Top 100 books challenge: 4. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

If you ever wondered I can now finally tell you - the answer is 42. Ok, it may not actually answer anything at all, but it does let you know that I have finally read The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - and I thought it was great!

I have been meaning to read this book for years, and now that I am working my way through the challenge I have. And I really wonder what took me so long to pick it up, as I really enjoyed it! The mere through of Ford Prefect hitching lifts on space ships and visiting planets to compile the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy really appealed to me. Arthur Dent is the ‘alien’ from planet Earth who gets dragged along on the adventure after Earth is destroyed and he is saved by Ford. And the manically depressed robot Marvin is a stroke of genius - well he is a Paranoid Android! This book made me laugh, in particular when depressed Marvin links up to a spaceship to talk to it - and leads to it committing suicide. Very handy when the two men from the spaceship are trying to kill Ford and the others.

The Heart Of Gold is a ship that I would really like to travel on, in fact the book made me want my own ship, so that I could explore the galaxy and find new planets. It shouldn’t be that hard to control as the computer system, which is annoying cheery but effective, does all the hard work. Well, until they are under attack from a hostile planet when Arthur saves they day.

The book is full of adventure and humour and makes you think differently about the Universe. It offers a different look on the planet Earth, for example how it is run by mice who are experimenting on the humans. Definitely worth a read for kids and big kids!

Rating: 9/10

Top 100 books challenge: 84. Gormenghast

To start with I was pretty daunted by this book, I mean it is 953 pages and very thick! It could be used as a weapon against someone, and carrying it around all day in my bag did not do my shoulder any good! 
It is in three parts: Titus Groan, Gormenghast, and Titus Alone. I think for the challenge I only had to read Gormenghast, but I am glad I read all three as it gave me a better understanding of the characters, and I was able to follow the story better.

Gormenghast is a fantasy, set in the castle of Gormenghast, home to the Groan family. In Titus Groan we are introduced to the family, Lord Sepulchrave: the 76th Earl of Gormenghast, his wife the Countess Gertrude, their daughter Fusha and a host of servants. Titus's birth signifies the next in line, the heir to Gormenghast. Book two follows him growing up, and seeing changes in the castle, while in book three he rebels against his position and leaves the castle.

Throughout the books there are a whole host of interesting characters. In particular the ambitious Steerpike, who starts off as a kitchen boy but worms his way into the hierarchy of Gormenghast for his own personal gain. He is highly ruthless, and will do whatever it takes to advance his position, even killing. We also see Doctor Prunesquallor, nicknamed Dr Prune, who plays an important part in defeating Steepike.

A major theme throughout the book is freedom, with the inhabitants of Gormenghast feeling they are trapped. Titus, who we see as a baby through to a young man, is to become the next Earl, and cannot escape his duty. Steerpike wants to escape his dreary life as a kitchen boy and become a more important part of the castle, Fusha, who dreams of escaping the castle and running free to be who she wants, and Irma Prunesquallor, sister of Dr Prune, who wants to find a husband and be free of her brothers house.

I really enjoyed the first two books, but I felt a bit let down by the third. This may have been due to the fact that Titus Alone was printed from a typescript prepared from Mervyn Peake's note books. It was not complete and so was finished by another author. I felt the story was lacking something, and struggled to finish it. However the first two books were great, and I could picture the intimidating set up of Gormenghast castle.

Rating: 6/10 

Five years at Sunshine Hospital Radio

This year I will have been volunteering at Sunshine Hospital Radio for five years. I have also been shortlisted for the first time in the National Hospital Broadcasting Association (HBA) awards in the Female Presenter of the Year category. And to top it all off 2013 marks Sunshine’s 35th anniversary. So I thought I thought I would look back on how I got involved with Sunshine, some memorable moments, and what the future holds for us.

I first joined Sunshine Radio in March 2008. I had finished University the July before, and had just got my first job as a journalist. I had wanted to join the station earlier, but I was working shifts in a petrol station while I looked for a job, and so couldn't commit one specific evening a week. So when I started my new job, and had my evenings back I was quick to fill out the form. I have always been interested in radio, and as those of you who know me will agree I am pretty talkative! So volunteering at a hospital radio station seemed a great idea, and also the chance to meet new people and learn new skills.

Weston Hospital in particular appealed to me as it has a connection with my granddad  When I was little he had his own building company, and worked on a number of projects in the area. Weston used to have three hospitals, and in the 1980’s it was decided to build one hospital and bring them all together under one roof. My granddad was the site manager on the project, and oversaw the building of the hospital in Uphill. A lot of changes have taken place there since he worked on the original building, but I love the fact that he was responsible for the place where I volunteer. If he was alive today he would be straight on my show, Talk of the Town, to talk about the construction of the hospital! Ironically Weston Hospital was also where he was treated before he died, and so I feel that by volunteering on Sunshine I am close to him.

