Dave's Blog

If you have been contacted by a reportedly forceful call centre claiming you need to pay to listen to the radio. Read On

2011-10-04T21:14:00.007+01:00

Listening to the radio at work

A call centre in Cumbernauld apparently contacts 20,000 business numbers each week...

Two organisations, Performing Right Society, PRS, and Phonographic Performance Limited, PPL, collect royalties for performers when music is played in public.

Licence fees are payable by restaurants, sports clubs and discos, where copyright music creates an ambience to help the business attract the public and make money.

By contrast, attendance in an office or workplace is mandatory. What is happening in such places is replacement listening whilst staff are not in their own cars or homes.

- Ten individuals in an office could listen to ten radios. Practicality and energy efficiency simply make sharing sensible.

- Spillover from a radio in a car workshop to a waiting area is not relevant, only a radio specifically intended for that public area.

- A radio playing behind the counter for staff in a shop is quite different from an installation where loudspeakers are deliberately placed in the public area.

FOR MORE ON THIS STORY> PLEASE CLICK ON THE Blue Title for a link to the full story FROM RADIO JACKIE

Call out The Tooth Fairy

2010-09-12T20:23:00.003+01:00

Early last week one of my teeth started to get a little sensitive. As the days went on the pain started to get worse. The thought of eating my tea now gave me two things to fear, one being Carols cooking and the other was a sharp stabbing pain (not that I would know what that's like cos I've never been stabbed)that went from my tooth right down to my slippers.

It was getting to a stage were my use of paracetamol was noticable enough for Carol to get on my case, but not before getting onto a vast number of medical websites on the Turley Towers computer system. The result of this Internet fishing was me being warned about the severe risk of death through a possibly neglected abscess. Apparently this is what all the Mummies died of in the olden days.

Not being a fan of the dentist, as Ive yet to have one that has fixed a problem first time round,extracted perfectly healthy teeth due to looking at a back to front X-Ray, or refusing to give me a brace to close a gap in my teeth at an early age because the gap gave me character (Tw*t). I strongly considered going to the doctors for some antibiotics (as suggested by the web to save my life). I quickly ruled this on out as you need to phone an engaged number at the surgery between the hour of 8.30am and 8.31am in order to get an emergency appointment for that day (that is once the doctor on reception has diagnosed you and sees fit for you to see the one of the partners for a second opinion)

So with Carols hand firmly pushing me out the door it was of to my lady dentist who has had three goes so far trying to fit a £200 inlay onto the tooth that is now the epicenter of my now life threatening (suspected) abscess, as apposed to a common filling.

Having managed to make an emergency (no money for the dentist) appointment I was in and out of the chair quicker and more painlessly than I had ever dreamed. However the trauma wasn't over yet " I will give you some antibiotics but you must go STRAIGHT to the hospital" WHAT ? !!!! What for ? "An X-ray" PHEW

I am on my second day of antibiotics, I have my X-ray on a CD to take back to the dentist. But i don't want to go. Cant the tooth fairy come an whip it out overnight and leave me some money. I think I would like that.

Have you seen my new love

2010-08-25T00:40:00.002+01:00

After reading an article by "The Money Saving Expert" I have found myself doing lots of shopping via a website called Quidco. Now you know me, always suspicious and very careful. The first thing i did was to get an insurance quote for my car, not only was it far cheaper than any I had already obtained but it paid £75 as cash back.
The site charges £5 per year But only if you earn more than £5 so you cant lose. So I bagged £70 on my first shop and now use it for ebay and and any online shopping.

The only thing I am worried about is turning into a woman and Buying things to save money (just like women do in a sale)

Two Radio Stations at Once

2010-05-30T17:47:00.005+01:00

This Tuesday is the 1st of June 2010 (this year is flying by) And will be day One of the new evening show on Dune 107.9 and Central Radio 106.5.

This will not be the first time I have presented the evening show on Dune but will be my first day on Central Radio which covers Central Lancashire, Preston, Chorley and Leyland (where I used to work while an electrician at Leyland Motors)

Chorley has many fond memories for me too as I did present Love Songs on Chorley FM on one of its trial broadcasts (RSL's) I hope its not me that Peter kay was refaring to when he says "ChorleyFM Coming in your ears".

