Any excuse for a bad night. Start tinkering with my body clock and I'll just stay awake for ever. 'An extra hour in bed' is what we are told about but I get a weeks worth of minor jet lag. Boo hiss.

I hope your weekend was full of lovely things. Or at least one lovely thing. My sparkling contribution was to win a Mummy competition. The contest was a 'dress the daddy's as Mummys' where the fathers there got wrapped in toilet roll from head to foot. I have to say my team excelled themselves and I was very convincing as Rameses II or was it Seti? Or a reject from the 'Nightboat to Cairo' video possibly.

So this weekend we bid farewell to one of the truly original radio voices. Jimmy Saville was an extraordinary man who was-in the brief period we overlapped at Radio 1-exactly the same off air as he was on air. All the tributes to him have said it was impossible to separate the man from the personality. When he arrived at the DJ's Christmas dinner wearing 6 bobble hats, one on top of each other and everyone present started doing Jimmy impressions, you knew this was no ordinary man. Although its Jim'll Fix It that many will remember him for, in our house, the Sunday afternoon Double Top Ten Show/Old Record Club was a must-listen. As a kid I loved the off air characters he talked to-Uncle Ted and Graham Archive spring to mind. And I was fortunate to work with 'Uncle' Ted Beston when I joined Radio 1, he had the best music ears anywhere and it was Ted who put those shows together. Happy memories. RIP Jimmy Saville.

So today we have another Radio 2 Bookclub choice 'Daughter of Smoke and Bone' by Laini Taylor. For Halloween this is a splendid piece of fantasy set in Prague and full of splendid and horrendously weird characters. You can read a chapter here and listen to Laini (with a daughter called Clementine Pie by the way) tonight in the dark from 6. She'll be live in Portland Oregon and then take part in the web chat from 6.30.

And for oldies, inevitably, it has to be HALLOWEEN, TRICK OR TREAT, ALL HALLOWS EVE and all things October 31st. Your creativity is valued...

Have a rational and superstition-free Monday (though that'll be tricky, and we're not helping) see you after 5.

Good morning to all. A cloudy dampness rules at the moment with a hint of sun for later.

It looks like it might be a weekend of Halloween related business. I'm not sure when it became such a juggernaut. Bonfire night was always the big one when I was at school and Halloween a mere curiosity. A few years ago we used to cringe when October 31st came around as our evening callers were not pleasant. It was essentially licence to terrorise the street. The knock on the door usually meant 2 or 3 lads in masks demanding sweets with a hint of menaces. Neighbours either cowered or pretended they were out. But in the last couple of years things seem to have improved. We've had more families and more smiley kids who have clearly enjoyed making an outfit and put some effort in. Maybe things are calming down and a tradition is adapting.

Although I loved the fireworks we had as a family, many bloggers will remember the jumping-jacks and bangers that were widely available and often ended up in exhaust pipes and letter boxes. Every November 5th had a catalogue of injuries reported on the news so the switch to organised events makes sense. And maybe two 'festivals' so close together will always battle for our attention with one losing out. And with the Americans not really in the Guy Fawkes camp, it'll be November 5th.

Maybe there's a hybrid event with ghosts and ghouls running the bonfire and apple-bobbing offered to house-callers. In the meantime, fangs are being made, cloaks dusted off and pumpkins hollowed out. This will then go mouldy, hang around too long and fold in on itself. And so a weekend of fireworks and fiends begins...

How great to have Rebecca back yesterday! The team reunited and all is well with the world. Particularly with all those new listeners around! Thanks for all the best wishes and congratulations yesterday. A pat on all our backs!

So the All Request Friday entices us into the weekend and here's yet another invitation to pick your toppermost song for the 5.05 moment. Go on, surprise us.

Have a sparkling and tantalising Friday, see you after 5.

