote Wednesday’s posting I did not, of course, know what was going to happen the very next day - yesterday. Again, your messages have been awesome in their kindness, comfort and generosity of spirit. Truckshunters are obviously very special people - the night seems to bring out the best in the Truckshunter ‘family’. And that’s what we are really, isn’t it? A family.
I am a very lucky radio presenter indeed and I’ll do my best never to forget it.
It’s impossible for me to thank individually everyone who has responded over the last few days - by email, text, phonecall and blog. Thankyou all.
I hope Kev doesn’t mind if I quote part of an email he sent me - it typifies feelings and thoughts so many of you have expressed. Perhaps his words might also bring comfort to anyone else who is experiencing pain similar to mine right now.
‘..if you truly feel for someone then you hurt when they hurt......it is natural to feel as you do; there is nothing selfish about it - you wouldn't be human if you didn't. Unfortunately there is no magic cure, no tablet to take away the feeling. I can't say anything to make you feel less pain. I can only promise you that the anguish DOES lessen but you will never be the same again. Some things can't be forgotten or ignored, or shouldn't be forgotten or ignored, especially when it happens to those we hold dear.
.....those who grieve and hurt when friends and loved ones fall ill get no help at all - they are left simply to 'cope'. It is not selfish to ask for help - you only suffer differently. Feelings of guilt are a common reaction, but why on Earth feel guilty about something that you have no control over?
My advice (for all that its worth) is not to let these feelings become the dominant part of your persona. It's very difficult but it is possible....’
Thankyou ALL.
CHILDREN IN NEED (CIN)
Today’s the ‘big day’ for the BBC’s annual CIN appeal. So please, whatever else you do, make sure you give as much as you possibly can to the many thousands of people who are exerting themselves - sometimes simply in order to look foolish! - to make the lives of children everywhere a little better. WE WANT YOUR MONEY.
ALFIE JOEY
You can’t fail to have noticed that these are fast-changing times at BBC Radio Newcastle - indeed, many of you have commented on the fact. Next week sees the formal arrival of the new presenter of our afternoon programme. Alfie Joey - a name to conjure with if ever there was one - starts his first shift at 1300 on Monday. Be sure to listen - I can guarantee you’ll be hooked!
Meanwhile, I’ll be recording a chat with Jonathan Miles - our new mid-morning presenter - next week. You’ll be able to hear it on Thursday’s and Sunday’s Nightshifts.
THEME OF THE WEEK
Listener Petra wrote to me asking to hear a dozen different theme tunes! From her list, I chose Listen With Mother because that’s exactly what I used to do when I was a bairn. The tune brought back instant memories for me. I hope it had the same effect on you. It’s called Berceuse and is part of the charming Dolly Suite by French composer Faure.
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
NOTE
Please bear in mind that the views expressed in this blog are my own and NOT the views of the BBC.
NIC
It wasn’t an easy decision to ‘go public’ about my reasons for visiting Cardiff in Wednesday’s posting. On balance, though, I decided that you may as well know what was topmost on my mind as not know. After all, many of you have shared your innermost worries and concerns with me. Your reaction to Wednesday’s posting was stunning. I was genuinely moved by the many messages I received from you.
When I wrote Wednesday’s posting I did not, of course, know what was going to happen the very next day - yesterday. Again, your messages have been awesome in their kindness, comfort and generosity of spirit. Truckshunters are obviously very special people - the night seems to bring out the best in the Truckshunter ‘family’. And that’s what we are really, isn’t it? A family.
I am a very lucky radio presenter indeed and I’ll do my best never to forget it.
It’s impossible for me to thank individually everyone who has responded over the last few days - by email, text, phonecall and blog. Thankyou all.
I hope Kev doesn’t mind if I quote part of an email he sent me - it typifies feelings and thoughts so many of you have expressed. Perhaps his words might also bring comfort to anyone else who is experiencing pain similar to mine right now.
