Good morning. What on EARTH are you doing up at this time?
Another Saturday morning has arrived. The headlines ...News online says Regional Congo talks are planned.. , there's to be a new agency to replace the CSA, and the Daily Mirror front page makes Jonathan Ross a pumpkin. And talking of "gates" as Jen does below, the Guardian today has Dara O'Briain referring to the Sachs affair as "man-has-his-feelings-hurt-gate."
But never mind all that.
I want to know what YOU are doing up at this time.
Is there a special Saturday reason for you getting up early? Or a mundane one? We don't mind...just tell us please.
We're trying to build a picture of what we're ALL doing during iPM.
If you get a moment, please click on Comment, just below, to let me know...or email ipm@bbc.co.uk
(stifles yawn)
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I'm listening from Melbourne, Australia -working!
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I am in the middle east and 4 hours ahead, so this is mid morning. Radio 4 on my PC is my link to the UK
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Its 0650 here in Southern France where its wet but getting lighter. I am wrestling with instructions from IKEA and trying to assemble some of their furniture!
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In bed, psyching myself to get up before 6am. That's normal. What's lucky is that I am today on a futon with my laptop next to it, as I am in the process of clearing things out of my house, packing up, and moving to Thailand.
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Dear Ed,
I am listening to Radio 4 in Duba, having breakfast but it is 9.54!
Hope this counts
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Well - I am often up at this hour working on my computer on the kitchen table and listening to BBC radio Four online (I'm a particular fan of Digital Planet on the World Service too). At this particulat time I am turning all the heaters on and looking over my bklog and email. I suppose I am trying to get a "jump" on the day having had my daughter and a friend sleep over after haloween and with a Verdi rehearsal later in the evening which I must rehearse for today (I sing in a choir).
That's about it.
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I am up with my 21 month old son. His body clock has not recovered from the clocks changing last week.
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What am I doing?
I'm registering for the blog which for me took most of the time.
.It's 7 am here and this is my normal time of rising.
Dave
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We are farmers. We always get up early.
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What am I doing at this time of morning? A. Woke up at 04:00 and then a dozen thoughts started whizzing around my head. Tossed and turned, for an hour and then decided to get up and read a pile of mail and pay some bills on line - life on the edge eh?! R4's on in the background.
'not sure if it's my stressful job or my age (54), but I quite regularly wake early these days.
There's my reason.
Cheers,
Gordon Jago.
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an early-riser - always awake by this time
i know it's a bit nerdy for this time of day but i'm lying in bed with my laptop checking out a couple of things: that the work i was doing last night on on a web-site still looks as good as i thought it did last night ... and, also, that the arrangement i was doing for my choir sounds as good in the cold of this saturday morning as i thought it did last night!
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I cannot edit my comment - but in one sentence - I am blogging at this hour (typically).
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Don't forget your listeners on the internet. I am up right now because it is lunchtime in Thailand where I live.
Gareth Griffiths Hua Hin
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Up at 5.30 to go to work as Sister in Out Patient Department which starts clinics at 08.00!
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Hi, I am up early (as I often am these days), today putting my hand-embroidered miniatures into their packs for selling. I make little cards with tiny hand-stitched textiles mounted onto them. Today I am taking a batch to the Five Sailed Windmill in Alford Lincolnshire for them to sell in their tea-room. I have had the cards pressing under piles of books all night to make them nice and crisp! Now they are going into cello bags with their envelopes ready for sale. I love the sunrise, but only since I have turned 50! Mine was certainly a 'change' as my body clock is quite different now.
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Just getting out of bed (05:45) Eddie!
Early riser I'm afraid - I try to stay in bed, but never manage it.
First thing I do is make a cuppa and check my email and today I joined your blog.
BFN
Graham
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The early morning offers cleaner air, less crowded streets, and a strange cameraderie with other early risers, who seem more cheerful and courteous. Early broadcasts are more substantial and interesting than the dumbed-downed media world generally full of trivia and banality.
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When Eddie asked what we were doing just after 5.45, I was making a cup of green tea for my wife. I am often up between 5.30 and 6.00, or listening to Radio 4 on an earphone before getting up to make myself and wife a cuppa (I drink a pot of Darjeeling tea before breakfast) - that's my body clock. However, it is unusual for both of us to be awake, and is probably the result of our recent return from Australia late on Thursday night combined with the 'time of the month' for my wife.
I love the early morning hours getting ready for the day and taking the dog for a walk on the field opposite our house.
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Hi,
I usually wake at around 04:00 (no alarm clock). Thirty odd years of shift working appears to have caused this.
I have been retired 5 years and still wake at roughly the same time. No matter what time I go to bed I wake at approximatelythe same time.
I usually use my cross trainer for 20 mins. , shower, do any washing-up and then go on the computer (response time are better). Luckerly I live by myself and disturb nobody.
