BBC Radio 4

Gwyneth Williams Controller, BBC Radio 4

One of our many action-packed, evenings was at BBC Broadcasting House. Ranging round the block was a long resigned and patient queue waiting to be admitted to participate in the recording of Sandi Toksvig’s Newsquiz. Without any guilt, we slipped through the revolving doors to collect the passes, Mary K had organised for us.

Later, we discovered that the team were working furiously to incorporate the news of the death of Gadaffi into the evening’s programme. Without any doubt, Newsquiz is my favourite radio programme. They are clever-rude-funny and Sandi is the Queen of sharp, pointed, well-informed piss-take. (Regardless of the rubbish Julie Burchill wrote about her.)

However, before that we had a glass of bubbly alongside city gents who the BBC had invited to initiate them to the cause of ‘Children in Need’. I firmly believe all children should be protected and cared for and so I hope those business folk wrote some hefty cheques. Various BBC heads of departments, including Gwyneth Williams, Controller of Radio 4 spoke convincingly for ‘Children in Need’.

Mary introduced is to Jeremy Howe – friendly and charming, he has just written a book Mummy Daddy outlining the senseless murder of his wife by a random killer and his efforts at bringing up his two young daughters. The title of the book was created years ago when he asked his young daughter why she had drawn him with one head and two bodies and she replied “that’s your mummy body and that’s your Daddy body.” Life throws up some immense and unexpected challenges.

Joselyn Morton

Jeremy Howe and Mary Kalemkerian

Sandi Toksvig in The news Quiz
photos: Roger Morton

Environment

On top, Matt and Anna Morton’s working plan for the Gaiaveda Permaculture Course being held in the Boot Factory, Oxford over 4 weekends. The course concentrates on a city block and how to best use the land and space available. 
Above, an Oxford robin Redbreast that Roger photographed in Charlie's hospitable garden (and house!).

Poetry

Birds do still sing

It may be my brain

frying, trying

to find sleep

I heard the dawn chorus -

short but I heard it.

It happened.

Birds do still sing

Then a plane passed

maybe a train

next a cat, plaintive

hungry
unlike a song on the wing

in the empty sky.

Joselyn Duffy Morton ©

Food

After our art frenzy at the Freize, we were fed a fine feast at Bill McA’s. We ate the fish that he and his friends had caught from a boat, in the English Channel (or La Manche) earlier that day. As far as I was concerned, it was a great day for food. JM

London Freize Art

Our cousin F-A whirled into London town and so our first weekend was spent at a breakneck pace on the gallop. She was staying at the Holiday Inn, Camden Town across the road from our favourite restaurant Wagamama. Holiday Inn receptionist got top marks for letting us park in their car park. Then we strolled across the road and stuffed our faces with delicious Asian morsels, washed down by a NZ Marlborough blanc. Couldn’t get better. A taxi ride to Regent’s Park (when was the last time I was in a taxi?) and within moments we were at Regent’s Park Freize Art. Beyond our normal budget but ….. it was a people bath as well as what seemed like acres and acres of art. A sleep-over would have been best. I saw a tiny fraction. I absorbed even less but it was a buzz. Above is a selection of random pieces. Like random sex, they were taken on the hoof. Joselyn Morton

BBC, Radio 4 Extra

This week the latest radio listening figures were published by RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research).
Being the second set of figures since the rebranding of Radio 7 as Radio 4 Extra, we were keen to find out if we had kept our crown as the UK's largest reaching digital only radio station. The results are positive. After the massive jump in listenership in the previous quarter, Radio 4 Extra is slightly down in figures, but still retaining the lion's share of the BBC's Digital Radio services, and with an audience of 1.526 million our crown as the UK's No 1 digital only radio service is untarnished.
Our listenership from this time last year has grown by 481,000, and even more encouragingly, the average hours per listener have increased from 5 hours 22 minutes per week to 6 hours 4 minutes. Pleasingly, we also know that the gender split is becoming more evenly balanced, with more female listeners joining us.
Here's hoping that with our Spy Season, followed by the Gothic Weekend, and a bumper Christmas season planned, we can keep all of our listeners tuned in throughout the long dark evenings ahead.

