October 2008

…BBC Radio Five Live carried an astonishing interview (by, of all people, Nicky Campbell) with Paul Gambaccini which is easily the most revealing piece of journalism associated with the entire saga. A full transcript is available, courtesy of Ian Wylie at the Manchester Evening News, here.

Seth Lakeman in brilliant form on today’s TM Show – check it out for seven days atBBC Radio Scotland.

A beautiful day in Shetland…and the Radiocroft with its digital heart relocated to the main room downstairs..

Here’s a confession: I’m a Jonathan Ross fan. I think his Saturday morning radio show frequently ascends to brilliant heights, though the pally interviews with the likes of Ricky Gervais and the constant puffing of David Bowie can become wearying. Well, I say I’m a Jonathan Ross fan. In fact, I’m a Jonathan Ross and…

…details of our weekend trials at The Shetland News. Ferries are all over the place…no imported food in the shops (‘sooth bread’ has vanished) and looks like severe disruption for the rest of the week. I’m due on the boat south on Thursday night – let’s hope things have settled down by then.

There’s Neville, psychokiller cat, hypnotised by the candles last night. No, it’s not Photoshopped! And that’s Hillswick, on one of those fantastic post-storm days when you really just have to get out for a wander. And now…the northerlies!

…or thereabouts. This is Eshaness at about 2.30pm today, Saturday, from the lighthouse car park. Sorry about the shoogly video. It was extremely windy. With gusts of anything up to 80 mph even the Mighty Torslanda was creaking on her springs. As for the three thrill-seekers who had left their car and were leaning almost…

I heard – indeed, was rivetted by – Randy Newman on BBC Radio Four’s Desert Island Discs this morning. (I’d provide a link here, but for peculiar ‘music rights’ reasons, Desert Island Discs is not available on iPlayer or Listen again) For the first time in my life I was convinced that Kirsty Young actually…

Autumn’s my favourite time of year to be in Glasgow, probably to do with memories of University and the beginning of term, all that hope and expectation. Anyway, it was good to be in the Dear Green Place as it began to turn red, yellow and brown, with James and Martha. Susan, alas, was stuck…

Someone has hacked or hijacked my Google account. It seems to have originated from China, so any strange emails or posts are NOT from me. Apologies for any alarm or annoyance caused.