Programmes

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Pete's blog has now moved to his official Facebook page which you can read by clicking the link below. You don't have to be a member of Facebook to read it, although you have to join the group to add your comments on the messageboard there.

Past Blogs:

August 11th 2009

This morning we heard from the Communication Works Union, who were on the show to discuss the strikes that are occurring at the Leek Road sorting office in Stoke. It's all to do with the modernisation of the company and the possibility of jobs being moved to Wolverhampton.

Plus on Busk Idol today was Ukelele player Bryn Mitchell (pictured) who's only been playing 2 years but reckons he can teach anyone to play in 20 minutes!

August 10th

We started a year long series on the show this morning, following the Stafford Hospital Prostate Cancer Support Group.

Now, if you're fella is like almost every other man I know, getting them to talk about medical problems is like pulling particularly tough teeth. This group should change all that.

I think it's a good thing, and one of the things that I would like to think I had access to if I should find myself in this terrible situation.

However, I can buck the trend in certain situations. As many of my friends will tell I'm now backward at coming forward on giving out details of medical history and will happily gab on about my sore back/legs/chest/whatever.

In keeping with the majority, though, I think even I would have trouble talking about problems DOWN THERE. Don't follow the herd, talk about your health.

August 5th

We heard this morning about the proposed move by the Government to move the cigarette displays that you see in shops below the counter, so they will discourage children from smoking.

Come on - who are you kidding? Hiding the cigarettes isn't going to make kids think twice about stopping smoking. Okay, it might work on one or two, but it's not the ultimate solution.

Speaking as a former child(!), when people don't want you to do something - you're more intrigued by what you're being kept away from. The education on the dangers of smoking can't come from sports stars, Government ads or, in a lot of cases, parents - it needs to come from someone different everytime. Stop treating kids as one entity and work towards individuality in getting the message across.

August 3rd

All this week on the show we're talking about youth clubs. Pat Shelley, who works with the young people and youth services in Stoke On Trent, reckons that they are vital to a young person's development.

I mentioned on-air this morning that I remember going to my local youth club when I was younger - I didn't like it. It was nothing to do with the 'bad sorts' who came along - it was more the fact that they played the music too loud and I couldn't hear meself think!

However, they ARE vital, but the challenge remains the same. The people who come up with these schemes are invariably in their 30s and upwards - and the people they are targeting are 20 or so years younger.
How do you appeal to an age range you've not experienced for a decade at least? It's not a job I envy, but it is one that has an element of failure in it - and that's not pouring scorn or cold water on the schemes. There will always be a section of youngsters who want nothing to do with 'social responsibility' and time at a youth club. They are the people who need what the schemes offer the most - but are the least willing to take part. Credit to the volunteers for never giving up.

July 29

Talked about the weather this morning. The Met Office has changed its summer outlook today, after talking a 'barbecue summer' for several weeks, they now say it's going to be miserable well into August. They also blamed long-range forecasting, saying it is difficult.

I can appreciate that and I do feel sorry for the weather forecasters, sometimes. It can't be easy to collate all of this information, reading charts, deciphering satellite pictures and putting your reputation on the line - only for some weather system above the clouds to muck everything up.

If that happens about an hour after the forecast - hard luck, that forecast is now out of date and everything kind of resets itself. So, I think it's time to cut the guys some slack. They don't get it right all the time - but it's not their fault!

July 27

Health is on a lot of people's minds at the moment, so the news that West Midlands Ambulance Service is not hitting it's targets at the moment is a little bit troubling.

We spoke to the Commissioning Director for the service who laid a lot of blame at the feet of swine flu, and I suppose that that is fair enough to a point, but come on guys the targets that you are working to were set following recommendation by the Ambulance Trust - surely, if you've had a hand in setting the targets, you can get close to them?

Part of the defence is that they are only missing them by a small amount. Oh, that's fine then. We can tell that to the next person who suffers because their ambulance didn't turn up on time....

July 24

This morning we talked about the 2012 London Olympics which are exactly 3 years away.

We chatted to a couple of local medal hopefuls - and found out from Steven Lewis, the pole vaulter, that he thinks that Hammer Throwers are the 'loonies' of the athletic world, and can dance up a storm during their down time.

We also talked about countries coming to Stoke On Trent and using our leisure facilities to train for the 2012 Games. A couple of you got in touch to say that you don't see the benefit to people round here if that happens, and that it would just mean no access to leisure facilities for months on end.

Well, I can see your point on that, but think of the following - income for the area in 1) fees for those facilities and 2) hotel accommodation; inspiration for fans of sport, especially the younger fans and, above all of that, the kudos and pride that would go with the fact, out of all of the cities in the UK, Stoke On Trent was chosen to host a country's Olympic training. A great thing to be proud of.