Kindest Regards
Greg
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Dear ipm, i am currently listentin to you live and have been most of the night as my neighbours have been having the party from hell, considering that last night was halloween. i live in a housing association flat in a student area of manchester.
its been going on since 10.30pm and it is still continuing. i am not a student and threr ar other permenant residents on this street the police are powerless. its now 6.10am
i'ved had ear plugs in and the radio and and the overwhelming noise is next door.
i am offten awoken went there isn't a party because of the change in licenisng laws at 3-4 iam with roady home commers worst decision the goventment ever made.
manchester
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Eddie asks what I am doing up at this time? PPP of course, what else do elderly men do!!! Seems your moderator isn't up or is late coming in.About parking machines, if we all neglected to throw a few odd small coins in the cubbyhole or tray in the car, then thousands of quid in coins would have to be held in the box for days,and need topping up, whilst(or while) pound coins can go down into a box in the ground, you would need a bigger box mounted above to store and deliver by gravity. I know nothing about parking meters, just a conjecture on the problem. Direct your ire at the hospitals charging worried or grieving relatives to park at extortionate levels. Noel frotsdad.
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My central heating is broken - the cold has been waking me up early!
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Sitting in bed with a cup of tea, worrying about a row i may have to have with the designer of a magazine we are in the final stages of putting together. after writing the last captions yesterday evening I sat and watched Atonement, at least the first hour or so until i fell asleep on the sofa. My children gave it to me for my birthday last month and have i think been watching it over half term. I was under the impression it was a gosford park type period costume drama, but obviously there is quite a lot in it that they might find disturbing (especially my daughter). so i am worrying about that too. should I discuss it with her, or wait and see?
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At the time that you asked, I was doing a Times mind game and waiting for the coffee perculator to finish so that I could use both to wake up my brain, having had a heavy sleep. I am usually up at this time of day, but I wish I knew why I only seem to need 4 or 5 hours sleep.
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I am one of those strange people who cant start the day without listening to the shipping forecast and therefore am lying awake and listening to your programme which follows the news.
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I'm an early riser anyway and my body clock has yet to adjust to BST. What am I up to? Designing a new house while waiting for it to get light enough to go out for a run.
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Lying in bed in Poland ? iPM comes on at 6.45 CET. I listen using an iTrip plugged into the satellite receiver which gives me the broadcast on any FM radio in the house.
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Good grief - we are a mixed bunch! Farmers, poor vnhart (22) with the broken heating (can anyone help?) and Gombler (4) preparing for a new life. Good luck.
Obviously I INSIST that everyone who's written of being in a far flung corner of the world (even you Iain at 3...struggling with your Ikea build) sends Jen and me a nice postcard which we'll put on the blog. Go on! iPM, Room G601, BBC News Centre, London W12 7RJ. It's the least you can do for those of us in the UK struggling through the cold and dark (though it's now finally getting light).
And wherever you are...thanks for letting us know. Goodness knows what we'll do with the information. Stay tuned!
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4.45am each and every day the cows need to be milked and fed -milk for your morning cup of tea,breakfast cereals and coffee. enjoy and appreciate a fantastic food--it's going to be months before we start work in daylight again !
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Hi Eddie,
I was just wondering what you were doing up at that time of day?
Anyway, I was emailing my son who I haven't heard from for a few weeks. You know how it is, they don't answer your phone messages and texts, you wonder what eternal wrong you did, you wonder if they still want to know you? Got BBC news on the tele but my back is turned toward it as I'm writing this. Just let the cat (Reg) back in who is now lounging on the table next to me. Its getting light and I'm contmplating the day. Have a good one.
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Chilly vnhart- your broken heating must have saved you a fortune in gas, or at least enough to go and get a thicker duvvitt to snuggle under,better go soon or all the shops will be bankrupt. lotsa togs mean no need to mend boiler, alternative and cheaper still is to buy Sat and Sun Telegraph/Times, very thick, but very warrm after opening all those sections and lay sheets alternately to increase thickness and insulation.
You can further boost warmth by setting fire to them, but a bit dodgy and temporary!!
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It's past 7 now so haven't you had enough? Dr Grumble is preparing a lecture for GPs.
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I got home from work at 6.30 am, walked the dog and am now sitting down to an enormous bowl of porrige.
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Well, I only heard it now, when it reached my podcast feed. At 5.40 I think I may have been listening to Slate Spoiler Special.
So, as I was up and listening (to something else) at the time, I going to tell you what I was doing: woke up at 4am and decided to continue working on my open source project - it probably lives or dies depending on how close it gets to completion this weekend.
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Good morning Eddie,
I just woke up early and lay in bed thinking 'that sounds like Eddie Mair'.
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Preparing to get up and get on with the day. Its good to have an interesting prog, with a great presenter. Thanks for getting up Eddie!