I am really looking forward to the new show. I will have a host of new features and will be totally Live and Interactive.

All exciting stuff.

A Grand Day Out

2009-04-15T02:41:00.002+01:00

Over the Easter break I decided to take in a little bit of fresh air and (as it turned out) a little bit too much sun.
The event I attended was a Horse Show on a farm near St.Helens, One that was to feature my very talented Daughter Rachel and her (once little) pet horse Ellie. It was a little odd because it was where Rachel had her very first riding lesson as a child.
Ellie, (I found out on Sunday) was bred from a mixture of Racehorse and Show Jumper and she too seemed to be very talented, and it wouldn't have suprised me if it turned out she could perform a few card tricks as well as everything she had to do in the competition .
It was a very hot day, but with a bit of a breeze blowing didn't feel uncomfortable, Until I got home and my face started to turn bright red in color and my skin began to tighten a little, and feel like I had washed in Petrol.
So with a talented pair like Rachel and Ellie a couple of wins seemed certain. So well done to them both for wins in "Riding Club Horse" and "Senior Equitation" 2nd in both but first time out this year.
I think Ellie would have done a little better had I not been feeding her polo mints and playing with her.

New Pleasureland Southport

2008-11-01T22:00:00.006Z

Friday night was of course The 31st October "Halloween", and I had the pleasure of being invited to New Pleasureland in Southport for their Spooktacular Bonfire and Firework Event.

New Pleasurelands owner Norman Wallis has done an amazing job trying to keep a fairground in Southport and securing it as a true family holiday destination.

Representing Dune 107.9 along with Breakfast Co-Presenter Karen Johnson, our task for the evening was to judge the fantastic fancy dress costumes being worn by children attending the Spooktacular event.

The atmosphere on the night was great. Well done to everyone who made a great effort on the night. I loved every minute.

Good luck for the future Norman, Here's to the true revival of Plesureland "Southport"

Angel Child A song For Rhys

2008-09-12T22:04:00.004+01:00

Many people know the name Rhys Jones. Rhys was an innocent 11 year old boy who was shot and killed on his way home from football practice in 2007.

Joining me on my show today were the talent behind a brand new Charity Single Angel Child (as pictured above)Jules Burgess-Kennedy and Mike Bradley. Mike's son played football in the same team as Rhys and had watched him play all that season. ANGEL CHILD is fully supported by Rhys Jones parents Steven and Melanie.

The song came about as Mikes way of dealing with Rhys tragic and shocking death. Mike enlisted the help of friends Tony Taylor, David Hyland, and Jules. The Result was Angel Child (Song for Rhys)

All proceeds from the single sales will go to charity which is aiming to build a Community centre in Rhys name. Plus provide funding for various other sporting events and projects nationwide that will benifit children all over the UK.

The Centre will be built close to where Rhys lived and hopes to encourage children to get involved in sport rather than gang culture. "Join a Team not a Gang"

Look out for the CD in TESCO's Woolies HMV or download online. for a preview of the song click on the link or go to www.angelchild.co.uk

Its a great song by a really nice group of people who its been an honour to meet.

Back in again

2008-03-01T12:25:00.002Z

That makes it two weeks in a row I have made our local paper.

Finding the picture is easy, just turn to page 41 of Friday’s edition of The Southport Visiter.

Last year The Mere Brow Giant Pumpkin Competition was forced to change to a larger venue as the popularity grows.

The new home is Homestead Farm's Shop
Wiggins Lane, Holmeswood,
Lancashire, L40 1UJ

Me and Carol are pictured with (organizer) Trevor Wilson, Gerrard (last years winner) Margaret (from the shop) and Jackie from the Northwest Air Ambulance doing the official cheque handing over ceremony. The total money raised was £1311.50.

This year’s competition will be held at 2pm Saturday 18th October at the farm, and we would love you to be there.

Sothport Visiter

2008-02-24T16:39:00.006Z

Have you ever opened a newspaper to see your own face smiling back at you? Well that is exactly what happened to me this week.

