Archives for June 2011

We all do it. Imagine yourself lifting something REALLY heavy. You grunt (a bit).

But why, oh why, do our lady tennis players make such an exhibition of themselves grunting at levels most of us find totally off putting? I, for one, would love to watch the ladies' semi finals this afternoon, but I'll probably do something else and settle for the TV highlights later on, because I just cannot stand their grunting.

But are little girls and boys in tennis clubs up and down the land being taught this horrible habit? And is it a tactic used to improve performance or intimidate opponents? Apparently, they're 'alright leaving us'. In other words, it isn't the fault of grass roots tennis clubs and coaches. According to a sports scientist I consulted today, it is something they're taught at a higher level, and is a deliberate tactic used to control the 'humph' we all make when we exert ourselves. Players like Sharapova (whose grunts are measured in decibels), and Azarenka (who has a high pitched wail like a balloon being deflated) are, effectively, pushing out air and emptying their lungs but in a controlled, stabilising way! We could all try it next time we move furniture or take out the trash.

Or perhaps not.

I like my neighbours.

I found lots of lovely little stories on my brief tour - like the scars on the table in the House of Lords where Churchill would bang his hand down, whilst making a speech, and the signet ring on his finger would chip away pieces of wood. Why was he speaking in the House of Lords? Because, after the Commons debating chamber was bombed during the war, the MPs moved into the Lords debating Chamber and the Lords met in another part of the Palace of Westminster.

Churchill's presence is still very evident throughout the Palace. There's Churchill's archway leading into the Commons, made from the bombed rubble, which is stained red from the incendiary. Very poignant Also, of course, the immense statue of the great wartime leader, with his toecap rubbed shiny by the MPs who often stroke Winston's foot for luck before going into the House to make a speech.

By coincidence, one of my special guests in yesterday's programme had a special link to that statue. He was Sir George Young, leader of the House, whose father-in-law cast many of the great statues around Westminster - including that famous one of Winston!

I strongly recommend a visit to Westminster, if you've never been. But if you'd like to listen to the stories I managed to dig out, you can always listen again!

Stuart Melrose has gone on to become a fantastic artist and designer. Check out his solo exhibition at The Willis Museum in Basingstoke. Good luck, Stuart!

Having a smashing afternoon at the races here at Ladies Day at Royal Ascot.

It's been raining, and it's been gloriously sunny - very changeable but the excitement is catching, and now I've already placed my first bet - any minute now I'll know how I've done!

The Queen was looking fantastic but so was Carol Middleton, perfectly and yet subtly turned out in a beautifully tailored suit and smashing hat. A triumph yet again, and a real inspiration to middle class mums evrywhere !!!!!

Cannot be with you tomorrow - I'm hosting a cot death conference in London. And then afterwards my son wants me to take him to the Open Day at Royal Holloway College. What on earth will the roads be like, because of Royal Ascot? It could be an afternoon spent in a traffic jam. Aaargh!

Fiona Bruce interviewed him last night for the BBC - and he couldn't resist his little jibe, as she was asking him about giving up his career in the Navy, that a profession was something she wouldn't know about!!!

I was sent to do an interview with the D of E (as he's known in our house, since many of my children have been busy at various stages on the D of E award scheme) about 25 years ago. He was gloriously irascible then, and he hasn't changed a bit. Many of his answers to my questions were totally unusable - just because they were so politically incorrect! I ended up with a nice interview (which I think is on YouTube nowadays) but frankly most of it ended up on the cutting room floor.

I rather liked Mac's cartoon this morning in the Daily Mail. God Bless the Duke on his ninetieth birthday He may not like us journalists and reporters very much but he has always made great headlines, photos, cartoons and commentary. May he make many more!

Well, my guest this morning has done just that, and made it work....She's Melissa Jolly - and she's already had several dream jobs. At one time, she was making TV documentaries for children about wildlife, going all over the world filming gorillas in Uganda and orcas and brown bears in Alaska. But having kids put paid to that job - so she had to think of something else, something that would be child friendly.

It's a career problem that faces so many women, and one which many of us fail to solve happily. But Melissa decided, in the end, to go into the world of garden design. Now she's award-winning and busier than ever but at least she still gets time to collect the kids from school and be a hands-on Mum. She's exhibiting a "concept garden" at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show which looks like an art gallery, but with "living" pictures, with plants inspired by some of the world's most renowned painters. It sounds amazing - as does her career-change. I'm full of admiration and also green with envy!

But it's lovely to be back on the radio this week. We were talking about "Our War" which is a documentary series on BBC 3 tonight (9pm) showing footage shot by our own soldiers on operations in Afghanistan - video from their own helmet-cams. It even features the operation in which of of them is killed. I will be watching with my heart in my mouth, alongside one of my sons - the one who is terribly keen on joining the army.

Wonder what he'll think?