SPECIAL NOTICE FROM THE WEBMASTER

AS WALLY GETS STUCK INTO HIS HOME RENOVATIONS WE'LL TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO UPGRADE HIS COMPUTER SO THIS SITE WILL REMAIN 'AS IS' UNTIL THE NEXT SCHEDULED UPDATE WHICH SHOULD BE SATURDAY 14th NOVEMBER.
DON'T FORGET WALLY'S ON-AIR WITH THE RICHARD SPENDLOVE SHOW THAT SATURDAY NIGHT.

The BIG secret is OUT !

So here's what I've been up to today. Sorry I couldn't reveal all sooner but the producers didn't want a massive crowd to control so if you happened to be near the Forum in Norwich today, this is what you'd have seen! Broadcast date for the Hairy Bikers 12 Days of Christmas is December 15th on BBC2. Click on image to see full size then use back arrow to return here.

Simon and David are really nice guys.It was great to work with them and producer Andy and the team. What a crew! First they force me to eat magnificent roast partridge stuffed with chestnuts together with pickled pears (recommended) Not as bad as it might sound. then yes - they did make me sing although I recruited the audience to back me up as we sang "a Partridge in a pear tree." (Yes - Partridge spelt with a capital P)

Radio Car Travelogue 2-6 November

Monday 2nd and the M1 is 50 years old today along with Watford Gap Services. Here's our equivalent on the A47, the Cafe where I met up with Peter Butler Manager of the South Eastern Region of the Road Haulage Association.Does Norfolk need a motorway? No - he thinks not. Just better dual carriageways would help. Lots of calls saying that we don't need them! Then to Cringleford where the bodies of a man and a woman were discovered in this bugalow on Brettingham Avenue. A quiet leafy backwater where the murders have shocked the locals. Apparently one suspect has been held for questioning and the Police are anxious to reassure everyone that there are no other suspects.

Lotus Factory at Hethel is my first call for Tuesday. Just look what I found round the back of the paint sheds! A replica Spitfire which Lotus are refurbishing for next years 70th Battle of Britain anniversary. Pictured here with Customer Services Manager Neil Turner.
Next, I'm at County Hall where there's a protest about the possible closure of the Essex and Silver Rooms. These day care centres provide for frail and mentally ill people and I'm speaking with Alison Birmingham of Unison.

Turning off street lights to save money and help the environment. Today it's under discussion by the County Council. Out on the street I met up with Andrew Boswell, a green County councellor who thinks there's a limited reduction to be made. Not far away, I'm on Marlpit Lane which has been closed for some time now because of work on Hellesdon Bridge. Callers are asking why it's taking so long and the explanation for the extended works comes from David McCarter, a bridge engineer for Norfolk County Council. At nearly 200 years old the bridge (like any old structure) threw up some structural problems but he assures us it will open on the new scheduled date early December.
After returning to the Forum I got to meet the people I'm filming the Christmas Special with. Here's just a glimpse. If you can't work out who it is I'm fairly sure I'll be able to reveal all tomorrow!!

Bonfire day - good old Guy Fawkes. First I'm talking about farmers doing more to protect water supplies and wildlife with Chris Allhusen on his farm at Bradenham. Chris also supplies me with a couple of bags of hay with which to 'build' our very own Guy. Thanks to the Break Charity shop, Michelle there fixes me up with some cast off clothing. Jeans, a rugby shirt, hat and scarf. Perfect for our remodelled Chris Goreham who takes in good spirit when we sit him opposite 'himself' in the studio!

Last job of the week before I go on leave and it's congratulations to Vic Gosling seen here at Ranworth Broad. Vic's completed nearly 45 years on the Broads Dredging Team and seen every part of the broads. Today they'll celebrate his retirement with a meal at the Oaklands in Norwich. Vic's wife already has the list of jobs drawn up! Which reminds me - so has mine!! Good luck Vic.

