And a very good morning to you too. Haven't queued for pasties, petrol or stamps (as I suspect, is true for most people) so feeling I am not part of the current journo-crazed world. My tank is half-full, my fridge has sausages in and I'm not planning my Christmas cards just yet. I am, in every sense, keeping calm and carrying on.

Nigel's Jerk Kitchen was terrific last night with no, shall we say, repercussions. Which, given the head-blasting nature of his marinade, is really quite something. The temptation of some easy, nice stuff in a jar is real but if the time presents itself, I too will be inviting people to stick their fingers in my sauce and say nice things. I shall let you know.

A 2 show day today with hundreds of films out and much to discuss on the film show with MK who has just returned from being Elvis. Recording an album with his skiffle band The Dodge Brothers in Sun Studios might just have turned his head completely. If he's wearing gold lamé we are all in trouble. Meantime, Director Werner Herzog will be in to discuss a new documentary film called Into The Abyss about 2 Americans on death row.

Thence to R2 Central and 2 hours of party tunes for a raucous ARF, kicked off by your carefully selected, focus-grouped, taut and noisy opening song selection. Remind me...

Have cheery and encouraging Friday, see you after 2 and 5.

I blame it on the bread. There must be something in the dough which made me forget what day it was. Yesterday's blog indicating it was Thursday and talking about Nigel's Jerk Chicken was clearly wrong. Not mentioning Dermot O'Leary was stupid. The Radio 2 nurse will be watching closely from now on. But Dermot was interesting I thought, and the Titanic programme 11.35pm-2-20am sounds a winning idea ( I should mention, before someone else does, that it's my brother Jonathan who dreamt it up in the first place. My sister, however is not involved).

So today really is Thursday and it really is Nigel's Jerk Chicken. But then we've been here before I feel...

Oldies please for APRIL FOOLS DAY. Mercifully it falls on Sunday so no radio tricks from us required but as this is the closest we get, let's do FOOLS and FOOLISHNESSin all it's guises. And that should so nicely.

Have a bold and decisive Thursday, see you after 5

Updates from your Drivetime friends (and hello, good morning, greetings, lovely day again etc). Firstly the techie improvements promised are, apparently, on the way. But haven't happened yet. No sir. So somewhere, someone is working on something that will make your participation in this blog less frustrating. When this widget has been inserted in the BBC's box of delights, all will be well (no it won't). Until then, patience is a virtue (and a requirement).

And secondly I know you'll be itching to hear updates from the team's evening out with Nigel Barden at the helm. When you have Nige on board, every evening out is a treat-we never go wrong! And he orders everything. On this occasion he had constructed the menu too, full of award winning produce from around the UK. WIne, fizzy wine, pies, risotto, scrambled eggs, meat platters, potted shrimps, chocolate brownies, lemon something-or-other..what a feast! And the most fantastic bread everywhere. I swear I had more carbs last night then in the whole the last 12 months. Your somewhat weightier Drivetime team will do their best to raise the energy levels for tonight's show, which features...Nigel cooking again! Jerk Chicken I believe or something like that. Anyway Matt and Rebecca behaved themselves impeccably and we were all a credit to our audience.

And we'll do STAMP oldies please. Huge hikes in the prices of stamps means it's time for STAMPs and POSTAL SERVICE tunes as they occur. Thanks.

Have a sun-kissed and insouciant Thursday, see you after 5.

Sunny day dawns again and boy are we all getting used to lovely spring weather. If it goes back to the seasonal norm anytime soon, we'll get a mighty shock. There are small furry things falling from a tree in the garden which is messing up the estate somewhat but apart from that and the foxes and the almost total absence of grass, it's looking lovely.

Thanks for the techie comments and words will be said. Thank you for your patience (assuming you have any left). Store that computer rage and take it out on an inanimate object near you. But probably not your computer...

