Category Archives: Worlds Shortest Radio Show

And I love it. I may have an slightly unfortunate surname but I really lucked out with my birthday. Right in the middle of the year so never more than six months without a gift. The weather’s always good and this year it’s glorious. Despite my advancing years, I find myself still wearing shorts, riding […]

Because I loved the buccaneering style with which the USA played Belgium last night, battling to the very last minute of extra time. They were cheered on by a proud nation, some becoming enthralled by what we call “football” for the very first time. My friend Tom Morton watched the match in New York City […]

But I’m going to say it. Fantastic songwriters but other people generally sang their songs way better than they did. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart? You’d go for the Al Green version every time. Heartbreaker? Dionne Warwick. Chain Reaction? Diana Ross. Nights on Broadway? Candi Staton. The list goes on. As for this […]

Two words that have taken on a whole new meaning. For the last hundred years, London Pride has meant a premium ale produced at the Fuller’s Brewery in Chiswick. But lately it’s become a way of describing Pride in London, the annual gay-themed festival that flaunted its way through the West End yesterday. I am […]

I was a big fan. As were people far more famous than me. The likes of Ronnie Wood, Peter Gabriel and Damon Albarn have all acknowledged their musical debt to this true soul legend. He was a fantastic songwriter and session musician but I just loved his voice – that gravelly emotive baritone that put […]

For me, it was a very long time ago. My mate Bugsy and I had hours of fun racing through the streets of Willesden, hammering on people’s doors and running away. Last night there was an extremely loud party in the next street that was still loud at 2am. I couldn’t be bothered to get […]

Yes, he’s a world-class defender. Yes, he plays for Juventus and Italy but now he’ll always be remembered as the player bitten in the World Cup by Luis Suarez. And when thinking of Suarez, he must wonder “Why did you do it?” In the heat of intense competition, it’s not unusual for players to kick, […]

Morris “dance”? Hungarian folk “dance”? Anything people can dance too. But the term generally refers to music played in clubs. Or before that, in discos. I’ve often been asked which tune, when I was a DJ, was the best ever “dance” track. Depends on the gig, the era and the people on the dance floor. […]

John Callanan, for instance, elder brother of my great friend Joe. John lives over in Sligo and makes a modest living as a cartographer, exploring parts of the world most of us don’t even know exist. But every year he returns to this corner of the world to have a Summer Solstice gathering on the […]

And for once, the weather is beautiful. This year, it’s even fallen on a Saturday. In life, so many things – particularly things that depend on the vagaries of the British weather – go wrong. So it’s good to remember and revel in days like today when everything’s gone right. Find some sunshine, find a […]