Steve Robbo's Stuff

New Mobile Phone

2009-05-02T12:24:00.002+01:00

I finally managed to upgrade my mobile phone, after the N95 packed-up and I had to go back to the E61. Due to my liking for a QWERTY keyboard I went for the Nokia E71, this has nothing to do with they jealousy I showed when Gina upgraded to the same phone over 6 months ago.

Needless to say, the phone does not disappoint. The battery life is great, considering the use the phone has had in the past week. There really isn't much more to add - especially as there is so much software available for the phone as well.

Drive Time?

2009-04-27T14:26:00.002+01:00

If you're stuck for something to listen to on the radio either this afternoon or tomorrow - I'm on Phoenix FM presenting Drive. Feel free to join me in the chatroom, online at phoenixfm.com of on 98.0fm in West Essex. From 3-7pm UK time.

St George's Day Update

2009-04-23T07:04:00.003+01:00

I appreciate I haven't posted much here recently. Most of my updates now are done via Twitter, of which my most recent 'tweets' will tell you when I'm on Phoenix fm (Saturday from 4-6pm and Monday and Tuesday next week from 3-7pm).

The 5speedcassette Podcast was uploaded last night and can be seen in video at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/5-speed-cassette - during which I received the following tweet from somebody claiming to be Murray Walker (at least I thought it was him):-

“BBC asked me to return to the commentary box. Legard’s let the pressure of replacing James Allen get to him. Send your support to Jonathan!”

Taken from http://twitter.com/Murray_Walker

I'm looking forward to the Bahrain Grand Prix and hoping to upgrade my mobile phone tomorrow, so life's still exciting!

Start of the F1 Season on the Radio

2009-03-27T07:15:00.005Z

After taking a week off, I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's Saturday Kickabout on Phoenix FM.

As it's the start of the F1 season I'll be looking forward to Sunday morning's race. There will be the small matter of an England football match to contend with as well as the usual previews and score updates from Brentwood, Billericay and the surrounding areas.

As well as the sport, the music will include an acoustic session from the first ever unsigned band to get an album in the Billboard top 100, The Boxer Rebellion. The live music will be at 5pm. As usual you can tune in by following the links online at phoenixfm.com.

Twittering

2009-03-14T06:09:00.003Z

It's exactly a year since I signed up for Twitter, which at the time very few people seemed to know about. Since then I've updated my status only 432 times, mainly using ping.fm, so I'm hardly a major player like Stephen Fry.

I do, however, find Twitter to be very useful especially during the sport show as it has been a valid source of immediate and continually updated information when I'm on air. I also have far more followers than I could have imagined a year ago, sitting at 107 as I type.

I wouldn't say I'm looking down my nose and sneering at people who are recent converts to Twitter, especially as it seems to be the current big thing, it's just that I'm still finding it useful especially as the poeple I follow seem to have something usefull to add.

As usual, I'm back on the radio from 4pm so feel free to follow me and tweet a few questions during this month's community football surgery on Phoenix FM.

4 Weeks until the Australian Grand Prix

2009-02-26T06:45:00.001Z

I am pleased that there are now only 4 weeks to go until the Formula One season begins in ernest with the Australian Grand Prix. This means I'll be starting the predictions for each race over at F1wolf.com.

If you are interested in F1 racing, I would recommend having a go at predicting the results over at F1Wolf in order to add a bit more fun for each race weekend. All the rules and details on deadlines along with an explaination of the scoring are on the website.

In case you wonder if there's a catch, I can assure you there isn't after winning the competition last year and receiving an iPod Nano and three bottles of Mumm Champagne along the way in 2008, so I'm drinking to the 2009 season already.

Loving the iPod

2009-02-16T19:52:00.004Z

I took the step and bought an iPod Classic last week, which is something I never thought I'd do. After years of doing discos with my full music collection on a PC, I can now carry the collection on one of Steve Job's 120GB gems - the video is great as well. I have to thank F1 Wolf for inspiring me as the iPod Nano I won in the F1 Prediction League has been used by Gina almost daily since.

The fact that I no longer spend weekends playing the same cheesy requests means I have got my love for music back - with some of my recent plays uploaded to last.fm:-

Shuggie Otis – Aht Uh Mi Hed
4 Hours – 4Hours
Terry Callier – You Goin' Miss Your Candyman full track
The Dramatics – Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get full track
Ann Sexton – You've Been Gone Too Long
Terry Callier – Sign Of The Times
R.E.M. – The Outsiders (alternate version)

Feel free to add me as a friend on last.fm or Twitter. My username is steverobbo.

Death of the UK Music Charts?

2009-01-18T19:02:00.002Z

I appear to be ignoring the blog. I can make excuses like I don't have much time, but the truth is probably that I don't have much to say.

That said, I have been surprised to find that the latest single and album releases from The Boxer Rebellion are not eligible for inclusion in the UK charts from the amount of downloads (even though they are in the top 10 on the iTunes chart) because they are not signed to a record label and therefore haven't released a cd version of the album or single.

Isn't this just the record companies protecting their vastly crumbling empires, or have I got it completely wrong?