Yes it's a good Thursday after all. The boiler works, the coffee is fresh and we awake to news of record numbers of Drivetime listeners which is a lovely thing. Thank you for being there and thank you for being here too. Clearly bloggers are the creme de la creme, the vanguard, the hardcore (that's enough praise really). When it all works it's one heck of a show and we all have a great time being on the team. I'll buy the iced gems today.

Yesterday's show was memorable for the chat with Anthony Horowitz about Holmes and Tintin (how successful does one man have to be?) but also for the confession from 'Derek'. Who lied to his wife and children to get them to move. Who might have spent the night in the garden shed. It got the biggest response of any confession for a while and we will pass on any updates we receive.

Today it's another of Nigel's 'best of...' series and he's knocking off a prize winning spaghetti carbonara after 6. We are hoping Rebecca will be back today but that depends on how she's feeling. She won't want to miss the free biscuits however.

And tunes please for the arrival of the new TINTIN movie. It's had 'paid previews' this week but has now officially opened and you heard Anthony Horowitz yesterday saying he'd been signed up to write the next one. He's another fictional crime solver of course but now we celebrate all things BELGIUM, CAPTAIN HADDOCK, SNOWY, THOMPSON AND THOMSON. And PROFESSOR CALCULUS and anything else that occurs.

Have a quiet, modest, encouraging Thursday, see you after 5.

Ah there you are. Dark and stormy here (which if I remember right is a rather dangerous drink involving rum and bitter lemon) and no estate walking expected for a while. Feels like camping on a miserable weekend with nothing but instant soup for cheer. But no, it's a half term week, so silence in the house apart from yours truly rattling around with papers, grapefruit juice and keyboard tapping. A creative time, if only I could avoid the myriad temptations of on-line fun and games. The trouble is, it offers gems like this from the New York Times. The question their science team was asked is 'if an e-reader is loaded with thousands of books, does it gain in wait?' Now I've been asked similar questions by les enfants terribles in the past and always dismissed the suggestion as ridiculous. Well I was wrong. The answer is yes, though only just. The increase in weight is an atogram which is so tiny as to effectively unmeasurable but heavier it is. Trapped electrons have a higher energy than untrapped ones apparently and E=MC2 will explain the rest (don't ask). Anyway, that's why your bag seems heavier and you're more tired I reckon.

Enjoyed yesterday's show as it hurtled off the rails due the lateness of the mead-what a drink. Fermented honey-who could ask for more? Then Steve Earle who sounded great and as unstoppable as ever. Creative chaos.

Today it is Anthony Horowitz who has written "The House of Silk", the new Sherlock Holmes novel. Yes that's right, another adventure for the most famous detective in the world. Anthony has always been a huge fan of Holmes and I know is really thrilled to get this extraordinary job. Quite how you adapt your style to be faithful to the original, heaven-and presumably Anthony-only knows. He will explain more today. But let's do SHERLOCK HOLMES tunes anyway! There is so much to go at, your creative juices will be flowing already.

Have a magnificent and wholesome Wednesday, see you after 5

Gloomy and wet here around the estate. When it started raining last night, it was a startling sound; it hasn't done that here for a while. I know there is a big regional divide and flooding is the issue after the deluges over the West Country and South Wales. But drought is the order of the day here as it has been for most of the autumn. I realise this is turning into another weather blog but that's a good thing. I find the climate chat more interesting than parliamentary revolts, the Michael Jackson trial and the X Factor. It is also less likely to cause argument and aggro than the anti-capitalist demo, the Euro or tuition fees. Plus you don't come here for that kind of nonsense, there's enough of it elsewhere. The Times columnist David Aaranovitch tweeted he was getting angry over one such issue and I replied that he should listen to Radio 2 more-he would live longer (mind you, that depends what we are playing of course-I can think of a few life shortening tunes).

