Radio Royal Christmas Roadshow 2016

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Tom Rickhuss

Every December Forth Valleys hospital radio station

Radio Royal

pitch up to the band stand in Stirling city center, play some music and shake a few cans. This is all to help raise money for the charity, helping them to continue their good work.

Kat Low a presenter on the station has seen around 20 roadshows thinks the weather makes them special as well as the people; "People are generally happier and there's always a buzz about the city"

Radio Royal was formed in 1976 and commenced broadcasting in May 1977. Staffed entirely by volunteers, Radio Royal now broadcasts via television sets to patients and online via the website and mobile apps.

Radio Royal is the call sign of Forth Valley Broadcasting, a recognised charity SC013447

BBC Radio Scotland Music Extra

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In Scotland on the 23rd to the 30th November this year there was a new station on the DAB Dial. 

MUSIC| We've launched! BBC Radio Scotland Music Extra is a go and we will be broadcasting for the next 8 days. #RSXtrapic.twitter.com/kSo3rwXBz0 — BBC Radio Scotland (@BBCRadioScot) November 23, 2016

Radio Scotland Music Extra was a pop up music service from BBC Radio Scotland, broadcasting for 8 days, showcasing new and not so new Scottish Musical talent. It’s always difficult to judge the numerical success of a station that's only around for a short period of time.

In these kind of cases, a good measure is the bounce back reaction, the most of which has been positive!

Here  are some of my own personal highlights:

Jules and The Blue Garnets 

Had an amazing day@ #RSXtra@BBCRadioScot playing tracks from the new EP #InTheEarlyHours lovely ppl,great studio,incredible day #livemusicpic.twitter.com/Tl0A2bq27P — Jules&TheBlueGarnets (@blue_garnets) November 23, 2016

Ricky Ross Meets Mavis Staples

Mavis Staples

The Vault With Garry Innes

@artificialphotography

Stuart Cosgrove

"Because of this station, Music Extra, we’re only beginning now to scratch the surface of our own popular culture. This should be something that runs and runs and runs."

The Scottish Athletics Awards

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Bit late with this one... 

I has a wonderful time a few weeks ago at the Scottish Athletics awards. 
Correct, I was not up for any kind of award but I was providing the voice over for the event.  Originally the plan was to pre record all of the inserts before the night, but on reflection  (and a look at how much their was to say) I ended up doing it live. 

I was hidden for most of the night at the back off the room, only getting out for dinner and a cup of tea. Cosied in between the sound desk and black theatre masking I nicked a small table from  the foyer to place my water and script on. 
It was a fun night and all the award were very well deserved! I think awards dinners is definitely the part of athletics I could get into.

You can find out more about Scottish Athletics here:
http://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/


You should listen to this... My Dad Wrote A Porno

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If you see someone covering their mouth, trying to stifle laughter on the Monday morning commute, chances are they're listening to My Dad Wrote a Porno

This now worldwide hit is in its second series and has only gotten better with age. Jamie Morton has the (no doubt skin crawling) task of reading out his dad’s self-published erotica (‘Self-published erotica’ should not be a thing, but it is) to his friends James Cooper and Alice Levine (BBC Radio 1). Each episode they delve into another chapter and follow the adventures of 'Pots and Pans' buisness lady Belina Blumenthal. Picking it apart, line by line, comma by misused comma with hilarious effect. 

The things that make this podcast a must listen are:

The dynamic between Jamie, James and Alice is very real, they have known each other for years and you can tell that by listning to them. A lot of double or triple headed podcasts could learn a lot from their on-mic relationship.

Simple format, strong content. The layout of each episode is formulaic and easy to follow. The brief recap is a good icebreaker and warm up for the coming episode. The content (Belinda Blinked) is a gift to us all, but mostly this podcast. You can’t predict where it is going and worryingly, become invested in the characters (‘Characters' is to be read with a question mark).

They give you just enough of the drug to keep you addicted. Each episode is very well edited. Never too long, and always packed with the best bits. The commonplace thing for a lot of podcasts of this style to do is to keep in the ramblings of conversations, when they don’t need to.

A lot of what the trio do each episode is very basic. I mean that in the nicest way. Radio as a medium is at its most powerful when;

You talk to one person.

Have core values and themes but move the narrative along.

Welcome the listener like a friend

Make them feel like they are ‘in on the joke’.

My Dad Wrote A Porno does all of the above, and it works. It works so well, it’s a regular at the top of the Itunes chart. I guarantee you’ll be laughing your pomegranate’s off at this smutty hit. 

Here is a good place to start:

BEST OF BOOK ONE

Good Faith. The pillars on which most blogs stand.


I've been thinking of different ways I could do something interesting here and have concluded that I’m not that interesting. No really I’m not Interesting.

I've mused and googled many potential blog challenges and since I don't think I can come up with a 'wannabe Buzfeed article' every day I’ve settled on the following. 

I'm going to try and write (at least) 100 words a day and commit to have it published by the end of every day. Ideally 8PM but midnight is the final cut off. 

You may think this sounds pi** easy... you haven't met me have you? 





21 Aye?

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In many ways i'm lazy, bus sometimes im just too busy to do things. I turned 21 on Sunday and it was the first day in the last 2 weeks that I actually stopped and looked around. I didnt smell the roses because that's the last thing my hayfever needs.

I don't feel older and I'm certainly not wiser, but 2016 so far has been a big year, not withstanding the news and events. I've been more aware of what I don't know and my own inexperience. For me that is half the battle to becoming more (stand by for wan*y blogger lingo) self aware and confident.

Someone said to me today 'It's weird to think of you as just 21 because you're mature" to which I usually reply "Ahh code for 'you look old'"