It's Christmas

2008-12-25T03:49:00.003Z

A very Merry Christmas and a happy 2009 from the Robbo household.

If you were once a regular reader to this blog, you'll be aware I don't upate the page as regularly as I used to, ever since a two-hour radio show took up a lot of my time. I am still updating my Twitter presence regularly, so feel free to add steverobbo as a contact.

If you wish to hear me on the radio over the Christmas period, I am on Phoenix FM at the following dates (all times are GMT):-

Christmas Day - Midday
Boxing Day - 2PM
Saturday 27 Dec - 4PM
New Year's Day - 4PM

Join me every Saturday for the heady mixture of sport and music in Essex. The show goes out live from 4-6pm on 98.0FM in Essex or online at http://www.phoenixfm.com.

Nearly December - Christmas Already?

2008-11-30T17:53:00.003Z

As I am in Brentwood every Saturday, it was nice to drive from East to West Essex with a car full of people. Gina, came with me along with her sister Angela and the boys. This was for the switching on of the town centre Christmas lights, with the soundstage being provided by Phoenix FM.

Gloria Hunniford did the honours followed by some fireworks. I missed it all as I was on the radio at the time. I'm told Gloria was very nice and even said hello to Angela as she signed her book in Waterstone's.

The lights in Brentwood spurred Gina on to put all the decorations up this morning and the house is now a lovely Christmas scene. I think I'm old-fashioned as it still seems a bit early for me, putting the decorations up in November. Then again, it'll be December tomorrow (where has the year gone?).

Another Weekend and it's Cold

2008-11-21T18:50:00.003Z

The weather seems to be taking a turn for the worst. As usual I'll be updating via Twitter (mini-blogging the words 'Steve is cold'). It was great to see some indoor sport last weekend, as we went to the Brentwood Centre and watched the Leopards play basketball.

Much as I like going to the odd football or rugby match it was nice to be in the warm and so close to the action for a sporting event - the boys loved it as well (including the dancers). All in all it was a great day out.

The weekend's match against Bristol was abandoned with just 24 seconds to go after a horrific accident which brought Carl Latham-Henry to the ground. The good news is that Carl is on the mend and will be joining the team on the coach tomorrow - I hope to talk to manager Jon Burnell on tomorrow's radio show as well.

The next match in Brentwood is on 21 December against Reading. All being well, we'll be shouting for the Leopards along with the rest of them.

Good Year for Sport?

2008-11-09T08:16:00.003Z

After last weekend's mad last corner action at the grand prix, it made me realise how mad sports fans can be.

One of the biggest UK TV audiences for a grand prix, had the ultimate 'grandstand finish' and for two days, there was nothing else on the news apart from Hamilton's win, until they moved on to coverage of the US election. Had it rained 30 seconds later, the headlines would have been very different - arguably the greatest first two seasons of all time, for any sport regardless.

In an Olympic year, and one in which Britain's athletes did themselves proud, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year will be one to watch - especially as it has put most millionaire footballers, who failed to make it to Euro 2008, in the shade.

A classic year for British sport, and one thet has served me well. Thanks to the generosity of F1Wolf, I have won an iPod and now the star prize of three bottles of Champagne thanks (perhaps) to Timo Glock.

2008 - a good sporting year? I'll drink to that!

2008 F1 Championship

2008-11-02T21:58:00.001Z

If the final grand prix of this season was a story in a film, I
wouldn't have believed it. The most exiting finale to a world
championship ever?
I've still got a headache.

--
-
Steve Robertson
Sent whilst mobile
http://blog.steve.dj

No Publicity is Bad Publicity?

2008-10-28T18:33:00.003Z

As one of the local radio stations has taken their breakfast presenters off air, in what I presume is a publicity stunt. The main story on the news is currently Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross's treatment of 78 year-old Andrew Sachs (in what was a recorded show). Questions have been raised in Parliament and Gordon Brown has even entered the debate.

It seems a sad state of affairs that people are talking about the 'Martin and Sue' Essex FM breakfast show, and possibly being made aware of its existance, because they are not on air. By the same token, Russell Brand's show is likely to have a lot of new listeners this weekend (if the presented doesn't take an enforced break) due to the Radio 2 being advertised on the news.

This sort of thing wouldn't have happened in the days of Jimmy Young and John Dunn, but then I'm nearly 40. Then again, Terry Wogan's still getting a fair few listeners on the former Light Programme and he's hardly controversial.

Too Busy to Blog?

2008-10-14T07:08:00.003+01:00

Since coming back from Wales, I've realised that I need to make more time to post to my blog. The main excuse I have for the lack of content here is that I spend a lot of my free time on my radio show, which may only be 2 hours a week but needs a lot of input during the week. As always, you're quite welcome to join me in the Phoenix FM chatroom during the Saturday Kickabout on a Saturday afternoon.

I will keep posting my thoughts here though, it just seems I haven't had many thoughts in the past few weeks, and if you're interested in the latest goings on with the radio show the showpage is updated weekly at:-

http://www.phoenixfm.com/sport.php

Back Home

2008-09-28T17:47:00.003+01:00

We had a great week away in Wales. All three of us are nice and relaxed, especially after such good weather for the past week.