Top live music today from Steve Earle! This is a good thing as Steve has been a fascinating recording artist for quite a few decades. 'Guitar Town' was a great debut but when 'Coppperhead Road' turned up, I played it every day. I also tried to interview Steve then but at the time it only took one question and Steve would talk for 20 minutes. Drugs, prison and a few wives later, he's one of the most compelling American singer-songwriters around. He's off around the UK on tour but it's drivetime first off.

And for songs? Well the M25 is 25 this week. Where would we be without it? (obviously the North Circular but you know what I mean) You don't need to have driven it to know of it's reputation so let's celebrate an orbital motorway in song.

Have a noteworthy and memorable Tuesday, see you after 5.

Ah yes, Monday morning. I remember this. I hope your weekend was a marvel. Or barely tolerable at the very least. I took child 3 to see "Real Steel" staring Hugh Jackman and a number of robots hitting each other. And we loved it. Given the fact that the boy star is 11, it turned out to be the best father/son film out there. Given that I also have the physique of Mr Jackman, it proved to be quite uncanny for everyone. Then it was a trip to the book shop and a surreptitious-JR Hartley-style glance at the humour section. It seemed well stocked to me, so that's all right then (don't ask, I'll have to go on a course).

Later a friend's surprise 50th was in order, but because we are all middle aged, it was only a bit of a surprise and we were all home by 11.30. A good night.

This week is half term in our house but someone has to keep going so here we are on Monday morning with the old routine still in place. James May is our guest today- Captain Slow himself will be in attendance. His campaign is to turn Britain into a nation of 'real men'. He wants us chaps to be able to read poetry, cook dinner and know all about drill bits. Mind you, if you can fight robots, this is all easy stuff. James has always been my favourite Top Gear presenter and is always charming company. In fact we should do MANLINESS oldies today. However you wish to define it; bookish and sensitive, rugged and heroic or trendy and art-school (other variants are available). MANLY tunes then but you have to say Sinitta is unlikely...

Have a firm and supported Monday, see you after 5

Hooray for Friday and hooray for porridge. And today with two toppings-that's how decadent I'm feeling. Not a bad way to start the day I'd say. My cafe of choice today is playing a selection of Flock of Seagulls hits (or a couple on rotation) and the era of 80's big hair is filling the store. Who had a perm? Who had headband? I'm guessing there's a couple of old new romantics on this blog. Time to come clean I'd say...

It's a two show day again with the movie show featuring the director of 'We Need To Talk About Kevin' Lynn Ramsey and Steven Soderburgh who's latest film is Contagion starring Laurence Fishburne, Matt Damon Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law. Oh and Kate Winslett and Marion Cotillard. Don't go if you're poorly however. You will not be welcome and you might feel you won't make it to Christmas. Any actor who coughs in film is likely to peg it before the end and this is no exception. It's just that the whole world is coughing. Take something to suck. Quietly.

And then skates on for the all request Friday duties. Goodness knows who'll be providing snacks as PTP is off as well. Just good to know the money team always help us out by losing. We are hoping Rebecca will be back sometime next week...

Your totally unbeatable top song for the shows opening can be left here. Have a sparkling and enthusiastic Friday, see you after 2&5.

Cold school run today. If I'd had games, I'd have forgotten my kit. I know from tweets that everyone knows I would have then had to do games anyway but either in pants and vest or in some damp old kit the games teacher kept specially. This is all true of course. And probably then pushed onto a cross-country run too. However, that's how the first really cold snap makes me feel. Even after a few decades (or so).

After yesterday's show, I scooted round to the BBC's rather fine Radio Theatre to catch Glen Campbell's show for Radio 2. Jo Whiley arrived fresh from introducing Peter Gabriel (also for Radio 2 at the Mermaid Theatre) to rush on and introduce this great man of country and popular music. We'd have been looking forward to it anyway but the knowledge that this would probably be the last time we would see him, gave the evening a special atmosphere. His band had 3 of his children in; sons on bass and drums and a striking daughter on keyboards and banjo. They added to the sense of love and concern that many in the audience felt at the start of the show. Alzheimer's might be taking him from us but if ever there was a crowd willing their man on, this was it. He started with a couple of big hits (Gentle On My Mind and Galveston)and some nifty guitar work and we all relaxed. His band helped him through the chat in between the songs, jokingly (I think) reminding him of the key the song was in and who wrote what (the answer was usually Jimmy Webb). At the end of the show, the standing ovation was prolonged and heartfelt. May he have many more great shows and happy years yet.

