September, meh...

Goodness me, I neglected to blog for a whole few months. Not that anybody noticed mind, but I need to keep a note of how life is shaping up in the west!

(Notice how I said mind - that's proper Bristol slang. Proper.)

Things are ticking along quite nicely. There is a routine to my life, and structure where this time last year there was disarray! Getting up at 4:30 every morning is slightly draining - indeed it's a struggle to stay awake when I come home and lie down, but I am enjoying having the afternoons to amuse myself with. At last I have time to categorise my records, play games or read when nobody is in the house.

The job itself is incredibly rewarding, it's a great feeling to think you're having an effect on the station output - however small. I've taken up the job of looking after the iPlayer content for the programme, and driving social media use, both of which should hopefully be drawing in more listeners. I seem to be the person to ask when things go wrong, so it's my job to know stuff. If I do my job properly the listeners shouldn't notice me at all!

The people I work with are lovely, but I am still trying my best to make more friends around my age! When Laurence left to go to Jersey, I was very disappointed. One - because the average age of the station jumped by 10 years, and two - because he was the only person with the same age as me. Although I do repeat how nice everyone is to work with, it's sometimes difficult to relate to someone in their early 30s who has a family and different priorities in life to yourself - the young eligible bachelor!

Given my hours and limited mobility I'm finding it hard to get out in the evening and meet people, but hopefully that should improve with time.

I finally have my room up to scratch, the walls were painted with the help of my able friend Nick Ball, a rug and desk were purchased, and I taught myself how to hang every picture I own on wire. The room itself is a lovely retreat from the stresses of the outside world. Unfortunately my relationship with the housemates is currently on rocky ground. I'm not quite sure how it happened, but we just don't talk much really. It may be the large subwoofer that makes the floorboards upstairs shake, or the random house parties - but I have badgered them a lot to keep the noise down...which didn't go down well!

If it's one thing you are always in need of in this shift, it is sleep and lots of it. It has made me a bit irritable, but sometimes I feel a bit like I'm living in a student house. I was considering moving at one point, but things seem to have quietened down now.

Of course, culturally - there is a vast divide between myself and them. I have nothing in common when talking about women, sex, sport, music...you name it! I sense that even if I did move, it would be the same for most people I lived with.

I don't regret this at all - I'd much rather be wholly individual than a generic sporty bloke. It's much more fun that way!

Speaking of hobbies, my recent trip to The Savoy Hotel was an amazing success. I felt like I was dancing in a dream, I just couldn't stop smiling when I looked up at the mirrored walls and saw the tall gentleman staring back at me - the gentleman who was quick-stepping in time to the music and being admired by the spectators. It was the most wonderful feeling, it really was. Sue and I literally turned heads, I can't wait to get back there again!

Here's to the next time...

Bristol Breakfast Life

It's now my 7th week at BBC Radio Bristol, and I finally feel like I'm starting to settle in this wonderful city. I really do love this job, and although in some respects it is still a steep learning curve.

So far, the only downside that I've come across is the early starts. It's not as bad as the rest of the early team, but it is still a bit of a shock to the system when the alarm goes off at 4:40am. I've been practising my ninja skills so as not to wake the rest of the house.

It is quite an artificial environment to throw your body in to. There's no windows for soundproofing reasons, not very much airflow, just bright lights and lots of noise - and yet you have to be on the ball! I've taken to double and triple checking my usual morning preparations so as not to make any big mistakes. There have been the odd ones which have affected output, which I blame on the rather confusing studio layout!

Aside from that, there's a real sense of satisfaction coming from feeling like a team member and affecting programme output. One of the main problems I had at York was not getting to know people socially, I just turned up and did what was required. Small talk really makes the job I think.

I feel rather fortunate to have landed in a job with such nice people to work with too. The producer I work with is a good laugh in the morning, and very supportive of me and my development potential within the company.

My room is slowly taking shape at last. Cushions have been purchased for my window seat, the window has been painted (although I later found out it was with emulsion rather than proper paint), and the last thing I think I need is some picture hooks to hang my photos on, and a proper desk for my turntable and I should be sorted.

There's also the prospect of recovering my social life at last! Finally I am able to go out socially with my housemates or workmates, which is a great feeling. Already, the advantages of being so close to London are becoming apparent, since I've visited two weekends in the past 7 weeks for the spectacular Palais De Danse.

Next on my list, find a place to have proper dance lessons...

My first week in Bristol

Has it already been a week since I've been at the BBC? Starting last Tuesday seems like an age away, and yet it's never felt so right to be there. I've come to realise that I thrive on variety, and this job gives me that in abundance. I never imaged this morning that I'd be speaking to Jeffrey Archer for example...

Removal day was a bit odd really. It had taken me a day to get everything down in the front room ready to go, and the removal guy put it in his van in about 10 minutes! We were about to set off when he spied a woman at the end of my street trying to start her car, and without any luck. Cue half an hour of him with jump leads from his van, and me stood there wondering what to do with myself

BBC Radio Bristol

About 5 hours later, we made it to where my items were to be stored, and the removal guy managed to offend my friend's mum (Sarah) by jumping out and demanding that she made him a tea that instant. This was especially awkward since I had been told what a nice guy he was! In any case, my life was promptly unloaded and stored away. Suitcase, laptop and towel in tow - we went to my current and temporary residence, the attic of a family house.

The original Broadcasting House on Whiteladies Road, bought by the BBC in the 1930s.

This house is rather nice actually. It's a 4 storey Victorian property, with an Aga kitchen, original Victorian toilet in the basement (I kid you not!) and a nice bunch of quirky features. I was left alone in the house while they went to the cinema on Sunday, and for once in my life I actually felt unsettled. Here I was 200 miles from home, in a strange house - without actually paying them any rent yet. I still don't feel confident using their Aga cooker...

I had a few days to explore, before Tuesday 2nd April rolled around and my first shift dawned. I gave a great impression by turning up 3 hours late. In any case, it was an awful lot to learn last week. The studio configuration of some older equipment, their house style, the layout - and the most important lesson, not to eat breakfast in the morning because we have a cooked one at 9am after the show!

The later extension to the complex. It's great to walk through these doors with a BBC badge in the morning!

The team here at Bristol are great to work with, and have been very patient while I get up to speed with everything. For once I can feel the career progression possible here. I can write scripts which are actually read by the newsreader and presenter, arrange all sorts of guests, and meet some very interesting people. Essentially I spend half the day being a reporter, and it's nice to know where I'm going and what I want to do. When that alarm clock goes off at 4:45am, I don't complain and groan - I look forward to what the day has to offer me.

Of course, it isn't without sacrifice. I've given up my social life, proximity to friends and everything I know up north - just to chase this job. It was hard not to burst out crying when my 85 year old Grandad shook me by the hand and said "you've made it, I knew you would". They are so proud of me, and whenever I get homesick I think about how happy all my relatives are that I am finally doing what I wanted to do in life.

It seems the adage "do a job you enjoy and you'll never work a day in your life" may finally be coming true for me. University paid off, and it is onwards and upwards from here.