Archives for July 2007
More rights for unmarried couples...
Should unmarried couples get the same rights when they split up as married people do? Well the group which advises the government on legal matters says, in some cases they should. So should those who argue for the sanctity of marriage be worried?
And, why aren't there more male teachers in Primary schools? The teacher training organisations say more men in junior classes would be better for everyone, especially young boys.
Too painful to watch
Sometimes, even the armchair can be exhausting.
Watching the Tour de France - or even the ballet. It makes my calves ache just to witness the physical exertions.
A couple of controversial ideas on the programme this morning.
First there is the suggestion that some young British Asians think you have to be a "coconut" to get ahead in Britain - that is brown on the outside, white on the inside.
We're also hearing from police who think they need a new law against driving under the influence of drugs.
Dangerous dogs for sale
I'm the audience editor on Five Live and we've been investigating the trade in dangerous and illegal dogs. 
You can find all the details and see some more pictures by clicking here
Also on the programme we're getting your ideas for the opening ceremony of the London Olympics on July 27, 2012.
Woodcraft Folk
This from my colleague Andy Verity
When I was twelve and a member of the Woodcraft Folk I must admit I wasn't exactly sure what it was all about, apart from wearing a scruffy green jacket made of thick cotton, running around in the playground of my old primary school playing rounders, going off to the occasional summer camp and continually failing to remember the difference between a reef knot and a granny knot. So it was weird to find myself as a reluctant champion of the cutting edge of this country's environmental movement. Nicky asked me if I was ever a member of the scouts. Honest answer: "No, but I was a member of the Woodcraft Folk".
Name your supergroup
Good morning!
Who would make it into your ultimate supergroup? A survey out this morning reckons Freddie should be on lead vocals...but who's be in your best ever band?
The floods hit Oxford...
Good Morning...
...Today on the show - hundreds of people are told to evacuate their homes as flooding hits Oxford, while in Gloucestershire, a third of a million people are to be without running water for two weeks. We'll also take a look at the fight against deadly hospital infections, with the number of people catching the deadly C-difficile virus on the up...
Better news for Gloucester
A sense of relief in Gloucester at least this morning - with news that a power station on the outskirts has not been flooded. Last night that was the fear - so it was a relief to hear this morning that the station had not succumbed. If it had, then there could have been more power cuts and even more trouble keeping clean water supplies going.
We'll have the latest details throughout this morning's programme. We'll also consider claims that our towns and cities are blighted by gangs of marauding yobs.
Shelagh joins the Scouts - and wants your memories
Hi
On August 1, Shelagh's going to spend the morning with the Scouts.
Why? Because that's the day the most famous youth movement in the world celebrates its 100th birthday.
Here's Shelagh at the jamboree, interviewing one of the movement's more prestigious members: Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus, the King of Sweden.
What are your memories of the Scouts? Were they the happiest days of your life - or perhaps all those badges/camping/knots/fresh air just got you down? Are you a member now? What is it about the Scouts that's made the organisation last so long and reach around the globe?
Wherever you live in the world, whatever your age, post your thoughts here on our Worldwide Bloggle. Your contributions will help us compile our special programme.
Update (Weds 25th) - despite the floods elsewhere... the Scouts insist the show goes on... click here
Flood Chaos
Floods...
Another day and more chaos caused by the floods.Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Oxfordshire are among those worst affected. The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, is preparing to visit Gloucestershire where thousands of people are without drinking water after a pumping station in Tewkesbury was flooded. Flooding is also threatening an electricity sub station in Gloucester - with fears that half a million people could be left without power.
We want to hear from you if you've been affected by the floods.
Your defining Royal moment.....
What was the defining moment which influenced the way you think about the Royal family?
Was it the Queen's Annus Horribilis?
Maybe the reaction to the death of The Queen Mother?
Or the death of Diana, Princess of Wales?
What about the Golden Jubilee?
Maybe you had your own personal brush with Royalty which has affected your view, either pro or anti?
Please post below.
Nicky in a silly hat
Nicky's at Carnoustie - here an Open official estimates by how much an average Campbell putt misses the hole
For more pics click here
Rory glory?
Good morning! I'm back up at Carnoustie for the Open and we'll be seeing if it's a day of Glory for Rory. Can the amateur champion from Nothern Ireland weigh up against the old hands? Also the burning question remains - is it even remotely possible to look cool wearing golf clothes as Ian Poulter claims? We shall see...
Also on the show today, we'll be looking into the news that there'll be no charges over the cash for honours affair and asking the three main parties what they think should happen next.
New golf terms please !
It’s day one of the 136th Open Golf Championship and I am at Carnoustie – the course that is said to be the hardest of the Open venues - with Shelagh holding the fort in the studio.
Golf is a game of jargon (birdies, eagles, dog-legs etc) but how about some 2007 terminology? We're on the lookout for suggestions for updated golfing jargon.
BABY JOY! GARDEN DELIGHT!
Good morning!
If you heard the programme yesterday, you’d have heard the text updates we were getting from our listener Doran on his wife who was in labour. We talk to him today about his new baby girl, Libby.
And we'll hear that Britain's front gardens are disappearing. If you've got a glorious front garden - send us a pic. We're posting them on our Flickr site - see the right hand column
Rich or Poor?
ROSS HAWKINS, FIVE LIVE POLITICAL REPORTER
This morning we report from Anfield - not on multi-million pound transfers, but the poverty around the stadium.
The area is dominated by boarded up terraced homes – many awaiting demolition. Residents say they attract rats, arsonists and drug dealers.
The government thinks these streets are the most deprived in England.