Sat back having a minute at work thumbing through this week’s edition of The Southport Visiter.

To my surprise it was a picture of me. And I was sharing page 40 with 1986 legends Simon Groom, Peter Duncan and Janet (mum of Sophie Ellis Bexter) Ellis "the team from Blue Peter" and Southport Icon and best mate of Sooty "Connie Creighton".

Click on the Southport Visiter title, to go direct to the article which can be found in the LookBack section.

The section is created by Robert Alcock who is looking for your favorite children’s TV show, holders of the coveted Blue Peter Badge and local people who have been on the show. Robert can be contacted on 01704 398276 or e-mail robert alcock@southportvisiter.co.uk.

Thanks for putting me in Robert

JJB Health and Fitness

2008-02-23T23:09:00.003Z

What a shame for the team at JJB in Southport. Will and the team have been really good fun on my new Lunchtime quiz "War of the Workforce" on 107.9 Dune FM.

They have managed to fend off the competition for the last three weeks but have been tamed by the new kids on the block from Wayfarers Arcade shopping center in Southport.

This week we have new "sporting" contenders to take on the mighty Wayfarers team.

By the way, what about Ant and Dec copying the music from my quiz (B****rds)

Aimee visits Dune FM

2008-02-23T20:15:00.004Z

What a treat we had at work on Friday, as local Singer Aimee Kearsley came in to the Dune FM studios to see us, and to tell us about Eurovision 2008.

Aimee and her best friend Emma Beard (both former members of the group "CLEA") now form singing duo ‘LoveShy’. They are making a bid to win the Eurovision song contest in Belgrade 2008 with their new song 'Mr Gorgeous'.

Emma and Aimee "LoveShy" will be joining Eurovision veteran Terry Wogan and Claudia Winkleman on a two-part contest - Eurovision Your Decision, on BBC1 in March. The competition will see six acts split into three categories going head-to-head to decide who will represent the UK at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest -

It would be great to see them win so lets give them our support.

Pointing

2008-02-11T23:36:00.000Z

A little while ago I managed to get around to fixing my garage roof. However, since then a little water has managed to find its way inside.

One possible cause could be a slight defect in the new roof OR water seeping through the rear brickwork.

On seeking advice I have purchased some stuff to spray on to the brickwork to give it a water tight seal. Reading the instructions (as you do) it said check your pointing, (the bit between the bricks)

It didn't take long to find a few dodgy bits that needed attention, a great excuse to whip out my tool kit.

Not being used to using a trowel I found myself using my finger to smooth the mortar, and as it happens I did tend to use my pointing finger. Wonder if that’s where it got its name??

Guess who's been to the gym ???

2008-02-09T22:20:00.000Z

I knew you wouldn't believe me. To be honest I have actually been to the gym twice this week. And, true to form I managed to pick up an injury on my first visit..... well nearly. After my visit on Thursday and managing to do ten minutes on the chocolate machine in the reception area, I woke on Friday morning with ded bad cramp, and it hurt all day.

The true reason for going was actually work related. As mentioned earlier I have a new feature on my Radio Show called War of the Workforce, and we thought it would be a good idea to go and meet the teams in person and put a photo on the stations web site.

Not all of the team at JJB Health and Fitness were available on thursday so i had to make a return visit. They are a great bunch of people and they were made up to be the victors of week one.

The team who came in second place (sounds better than losers) were from Queenscourt Hospice.

I also made a visit th the hospice and had a tour of their fantastic facility and met some truly amazing people.

No Sunday Lunch

2008-02-03T21:54:00.000Z

Don’t you just hate it when an hour long job turns into a marathon?

For the past few days, Carol has been telling me that she can't cook, Nothing new there I thought to myself, and just replied with "Yer I know" just like Little Britain.

As it turned out, our oven had packed in and..... She couldn't cook... even if she could.
Saturday was spent out and about trying to bag a bargain. Eventually we purchased a separate oven and matching hob (because our old oven and hob were matching green)

Up bright an early Sunday morning and ready for action, within five minutes I struck a problem and needed to pop to B&Q for some bits and bobs. Being a Sunday and as yet no chance of Sunday Lunch, I stopped off and purchased all of the ingredients needed.