Mary Kalemkerian, Head of Programmes, BBC, Radio4 Extra

Cover caption

Photo: Roger Morton Shop frontage at bottom end of Kentish Town, North. London. Having always wondered what this could possibly mean, I looked it up and it is a group evangelising Jews to convert to Christianity. American origins, of course.

Mel from Nepal

I have never been one who likes to disappoint, confront, upset or challenge other people ... be it the person who 'accidentally' pushes in the queue, or the wanker screaming profanities from the sideline.

THEN....I had children, or matured/ had children and I seemed to develop a generous sense of belonging and confidence in my convictions for some reason. Perhaps it is the incessant questioning from (them).

 "Why?" "Why do I have to do that?", "Why can't I have that?" and I answer "Because I bloody said so!!!".. .and that seems to settle it, conversation over, and I feel totally self-assured! (Wait till they get a bit older and then I will be floored once again!)

Perhaps this was the catalyst for change, perhaps not, but it surely helped me to, as my eldest son has coined the phrase ... 'Release the Kracken'.

Now there are differing theories on what this actually means .... for some to let the monster out, for others, my son included .... to release the big smelly evil monster that inhabits your lower intestine and inevitably emerges whilst sitting on one's head. For me, slightly different again - not smelly, possibly monstrous, and definitely powerful!

I decided to look at the social problems in my surrounding neighborhood with less disenchantment and seek more rationale and understanding. There is huge stress on a daily basis, there is little or no formal education, there is a long history of religious belief intertwined in an ancient culture with a chaotic foreign impression being made on the doorstep! 

Still, people are people and I believe we are born with an innate sense of what is appropriate and what is not! If it don't feel right, why are you doing it?

My wonderful Nepalese friend who brings me giant loca (marrow type vegetable) from her garden is being beaten regularly or threatened with divorce (which means certain poverty and segregation from the community) as she 'whines and moans' about having no food or soap to wash her already dilapidated clothing. 

I tried to remain neutral in my advice and suggested she found a job outside of the home to enable more independence and give some show of support to her assumingly stressed husband...

Turns out he is from Germany, living the life of riley on his monthly stipend from the German government, eating his 3 meals a day at local restaurants and spending the rest on his daily 'ganja' intake. He returns home when it suits him for a change of clothes and some Nepali subserviency. 

2 days later he has choked her and slapped her black and blue. She comes for 'better' advice!

I haven't known this woman for long but somehow her hapless figure seemed to represent all that was innocent, all that was lost and in fear. I have never felt so powerful ... I reached for my Kenyan Maasai stick and with her and my 3 kids trailing behind decided to confront this 'man?'

I can't fully recall what words shot from my mouth, perhaps more of a squealing roar, but it came quick and fast and besides most of it being absolute bullshit about my connections with police, immigration, social services, western union....the 'Kracken was released!

He dwarfed me with his tall, lean but aging frame and I lifted my hands and hit him very hard in his chest and sent him backwards. He was more stunned than anything but as I raised the stick high above my head he took a seat and lit a spliff and decided he might listen for a bit!

What has concluded from that event remains to be seen as I have been away soaking up some Thai sunshine, but word spreads quickly in a small community and recent emails suggest a group of women wanting to start a group .... combat aerobics anyone?

As for the kids, slightly inappropriate behaviour on my part, but they hugged me warmly and apologised for their morning disobedience and asked if they could help with anything around the house ... nice one!

And as I explained to E. later that day ... the greatest power comes only from truth and that is what gives us strength to tackle anything that attempts to undermine who we are and what we stand for on this earth. 

Mel

Poetry

Juicy Pink Flesh

I’m besotted by figs’

juicy pink flesh. I can’t

eat enough of them.

I’m puzzled by people

who gather blackberries -

a dark imitation

of fruit perfection.

I understand why Eve

sign-posted the way she

did – there must have been

other leaves to choose from

in the Garden of Eden.

Maybe she wanted Adam

to get the connection

maybe he wasn’t the

brightest spark on the planet

but a jock strapped for a rib.

Our fig tree might pull our

ruin down and bring the house

with it. I wish our bank

balance grew as fast but

quite the reverse is happening

Joselyn Duffy Morton ©