Today we welcome Sir Andrew Motion to Drivetime. The former poet laureate (or more likely Poet Laureate) has written 'Silver-A Return to Treasure Island' and as you might have guessed, it is a follow up to the Robert Louis Stevenson classic. Which I don't believe I have ever read. But all the language has been with us since 1881 when it first was published as a serial in a childrens magazine called Young Folks. The pirates with parrots, buried treasure, X marking the spot, pieces of eight, yo ho ho and all that come from Treasure Island. These days young readers don't have to wait too long before a sequel to their favourite new book. But RL Stevenson fans have waited 131 years for a new Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver story! Well it is here now and Andrew Motion will explain more at 6.

So obviously, it's TREASURE ISLAND oldies today. So much to work with! Rich pickings indeed.

Have a creative and stimulating Tuesday, see you after 5

Well that was over rather quickly. Barely had we got into the weekend and then it was over. And an hour less too. After a few days of 'so the real time is what then?' kind of conversation, all will be normal again. Apart from my waking at 5.30 which seems to happen whatever time pattern we are adopting.

A weekend of child 3's drama performance (nice bit of shouty Demetrius in Midsummer Night's Dream), socialising with an old songwriter friend over from the US (hair-raising tales of Miami studios and guns) and a TV surprise on Saturday night. I found I was enjoying a talent show. I thought The Voice was really rather fun with none of the cringey, shameful freak show where we are invited to laugh at the afflicted and deluded. Good judges, decent singers and nice padded chairs (was I the only one to think how comfy they looked? The seats that is, not the judges. It may still be that the show works best for the judges (sorry, coaches) and not the contestants, but for now I thought it a hit. In fact why don't we do TALENT SHOW oldies today? There should be plenty there for your creative energy to tackle.

Today we welcome Alex James to the show. The Blur guitarist-turned-farmer-and-cheesemaker has recently won the Brit for lifetime achievement, recorded a turn on Blockbusters (which he was very good at) and published the second part of his memoir 'All Cheeses Great and Small. A Life Less Blurry.' He's always an engaging guest - Alex on from 6.

Looks like a pretty decent day here - have an optimistic and smile-filled Monday. See you after 5.

And finally Cyril...

The end of a mad week. A welcome Friday indeed. The crazy taxi driver who got me to Waterloo disappeared in a tobacco haze- the pressure of not smoking for the duration of our brief journey too much for poor man. The children of Guildford were a delight (well, my small selection of them anyway) and yesterday's show was rocking I thought. Nigel's ginger cake was a thing to behold (unless you've given up sugar for Lent of course).

First up its the new Aardman animation The Pirates! An Adventure With Scientists which features the voices of Hugh Grant, Imelda Staunton and our guest today David Tennant. David plays a young Charles Darwin and is always fantastic value. Also at 5Live today, Jennifer Lawrence the Joan of Arc-style heroin of The Hunger Games-and she is quite something! Also today I shall attempt to run Mark through with a foil. For Sport Relief you understand.

Then, assuming it s not me who gets impaled on the walls of television centre, the mighty ARF takes to the airwaves one more time for 2 hours of party tunes and listeners who are having a planning to have a better weekend than you. But get in first with that ARF opener and let's get a blogger to get the ARF crown.

And if you had to sum up the blogs techie performance in the last 2 weeks? In a sentence? Thanks.

Have a sun-kissed and well-moisturised Friday, see you after 2&5.

A cab that stinks of fags is a pretty revolting start to the day but that is my lot this morning. We are heading to Waterloo and the driver alternates between Jenson Button-style bursts of speed and traffic jam crawl. His bone-rattling people carrier is vibrating and shaking like we're in some kind of earthquake and I'm sure I never used to wobble like this. The only thing that's rattling more is his chest. I might not make it to Waterloo but he might not make it to 60. Maybe the increase in the price of fags might help....

Hopefully I'll be in Guildford by the time you read this (and not the local A&E) chatting to some fantastically charming kids about books and stuff and then training it back on the Radio 2 Express (no reservation needed, just your Ken Bruce Popmaster t-shirt). Nigel delights again with some cakes tonight. I think we went for chocolate and ginger or something but anyway, the smell of the cake shop will be part of our show tonight.