July 21

Well, a couple of favourites came out in the show today.

First of all, we talked about the oldest TV in the UK which had been found in London - 73 years old and still in full working order! So, we asked for you to get in touch with your oldest appliance - TV, radio, cooker, utensils etc. Plenty of you got in touch with the stuff that you have in your house which is getting on in years.
First prize went to Chris. Not a nice first prize, but a cold dinner and a night on the sofa as he'd suggested that the oldest appliance in his house was his wife! You should be ashamed.....

The other favourite was - food!

We started talking about bread, and the fact that new research reckons that bread crusts are good for you! However, it turns out that not everyone calls them 'crusts'. Katie Martin calls the crust the 'nobby' - in Ireland it's called 'the heel' and Kristine calls them 'kissing crust'!

July 20

This morning we talked about space - and marked the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landings. We found out that I cannot be an astronaut - mainly because I can't take any kind of step, never mind a small one, in water.
To find out more about that, click on 'Listen Again' - link on the right of this page, and listen to the 'Monday' programme - and feed your curiosity.

We also talked more about swine flu. It's come more and more to the forefront of the news as the disease is becoming more widespread.
We had a text in this morning saying that we (as in the media) were doing nothing more than scaremongering that we should calm down - swine flu is just like any other flu.
I think that there's an element of truth in that, but I think that the huge amount of coverage has also come about because of the desire that it doesn't get any kind of foothold in the UK. Basically, it keeps coming back to the same thing - Catch It, Bin It, Kill It. And don't kiss pigs.

July 16

Got all spacey this morning, as it's the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission taking off on its way to the Moon. I love it all, but my wife and Mum aren't so sure and keep asking me why we do it - to them it just seems pointless.
I spoke to Dr David Whitehouse, a former NASA scientist and he said that it was the spirit of adventure and the human's push to move out of the Earth's sphere.
I don't think my Mum or wife will be especially happy with that explanation.

July 14

A very sobering show this morning - in more ways than one. We talked about the fact that new figures reckon that more and more over 60's are struggling with drink - and problems develop from loneliness and a lack of a social circle that existed when people were working.
After mentioning this on-air, we had a call from a young man, he was just 26, who admitted to us that he regularly drank 13 pints of lager every single day and that he had lost his job because of his drinking problem: drink was his only friend, but it was making his life a misery.

I know a lot of you wanted to know what happened to him, so just to put your mind at rest, we gave him the appropriate numbers for the people who we think can help him out of the hole that he's in - and we're going to keep checking in on his progress from time to time.

July 10

Friday morning and we were all in a little bit of a giddy mood! We talked to Midlands Today presenter Nick Owen about a painting that was given to him, after he talked about it on the telly! We had a bit of a laugh with him, and you can hear that again, by clicking on the 'Listen Again' button.

Elsewhere we talked about the stuff that you learned at school - and still retained. I tell you what I learned - that I learned NOTHING at school! Let me know what you learned at school, and still trot out now without too much mucking about, by heading off to the messageboard and leaving your thoughts there.

July 9

We talked about sound this morning, and searched for YOUR sound of Staffordshire & South Cheshire.
For me, it would have to be the roar of the M6. It's a sound that I have associated with the area since I was about 17/18. Not the road itself, necessarily, but that constant thrum of tyre on road, that never seems to stop.
Many years ago when I worked in Birmingham and lived in Cheshire, I would have to stop off at Keele Services to grab 40 winks - and that eternal noise would lull me off to sleep.
For some who live near the M6, or the A500, A34 - or any of the major trunk routes, the roads can be a major nuisance but, for me, it's a reassuring sound that, no matter where I hear it, brings me back to Staffordshire.

What's your sound of Staffordshire? Let us know on the Breakfast Show messageboard.

July 8

It was a morning of extreme emotions this morning. Indignation came about first, as we talked about parking, following the news that 18 months on and Staffordshire County Council aren't getting the level of parking fines that they thought they would when they took it over from the police.

Then, pride. It's the start of the Ashes series today. The old rivalry has come about. We spoke to Neil who is a sports writer and plays for Newcastle Cricket Club. That's Newcastle in SYDNEY! He was a nice bloke - until we started talking about the cricket. He was very puffed up about the whole thing, and has predicted a 3-0 win to the Aussies! We'll speak to him at the end of the series to see if he's right

However, the main emotion was nostalgia as we talked about jobs that you had had in the past. It all came about when we saw an ad for a job in Somerset - for a witch! So, we started our A-Z of jobs in Staffordshire & South Cheshire. The jobs that you have had in the past, and the letters that those jobs began with. It took us just under 2 hours to fill all 26 spaces, with my favourite being for the letter 'D' -Doughnut Roller! My dream Job.

