Rooms to let, fifty cents

So it’s early 2008 and I’ve been sent to New Hampshire to do some shows for 5 Live about the US election. Once I’ve stopped larking in the huge snow fall and marvelling at the waiter’s political analysis (everyone in New Hampshire seems to be an expert) I have some shows to do. And wherever I turn up - Obama’s speech, the McCain count, another deli- there stands James Naughtie, the redoubtable Today presenter with his tape recorder and head full of analysis. He is there before me again. This is a man who has been there and done that. And done that before me. So when he writes a novel about the Paris uprising of 1968, he was almost certainly a spy or the instigator of the trouble. Or both. It’s called Paris Spring and is a terrific read. So far he and I have not been writing books on the same subjects but it is only a matter of time. James N here from 6.

And we’ll do CARAVAN AND CAMPER VAN oldies please as BBC2s Caravanner of the Year kicks off tonight. Awning assembly, emptying a chemical toilet, not being annoying on the roads are all tough challenges that lie ahead. But what songs do you fancy?