And Finally -- Thank You

Everyone at Absolute was incredibly supportive. Everyone was friendly, and most importantly, everyone clearly loved their job.

But there are a few people I would like to give a special thanks to:

Adam - First person I met at Absolute. Showed me what was what, and helped out whenever I didn't no what to do. Loves Radio, willing to sleep on the floor just to be at Absolute. And he likes football, so an Awesome guy.

Marc - The music god. Knows everyone in the biz. Well not really, but he knows bands who I love... and there managers.... Sweet! Proper nice guy, who is always willing to help, even when he is hungover. Also a funny guy, and hard working. He is always working on something for someone. Legend.

Eloise - One of the nicest/friendliest people you could ever meet. Always working hard, yet still managed to fit in a lunch break with me and Guy on my second week. Always willing to help, and I must say sorry to her, for calling her a work experience person in one of my blogs. Turns out she is a station assistant and was the producer on the old Iain Lee show on Absolute... and an awesome one at that!

Kerry - The normal receptionist, who chose me for work experience in the first place. She was on reception during my second and third week at absolute. Like everyone else mentioned, she started of as a "Worky" and then applied for the receptionist job and got it. Willing to give advice whenever I needed it. Another awesome person!

Clive - The big fish. I don't think I ever spoke too him, but I believe he was the one who found out about my blog. He then E-mailed everyone saying about it. This led to Geoff Lloyd mentioning it on his show live. So thank you Clive. You are awesome, and so is your station

And of course a Thank you to Guy, my fellow Worky. Will be weird getting back to normal, with you as Nerve Station Manager, and me as a presenter.

Of course I would like to thank everyone, everyone I had a meeting with, everyone who gave me advice, and of course, a thank you for reading!

Stay Classy Internet, OK?

Colin

Me, Guy and Adam

Day Twenty - So Long, and Thanks for all the Radio Advice

For the last time, hello blog land.
                                                     Well it is here at last. My final blog on AbsoluteColin. The twentieth blog entry, a day late. Not good!

For the past four weeks I have been a Worky at Absolute Radio in London. Before I started I was worried. About travel, about how to "present" myself and just because its Absolute Radio man!. But now, looking back at my time, I can safely say that I had an amazing experience. I met some awesome people, saw some amazing places and went shopping for Greg....

Cough.

Right, before the "Sentimental" bit, lets get on with my final day!

So I actually woke up early. Odd. Literally no struggle. Alarm when off, and I was on it. I was raring to go. Like a boss. So I get to Absolute, and the first thing needed, is bubble wrap. You see, Sky are a long time sponsor of Absolute (Rock N Roll Football) and they have sent members of staff gift bags. I'm guessing it was a sort of alcoholic beverage, as it was a long box. But there was loads of them delivered. Two haven't been picked up, as the people haven't been in.

So they need to be posted. They are pretty big, so bubble wrap is needed. So that's our first job. I meet Guy on floor one.

See, I had been thinking of getting something for people at Absolute on my last day, as a "Thank you" for all their help. I hadn't got anything in the end though, as I didn't know what to get.

Anyway I get to Guy, and he shows me what he has done as a gift. Guy is quite the artist, and can actually draw well. So he has drawn three cartoons. One of Marc, one of Eloise, and one of Kerry.

It is awesome, and I should have got a picture. Alas I forgot, so here's a picture of a funny cat:

So its an awesome picture, So I decide I need to get something, as I had originally planned. So, we go out to get the bubble wrap, and on the way Guy gets a frame for his picture and I buy a present for Marc and Adam on reception.

Good ol' John Lewis always saves the day. I get a weird thing. Its basically the bottom half of Santa, with chocolate balls in it. Sounds weird. But that's the only way of describing it. It may have been an egg cup with chocolate in.

So on the way back from John Lewis we get the bubble wrap from Rymans. Good times. So now we head back.

I hand the gift to Adam. He seems happy. Which is good.

We then go up and see Marc on the first floor. Guy hands him the Picture, and I hand him the Santa legs/chocolate balls thing.

He seems genuinely blown away. Which is a surprise, as I imagined every past Worky getting something to say thanks. Maybe not? I know Jack made a cake with the Absolute Logo on it. Awesome

But he seems happy with it. So its all good.

Next Jonnny brings over the Final ever press cuts!

Sad times =[ But we also have to finish doing the Iain Lee clips, so we also continue with that. But of course, we are asked to do other jobs throughout the day.

I had to cover reception for  abit, wrap the Sky things up in bubble wrap and parcel paper, and write the details down for special delivery, and get financial times stories for Jonny.

