I am definitely becoming more and more grumpy,and I seem to be quite down at the moment, small things agitate me and I am mystified as to why, think I need to escape everything for a bit, and have quiet time to decide what to do next. So there will be no more blogs for a while.
TTFN

Off to Talkback Thames last night to do the QI Test thing, no Rufus Hound, a new presenter, Robert Llewelyn, who played Kryten in Red Dwarf was the host, and the show has been changed, the contestants had to be more like Alan Davies and all the others in the other QI, I managed to lower the tone suitably on the discussion about ear wax and swans!! It was good fun and I will be back in two weeks to do it all over again, on last nights version they had an expert, this one was a professor of cheese!
Managed to buy a new cricket bat last night, A Duncan Fearnley nice and light with a good pick up, I can see the balls dissapearing over the boundary already, and some tennis balls, as I have my grudge match in France looming!

Not so grumpy

I am feeling less grumpy, Dan is off and we have been mucking about, next door have a new arrival, a baby boy, being muslim they like to have a name the baby breakfast in their home apparently, so I will be popping in to see this, Dan is off to school with his mum for the day.
Tomorrow night could be interesting, The Twins are staying over, which will mean I will be banished to my room for the evening.... hope their on some good movies on.
Dan has been worrying me for a few days now, last week he offered to wash up, and today he has asked if he could do some laundry, now me being ever so slightly cynical wondered what he was after, I have just discovered the reason for all this niceness, apparently WWE Wrestling will be on at the O2 in November and the boy wants to go....
I wonder how long I could drag this out for?

Mr Angry from Plumstead

Well something seems to be getting me going lately, I seem to be spoiling for fights, having resolved any issues I had at Gateway FM I appeared to be in a good mood, until I entered the studio on Saturday to be greeted by a man sitting in my studio chair, apparently he tells me he is the head of sport at the station, now forgive me if I have missed something here, but there has only been one sports show on the station and I am pretty sure he had bugger all to do with it! he then proceeded to tell me how to what I could do on my show in the future, which involved commentary from a local game, now this concerns me because if they did this I would not be needed, clearly the 'Head of Sport' had not thought of this, he also had not thought about how 'the grumpy one' would react! at this point there appeared to be some nervous shuffling from the office next door as those in there realised Mr Grumpy was preparing to deal with this issue head on.....
Head of Sport continued twittering on for a fair amount of time about god knows what and frankly I had switched off and was treating the hapless fool with the contempt he deserved, I did recall him mentioning that he did live match reports from Southend United, but only did home games... to which I mentioned home and away should be covered, he was quite firm that he did not attend home games! he then made a huge tactical error, by telling me of his experience of hospital radio, my opinion of hospital radio and their presenters is not very good, so it was at this point I decided the conversation was over! but things did not end there let me tell you, oh no Mr Sport then went into the office and proceeded to leer over Doris!!! who apparently gave him a Paddington hard stare. Now I am not a good person to make an enemy of, it happens very rarely but when I dislike someone I can become a tad evil....
So Saturday evening I spent some time cogitating over this Head of Sport and the Radio Station, and as a result I emailed the boss and told them I would stay on and that I felt we should not be covering Southend games, but restrict ourselves to our truly local teams! he he.
Since then a little bird tells me someone I have not taken a shine to gets into Southend United games for free as press! hmmm as we wont be covering their games I think I should have the decency to let the Club know that we will not require our space in the press box.....
Yours in plotting mood

This is me last week with Den Hegarty of Darts, the mans mad

Just had a quiet chuckle to myself, Sister of Doris is coming to the studio to see how we put together the show, she is dong a journalism course, so god knows why she wants to see my show! But what has made me chuckle was my mothers reaction on meeting her 24 years ago, caused some confusion I can tell you, Dan is meeting her tomorrow, this could be fun!!!!

A busy old day today, Young Finch I think is ill, he asked to wash up after dinner! must be ill or after something, maybe both.

Now most of my friends know I am on facebook, my privacy settings are set fairly high, as I would rather not have any old Tom, Dick or Harry gawping, I got a request to become a friend last night from someone I had never heard of, so I fired off a message telling them my profile was only for personal friends, now this evening I have had a reply, apparently because we present on the same Radio Station, he thinks I should give him access, wrong!!!! I have never heard of him, never met him and have no desire to either, cheeky git....

The old neck is playing up, having serious problems with it, as there is no cricket I can rest it, but its been around for over a month now, may need to seek professional help methinks.

Apparently Doris feels us men whinge too much when having a sports massage, well at 45 I have to point out that we do suffer more aches and pains and strains than others who do not take part in sport!!!!
Yours knowing he is in trouble...again

Summer is here I am told, Young Finch finished school for the summer at 12.30 today. its now 5.30 and he is bored...christ wake me up when September comes.