And oldies. Well I think it's ONE DIRECTION ARE NUMBER ONE IN AMERICA oldies time. Let's be honest very few thought the 3rd rating X Factor boys had what it takes to crack the States. But their album has gone in straight to number one so respect is due. Hit records, no.1s, boys, America etc...all fine with me.

Have a sunny and adventurous Thursday, see you after 5,

Today's epistle brought to you from the back of a car heading towards somewhere or other to talk Blockbusters with someone or other. When I get there and meet him/her it'll all become clear and my TV face will return once again. Until then, I shall tap away and wait for enlightenment.

Yesterday's trip to a large school in Oxford was as fascinating and intriguing as ever. After I'd done my turn and finished my slideshow (as I mentioned on the show yesterday) 2 girls aged about 13 or 14, who said they lived the show, asked me what music I liked. So emphasising the younger end of things, I mentioned Lady Gaga and The Shins, to be told that they preferred Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, which put me in my place. It was their dads' vinyl collection that they loved and proved to me once again that release dates count for nothing anymore. My kids don't care when a song was released the way I did ('10 years old? I'm not into that old stuff' quoth me aged 18). All music is available all the time. Seems healthy to me.

Today we bring you an Equimosh, a seasonal rock-fest with Dr Mösh and a sack load of boom. And because I'm avoiding doing the budget (and we didn't do this on March 1st or yesterday) we'll do SPRING songs please. Spring has clearly sprung and we need to mark this before it snows. Or there's a heat wave. Fling open the windows, clean the house,buy some daffs, fall in love with a passing stranger and pass the antihistamine. And send me a song idea.

Have a cheery and jaunty Wednesday, see you after 5.

A lovely day dawning here on the estate. The birds were trilling early, the squirrels were burrowing into my 'lawn' and the mangey fox was scaring the old folk. The vernal equinox is here! Party time! Equal day and night for all! Apart from the north and south poles which both get 24 hours of sunshine today. My paper tells me this, so it is true. And the whole egg-balancing thing that you're supposed to be able to do at the equinox? Total rubbish. Must think of something else to do today instead.

I know, I'll go to another school and talk to 150 kids about the book, science and how one day Radio 2 will be their favourite station. It's worth it just to see the teacher smirk. My talk seems to have shrunk since my 40 minute opening salvo which is probably just as well. Then to Radio 2 and our guest, top dragon James Caan. The multi-millionaire recruitment entrepreneur has written about how to start a business in just 7 days. Life changing success can be yours! Etc.

So DRAGON'S DEN oldies please if you have a moment in today's hourly-burly.

Have an optimistic and spring-like Tuesday. See you after 5.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen of the blog, I trust the weekend was to your satisfaction and any Mothering Sunday business was concluded with style. Remembering your own mum is one thing, arranging matters for your children to make sure they remember their mum quite another. When they're young this is straight forward as you have to buy the flowers anyway but this has morphed into discreet texting and gentle reminders. So this year sibling gratitude was expressed with chocolates, flowers and a powerpoint demonstration.

All the best to Aasmah Mir who sits in for JV this week. A really tough gig but Aasmah, who I know from 5Live, has the charm and the nouse to crack it.

On the show today we reconvene the Radio 2 Book Club with The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce. Harold has received a letter from somebody he hadn't heard from for years and decides to reply. But when he goes to post it, he finds that he wants to keep walking; all the way from his home in Devon to where his friend lies stricken in Berwick. As he walks he reconsiders his life and decisions and it is a delightful tale. I first saw Jo Whiley reading this and all she could say was 'I love Harold Fry!' I think you might too and there is a big chunk for you to check out here if you want to try it yourself. Rachel will be with us from 6.

And oldies? Let's stick with the travelling theme and go for TORCH songs. Not in the traditional sense you understand but in the OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY sense,details of which are announced today. Plenty to choose from I think.

Have a sprightly and feisty and Monday, see you after 5.

Greetings!

Friday dawns chilly and dull on the estate. Yesterday's sock dilemma solved today by the need for padding.