I was also given one last list of things to get. Not by Greg though... By Adam, and for Zoe. As you may recall, Donnach was going to dress as Father Christmas today, for young relatives of employers. But the kids needed snacks, so I had to go to Tesco and get:

12 Mince Pies

2 x Orange Juice

1 x Apple Juice

3 x Big Bags of Crisps

1 x Packet of Chews

4 x Beers (I'm sure the kids would love that)

For the first time, in my 4 weeks at Absolute, it was easy. I went there, and everything was there. Perfect. Amazing. Beautiful. I was a happy bunny.

I did have one issue though. See I'm not a big Orange Juice fan, so I wasn't sure what sort of orange juice they meant.

See I'm the sort of guy who doesn't know the difference between Orange Juice and Squash.

So I did what any self respecting 19 year old in London would do... I asked my girlfriend what to do via phone call. I would personally think Orange Squash is more appropriate... Surely that's more for kids?

But no I got the darn Juice.

As the day went on more people said there goodbyes. Finished for Christmas you see. Marc had to leave early to get Christmas presents... LOL!

I shook his hand, said said thank you for everything and wished him a Merry Christmas. Hes the main man for music, So I will be keeping in touch.

I decided to write a message on the White Board. A thank you to everyone for their help. And one last plug of the blog... O why not :D

My hotmail stopped working towards the end of the day for some reason. That was bad, as I had saved my Iain Lee work on there, a long with the financial times stories. Not good. I had to write the stories out again! Not a good thing I must say.

So that was really my last day. Not much happened, but everyone was in good spirits. That's what Christmas does to people!

I then had to make my leave. I shook hands, said thank you, said goodbye and also got a free mug :D I said goodbye to Guy, though I will be seeing him again in the New Year. It was all quite emotional.

Well not really, but I felt quite sad.

Its true what Adam had said. You get to know all these people, and then suddenly, your out, finished :(

And so it has arrived. The end of this blog, and my adventures at Absolute Radio in London... for now.

Here are some of my favourite moments:

Free Alcohol

Sitting in on Geoff and Christians shows.

Free Alcohol

The Hard Rock Cafe

Free Alcohol

Pizza Hut Express

Watching Brian get cake to the face

Meeting awesome people

Free Alcohol

 

I loved every minute of it, and it was an incredible experience. For four weeks, my life revolved around that place, and my blog.

 

Thank you for reading. Thank you for putting up with my constant use of the word Awesome.

 

You are all awesome for that.

 

I met some incredible people. People who are just so passionate about radio. It was amazing.

 

I will make a post, saying thank you to people tomorrow.

 

But for now, watch this space, as this may be the end of the chapter.

 

But not the end of the story for my radio adventures!.

 

Thank you for reading.

 

You stay classy Internet

 

Colin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day Nineteen - Penultimate Post + Christian O'Connell

Why hello.                  Well here we are. The penultimate blog. Number 19. Who would have thought I'd last this long? Not me that's for sure.

As it gets nearer to Christmas, more staff are finishing. Today it was Dan, the producer/phone call taker of the hometime show. He was the guy who explained things to me in the gallery, before I sat in on Geoff Lloyds hometime show. Awesome guy, so I hope he has a good Xmas and new year.

So today, I got in early, as I was finally sitting in on the breakfast show :D you will probably remember I couldn't last week due to the breakfast team flying to lapland, and I couldn't yesterday as Maggie (the producer) was off ill.

So finally I am sitting in :) First thing I do, is meet Maggie in the Gallery. She reads the travel, and has a program up that gives up to date travel information from around the country. She tells me that she looks for most of the travel that concerns the South East, as that's where they get the most listeners. But she gets some travel news for roads in Manchester and Birmingham, but only if its motorways.

So she is compiling that, and I sit there, then suddenly she says, "Lets go in the studio, so you can meet the team"

I am like this :

So I get in. And as soon as I walk in, Christian O' Connell looks up, and says "Hey, hows it going.."

I quickly respond, in an over excited tone, and say "I'm good thanks! how are you"

BUT I INSTANTLY MAKE A FOOL OF MYSELF

You see, today, Ritchie is out at a restaurant. All this week they have been doing different things to raise money for their Christmas lunch. I said a few blogs back that Ritchie had to clean cars to get money, well today they had sent him to a restaurant to clean plates.

So when I had walked him, Christian had been talking to Ritchie via on the phone, via the desk. So he had said hows it goings to Ritchie not me.

Meaning I had made a prat of myself... Not good!

Anyway, he shakes my hand and continues talking to Ritchie. Once hes done, he asks me a bit about myself.

