Well another busy blogging weekend. That's lots of traffic anyway however you measure it. And I'm writing this on Sunday evening, so heaven knows how much water will have flowed under this particular bridge by Monday's show. It's a Sunday composition because I am attending one of those bad boy speed awareness courses on Monday morning (there is a joke here about it being the nearest to 3 points a Spurs man would have been all week but as it was the FA Cup, it wouldn't work. Mickey Mouse cup anyway).

So once I'm out of my contractual obligations, Drivetime beckons with journalist and writer Allison Pearson after 6. She wrote 'I Don't Know How She Does It' which is about to be made into a film with Sarah Jessica Parker and Pierce Brosnan. Her new book is "I Think I Love You" and is all about a young girl who falls hopelessly in love with David Cassidy. Yes it's teen love. Who was yours? In fact TEEN LOVE is quite a good oldies theme I think. FIRST LOVE, TEENAGE ROMANCE has had billions of tunes over the years, pick your favourite and we'll play some of the best tonight.

Have a slow and thoughtful Monday, see you after 5.

Watching Chris and Elton live in (what I think of as) the Drivetime studio and Chris has just taken his hat off. He says he's dyed it for TV and it's overdone but looks pretty good on my screen. So far Chris is revealing more than Sir Elton (apart from a little anglo-saxon every now and again)..

Last night a mad dash after the show to see child 2 in a school play-curtain up 7.30! Thats pressure. Nothing more pressured than knowing that your absence WILL be noticed and you CANNOT arrive late as everyone will notice. Plus, you have the presents for the producer in the boot. I did shout a wee bit at the dreadful drivers who were DELIBERATELY getting in the way but all was well and I was there with seconds to spare. And the show was a triumph and she was a star.

2 shows today of course. Movies with Mark at 2-Sam Riley our guest from "Brighton Rock" and the mighty ALL REQUEST FRIDAY from 5 on 2. Get that first song down now!

Have a chilled and calming Friday, see you at 2 and 5 on 5 and 2.

Bleary? Did I use that word yesterday? Didn't know what I was talking about. Today is bleary. Today is a challenge. Recorded another episode of Act Your Age last night for Radio 4 and it was a long old night. This was mainly because all the microphones failed. We had tested them all with the comedians before the audience was let in and everything was fine. We retired to the green room, ate crisps and fudge(oh the glamour), and when we returned to the now full radio theatre, everything had failed. Being Brits, we all tolerated this with cheery banter and Tom O'Connor leading the crowd in a few tunes. I think we reached 9.15 or thereabouts before we recorded a word. By that time, the audience were so relieved they laughed at everything and a good show was finally in the can. Assuming it recorded.

So today should be more straightforward. Nigel offers us the magnificence that is the Cornish Pasty. Devonians may claim it for their own but Cornish it remains in most people's minds. Nigel will so a sweet end and a savoury end as ,according to some, it was eaten down the tin mines.

And songs today please for the poor innocent TELEPHONE. Seemingly much used for illicit purposes, we celebrate its use in tunes. CALLS/RINGING/HACKING whichever line you wish. 'Hello This Is Joni' will not make it, so save your energy on that one.

Have a motivated and energised Thursday, see you after 5

Morning all. Bleary-eyed, I make to the computer. A late night of Act Your Age last night for Radio 4 and another one tonight too. Thanks to the committed Bloggers who made it to the Radio Theatre last night, I hope you enjoyed it. I think Dave Sparkey was the star of the show, very funny chap. The series goes out in March I believe, will let you know.

Graham Gouldman today after 6. I always loved 10CC and saw them play in Brighton around the time Dreadlock Holiday was a hit. Graham of course has a track record of song writing well before then, writing million sellers for The Yardbirds and The Hollies amongst others. But it is for 10CC that he will be mainly remembered (this sounds like an obituary, but he's definitely still with us) and those great albums Sheet Music, How Dare You! and The Original Soundtrack.

All of which makes me think we should do songs about SONGS and SONGWRITERS. Oh the angst! Oh the turmoil! Oh the pressure! Plenty to choose from I think from when songwriters get all self-obsessed.

Have a poised and dignified Wednesday, see you after 5

Great start to the day with Chris hearing firstly Bob Geldof and then Stan Ridgway's Camouflage. Interviewing Sir Bob is always fun as you're never quite sure which way it's going to go-we should get him on Drivetime asap. One afternoon at 5 Live he turned up without being booked. He didn't know why he was on and neither did I, so he just joined in every conversation going. It was, as I recall, terrific fun.

