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Sara chats to archaeologist Neil Oliver about his BBC Two series Britain's Ancient Capital: Secrets of Orkney. Plus there's 30 minutes of standout hits in the Half Wower.

Sara is joined by archaeologist Neil Oliver who tells us what we can expect in his new BBC Two series Britain's Ancient Capital: Secrets of Orkney and how this archipelago helped shape Stonehenge. There's 30 minutes of standout hits in the Half Wower. We hear music from another listener's First and Last concerts, and newsreader Tom takes on another Toe Tapping challenge. Plus today's Pause For Thought comes from writer Remona Aly.

2 hours, 59 minutes

Last on

Mon 2 Jan 201706:30
BBC Radio 2

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Music Played

  • The Lightning Seeds

    Change

    • True Brit (Various Artists).
    • Polygram Tv.

  • Hifi Sean

    Testify (feat. Crystal Waters)

    • Ft..
    • Plastique Recordings.
    • 001.

  • The Corrs

    Old Town

    • (CD Single).
    • Atlantic.

  • Mr. Mister

    Kyrie

    • (CD Single).
    • RCA.

  • Razorlight

    Somewhere Else

    • (CD Single).
    • Vertigo.

  • Carole King

    It's Too Late

    • Carole King - Tapestry.
    • Epic.

  • Pilot

    January

    • NOW 100 Hits 70s (Various Artists).
    • Now.

  • Lukas Graham

    You're Not There

    • (CD Single).
    • Warner Bros.
    • 010.

  • Texas

    In Our Lifetime

    • (CD Single).
    • Mercury.

  • Bastille

    Killer (Radio 2 Session, 02 SEP 2016)

  • Justin Bieber

    Love Yourself

    • Purpose.
    • Def Jam.
    • 5.

  • Rag’n’Bone Man

    Human

    • (CD Single).
    • Columbia.
    • 001.

  • Madonna

    Beautiful Stranger

    • Madonna - Greatest Hits Volume 2.
    • Maverick.
    • 13.

  • Cher

    If I Could Turn Back Time

    • Cher - The Greatest Hits.
    • WEA/Universal.

  • Stereophonics

    I Wanna Get Lost With You

    • (CD Single).
    • Parlophone.

  • The Jam

    Start!

    • POLYGRAM TV.

  • Wham!

    Freedom

    • Make It Big.
    • Columbia.

  • Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

    I Love Rock 'n' Roll

    • Joan Jett - I Love Rock 'n' Roll.
    • Blackheart.

  • The Chemical Brothers

    Hey Boy Hey Girl

    • Virgin.

  • The Kinks

    You Really Got Me

    • The Journey - Part 1.
    • BMG.
    • 7.

  • Buzzcocks

    Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)

    • Greatest Hits Of The 70's (Various).
    • Disky.

  • Robin Schulz & David Guetta

    Shed A Light (feat. Cheat Codes)

    • (CD Single).
    • 35079 - Tonspiel.

  • Heaven 17

    Temptation

    • Top Of The Pops - 1983 (Various Artists).
    • UMC.

  • TLC

    Unpretty

    • (CD Single).
    • Laface.

  • Primal Scream

    Rocks

    • Dirty Hits.
    • Columbia.

  • Emeli Sandé

    Breathing Underwater

    • Long Live The Angels.
    • Virgin.

  • Queen

    Now I'm Here

    • Queen - Greatest Hits.
    • Parlophone.
    • 6.

  • Kate Rusby

    Big Brave Bill

    • (CD Single).
    • Pure Records.

  • Rebecca Ferguson

    Superwoman

    • (CD Single).
    • RCA.

  • Take That

    Patience

    • (CD Single).
    • Polydor.

  • Madness

    One Step Beyond

    • Greatest Hits Of The 70's (Various).
    • EMI.
    • 5.

Pause For Thought

Pause For Thought
From Remona Aly, freelance journalist and editor:

And so it begins again, another 365 days to figure out if this is going to be my year. I wonder if I’ll surmount the ‘snowball in hell’ list carried over from 2016, I wonder if I’ll ever write that book, and I wonder if this year, I’ll finally meet my soulmate.

Yes, the love boat sets sail every year, leaving me on the shore of singlehood, and it’s not like I haven’t tried different ports - whether it’s via misguided matchmaking aunties, the ordeal of blind dates, or the den of iniquity that is online dating sites.

I’ve had some guys message in shouty capitals like, “NO TIME FOR TIME-WASTERS. DO YOU WANT MARRIAGE”, while others have shown that grammar and spelling is not their forte, like ‘I'm looking my special person who is ready for marry and enjoy with me. Drop me a massage or please block me, i dont want to send another massage by mistake.”

All these massages or messages pointed me towards one thing - an exit strategy. I might be limiting my chances but I see it as self preservation and more importantly - a leap of faith.

Some things you can’t control, no matter how hard you chase serendipity. I’m learning to let things take their course in the assurance that everything is as it will be - at its time, in its place. But it’s not easy.

When bad stuff happens to me, or good stuff happens to others, I need to resist those two paralysing questions: ‘Why me?’ And - ‘Why not me?’ These two little questions can sap my endurance, stunt my determination, and weaken my faith.

But what brings me back from the cliff of despair is the reassuring wisdom from my 1400-something year old mentor, Prophet Muhammad, who said: “Know that what passed you could not have befallen you, and what has befallen you could not have passed you by. Know that victory comes with patience, relief follows distress, ease follows hardship.”

This saying renews my spirit, it teaches me the art of survival, and the mechanics of faith. Some things will happen to me, other things will pass me by, It’s about accepting the good and the bad, and navigating both with integrity. That’s the attitude I carry with me into 2017 - the year Love may well befall me if it is meant for me - after all, ‘victory comes with patience...’

Broadcast

  • Mon 2 Jan 201706:30
    BBC Radio 2

Farewell Chris Evans: The best bits from his last shows at Radio 2

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500 Words

500 Words

BBC Radio 2's story-writing competition for kids.