Today it is time to resume Nigel's 'Best of the best' series as we reach the chicken pie. Only slightly spoiled for me by the uneccessary inclusion of mushrooms but Nige will sort that out. I should say that astute listeners will notice Rebecca making an appearance here; we recorded the item just before she got poorly. She tweeted last night that she was looking forward to her first food for 24 hours. The gloop pictured was a lot less enticing than our pie. Get well soon Rebecca.

Tunes! Let's do The QUEEN in AUSTRALIA for today. She seems to be wowing the crowds again with her stamina and sheer enjoyment at being back in OZ. So that'll do nicely.

Have a fragrant and well-supported Thursday, see you after 5

Bright, sunny and cold and so the heating is on. Regardless of PTP's item on wearing jumpers around the house, when you get up to perform the morning ablutions, it is a jolly good thing if the radiators are kicking out some heat. And so they are.

Yesterday's cinematic adventures took me to see "Contagion" which is the new Stephen Soderburgh film starring Mat Damon, Kate Winslett, Lawrence Fishburn and many other top names. I soon forgot that I was sitting next to Sir David Frost who arrived at the last minute, and concentrated on the scary scenario unfolding in front of me. You can guess most of it; a new virus emerges from Hong Kong and spreads around the world while a search for the virus accelerates. So far, so familiar but it is terrifying because the science is so believable. It all makes sense. Time to live in Shetland. Just don't see it if you have a cough, you will not be welcome.

Seems most listeners enjoyed the Gazza chat yesterday. I thought he was engaging , funny and honest. We wish him well. Today we welcome Kirsty Allsopp to Drivetime. She is back on TV with a new series on craft. Needlework, sewing, embroidery, knitting, quilting-all my specialist subjects in one handy series. If you want to know how to weatherproof a scarecrow, design your own perfume or make blackberry vodka, Kirsty is your woman.

And actually CRAFT oldies will work nicely won't it? KIRSTY ALLSOPP tunes inspired by all the above (and not the housing stuff this time round). Scrapbooks, applique cushions and bunting ahoy!

Suitably enthused, have a noble and generous Wednesday. See you after 5.

Another coffee house blog. Child 3 to early school stuff and a screening of 'Contagion' (for me not him) means an early start on the twinkling streets of London. I sit in what I think of as the John Peel seat as it is where I used to see him chatting with his brother many a day. It should also get me a nod from Mark Lawson, Richard Allinson and another assorted BBC notables as they wander past. There is often a moments pause while they work out whether to come in for a chat, then realise they are late and move on. Good thing too. I have a blog to write-nothing to see here.

Loads of get well messages for Rebecca who finds herself in hospital at the moment. She claims she is not avoiding another week of what she has come to see as her' biscuit tax' and the evidence backs her up. Think we'll have Part-time Pauline for most/all of this week. We miss her dour Presbyterian ways (other Scottish denominations are available).

Today we welcome Paul Gascoigne to the show. The last time I interviewed him was when his version of 'Fog On The Tyne' was out. He was mightily fed up to be up so early but when he noticed glamorous Dianne Oxberry in the studio, his eyes lit up and we were away. He was on 'This Morning' on Friday when I was reviewing the papers and they were slightly concerned at his slurred speech. But I think that's just the way Gazza speaks now and he's been drink-free since last year. You can judge for yourselves tonight after 6.

