A new role for Sir Jimmy?

This year's Oxford Street Christmas illuminations come courtesy of Disney's promotions budget, puffing their new cinematic extravaganza: A Christmas Carol, starring Jim Carrey.

Now, nobody else seems to see it, but every time I pass by, the image on show strikes me not as Jim Carrey, but as the one, the only, goodness-gracious, as it 'appens boys & girls....Sir Jimmy Savile.

Guys, help me out here. Is it just me, imagining things again?

Or has Sir Jim taken to the rainy London skies?
And if it is him ...... what has he done with Jim Carrey?

Blackpool!

Arrived in Blackpool yesterday evening, for another of our periodic Radio Lads' Night Out enterprises.

Ah, Blackpool. I haven't been here since my Come Dancing days. Back then we used to spend a week or two at a time here, in February or March, because those were the times when the BBC could get the cheapest off-peak deal on the Tower Ballroom. It was always pelting with rain and blowing a gale. But that's Feb/March for you.

And November...!

The heavens well and truly opened as I pulled up outside the hotel. By 'eck it was wet.

Having put my stuff into the hotel room, I went to move the car to a suitable parking place. The local council has kindly provided a multi-storey just a couple of blocks away. With that great joined-up thinking for which UK Local Authorities are famed, they've set the tariff for overnight parking at £13 and provided ticket machines capable of ingesting only coins. No cards, no notes. Not even £2 coins, either. Do you go around with £13 in pound coins in your pocket? Just as I was pondering my options, I encountered a pair of local parking attendants. Was there, perhaps, a staffed payment desk, or a card-capable machine? "No, I'm sorry, there isn't" said the man. "But...", his face brightening considerably, "we are planning to get one in the new year.". I pointed out that, while this was undoubtedly good news, it didn't really help me tonight, now did it? He looked terribly crestfallen, but was forced to agree. Ho hum. Off to the newsagent to buy a Kit Kat and get some change.

On my way out of the car park, on one of those horrible grey dirty concrete stairwells, smelling of ...er... car park stairwell, I spotted this:

The Welcome Point door was grey, scuffed and not only locked but apparently nailed shut.

Yes, welcome indeed, to this great English tourist hotspot!

A great night had, though, with good company, fine food and scandalous gossip. It's what Friday nights should be!

The Times They Are a Changing...

A month ago, in this very boutique, I wrote:

Big changes to come at Radio 2 at the turn of the year, as Sir Terry Wogan retires from his breakfast show. People keep asking me what effect this will have on my work. I wish I knew!

Well now I do know. The new incumbent will come, as new incumbents so often do, with something new and different.

So, time to fold the tent and move along. Not just yet, mind, but in mid-December. Until then, it's sausage-scoffing business as usual.

Now to work on the Small Ad:

Voice-of-Experience, with the power to surprise, seeks Radio Station with GSOH for meaningful relationship. Own hair and teeth. No embarrassing vices. Will travel (as fast as bus will allow). Likes: Playing tasty music and communing with the nice ladies and gentlemen via the miracle of wireless. Dislikes: Coconuts. Apply within. Or indeed without.

What do you think? Is it a winner?