Lately things haven’t been going my way, and today was no exception. SIX HOURS-THREE TRIPS TO THE SHOPS AND NO SUNDAY DINNER.

But I got the job done. What do you think??

HELP !!!!!

2008-02-02T21:48:00.000Z

For a little while now, I have been known on Dune FM as a master quiz master, for my twice daily ABC quiz (The hardest quiz on the radio)

Well from this Monday, it’s just got a little harder for me, and I need your help.
Each day two teams will be trying to answer as many questions as they can in 60 seconds with my War of the Workforce feature.

What I need is good quality quick fire questions. I know that the internet can be a great source of questions, but a lot of the time the questions are out of date or a little too obscure.

I found one the other day that was asking for the name of the British Prime Minister, It gave the answer as Margret Thatcher, (that must be over a year old)

Therefore, I really do need your help. After a few dry runs, I may need between 20 and 30 questions per day, 7300 to 10950 per year.

If you get a minute, please let me have some questions (with correct answers) preferably on a word document, with a font big enough to read by a blogger. (If you do, I will give you a mention on the radio (honest)

Email to dave@daveturley.co.uk

National Lemon Meringue Day

2008-01-30T22:51:00.000Z

One of the many alleged "Perks of the Job" working in radio, is one I shouldn't really share with you.

Almost every day, some poor listener will find themselves being enlightened, entertained or sometimes learning something they never knew before from a very knowledgeable Radio Superstar.

I learnt very early in my radio career that interesting and fascinating things don’t necessarily happen every day, or to be very honest, every week. It is therefore at times (purely for entertainment value or occasionally personal gain) obligatory to tell the odd little white lie.

One of my favourites is to announce fictitious National Days like national Kit Kat Day or National Lemon Meringue Day my favourite.

After Six years at the same station, my listeners have twigged, and what a pleasant surprise today when Stuart ( A Master Baker) of Grayson’s of Ainsdale rang to tell me it was National Lemon Meringue Day and made one especially for me with my initials on it. He even brought my Mum a massive Cream Cake to cheer her up.

How cool is that.!!!!!

It Never Ends

2008-01-27T22:07:00.000Z

Again with one thing or another. I have had very little time for my Blog.

For the past few months my Mum has not been in very good health. And to cut a long story short she has been taking more tablets than were good for her and ended up collapsed in a heap with some very nasty bruising.

To get her back on her feet (literally) she was sent for a little restbite while all her drugs were re-assesed.

She was taken to a lovely place that reminded me of a travel lodge (apart from the stink of p*ss)which seemed to disapear within ten minutes or if you stop breathing.

Today I get a call from my Brother. My mum has been robbed, she had all her money taken from her bedside table whilst she slept.

A male member of staff was busy looking in on her every half hour on the night the money dissapeared, asking if she was still having trouble getting to sleep and if she wanted a cup of tea (she never got one)

The last check mum remembers was at five in the morning. A girlie member of staff did bring a cup of tea at Seven O'Clock.

If only the the Male would have spotted who was sneaking around between Five and Seven.

What a shame... Bas**rds

First Day Back

2008-01-08T00:06:00.001Z

It was my first day back in work after a Christmas and New Year break (aren't I lucky)

I don't know whether it was over excitement at the thought of going back to work or just first day nerves (I bet I have forget what all the buttons and faders do). But I found it really hard to get to sleep on Sunday night.

For the last few years "Big Brother" has kept me up till late (not this year.... its s**t)Plus my bed always feels like its got lumps in (until my alarm clock goes off then its the best bed in the world)

Being woke up at about 5AM with a bad case of wind (outside) made me want to roll over and stay put.

However I made the effort and set off to work with my packed lunch and all my show prep (pre done just in case)

As it turned out, I loved it... plus for the first time in all my time at Dune FM The staff had a whip-round and got me a few Birthday Presents (NO CARD)They said I would have nothing to moan about if they got that too.