And that Camouflage tune is a great ghost song, always get's me (in the privacy of my vehicle) bellowing out the chorus. The kids were lucky they'd been dropped off.

Favourite musical accompaniment for blog writing at the moment are Sugarland's "Love On The Inside" (new Country breakout from Nashville) and a singer called Abigail Washburn who has an album called "City of Refuge". One of those head turning cd's that provoked a lot of 'what's that then' style comments when it was on the office. We are in Bob Harris Saturday/Sunday show territory here. Worth your attention I think...

Today we celebrate SLOWNESS in all its guises. After 6 guest Anthony Worrall Thompson's new book is all about slow cooking. Flavours, aromas, textures. Another long journey home for the hungry! But SLOW can be rewarding in life anyway (which is just as well if the traffic/your computer/kids in the bathroom wont let you do anything else) so let's do SLOW and SLOWNESS on the songs today.

Have a measured and rational Tuesday, see you after 5.

Monday morning and another lovely week beckons. As the Rev says, it's never too late to become the person you want to be. Or something like that.

Hope your weekend was all you hoped for. All Request Friday is always full of people with extraordinary weekends (including the man in a lay-by who could have kept his plans to himself frankly) but I know most of us just do normal stuff. And so it was this weekend. Plate-spinning mainly, just keeping it all going. Taxi man, shopping man and back-ache man- I played all roles with great panache.

So here we are at the start of another week and the book club gathers round the kitchen table. Today it's Ben Aaronovitch's "Rivers of London". Read chapter 1 on this site and listen after 6. If you feel moved to comment, that would be lovely too. It is a weird and funny world that Ben has created, full of coppers and wizards. Fantasy thriller is I think what the publishers are calling it.

Also today, songs for THE OFFSIDE RULE. This is to honour Sian Massey who ran the line at the Wolves v Liverpool match. Commentators Richard Keys and Andy Gray then made what they thought were off-air comments like "can you believe that? Women don't know the offside rule" etc. Keys and Gray have apologised so let's do tunes for this much discussed rule. We could have done sexist dinosaurs but this is more fun.

Have an enlightening and enriching Monday, see you after 5

Hello bloggers everywhere, yes it really is Friday again and hurrah for that. Yesterday's frantic whirl was made more fun by re-interviewing film director Ron Howard for 5 Live. Steve has him on today I believe for his film 'The Dilemma' and my recording was a jolly affair with one problem. It hadn't recorded. Not one word. So after frantic conversations were held, the gracious Mr Howard agreed to re-do the interview and that's the one that will go out this afternoon. Shame the film is not "Apollo 13" but then few are.

Gary Barlow sounded great last night, a really fine concert. I tweeted last night that it was more life affirming than watching Question Time. This seemed to annoy a few followers but I think that when you get to a certain age you have less time for life shortening people and programmes and it's easier to switch off. I hold to that which is why Gary's concert was a better way to pass the time that QT. In my opinion.

But enough of such nonsense! It's Friday for heaven's sake! It is time for an All Request Friday and that's all you need to know. Opening tunes below please and let's get the weekend started in fine style.

Have an engaging and informed Friday, see you after 5.

Greetings to all bloggers wherever you may be, a manic tail chasing day beckons. An ideal day would consist of calmly preparing for the show, reading the papers, listening to a few new albums, chortling at the latest bunch of confessions, a leisurely lunch with pudding and a stroll through a park. None of that will happen today. Full speed, full on, non stop. Breathless, I will stagger into Drivetime looking forward to a sit down. The most exciting thing will be repeating an interview I recorded with film director Ron Howard. I did one yesterday but it turned out later that nothing recorded. He has graciously agreed to do it all again. Same questions but in a different order I suspect.

Nigel is on today of course and while nothing could top the treacle sponge last week (apart from another one) he has promised something meaty in a spicy thing from abroad. I think that's right. More details to come.

And still on food matters, lets do HERBS and SPICES on the tunes today. Apparently fenugreek is a wonder. It is stuffed full of anti-virals and as such could fend off the colds and sneezes that attack at this time of year. Your curry has lots you know. Eat more, it could be a superfood. We salute the humble fenugreek and its brothers and sisters in the spice rack in song.

Have a cosy and gentle Thursday, see you after 5.

A fox-free blog. Up late, wake early. No alarms needed after yesterdays debacle. I was so determined not to sleep in again that I woke at 4 and stayed that way. Head full of last night's recording of "Act Your age" for Radio 4 which was fun I think, with its usual mix of funny stuff for broadcast and funny stuff which will never see the light of day. Unless someone leaks it and a bootleg turns up, in which case you might hear some interesting exchanges with comedian Miles Jupp, formerly Archie from Balamory.