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This comment is rated - - - MUNDANE :)
Why I am up: I am an early riser; grew up on a farm(ranch). But the real reason I am listening is because of who I am. And because I like your show. I like compendium radio reports. I like being awake early and I like listening to 'varied reports' of people, places and ordinary things.
Why who I am makes me choose iPM?
Basically I like short stories over novels; poetry over short stories and on the radio, I really like passionate stories covered alternatively from eclectic sources.
You are a short little program and your lead-in show I do enjoy. Another short little program I absolutely hate to miss is POV on Sunday mornings - I listen to it while driving to the gym.
BTW:
I am a legal alien, American, in the country 4 years and a die-hard R4 fan for slightly longer than that. It began with World News @ Night while I was still in the states. I tend to choose R4 before even music on the player, whichever player is to hand (CD, auto, portable, nightstand radio).
Final Nonsense:
And if I were a radio personality I would want to have a voice exactly like yours.
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I'm in bed, reading. I've been an 5 am-ish early waker for years but this year my body doesn't seem to want to get used to the hour going back and so now it's waking at 4-ish. Is this another exciting feature of ageing?
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I'm up because my son has had the runs all night- I'm exhausted. Should feel better after a bath and a few (several)
cups of coffee. I'm the picture of glamour- pyjamas,slippers, dressing gown etc!!!
I wish I was somewhere else. Thank you Maizemaster for the milk for my coffee- it's appreciated. My Grandparents used to have a dairy farm in Wales about 40 years ago-it's hard graft,I have many happy (and muddy) memories of getting the cows in on horseback.
Anyway folks have a lovely day.
Cheerio!!
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I'm always up at this time. It's the best time of the day when no-one else is around. I own the World.
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Oh the shame - I slept in and missed it. Sorry. Had a bunch of friends around last night with 3 extra children for a meal, they all dressed as Halloween horrors. We didn't let them go out trick or treating, but they were allowed to give sweets to children who called at our place. This was apparently just as much fun. On several occasions our lot scared off the visitors with their horrendous appearance! It was a late night, but quite successful, I think. No tears or injuries.
I WILL listen to the podcast, promise.
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I was listening in bed - When Eddie asked the question "Why are you awake?" It made me figure it out - The real reason was that I had just heard on the news that RBS were planning to pay out employee bonuses - And it shocked me awake - Shame they haven't been suspended for three months without pay, rather than getting £1.8bn bonuses from the taxpayer.
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Annasee - I was out singing last night but I left a pot of goodies on my doorstep (having been 'egged' in the past) but none were taken! So today's diet consists of chocolate spare eyes, chocolate witches and marshmallow ghosts!
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I'm regularly up, having been working on websites or just browsing all night. I only signed up recently (as I wanted to comment on Sachsgate, elsewhere) and had previously vowed not to sign up on the BBC's service as it is/was run in such an alien way to the rest.
Having "opening hours" (OK, might no longer be the case) is alien to the 24x7 internet world where you are available worldwide.
On many other discussion systems, there is a core set of moderators (initially just the owner of the forum) and each is trusted to manage a section.
There is little need for paid-for moderators, in other schemes, and you surely have sufficient 'regulars' who could be trusted to act to uphold the rules.
It would have meant that on the recent Ross/Brand discussion there would have been 40000 comments posted, in real time, and those few hundred that were unacceptable could have been quickly weeded out...
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We find ourselves listening to the 5.30 am news, etc, because there is NO WEATHER FORECAST AT 6am ON SUNDAYS! How nice it would be to enjoy a lie-in until 0600 instead!
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In bed and listening and waiting hopefully for cup of tea. Husband IS doing it this morning hooray. We shall die if we lose radio 4 on longwave. This was my immediate thought when asked this morning. We have lived in france for 25 years previously working down south and could barely hear radio 4. Moved up here to retire in Brittany and overcome with delight to find radio 4 loud and clear. Listen a lot and daily. We only watch french tv and are well integrated here but you cannot COMPARE france inter with BBC radio 4. It supplies us with information, interest, new ideas and keeps us up to date. We've been married for half a century on June 20th 2009 so please let us keep radio 4 into our real old age when we cannot get out etc! Thanks I know you'll do your best. Susiphe
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Still in bed, listening on earphones so I don't disturb my husband. Nice to hear you so early in the morning.
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ive been up since 4.30 helping mum milk her many goats, BY HAND. I get the quiet ones until she thinks im awake enough, as they do have a tendency to deposite a hind hoof in bucket if they think you are not concentrating.
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I live halfway up a small and not famous Alp in France. At the moment we have a handspan's depth of snow, my husband has to leave for work at 7am our time, by the time he's put the chains on the car and I've cleared the flat bit so he can get out and down the lane all I want to do is hunker down on the sofa with a mug of tea in front of the stove and listen to you guys talking at me (via the computer) as if from a different planet. Today I picked massive amounts of rosehips, and now I have to turn them into jam. That'll teach me. Thankyou BBC for talking to me here on my mountain.