And oldies today for the announcement of the BOOKER PRIZE later today. The shortlist of books has been accused of being DUMBED DOWN and too READABLE. Imagine that! Books we might want to read, whatever next. There are Westerns, Crime books and everything. Your advice and songs for the BOOKER JUDGES all welcome.

My time at the coffee shop is up and no talent has passed (as far as I know). I've lingered too long.

Have a cheery and optimistic Tuesday, see you at 5.

Greetings campers. A good weekend I trust. Good one here, mainly for the fact that I finally ran out of excuses to not start the second novel. I know this all seems somewhat ridiculous given that the first one hasn't sold a single copy and given that it isn't out till March. It might die a death, it might be a Booker prize winner (no it won't) but I was told I had to start the next one. The nice people at the publishers want it by the summer (or sooner) but I have been vacillating and prevaricating (thank you spell check). But under pressure from Mrs M and an empty house, I finally managed a measly 450 words. Each one fought to stay unwritten but eventually I wrestled them free. Probably still pants however and will be excised by the all-seeing editor.

The other achievement was taking child 3 to see Tintin. As a kid I loved the TV series and this is lovingly moved to the big screen by Mr Spielberg. It's a bit stodgy in places but looks terrific.

So today we offer you Joe Simpson on the book club. It was 'Touching the Void' which brought him to everyone's attention but it is this novel we have chosen. It's called 'The Sound Of Gravity' and you can read the gripping first chapter here. We are back on the mountains for this one and it is worth your time I think. He really can write and it is powerful stuff.

We shall also be catching up with Friday's hero Andrew and his Badge No.7. I know (because his mum has tweeted it) that the badge was won but we'll found out more at 5.20.

And songs today I think for MOUNTAINS, MOUNTAINEERS and assorted climbing activities.

And then we are ready to go.

Have a bracing and enthralling Monday, see you after 5.

This blog written on the way to review the papers for ITV's This Morning. I'm not sure what precisely they will want but believe it to be a lighthearted gallop through the pages which aren't full of gloom and misery. I have decided on balance not to wear my new Welsh rugby top. Red is never a good colour and as Rebecca made clear, I look like the opposite of a rugby player. Whatever that might be. My Nashville tea shirt has been vetoed too, so a slightly more trad suit and white shirt has won the day. David Aaranovitch at the Times tweeted its their nuns and vicars morning so a dog collar and black boxers was all that was needed. I have considered his advice but decided it might break some broadcasting code somewhere. Jo Whiley has suggested it's Pirates theme day. So many friends, so much advice.

Then to Radio 2 to record a chat with Michael Bublé for next week and onwards to 5 Live for the BBC's flagship film programme. Kenneth Brannagh and Cillian Murphy will be on too to talk 'My Week With Marilyn' and 'Retreat' and then, at last....

The ARF pleasures will close the day. I'm thinking a rousing tub thumper to set the pulses of even the most jaded Friday listener racing. Coffee, dark chocolate, cola and curry all increase the heart rate-now it's your turn.

Have a well dressed and cheery Friday, see you after 5.

Traffic here is demented. There are some days where, even with the best services of the R2 travel team, life on the capital's roads is guaranteed to drive you crazy. I could have driven to Leicester in the time it took me to do the school run. And it would have been more fun. Breathe. Relax. Let it go.

Busy day yesterday and today as I skit hither and thither chatting to different radio folk around the country. Robert Elms who does a show BBC London told me a confession of his which featured him being sick on the King of Bhutan. Now this was instantly a classic. We have had plenty of royalty tales but not one like this. The added spice comes from the fact that the King is considered a god as well as royalty. If you going to get altitude sickness, might as well get a story out of it. Nice one Robert. Today I shall try to get a confession out of Fred MacCauley and Richard Bacon on their respective shows. although I think I know some of Richard's already...