If you have dogs and want to go somewhere dog-friendly for a self-catering holiday, you could no no better than going to Little Dumpledale.

It's back to the daily grind again, and back on the radio on Saturday.

R.E.M. Top 25

2008-09-16T09:43:00.002+01:00

It was great to do the R.E.M. Top 20 radio show on Phoenix FM on Saturday. The results will be shown on the Phoenix FM website shortly, but I can confirm the top 25 as follows:-

Thanks for listening everyone.

The top 25 was as follows:-

1- Nightswimming
2- Country Feedback
3- Losing My Religion
4- Find the River
5- Fall on me
6- It's the End of the World as we Know it
7- Driver 8
8- At My Most Beautiful
9- Leave
10-Man on the Moon
11-What's the Frequency, Kenneth?
12-Electrolite
13-E-Bow the Letter
14-Walk Unafraid
15-Orange Crush
16-Everybody Hurts
17-World Leader Pretend
18-Drive
19-Imitation of Life
20-I Believe
21-Strange Currencies
22-Daysleeper
23-Leaving New York
24-Bad Day
25-The One I Love

One of my favourites, especially after seeing it performed live at Twickenham, is Perfect Circle (no. 37). For anyone interested, Shiny Happy People was no. 40.

Italian Grand Prix

2008-09-14T15:16:00.003+01:00

What a great race for Torro Rosso and Sebastian Vettel, with arguably the drive of the season. Youngest pole-sitter to youngest winner, and his first ever podium place is a P1 - all for the Red Bull 'B-team'.

I can't see the appeal on Monday week coming to anything for McLaren and these does at least seem to have been a clarification of the rules after overtaking after going off the track.

It was great for a non works team to win a race, which has at least brought some true sport back to F1.

Nice Break

2008-09-11T21:22:00.003+01:00

It was great to get up to Norfolk for a couple of days. just a couple of days work, and then the weekend.

It'll be a busy weekend as I'm interviewing some bands tomorrow evening, and am doing two shows on Phoenix FM Saturday:-

Ths Saturday Kickabout is on from 4-6 as usual, with all the sport for Brentwood and Billericay.

From 10pm the big R.E.M Top 20 show is on. Voting is still open at http://www.phoenixfm.com/top20-rem.php

That's the last plug, honest!

Belgian Grand Prix

2008-09-07T15:14:00.005+01:00

I've just seen the most exciting finish to a Grand Prix for a while. Let's hope the stewards' enquiry doesn't discourage racing, especially at that speed and with those mad conditions towards the end. I did feel sorry for Kimi as he crashed the Ferrari into the wall.

All that, and the ITV team didn't use the word Sennaesque once!

Update-

It seems Hamilton did not win the race, then. This really does make a mockery of the championship, dare I say it for the 2nd year in a row?

Google Chrome - I Like it

2008-09-03T07:27:00.001+01:00

Official Google Blog: A fresh take on the browser

I downloaded the brand new, still in beta, browser from Google. It certainly doesn't seem as resource-hungry as the likes of internet explorer and Firefox.

As it's in beta still, there will still be some issues, but I'd certainly recommend it with the limited use it's had from Gina and me so far.

The download is available from http://www.google.com/chrome

R.E.M Rocked

2008-08-30T22:49:00.003+01:00

We are waiting for the coach to leave Twickenham, with our ears still ringing. The band were great and the venue ideal.

The fifth time I've seen REM and it seems they improve with age.

The setlist was great, and is available from R.E.M's website here.

Off to Twickenham

2008-08-30T06:05:00.004+01:00

The day has arrived and Gina and I will be off to Twickenham to see R.E.M for the fifth time.
Support comes from the Editors and the Guillemots.

This is something we've been looking forward to for along time (we booked the tickets the day the concert was announced). The reviews have been great, although since the first time I saw the band they have never been enything less.

I will try and take a few pictures for this blog, depending on how close to the stage we will be. If you are going, feel free to add me as a contact on Twitter, Jaiku, etc and don't forget there are only two weeks to go until I'll be playing the best of the band, chosen by the fans, on the R.E.M. radio show on Phoenix FM.

Jaiku is Back

2008-08-28T10:09:00.001+01:00

I must admit to being a fan of Jaiku, preferring it over Twitter with the channel features. Updates always feature well in Google, which is handy (and no surprise, as Google owns Jaiku).

The service has been offline for a number of days, and is now fighting fit as the servers have been upgraded. Feel free to add me to your contacts - username steverobbo.

If you want a piece of the action, feel free to leave a comment and I'll send you an invite (I have a few to give away).

European Grand Prix - Confused

2008-08-24T14:54:00.003+01:00

I'm the rules need clarification. Again, decisions are being made off the track, under appeal. Although I'll be amazed if Massa is penalised during the race, at least clarity in the rules may result.

Ferrari had a poor race, on one count, and the engine reliability issues may decide the championship. Hopefully the member of the pit crew who was stretchered away wasn't badly hurt.