I just love the drive into work, time to reflect and relax before walking through the double doors at UFindUs Towers. Driving along Morecambe promenade I have buildings on my right ranging from severe decay to outright splendor and then on my left, one of the most stunning views across the Bay to the Lakeland Hills, complete contrast all round and yet it all fuses together perfectly. Today however I was in the mood for a change from the usual silence, so I turned the radio on expecting to listen to the mix of insults and general abuse that Chris Moyles dishes out on a daily basis. His rants, sandwiched between some pretty good music, can be quite amusing.
I pushed the button and turned the volume up as the Scissor Sisters proclaimed their lack of interest in dancing, great for really getting you buzzing first thing. However all was not as I had expected and instead of a bit of Moyles, I got a lot of Wogan. I never listen to Radio 2 so all I can imagine is that my parents had changed the channel when I took them out for lunch on Fathers Day. I haven’t listened to Terry Wogan since my childhood when my Mum treated him with the same reverence as a religious icon and we were forced to eat our toast in absolute silence when he was talking. Those happy (and they were happy) memories stopped me from reaching to push another button to get the Radio 1 fix that I thought that I wanted. I drove on and listened.
The man is a genius, he uses his programme to bring a smile to the faces of hundreds of thousands (possibly millions, but I don’t really know) through his verbal blogging. Where others, like myself, convey their ramblings, thoughts and opinions via the keyboard, he verbalizes his thoughts with such dexterity and aplomb that I was smiling within seconds as he read out listeners emails, and used his two trusty radio companions as the perfect foil for his Irish humour. A truly skilled wordsmith, highlighting a complete contrast between the two sister radio stations. One offering the throwaway insults of Mr Moyles, and the other the gentle poking and prodding from Mr Wogan which left me smiling and laughing as his wit spilled out of the speakers into my own safe haven.
The second contrast of the day and I have only been on the road for 10 minutes. Even within his own show he provides yet more contrasts, making me wonder how many others could truly pull this one off. Sandwiched between the Scissor Sisters and Kelly Clarkson is Hoyt Axton. Who? I know, I had to Google him when I got into work to find his name out. His song, which is more familiar than his name, once more took me back to the breakfast table of my youth. I bet you remember “Della and the Dealer” if you are over 40, but enough about age, lets move swiftly on. I know far too many of the words to this song, but the resultant mish mash of modern pop with this 70’s country and western hit worked so well. Put it all in the mix and Terry Wogan really does rock. I never thought I would be blogging about Wogan but he’s made my day already. I think there’s enough room in my life for both radio stations to share my morning drives on the occasions I need them. Graham Armstrong – UFindUs Ltd