However the tiredest folk are their Lord and Ladyships in the the House of Lords. They are in the middle of marathon sessions at the moment, debating constitutional matters. Staying up all night, debating all morning and afternoon. It's a tough life, so lets do songs for LADIES and LORDS please.

Talking books today with actor David Morrissey. He's one of the judges for the Costa Book Awards this year and he'll be explaining how it works at 6. Also yesterday we announced that the next book club choice is "Rivers of London" by Ben Aaronovitch. It's a fantasy about wizards and coppers. For grown-ups. Check it out on the Book Club section of the website, there's a chapter for you to read to see if it's your kind of thing.

Have a captivating and fascinating Wednesday, see you after 5.

Curses. Overslept. Snoozed though the alarm for the first time in 25 years. One minute it was dark and I was getting up early to do extra stuff and just be busy. The next it was 7.40 and bright sunlight filled the room. It's amazing how fast everyone can move when necessary. Everyone out in 30 minutes is going some. Though we will doubtless get assorted text and calls through the day, itemising everything they have gone to school without. Not the most relaxing way to start the day however.

Hoped you enjoyed Matt Le Blanc and Steven Mangan yesterday, I thought they were good together. Today we bring you explorer and adventurer Bruce Parry. We first saw him in 'Tribe' but it is the Arctic that has his attention at the moment. From the Inuit of Greenland to Alaskan whalers and treasure hunters, our Bruce is going there so we don't have to. He'll explain more after 6. In his honour however, we should definitely do EXPLORER oldies. Tunes of ADVENTURE and derring-do. Should be fun.

2 shows today. After Drivetime it's off to the BBC Radio Theatre for the first of 'Act Your Age' Series 3 for Radio 4. 3 teams of comedians, 1 host trying to keep order. Maybe that extra hour in bed will help after all.

Have a sunny and inspiring Tuesday, see you after 5.

I'm starting to play 'think of a number'. I wake up and wonder what the total number of blog contributions is going to be. And 719 is some kind of monster. If we continue like we are, I fully expect to hit 4 figures some time soon. Welcome bloggers old and new (special welcome to first-timers, you'll have fun here). Hope the weekend was all you wanted it to be, but with less of a hangover. My football predictions turned out to be lamentably poor. Football focus wanted my scores to go against Mark Lawrenson's and I'm not sure I got any right at all.

You might like to know that I haven't seen the foxes for a while. This is because I have taken steps. I have listened to your advice and action has been initiated. I'm not sure I should explain exactly what I have done, but it was dark at the time and no pictures are available. Take that Mr Fox! Let's see you get out of that!

Today we offer you Matt Le Blanc and Stephen Mangan on their new show "Episodes". It's a good chat and Matt and Stephen have clearly become good mates. Matt didn't feature much in episode 1 but that all changes tonight so let's do FRIENDS and FRIENDSHIP on the oldies today. I know what you're going to ask for and it's going to be great!

Have a wild and inspiring Monday. See you after 5.

Well well. That must have been the busiest blog day of all time. To be over 500 is the sort of figure that implies I've been away for a week. But I've checked and that is not the case. It is just, it seems, down to lots of clever people discussing sweetness, foxes, steak and all the other blog favourites.

I am now equipped with much fox advice, thank you. I need to test each of your ideas one by one. I shall find human hair, lion poo, dog wee (the neighbours might not tolerate the family performing No 1's in the hedges) pictures of Les Dawson and ultrasonic laser death rays. The foxes main point of interaction is our trampoline for some reason, so the toilet-based remedies are less appealing than the others really. I will pop off to the ironmongers to pick up a taser if child 3's sonic screwdriver doesn't do the trick. A quick 'tally-ho' might still work of course. Will get back to you.

2 shows again today. 5 Live with Mark K and actor/director Peter Mullan on his new film "Neds" then to the mighty ARF for 2 hours of weekend hopes and top songs. Choose that saucepan-rattling. keyboard-bashing, dashboard-pounding song here! Now!

Have a magnificent and energy-filled Friday, see you after 5. Or 2. Or both (there are alternatives).

Hello bloggers wherever you may be. Wow that was busy on the blog yesterday! Keep it coming and tell your friends. Busy is good.