Cricket has been cancelled for this Sunday, most upsetting, was looking forward to that! but one bit of good news is we are off to France on 23rd August for a week, which may involve a tennis grudge match (see blogs in Jan) and one or two glasses of fine red wine may be consumed, we will also be visiting the Somme battlefields, Young Finch is practicing his french already......well I think its French....

Had cricket practice last night, as a result my back and neck are in a mess, very painful indeed, with a game looming Sunday I need to get it sorted!
A new lad called John joined us for cricket practice, he is about 14 and has a serious mouth on him, and likes people to know he is the best around..all very well if you are, if you are not you are in trouble, I can see this lad annoying the hell out of everyone with his constant chattering, which will get up our fast bowlers noses no end.....stand by for chin music, also he has a habit of wearing these ridiculous shades, even when batting, again the quickies will love that, gives em a target.....

Young Finch had us in tears of laughter last night, he does a wicked impression of one of his teachers, the teacher in question is from Ghana, and the impression is seriously good.

Darts on Saturday - More to follow!

Yesterday was a funny day, went to the O2 to see the Tutenkhamen thing which was ok, precious little of his in there, but loads of other stuff, my old museum days came back, I was interested in how they displayed the items, although I have to say the items were fascinating, the blue colours in a lot of the items was so stunning with the gold, marvelous, we looked round the shop but it all appeared to be tat which was loosely related to Tut!
Had a mad dash to Basildon for the show, got there at 3.03 just as the news Presenter said "its 3 minutes past 3" my cue to get going, sadly it was downhill from there, the playout system we use is crap, it had a serious case of bad behaviour yesterday, I was trying to do a good show but the equipment would not let me, the playlist is appalling, the music it wants us to play shows that whoever put it together has no idea at all, all it would take is some time and attention to make the playlist decent, the same can not be said for the playout system, its a pile of junk that is unsuitable to the task, by 4.30 i was spitting feathers, I was rampaging around the studio, shouting and swearing, I like to show to sound professional sadly the equipment did not allow this, poor Bertie witnessed the Finch melt down at close quarters, I was shaking with rage and by was starting to announce the station as Fisher Price Radio between songs, at 4.45 I really kicked off, and refused to go carry on, poor Bertie had to take over the music whilst I stormed off, I ended up doing the weather just before the news and then buggered off for a fag, after the fag I managed to calm down and we had Den Hegarty on from Darts on, what a top bloke, interview went wel, after he insisted I made myself known to him at the gig later in the evening, the show passed off without too many disasters although both Bertie and I continued to call it Fisher Price FM!
Then we were off to London to meet Doris this proved problematic as the A13 was buggered in a serious way, so Bertie came up with an alternative route to Stratford to meet Doris, we made the 100 Club just after 9 and had enough time to have a beer before the band hit the stage. They were extremely good, a good time was had by all, they are a terrific live act, met up with Den Hegarty during the interval and got my photo taken with the main man which will appear here soon! Back to Doris's for bacon sandwichs and then home... a great evening shame about the afternoon.
Oh I forgot to mention Fisher Price FM have asked me to do some more shows....it aint happening!!!!!

My newsagent Ron has upset me this morning, I arrived at 7.30 to pick up my paper, and he asked how long I had been gay? apparently my shirt is gay looking......

I forgot to mention, Sunday see's me at my old mate Kev's, Kev used to do me a music quiz, that went on for hours! well this Sunday I am down at his place as he does one for me, it lasts a few hours and torments the life out of me, as he knows my weakness's, should be fun though.

What the hell is going on with Ronaldo? why does FIFA head honcho Sepp Blatter have to get involved in what is a contractural matter? these is a matter between the player and the club, Christiano Ronaldo signed a 5 year deal a year ago so his contract has 4 years to run, he was more than happy to sign it then, if he is not happy then he should request a transfer, its quite simple, instead he is taking the cowards way out by doing it from Portugal via the media. He is going about this in the wrong way and for Sepp Blatter to compare his position to slavery just shows how ridiculous Mr Blatter is. I suspect Sir Alex would love to give both the player and Blatter a dose of the hairdryer treatment! Ronaldo faces the very real prospect of becoming a hate figure at Old Trafford, I think he should now do the decent thing and ask for the transfer he so desperately wants, if I was Man U i would agree and slap a huge price on his head and let the little sod rot in the reserves til his contract runs out, he signed it he should see it through, as for Blatter, the mans a twat.....