Noel Gallagher was great fun I thought. His thoughts on computers and fronting a band were more like stand up than an interview. Today it's Nigel with a steak Tartare and I confess to being a tad concerned. Raw has never done it for me. Not really. Meat is for cooking. I do not kill sabre-tooth tigers, I do not wear animal skin and I like gas mark 9 for 40minutes with shallots and cloves. I like meat bloodless, no pink anywhere so I shall approach with care. But in the end, Nigel will triumph of course.

And with the imminent arrival of our Welsh rugby shirts (Matt and I are going for those skin tight ones) we'll go for songs we can play for THE WELSH RUBGY TEAM as they take on France on Saturday in the RU World Cup. Great atmosphere building ahead of the match so this is our bit (not much of a bit I agree) to wave the flag. WALES and RUGBY should do us fine.

Have a free-flowing and congestion free Thursday, see you after 5

All right here we go again. Wednesday is here and it's downhill from now on, all the way to the weekend. Although it might not feel like it just yet. Thanks for the best wishes and last night was spent at an appropriate restaurant . At times it felt like being in an episode of Outnumbered. It was the calls from home that did it really; homework issues, bedtime enquiries, supper negotiations that kind of thing. Mobile phone use at the table is poor show I know but there was no option really. Then Mrs M noticed that 2 members of One Direction were on a table near us. Pretending it was 'for our daughter' she rubbernecked for quite awhile. They didn't notice her as the 2 boys (Nobby and Randy I believe) spent the whole meal, heads down, on their phones. I would tell you what they ordered but my wife's head was in the way. Apparently Harry Redknapp was there too somewhere- now that would have been interesting. I'm sure he would have appreciated my smiles, waves and nods...

So today is Noel Gallagher day. Younger ears and sensitive listeners can rest assured that all Santa references have been excised and all that is left is a middle aged rocker, a guitar and a couple of songs. The 'High Flying Birds' of his band name turn out to be just him really. This is fine with me as the songs he sung were always my favourite of the Oasis oeuvre and he sings one of them tonight.

And songs on the subject of MODERN ART please. Tracey Emin is on the latest edition of Who Do You Think You Are which goes out tonight and that, frankly, is all the excuse we need.

Have an energetic and well-supported Wednesday, see you after 5

Greetings and top of the morning to all bloggers, windy and mild here around the estate. Thanks for the 25th anniversary greetings, you are too kind. It's dinner out tonight so a speedy journey home post show. A well known Pizza establishment is keeping their best table ready. A minor grumble; why do card manufacturers assume that everyone who wants a 25th anniversary card has no taste? You can have funny and sassy ones up to and including the 20th but then you become fussy and flouncy and, essentially, a taste-free zone. Well, phooey to all that. Time to cannibalise the worst offender and hope Mrs M finds it amusing.

I recorded a conversation with Noel Gallagher yesterday which you can hear tomorrow. He's on good form with plenty to say (as ever) and we only had to remove one section where he talks about Father Christmas. There are many subjects you can talk about and say what you think. Santa is not one of them. We have saved everyone much heartache and ourselves a lot of hassle. It's just one of the unmentionables. Noel brings a guitar and sings a tune or two.

And today sees a chat with Edinburgh's finest Ian Rankin. He has a new novel called "The Impossible Dead", the second in his new series featuring Malcolm Fox from the Compaints Dept of the Edinburgh police. Ian is a top bloke, one of the UK's top writers and has a few things to say on the subject of whisky. Ian is on after 6 and I think COMPLAINING is a good topic for tunes as well. Songs that COMPLAIN and GRUMBLE have been a staple for as long as mankind has strummed and hummed. So complain away...

Have a spirited and energetic Tuesday, see you after 5

This is ridiculous. I have no intention of asking Steve's dream specialist what it all means but my can anyone beat this; I dreamt I was given lessons in how to impersonate Gerry Adams by Ian Paisley and then ended up sitting naked at a desk with Stephen Fry on the other side. My theory as I have mentioned before is that dreams mean nothing-no book or career in that I fear- but even so that's a pretty odd set of images to run through your weekend.