‘..if you truly feel for someone then you hurt when they hurt......it is natural to feel as you do; there is nothing selfish about it - you wouldn't be human if you didn't. Unfortunately there is no magic cure, no tablet to take away the feeling. I can't say anything to make you feel less pain. I can only promise you that the anguish DOES lessen but you will never be the same again. Some things can't be forgotten or ignored, or shouldn't be forgotten or ignored, especially when it happens to those we hold dear.
.....those who grieve and hurt when friends and loved ones fall ill get no help at all - they are left simply to 'cope'. It is not selfish to ask for help - you only suffer differently. Feelings of guilt are a common reaction, but why on Earth feel guilty about something that you have no control over?
My advice (for all that its worth) is not to let these feelings become the dominant part of your persona. It's very difficult but it is possible....’
Thankyou ALL.
CHILDREN IN NEED (CIN)
Today’s the ‘big day’ for the BBC’s annual CIN appeal. So please, whatever else you do, make sure you give as much as you possibly can to the many thousands of people who are exerting themselves - sometimes simply in order to look foolish! - to make the lives of children everywhere a little better. WE WANT YOUR MONEY.
ALFIE JOEY
You can’t fail to have noticed that these are fast-changing times at BBC Radio Newcastle - indeed, many of you have commented on the fact. Next week sees the formal arrival of the new presenter of our afternoon programme. Alfie Joey - a name to conjure with if ever there was one - starts his first shift at 1300 on Monday. Be sure to listen - I can guarantee you’ll be hooked!
Meanwhile, I’ll be recording a chat with Jonathan Miles - our new mid-morning presenter - next week. You’ll be able to hear it on Thursday’s and Sunday’s Nightshifts.
THEME OF THE WEEK
Listener Petra wrote to me asking to hear a dozen different theme tunes! From her list, I chose Listen With Mother because that’s exactly what I used to do when I was a bairn. The tune brought back instant memories for me. I hope it had the same effect on you. It’s called Berceuse and is part of the charming Dolly Suite by French composer Faure.
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
NOTE
Please bear in mind that the views expressed in this blog are my own and NOT the views of the BBC.
WEDNESDAY 14 NOVEMBER
HEREFORD AND CARDIFF
As you probably know, I was away last weekend ( - the Saturday and Sunday Nightshifts were prerecorded last week) visiting old friends of mine in Hereford and then Cardiff. Hereford’s a pleasant enough spot I suppose, although it’s extraordinarily busy for such a small city and its cathedral (again, pleasant enough) is like a pimply parish church compared to Durham. I guess we’re used to being overawed by our great buildings here in the north-east. We’ve been kind of ‘spoilt’ by their sheer monumentality so that many of England’s greatest sites appear rather puny in our eyes.
Having said all that, it’s worth noting that not all of our most amazing buildings are as mind-bogglingly awesome as Durham Cathedral or Bamburgh Castle. The tiny, and very well-hidden, parish church at Old Bewick in Northumberland is a gem you can cuddle up to; the Saxon church at Old Seaham on the Durham coast has stood sentinel there for almost 1,400 years; and the church at Escomb, near Bishop Auckland (also Saxon) is said to be the oldest complete building above ground in all of England. Another kind of unsung north-east ‘hero’ to add to the Nightshift list.
MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE (MND)
The friends I visited in Cardiff are called Nic (the Welsh-language spelling!) and Trish. Nic is my oldest friend - I met him at University 40 years ago. Last Spring he was diagnosed with MND. At the time, there were no visible symptoms. There are now.
It was shocking to see such an independent-minded, lively and active man ravaged by this iniquitous disease. It does its damage by preventing the ‘motor neurones’ - the messages from the brain to the muscles - from working. Gradually, the muscles stop working altogether and simply shrivel. It’s truly terrifying and utterly merciless. It’s not just moving, gripping and other ‘activities’ which are affected. Muscles are, of course, involved with simple actions like speaking and swallowing, both of which are getting more and more difficult for Nic.
To be honest, I’m not coping particularly well with the situation. I know that sounds unforgivably selfish and I don’t mean it to. Nic is, of course, the one who needs the help and support of those around him. But they are devastated, too. I wish I didn’t feel so completely powerless - helpless - in the face of this ruthless and incurable illness that Nic and his wife are confronting so bravely.
