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Simply Paul On Anne Diamond!

Simply Paul
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Simply Paul

+Simply Paul

Posted
Posted

I had a call from BBC Radio Oxford this morning. They want me to talk to broadcasting legend Anne Diamond about caching in and around Oxford in the morning. I'll be on the Radio Oxford breakfast show at about 7.50am, if all goes well. Could someone tape it for me, or get an MP3 of it online somewhere? I don't think Radio Oxford has a 'listen again' feature - cheers!

 

SP

 

P.S. I'll be 'bigging up' the local cachers who've made Oxford the hot spot of quality quirky caches it is.

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Beds Clangers

+Beds Clangers

Posted
Posted

The village I live in will shortly have a new Post Office/Shop and we have been looking for an "A" Class celeb to open it!! ;)

 

How much does SP charge for a non-profit making appearances? :laughing:

 

We can lay on plates of MMs with all the yellow ones removed :unsure::yikes:

 

And Mrs Smith will do a turn, if her zimmer frame doesn't get stuck :lol::lol::lol:

 

Well done SP B)

 

Nick

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jochta

+jochta

Posted
Posted
Managed to get a recording on tape, just need to transfer it to the PC, hopefully tonight.

 

Unfortunately I don't think Anne got it, at all :unsure::laughing:

<rant>

 

Does she get anything? That woman is sooooo annoying - the only reason I have it on in the mornings with the alarm is that she makes me get out of bed. If I had to listen to too much of it I would have to throw the clock radio out of the window.

 

And those bloody jingles. 'Radio Axford' - couldn't they get someone who can speak Oxfordian?

 

</rant>

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kbootb

+kbootb

Posted
Posted

As far as I can work out - yes he did it.

 

But Oxford Local Radio remained just that - local and radio - they did not have a live internet broadcast.

 

Therefore we couldn't record it direct onto PC and stick it up as MP3.

 

We have to rely on someone in the area taping it on old-fashioned hi-fi :laughing: and then transferring this to the PC and converting it. Takes a bit longer that way, but if I read it correctly Phillimore Clan has this in hand so keep watcing. But I don't think it will be ready for lunchtime. You'll have to get your anorak fix by another method today.

 

I must stop this work avoidance tactic and get back to the grindstone.

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Simply Paul

+Simply Paul

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Posted

Well, *that* was fun! I had all my notes about interesting caches around Oxford ready, and stats (like there are 70 caches within 5 miles of the Ratcliffe Camera) all prepared, as had been requested, and suddenly found myself attempting to defend the fine sport I love against slurs of it "being a bit nerdy*" and that finding a cache "doesn't represent much of a challenge". Humm. I've not been interviewed often but I think Anne needs to practice ;)

 

I hope the Phillimores can sort out an MP3 online. If not, if they contact me I'll happily give them my address so they can post me a copy of the tape (to be recached, naturally!) and I'll do it, as I have the technology :D

 

SP

 

P.S. The BBC called me at 8.50 rather than 7.50 - said I'd be on air in a minute, kept me holding for 10 while Anne whittered, I did my bit (felt like 2 mins, might have been a *little* longer - I did get geocaching.com's name mentioned, and made the point the treasure isn't real treasure) and then, as Anne continued, I was cutoff without so much as a thank you. Oh well.

 

P.P.S. I'm hoping my name goes down in infamy, rather than being famous...

 

*It is, but it's also a lot fun, exercise, fresh air, discovering new places, challenging and a countryside sport that doesn't involve killing anything. Against that background, I think "the element of the anorak" is very much the minor part.

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Jumbo Village

Jumbo Village

Posted
Posted

I disagree entirely with anyone saying that Geocaching is Nerdy. What you say is spot-on Paul. Geocaching has gotten me out more and taken me to new places I would never normally have been to. And like you say, it's good harmless fun.

 

People that don't have an understanding of any new technology tend to undermine those that do, and call them nerds don't they? I've noticed that anybody that specialises in anything that doesn't comply with the norms of society seems to get a "geek" title of some sort. Maybe it's something to do with fitting in...

 

What say everyone listens to the broadcast, and if they feel compelled, write to BBC Oxford and complain about her blase ridicule of something we very much enjoy. 100 letters should get her to chew on a large slice of humble pie. Mind you, as I remember, she could do with staying off the pies!

 

Crikey, I'm annoyed and I haven't even heard it yet!