The Battle Against Waste
Good Morning - We're talking about our rubbish today and what's the best way to manage our recycling.
Do fortnightly rubbish collections work or do you feel that your bag of recycled rubbish is already sitting in front of your house for far too long? A group of MP's are saying that the current scheme collections are unsuitable for many places AND have little impact on levels of recycling.
What do you think - are you happy with the alternative weekly pickup or does it leave our streets looking full of litter 24/7?
Play to win
Morning - have you run in the school sports day egg and spoon race yet this summer? If so we're the elbows out as you knocked the other mums and dads out of the way in a quest for sporting glory?
Or was it a question of "after you" and rosettes and certificates for everyone - because it's wrong to have winners and losers.
We're hearing from Gordon Brown this morning - the new PM wants a new focus on competitive sport in schools. But for every winner - there's a loser. Problem?
Tale of two Campbells
Good Morning!
Were you torn last night over which Campbell to watch? Alistair was on BBC2 with his diaries- while Nicky was then on BBC1 with his search for the background of his adoptive family. If you missed either or both - here's one review. You can also read Nicky's own article about it.
Today on the programme, we ask why the money needed to speed up the inquest process into the deaths of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan isn't being granted. We'll also take a look at new plans to introduce American-style yellow buses for children on the school run. And 90 years on, we revisit one of the most harrowing battles of the First World War.
My Wonderful Life
On BBC1 Tonight - 9pm Who Do You Think You Are?
Every Christmas in our house we practise the sacred family tradition of sitting down with a box of tissues to watch It's a Wonderful Life. From the first roll of the credits, I'm rendered inconsolable and despite the director Frank Capra's artful but frankly transparent manipulation of our feelings, I've never quite fathomed why. Why do I let down my defences and let this Hollywood hokum exploit me? The incomparable James Stewart plays George Bailey, a man who is shown a parallel universe: what the world would have been like had he not been in it.
It is about the role fate plays, the effect we have on each other and the irreplaceable role played by families and our closest relationships in making us who and what we are. If I hadn't been adopted by a wonderful Edinburgh family in 1961, I think it somewhat unlikely I'd be crouched over a lap top writing this. My wife would be a total stranger, my children wouldn't exist and I - well, I would be someone else.
The night I "sang" with Madonna
by Five Live producer Louisa Compton
To say that I've spent half my life idolising Madonna, doesn't do my obsession enough justice. So imagine my excitement when, backstage at Wembley on Friday sorting out Five Live's plans for coverage of the Live Earth concerts, I overhear someone saying Madonna is about to do her soundcheck. Double quick I run to the stage where several of her dancers and backing singers are warming up.
After about twenty minutes a woman in a big, black coat slowly walks on stage and the whole stadium falls silent as two people run up and remove her coat. Coat off and she springs into action -- inspecting her dancers, giving out stage directions and essentially bossing everyone around. The rehearsal begins and as she's singing her fourth and final song, "Hung Up", I'm thinking can this possibly get any better?
Monitor & Supervise
Good morning!
Questions are being asked about why the ringleader of the failed July 21 bombings was allowed to visit Pakistan months before the attacks, we look at what Britain's authorities can do to monitor potential terrorists . Also today, there are fresh fears that convicted criminals are not being properly supervised when they get out of jail, we'll hear why the head of the probation service feels his staff are stretched to the limit.
And M and S are in the news this morning - we'll hear about their latest results - and the impact of the rise in interest rates.
Hurray for Murray!
Good Morning!
Today on the show we celebrate a Murray victory at the tennis, Jamie that is, who beat his brother to be the first Briton to win a Wimbledon title in twenty years. And Tony Blair's former master of spin Alistair Campbell publishes his memoirs - we'll give you the lowdown and ask should he have let Gordon Brown settle in as Prime Minister before publishing?
When Paul met John
What would the world be like if there had never been The Beatles? It was exactly 50 years ago today that Paul McCartney met John Lennon. This morning we're going back to the exact place and asking, what if it had never happened?
Tunnel vision
There are loads of pictures of Nicky and guests at Pencoyd Court Farm in Hereford. Click here
Strawberry fields forever?
Nicky's getting a taste of life on the farm - live from Hereford.
See more by clicking on the pictures in the column on the right.
He'll be learning about fruit picking - and hearing about poly-tunnels....one of the most controversial recent developments in agriculture.
The future of farming - or a blot on the landscape?
Healthy postbag
Yesterday many of you posted on the blog to tell us your experiences of the NHS. Whatever your experience we want to hear it...and we'll compile a dossier to send to Health Secretary Alan Johnson.
Be the Monarch
Could you be the Monarch of Five Live?
In the next few weeks we're planning some special reporting about the Royal family - and its importance in Britain today.
To that end we're looking to crown one of you the King or Queen of Five Live.
As the station's monarch you will have just one absolute power - you get to decide how and what we discuss about the Royal Family.
We want your ideas for what reports, debates and interviews we should broadcast over one week. You can post your pitch here - with your suggestions and ideas for coverage across Five Live. Please be as radical and imaginative as you can.
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Podcast
5LNPI: Christmas sales - godsend or god-awful? 28 Dec 09
10:43 Mon, 28 Dec 09
If the figures are to be believed, we all love a bargain. Millions have been spent since the sales started -- and the shops expect another busy day today. It's certainly good for the economy - and doesn't getting something for a bit less make us feel good too? But are the sales really all they're cracked up to be…all that queuing and elbowing for a few quid off? Why can't we stay out of the shops for more than 24 hours at a time? Or is grabbing a bargain exactly what the boost we need after a tricky year?ar?
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