Turns out he used to work at 2CR FM in Bournemouth. I tell him I have met Ritchie beforeetc and we chit chat. Nice guy, still knows a fair bit about Bournemouth stations. Turns out he lives near my uncle too! Good times

After chatting, he goes on air. It is awesome. They talk exactly the same on air, as they do off it. You can tell its a genuine show. Christian is a funny guy, and that team work so well together.

Also, to raise money for the lunch, they have put some things on Ebay. They were Vinyls of songs from the band Toto (Who I had never heard of) Ritchie bought them for £4.50 and they sold for £175.

This made the breakfast team feel guilty, as they couldn't make a listener pay £175 quid . So they get a text from the person "claiming" to be the winner, and the other producer (Mark) rings the number. It is the right person, but they don't want to go on air as they have a sore throat, and anyway, they bought it for someone else. So the team plan to send it to them for free. Awesome

So the show ends, and I loved sitting there watching it. It was so relaxed and seamless, just like clockwork, as if they were all just chatting in the pub.

So on the way out of the studio, I say thanks to Christian for letting me sit in, and he gives me some good advice, and says that if I ever want to come in and help, just e-mail Greg (The guy who likes the lists) So its all good :D

I also got a picture with them:

Good times, though my hair looks a mess.

So yeah, an awesome start to the day. But now its time to get on with other tasks. You know, the daily tasks that I mention every single blog :D

So I get to work on the Recon, as there hasn't been live reads for a few days now. Weird.

 I forgot to say yesterday, Me and Guy created the Christmas Bible for Paul Sylvester

Here's what the front cover looked like. We searched Paul Sylvester on google and found that image. Guy used his Photoshop skills to put the Santa hat on him!

Anyway so I do recon, and now I have time to help Marc sort out Iain Lee clips. Some of you may know, a few months back Iain Lee did a show in the evenings on Absolute, four days a week. It was basically a show where Iain interviewed people on the phone. Eloise had been the producer on it. Though the show was no longer going, as it had been around earlier this year, it was egible for a Sony award. So Me, Marc and Guy had been given the task of listening to different shows, and finding the best bits.

So here's what I had to do. I had to listen to any of the shows on the list, and write down what happens in each link, and then highlight the "best bits"

Its a slow process, as Iains Lee links are up to 10 minutes long. Luckily it is a very funny show, so its all good!

Obviously, we get interrupted by different jobs frequently. Today's included getting wine for a leaving presenter, sorting the post that came late,  and making tea and coffee for a meeting for two.

We were reminded about 4 times about this meeting, so it must have been important... but I made it fineee. And I am not tight on the biscuits either!

We also had a meeting today. It was with Adam Bowie,  who is a researcher for promotions, and also a member of RAJAR. Now the meeting was good, but most of the stuff he told us I already knew, after all I am on a Radio Production course. He mainly told us about RAJAR, and how they gather there data and listening figures for each station.

So after the meeting its back to work on the Iain Lee show. But then another thing... getting the post. There actually wasn't that much today... surprising.

O, and another job I was asked to do. You may remember that I had a meeting with Donnach a few days back. Well I was asked to bring a Santa outfit up to his office. Apparently, tomorrow staff are bringing their children, nieces, nephews and other relations in, and its up to Donnach to dress up as Father Christmas. That should be awesome!

PHOTO OP ME THINKS

I look forward to that!

Well that was pretty much my day.

Tomorrow is my last day! Which means the last blog!

Sad Times

So till then,

You stay Classy Internet!

Colin

Day Eighteen - Tim Wheeler from Ash Likes Your Cupcakes!

Hello Bloggers,
                          Its me again. I have decided that the blog today will take on a different style. I am going to skip the most parts and go straight to the "Exciting part" O by the way, I didn't sit in on Breakfast. I got in early, and found out Maggie was ill. So its been moved to tomorrow.

Yes I did all the paper work etc, (And had a meeting with Brian) blah blah blah. But me and Guy were asked if we would be able to stay late and help with the "Hometime Christmas party"

Basically, its the last Hometime show of the year. So to celebrate, they are having a Christmas party on air. They had two bands planned, and an interview with Eddie Izzard. The bands were "Emmy the great and Tim Wheeler" and "Slow Club" I had never heard of Slow Club, but I knew that Tim Wheeler was the lead singer of Ash, so that was exciting.

Everyone seemed very excited about Eddie Izzard, but if I'm honest I wasn't bothered. I had never watched his stand up, you see.