Radio Car Travelogue 26 - 30 October

Monday I was at Great Yarmouth talking about an NHS scheme to employ a dance teacher for 10-12 year old to learn the art of getting excercise. An ingenious idea which we'll have to follow up once a suitable person has been appointed!
Tuesday morning on the early hur Martha of Georgia wanted to know what our dustcarts were like. Jayne from Swaffham swiftly supplied this pic to show her after which she mailed the show to say "Gee aren't they small and cute. Ours are giant lumbering noisy trucks!".
My only outside job today is across the road from the Forum at the Theatre Royal where chief executive Peter Wilson talks about their survey of what the theatre gives to the community by way of local industry and tourism. It's quite significant!

Out with the hunt on Wednesday morning but first a stop at the filling station in Roughton on the Cromer Road. Third time now for an Oscar of the forecourt world - Forecourt Trader Customer Services Excellence for Operations Director Danny Syrett pictured here with assistant Amanda.

Down a muddy trail in Gunthorpe then trying to keep up with the West Norfolk hunt. They wouldn't wait for me! Eventually I managed to get Joint Master Bill Borret to talk to us. We were asking if the Bill on hunting was effective and Chris Goreham had studio guests to follow up our conversation and of course there were plenty of your thoughts coming in too! As for my pics - although they were shot in a hurry and could have been composed better - they look just like oil paintings don't you think.

to see any photo on the blog bigger, left click on it with your mouse. USE the back-button to return to this page after viewing.

For Thursdays journey I've come out to Fakenham just near the town centre. Here retired vet Colin Vogel has built a new house in his back garden behind the Vistorian mansion. Built in just 30 hours this more than eco-friendly house came from Germany. The massive lounge windows are triple glazed and the insulation and heat conservation of the building means that he'll rarely need to swith the wood-chip burning heating system on!

Reporting for BBC News, I was at the Norwich war memorial today when they lifted out the two sealed caskets from the centre plinth. Inside are the names of those who fell in the First World War and in the other - a mystery. Here, the county archivist and a representative from Caters (who carrying out the refurbishment) hand the casket over to a member of the Royal British Legion (lastly) seen holding them both with the tower of City Hall in the background.

A damp misty start to Friday and we're on the Halloween theme. After stopping cars in a layby to offer them a Halloween treat I travel the coast road to Walcott. Here's the Lighthouse Inn with the church in the background. Owner Steve Bullimore has put twenty years of effort to good use. The massive impressive kitchens have a dedicated staff and I'm impressed too by the cleanliness. We talk about the storm two years ago now when nearly the whole village took refuge here overnight. Steve is very much for helping the community. Next Friday (6th Nov) is their annual firework display. In fact two! The first at 7.15 and then again at 8.15. It's £6.50 pp on the night but advance tickets from the pub are just a fiver.

Radio Car Travelogue 19 - 23 October

Remember last week, I was in Wells to talk about the new dredger that will improve conditions at the outer coastline. Now Wells is making news again. Here's enterprising Mark Guymer who's brought back the weekly market after 20 years. It's on trial and the toughest time of the year to make a go of it but come the summer season ! Who knows. It's on the car park of the Ark Royal pub and right next door to the pay and display car park near to the harbour.

Meet the new boss at Lotus F1 and Ding Dong - the dog that rings its own bell! Left - Mike Gasgoyne, chief technical officer for Lotus F1 Racing now based at Hingham. Financial backing has come from Malaysia where the new company will also have a base. Right - Patch the dog ringing his own doorbell invented by his owner George Moore. A simple remote control pad allows Patch to press and ring when he wants to come in. Much better than barking and sold through George on his website http://www.dogsdoorbell.co.uk/

Wednesday and it's TRAFALGAR DAY. At Norwich School at the cathedral there's this statue of Nelson where Head Boy Steve Squirrell will lay a wreath as part of the schools commemoration to one of their own. Nelson was educated here between the ages of 10 and 12 before going on to Paston School in North Walsham. There was also an early morning service in the cathedral for all the students.