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jochta

+jochta

Posted
Posted
Well, *that* was fun! I had all my notes about interesting caches around Oxford ready, and stats (like there are 70 caches within 5 miles of the Ratcliffe Camera) all prepared, as had been requested, and suddenly found myself attempting to defend the fine sport I love against slurs of it "being a bit nerdy*" and that finding a cache "doesn't represent much of a challenge". Humm. I've not been interviewed often but I think Anne needs to practice ;)

Sounds like every single interview Anne does. She really winds me up.

 

They had Sybil Roscoe on for a bit recently - she was much better. And Phil Mercer does a much better job as well.

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jochta

+jochta

Posted
Posted
why dont we invite ann to come out caching with us and get her lost ;)

Just got this bio from the BBC Oxford website

 

"Anne brings you all you need to know at Breakfast, in her own inimitable style."

 

I'm sure there's a spelling error in there somewhere...

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Simply Paul

+Simply Paul

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Having never heard her show before today (and even then, only via my phone as I couldn't get their web page's radio-online feature to work) I'd say she walks the fine line between irreverent and irrelevant. Oh I love wordplay, me.

 

Still, could have been worse. I gave the Geocaching.com (tried to spell it, but got talked over) address twice or more, so I hope people will go there and check it out for themselves rather than nod sagely to themselves while muttering "That Anne Diamond tells it like it is" to their cats.

 

SP ;)

 

P.S. I'm sure she's a lovely woman, but I was expecting questions, not sweeping generalisations, misconceptions and- Leave it Paul. Walk away, walk away...

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Simply Paul

+Simply Paul

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Posted (edited)

Big thanks to John of the Phillimore Clan for sorting this out for me. Because of the late start of 'my bit' I didn't think anyone would have recorded it. I'll upload the MP3 to http://www.snapsandbytes.co.uk/oxfordradio.mp3 shortly.

 

Having heard it again, I think the problem was I made it sound like 'our' sort of GPS was accurate to inches, not yards. Thus Anne didn't think it would be tricky... or enjoyable. I also err and umm WAY too much. ;)

 

SP

Edited by Simply Paul
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kbootb

+kbootb

Posted
Posted

I've not actually heard the clip (yet), but I wonder what prompted the show to run the item and what they were trying to achieve.

 

I guess there is some connection to SP's recent BBC TV bit as they knew who to track down, but I wonder what the chain of events was behind the scene.

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Mad H@ter

+Mad H@ter

Posted
Posted
I've not actually heard the clip (yet), but I wonder what prompted the show to run the item and what they were trying to achieve.

 

I guess there is some connection to SP's recent BBC TV bit as they knew who to track down, but I wonder what the chain of events was behind the scene.

A few weeks ago Anne was discussing "Book Crossing", so I emailed her details of Geocaching stating that it is often used for distributing Book Crossing books etc. Whether this email prompted her to follow it up, I don't know as I never had a reply.

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The Cache Hoppers

+The Cache Hoppers

Posted
Posted (edited)

Well I just listened to the recording and a big pat on the back Simply Paul! You did a brilliant job. And I didn't think Anne was that bad .... not as bad as I thought she was going to be after reading the forum postings. Possibly a bit patronising, and she obviously hadn't done her research. I don't think she will be out "at it" as she so eloquently put it though and I don't really expect to see her at The Critical Mass Cache Bash on the 1st May - she'll be out with the Morris Dancers!

Edited by The Cache Hoppers
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kbootb

+kbootb

Posted
Posted

I have now heard it. Well done Paul. I thought you kept your enthusiasm up despite the lack of 'wow' from the other end. Actually I don't think she was that bad, but I did detect a little drop in her voice just after she signed off.

 

Perhapd next time anybody does one of these we ought to also emphasise the fact that they are hidden and camoflauged to be difficult to find. I have heard the 'you just follow the arrow' bit too often. The fact is that you can be with 2 feet of a cache and not see it, rather like looking at a crossword clue and just can't see it. Then 2 o'clock in the morning you get it and can't work out why you couldn't see it.

 

Also I think that next time a present claims it to be easy, challenge them to come and try it rather than become defensive.

 

But I think that was a job well done and if someone was likely to be interested they would have got the idea and the web site from that.

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Mad H@ter

+Mad H@ter

Posted
Posted
Possible that your e-mail prompted things. But doesn't explain how they got SP's details. Unless there is a BBC database - expert on GC = SP

 

Can't be that cos BBC also got hold of 'another geocacher' for a broadcast recently.