To help with the party, along with me and Guy ,was Jack. Jack did work experience back in Easter, and had kept in contact with Absolute, asking them if they needed any help. So here he was. He told me that his lowest point when he was at Absolute was hunting down something for Greg that he couldn't find. Typical.

So we go and buy alcohol for the party. We are given £100, and are told to buy a lot of "Pre Mixed cans" as the Hometime show is sponsored by Schwepps Pre Mixed cans. So we go to the Tesco's near absolute and get them, along with some beer and wine.

At the event tonight, there are fans of the show coming in, so they will need refreshments also. As its a Christmas party, so the whole of the Zoo is pimped out in Christmas decorations. Jack had already gone and bought mince pies so that was all good. Also, Jack is a baker. He likes baking. He bought in the most amazing thing ever...

CUPCAKES WITH MINCE INSIDE!

Me and Jack are tasked with giving up drinks, quite easy as its either cans or wine.

Omg I can not describe how awesome they are. They literally get eaten instantly. So the first group come on. Emmy the great and Tim Wheeler. They have released a Christmas album this year, so sing songs from that.

Then Eddie Izzard is interviewed, along with another guy who's name I have forgotten. They are both appearing in the upcoming Treasure Island remake on Sky 1. It sounds good. Izzard is funny, and I am given the task of guarding the camera.

Then it was the time of Slow Club. They are quite good. Easy listening. Whilst this is all happening, Geoff is interviewing the bands. Its all pretty awesome, as there is a loop video of a fire playing in the background. Pretty christmassy.

By the end all the booze was gone. I had had four of the cans and was feeling pretty "fine"

I then helped clean up after everyone... there was a lot of mess.

Then I said goodbye and Thank you to Geoff, Annabel and Gareth, as it is the last time I will see them. Awesome people. So once again, thank you, for being friendly/helpful/awesome to me whilst I was at Absolute.

They are all extremely professional in what they do, and clearly love the industry.

Respect to them!

Sorry for the brief Blog. I have had a lot of booze, I'm tired and need my bed!

Tomorrows will be better! To help you through here are some pictures of tonight!

Until tomorrow

You stay classy Internet!

Colin

The "Stage"

Tim Wheeler

Tim Wheeler from my camera guarding position

A blurry picture?

The Coca Cola Truck, which I saw today!



Day Seventeen - Panic Shoppers Panic

Hey Bloggy land,
                             Well its the end of another day, and my last Tuesday of my time at Absolute. Sad :(

Well, today didn't start well. For the first time in almost four weeks, I overslept. Not good. Luckily I set my alarm an hour and a half before I have to get up, so I wasn't late for the train. But it meant I didn't get to open door 20 of my advent calender... and the Door was HUGE. EPIC BAD TIMES.

So yeah, I get to Absolute. You may remember yesterday that I had to get a silly list of things. (The window cleaner and stuff) Well it was used this morning by Ritchie, (Breakfast Co-presenter and ex Bournemouth DJ) as he had to dress in his elf outfit and clean cars outside absolute. Mega lols.

I'm glad my purchases went to good use though :D

So anyway I get in, and there is fruit at reception. So I go up to the Zoo to stock up the fruit bowls. Good times. Next its time for me and Guy to sort the post. There is a lot, so it takes a while. Adam then comes to see us, and gives us a new schedule.

Literally you get a new schedule everyday at Absolute. I have so many in my bag. But anyway, the schedule says we have a meeting with Lee Price... now... So I sprint up the stairs... whilst Guy strolls up.

This is someone who I hadn't seen before. Or if I had, it had only been in passing. He is like Joe Thomas. His desk is in a studio.

As you have probably guessed, he works in production. Basically he creates jingles, promos and other audio bits. He shows us the programs he uses, and explains how he creates everything. Its fascinating to me, as its an area of radio that isn't really touch upon on my course.

Once that meeting is done, we head straight for another meeting with Adrian, who is one of the News Team. We meet him in the gallery, where he is preparing his next news bulletin. This is more Guys area of expertise, as he is studying journalism at Uni. Obviously I am extremely interested as well. So he goes through how the bulletins are done, how he compiles them, and then he lets us sit in as he does a live News read. There is a clever little program called Burli, which they use to write their news. Its an awesome little program, that has news sent to it, and categorised. And audio can be found and edited on it for different news stories. Its all very clever.

O by the way, they are both awesome guys, don't forget that.

Once the meeting is over I go back to the first floor to finish off the live reads I didn't finish yesterday. I next have to sort teas and coffee for a meeting for 5. So I head to the zoo to do that. As I'm doing that, Maggie, off the Breakfast show walks into the Zoo. On my schedule it says I'm sitting in on the breakfast show Wednesday morning.