We had a big old weekend here as Mrs M and I have been married an astonishing 25 years so the family bowled over for a clan gathering. Cue the inevitable appearance of the wedding photos and much hilarity at 80's fashion, hairstyles and crease-free faces. Sadness too at those in the photos who are no longer here, then puzzlement at the image full of guests that no one recognises at all. The album has gone away now and maybe will stay in its draw for quite a while.

My other notable achievement is a 3 curry weekend. I've managed 2 before but a Friday, Saturday and Sunday is a real result. This may well put extra strain on the marriage of course but hopefully tolerance will win the day...

Today lets talk to Frank Cottrell Boyce who has writen the new Chitty Chitty Bang Bang book. The original was penned by Ian Fleming of course and the screenplay for the movie by Roald Dahl. So no pressure Frank!

And oldies today please on MANNERS and POLITENESS. To the surprise of many, researchers have found that we are more polite than we used to be and manners are not on the decline. Hooray and let's celebrate gently and respectfully and with consideration for the environment and all those around. CIVILITY wins the day after all.

Have a surprising and courteous Monday, see you after 5

Made it to another Friday. Well done everybody. I'll buy the cakes.

After the show last night I zoomed to a dinner of online bookbuyers who wanted to chat about stuff. Jason Manford was there with his autobiography, top writer Sadie Jones with her latest 'The Uninvited Guest' and also SJ Watson whose 'Before I Go To Sleep' was one of our Radio 2 Bookclub picks earlier in the year. He was still in awe of the power of what a Radio 2 interview can do for a book! Our next choice 'The Sound Of Gravity' by Joe Simpson has a gripping and terrifying first chapter which is available here for you to read. You might not walk up a hill again.

Movie show on 5L today talking to actor turned director Paddy Considine about his new movie Tyrannosaur. It stars Peter Mullan and Olivia Colman and, while being a tough watch is notable for some fantastic performances. Mullan and Colman are brilliant and Eddie Marsen puts in another terrifying turn. Paddy will be in along with Olivia who you might know best from Peep Show but will win great reviews for her role here as a battered, devout, charity shop manager.

Then I have to buy some biscuits for losing the quiz, get the tube and turn up in time (not late yet) for the much loved ALL REQUEST FRIDAY. For my money, still the best way to get in the mood for the weekend. Then I get home and fall asleep. Anyway I'm still after a top song to blow everyone's socks off (even if they cost 38 pounds). Deposit below!

Have a swinging and racy Friday, see you after 2&5 on 5&2.

All hail and welcome to Wednesday, a wild and windy one around the estate. I really should have cut the grass when it was dry; it could well be tall and soggy 'till March now. It will mock me daily. Maybe if I move the trampoline around it'll disguise the lawn's deficiencies and no one will notice. Maybe decking is the answer.

Really enjoyed talking to George Alagiah yesterday - he has an interesting story to tell. And when heavy-hitting journalists come to Radio 2, they always grin a lot. It is, I think, rock 'n' roll. They love the music all right but the casualness of music radio feels light years away from theirs. And when a genuine star like Jamie Cullum wanders in to talk jazz, the icing is on the cake.

And today Lee Childs takes centre stage as the multi-million best seller releases another Jack Reacher novel - 'The Affair'. Lee ( real name Jim Grant) is actually from Coventry and, like Bernard Cornwell, worked in TV on shows such as Prime Suspect and Brideshead Revisited before marrying an American and moving there. There's a Jack Reacher novel sold somewhere in the world every 20 seconds and now there's another one to add to the measly 50million sales he has so far. If BTBOBE was for women readers, then LC is for men. The covers demand this conclusion, whatever the merits of the story. BTBOBE is all pink and LC is all grimy yellow with a broody loner, a police car and some train tracks. Sounds like a cue for a country song.