I left Cardiff a humbled and very angry person. If ANYONE EVER says to me ‘God works in mysterious ways......’ or ‘God is working his purpose out.....’ or ‘this is happening for a reason’.....I will personally pour something disgusting over them and will have to be restrained from doing something much worse.
Nic is my oldest friend. If you have any experience of this situation, please help me. Please.
KNOW YOUR NORTH-EAST
BBC Radio Newcastle is 36. The blue touch paper was lit in January 1971. If you have any ideas how we Truckshunters can celebrate the station’s 37th birthday in January, let me know.
Today’s question is an easy one: what does the place-name Jesmond mean?
NIGHTSHIFT CLASSIC
Tonight’s Classic was Adiemus by the modern Welsh composer Karl Jenkins. I played it to honour my next-door neighbours, who remembered it used as a backing-track for a Building Society ad!
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
NOTE
Please bear in mind that the views expressed in this blog are my own and NOT the views of the BBC.
HEREFORD AND CARDIFF
As you probably know, I was away last weekend ( - the Saturday and Sunday Nightshifts were prerecorded last week) visiting old friends of mine in Hereford and then Cardiff. Hereford’s a pleasant enough spot I suppose, although it’s extraordinarily busy for such a small city and its cathedral (again, pleasant enough) is like a pimply parish church compared to Durham. I guess we’re used to being overawed by our great buildings here in the north-east. We’ve been kind of ‘spoilt’ by their sheer monumentality so that many of England’s greatest sites appear rather puny in our eyes.
Having said all that, it’s worth noting that not all of our most amazing buildings are as mind-bogglingly awesome as Durham Cathedral or Bamburgh Castle. The tiny, and very well-hidden, parish church at Old Bewick in Northumberland is a gem you can cuddle up to; the Saxon church at Old Seaham on the Durham coast has stood sentinel there for almost 1,400 years; and the church at Escomb, near Bishop Auckland (also Saxon) is said to be the oldest complete building above ground in all of England. Another kind of unsung north-east ‘hero’ to add to the Nightshift list.
MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE (MND)
The friends I visited in Cardiff are called Nic (the Welsh-language spelling!) and Trish. Nic is my oldest friend - I met him at University 40 years ago. Last Spring he was diagnosed with MND. At the time, there were no visible symptoms. There are now.
It was shocking to see such an independent-minded, lively and active man ravaged by this iniquitous disease. It does its damage by preventing the ‘motor neurones’ - the messages from the brain to the muscles - from working. Gradually, the muscles stop working altogether and simply shrivel. It’s truly terrifying and utterly merciless. It’s not just moving, gripping and other ‘activities’ which are affected. Muscles are, of course, involved with simple actions like speaking and swallowing, both of which are getting more and more difficult for Nic.
To be honest, I’m not coping particularly well with the situation. I know that sounds unforgivably selfish and I don’t mean it to. Nic is, of course, the one who needs the help and support of those around him. But they are devastated, too. I wish I didn’t feel so completely powerless - helpless - in the face of this ruthless and incurable illness that Nic and his wife are confronting so bravely.
I left Cardiff a humbled and very angry person. If ANYONE EVER says to me ‘God works in mysterious ways......’ or ‘God is working his purpose out.....’ or ‘this is happening for a reason’.....I will personally pour something disgusting over them and will have to be restrained from doing something much worse.
Nic is my oldest friend. If you have any experience of this situation, please help me. Please.
KNOW YOUR NORTH-EAST
BBC Radio Newcastle is 36. The blue touch paper was lit in January 1971. If you have any ideas how we Truckshunters can celebrate the station’s 37th birthday in January, let me know.
Today’s question is an easy one: what does the place-name Jesmond mean?
NIGHTSHIFT CLASSIC
Tonight’s Classic was Adiemus by the modern Welsh composer Karl Jenkins. I played it to honour my next-door neighbours, who remembered it used as a backing-track for a Building Society ad!
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
NOTE
Please bear in mind that the views expressed in this blog are my own and NOT the views of the BBC.
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