Pictured with me is our latest competition winner Sue, she is about to start "The Inch-loss Challenge" with gymophobics (A Girly only Gym)

With a bit of luck i will be going there on Wednesday (for research) honest. Good Luck Sue

At It Again

2008-01-06T01:43:00.000Z

It would seem that every single time I have a break from work, I get drawn in to a little bit of DIY. (I cant help it... It may be a bad influence from the TV).

During the summer we started on the mammoth task of putting up a new fence in the back garden. After a lot of hard work and a lot of money, the job had to stop. The plan was to wait until This Summer and Finnish it all off then.

This week, for some strange reason we found ourselves counting up how many fence panels it would take to finish off around the back garden. And before we knew it we were on the road to get the stuff in CHEAP in the sales.

(We soon found out that you cant actually buy stuff in the sales that you need or actually want)

To add to this we even had trouble buying the fence panels anyway.

The first thing we tried was to go on-line and buy them (we could have them delivered) BUT NO "not available to order online"

The next day, armed with our List, off we went to B&Q. We made our way to the customer service desk to place our order (we knew exactly what we wanted so knew it Wouldn't take long)

SHOCK HORROR... The customer service desk had been removed (as a cost cutting measure) However, all was not lost because they had installed a button on the wall to press for assistance.

Only trouble being didn't get any assistance. We went to see the Three members of staff who were busy rearranging things in the garden department (well having a meeting about it)but no luck

After a whole hour of button pressing and having "Assistance calls put on the Tanoy" we decided to leave B&Q unable to buy stock they had on display because they had cut staff to save money.

Thanks to the guys at Jewsons for sorting us out.

This Year has flow by

2007-12-30T16:37:00.000Z

Have you felt the same as me this year ?. Every week, I seem to have made reference to one person or another, that this week has flown by.Now its not just a week its the whole year gone.

Looking back on 2007, I must say it has been an eventful and busy one.

My mum has been in and out of hospital. There are many tales to tell about that, and every tale seems to involve Neglect, red tape and penny pinching,so maybe less said the better.

Ive not been in the best of health either. My Cholesterol was quite high this year, I was put on a great drug to fix it called Statins. It didn't do the trick, and it may have damaged my Liver. (thought I would share this with you)

I've not even had time to get to the dentist to have a filling sorted (because work say you have to go in your own time, and I didn't have any)

I did however, manage at long last to get my wall built at home, and of course the Garage roof repaired (still got a leak somehow)

As for work, well lets just say it has been very busy.

I have had some great opportunities too.
Hosting The Advertiser Sports Awards at Edge Hill University, Me and Carol getting on the Tele with The Merebrow Giant Pumpkins and Gigging in London.

Doesn't sound a lot when you say it like this. (maybe I am just a lazy B***ard)

As for New Years resolutions..... I have nothing left to give up other than moaning.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Typical Bank Holiday Weekend

2007-05-07T19:43:00.000+01:00

Being a Bank Holiday, forward planing is a must. One of the perks of working at a Radio Station, is that you can get the weather forecast in advance for the whole weekend.

The forecast I managed to get, informed me of a super weekend until Monday. Armed with this privileged information, it was off to the shops to stock up on Bank Holiday Beer and BBQ stuff.

The Plan was BBQ on Sunday. and a nice Sunday lunch on Monday. (cool eh)
As we have come to expect, the weather forecast turned out to be a complete load of cack.

Saturday was spent picking the most expensive bricks on the planet for our garden wall. We were assured that they were top quality, and even suitable for building a nuclear fall out shelter. (we only wanted them cos the colour matched our remaining gate post)

Even as the temperature reached above 95 degrees, the other job of digging out the footings for the wall had to go ahead, to make lots of eating and drinking time.

Come Sunday, within seconds of digging the BBQ out of the garage, the sky turned a strange shade of ..... lets say ..... errrrrrmmmmmm BLACK.

If you have bought any meat from a supermarket recently, you will know that it has to be consumed within hours of purchase, otherwise that too changes colour, to a shade of genetic Green. So The BBQ had to go ahead, regardless of the rain, which, by this time was dancing six inches back up from the ground.