So, to make sure shes aware, I ask her if its okay "For me to sit in on the Breakfast Show tomorrow"

See, its already in my schedule, but I don't want to turn up tomorrow with her not knowing why I'm there.

Luckily she knows and tells me to come in at 9, and I will be able to sit in the studio for the last hour.

BUT I MAKE A GRAVE MISTAKE

Whilst she is talking, I cut in and say "O I don't get in till 9.30..."

LET ME EXPLAIN

 The reason I say that, is because I had been told that workys in the past had sat in for the last 30 minutes... Even Adam on reception had said that. So I thought she had forgotten that Workys don't get in till 9.30.

O how silly I am

She then, sounding a bit surprised, said "O well you can come in at 9.30... but you wont see as much of the show"

I then recover and say O no I can get in for 9! its fine.

GREAT

Now the producer of the Breakfast show thinks I'm not bothered about sitting in on their show. Brilliant. I really need to keep my mouth shut.

But anywayyyy, I am sitting in on Breakfast tomorrow. For the last hour of course. So that should be good :D

Anyway, so I make the teas and coffees, and then decide to have my break. Its just gone one after all.

My plan... get all my Christmas Presents :D as you know, I now know where to get everything, So I head to the stores in question... I cue in the first one... They don't have what I want in stock.... I go to second shop... They haven't got what I saw on Friday.

So here's my conclusion

Colin = Screwed... Big time

I never leave Christmas shopping this late. Normally they're all wrapped and under the tree by now. But, being at Absolute has ended any chance of my perfect record continuing. I am running out of time.

I managed to get one thing though, so not all bad.

So I get back, a bit later than my allowed hour break, as Oxford street is further than I thought (O I forgot to say I had a Pizza Hut Express... again... good times)

As soon as I get in... Adam hands me a list... A list of things from Greg again... Perhaps even weirder than the day before...

A battered Mars Bar?!?!?!?!? Okay that is weird... Luckily there is a Fish and Chips down the road from Absolute, so I plan to go in there and ask if they can deep fry one for me.

Everything else, I think, is pretty easy to find. The root beer I'm a bit worried about, as I didn't think that was even sold in the UK.

So its half 2, and I have a meeting at 3pm with Donach. Hes a CEO... a big fish so I can't miss that. So I go to the M + S just down the road to pick up a few of the items before the meeting.

I manage to get the Salad Cream, Baguette (Half, as a full one is WAYYYY to big) Cheese and Wotsits. I then have to get back for the meeting. I plan to go out after to get the rest of the stuff.

So I go and see Dorach. He has his own glass office on the 4th floor... Yes hes that important :D

So I get in and he asks me a bit about me and then asks me about my time at Absolute. I say how brilliant it has been, and how awesome the staff are. I then tell him about how I wanted to come to Absolute to find out more about Commercial radio, as it is basically a "A No Go" zone on my course.

Literally, my lecturers hate it. Its always BBC this or BBC that... which isn't really helpful to us... well it is, but I would like to learn about radio as a whole.

Anyway, Donach tells me a bit more about Absolute and the current commercial radio climate. He includes that he arrived at Absolute when they changed from Virgin.

He also said about what they are planning for the future, and their plans with "Target" advertising, where they hope to gain more advertisers as they will make advertising more relevant to listeners.

It is an awesome meeting, and he tells me to keep in touch after I leave.

Next, it is time to get the rest of the stuff on the list.

My first stop, the fish and chip shop, to ask about battering a Mars Bar.

They say they can't, as they have been asked before and it has caused problems with their oil. I bet that's a true story...

So I head on to get the other items. I get some toffee Popcorn and easily find the ice cream. Ironically I get the last tub at Tesco Metro (and its on offer!)

I also look around for root beer... But I cant find it. The only place I can think is newsagents, as they normally have unusual drink selections.

So I look in the newsagents near Absolute, and right on the middle shelf I find this:

Australian Root Beer... who would have though it.

Well that's 7 out of 8 items found. I plan to head back, to Absolute, drop off the stuff I have, and then go back to the fish and chips shop to explain I am from Absolute radio, and that if they deep fry a mars bar, they will get an awesome free Absolute mug :D

But I get back, and Greg says its fine to just get a normal Mars Bar... clearly they are hiding a Deep fat dryer in the basement.

But I now have another job... They don't have a freezer at Absolute. So Greg wants me to drop off the ice cream at a hotel around the corner, as they have agreed that Absolute can put the ice cream in their freezer... an easy job

But I head there, and its an over the top fancy hotel. So picture this, I walk in, in a thick coat, and tub of ice cream... Not fun.

