Radio Shows, Eclectic Music Tastes & What to Do Next?

Besides spending over 7 hours a day on my phone and eating my body weight in chocolate, I managed to fit in enough time to chat to Judi Love on her Sunday morning show on BBC Radio London and Emma-Jane Taylor otherwise known as The Inspirational Mentor on her Mid-Morning Matters Show on Marlow FM. I’ve worked with both women countless times before which always makes it way easier to chat to them on air. It’s also nice to see two colleagues who are both taking such a positive stance as lockdown continues.

For Judi’s show, I had to suggest a couple of news stories, but trying to find something that wasn’t corona related proved a nightmare. I finally came up with an article about which decade produced the best music. If you’re wondering what the correct answer is: it’s the 1980s, the decade of the great tune, otherwise known as 80s soul. (Don’t bother to argue with me on this point as I won’t be listening).

In fact, for ages my ringtone was my favourite 80s tune – I found lovin’ by the Fat Back Band. Unfortunately I had to stop using it for purely practical reasons. Whenever the phone rang I’d never answer the phone but instead let the tune play and have a little bop, irrelevant of where I was. Firstly, this meant I had to phone everyone back. Secondly, it turns out that not all my friends were as indifferent as me as to what people think when a middle-aged woman is bopping away, 80s style (lot of hip movement) in the middle of Lidl.

I’ve also decided that for my own sanity, I am cutting down the amount of news I’m watching. There is only so much a gal can take of yet another incompetent Tory minister lie and obfuscate to camera. Personally, I think the use of ‘ramping up’ should be banned forthwith from the English language. It’s as meaningless as the term so beloved of housing associations – ‘affordable housing’.

I’ll never forget watching the newsreader announce how many ventilators were coming into the country that week – it was the grand figure of 30 – and she couldn’t quite believe what she’d read. You could see she was looking to see if there had been some kind of typo (there wasn’t), given that Michael Gove had previously announced that the ‘first of thousands‘ of new devices were arriving to be sent to the front line. Technically, he’s not lying. Thirty is the first of thousands, but it’s disingenuous to say the least.

Having had enough of watching our current crop of government minsters prove to be the worst advert for private education you could ever hope to have, I’ve started to go through my record collection. So far, it’s been a couple of 12 inches (ooo ar, Mrs) from the likes of Cameo and Spandau Ballet as well as Billie Holliday albums. The reason being that when I was in my 20s at university, if it wasn’t 80s soul I was listening to, it was invariably Billie Holiday. I can’t wait, however, till I get to all the Top of the Pops albums I used to buy from Woolworth’s which at the time I thought made me really hip. (It didn’t. Of course, it didn’t).

Also in the collection somewhere is a Soviet rock opera. What can I say? I studied in the Soviet Union (yes I’m that old) and, as a result, I have a hot spot for one particular song – Я Тебя Никогда не Забуду or as we say in English – I will never forget you. There’s also a double LP of War of the World with Richard Burton somewhere too as well as the odd Scottish music album from the likes of The Alexander Brothers I should think. If nothing else my taste is eclectic. However, it’s also quite possible that a few albums in I may be thinking of the news a lot more fondly than I currently am.

I’ve also managed to fill in time by doing another podcast and Instagram Live with my pal, Jen Brister. Our podcasts at the moment are a review of the current series of Outlander. I loved Season 1. So much so that I watched it about 40 times. Yes, I know. I need to get a life. I mean this was before lockdown, so I don’t even have that as a valid excuse. But even I am finding this season hard-going. Needless to say Jen, who was never a fan, is, I suspect, beginning to question our friendship. As for Instagram Live, I surprised everyone – including myself – by managing to get the whole of my face in shot this time. Feel free to tune in this Tuesday at 20:30 UK time to see if I can manage this feat 2 weeks in a row.

For the most part though, like everyone else, I’ve been slumped in front of the screen consuming TV programmes as is they were going out of style. If anyone out there in the UK hasn’t watched The Nest, what the hell are you doing with all your time? Fantastic TV with one of the most unexpected endings a TV series has had. I also watched The Victim with Kelly Macdonald and John Hannah on iPlayer. I would highly recommend The Victim as another fine example of gripping television. I’m also back watching The Ministry of Time for the fifth time! It’s one of the best TV series ever made and I was gutted when Netflix stopped streaming it. You can, however, watch all three series via the RTVE website but subtitles are only in Spanish. Therefore, if you’re Spanish is limited to una cerveza, por favour then this might not be for you. The long-awaited season 4 of this series starts on Monday and if I can’t access it via the RTVE website I for one will be inconsolable.

So three more weeks to go at the very least. In theory, I’ll be writing more short stories and spending less time on my phone. I’m also planning to do more online stuff because, as you know, no one else has thought of doing that so far! I’m also intending to eat less.  If I don’t, I run the risk that once lockdown is eased I still won’t be able to get out and about for the simple reason I won’t be able to get through my door!

Liked it? Take a second to support Maureen on Patreon!