When I first moved to France over three decades ago, the only way to 
receive Radio 4 was to string up a few hundred yards of 38 SWG copper 
while for an aerial, have the moon in Taurus and hope there was a 
following wind otherwise the signal was too weak to overcome the much 
more powerful (and fairly local) Radio Monte Carlo. In those days, when 
I knew few people and spoke little French, I *needed* R4 whereas now it 
is simply another of life's pleasures.
Another difference nowadays is that I no longer need the copper wire or 
prayers to the gods to receive a crackly and weak signal but get it loud 
and clear over the net.
But this evening, dismay, the page says "We are currently having 
technical problems..." and they are. So despite several attempts, no R4.
I was flummoxed. I don't always listen but it is usually on in the 
background and its absence made me feel at almost as much of a loss as I 
would have if my PC had gone down.

This is an R4 newsgroup, that implies that contributors are fans of R4 
even if they don't always like what it says or the way it says it, but, 
honestly, who would like to be without it?

(It's working now BTW).

John of Aix wrote:

> This is an R4 newsgroup, that implies that contributors are fans of R4 
> even if they don't always like what it says or the way it says it, but, 
> honestly, who would like to be without it?
> 

Undeniably over the years Radio 4 has enriched my life. And so, more as 
a force of habit, I turn it on. But I have to say I'm finding it easier 
and easier to be without it. I can live without almost all the 
multi-culti drama, Woman's Hour, the Archendas, much of the infantile nu 
"comedy", the Eddie Mair cult show, all the self-absorbed latte crap on 
weekend mornings.

It used to be grown-up, Radio 4. Serious programmes for serious people. 
But perhaps there are so few serious people left now that 
infantilisation is the only way to go. It's now more smug and facile 
than ever, very pleased with itself, perhaps no different to the people 
that run it, the kind of thirty-something do-gooders, my peers, who left 
university and, full of entitlement, never got a proper job.

X-No-Archive: yes

In message <471e41f0$0$25926$ba4acef3@news.orange.fr>, John of Aix 
 writes

>This is an R4 newsgroup, that implies that contributors are fans of R4
>even if they don't always like what it says or the way it says it, but,
>honestly, who would like to be without it?

When living in the US or Spain, the lack of R4 made me realise that it 
is one of the many things that makes living in England so worthwhile. 
Listening to R4 is snoozing in a lounger by the pool with a tranny 
hanging within reach. No wires or networks; just me and a box. Like my 
future.


-- 
James Follett. Novelist. (G1LXP) http://www.jamesfollett.dswilliams.co.uk
Bloody Earthsearch on BBC7 every weekend for nearly six months and now Power
Corp are to make a movie of Follett's ICE.
http://scripts.digicc.com/powtv/prog_synopsis.php?id=655

I'm moving more and more to R3


"John of Aix"  wrote in message 
news:471e41f0$0$25926$ba4acef3@news.orange.fr...
> When I first moved to France over three decades ago, the only way to 
> receive Radio 4 was to string up a few hundred yards of 38 SWG copper 
> while for an aerial, have the moon in Taurus and hope there was a 
> following wind otherwise the signal was too weak to overcome the much more 
> powerful (and fairly local) Radio Monte Carlo. In those days, when I knew 
> few people and spoke little French, I *needed* R4 whereas now it is simply 
> another of life's pleasures.
> Another difference nowadays is that I no longer need the copper wire or 
> prayers to the gods to receive a crackly and weak signal but get it loud 
> and clear over the net.
> But this evening, dismay, the page says "We are currently having technical 
> problems..." and they are. So despite several attempts, no R4.
> I was flummoxed. I don't always listen but it is usually on in the 
> background and its absence made me feel at almost as much of a loss as I 
> would have if my PC had gone down.
>
> This is an R4 newsgroup, that implies that contributors are fans of R4 
> even if they don't always like what it says or the way it says it, but, 
> honestly, who would like to be without it?
>
> (It's working now BTW).
>

I agree with all of those points, some of the comedy is really dire (Dave 
Gorman's genius show uugh!), but there are always the little gems. I am 
currently listening to Lindsey Davison reading the life of Selfridge, 
nothing heavy, but good and entertaining. Every so often I catch a little 
programme that has three people presenting a music track. No idea what it is 
called, rarely think much of the music, but the chat and the information is 
great.

The problem is not so much R4, but the general direction of society.

Now if only we could get rid of 'Thought for the Day'.


