Tuesday, 16 July 2024

Are You Sitting Comfortably?

 ...then I'll Begin

Older readers may recognise those words as the beginning of the day's story on the Radio Programme "Listen With Mother". It ran from 1950 - 1982 [ending when Liz was just a few months old] I think this was the first Radio programme which I considered 'mine'. Mum and Dad listened to other stuff - Woman's Hour, The Chapel in the Valley, Desert Island Discs and The Archers etc - but LWM was for children.
Even after my great aunt gave us her elderly B&W TV  - a tiny screen inside a heavy wooden box - we were still more of a radio family.
As I grew older, I discovered other programmes I liked, and by Grammar School I had other favourites- I'm sorry I'll Read That Again, Hancock's Half Hour and various quiz shows. But there was just the one family radio, so any programme had to be ok with everybody. Unlike my friends, I didn't have a transistor radio hidden under the bedclothes, for late night listening to Radio Caroline.
Many programmes came and went - and I love the fact that BBC I-player enables me now to catch up with all those dramas, and classic serials from years ago. Paul Temple, Dick Barton, and more recently Cadfael, Raffles, After Henry. 
I listened to the Archers from childhood right up until covid. At Uni, my landlady and I sat in the kitchen after washing up. My children were always in bed by 7 when they were in primary school, so I could listen in peace with a cuppa. I was an Archers Addict. But i went Cold Turkey in covid, and haven't listened since!
But one programme which began just a few weeks after my wedding in summer 1979  is still around. It has recently moved from its original Sunday/Monday slots to Friday/Saturday. I try and catch it at some point in the week [I previously used to listen on my way home from Sunday Morning preaching engagements]

And 45 years on, I still think
the Food Programme is excellent. In the beginning it was presented by Derek Cooper, who had a lovely voice for radio - Now Sheila Dillon and Dan Saladino are the main presenters. I have learned about the development of farming methods, food preparation. changes in the nation's eating habits, the cost of food [to our pocket, and to our planet] artisanal producers and high tech solutions, older food traditions and the newest trends. It is different every week and always interesting. 
There are well over 900 programmes available to catch up with on iplayer.
Last Friday's episode was part of Just One Thing Day - and looked at the many aspects of diet which had been highlighted by Dr Michael Mosley. Presenters had picked out their favourite highlights of his JOT show. It was excellent. 
I am definitely a Radio Girl. I can sew or knit whilst listening, and I'm not distracted by the pictures! But just recently my Radio Pleasure has been greatly enhanced. My tablet gave up the ghost [I'm losing track of Household Items which are packing up and irreparable this year] and the replacement came with an unexpected bonus - bluetooth earbuds. 
Now I can listen clearly whilst using the sewing machine, or sit in the lounge doing embroidery, listening to my radio programme, without disturbing Bob who is watching TV.
It's mostly OK - unless I am listening to the Daily Service,[15 minutes of reflection, 9.45am  Radio 4Extra] as I sometimes forget and start singing along to the hymns!
I am sure Guiglielmo Marconi  never realised in 1896 just how his invention would transform our lives.
Do you listen to the radio - national or local?
And do you have a favourite programme?

44 comments:

  1. I can no longer hear the radio and I can't see the tv either. I miss them both

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    1. I am so sorry you are denied both these things. Are you completely deaf? I wonder if these little in-ear buds would make it possible for you to hear the radio

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  2. The radio (wireless as Grandma knew it) was very much part of childhood. Such excitement in getting home from school in order to listen to one of the many really good Childrens programmes, the Cricket score for Grandpa, and much later, Radio Luxembourg!

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    1. I loved the old fashioned dual 9n my Grans radio, with mysterious names like "Hilversum"

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  3. We were lucky enough to have little transistor radios as children; my parents brought them back home in the 60s after an extended stay with relatives in USA. I listened to the Saturday morning programme with all the old songs; remember Gilly gilly ossenfevver katchenellenbogen by the sea, and I'm a pink toothbrush l, you're a blue toothbrush... and then classical music at night... now I have discovered BBC sounds so can listen to favourites, especially in the wee small hours using Bluetooth headband earphones.

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    1. Gilly gilly and toothbrush song both sung by Max Bygraves. My mum had played in the school netball team with Blossom, who later became his wife. I have yet to work out how to tune during the wee small hours w/O disturbing Bob

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  4. Yes, a life long Radio 4 girl. The Archers never felt the same after Nigel fell off the roof and I also went cold turkey during Covid.
    One phenomenon though, why, when I’m alone on a long journey is it never the play I want to listen to? Why are those always on when I’m on a short journey? I’m joking really. The quality is such that it’s all good listening and often I learn a great deal.
    Jill x

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    1. Yes, the fall of Nigel marked the beginning of the end for me too. Quite excited to discover that I can get Radio 4 Extra on my car radio, but I like classic fm when driving too

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    2. Yes, the fall of Nigel marked the beginning of the end for me too. Quite excited to discover that I can get Radio 4 Extra on my car radio, but I like classic fm when driving too

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  5. We were never a radio family with mum but my dad always listened when we went over to his. As teens, Mum started listening to Classic FM. CBC listens to the radio a lot when he drives and I listen to radio 3 in the kitchen!

