It's all too much!

Christmas just won't happen if I don't grab a bit of time off. It's so hectic in my house. And what's more today is my number two son's birthday.

Happy Birthday, Jamie!

Mental note: Always, always, always take the week before Christmas off from work.

So my lovely team here at BBC Radio Berkshire have listened to my plea with sympathy and have cajoled the wonderful Bill Buckley into coming into the studios and standing in for me for the rest of the week.

Thanks so much guys. And especially thanks to Bill.

That makes today's programme my last one of 2011. It's been a great year, actually. Together, we've been awarded a Sony and a Gillard award, and we've done some really exciting programming.

Lots of love, thanks, and praise to my collegaues, the totally supportive Duncan, the wonderful and inspirational John Baish, the fantastic and oh-so-calm John Hudson, the multi-talented Soose, the mellifluous Marie, the gorgeous Claire and everyone else who has made the Anne Diamond show (or The Big Show, as we call it) such fun in 2011.

But I'd really liike to say farewell by telling you about my guest today, Chris Morrell, who was awarded an MBE for his services to school sports.

More amazingly, and shockingly out of the blue, Chris had a stroke several months ago. He is now fully functioning again, but only because, he says, of FAST. It's the mnemonic designed to help people recognise a stroke. F for Face. If your face falls on one side, it's a sign. A for Arms - can you hold them up? S for Speech - is your speech affected? And finally T is for time. It's crucial to get help fast. For more information go to the Stroke Association website.

And pass the message on. Let's hope you never need to use it.

Have a wonderful Christmas, and a Happy New Year. See you in Olympic year!