Thank god yesterday is done and dusted, if anyone sees me anywhere near an exam paper, shoot me!
Right on to business, Tomorrow is one of those busy days, In the morning its off to the 02 to see some dead Egyptian then a mad dash to Basildon for mine and Bertie's shows on Gateway FM, from there we hammer to Stratford drop the Horse Mobile off and head into town to see Darts at the 100 Club, should get home sometime after 1 in the morning!
Den Hegarty of Darts will be on the show at around 5.10pm you can hear it all on www.gatewayfm.com
Yours in Syrup

I learn't two thing this evening thanks to Young Finch, did you know that teenage oiks that wear their trousers down exposing their boxers is termed as 'busting low' Young Finch was prancing around in this state of undress, now the other thing I have learn't is that to stop 'busting low' you grab the boxers at the elastic and pull up sharply, commonly known as a 'wedgie', said youth then stops 'busting low'..... trust me it works.

Darts!!!

We have got our man for Saturdays show, Den Hegarty from Darts will be on live sometime between 5-7pm then we will hot foot it to the 100 Club to see Darts live.
I am not sure Doris who is coming quite realises what she has let herself in for, poor girl, Myself, Bertie and Doris will be joined by the Waddy and the Woods, Waddy and myself have history as far as Darts are concerned, in our younger days we would head home from the pub and would belt out Darts hits in our drunken stupor, it caused many a curtain to twitch I can tell you, obviously they appreciated our singing ability! I suspect that come Saturday we will be belting the hits out again!

Well what a busy weekend, Radio went well, David Paton from Pilot was excellent, seemed a very nice bloke and has sent us copies of his new Cd, one for a lucky listener the other for Bertie and me. Next week one of my favourite bands from the 70s, Darts are performing live at 100 Club in London, yours truly will be there, and we will have a member of the band on the show between 5-7pm.

Cricket yesterday was reduced to a Twenty20 game, we were researching Duckworth Lewis method but none of us could work it out. The weather was a bit iffy. Despite the weather we got the game over and done with, Old Finch dusted off his cricket gear and took two wickets and scored 41 runs, and seemed to enjoy himself, he was even spotted running once! This Finch bowled like a twat but luckily hit 20 in a quick fire innings including a glorious 6! Bill opened the innings and I came in at number 4, I was hoping to bat with him but the old sod got himself out too soon! Still we did well and repaired to the pub for tea.

Saturday evening was spent with Doris at Commando Girls, enjoying pizza and wine, Young Finch got stuck in with the kids and seemed to enjoy himself, and we managed to sort CG's Itunes issues!

We have a special guest on Bertie's show, David Paton, the lead singer of 70s band Pilot, I spoke to him yesterday, a very nice man, and his new album sounds great! he will be on around 5.25pm on www.gatewayfm.com, the sports show starts at 3pm.

Young Finch is home and currently residing in the bath, and my new cleaner has arrived! all very good, so I am kicking back and relaxing whilst the cleaning occurs!!!

Name the 10 Songs

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Here are 10 Instrumental Breaks have a listen and see if you can guess what they are!

Well I nipped out for cricket practice, was not easy the sun was in my eyes when bowling so my vision was impaired and all I could make out was Andy, so thats where I aimed, sorry mate hope the bruises heal!!!
Sadly my cricket bat passed away last night, I went to play a gorgeous cover drive when I heard a loud crack, and the bat was no more.....

Young Finch is home from his school trip this afternoon, may attempt to raise the bounty to entice the school to keep him away for a few days more.....

Apparently a family member is concerned that someone may sue me for libel over remarks I may have made, all I can say is that what I say on here is only the truth!

It is wonderfully quiet in the Finch household, well it was until I put my Pink Floyd DVD on the old surround sound! Young Finch is away til Friday with his school, I did enquire and even offer to pay more if they could extend the trip, but no deal was forthcoming.
I am off to cricket practice this evening, weather permitting we have a game Sunday which see's the long awaited cricket return of my brother (ginger Finch), he did play last year but scored 3 and got himself out! Apparently its the old devils birthday, if I am right he will be around 53! he he, it pays to be an accident, you end up much younger than your elderly brothers!

I have applied for a new and rather well paid job! based in Catford it looks interesting! and a birdie tells me that there may be some full time radio stuff in the offing soon.

I am back on Gateway FM this weekend 3-5 then with Bertie 5-7, on Bertie's show we may have Alan Williams, the lead singer of the Rubettes, we have had him on before and is always good value! so will have to dust off my Rubettes hat! On the Sport Show we will have the owner of the Lakeside Hammers Speedway Team and Chris Evans, no not that one but Chris Evans of Essex FA and Andy of Basildon Utd will be on to talk about their Bas Idol thing again.