Had a thoroughly enjoyable experience being interviewed on BBC Radio Leeds this week. Wes Butters – what a lovely chap. Butters by name and butters by … Well. As you can hear – he started by being ever so nice to me, and then tried to grill me about all of the politicians that I’ve slept with. Honestly. These journalists! As if I’d talk about something as personal as sex and relationships on air! With the whole of the west Riding of Yorkshire listening!
Actually – I had better clarify that. Wes Butters didn’t ask me anything about sex. It was yours truly who started wibbling about that kind of thing (best mate would be saying ‘Methinks the Lady Doth Protest Too Much!’)
But hey, my parents are still speaking to me and they haven’t contacted social services about the fact that my newfound lust for media exposure has led me to total and abject neglect of my children (although I have been sending the kids to school with out-of-date yoghurts, so getting them taken into care would perhaps be justified.)
I’ve done interviews and photo shoots and stuff like that before for various things that I’ve been involved with – so none of it is really alien to me. But it *is* strange when you’re talking about your own life experience. In short, I felt like a total muppet.
What was even more bizarre, was the fact that people you haven’t told about the interview, get to hear you. My next door neighbour said that her mum texted her to say ‘your Christina is on the radio!’ And then a neighbour on the other side told my other half ‘Hey – I’ve just downloaded your wife’s e-book.’ Now, neighbour on the other side hasn’t known us for very long. And if he is reading this – I have to say that he wins a Blimmin’ Great Big Prize for his detective work (as well as his ever-so-kind strimming of the overgrown passage-way at the back… I mean – Curse you Kirklees Council for neglecting our ginnel yet again this summer!) Apparently our smashing neighbour put two and two together whilst listening (name of the village, the mention of Namibia) and realised that it was me.
Although … I actually *think* that he was too polite to say the real reason as to why he twigged that it was me. The poor chap MUST have heard me – for many hours – ranting and raving at myself as I practice reading aloud, from our shed at the top of the garden which backs onto his. Noise drifts all too easily in this valley. I suspect strongly that he realised that he was living in great proximity to a total lunatic who shrieks at herself in her shed and then he recognised the voice on the radio …
Anyway. If you want to hear me sounding like a complete numpty – it will be on Listen Again for a short while…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p021l10b (the 8/7 show – move the counter to 1:07)
And then it’s off to The Emporium in Slaithwaite this Sunday for a book signing. I’ve already bought myself a nice new chimney pot from their wonderful eclectic mix of items, so sadly I shall be at a loss before I even started selling books. But who cares? I do it for the love of it! And to embarrass myself in front of our very gracious neighbours of course … who are far too dignified to Go Public about how distressing it must be, living next the Like Of Us.
Hi Chris, which broadcast is it – there’s tons! Do you know the date? They don’t seem to give an overview about what is covered in each broadcast, so I aint a clue which button to press. Thanks xx
Hi M’Lady – it takes you straight to 8/7 broadcast – then you just click ‘Listen Again’ and move the counter along to 1 hr 7 mins….should work!
Found it! Well I won’t be buying a new bike either, but ive just bought a new book! 😉
Good interview. It is nice to find out a little more about you – I can understand a bit more why you chose politicians for the characters in your book. Its great that you’ve already finished part two.
Im looking fwd to getting stuck into it now but if i sit giggling in bed, hubby may not be able to control his irritation ( i sat giggling during the tennis final coz Federer kept taking his shirt off) But if its as funny as Dave Gorman or Angela’s Ashes, I’m in for a treat.
😊😀😃😄☺️😉
Ahhh Sharon – you are so funny you know! I rarely giggle out loud at stuff but there is nothing nicer, is there? I think that the world needs more funny books. The protagonist in the book (Rachael) quips about politicians needing training in having a GSOH. Personally I think that we should be forcing kids to do GCSE in Comedy…
Ive just read that bit about Trevor McDonald – very funny!
In the original version – the always-endearing Miss Simpson witters on a lot more about dear old Trevor …. the first time I read this section out aloud, I could tell that people wondered whether it was ok for a white person to make a joke that centres on the fact that people – esp very elderly people – say things that are deemed to be totally un-politically correct. But I am a big believer in not pretending that such things do not exist. ‘Course they do! We all say daft things and the Miss S’s of the world can definitely be forgiven more than most. (NB Miss S is based on my own experiences of working with elderly people who have dementia. Respect is due to anyone who has such a hard grind of a job and who still manages to keep their sense of humour. Human dignity and humour was something that I was hoping to convey in the Miss S encounters in ‘Mind Games.’ I hope I got the balance right but feedback is always appreciated!)
I didn’t know the songs, but when it got to ‘Oh I do like to be beside the seaside..’, I was humming along. Best way to be eh? Oblivious to the world around us ☺️ Xx