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When you get older you don't need so much sleep. So I wake up at 05:30. Then downstairs to make the tea for my wife and I, back to bed 05:40 to listen to Radio 4. Up again at 06:30 listening still in the shower and down to breakfast, usually switching off at 08:30. Too busy to be sure of listening after that time until 12:00
And by the way, Eddie, please do your best to keep the programme at 05:45 on a Saturday, we do need something which stimulates the brain and leads us in to the weekend !
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passing bishops stortford on my way to a farmers market - the things we do to get your food to you yawn!!
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I set my alarm for 5.30, so when I can't sleep and have to get up for hours in the night, I know it's time to go back to bed and listen to your programme. By 6am I am fast asleep.
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My husband was away last night and I think I forgot to turn the radio off/put the sleep button on. I became aware of the shipping forecast around 5.30 and went on from there. I drifted off again during the farming programme, but I was back for Today and eventually got up about 9 am.
But it's time for bed now!
I too keep change in the car for parking. This morning I cleared out all the 10ps and 20ps for the purpose; we also need pounds for school dinners, so my purse always seems to contain only notes and 5ps.
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I am "power walking", something I do every morning, weather permitting. I do 5.50 miles in 1hr 15 minutes - it is not an early morning stroll.
I am out early because it is peaceful and there is little traffic, and because I have always been an early riser.
Sometimes (but rarely) I see Plod. Plod is curious, and worried for my safety (I walk on the road), but I wear a high viz jacket and I can either hear them (despite listening to the World Service, and then R4), or see the loom of their lights, long before they see me.
Some drivers are friendly and give me a friendly flash (not that sort!), some are downright hostile. The binmen (on a Friday) are hostile and sometimes drive at me. The worst are those who do not dip their lights AND drive at me. Why?
Keep up the good work; I enjoy your programme.
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At 05:50 I was driving to work, to deliver fresh bread from a village bakery to a number of village post offices, pubs and to a supermarket in Peterborough.
Car park charges hack me off too, always set at 40p or 80p or similar. All we need is a "1p/minute" rate where you get a ticket corresponding to the amount of dosh you have poured in.
Either that or park in Uppingham for 10p for the first hour :-)
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I am up at this time on a Saturday for an ice show rehearsal! skaters have to get up at silly times so they can use the ice before the rink let the public on.
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My radio is on all night using a pillow speaker, as I can be awake for long periods during the night, so I listen to World Service - puts UK news in perspective. Quite often, I wake up in time for the shipping forecast, news briefing, and...
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A rather late response here, as I was on the M6 motorway driving to Addlestone, Surrey, to judge the Pekingese Reform Club Championship Dog Show.
Michael A. Mason
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I was awake, just like I am at 5.15 every morning, because that's what my body clock tells me to be, much to my husband's annoyance (although his snoring is responsible for my losing an hour's sleep every night - hence, sit me in front of a telly at night and I'll be off to sleep within ten minutes!). I've got a new DAB radio/alarm clock, and I set the radio to come on on weekday mornings (only) at 5.40, as I have to get up at 5.45. Now it is getting colder, I set the central heating to come on at 5.30, but the old body clock has already kicked in and, what's more, although the alarm isn't set to come on at weekends, my metabolism isn't having any of that, either!
This week has been more interesting than most with the clocks going back, because at the beginning of the week I was waking up at 4.15 rather than 5.15, but the body is getting used to GMT now. For the first couple of days I was also more knackered than normal at night as my body thought it was going to bed at midnight rather than at eleven.
Oh, and the cat seems to turn up on my bed just after I wake up each day. Wonder how she knows?
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Hi this is the email I sent in later that day, not knowing that a blog existed:
As I lay in bed this morning I thought when I get up I shall email to say what I was doing awake at that time; when I got up, I forgot.
To be truthful I had awoken and realised it was Saturday and not a working day, so the alarm clock was not soon to attack me - so I turned on the radio - always Radio 4 and the ipm live programme followed the early news etc.
There is an amazing feeling when one wakes and realises that there is no need to try and get those extra few minutes of sleep before the daily routine kicks in, so I just snuggled under the covers and listened........
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Its irrational but I tend to set my
time switches to after Farming.
Being involved in Rescue at Sea ,
I wish I could stop nodding off
during the Inshore Forecast.
Mind you I fall asleep in front of
the telly at night that automatically record what I am watching on Sky Plus Box.
Although I do wonder if being connected to the phone to receive they can watch what I am watching and the " Ghost " in the Box. switches my channels in the night to shopping and others I never watch Big Brother !?
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after last night , woke up at
0400hrs , and surprised from the sounds
of radio 4; I am still alive !
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