I did also mention the recent bit on BBC South, so that may have been where the contact came from.

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kbootb

+kbootb

Posted
Posted
Possible that your e-mail prompted things. But doesn't explain how they got SP's details.  Unless there is a BBC database - expert on GC = SP

 

Can't be that cos BBC also got hold of 'another geocacher' for a broadcast recently.

I did also mention the recent bit on BBC South, so that may have been where the contact came from.

I think that probably clinches it, you qualify for a new icon, the 'got the media to notice us' cache. Not sure how many points on the COTM table that would be worth.

 

I think we got about as much as we could hope for.

 

Well done all concerned.

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Simply Paul

+Simply Paul

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Posted (edited)

I can cast some light on one issue. Anne's producer is a mate of Steve Knibbs, who was the reporter on The Womble's bit on BBC Points West in February.

 

For those who hate MP3s, here's a transcript:

(Feel free to post your own version with snappier comebacks!)

 

"Now finding your way around by using satellites was once something only the military did, but with the development of handheld 'Global Positioning Systems', or GPS as they're better known, we can all give it a go. You've probably got one fitted to your car, haven't you? I want one fitted in mine.

 

Um. As well as helping us get from A to B they've spawned a new sport though. It's called Geocaching - Which is basically a 21st century treasure hunt.

 

Paul Smith is a geo-cacher, who has been getting to know Oxfordshire much better with his GPS - and joins us now. Morning Paul.

 

Good morning Anne.

 

So can you explain what Geocaching is?

 

Ah well, you've err given it in a nutshell. It is err a high-tech treasure hunt using GPS to find err little boxes of trinkets hidden out in the woods.

 

But who sets the hunt?

 

Err. Other Geocachers. Um. Basically there are people who like to hide, there are people who like hunt and there are people who like to do both.

 

Right. Is this all on a web site of some sort?

 

It is yes, Geocaching.com.

 

Oh really? So you log on and if there's a hunt - what do you do? Download it into your computer in your car or something? I just- I wouldn't know what to do next.

 

You can't really- you can't really do it with a car one, Unfortunately. It does need to be a handheld.

 

Right.

 

Because it'll carry you to an exact spot and they're very rarely next to a road.

 

Oh I see. So I mean how- w- How do you hunt it? Is it a clue that's given and you have to follow the clue, or what?

 

Err No no no. If you go to geocaching.com, umm there's a little box in the top right hand corner where you can put your postcode in, and that will then give you a list of all your closest local caches, with their longitude and latitude.

 

So when you find that spot, what is there there? What do you do?

 

Um. Well, it basically becomes a treasure hunt then. Um. There are lots of different sorts of caches. Ones that take you straight to the spot where you need to go, ones that take you on a little tour of an area, and once you're there, you know, you could be in the middle of woods or even in the middle of Oxford. There's lots and lots actually in Oxford town centre. Tiny ones hidden away.

 

What, and is there a little treasure there waiting for you?

 

Well, the little tiny ones have only got a logbook, or a little log sheet, just so you can prove you've actually visited before you go back to the web site and make your log there. Um, but the bigger ones, they've got -you know- bits and bobs; McDonalds toys, blank CDRs, books...um, car air fresheners...

 

Do you know, if I'm going to be totally honest, I'd say it sounds a bit nerdy.

 

Ahhh. Well, ummm. There is an element of Anorak I suppose just because it's a high-tech game. Umm. But no, it's very popular with families-

 

But there's no real skill to it, is there?

 

I would certainly not say that!

 

Well if you've got a GPS all you do is follow it!

 

Well, Um. If the arrow is saying it's 500 yards in one direction but there's a river, um, a busy road- You know, there's lots of natural obstacles between you and the-

 

Ah, I see, yes.

 

-point. Sometimes the skill is actually in getting to that location.

 

So how many people are geocaching nower days?

 

In the UK, there's probably 4 or 5 active- 4 or 5! 4 or 5 thousand active geocachers, um, looking for about 5,000 caches hidden in the UK. There's over 100,000 of these 'treasure boxes' hidden around the world in over 200 countries. So it's- from starting in 2000 in America, it really has snowballed.

 

My goodness. And how long have you been at it?

 

I started in the middle of 2003 and I'm just coming up to my 400th find, now.

 

I'll shall have to have a look. Geocache.com, did you say?

 

GeocachING.com

 

GeocachING.com. Well thanks very much for introducing it to us. Huh!"

Edited by Simply Paul
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