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    1. I rarely listen to radio 3. Not musical enough!

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  6. We were a radio family when I was growing up in the 1950s. My mother disliked the radio on unless it was vitally necessary although I believe she listened to programmes with my father after we had gone to bed. I listen to only one programme a week now which is Desert Island Discs on a Sunday morning. During Covid I listened to one or two more things for company but no longer do so. I am really not a radio girl. I don't have it on in the car either because I find it a distraction. I listened to Football commentaries on Radio 5 Live during the Euros because the radio commentary is far superior to the tv one.

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    1. I watched the final on Sunday night and found the TV commentary intensely irritating.

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    2. And that's why the sound is off while the sport is on! ~ skye

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  7. Another life long radio listener, mostly R4 but it has gone off the boil for me, too many shrill or hard voices and I have hearing loss. Hearing Aids alter the sound and presenters seem to gabble, rush and shriek, so I’m happy with silence. Sandra.

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    1. It does seem that many of them haven't been trained properly, in using a mic, and not dropping your voice at the end of sentences, and enunciating properly. I must be turning into a grumpy old granny,who says "the music is all thump! Thump! Thump! And the words are all mumble, mumble"

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  8. The only time I listen to the radio at the moment is when we are travelling in the car, I used to listen a lot more. I remember Listen with Mother all too well, I can just picture me sitting on my Dad's chair while he was at work and listening while Mum got on with housework.

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    1. I remember sitting on the big brown armchair for LWM, while Mum did the ironing

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  9. I'm listening to Valley of the Dolls on BBC Radio 4 Xtra this week.BBC Radio Scotland in the morning. BBC Radio 5 Live during the night when I can't sleep. Johnnie Walker Sounds of the 70's, BBC Radio 2 on Sunday afternoons. Yes, I was one of those teenagers with a transistor radio under the covers listening to scratchy Radio Luxembourg then trendy Radio Caroline!

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    1. Is VotD any good? I noticed it was on, and read it years ago! May catch up with it next week.

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    2. Yes I'm enjoying it very much, though I wish it was on for longer. Hardly remember reading the book now but do remember the mini series on TV in black and white!!

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    3. I'll try and listen next week

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  10. You've made me remember Music and Movement in primary school.

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    1. Oh I had quite forgotten our teacher trying to get the radio to work properly whilst we sat waiting, shivering in vest and pants on the floor of the school hall !

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    2. That brings back memories!

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  11. I am a Radio 40 gal. I find radio informative and often entertaining. I follow The Archers but not a devoted fan!.

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    1. Informative and entertaining sums it up well

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  12. My mother’s favourite programme was Mrs Dale’s Diary and woe betide us if we even dared to speak when it was in! I was given a little Robert’s radio when I passed my Qualifying Exam (11+) and had it for many years. Favourites were Radio 1 and Radio Caroline. I use my iPad /Alexa now to listen to music while I am sewing or ironing. Catriona

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    1. My Mum listened to MDD ["I'm awfully worried about Jim" was Mrs Ds catchphrase, I think] I frequently ask "that woman" to play Classic FM, or Radio 4 when I'm working in the kitchen

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  13. As a family with no TV until the mid 1960s we were radio listeners. Mrs Dale's Diary, The Archers, Dick Barton, and on into Gardeners Question Time, some of the Goon Show and Hancock's Half Hour. More recently The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy, I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue...
    I had to give up on the Today programme, too distracting to listen to whilst commuting, likewise PM on the way home.
    In our neck of the woods we had Radio London as our go-to for sixties pop, having been brought up on Radio Luxembourg earlier.

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    1. I gace up on the today programme some years ago, for the same reason you did!

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  14. I used to listen to The Archers with my Gran, it was on after lunch then. Nowadays we listen to Radio 4 first thing, then I switch to Boom, then at 11am over to Radio 4 Extra. If cricket is on OH is glued to 5 Live.

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  15. I've never listened to Boom, even though it's aimed at my age group

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  16. The radio was very much a part of my life, growing up. I remember begging to be allowed to stay up for certain shows! I never listened to the Archers but I have a wonderful paperback, "The Archers Country Cook Book" - Martha Woodford, actually written by Molly Harris who played the part of Martha. It is a delight, going month by month with country recipes, referring to Archers characters who come into the shop and often share recipes that they are seeking ingredients for. It takes me back into country village life!

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  17. I listen to the classical music station here in Toronto - relaxing and uplifting.

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  18. Jane from Dorset17 July 2024 at 07:10

    A lifelong radio 4 listener although these days it’s mostly Radio 3 to avoid the endless news and speculation about news.
    I’ve lost interest in The Archers despite listening since 1975!
    Hooray for The Proms begins on Friday!

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    1. Is it Prom Season already? The year is flying by

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  19. TV wasn't available in my country of birth when I was growing up, so, all we had to listen to was the radio. These days, however, I rarely listen to the radio, unless I'm driving and I listen to the news channel.

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    1. The news channeo can be so depressing though...

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  20. In and Out if the Kitchen is my favourite programme on the radio. Sorry to be late to comment. Nicky K

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    1. They're repeating it on 4Extra at the moment. I was listening last week. Miles jupp is very funny

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