"turnitup" <same@same> wrote in message 
news:471e4c80$0$21102$da0feed9@news.zen.co.uk...
> John of Aix wrote:
>
>> This is an R4 newsgroup, that implies that contributors are fans of R4 
>> even if they don't always like what it says or the way it says it, but, 
>> honestly, who would like to be without it?
>>
>
> Undeniably over the years Radio 4 has enriched my life. And so, more as a 
> force of habit, I turn it on. But I have to say I'm finding it easier and 
> easier to be without it. I can live without almost all the multi-culti 
> drama, Woman's Hour, the Archendas, much of the infantile nu "comedy", the 
> Eddie Mair cult show, all the self-absorbed latte crap on weekend 
> mornings.
>
> It used to be grown-up, Radio 4. Serious programmes for serious people. 
> But perhaps there are so few serious people left now that infantilisation 
> is the only way to go. It's now more smug and facile than ever, very 
> pleased with itself, perhaps no different to the people that run it, the 
> kind of thirty-something do-gooders, my peers, who left university and, 
> full of entitlement, never got a proper job.

"JF"  wrote in message 
news:8he72CDUcqHHFw7e@marage.demon.co.uk...
> X-No-Archive: yes
>
> In message <471e41f0$0$25926$ba4acef3@news.orange.fr>, John of Aix 
>  writes
>
>>This is an R4 newsgroup, that implies that contributors are fans of R4
>>even if they don't always like what it says or the way it says it, but,
>>honestly, who would like to be without it?
>
> When living in the US or Spain, the lack of R4 made me realise that it is 
> one of the many things that makes living in England so worthwhile. 
> Listening to R4 is snoozing in a lounger by the pool with a tranny hanging 
> within reach. No wires or networks; just me and a box. Like my future.
>
>
> -- 
> James Follett. Novelist. (G1LXP) http://www.jamesfollett.dswilliams.co.uk
> Bloody Earthsearch on BBC7 every weekend for nearly six months and now 
> Power
> Corp are to make a movie of Follett's ICE.
> http://scripts.digicc.com/powtv/prog_synopsis.php?id=655

Gor, wharra downer.  Cheer up, James.

Bob Phillips wrote:

> Now if only we could get rid of 'Thought for the Day'.

Amen to that.

So to speak ;-)

Oxymel of Squill wrote:
> 
> I'm moving more and more to R3

Which, with its world music[*] and dreadful presenters, is also going
downhill

[* World music = foreign pop music as far as I can see.]

> 
> "John of Aix"  wrote in message
> news:471e41f0$0$25926$ba4acef3@news.orange.fr...
> > When I first moved to France over three decades ago, the only way to
> > receive Radio 4 was to string up a few hundred yards of 38 SWG copper
> > while for an aerial, have the moon in Taurus and hope there was a
> > following wind otherwise the signal was too weak to overcome the much more
> > powerful (and fairly local) Radio Monte Carlo. In those days, when I knew
> > few people and spoke little French, I *needed* R4 whereas now it is simply
> > another of life's pleasures.
> > Another difference nowadays is that I no longer need the copper wire or
> > prayers to the gods to receive a crackly and weak signal but get it loud
> > and clear over the net.
> > But this evening, dismay, the page says "We are currently having technical
> > problems..." and they are. So despite several attempts, no R4.
> > I was flummoxed. I don't always listen but it is usually on in the
> > background and its absence made me feel at almost as much of a loss as I
> > would have if my PC had gone down.
> >
> > This is an R4 newsgroup, that implies that contributors are fans of R4
> > even if they don't always like what it says or the way it says it, but,
> > honestly, who would like to be without it?
> >
> > (It's working now BTW).
> >


-- 
Remove "antispam" and ".invalid" for e-mail address.
"He that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord, and shall be repaid," 
said Mrs Fairchild, hastily slipping a shilling into the poor woman's
hand.

John of Aix used his keyboard to write :
> When I first moved to France over three decades ago, the only way to receive 
> Radio 4 was to string up a few hundred yards of 38 SWG copper while for an 
> aerial, have the moon in Taurus and hope there was a following wind otherwise 
> the signal was too weak to overcome the much more powerful (and fairly local) 
> Radio Monte Carlo. In those days, when I knew few people and spoke little 
> French, I *needed* R4 whereas now it is simply another of life's pleasures.
> Another difference nowadays is that I no longer need the copper wire or 
> prayers to the gods to receive a crackly and weak signal but get it loud and 
> clear over the net.
> But this evening, dismay, the page says "We are currently having technical 
> problems..." and they are. So despite several attempts, no R4.
> I was flummoxed. I don't always listen but it is usually on in the background 
> and its absence made me feel at almost as much of a loss as I would have if 
> my PC had gone down.
>
> This is an R4 newsgroup, that implies that contributors are fans of R4 even 
> if they don't always like what it says or the way it says it, but, honestly, 
> who would like to be without it?
>
> (It's working now BTW).