I'm off to buy some doughnuts, er, go to the gym. See you in the morning at 7.

July 3

Just in case you missed this morning's show we talked about death, scarecrows, Wimbledon, Stafford Hospital, ice cream vans, Wimbledon, everyday objects (tat!), cocktails, Wimbledon, the soaps, surprises.....and Wimbledon.
Well, when I say Wimbledon, we were asking what were you up to ASIDE from Wimbledon - and there's plenty going on!

Of course I'll be glued to the telly come Sunday - cheering on whoever is there. I say that as some kind of default position because I'm a big fan of Roger Federer and that's who I would like to win Wimbledon. However, when we spoke to John Inverdale he said that Federer will win his 15th Grand Slam title - but he thinks it would be nice to leave it this time and hope that Murray will win through. I can't imagine him doing that....

Anyway, whether you're watching the tennis on Sunday, or heading down to Stoke Minster for 'Songs From The Aisles' have a great one.
I'll see you back on the radio from 7am on Monday morning.

Friday Club - July 3

It was bubbles galore on the first ever Friday Club, Steph and Jackie chatted about the Soaps with Pete whilst Kris Perrin from Residence in Congleton mixed up some summer cocktails!

They're all non-alcoholic and perfect for a summer's afternoon, if you try making them at home, take a photo and send it in to BBC Stoke!

(Muddling means squashing the fruit and herbs at the bottom of the glass to release the flavours and juice, if you haven't got a muddler, a small rolling pin or something similar will do just as well!)

Summer Garden
6 mint leaves
3 lime wedges
50ml Elderflower cordial
-----Muddle------
150ml Camamile tea

Day @ the races
3 lime wedges
4 pieces of chopped cucumber
-----Muddle------
Topped with red bull
Mint sprig garnish

Traditional Lemonade
3 wedges of lemon
25ml sugar water (equal parts sugar and water)
-----Muddle-----
Topped with soda water

July 2

I'm sure I'm not the only one who's said it, but 'Phew! What a scorcher!!'. Talked quite a bit about the weather this morning, with plenty of you keeping us up to date with how hot it was near you. Phil from a bakery called to say that the ovens where he was working meant that the temp where he was was about 150 degrees! I don't think I could stand that for more than about 5 minutes!

We also talked about Mollie Sugden, who passed away yesterday. Of course, you will probably know she played Mrs Slocombe in 'Are You Being Served?' and we talked about her, and her pussy - and some of the great double entendres that she came out with. We talked about that, for a while, and I must admit that my favourite double entendre is from Julian Clary who, when he came on stage to huge applause would say 'I do like a warm hand upon my entrance'. It reads so innocent - but not when he says it!
I'm off to get one of those double entendre drinks. When I last asked for it in my local pub, the barmaid gave me one!

Have a good day - keep cool!

July 1

This morning, apart from sweating buckets in the studio (nice image, I know) we were talking a bit about the sun, and the health problems that can come about if you get too much of it.

I know it sounds like we're pouring cold water on the good, sunny news (ooh, cold water - that would be nice!) but we're honestly not! All we're saying that you should think a little before you step out to sun yourself - plenty of sun cream, stay in the shade and watch the sun between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at it's hottest!

However, my mind was mainly taken up with my superstitious paranoia this morning. You know how people think it's good luck to have a black cat cross your path and bad luck to see a single magpie? Well, the other day I had a magpie fly in front of the car - what does that mean? Is it good luck or bad luck? Maybe it was being chased by a black cat.

As always, you can go to the messageboard to let me know what you've been up to, and what you think about things from the show. Click here to leave your message. Have a good Wednesday, see you tomorrow morning at 7

June 30

Phew, what a busy show this morning!

You got in touch about so many things. Strawberries, as we chatted about the strawberry season -you got in touch with some of your favourite strawberry recipes. My favourite was strawberry crumble, but we were told on good authority that strawberries with black pepper and balsamic vinegar was the single most gorgeous thing you could do with them. I'm not convinced, but I may try it a little later on and I'll let you know.

We also spoke about retirement this morning, after we heard from Alf Wilson the Moorlands Area Commander for the Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service. He's retired after THIRTY YEARS in the job, and I was wondering what his first morning will be like - the one that people say is the first day of the rest of your life. Will he wake up at the normal time, or will he give himself a HUGE lie-in? I'll ask you the same question now - when you retired, how was that first morning? Let me know via the messageboard

Right, I've got to crack on and help sort out tomorrow's show - and I've not even had time to talk about Catholic schools, my biggest fan or Graham Nash. I said it was a busy one! Speak to you tomorrow morning from 7.