Happy to report the foxes were quiet last night. There was no chasing, no foraging and no noisy foxy rumpy-pumpy. I'm on the look out for a peaceful, non-hound based way of getting rid of the blighters. If any bloggers have experience in these matters, would love to hear of them. Maybe we could re-introduce wolves in the UK. Would that help? Do wolves hate foxes or are they peaceful co-existers? Need to look that one up I think.

Today (and I'm pathetically excited just mentioning it) Nigel is cooking up a golden syrup pudding. More than any other dessert, this is one to relish and look forward to. If there is golden syrup sponge on the menu, you eat less of everything else to make room. Respect is due to the king of puddings. The debate is surely custard or cream or ice cream? Or maybe, just a little of everything would be fine. So lets have songs for the SWEET-TOOTHED to day please, just to get the juices flowing.

Have a clear-sighted and clear-thinking Thursday, see you after 5.

Frantic school run, computer crashing and 3 screaming foxes chasing each other round the garden. All before 9.30. It'll be calmer from now on. Good morning all bloggers, hope all is well with you. Matt Le Blanc, Stephen Mangan and Nicole Kidman all delivered yesterday in the safety of a recorded interview. You can hear Matt and Stephen on Monday's show and Nicole in February. I can report that Matt is delightful and posed very happily for photos with Bob Harris. More of this on Monday.

Today we offer you Hugh Dennis, star of Outnumbered and Mock The Week who has a new TV comedy show this week 'Fast and Loose' and is on tour with Steve Punt at the moment. Hugh just after 6.

And did you raise a glass to Miriam O'Reilly last night? Her employment tribunal ruled she had been the victim of age discrimination when she was dropped from Countryfile. The BBC has apologised and many an over-40 (shall we say) would have felt encouraged that the wrinkle-free don't have it all their way. So let's do OLDIES for OLDIES. Celebrate the wisdom and loveliness of those are NOT QUITE AS YOUNG as, well, youngsters. But we know so much more than they do.

Have a stress free and energising Wednesday. See you after 5.

Late blog again, this is getting a habit. A tardy new year indeed.

A challenging school run today. A casual observation/whinge about pot holes not being mended led to a full blown attempted explanation of why councils and government have no money left. Robert Peston where are you when needed? They soon tired of my reasoned and balanced explanation. I think they wanted to me to blame the bankers. Or referee Howard Webb. Or Voldemort. Without someone easy to blame, they got bored. As do a lot of people.

Celeb overload today. Recording a chat with Matt Le Blanc and Stephen Mangan today for their new series 'Episodes' which started last night. Then it's Paul McKenna with his latest project I Can Make You Happy. 'Oh really?' you might be thinking, that depends on why I'm unhappy but Paul will explain at 6. Then I record a piece with Nicole Kidman for her new film Rabbit Hole. I know, it's a tough life. You'll hear the Nicole and Matt/Stephen interviews soon.

And those new Thunderbirds/Captain Scarlett/Joe90 stamps look magnificent. So let's do PUPPETS today on the oldies please. You know what to do.

Have an uplifting and supported Tuesday, see you after 5.

The return of the 5 day week. Curses. School's back, the boss returned. Heads down till Easter folks.

Hope the weekend was all you hoped for on Friday. We had a friend's 50th to attend (a mighty fine curry with appropriate ales) and a return to 'The King's Speech' last night. I had seen it ahead of interviewing 'Sir' Colin Firth (inevitable don't you think?) and Mrs M was keen to see what all the fuss is about. The answer is that the fuss is about a wonderful film in which Messrs Firth and Rush are note perfect and Helena Bonham Carter an inspired choice as Duchess of York/Queen. Only 2 sherbet lemons were consumed. This is because, 1) I didn't need to be distracted. 2) They are noisy to unwrap. The code of conduct clearly states 'no rustling' so was keen not to fall foul of my own rules. A light cough disguised most of the movement, a manoeuvre learnt in double Physics. It is still the king of sweets.

Book club back today with blockbusting author David Baldacci. 100 million copies of assorted books from David over the years makes him a genuine 'No1 Bestselling Author!' His latest is 'Hell's Corner' and you can read 4 chapters on this site now before going any further. David will be in Washington after 6 and doing a web-chat after our conversation at 6.

And oldies today please on the theme of DENTISTS. A new device, it is claimed, will cancel out the noise of the drill, still one of the worst sounds ever. Hooray indeed. But let's do all things DENTAL and TEETH related. Rinse, spit and leave a thought below.

Have a delightful and refreshing Monday, see you after 5.

Well we might be expecting 11 of Mr Celsius' degrees but the amount of rain hurtling down here means that we might not exactly be parading around in our spring wardrobes. Just yet. My Friday taxi bike ride will be a wet one I feel.