For 15 years I could not sleep without R4 or the World Service.  I 
suffer with OCD and HAD to listen to the shipping forecast each night.  
"Sailing By" was a tune that seemed to take all my stress away and at 
05.30 prompt I woke bang on time for the UK Medley.

My therapy and medication had an effect and so I don't tune in like I 
used to.

Strange as that may seem.

-- 
Count Baldoni

JF has brought this to us :
> X-No-Archive: yes
>
> In message <471e41f0$0$25926$ba4acef3@news.orange.fr>, John of Aix 
>  writes
>
>>This is an R4 newsgroup, that implies that contributors are fans of R4
>>even if they don't always like what it says or the way it says it, but,
>>honestly, who would like to be without it?
>
> When living in the US or Spain, the lack of R4 made me realise that it is one 
> of the many things that makes living in England so worthwhile. Listening to 
> R4 is snoozing in a lounger by the pool with a tranny hanging within reach. 
> No wires or networks; just me and a box. Like my future.

Give me the warmer climes over R4 any day of the week.

-- 
Count Baldoni

Frederick Williams laid this down on his screen :
> Oxymel of Squill wrote:
>> 
>> I'm moving more and more to R3
>
> Which, with its world music[*] and dreadful presenters, is also going
> downhill
>
> [* World music = foreign pop music as far as I can see.]
>
I always thought World music was bongos' congas' and maracas with an 
"Uncle Remus" type on vocals !

-- 
Count Baldoni

And Baldoni  was like:

> For 15 years I could not sleep without R4 or the World Service.  I
> suffer with OCD and HAD to listen to the shipping forecast each
> night.  "Sailing By" was a tune that seemed to take all my stress
> away and at 05.30 prompt I woke bang on time for the UK Medley.

Christ on a bike. You fell asleep to one of the two most horrible
pieces of music ever played, and woke up to the other?
 
> My therapy and medication had an effect and so I don't tune in like I
> used to.

Just as well, I'm thinking.

-- 
| Patrick Hardlentil -  patrick@dogslobber.demon.co.uk
| Do not touch happy fun gnooby

Patrick Hardlentil explained :
> And Baldoni  was like:
>
>> For 15 years I could not sleep without R4 or the World Service.  I
>> suffer with OCD and HAD to listen to the shipping forecast each
>> night.  "Sailing By" was a tune that seemed to take all my stress
>> away and at 05.30 prompt I woke bang on time for the UK Medley.
>
> Christ on a bike. You fell asleep to one of the two most horrible
> pieces of music ever played, and woke up to the other?
>  
>> My therapy and medication had an effect and so I don't tune in like I
>> used to.
>
> Just as well, I'm thinking.

I was at sea in my youth and I remember this played over the ships 
speaker system.  I guess the radio officer must have liked it.  There 
was also the music from "Monty Pythons Flying Circus" which was 
probably on the World Service and on a Saturday we would get a live 
commentary from the second half of a first division football match.

I would be trying to sleep in the afternoon while those pieces of music 
was being played.

-- 
Count Baldoni

X-No-Archive: yes

In message , Baldoni 
 writes
>JF has brought this to us :

>> In message <471e41f0$0$25926$ba4acef3@news.orange.fr>, John of Aix 
>> writes
>>
>>>This is an R4 newsgroup, that implies that contributors are fans of R4
>>>even if they don't always like what it says or the way it says it, but,
>>>honestly, who would like to be without it?
>>
>> When living in the US or Spain, the lack of R4 made me realise that 
>>it is one  of the many things that makes living in England so 
>>worthwhile. Listening to  R4 is snoozing in a lounger by the pool with 
>>a tranny hanging within reach.  No wires or networks; just me and a 
>>box. Like my future.
>
>Give me the warmer climes over R4 any day of the week.

Got clobbered by one of the worst gota frias in mid-October. About two 
litres of water per square metre on the Costa Blanca in about 20 hours. 
Glad to get home. Government decided it's a national disaster. Billions 
of euros applied for.

-- 
James Follett. Novelist. (G1LXP) http://www.jamesfollett.dswilliams.co.uk