I am duelling with swords. This morning I am fighting Mark Kermode with a foil or épée (I was hoping for sabre, the third and heaviest of the fencing swords but was told no) for Sport Relief.

Verbal sparring is all very well but in days of yore, disputes were settled with the use of weaponry. Pistols at dawn, that kind of thing. Well today we will see who has the quickest eye, the deadliest lunge and the suppleness needed to win. Or maybe we'll find out who has the weakest back, the creakiest knees and the worst helmet-hair.

I don't think I've told anyone I fenced at school and have a gene memory of parry, riposte, lunge and intend to keep as quiet as possible. As they say in Hunger Games, may the odds always be in my favour. (And the movie podcast sits at No.9, the Confessions podcast at number one! Well well.)

Because of the fun of Cheltenham, movies on 5L today from 12 for one hour. Then frankly I could walk it to Radio 2 for the loveliness of another ARF. 2 hours of listeners who appear to be about to have a better weekend than you.

We need to up our game! Let's make plans! Choose your song and let's get this party started. Have a safe and duel-free Friday. See you at 12 and 5

Good morning young bloggers. Thursday dawning mild here with some real springlike temperatures expected. It may even be time to venture into the spring wardrobe today (thinner cardigan and socks). I intend to cut a sartorial dash across Radio 2 today.

(One hour later) Now revising my rash statement of warmth as clearly the fog is freezing and actually thicker socks are needed. It's all so confusing.

Thick socks needed for The Hunger Games (I know that's tenuous but if you wear thick boots to run for your life from a wild kid, then you'll need the socks. Just go with it.). Early screening yesterday to interview Jennifer Lawrence and was not disappointed. It is the grimmest 12A really but for all the right treasons. You have a knot in the pit of your stomach for the last hour which is quite appropriate given the savage nature of the film. Child 2&3 both declared it to be a hit and predict an uptake in interest in archery very soon. See film for details.

Loved meeting the Tops and the Temps yesterday. Duke Fakir and Otis Williams looked exactly like you'd hope Motown legends would look. Elegant clothes, bling (but too much) and big smiles to go with their their big back catalogue of hits. They moved and grooved to each others songs like they were recorded yesterday.

And oldies...well how about MUPPET songs please. You can have this 2 ways really. 'Muppets' is what, according to the article in the New York Times, clients are called by managing directors at Goldman Sachs. Or you can have the traditional Muppets: Fozzy, Kermit, Miss Piggy, Animal et al. MUPPET oldies will do I think.

Have a spring-like (but prepared for wintry moments) Thursday, see you after 5

Well that was calmer. Ghost exorcised (see yesterday's ramblings) and order restored. Highlight for me was Jamie C saying he never wanted to hear The Entertainer by Marvin Hamlisch again and then everyone voting for it anyway. It might not have been the jazz standard that the other 3 tunes were, but I quite enjoyed it. But then I'm not an internationally acclaimed jazz musician (you'd probably noticed).

Today I'm watching The Hunger Games and then interviewing it's star Jennifer Lawrence for the 5L movie show (The BBC's flagship film show you know). It really is the most astonishing book which stays with you for quite a while after you've finished it. They'll need a 12A certificate as the book is a children's or 'Young Adult' piece of fiction but as the story is one of an X Factor style contest where children kill each other, that's going to be quite a challenge. As Anthony Horowitz said when he was on Drivetime a few months back, the plot is very similar to a movie called 'Battle Royale' and that was an 18! I shall report back...

Today we welcome legendary Motown artists Otis Williams of the Temptations and Duke Fakir of the Four Tops! How about that! So many hits between them, it'll be difficult to know where to start. The Four Tops and Temptations are touring the UK with Tavares and the Crystals which sounds like one heck of a night out to me.

And lets do PLANET oldies please. Venus and Jupiter are side by side at the moment which is making for a pretty spectacular heavenly spectacle, as long as the cloud isn't obscuring them. Which it is. So we'll have to wait till 2015 for another disappointment of a similar scale. But the PLANETS and CELESTIAL BODIES will keep us going for a while.