A two show Friday again! Off to 5 Live with a couple of reasonable guests. Colin Firth opens up proceedings with "The King's Speech", then it's Danny Boyle and his follow up to "Slumdog Millionaire", "127 Hours". Everyone is tipping "The King's Speech" for awards and it's easy to see why. Firth and Geoffrey Rush as his speech therapist are brilliant. It's a buddy movie really, it's just that one is the king and the other is a chippy Aussie (are there any other kind?).

Danny Boyle, as well as being a director and producer, is the artistic director of the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony. It is quite likely the organisers are hoping for a little bit more of the "Slumdog" feel than the "127 Hours" feel. As you may well know it's about a man who chops his arm off to free himself from a boulder trapping him in a canyon. You might not think of it as a feelgood film but it is a great performance from James Franco and it is 'life-enhancing'. If also 'limb -reducing'.

Then it's the first ARF of the year! Hooray for the mighty ARF!

Choose your favourite opening song below. Go on, pick a belter.

Have a gentle and reassuring Friday, see you after 5. Or after 2. Or both.

Morning to all. Rainy and rubbish here with just the news from Sydney to cheer us on our way. A terrific way to start the day. I love waking to "Test Match Special" and waiting to hear the first batsman mentioned. A few bleary seconds while you calculate how the night/day has gone, then you have it and the day begins...

Just spent awhile re-reading the wonderful comments on the blog yesterday about Gerry Rafferty. Thanks for those, proof indeed of the place he has had in our lives and record collections. So many good songs, I was pleased we squeezed as many in as we did.

Meanwhile...

Just fought the Christmas tree to standstill. It now resides outside the front door where it blocks the path, preventing anyone from arriving or leaving. I think the council operate a 'we'll pick up your tree before the summer' policy so will wait for a while before making plans. 12th Night of course has passed so every last remnant of Christmas is being purged, with the exception of the children's rooms where decorations will stay untouched and un-noticed till well after the council have called for the tree. But Let's do 12TH NIGHT oldies please CHUCK OUT/CLEAR OUT/START AGAIN. That sort of thing. We'll have our own Epiphany party.

And Nigel has a hearty stew for you at 6, so leave a space please.

Have an intriuging and unusual Thursday, see you after 5.

Very sad news about Gerry Rafferty last night. He made some wonderful songs and I always loved his mellow Paisley vocals. "City to City", "Night Owl" and "Snakes and Ladders" were terrific albums and he was a fine producer too, working on the Proclaimers 'Letter from America'. I'm sure many shows will pay tribute today but let's play lots of Gerry Rafferty tonight anyway. Your favourite song (Stealers Wheel and Humblebums included) and why, would be a fitting way to mark his passing on the show tonight.

Meanwhile...

Enjoyed being back on Drive last night and loved speaking to Brian Cox again. He's one of those easy, natural communicators and an enthusiast that might even make you buy a telescope. Nice one Prof. Today we welcome Jenny Eclair, comedian and jungle veteran to the studio. She's off doing a tour and being generally grumpy. Jenny with us just after 6.

Meantime...

The decorations are still up here and the tree is hanging on for 12th Night. This is partly due to observing tradition but mainly it's laziness. And any moment now the lights will ping, the balls shatter and the cards turn brown with age. This really isn't good enough. As soon as the school run is over...

Hope you have a comfy and well-supported day, see you after 5.

How very nice to make your acquaintance again. The gap between Christmas and New year always manages to be as long as the space/time continuum yet somehow yielding little rest. We stumble back to work just as knackered and slightly more portly than before.

Which is not to say it hasn't been fun. Games have been played (Pit, Monopoly, Scrabble, Jenga and for younger members of the house, their favourite game-Disappearing When the Washing Up Starts), presents have been given and received and very strong ale consumed (in one case 16% I believe. A made for sharing bottle let me assure you).

But the tree is looking saggy now and the cards are falling off the door. The homework is being remembered and the vouchers are spent. It really is time to get everything back to normal. Normal is just fine with me. Normal is where the best work gets done. Let's make the normal really rather wonderful. Heres to alchemy.

I hope all bloggers have had a very fine time, it's good to see that the conversation continues whether I'm posting or not! A happy new year to everyone, here's to another year of top blogging chat and song suggestions. Speaking of which, let's have a go at the brand new and exciting 20% VAT RATE which we greet he new year with. Songs for the VATMAN please in my new year box below. You remember how it works I trust.

Have a wild and stimulating Tuesday, see you after 5...