June 29

Good to be back! First day on the Breakfast show after a week off - and what a show to come back to!

Ended up talking about weird food combinations after we heard about the cafe in Newcastle that has started serving tomato soup cake and banoffee jacket potato! It all sounded a bit strange, so we asked you about some of your weird food combinations - and there was plenty of 'em!

The one that will haunt me forever is Alan from Milton who likes to have tea on his cereal. No milk, just hot tea poured on his breakfast! What is wrong with some people?! My worst taste combination is probably cheese and jam sandwiches. I always thought that that was unusual - but it's nothing compared to some of your suggestions!

Right, off to wade through my mountain of e-mails. Let me know if I've missed anything whilst I've been away, leave me a note on the Breakfast Show Messageboard below. See you in the morning from 7.

June 19

This morning we talked about our Dads, because we're just a couple of days ahead of Father's Day. We asked you to complete the sentence 'Only my Dad could....'. We had some great stories this morning, including Dens about when his Dad passed away - they took the funeral procession past the bookies so he could say goodbye! Also, the story of the Dad who poured hot chip fat into a plastic bucket and had it melting as he rushed down the street!

We had so many stories this morning, that there is barely enough space to put them here - suffice to say that the love we saw for fathers was overwhelming. So, it's your turn now. Spend some time with your Dad this weekend - make him realise just how important they are, and how much they're loved. If you're Dad isn't around, take a moment to think about him - the things about him that make you smile. And, if you're a Dad - have a great Father's Day.

I'm off next week, so Stuart George is with you 7 till 10 every morning next week. Keep me up to date with what's going on by going to the Breakfast Show Messageboard - and I'll speak to you again on Monday 29th June

June 17

Talked about West Side Story this morning, which rolled into Stoke On Trent this week. I'll admit I've never seen it, so I was desperately trying to shoe horn connections in, so I could sound 'cool'. However, I don't think that saying I've listened the Blondie's version of 'Maria' or that I want to go to America qualifies me as a fan. Shame...

We also talked a little about the 4-year-old that accidentally started a fire in Hanley last week when she was playing with a cigarette lighter. I'll be honest, I can't get over the fact that a young child was playing with a lighter in the first place. Now, I'm not a parent, but I would like to think that I would know what my child was playing with - especially if it was something that could cause a fire. And, as one texter asked this morning on the show - how did the four-year-old know how to use a lighter? I'm off to hold my head in my hands...

June 15

This morning we were talking about ***. You know........ ***. The Birds & The Bees. It all came about after Paula White got a letter about her youngest, saying that she was invited to a Sex Education talk at school, aged 9. So, was this too young? And, who told YOU about the facts of life?

I'll be honest, it was something of a mixed bag for me. Some of it came from school, some of it from my parents (that was SO uncomfortable!) and some of it from mates. So, a real combination.

And, you know, I think that that is best way of doing it. It shouldn't be the sole responsibility of the parents, in my view - the school should be involved as well as friends. That way you have people who you feel comfortable with, people who's opinion you respect and people who can sort out the truth from the facts, to help with your Sex Education.

However, it didn't all go smoothly. I vividly remember my teacher at primary school (I would have been 10) telling the whole class that babies were brought by the stork. My Mum went bananas.....

Have a good Monday. See you tomorrow morning from 7

June 11

If you're reading this any time after midnight on Thursday 11th June, then you might want to skip on to the next paragraph.
Today is the last day to vote for Wedgwood Museum in the Best Museum In Britain competition. The Stoke On Trent museum is up against one in Glasgow, and at 10am this morning it was all a bit neck and neck. Go to the home page if you want to know how to cast your vote.

Elsewhere we were talking about last days, after the elected mayor finished earlier on this week, and we heard from former councillor Jim Muir who, on his last day, came into his office to find his stuff already packed into a box!

Jim called to say that he did his job for 48 years - and he hated it. So, when the day come for him to retire he pretty much cartwheeled all the way home. He said he's never been so happy! Lovely to hear from him.....

June 9

This morning we talked about representing, after 19-year-old Emma Machin represented Staffordshire in the Miss England pageant last night (Monday). So, we wanted to know about the times that YOU represented your area - whether it was your county, town, village or street!

Helen from Chesterton called to say that she once represented Staffordshire in KARATE! I was very impressed, until she ruined my boyhood dreams by telling me that she had never struck the karate pose and said, in a threatening tone 'Watch out. I know karate..' Shame....

