The Christmas Void

Teddy Kelley

So aye...

It's that week between Christmas and New Year celebrations where DJ's make a joke of reminding you what day it is and it's acceptable to eat chocolate for any or all meals. If you need help with your confectionary consumption i've created the definitive list of sweets in a Celebrations tin. (Well plastic box (mid when they used to be real tins?))

So, in real terms. pic.twitter.com/ZFKaUEHaIG

— Chris Quilietti (@ChrisQ_1) December 26, 2016

I had a really nice family christmas this year including a lot of wine and the Doctor Who Christmas Special.

#MerryChristmas from #Me and Granny Quilietti!

A photo posted by Chris Quilietti (@chrisq1) on Dec 25, 2016 at 11:54am PST

One thing I also did was live radio. It something i've done for the last few years and it's a lot of fun. I also think it's incredibly important and it can be easily forgotten how much people connect with the Radio. Its one to one and that connection can be incredibly powerful. 

As this proves:

(Via @JamesCridland )

The show I did on Christmas day didn't receive any heartfelt and sad calls but it did include plenty of cheesy music and a report on Santa Clause. 

Radio Royal Christmas Roadshow 2016

Tom Rickhuss

Every December Forth Valleys hospital radio station Radio Royal pitch up to the band stand in Stirling city center, play some music and shake a few cans. This is all to help raise money for the charity, helping them to continue their good work.
Kat Low a presenter on the station has seen around 20 roadshows thinks the weather makes them special as well as the people; "People are generally happier and there's always a buzz about the city"



Radio Royal was formed in 1976 and commenced broadcasting in May 1977. Staffed entirely by volunteers, Radio Royal now broadcasts via television sets to patients and online via the website and mobile apps.

Radio Royal is the call sign of Forth Valley Broadcasting, a recognised charity SC013447

BBC Radio Scotland Music Extra

In Scotland on the 23rd to the 30th November this year there was a new station on the DAB Dial. 

MUSIC| We've launched! BBC Radio Scotland Music Extra is a go and we will be broadcasting for the next 8 days. #RSXtra pic.twitter.com/kSo3rwXBz0

— BBC Radio Scotland (@BBCRadioScot) November 23, 2016

Radio Scotland Music Extra was a pop up music service from BBC Radio Scotland, broadcasting for 8 days, showcasing new and not so new Scottish Musical talent. It’s always difficult to judge the numerical success of a station that's only around for a short period of time.
In these kind of cases, a good measure is the bounce back reaction, the most of which has been positive!

Here  are some of my own personal highlights:

Jules and The Blue Garnets 

Had an amazing day@ #RSXtra @BBCRadioScot playing tracks from the new EP #InTheEarlyHours lovely ppl,great studio,incredible day #livemusic pic.twitter.com/Tl0A2bq27P

— Jules&TheBlueGarnets (@blue_garnets) November 23, 2016

Ricky Ross Meets Mavis Staples

Mavis Staples

The Vault With Garry Innes 

@artificialphotography

Stuart Cosgrove

"Because of this station, Music Extra, we’re only beginning now to scratch the surface of our own popular culture. This should be something that runs and runs and runs."

Berlin

My birthday is a middle birthday. It’s about the middle of the year and about the middle of the month. This means there’s a good distance from any major holiday and I never received special attention in class at school. (One teacher at primary school gave us a cushion you could sit on all day if you were in class on your birthday)

This year I decide to do something different, go away for a bit and do something interesting.

So naturally, I went to Berlin.

Travelling from London was exciting but I had a constant twang of nervousness. I'd traveled by myself before but not this far and not this... spontaneously? Landing at Berlin Schönefeld Airport the first person I spoke to was a guy I met on the plane, who happened to be sitting next to me and we just started talking to each other. James was lovely and oddly he too was traveling to the city for the first time and also had no idea where to go or what to do. Having an equally lost companion was, comforting.

Heading straight into the center, we went for lunch. Sitting outside a place by the Spree, the aroma of beer and sound of lapping river was masked by how anxious I was to get to my accommodation for the visit. I hadn’t heard from my host since before leaving the UK, and I was worried. My impromptu comrade picked up on my nerves and though our conversation, left me with some bits of advice from his experience of travelling alone in his early 20’s, including the perennial ‘If in doubt, find an Irish bar’

We parted ways and I quickly sobered to exactly where I was, my next move? To get in contact with my host and after a lot of calls that rang out (and after a brief bout of fainting after looking at the prices on Late Rooms) I managed to get in touch. Generally I settle for a hotel or staying with someone I know. This was a last minute Airbnb, staying with Bernard and his roommate Janis. Janis turned out to be the only person I actually met from the apartment, once when I arrived and once as I was leaving, waking him up both times (I think he was an art student).
Any worries I had were broken apart by just how nice the room was, spacious and modern, there was a little welcome note and complimentary towel waiting for me.