Have a dapper and well-shod Wednesday, see you after 5.

Hey guess what kids! I actually enjoyed being a teacher! Not that for one moment I imagine my talk to 200 11-13 year olds was typical of the lot of the modern teacher but for an hour the kids in Ilford and I were exploring life's unpredictable highway. And I found it rather fun. Maybe it's in the genes after all. Another school tomorrow morning-I'll be a deputy head by Thursday.

Yesterday's show was rather hair-raising as we we appeared to have (as Sting and co. might say) a ghost in the machine. And this ghost was determined to adjust the levels on microphones-and always downwards. Our brave engineering staff had to wrestle with said poltergeist to keep us audible and decent. Levels would be set and then change while we were watching-the spirit of a disgruntled studio manager (can there be such a thing?) must be possessing the studio. We must call for Rev Roger Royle to come and work his magic. Or, as we had to do last night, move studios in the middle of a show. Hopefully you wouldn't have noticed thanks to our top engineering staff. Keep calm and carry on indeed.

Today we welcome comedy writer and novelist John O'Farrell to the show. John wrote for Spitting Image, Have I Got New For You and Alas Smith and Jones. Then he turned to novels (May Contain Nuts) and non-fiction (Things Can Only Get Better:Eighteen Miserable Years in the Life of a Labour Supporter takes some beating) with great success. His new book is 'The Man Who Forgot His Wife' and John is always a good guest. From 6.

And oldies today? Well how about the DROUGHT ? Hosepipe bans on the way, exhortations to share showers and use your bath water to do the washing up in. Or something like that. DROUGHT and HOSEPIPE BAN oldies please to sprinkle over our Drivetime lawn tonight.

Have a youthful and spring-like Tuesday. See you after 5.

As they always used to start in my Blue Peter annuals 'Hello There!" Here's a blog that is beginning at home but will be completed in a car, going to talk to 240 school kids aged 13. I am, justifiably I believe, terrified.

But first the weekend which I trust was a good one. Mine concluded with the Douglas Adams virtual 60th birthday bash at the Hammersmith Odeon last night. I have long been a huge fan of all things Adams and last night saw an attempt to capture the essence of the Hitchhikers Guide man in one brief 4 hour spectacular. It was a mixture of music (David Gilmore, Gary Brooker et al) Science (Robin Ince , Simon Singh and John Culshaw doing a great Prof Brian Cox impression) and comedy (Terry Jones, Sanjiv Baskar and the wonderful HeeBeeGeeBees). And lots of people in towels, this being the essential item for space travel.And if you've forgotten why, it's time to dust of the old Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and re-discover Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect et al one more time.

So to school! I am embarking on a recklessly imagined tour of UK schools to talk about Itch and today sees me on a platform with the aforementioned hundreds of well behaved students. My only hope is that I'm more interesting than the subject they would be having normally on a Monday morning. My father was a headmaster, my mother a teacher and my sister is a headteacher. I nearly became one myself but the call of the mic was too strong. Sitting in a room with one or two people is fine-standing on a stage in front of Ilford's finest, less so. I shall report back...

To the show! And we'll be having CALL THE MIDWIFE oldies as we welcome Jenny Agutter to Drivetime. The iconic star of Railway Children, American Werewolf in London, Walkabout and Equus has starred as a nun in the big BBC hit set in 1950's east London. It was re-commissioned almost as soon as it was first broadcast and Jenny is great in it of course. MIDWIFERY oldies should see us nicely through today's show I think.

Have a finely-judged and perfectly-balanced Monday, see you after 5

And Friday greetings to all bloggers. Child 2 to exams, child 3 to exams, parents to the bunker. Thanks for all the 2Day thoughts and music policy observations. There's nothing like a Radio 2-based discussion to get the juices (and blog posts) flowing! Who knows where it all ends up but I (at least) have read and will pass on. These projects have a life of their own of course and meetings will be held, minutes taken. Committees set up. You know how it goes.

