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Well, the most emotional day ever at Radio Bahrain (bar one - but I'll tell you about that next week) happened last Thursday morning ... it was my last 'Breakfast Show' after many years on the slot.
I was very touched by everyone's kindness, as from 6am (when cake and biscuits were first delivered thanks to Bryson Wood and later on to Dena Wales) all the way till the finish at 9am it was a rollercoaster of mixed emotions.
I was sad that my beloved show had been axed and happy for all the appreciation and sympathy that I received. The disbelief and anger that some listeners felt about it was also pretty satisfying. But really, all the telephone calls, texts and emails I received were overwhelming.
However, I was not prepared for how bad I would feel come Sunday morning. It should have been wonderful. I rolled out of bed at 7.30am just in time to kiss my daughter goodbye as she went to school.
After the school run, my wife Wendy came home and made me eggs on toast and then we sat down to finish mapping out my new 'Midday Madness' show, which for some strange reason I'd been putting off and putting off.
As we worked together I got sadder and sadder and started checking my emails instead, as she messed about in Excel (which I don't understand at all).
I'd received some nice emails, which started to lift my mood (it was nice to know people where thinking of me). Then I got one from a listener in Saudi who wrote something along the lines of "I'm gunna keep 'waking up with Krazy Kevin... 'cause I've decided not to get out of bed till midday". Thanks Ross, I really needed that!
Maybe I'll be nearly as hedonistic and get up at 11am every day to start at noon. Together we could start some kind of 'sleep in strike'. Doesn't that sound just great ... although I'd only get away with it for a day or two before Wendy would put her foot down (probably somewhere very painful).
Anyway, the new show is going to be great. Starting off with the 'Midday Mania Hour', which is jam-packed with funny stories and jokes as well as a 'Good News Time' segment (I mean, why is everything on the news so miserable? There's got to be plenty of good things going on in Bahrain and the world too, surely).
After the one o'clock news things slow down a bit so that you can all let your lunches digest. As well as the 'Golden Album of the Week', there's a 'Slow Song Segment', maybe even including something romantic for all those in love slaving away at work and missing each other terribly.
Once a week on Tuesdays there's an 'Our Tune' moment where couples can share the love and tell Bahrain all about 'their' special song. Kicking the segment off yesterday was Rachel and Bob. There's also a new music competition called 'Guess the Intro' and winners will receive lots of CD prizes
I'm working on fun new jingles for all these new slots. My mate Barry Upton who usually helps me out with the creative stuff is away in Cannes, so if anyone out there wants to get creative ... I reckon there's got to be a school media department out there that would like an interesting new project like putting together some fun new jingles that will actually get aired?
So, moving on, after the 2 o'clock news I hope to do a 'Koffee Konversations' section where we can talk about everything from health, education, sports and what not (though no religion, or politics or anything that people get up to when the lights go out, please). Hopefully, I will get a lot more guests coming into the radio for live chats with me and talkback with listeners.
I'm optimistic, because a lot more people will be able to do this in the early afternoon than were able to in the early morning. Maybe I'll even ask Bahrain's most famous 'agony aunt' if she can come in from time to time too to talk to the listeners (and sort me out as well).
From 2.30pm onwards 'Schools Out' and the show will be dedicated to kids. I'll be playing everything kids want to hear (including High School Musical 2, if that's what they request).
For Thursday afternoons I'm sending out an invitation to Bahrain's budding DJs (aged under 16) to come and join me in the Radio Bahrain studio and co-host the show.
If you're interested just drop me an email telling me all about yourself and I'll email you back. If you're lucky you might even be allowed to get out of school a little bit early to get here before the rush. Let's hope the schools will be supportive.
Yep the show will be lots of fun but if there's anything else you'd like to see included please send me your ideas.
This Tuesday is 'Pancake Tuesday' and to get in the spirit of things I've invited 'the housewife's choice' my mate and chef extraordinaire Dominic Miles into the studio to make pancakes 'live on air'.
He's going to tell you all about how to make 'em and I'll tell you all about how to eat 'em. Of 'course, when you read this that will have been quite literally 'yesterday's news' but because I'm looking forward to it so much I can't resist telling you about it. I've also got some ideas for some Valentine's Day fun, but I'll tell you about that next week.
What else has happened this week? Well most importantly it was my mum's birthday. And I was lucky enough to be invited onto the King's course to play golf for the sponsors days at the American Mission Hospital. I played over two days and had a great time - thanks going out to David Axtell and the guys in the photo David Wales, Rob Grey and Dr Paul Armadingdangdong
Keep Happy
Til next week,
Krazy Kevin