The room was out by Sonnenallee* in the Turkish part of town, busy streets full of mix and match tables and chairs, the smell or kabab and tobacco accompanied sounds of European traffic. My first night was spent close to my place, checking out local shops (including a Lidl). Being in the Turkish area of town is like constantly being in Glasgow city center at 11PM, it’s always acceptable to have a kabab.


*Sonnenallee is also the title of a 1999 film.  A comedy about East Berlin

Having quickly learned that you only need one ticket to travel on ANY mode of public transport in Berlin I made my way into the center. In my head I was  a cool and intrepid traveler with a rucksack and one train ticket. Exploring the hippest and most underground parts of the city and experiencing the Berlin you see in 90’s films like Sonnenallee. In truth, I had no Idea so I did what any millennial would do, I asked Twitter:

@ChrisQ_1 Check out @travelsofadam and his travel blog. He's based in Berlin 👍

— Lewis Henshall (@ljhenshall) September 9, 2016

@travelsofadam @ljhenshall A beginners guide would be good. But I'll slide into your DM's!

— Chris Quilietti (@ChrisQ_1) September 9, 2016

Adam was great to have in my pocket (on my phone) for two reasons. One; He is a fantastic travel writer and blogger who lives in Berlin after having visited and fallen in love with the place. He’s forgotten more about being there than I’ll ever know. Two; when I had random questions, I could pester him and he was always quick and helpful.

My questions ranged from the obvious:


To the specific:

The vague:

To the ones I had to find out myself:

That’s shorthand for “Tell me about the Gay culture here as my only reference is Matt Smith in Christopher and his kind” I eventually managed to get comfortable and wander around wherever I wanted to. The most striking part of the trip for me was the history. As much as Berlin is a super modern and international city. There are parts that seem frozen in its dark history. I didn’t believe a friend of mine when they said you could still see bullet holes in buildings. You can. Some structures had the marks of restoration and the filling in of the brickwork bullet-wounds but the battle of Berlin was visible. That alongside memorials and plaques, is one of the things i’ll take away from this trip.

Memorial to Homosexuals Persecuted Under Nazism

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

A hub for the creative and home for the hipster, Berlin is a stunning city, caught in time that is a symbol of its own reunification. The international home for all. This was most evident for me when I visited Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg, they do a thing called Street Food Thursday that just bustles with life. The smell of fresh baking, cured meats and beer. Soundtracked with laughter, chatter and sizzling grills. It was life, tasty, tasty life.

I forced myself to have a beer, I don’t think I regret it.

Markthalle Neun

https://markthalleneun.de/

If you’re planning on going to Berlin, I recommend a few things:

Go for longer than a few days. You’ll want more time than you have.

Get furious about how cheap the transport is.

Try and have a basic plan for your days but keep it flexible.

Don’t feel like you shouldn’t do the touristy stuff.

Don’t do just the touristy stuff

And you absolutely have to read:

http://travelsofadam.com/city-guides/berlin/

The Scottish Athletics Awards

Bit late with this one... 

I has a wonderful time a few weeks ago at the Scottish Athletics awards. 

Correct, I was not up for any kind of award but I was providing the voice over for the event.  Originally the plan was to pre record all of the inserts before the night, but on reflection  (and a look at how much their was to say) I ended up doing it live. 

I was hidden for most of the night at the back off the room, only getting out for dinner and a cup of tea. Cosied in between the sound desk and black theatre masking I nicked a small table from  the foyer to place my water and script on. 

That's my night announcing at the #SALAwards16 done! pic.twitter.com/Y8zMBGazmV

— Chris Quilietti (@ChrisQ_1) October 29, 2016

It was a fun night and all the award were very well deserved! I think awards dinners is definitely the part of athletics I could get into.

You can find out more about Scottish Athletics here:
http://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/

More great coverage today @hssport Media Partners #SALAwards16. @fisher_stewart on @lauramuiruns see https://t.co/9hnOV5xptw @sweirz pic.twitter.com/D0kldk23DH

— scottishathletics (@scotathletics) October 31, 2016

Sick Kids Save Point

PHOTO:Pawel Kadysz

There are many odd ways to raise a bit of money. But before you jump into a bath of baked beans let me tell you about this one.

My friend Chris Walker wanted to raise money for a cause that meant a lot to him.  In order to do that, he needed a computer, coffee and a whole lot of video games.