The receptionist thinks I'm crazy and asks me to go to the restaurant. They think I'm crazy too, and I stand around awkwardly, whilst people fancily dressed are eating their meals.

Finally I hand it to the chef, and its all sorted. So I get back, and continue on getting clips for Brian. Ironically, we have a meeting with Brian at 4. But due to the tasks we have to do, he asks to move it to 5.

So at half 4 I collect the post. There is a lot. Loads of Christmas cards, and all the envelopes me and Guy sorted last week are now being sent. There are only three specials, so I sort them. I cover reception whilst Adam sorts the post, and then I return to floor one.

Brian isn't there. So the meeting obviously isn't happening.

But then we are given a new job by Paul Sylvester. He wants us to to create a Christmas "Bible" Throughout the building there are Bibles, which are basically manuals telling you how to do different tasks. Well over Christmas, things change, so a special Bible is created. We need to buy Ring binders, print them off, and create a front cover.... before midday Wednesday!

Guy has photoshop on his mac, so we create a cover for the bible. I give the ideas, he creates it. It is awesome... So look out for it!

Well that was my day... tomorrow sees me in on the Breakfast show, so exciting stuff!

But Until tomorrow Bloggers,

You stay Classy,

Colin

Day Sixteen - Chronicles of a Chamois

Hey Blogspot land,
                                  So now begins the start of week four. The final week. It has gone so fast. I have many memories of my time. But I'll save that for Blog 20 :)

People have asked me "O have you made any good contacts?" Truth is I don't know. Sure I know peoples E-mails, and have added them on Google + and am following them on Twitter but does that count as a "Contact?" I don't really understand it. But I know that everyone at Absolute would be more than willing to help me if I were to Email them with enquiries... So maybe that counts,

Before I Forget: I NEED TO SORT MY WORK EXPERIENCE BOOKLET OUT! PEOPLE WHO WORK AT ABSOLUTE DONT LET ME FORGET!!!

So yeah, if your an Absolute employer, You can add me on any of the following: Facebook, LinkedIN, Twitter and Google +... It will make me look good... you know you want to ;)

So anyway, I wake up to hear that the trains are delayed by up to 90 minutes. Well that's what my Uncle tells me. I look on my phone, at the National Rail website, and there is news of delays due to a broken down train in Brighton... It had to be Brighton didn't it. The delays are right through my route to London.

Not Good.

So  I head to the station. I get there, and I am greeted by this:

The most people I have ever seen at the station. Not a good sign. O by the way, did I mention how cold it was? It was very cold. It was icy. But I had my big coat, so it wasn't that bad for me :D

Anyway I get to the ticket office, and just as my turn comes , a train turns up. It is the delayed train, that is normally 20 minutes before my one. So I get my ticket, hurry, and get on the train. Meaning I get to Absolute before Guy for once. Infact I was so early, I even got a Cafe Nero hot chocolate before hand

GET IN MY SON!

Adam is on reception this week, and there are a lot of packages to deliver to each floor. Christmas presents probably. There are also bowls, with names on them. The bowls are covered in tin foil. The names on the bowls are Christian, Ritchie and Maggie (The Breakfast team) So I take them up, along with some other packages. They looked like bowls of porridge... Im just saying. I next take thee fruit delivery up to the Zoo,

When I return, Guy has turned up, so we get to work on the actual post that needs to go into Pigeon Holes. There are two bags, meaning a lot of name hunting.

So we work on that for a bit, and then go to Floor One. As Eloise has finished for Christmas, we both get computers. Guy works on Recon, whilst I do Live Read.... Get in!

Jonny then comes over with the Press Cuts. Mondays press cuts are always thick, So I begin work on them. However I have to stop after only a few as we get a job. Today, the Booze Trolley is gonna go round! That basically means that a trolley is loaded with booze, and taken to each floor. I may have mentioned it on week one or two... Have a read back and find it, and if you do, tell me what day it is in the comments :)

THANKS!

Apparently its to celebrate a new App for Absolute.... Any excuse to drink.

It seems that Absolute loves alcohol. Any excuse to get drunk and they will take it. Which is fine with me. I find one cider/beer makes you more relaxed and alert, so its all good.

ONE PROBLEM THOUGH

There is no alcohol in the building, so its down to me, Marc and Guy to go get some. Guy has gone to do a job for Robbie, so we have to wait for him to finish before we can go. Whilst we are waiting I am given a list from Adam. Its another "Scavenger" hunt courtesy of Greg. Its the weirdest list yet and reads like this:

Now there was some confusion. See, me and Adam thought a "Chamois" was pronounced "Cham oi ees" basically the way its spelt. We didn't realise it was pronounced "Chammy" until we googled it. Silly us!