Lighting the BBQ inside the garage, isn't ideal, but at least I got the job done. My eyes got so much smoke in them, its took me till today to find my laptop, so I could complain about it.

I would have posted a picture showing me and the BBQ but all you can see on the photo was smoke.

Saturday Night TV

2007-05-06T23:09:00.000+01:00

TV show "Any Dream Will Do" on Saturday night was a complete farce.
Chris Barton was ousted from the show after a phone vote by the general public.

Surley the phone vote should be reserved to save contestants after the judges have done there job and weeded out the bad singers and poor performers.

This week was the second time Chris has been unfairly put into the sing off. Neither Chris nor the other bloke should have been in the sing off anyway, but out of the two, Chris was by far the best.

Loved the version of Close every Door at the end of the show.

Lets hope Chris gets a shot at the big time soon.

No thanks to the shower of bast***s who supported the cr*p contestants.

Chris Barton Visits Dune FM

2007-05-01T23:35:00.000+01:00

Monday afternoon at Dune FM was one of those days. On a flying visit home from London, "Any Dream Will Do" contestant Chris Barton, took time out to call in and say hello to us.

Chris who is a really nice bloke had our sales girlie's in a daze (CHECK OUT THE PICTURE ABOVE WITH HEATHER") he also had my mate Dan's studio phone red hot. But he did his bit and answered listeners questions and read the traffic and travel news.

It was a close shave for Chris last week as he had to take part in the sing off but was saved by Andrew Lloyd Webber. This week Chris had a better ride.

At the end of the competition we all hope Chris will win and star as Joseph in the West End. In the musical about a bloke that loses his coat.

Joking aside Chris is even more proof of the incredible talent that can be found in the Northwest. And I would love to be there on his opening night.

As a treat for all the boys at Dune Chris brought some of his family in to see us (total babes) Mum Jane, Cousin Lucy and Lyn (cool).

Chris has a great gift, but can only get through with our help. I know Graham Norton is on it, but please watch "Any Dream Will Do" this Saturday, and VOTE CHRIS BARTON.

for more info click on the link below.

I Think I've Caught The Sun

2007-04-29T22:18:00.000+01:00

Today was the first birthday of The New Fleetwood Inn in Banks. DuneFm were invited to provide the entertainment for the day.

We did everything from a pop quiz to an egg and spoon race and the ABC quiz.

With a Bouncy Castle BBQ and face painting there was something for everybody.

The BBQ was a huge success, keeping everybody well fed throughout the day

Apart from lots of regular listeners, it was great to have Heather from our sales team, Dan from Drive time Dune an Andy from Sunday Afternoon (and Nightfreaks) plus our Boss Anna. Not to forget Carol and Charlotte from Turley Towers.

Oh look its a DuneFM listener nearly burning her Bits

joking aside it was a joy to be out and about meeting our loyal listeners and making new friends.

Ten Pin Bowling

2007-04-21T00:03:00.000+01:00

Wednesday evening saw the first Ten Pin Bowling Challenge as part of Southport’s Charity Fun Fest.

Nineteen teams gathered at Premier Bowl at Ocean Plaza in Southport for a night of fun and to raise money for local charities.

Entrants included the local newspaper The Southport Visiter, Dune FM,and lots of local busineses.

Our Radio station managed to get enough volunteers to make up three teams. In honour of my daily quiz on the Radio, rather than have silly names, we just called ours team A, B and C ( like my ABC quiz, ...good eh )

This is our Team... TEAM B. Me, Dan Roach, Neil Jackson and Katie Collins (she's a girl )

After the first game, our team was winning our inter Dune competition. It was at this stage John Storey (our PC and Brekie jock)from TEAM A bought us all a pint, and possibly tampered with our balls.

Not only did we lose our inter station game. But out of the Ninteen teams playing, we came Nineteenth..... oops

That said it was a great night that raised over six hundred pounds for charity.

SOUTHPORT’S Charity Fun Fest takes place at Princes Park, Southport, noon-5pm on Saturday, June 2.

For more details phone Andrew Brown on 01704 398271 or e-mail: visiternews@southportvisiter.co.uk

See you there.