[ianpwilliams]

Yeah I was just about to post that Although I'm actually not a Scouser, I'm a Geordie

[chrysostom]

Nic ye daft racist.

[ianpwilliams]

I've actually been living in or around Liverpool for about 35 years, but I'm determined to hold onto my Geordie roots But yeah, Newcastle or Manchester for me

And back on topic (sort of), listened to my pre-edited Keaveney show this morning (I think it was a show from last week). Got half-way through, got bored, gave up. Next.

[Nicola_Red]

Yeah I was just about to post that Although I'm actually not a Scouser, I'm a Geordie

oh yeah, I did know that. Adopted Scouser then!

[Latina]

I'd actually love a job in Liverpool or Manchester. I have family connections to Liverpool and been there many times

Manchester's great! You'd love it. Honest. Our Scouse friend Ian said to me last week that he likes it much better here than Liverpool

I've only been to Manchester 3 times, but I do love it, yeah. I'm starting to want to go there on day trips whenever I'm in either Liverpool or my parents' farm, as it's an affordable train ride from both. And if I want to stay working in higher ed, there's a few options.

Plus, if Scotland goes independent after 2014 I certainly won't be hanging around...

[Yudster]

Manchester is good. Last time I was in Liverpool it was the most horrible place I have ever been, but that was a long time ago and I understand its a bit nicer now than it was then.

I'm just an inveterate southerner. I have to spend time in the Northern parts of England regularly - most notably South Yorkshire and also Manchester - and it IS different. Mr Yudster would ideally like to settle in the Greater Manchester area, but I will resist as long as I can.

[Bas]

Who else can imagine Yudster having the vapours & swooning like a Victorian virgin as the car passes Birmingham?

[Yudster]

Well its not quite THAT bad...but Sheffield is surely an outpost of hell. A dull, grey, boring, depressing, miserable outpost of hell.

[richbrown]

I tried some local radio. It was hilarious but not for the right reasons. They were taking requests:

"Hiya love, whats you want?"
"Hia, we're doing our big shop in Asda in Swansea we are, we'd love a bit of the 'phonics"
"Right you are my darling."

Chris really did perfect how to mock local radio.

[Latina]

Manchester is good. Last time I was in Liverpool it was the most horrible place I have ever been, but that was a long time ago and I understand its a bit nicer now than it was then.

I'm just an inveterate southerner. I have to spend time in the Northern parts of England regularly - most notably South Yorkshire and also Manchester - and it IS different. Mr Yudster would ideally like to settle in the Greater Manchester area, but I will resist as long as I can.

Liverpool city centre has changed drastically since 2008. And in rebuilding it they've basically moved it along (or extended it?) so that there's no distance from it to the Albert Dock, which is a great place to visit. My nan lives in a lovely suburb about half an hour's drive from the centre, and my sister's currently in Penny Lane, which is busier but not a bad place at all. Unlike Toxteth, where she lived previously. But basically, my impression of the city has always been good although I've heard bad things from other people.

Although I was born in Milton Keynes and spent the early years of my life there, my Dad is a northerner and when I travel to England I feel a lot more comfortable in the north than in the south, even thought I love places in both.

At the end of the day, Scotland is too effing cold for me most of the time so anywhere south of the border would be preferable.

[ianpwilliams]

Yeah, basically Liverpool city centre is really nice, but much of the surrounding is pretty terrible. So, it's a nice place to visit, not so much to live

And was that suburb Formby by any chance?

[MK Chris]

I was born in Milton Keynes

You're one of the lucky ones like me!

[Latina]

It's Woolton. I also have a friend who works in the city but lives in a nice house on the Wirral. I guess the nicer your living surroundings, the more you have to travel - but surely it's the same with any city.

[ianpwilliams]

I went past a very nice mirrored building in Milton Keynes on the train on my way to the show in London

[MK Chris]

I went past a very nice mirrored building in Milton Keynes on the train on my way to the show in London

IMG_0286.jpg

Ah yeah, that is the Railway Station - or one of the offices attached. Was used in Superman 4 as the UN building:

[ianpwilliams]

Didn't know that!

[chrysostom]

The shopping center also featured in Cliff Richard's 'Wired for Sound'

[James H]

Interestingly enough, just today, a guy I follow on Twitter (and have done for a few years now), James Cridland, is a radio futurologist and posted up this from a radio conference.

It raises some very interesting points about radio in general these days, with smartphones, Spotify, and iTunes etc!

As an interesting side note, James worked alongside Chris Moyles at "The Pulse": http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=hj3N ... el&f=false

[Latina]

The shopping centre was (and presumably still is) amazing. I can remember its Christmas displays being absolute heaven for me when I was a kid.

[The Deadly]

Chesney Hawkes filmed the video for his multi platinum hit "One and only ( I Am)" in Bracknell.

[northernsteve]

James Cridland went by the name James Andrews at the Pulse



Going back to the main point about those of us in our thirties being shunned by BBC Radio, this is the deal:

People of our age are, apparently, a prime market for advertising types because we allegedly have a reasonably disposable income etc. So the commercial sector have pressured the BBC Trust, and the BBC Governers before them, that the BBC should leave our demographic to the commercial stations. So that is pretty much what's happened, and why they are actively hoping to have lost listeners in the next RAJAR - specifically those of us who are "too old".

Of course the commercial sector now really needs to keep its part of the deal and provide some programming that appeals...

[R94N]

You get to have a valid opinion when you contribute towards the license fee!

Bit harsh...

[Nicola_Red]

People of our age are, apparently, a prime market for advertising types because we allegedly have a reasonably disposable income etc. So the commercial sector have pressured the BBC Trust, and the BBC Governers before them, that the BBC should leave our demographic to the commercial stations. So that is pretty much what's happened, and why they are actively hoping to have lost listeners in the next RAJAR - specifically those of us who are "too old".

Of course the commercial sector now really needs to keep its part of the deal and provide some programming that appeals...

That is fascinating. From my experience of hearing commercial radio at work, the ads are all for: cars, insurance, accident claims services, car repairs, and double glazing. Being a non-driver who lives in a rented flat and hasn't had any accidents recently, I'm not in the market for any of those things.

[James H]

Thanks for the pic northernsteve, that's the exact one I was looking for earlier.

Some very interesting points too about "our" demo being left for the commercial stations!

[Sally A]

Today, I tried Shaun Keaveny until my DAB signal made him sound like Jacques Cousteau before getting the No Signal message, then went to R2 - sorry Chris Evans, you are not my cup of tea at the mo. Tried a bit of R4 - too depressing - I want something to cheer me up before I have to go and meet my public. Drove to work with Breeze - on the plus side the traffic girl was knowledgeable of local roads and specific about hold ups (ie traffic jams, not suspenderless stockings), rather than just telling me the A46 is blocked (yes, it goes from Bath to fudgecunting Grimsby - where is it blocked???)