Tired... Very tired...

Categories: uncategorized

Date: 28 October 2004 10:54:30

OK shall talk about yesterday in reverse order*.. because thats the better way of doing it.. (* words still in correct order natch before anyone starts reading it backwards :) )

Left the studio at 8.29 for a taxi due to arrive at 8.30. Was supposed to leave at 8.15 but we were having too much fun :) didnt want to leave in fact but there you go... Thats when it all started to go pear shaped. First off the taxi driver didnt know the area (sigh) + didn't know whee to pick me up. Having spoken to Nutty Nat I guessed where he might be and ran there. He wasn't there but did spot him down the road, almost being jumped on by other people who wanted a taxi and nabbed him just in time. Shot off to the station arrived with 3 minutes to spare. It was very cold, wet and windy by this point but was relieve to get the taxi in the end.

Train delayed. Station staff worried that I might miss the connectin via tube (I went via Euston) so instead put me on the Reading train. Had 30 minutes between connections.

Train delayed forty minutes. Missed the connection by a smidge and had to share a taxi from the station with a couple going to Andover. Made it home at 1.10 am, a little bleary. One of the other passengers needed the loo so she borrowed our sand then son boy woke up and wanted to chat a little. Got to sleep about 2-3, kids woke up at 7 as normal. Phone call at 9, but I didn't think I'd make much sense so I said I'd call back..

OK now onto the show. Was due to be there at 6.45 pm arrived at 3. Just fancied a mooch around so spent 3 hours waddling about which was pleasanter than it possibly sounds.. VERY windy. Looked at the Bethesda Chapel (as seen on the architecture program whose name escapes me), the Hope centre in Hanley, the Potteries museum and the Library. Bought some pencils. Was going to eat but as it was didn't find anywhere I fancied so settled for a kit kat from the cross rhythms sweet machine.

Cross rhythms sweet machine refused to give me the kit kat that I paid for. Saddened by this, although someone soon will be blessed with two for the price of one. Did consider kicking it to dislodge the precariously balanced snack but as it was I thought setting off a sweet alarm semi-live on air might not be the best start to the night.

Very low key the build up to the show from 5.40 -6.20. Sat in their coffee room. Had a coffee, thought about kit kats and did the washing up for them (only a few mugs.. thought I ought...) Sat in the studio from 6.20, chatted to Nat and Mike and went on air from 7. Such a weird experience although Mike Rimmer is hugely likeable and for the most part we just chatted rather than interviewed. Was a really pleasant experience and lots of fun. Chatted about loads of stuff off air and generally just played about. Looking forward to the next time (been invited back, don't have a date yet though. May have something specific to mention about that one as well but that's a later job).

So anyway: top day. But in the spirit of reading far more religiously based blogs I feel I ought to put a thought for the day in, so I will.

While I was there i was looking for the Hope centre. Passed by someone who looked a little the worse for wear and asked where Grange Road (or whatever can't remember the name off hand) was. He said he didn't know, and then proceeded to follow me down the street asking to look at my map. He looked a little like an elderly, shrunken Hulk Hogan (same mustache). One of his arms was wrapped around a big lump in his coat that he was carrying and he had to shift his arms to keep pointing at different parts of the map. Anyway he worked out where we were and pointed me to 3 high rise tower blocks and said it's this way, and walked with me saying I'd get lost if he didn't help. Anyway, walking down roads I didn't know, with someone who smelt of alcohol + kept walking into the roads at a moments notice to cross over, heading towards a secluded spot suddenly made me feel hugely nervous... when we arrived I found the hope centre and he left, wishing me well and me (relieved) wishing him well and God Bless. The thought? don't know. It seems so hard sometimes to accept random acts of kindness when we're put in a position of vulnerability. In truth things could have gone wrong and that's the shame. Random acts of unkindness have damaged the goodwill that should exist within people. The old fella and I walked way out of his way, chatted about this and that and he kindly led me where I needed to go although it was cold and windy. I guess I just thought I should be more determined to exhibit random acts of kindness where I could and hope that that redresses the balance somewhat. Later on, at the train station I chatted with a German girl who had missed the last train to Gatwick. The station staff sorted her out a replacement ticket and she left to a friends house to sleep for four hours. She thanked me for being kind and chatting to her when she was crying (hadn't done it with the intention of ticking the kindness box, just thought I'd ask what was wrong...and didn't do much more than that) but was glad that I had had the chance to do something positive at the end of the night.

Off to take kiddies down the park now. Shall add a couple of piccies (from the show, not the park) later.