2 show Friday here so a jaunt to 5 Live (in the crumbly, unloved remains of Television Centre) for 2 hours of film chat with Mark and Marky Mark Wahlberg who stars in Contrabrand, a new action thriller. He's had quite a life already (Mark W not Mark K) with New Kids, solo career, prison and now movie stardom. up for review, amongst other films, will be John Carter (the 'of Mars' bit appears to have been dropped!) and the new R Patz flick Bel Ami.

Then to R2 for the all-conquering ARF and the ARF crown waiting to be claimed. Thrill us one more time with that brilliant, pulse-racing opening tune...

Have an extraordinary and memorable (in a good way) Friday, see you at 2&5.

Assuming the solar storm hasn't hit and all electronic communication has ceased, greetings. Maybe if it does, it'll sort out the blog and the BIAU squad can stand down. I appreciate this is unlikely but we can hope. Welcome to a lovely Thursday on Radio 2. Chris is talking about this year's 2Day and plans are afoot. Given that you are, by definition, amongst the Drivetime elite/hardcore/shock troops, we'd be interested to know what you'd like to hear as R2 shakes it all up again. We each get 1 hour at a different time to normal with some different music to play with. Who fancies what?

Today we salute British Pie Week with Nigel knocking up a steak pie for us all (he takes orders, deliveries within the hour or your money back.

And oldies today please for the MIDDLE AGED (we may have done this before but obviously I've forgotten). According to Cambridge University academics, the middle aged are not over the hill at all. Oh no. Far from it. We are, and I quote "at the very summit of evolution, perfectly adapted to the needs of family and society." That's us! Hooray! You might not have felt at the summit of anything for a while but you are now. So celebratory MIDDLE AGE oldies please, as we gaze down from our summit. We are "the most impressive living things yet produced by natural selection." Feeling so proud.

Have a strutting, top-of-the-heap Thursday, see you after 5

Hooray for geeks for many are their rewards in the hearts of the foolish. After 4 and a half hours in the computer store, my life (and child 2's A level notes) were back on track and everybody could relax again. The nice man with a badge said they regularly have people in tears there, as they are told that as far as their laptop is concerned, they have lost everything. The combination of the glass of wine that they spilled on that keyboard and that data they didn't back up have spelt disaster. There is a moral here. Keep the wine away from your computer. You have been warned.

Also on the techie front, the man from BAIU seems to be on the case and fix on the way. He has promised. And he will deliver. And if he doesn't, a personal visit to you all will be planned...

Lots of love for Gretchen Peters yesterday. Great vocals, passionate lyrics and beautifully played. If you get the chance to see her on this tour, you really should, but don't forget the Jammie Dodgers. Proper music indeed.

So today we welcome Saturday Kitchen star James Martin to the show. James is part of the BBC Good Food Show Spring along with the Masterchef guys and many others. James holds the world record for carrot chopping (515g in one minute in case you were wondering). And I was thinking of kitchen oldies but we have touched on that recently with the Masterchef series so if we can't do kitchen, let's do SATURDAY instead. Saturday oldies please to lighten our Wednesday DT.

So have a glitch-free and smooth-running Wednesday, see you after 5.

This blog written in a queue. An outdoor one. The snaking line outside a computer store, filled with folk who have better things to do but as their 'repaired' computer has a mind of its own and decided to open up in 1988, needs to be seen to (though throwing it from a cliff feels more appropriate). So excuse the erratic tone or the latent frustration.

Today the splendid Gretchen Peters visits drivetime and strums and sings for us. She is a longtime Bob Harris favourite and her latest album 'Goodbye Cruel World' is full of great songs. She hails form Nashville and has written songs for Neil Diamond, George Strait and Etta James and won a Grammy for her song "Independence Day" when Martina McBride recorded it. Her tour started in Gateshead last Thursday and gigs till April 5 ending up in Nottingham. But her DT gig is tonight! Hope you like her...

