Monday saw us heading to the allotment at a ridiculous hour.
No the time on my phone isn't wrong - it really was ten past six in the morning. It was barely light and we should have been still tucked up and fast asleep.
So why were we up at such an unearthly hour? Last week we had a phone call from BBC Radio Leeds asking us to take part in their breakfast show. They were featuring allotments as one allotment site in Kirkless was taking on a legal challenge against Kirklees Council to try and prevent their allotment site being used for building. We agreed knowing that, as the show goes out live, this would mean being at the allotment site by 6:45 to meet Oly Woodcock, the reporter.
Arriving at the allotment we were treated to a view of our plot that we only ever experience at times such as this.
The sun hadn't fully risen but there was a glow in the sky. We weren't the only early risers as the birds were celebrating the start of another new day.
The radio car soon pulled in through the site gates.
Our first radio slot was timed for around 7:00 a.m. so there was just time for reporter Oly Woodcock to set up the equipment in the back of his van ready for our interview to go out live.
Our first slot was fairly short and only really intended to introduce the subject that we were going to talk about during the second longer slot at around 8:00 a.m.
During the interval between slots, we sheltered in the shed with a coffee whilst Oly prepared for the second session and busily worked on social media, posting on Twitter, Instagram etc, and taking photographs.
Oly listened for his prompt to start our second session which was delivered just outside of our shed.
Once that was over it was time for Oly to move on.
We have been interviewed for Radio Leeds a few times, mostly for the breakfast show at the same unearthly hour so we are hoping that next time, if there is in fact a next time, they could come to us later in the day, preferably during summer when the sun is shining.
The radio car soon pulled in through the site gates.
Our first slot was fairly short and only really intended to introduce the subject that we were going to talk about during the second longer slot at around 8:00 a.m.
During the interval between slots, we sheltered in the shed with a coffee whilst Oly prepared for the second session and busily worked on social media, posting on Twitter, Instagram etc, and taking photographs.
During our interview, Martyn had his camera rolling and the resulting video is posted on our vlog here.
Update: For thise who have asked the interviews can be listened to on BBC iplayer - The Richard Stead show The first slot is around 1:07 and the second is around 2:07 with the final clip around 2:53. You do have to register with BBC iplayer to listen.
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How exciting! I'm not an early riser by nature either, so I know "pain" of getting up that early.
ReplyDeleteI asked the reporter if next time it could me the lunch time show, Margaret. One time it was a telephone interview and I was sitting on the sofa on my nightie.
Deletewell done you two, for the sheer amount of hard work you put into your small piece of Yorkshire
ReplyDeleteThanks, David
DeleteYou must be old hands at this now. They know who to call on when they want someone to speak up about allotments.
ReplyDeleteThat seems to be the case, Jo. I once had a phone call asking if I could get to the studio that afternoon as someone else had let them down. They never give much notice.
DeleteNow that what I call public service broadcasting. You certainly deliver!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mal
DeleteIt's no good telling us when It is too late to listen
ReplyDeleteThere’s always Iplayer, Roger on BBC iplayer. It’s the Richard Stead show on 18 March you need to listen around 7:00 and again around 8:00. The second part of the interview is also on Martyn’s video. I’ll try to add a link in the text as for some reason it won’t allow it here.
DeleteSeems like a perfect;y reasonable time to be out and about to me...I love the fact that the sun is rising earlier and I can get up the allotments with no one else except the birds!!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't want to do it regularly. Tanya
DeleteHow the sunrise makes early rising so worthwhile. Oh, to have that view and sense of peace as the world wakes up a couple hours later in the day as I am not an early riser.
ReplyDeleteI'm OK once I have got up, Deborah. It;s the actual getting up that is the problem
ReplyDeleteIt must be interesting to see your allotment at that time of day Sue. My earliest arrival has probably been around 7.00am on very hot summer days. As you say it would be nice if they came later on and on a summer's day but at least it looks from your photos that the weather was reasonable. Will pop over to have a listen soon :)
ReplyDeleteOnce they came at the same time in October when it was foggy, Anna.
DeleteWhat stars you two are! Respect on getting up that early, hopefully they will come later in the day next time. Nice to see your plot at sunrise though!xxx
ReplyDeleteI did suggest that, Dina.
DeleteWhat fun to do Sue, albeit an early hour but that would add to it (in my head that is) it was lovely to hear you both chatting again :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shirley.
DeleteThat does sounds exciting, if a bit early though!
ReplyDeleteIt certainly was too early. We’re not quite the TV stars that you are though.
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