There is a tick next to Squidgee and a star next to "Chamois". The tick means essential, the star means not that important. Which is good, as it means less pressure! good times. So I look on google first, and search different shops to see if they have the goods. Debenhams seems good so I plan to head there.

First though its time to get the Alcohol from Tesco.

I try to hint to Marc that we should get cider, but he ignores my suggestion.

One thing I don't understand

A lot of people at absolute like cider... Yet whenever we are sent out to get booze, cider is a No No everytime. Someone high up at Absolute seriously does not like it!

Anyway whilst we are there I find some Marigold gloves, meaning my first item is collected :D

Awesome. So we carry back the crates of booze, along with my gloves. We drop of the booze in the fridges, and then I drop the gloves off at Gregs desk. Now its time for me too hunt for the other items.

Its already 2, so I decide to have my lunch break whilst looking for the items. I head to debenhams, after unsuccessful trips to House of Fraiser and BHS. I go to the top floor and find the Money Belt :D

I'm the sort of person who likes to find stuff for myself. As in, I like to hunt round for stuff in shops, rather than ask someone who works there. It feels even more of an achievement when you find it :D

Sure it probably wastes time, buts that's me.

So I'm about to pay for the Money belt, when I ask the guy behind the counter if they sell the Window cleaners. It takes a crude demonstration of me cleaning a window for him to understand what I mean, but then he says yes we sell them, and I follow him, and I find them :D AWESOME

2 down in one shop :D Good times.

I decide to have lunch now, so I go to the KFC that is right next to the Pizza Hut express. I am tempted, but I decide against a third trip to pizza heaven.

Anyway, I begin to hunt for the Chamois. It turns out that they are quite hard to find... I think they are normally used for cleaning cars, and I haven't seen a Halfords in London yet. I look round for a bit, but then notice its nearing 4. I need to get back and do the press cuts.

Luckily the Chamois wasn't important, so I get back and Greg seems happy. He even posted a picture on the Breakfast Show Twitter page :D

When I get back the Booze Trolley is going round. I have a beer... It wasn't nice but I had it anyway. Boy am I a tropper.

I am about to start Press cuts again, but I am asked to get the post. There is alot today (People sending Xmas cards) so I gather that and head to the post room. Luckily there is only one special delivery to do, So I head back to floor one to do the press cuts

BUT THEN

I get to the first floor and find Guy basically infront of me talking to Jonny. He sits right near the door you see. As I get there, they turn and then Jonny asks about the press cuts.

I explain why they are late and say I'm about to finish them.

He then says that next time I need to tell him if there gonna be late as they are important.

Heres what he looked like:

He didn't say it angrily, because no one gets angry at Absolute. But you could tell that he needed them, and was quite... Agitated. I apologise and get to finishing them. I finish just before half 5 and send them to him.

Guy sat in on the Hometime show tonight, so hopefully he didn't steal my thunder :D

Anyway that was my day, So I will see you tomorrow Bloggers

You stay classy Internet

Colin

Day Fifteen - The Goblin King Cometh...

Hi Blog peeps,
                        peeps is such a silly word. My apologies for using it. So it finally is, day fifteens blog. It is late. I know. But due to travelling home Friday and working Saturday and seeing my girlfriend Sunday, I have literally had no time. Scary. And a little sad. Wah

So anyway day fifteen was one of those days where it starts off reallll slow, then in the last few hours, you get bombarded with jobs.

So once again it is cold. As everyday has been. But as soon as you get into absolute radio, its like your in the sahara. Its so warm in there. You could literally walk around in a T-Shirt... which is what I do.

So I get in, and I find out Kerry has tonsillitis. Typical, on the day shes supposed to finish for Christmas, she gets that. Ive never had it (touch wood) but I know how bad a sore throat is, so I could imagine it wasn't pleasant.

It was her last day anyway, but she was leaving at midday, which means its the return of Adam on reception. You may remember him from my first week. Its like the whole four weeks has come full circle "_" Awesome. Well not awesome, as Kerry has been awesome, but you get what I mean.... awesome.

So yeah its the typical stuff to start with in the morning. Delivering parcels to desks and of course paper work. The post hadn't been delivered yet.

I was back to the old Live reads today, and once again the good old Press Cuts (WA-HEY..)