Thursday and the start of the postal strike. I'm on the picket line at Thorpe Road sorting office. Centre pic - Mally Hill Branch Secretary of the CWU. Today it's collection drivers and sorting staff who're out. Tomorrow it'll be the delivery drivers and post men and women. Here' my next task - post a letter! As an experiment I've posted a note to Chris Goreham in Wymondham and we're going to see how long it takes to get to his home!

So it's Friday and we're talking about bonfire night. Sparks In The Park organised by Norwich City Council has always been at Earlham Park for the past years and there's always been plenty of parking. Here, Events Manager Helen Selleck says that this year there's be no public parking except for disabled drivers. They can't run the risk of rain and cars ruining the grassed areas. There will be Park & Ride services though from Thickthorn. Then - off to Great Yarmouth Market Place where they hope to break the world recod for Where's Wally characters. Kits at £5 each seen here modelled by Town Centre Manager Jonathan Newman and his glamourous assistant. Can you spot which is which? The record of 1005 is currently held by New York ! Good luck.

Trafalgar Day Parade

Twelve members of the East Norfolk Militia together with the Marine Cadets band marked the death of Lord Nelson with a service and ceremony at the Nelson Monument at Great Yarmouth. At 1305, the time that Nelson was shot, a single muskett was fired from the plinth of the monument to mark the moment.
For myself, I forgot to bring my hat so had to borrow one. Unfortunately it was very large ! I wonder if you can tell. I had to march with my head held very still!!

Radio Car Travelogue 12 - 16 October

Where did Monday go? In fact there was no-one for me to interview so I made myself useful around the office. Today though, Tuesday, plenty on my platter! First, to Barrack Street (so named because there used to be an old military barracks here in the 19th century) The block of flats that the council sold off have stood empty for two years now and look a disgrace. First pic is across the road and shows what they can look like if cared for. Next pic leader of the Greens on Norwich City Council, Adrian Ramsay came down on his bike to talk to us about the situation. The council is taking the new owners to task to at least clean up the site.
Next, I'm back at the Forum for a quick cookery demonstration to show how you can cook fish in a dishwasher! Yes, that's right, and later they proved it by eating the nice haddock fillet that was done to a turn. Trouble was, the smell penetrated the second floor and had all the TV people complaining about the smell!!
On a similar theme, my final job today is at Cromer where they're launching the Cromer & Sheringham Crab & Lobster Festival. Why has no-one thought of this before! Picyured left to right, Tony Ship (festival chairman) Hilary Thompson (Mayor of Cromer) and a lobster! Just like the elephant trail in Norwich last year, they're having a crab and lobster trail. Sponsors are already queueing up so we can look forward to a bumper fest next May!

Wednesday and we're looking at a brand new class of apple. I last interviewed Margaret Butcher when we were talking about women taxi drivers. She's still doing it and loving every minute. In the meantime, at her home in Lakenham, she managed to get someone to identify the apples from her tree in the garden. They're like no others! Literally, in a class of their own and she's named this hitherto unknown variety Lakenham Glory. How good is that? Then still on a theme I suppose, of women in the workplace, we're live from Sprowston Manor Hotel where the energy industry is excouageing women to come into what is predominantly a male industry. Pictured left (with the kilt so he doesn't feel out of place!) Chairman of Skills For Energy, Blair Ainsley with consultant Annette Thomas.

Long distance Thursday and a trip to Wells-next-the-Sea. A new dredger is launched which will help to maintain the channel into the harbour. It's come about because of the Sheringham Shoals windfarm construction who'll have a pontoon for craft that will go out to maintain the turbines. It will have obvious knock-on effects for the town too! Here's Wells Harbour Master Robert Smith who met me down by the quayside.

Friday and we're celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Mustard Shop since its move to the Royal Arcade. It's survived despite a couple of name changes to the company and now it's run by Norwich HEART (Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust). Recently appointed Manager Nick Cook has a long career in retail recently working up at Sandringham. Formerly you would have seen him running the Forum Shop and will now welcome you to this important part of the Citys history.
Success for Raschools Playgroup in Brundall. Firstly, success meant increasing numbers wanting their services and success now in finding a new larger home. They've moved from Brundall Memorial Hall to this house with outside classroom thanks to the generosity of local councillor Mike Snowling. Currently though, to bring the facilities up to scratch they're looking out for skilled workmen to offer offer their services and local companies to help provide materials. If you can help their mail address is raschoolsbrundallplaygroup@googlemail.com Raschools is a registered charity with a committee managed by volunteers.