You can still donate to Chris's page here:
https://sksp.everydayhero.com/uk/chriswalkersksp
Sick Kids Save Point is the UK's biggest charity gaming marathon and this year marks its seventh year raising funds for The Sick Kids Friends Foundation

You Should Listen To This: Stephen Nolan US Election Debate, Live from Indiana

I think you should listen to this:
US Election: Live Debate from Indiana Stephen Nolan

It's getting ever closer to the US elections 2016 or as it's more commonly known

I've often cited Stephen Nolan as one of my favourite broadcasters. (I would also recommend his mid morning show on Radio Ulster) he has a unique way of dealing with loud callers angrily planting their opinion flag, politics the way it is in Northern Ireland he's used to people with solid opinions. The other thing I like about him is the amount of compassion and understanding he shows to vulnerable contributors trying to tell their story.

One of the busiest people in tv and radio, he presents an evening show on BBC Radio 5 live (Thur-Sun) A recent addition of this show was live from a bar in Terre Haute, Indiana.

2nd @bbc5live special from Terre Haute starts 930pm .American audience have q's & I'll try to keep control . Well, just a little control ! pic.twitter.com/4dBWZTTGd1

— Stephen Nolan (@StephenNolan) October 15, 2016

 It's an incredible listen, I happened to come across it while it was live and have since digested the whole thing. The nature of debate and discussion around this vote, the anger, confusion, vitriol and passion of the last 3 months is amplified in this programme. Nolan is on tremendous form, commanding the discussion, at times having no choice but to shout to be heard. He manages to raise his voice in a commanding non aggressive way while also showing respect to the speakers.

'It's my show sir....Don't make me stand up' - Stephen Nolan 

With all the coverage and other debates flying around, he asks factual and honest questions and doesn't let them get off without answering them. One of my highlights is when he goes to a young voter who describes this as his 'second election' and gets his thoughts. The young man is quiet and doesn't sound to confident, but Nolan pushes him slightly and ends up getting an honest and interesting question from him. Hes a presenter who understands and uses the power of silence, and isn't afraid to pause before asking a question, making the listener lean in slightly. 

— Stephen Nolan (@StephenNolan) October 15, 2016

You should listen to this... My Dad Wrote A Porno

If you see someone covering their mouth, trying to stifle laughter on the Monday morning commute, chances are they're listening to My Dad Wrote a Porno. This now worldwide hit is in its second series and has only gotten better with age. 

Jamie Morton has the (no doubt skin crawling) task of reading out his dad’s self-published erotica (‘Self-published erotica’ should not be a thing, but it is) to his friends James Cooper and Alice Levine (BBC Radio 1). Each episode they delve into another chapter and follow the adventures of 'Pots and Pans' buisness lady Belina Blumenthal. Picking it apart, line by line, comma by misused comma with hilarious effect. 

The things that make this podcast a must listen are:

The dynamic between Jamie, James and Alice is very real, they have known each other for years and you can tell that by listning to them. A lot of double or triple headed podcasts could learn a lot from their on-mic relationship.

Simple format, strong content. The layout of each episode is formulaic and easy to follow. The brief recap is a good icebreaker and warm up for the coming episode. The content (Belinda Blinked) is a gift to us all, but mostly this podcast. You can’t predict where it is going and worryingly, become invested in the characters (‘Characters' is to be read with a question mark).

They give you just enough of the drug to keep you addicted. Each episode is very well edited. Never too long, and always packed with the best bits. The commonplace thing for a lot of podcasts of this style to do is to keep in the ramblings of conversations, when they don’t need to.

A lot of what the trio do each episode is very basic. I mean that in the nicest way. Radio as a medium is at its most powerful when;

You talk to one person.

Have core values and themes but move the narrative along.

Welcome the listener like a friend

Make them feel like they are ‘in on the joke’.
My Dad Wrote A Porno does all of the above, and it works. It works so well, it’s a regular at the top of the Itunes chart.

I guarantee you’ll be laughing your pomegranate’s off at this smutty hit. 

Here is a good place to start
BEST OF BOOK ONE

Good Faith. The pillars on which most blogs stand.

I've been thinking of different ways I could do something interesting here and have concluded that I’m not that interesting. No really I’m not Interesting.

I've mused and googled many potential blog challenges and since I don't think I can come up with a 'wannabe Buzfeed article' every day I’ve settled on the following. 

I'm going to try and write (at least) 100 words a day and commit to have it published by the end of every day. Ideally 8PM but midnight is the final cut off. 

You may think this sounds pi** easy... you haven't met me have you?