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Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Every now and again a cloud of excitement lingers above my place of work when the news that someone well known will be in the building.

Today was the turn of Connie Fisher. She won “How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?” on the telly a couple of years back. She’s up in Aberdeen starring in the the Sound of Music at His Majesty’s Theatre for the next couple of weeks.

Pictured with her is my colleague Martin who conducted the interview. I was taking the photo (I believe that’s the rules of a taking a photo every day, I MUST take the photo).

I didn’t get my photo taken with her as, well, erm, despite there being an air of excitement about the place, I didn’t know who she was, much to my father in-laws disgust.

I’m told she’s mildly famous.

This photo is part of my “a photograph every day” challenge. There’s a new photo every day over on my Blipfoto and Flickr profiles, with the best of these photos being added to this blog.


Sunday, June 14th, 2009

It’s always nice to see a friend and former colleague getting a bit of newspaper publicity.  I worked with Andrew for nearly 18 months on the Sunday Showcase, a very talented guy.  I have views of Sandi Thom, but I won’t say them as you can see what happens if you do.

From today’s Sunday Herald:

Thom takes revenge on journalist in song

Scottish singer Sandi Thom has waged revenge on a music journalist who dared to criticise the quality of her work, by penning an expletive-ridden musical response.

The MySpace sensation was said to be so incensed by an article in her local paper, in which a critic called her music “awful”, that she wrote and recorded a riposte which used the f-word 13 times.

The offending article was a column in the Aberdeen Evening Express – to which Ms Thom also contributes – by Andrew Learmonth, in which he recalls an embarrassing incident when, having criticised the Banff-born songwriter in the past, he bumped into her in his local supermarket and was prompted to give her albums another try.

“Perhaps, I thought, I need to give her another chance,” he wrote.

“I listened. It was awful. Sorry, but it really was. I feel like a horrible person but as nice as she was in Asda I don’t think I can ever get over my hatred of her music.”

The comments appear to have made Ms Thom see red and, writing on her website last week, the singer said: “I decided to compose a response to Learmonth in the form of a musical ditty… This one goes out to all the journalists that use me… and think my music sucks… next time you’re looking for a hook for your drivel mate, take a cheap shot at someone else.”

Thom provides a link to the song, along with a disclaimer warning listeners that they may find the language offensive.

From today’s Sunday Herald.  And if that weren’t enough, here’s a link to the Sunday Times. And here’s a link to the song on Sandi’s website.  By the way, if you don’t like offensive language I wouldn’t listen.  The song lyrics follow a very similar theme through out.

Can’t be doing Andrew any harm.


Monday, December 22nd, 2008

Off home to Shetland for a few days tomorrow.  Took the unusual step this year of booking the plane instead of the boat. I’m quite glad I have, the boat has had its fair share of cancellations in the last couple of weeks. The plane also has the added benefit of only taking an hour, versus 12 on the boat. I don’t mind the length of boat trip, I quite enjoy it at times, but when you are only home for 4 days it seems a waste of time.

I’m not sure Emma is too impressed that I’m disappearing for a few days, especially over Christmas.  We had our Christmas at the end of last week, spending a couple of days in Glenshee which is where the above photo was taken.  It snowed which was nice (but apparently it always snows in Glenshee at this time of year – it is a ski resort after all!)

Radio wise, Christmas is/was always my favorite time of year.  You get to hear your favorite presenters doing different shows at different times. With that in mind, here’s what I’m doing over the next couple of weeks.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday of this week I’m on air my normal shifts 7-10pm.  (Despite being off to Shetland tomorrow, try and work that one out if you want).

Christmas Day/Boxing Day off.

Saturday December 27th normal shift of 2-6pm (including Aberdeen v Hearts live football).

Sunday December 28th, normal shift of Sunday Breakfast, 6-10am.

Monday 29th, Tuesday 30th, Wednesday 31st, Drivetime 2-7pm (looking forward to this one)

Thursday 1st January Breakfast, 6-10am. Working that early on New Years Day should be interesting.  Will sleep from 10am onwards!

Friday 2nd January, back to normal, on air 7-10pm.

106.3/106.8FM in the North East of Scotland and online at www.originalfm.com

David


Monday, December 15th, 2008

The Christmas Toy Appeal

If I were wanting to hold a meeting at work over the next couple of days I couldn’t, or at least I couldn’t hold it in the board room.  It has been taken over by toys. And that’s just a small selection of the presents that have been donated to our Christmas toy appeal.

We’ve been running this for the last couple of weeks on air. When you were out and about doing your Christmas shopping, all we asked is that you buy an extra gift to donate. Then thanks to the Salvation Army, Bernardo’s and Befriend a Child, all the presents will be distributed to under privileged kids of the North East of Scotland in time for Christmas.

If you donated, thank you, it was much appreciated.

A bit of Where’s Wally-esque fun now, can you spot my donation, Henry the bear?

David


Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

It has taken me over two weeks to get round to posting this.  I’d like to think it’s because I am incredibly busy between work, studying and partying, but the real reason is because we’ve just got a Playstation and a new telly and between writing this blog and playing Grand Theft Auto in High Def, it’s clear which one is going to win.

Noel Gallagher

That’s me meeting Noel Gallagher, all thanks to work.  It still seems like a bit of a dream.  I’m just a normal member of joe public and next thing I know I’m sitting in a room with one of the Gallagher brothers.

Thankfully my colleague Neil was doing the main part of the interview which meant I got to sit there enjoying the moment without getting too nervous.  You can hear the interview on episode 51 of the Sunday Showcase podcast.  I ask Noel about his favorite tv show, Seinfeld… a bizarre moment.

It was that night I realised I have one of the best jobs ever.

David