And oldies please on the ASSAULT COURSE theme which Matt launched yesterday for his Sport Relief fundraiser. Splendid amounts of huffing and puffing as he laboured over a fraction of the course in our place. Well done Matt, you have inspired us all (in a manner of speaking) to be generous and now to choose assault course tunes for an energetic drivetime.

As they say Stateside to Mit Romney and chums, have a super Tuesday. See you after 5.

And another week dawns, sunny and cool around the estate. I trust all well with you and yours. A weekend dominated here by the dread in your stomach as you watch the multi-coloured swirly thing on your computer go round and round. Only to be replaced by a flashing question mark-that's when you know you're in trouble. So a quick trip to the store confirms what you knew already (and twitter was patiently explaining); your hard drive is dead. 'When did you last back-up?' asks the 13 year old boffin, with the manner of a priest asking you when you last went to confession. Fortunately it appears there was a box that was doing that for me, which is just as well or my publishers wouldn't be speaking to me for a while. Not to mention the family (Ooh, wrong way round wouldn't you say?) So a weekend without without the computer. While children 2&3 wondered how they could survive, wife1 and I sang songs around the piano, knitted rugs for the war effort and made jam. A simpler life.

So today we reconvene the Radio 2 Book Club with the terrific "Wonder" by RJ Palacio. It is a moving and uplifting tale of August Pullman who is 10 years old and who was born with a terrible facial abnormality caused by a mutant gene. He has had 27 operations but is funny and brave and you don't want to miss this one. Read some of "Wonder" here!

So how about tunes of WONDER? Songs with a sense of wonder might be a rather fine collection tonight. Might be hard to avoid the collected works of Van Morrisson but who knows where wonder will take us.

Have an enthusiastic and memorable Monday. See you after 5

Yes yes. Friday and very lovely it is too. Chris opens the shop with Year of the Cat and all is well. If I remember right, Al Stewart was a guitarist in Tony Blackburn's backing band for a while. Can this be true? I think it's right. What was Al thinking at the time I wonder? Al was magnificent for a number of albums; I think it was On The Border that got me into Year of the Cat and then off on a voyage of discovery to his other stuff. Songs about Nostradamus and the Russian invasion of Germany in WW2 sounded very profound at the time and I still like the Modern Times album. I saw him at the Royal Concert Hall in Nottingham and he was v. talented if a tad eccentric. The eccentricity-I think it's fair to say-has continued, but I still love the fey English voice when he's on the radio. Nice one Chris.

Here we go then with a Friday jaunt to 5 Live and 2 hours of movie chat with guests John Cusack who stars in The Raven, a new movie about Edgar Allen Poe and Andrew Stanton who wrote the Toy Story trilogy, directed Wall.E and has just directed his first live action film John Carter, based on the Edgar Rice Burroughs books. The 2 literary Edgars tackled in one week! That's at 2 and then, would you believe it, it's that ARF moment again and cute kids, hen-nighters in cars and party planners of all sorts queue up to chose top Friday anthems. But they don't chose the ARF opener, oh no. Win the ARF CROWN! Choose a winner!

Have a solvent and reassuring Friday, see you after 2&5.

Good day to you all. Somewhat bleary, another blog from the estate. Apologies for absence again but book duties called for one day only. So interviews, an Alan Titchmarsh show appearance, a mass signing (200? 400? No idea) and then twiglets, refreshments, chemistry experiments and speeches. Rebecca, Matt, Sally,Nige and the team all came down and milled like the best of them. It was a bit like getting married or a big birthday bash where your friends, work colleagues and family all end up talking to each other and eating bowl after bowl of crisps. And, in this case, nitrogen based ice cream.

Show day! Back to work with tunes to play and guests to to talk to. Nigel has food for us and Dr Mösh will shout entertainingly. A confessor will confess will, a quiz will be quizzed and Rebecca will lose. All is well with the world.

And tunes please for WORLD BOOK DAY. We've done this before of course so one way could be the song equivalent of the parents who have to get their kids dressed up as a character from their favourite book. So CHARACTERS IN BOOKS would work too. Over to you guys.

Have a happy St David's day and a tip-top, hunky-dory Thursday. See you after 5