The moment I walked through the doors of the studio I felt right at home. The volunteers were lovely, and I was fascinated by the recording equipment. This marked the start of my 12 week probation period. During this time I was shown how to take requests from patients, find them on the system, and then play them on the wardround request show, which is on between 8 and 9 every weekday night. Talking to patients and asking them for song requests is just so lovely. You meet some wonderful people, with some very interesting stories to tell. Having a song played, or simply just talking to them can mean the world to patients. You could be the only visitor they see, and chatting to you can really lift their spirits at what is a difficult and often frightening time. Over the years I have met many lovely people - too many to list them all here. I will never forget the lady in her 80’s who asked me to play ‘You're the First, the Last, My Everything’  by Barry White as it reminded her of her husband who died two months before. The following week I returned to the ward to find she had sadly died, and the nurse said she had such a big smile on her face when we played the song. I like to think she is with her husband, who she said was her first and only love. I also remember the old man in his 90’s who requested ‘some of that modern dance music stuff’ as it made him laugh, the lady who named her newborn baby Adele as when she was trying to decide on a name she listened to Sunshine and we were playing Adele, and more recently the old man who asked me to play ‘Tell Laura I Love Her’ and then sang it to me at full volume. Being able to spread a little joy and cheer to patients is what Sunshine Radio is all about!

In 2010 I took the next step forward and took on my own show. At Sunshine members are able to do shows that reflect their interests and hobbies. As a journalist I am interested in news, and what is going on around me. So this inspired me to create a news show every Monday from 7 - 8. Talk of the Town was born. Since the first show I have had many guests in talking about events in Weston, including the mayor, MP John Penrose, representatives from different charities, and local musicians. There have been too many to pick a favourite, but a special mention has to go to The Wrinkly Wrappers, Weston’s own rap group made up of women in their 70’s. They were great to interview, and every recorded a new jingle for the station! They gave me the nickname of Laura Shizzle Dizzle Tremelling, and let me rap for some of their songs! For this show I have also been out and about recording pieces, including interviewing the witch of Wookey Hole Caves (where I tried....and failed...to cackle), watching Sooty turn on Weston’s Christmas lights, dancing behind a Chinese dragon at the Your North Somerset cultural event, and going round and round on the Weston Eye!










This same year I became fundraising officer for the station, a job I love! As a charity we receive no funding, and so we need to raise money ourselves to pay for licences and equipment updates. This is a challenge I readily take on, and I can often be found badgering members to take part in bag packs, and cake sales! My experience as fundraising officer has enabled me to do two things that were on my bucket list - a sky dive and an abseil. The sky dive was fantastic! Though Mike (who I roped in to do it with me) may not agree! The feeling of jumping out of a plane at 12,000ft was incredible, and I enjoyed every minute of it! However the same cannot be said about the abseil! I was the first one down (as the organiser I had to show willing!) and stepping backwards over the cliff was terrifying! I also lost my footing halfway down and ended up spinning round and round. Don’t worry though, when I eventually reached the bottom a lovely thorn bush broke my fall!






Through Sunshine Radio I have also been lucky enough to cover T4 on the Beach, and got to interview all the bands backstage! This was the day where I met Peter Andre! I cannot begin to describe how amazing this was! I have been a fan since I was 9!

During my time at Sunshine I am proud to have been awarded both the Jill Dando award and the Karen Radford Award. The Jill Dando award is for the best show contribution. it is named after television presenter Jill who used to volunteer with Sunshine before her TV career took off. The Karen Radford Award is for best all round member. It is in memory of Karen, a volunteer who sadly lost her life in a car accident. To have won both of these awards is great.

This year for the first time ever I decided to enter the HBA awards for best female. I didn't for one minute think I would be shortlisted, as it is open to all hospital radio stations in the country. For this I had to put a five minute entry together showcasing the variety of my skills, and my awareness of patients. This was a stressful few weeks, as I had to shift through a years worth of logs to find the clips I wanted and put them together. Special thanks to Steve for keeping me sane (and buying me a hot chocolate) and Marcus for his awesome editing skills putting clips together! I am so chuffed to have made the shortlist and am now very excited for the award ceremony which takes place on March 23 in Blackpool!

Last year the very talented Nick made a film on the volunteers at Sunshine. Have a look!

This year Sunshine radio turns 35. The station has come a long way since it was put together on a portable piece of equipment in the bedroom of president John Jiggins. Membership has grown, and we attract people from students to adults in their 70’s. Talks are already in place as to what we do to mark this event, and I am looking forward to it!

I have loved every minute of being a member of Sunshine Hospital radio, and have made many good friends. Joining the station five years ago was one of the best things i have ever done, and I look forward to many more enjoyable years as a member!