Tomorrow morning we are live from Leek between 7 and 10. We'll be in Market Place, so pop down and say 'Hello!'. It would be great to see you.

June 8

Morning. Hope you had a good weekend - mine was a bit mixed, if I'm honest. Went to Liverpool to see Beyonce on Saturday night. I felt completely wrong, as I think I was one of the only a handful of men in the entire 12,000-strong crowd! Still, she was superb and put on a great show.

Then, on Sunday I went to the christening of a friend's daughter. We went along because my wife was becoming a godmother - something she's done about 17 times for other kids, so she is a old hand at this now. The best was, though - because christenings are free the vicar didn't use the organ for the hymns, so he played his own guitar! Cracking stuff, it was like being back in school again. Also, he couldn't say the word 'baptism' which is a little more problematic. Instead, he would pronounce it as 'bartism'. Unfortunately, this meant that I got a huge attack of the giggles, which nearly ruined the entire ceremony.

Tomorrow on the show we're talking about your school photos. Apparently, the face you pull on that photo says something about the person you will turn out to be. I'll be bringing mine in, let's talk about yours. Tomorrow on BBC Radio Stoke from 7.

June 5

You know, I've started this morning's blog about 4 times this morning, but things keep changing so fast, I can't keep up!
As I write this, Newcastle's MP Paul Farrelly has come out and said that Gordon Brown should stand down; a cabinet reshuffle has seen Jack Straw, Alistair Darling and Peter Mandelson all keep their jobs - on top of that, we're barely halfway through the results of the Staffordshire County Council elections AND Stoke On Trent City council are voting for their new leader today.
You see: if you're reading this at any other time than 10.37am on Friday 5th June 2009 - it's already out of date!!

Elsewhere we talked about the Wynbunbury Fig Pie Wake which is taking place this weekend. Villagers (and visitors) roll their fig pie through the town and see who can roll it the farthest. I like the sound of this, but I'd rather eat a fig pie. Are they like a fig roll biscuit, but bigger with a crust on? If you've got a decent fig pie recipe, let me know via the messageboard.

June 3

Lights, camera, breakfast! Talked about the TV & movies on the show this morning as BBC Drama has come to Dillhorne in the Staffordshire Moorlands. We were after your stories of the times that YOU had been on the silver (or small) screen.
Plenty of you had been in various things, but my favourite story from the morning came from the BBC Radio Stoke listener who was 'kicking his heels' (i.e. out of work) in Port St Johns when he happened upon a film crew working on the latest Lee Marvin film - 'Shout At The Devil'. Anyway, he ended up getting a job on the set, as a carpenter, which took him to Malta for about a month!

Tomorrow on the show we are talking about you and laughing. What was the last thing that REALLY made you laugh - and when have you laughed when you know that you shouldn't have?
Get in touch in the morning from 7 on 01782 208 008 or on the text 07786 202 946 or leave your story on the message board.

June 2

Talked about one of my favourite topics this morning - cold calling. A street in Stoke-On-Trent has had a 'No Cold Calling Zone' which has turned out to be a bit of a success, and there is talk of more being introduced in the coming months.

Now, this is a subject that is close to my heart. I can't stand unwanted and uninvited people coming to the door. I don't mind if it's neighbours or friends popping round - but people wanting to know if I want some gardening doing, or new windows, or whether or not I've found whichever god they're peddling - NO!

I've even gone as far as putting up a sign saying that visitors without an appointment will not be entertained - that's being ignored. So, there have been a couple of frosty standoffs with window and energy salesmen who knock and ring until I get out of bed (I need my beauty sleep in the afternoons) and pointedly refuse to speak to them, pointing at the sign all the while.

Let's hope they get the message.

We also talked about BBQ's - what have you been chucking on your barbie? Spoke to one guy who cooked a pavlova on his barbecue! Can you better that? Leave your story on the messageboard. I'm off now to avoid the sun.

June 1

Morning! Another week, another warm day!

Good to see you if you popped down to Hanley and saw us in the Potteries Shopping Centre this morning between 9 and 10. We did the last hour of the show down there, as the centre had come of age and was celebrating its 21st Birthday!

Plenty of you remember the market (and the graveyard!) that was there 22 years ago. I wonder if, in the current recession, it's all going to be there in another 21 years time?

We also talked about the Britain's Got Talent final and ensuing melee regarding Susan Boyle. Should she have been put through the auditions, if the producers knew about her vulnerability and frail state? I'd be interested in knowing what you think. Let us know on the messageboard, click on the link below.

Back tomorrow from 7. Have a good, warm (or hot!) Monday.