In the midst
of something of a frenzy of recorded interviews between 4 and 5 yesterday afternoon (this is my excuse for what I'm about to describe) I finished one, started another, finished that, then started another. Adam the producer said in my ear that Tom (surname) was on the line. I deftly moved to a new subject, beginning to quiz Tom about hospitals that remove every other lightbulb to save money. As I reached the end of the question, and the Tom on the line was beginning to make noises, Adam pointed out that I had got my Toms confused. The one on the line was actually there to talk about Scottish local government. The other Tom would appear live on the programme to talk about hospitals that remove every other lightbulb to save money.
The Tom on the line kindly brushed off my confusion, but would have been forgiven for thinking he was dealing with a clown.
The ±«Óãtv. This is what we do.
Later, I'll post the pictures from Hugh which I'm confident will be in my inbox at work.
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Is there a recording of this Eddie? You know we always like a laugh!
:-)
grrrr I've just attempted my first post of the day only to be told I'm posting to soon after my last! I see the gremlins are still around pulling at the wires & string that hold the blog together...
I thought 'TomTom' was supposed to guide you down the right roads....
Without wishing to be to indiscrete, a friend, who I occasionally have a jokingly argy bargey on this blog, is a Town planner. He's done the job for 20 years and highly qualified. Along with his colleagues he's finding out this week if his salary (which is meagre) is to be reduced.
This on the day that the local councils are training staff to go out and about to spy on would be smokers breaking the rule on the forthcoming ban.
Eddie, we've all been there. The only difference being that we're not all being paid £7m to do it ;o)
Who needs healing when you can have Eddie Mair?
[BTW, I'm sure I'm not alone in hoping you had a lovely moonlit walk on Valentine's night.]
The difference between you and us Eddie is that millions of people hear you making mistakes. I'd hate for all the screw ups I make to have that sort of audience. Maybe you should start a new feature, like the window on your world, featuring listener cock ups? Oh and I heard the second interview but not the first - please can we have a recording? Please? Oh go on!
Jonnie - I have a friend in local government in Scotland who has the same sword of damocles hanging over her. Just about to get a £50 (wow!) long service award next week, but how much and more will they claw back after this latest re-organisation?
Hi Jonnie (currently at 3) - I didn't like this news one bit. The idea of filming somebody who happens to be having a quick drag whilst under some grubby table in a pub seems quite absurd - sledgehammer to crack nut stuff. I'm happy with the new law but can't see why it requires special snoopers to enforce it, nor do I want my Council Tax spent on this. I would much prefer your friend to get a raise (and all the local planning officers - maybe they would then deal with applications a bit more quickly!)
Many years ago when Roy Plumley was still doing Desert Island Discs they planned to have Alistair Mclain on the programme.
The story goes that they were half way through when it finally dawned on Roy that he was talking to a humble tax inspector (or someone of that ilk) and not the celebrated author.
I don't know if the programme went out and the wrong Alistair got his 30 minutes of fame.
Valery P.(6) My husband's loacal authority has banned long-service awards as they discriminate against young people! I kid you not!
Gillian (8) I believe you without hesitation.
Local authorities will always find some other explanation for a decision whose primary purpose is cutting costs/increasing revenue.
I'm currently in dispute with mine because they have the money to build some humps in certain roads while they neglect the maintenance of others.
re the Wrong Tom...many years ago, on Today, early in the morning, a line 'came up' for a pre-recorded interview from a remote studio; producer rushed in and asked contributor for 'a quick burst of level'.
Man somewhere else: 1,2,3,4 hello, ..is that all right?
Producer: er, yes, but we need a burst of your tune, to get the levels right.
Man somewhere else: My tune?
Producer: Yes - you were going to do Rule Britannia on your armpits.
Man somewhere else: Oh, all right, I'll 'ave a go...but I'm actually here in Brighton to talk about Tory Party policy towards trade unions.
Shades of Winston Churchill asking his staff to invite I. Berlin to dinner.
They invited the wrong I. Berlin.
Sitting next to Sir Winston, Professor Sir Isaiah Berlin was a bit mystified when Churchill kept pressing him to name his best tune.
Humps? That's a matter we could raise. To flatten, or would that mean we were being donkeys?
Vyle (10, currently)
For some bizarre reason, and huge cost my LA put a large speed bump in an A class road. You know how carefully speed bumps are normally designed, and a typical example appeared.
Anyway, the emergency services complained, so at additional great expence, the speed bump was carefully redesigned and re-profiled. I think it's best taken at 40mph (it's a 30 zone).
Re: Sara and Valery : Well I did e-mail said person to say we were discussing his salary -- but he's gone very quiet, although he sent us through a nice Blueplanet powerpoint presentation to watch.
Hugh (11) Hahahahaha! Thank you! :-)
Deepthought (13 currently)
I objected to humps in 2 proposed 20mph limits.
They said humps would enforce the new limits.
I said that proved no humps should be allowed in 30 limits.
No reply to date.
And we too have at least one hump best taken at 40.
Jonnie (14) : Leave the poor lad alone.
He's at work!!!!
Spare his poor blushes till at least he can read about it without worrying about his masters peering over his shoulder and tut-tutting....
Fi xx
Eddie Mair - an edgy host for an edgy event.
Re Fifi, (17)
I said I was being discreet, but I do recall he said that his local council office (not Bournemouth) can screen the Internet traffic --
Perhaps I wasn't being too clever :-(
Now Fifi - You are a wordsmith, did I use the correct spelling for discreet (as in keeping something confidential ?
Freaky FC (18) - hahaha! Is that a case of intertextuality? No doubt the complaints are clocking up as we, er, well, do whatever we're doing. Hugh (still at 11), hilarious. I was trying to think of something pithy to say about it being an understandable confusion - but as with all things needing to be written today, it completely foxed me.
It feels rather jolly to be submitting something to the frog after a brief absence. Anything I should be trying to catch up on?
Hugh (11), I think you should start up your own file of media stories, link to Eddie's audio clips, and release as an album. They really are very good!
jonnie(14) - a spectacular ppt - thanks!
Hello JH (20)!, Valery and I were missing you only a few days ago. If you're looking for serious stuff to catch up on, the Furrowed Brow and Models threads are fairly so at present.
John H - welcome home! Nope, you haven't missed a thing......
Jonnie - said ppt caused my pc to blue screen at the end of it, about an hour and a half ago, and I've spent until now trying to get it to talk to me again, it kept saying it was running 197 task managers or something. Eventually I had to pull the plug out and threaten to throw it out the window. Huh, that had it foxed!
Seemed to work too, fortunately......
Valery, that brings to mind the Eddie Izzard frustrated-with-the-computer sketch -- the reaction to "Cannot find printer" makes me howl with laughter.
Another favourite Eddie of mine, Appy! He just hits my sense of humour on the spot!
Ah, Valery, we women of great taste!