Who Has The Biggest ?

Mine's bigger than yours - but who do you think has the biggest? At the recent gathering of the e-mail Mob Wally and Andy from Northampton spent some time fishing. Well, the venue was at the waterside so we weren't really being unsociable. If you've watched the video, you'll know that Martha from Georgia was really impressed by our maggots! She also snapped these two pics but can't decide who's got the biggest. Can you tell?

Radio Car Travelogue 5 - 9 October

Another Monday and my first trip is to Llamas to talk with Nina and Andy about the air ambulance. Nina, pregnant with twins suffered a ruptured aorta and they might all have died but for the Air Ambulance bringing expert assistance to them. Just look at them now! Next we're live from Costessey Junior School talking Travel Trumps! I beg your pardon! Children these days are taught to be green. Some of them pictured here with Head Teacher Tony Hull.



£400,000 is no small sum of money to raise, but raise it they must at the Hobart High School in Loddon if they want to keep the roof over their heads! The framework holding the glassfibre panels is now so dated and poorly insulated. Pictured left to right, Head Teacher John Robson, student Faith, student Mathew (just qualified as a swimming teacher) and Mark Stone, a teacher at the school and Chairman of the White Dolphin Swimming Club. The community relies on this facility and fundraising is planned to reach their target of £120,000.

Wet Wednesday and wouldn't you believe it. As I drive over a muddy field at Swainsthorpe to meet up with agricultural contractor James Wenn, we talk about the drought and how the beet is too difficult to lift. Thanks for scraping the boots off James and let's hope that we get some more rain soon so they can lift the harvest. Apparently it's not done the crop much harm though!
Then, for our big debate today about whether or not Watton Town Council and the Police should pay for young drinkers to get home by taxi. It stirred many to contact the Breakfast Show and I spoke to Mayor of Watton Margaret Holmes who said it was just £300 of funding that was available and it was the Police who suggested the scheme. We'll check how it works out.

Technology has left at least one pub landlord with a headache. Graham Patchings is manager of the Castlegates pub on Timberhill in Norwich. As you can see, he goes big on footy with four screens and a sports mad clientele. Trouble is this weekends England game against Ukraine. It's on-line only and he fears that this might be the future and he can't get access to show it. Even if he could the download speeds in the county aren't quick enough to cope. If demand rockets, the servers might crash through sheer numbers. He's frustrated and so are his punters!

So another week whizzes by! Here's Peter Monteith, Regional Manager for Digital UK. We're talking about that new tower you can see rising up alongside the old Tacolneston transmitter. Eventually it'll be fifty feet above the old one which will then be dismantled. After that the digital signal will be boosted so we can all get all the freeview channels. (We hope!)

Next, we're hearing how a Norfolk company is to supply 300,000 wetland plants for the 2012 Olympic area. Leftof the pic is Edward Raker from the Salix Nursery Thetford (Croxton avtually) and Andy Cooper, the nursery manager who tending to the wetland babes. Eventually they'll be lifted next year and transported to the site.

Chunky's Text

A number of you wanted to hear Chunky's text again on Friday and someone suggested that I post it so here goes.

Being British is about driving a German car to an Irish pub for a Belgian beer. On the way home you grab an Indian curry or a Turkish kebab then sit on a Swedish sofa watching American tv shows on a Japanese set. Most of all being British is to be suspicious of anything foreign! Only in Britain can you get a pizza delivered to your home faster than an ambulance. Only in Britain do banks leave both doors open and chain the pen to the counter. Supermarkets make sick people walk to the back of the store to get prescriptions whilst healthy people get their fags at the front of the shop. We might be British but by hell we're funny! Chunky.