Oldies! Tunes! Ideas! How about THE KISS? Rodin's great sculpture has gone on display in Margate but was considered indecent when it was unveiled in 1904. Since then opinion has shifted somewhat (ridiculous understatement) and it's one of our most loved works of art now. So let's do THE KISS. All 4 and a half tonnes of it.

Have an inspiring and intriguing Wednesday, see you after 5.

And a good day to you too.

It was so much easier being a student in the 70's and 80's. This is is my conclusion after a few days of 'personal statement' discussion with child 2. In the far off, prehistoric days of 76/77 the UCAS form had a tiny box (as I recall) in which you had to list your 'interests'. I might have written conjuring and radio (yes really) and left it at that. The box to write in was only a few inches big anyway. I was then given a grant every term and emerged, fantastically employable (ahem), 3 years later owing my dad £20.

Today students have to compose an essay of mindbending proportions explaining why they alone are uniquely qualified to attend this university on that course. It seems to require a level of self analysis which eludes me to this day. If they get lucky and are selected, they can look forward to 3 years of fun and japes, picking up a debt of around £30,000 on the way. I think I still owe my friend Ian 60p for the Dexys Midnight Runners/Bad Manners double bill in the Union building, but that's about it. Now I come to think of it, I'm not at all sure I paid anything for the joy of watching The Vapours either. Oh well. Hopefully I've atoned for those omissions since then.

Today we welcome News at Ten star George Alagiah. As well as his duties on the news, he has a new TV series called Mixed Britannia, a history of mixed-race Britains in the UK. He has been a senior journalist for many years and travelled the globe speaking to many world leaders; he should be a fascinating guest.

Oldies? Well I think MARY PORTAS tunes might work. There's a new show tonight on Channel 4 where she opens a store of stylish clothes for the over 40's. She's fed up of women having to dress either as teenagers or grannies. So let's go SHOPPING with the QUEEN OF FROCKS and see what happens.

Have a stylish and solvent Tuesday, see you after 5.

Good morning to bloggers all, old and new, young and old, those who grumble about Fridays and those that don't.

Listening to Clare Balding (on with Jon Holmes and Miranda Hart this morning who seem to think I have a tiger from somewhere) and memories of last night came flooding back. There I was innocently passing the time waiting for the weekly Spooks vs Downton Abbey fight to scar the weekend, when, for reasons I can't remember, I put on a John Denver CD. I think I have 2 actually, and this was a 'Best Of' volume 2, featuring Annie's Song, Perhaps Love (with Placido Domingo) and Back Home Again. I must have been in a rather hopeless Sunday washing up mode but was singing along in a mumbly 'I-know-I'm-on-my-own-here' way when 'Grandma's Feather Bed' came on. It so happens that Clare Balding was tweeting the other week about her love for this song and I have to say I joined in. It is a bit lame and very cheesy but appears to contain the unique number 'forty -leven' to describe the number of geese that the titular berth needed to fill it up with comfyness. So we used to tut and shake our heads as John sang of this made-up number. Americans! Huh! Don't they know anything? You know the kind of thing. And then it turns out that these are actually geese from Loch Leven and John Denver knew more about indigenous UK wildlife than me. Ho hum.

Today sees the Radio 2 Bookclub and Barbara Taylor Bradford live from New York. Her first novel 'A Woman of Substance' has become one of the all-time top 10 best-sellers. There have been 25 others and she has sold more than 85 million copies worldwide. You're getting the picture. Her latest is 'Letter From a Stranger' and you can an extract here. BTBOBE (as I call her) live from 6.

And oldies please on THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE. A Christmas episode is being criticised for calling a Christmas tree 'a special tree' for the 'winter holidays'. You know the kind of thing. We don't want Christmas tunes just yet but THOMAS, GORDON and JAMES will do nicely. ENGINES, FAT CONTROLLERS, SIDINGS and SHUNTING etc Have a balanced and energised Monday, see you after 5