So that was what my morning consisted of. Once that was done I went downstairs to see if the post has come and started sorting it into pigeon holes. Ronnie Woods pigeon hole is still full. Literally not been taken since I got there. Bad times for people who have written to him... But I'm pretty sure he has a studio at his home... lucky, As its nearing Christmas, the post is piling up.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Whilst I'm finishing the post, Adam arrives. hard to believe it been two weeks since he was sitting on reception. But now he will be there until the end of my time at Absolute.

So as there isn't much to do, and its about half 1, I decide to go on my break. I say goodbye to Kerry, and say thank you, as she has written out a reference form for my University application.

So I go on my break, with the idea of buying all the Christmas presents I haven't bought yet. (Mostly for my girlfriend, so obviously I can't say what I was looking for... *Cough* An Xbox *Cough*)

It takes longer than I thought, and its packed on Oxford street as you would expect. Luckily I now know where I'm gonna get everything, so next week will be my "Panic Buying" week :)

And to top it off I had another Pizza Hut Express.... So GOOD. I will never get over getting chips at Pizza Hut.

So I get back, for a nice chilled afternoon....

NOT

 I get back and am told about a meeting for 6 in the boardroom that needs coffee and tea made. So I head up, and whilst I'm doing it, I get bing bonged, asking me to contact Marc (Music guy)

So I head down to the first floor, and am told Jenny needs help with research. I tell him that's cool, and I will help after the meeting. I want to help, as I haven't done a research task yet :)

Me after being told about the task

So on my way back up to make the tea and coffees, I grab Guy, as we have a planned meeting with Sharath.

So we are making the drinks, when the Zoo phone rings and its Adam (Who is now on reception) turns out the meeting is for next week, so we have made it for nothing. Luckily Jenny (Who needs the research done) is making tea so I let her use the water/milk etc we had prepared. It also gives me a chance to talk to her about the research task,

She tells me she needs research of 80's films and famous film songs. Over the Christmas period they are having hours dedicated to each digital Absolute station. Meaning they will have different hours dedicated to 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and 00's. Jenny also explains her job, and once again, she tells me she loves her job. As everyone does At Absolute. She works in music. Awesome

So its time to me Sharath. Turns out, Absolute is owned by Times of India, who are owned by a company called The Times group, who themselves are owned by Bennet, Coleman & co ltd.

Confusing right?

See I hadn't really thought about who owned Absolute. But Sharath is the representative of Times of India. His talk is the most interesting out of all the talks I've had so far. All the others were awesome, but this one was extremely indepth. He explains how the company began, how they promote & advertise, and all details about their background.

A lovely man, and a meeting that took me by surprise. Not that I didn't think it would be good, but just how in depth and interesting it all was.

So once the meeting is done we go back to our desks on floor 1. Guy has editing to do for Joe, whereas I am about to begin the research for Jenny. The meeting with Sharath lasted longer than we thought, so we only have an hour left. Guy can stay later, where as I have to go at half 5, as I need to get back to my uncles then drive home.

So there are 12 films and songs I need to get research for, and I managed 5 whilst at Absolute. I run out of time, and tell Jenny that I will finish it over the weekend.

Due to lack of time I didn't manage to finish it till Sunday night, but I did it :D and it was interesting researching films from the 80's, like Labyrinth, which has David Bowie as a Goblin king... Weird

It was also the last day Eloise was at Absolute before Christmas.

So I would like to say a Big Thank you to Kerry and Eloise for all their support and advice over the past three weeks. They are both awesome people, who both have a passion for radio. Have an Awesome Christmas and New Year :D

Anyway that was my day

So now onto Week Four!

You stay Classy Internet!

Colin

Day Fifteen

Yo Yo Yo Blogland,
                                  Apologies for the delay in Fridays blog. I havent stopped moving since friday evening, so just havent had time :(

But never fear, I will post Fridays, and mondays tomorrow evening :D

Good times

See ya for my final week!!!! D=

Colin

Day Fourteen - Madness with Mince Pies

 Hows it going Blog readers?,

                                               I hope I find you well.... ANYWAY. Do I say awesome alot? Apparently I do... Weird =D

Its Amazing. This is my fourteenth blog entry. Where has the time gone? It seems all my life has been for the past 3 weeks is Absolute and blogging... which is a good thing obviously :D

Its been getting colder and colder. I remember this time last year it was snowing every night in sunny old Dorset. I miss it :( But to be fair if it snowed here in London I would be screwed, as I would be trapped. Which is not good.

So here is some things I have learnt over the past few days:

• Though I have been there three weeks, there are still people I'm meeting for the first time
• Free Alcohol!
• Press Cuts take a while to do
• Free Alcohol!
• Annabel is spelt with ONE L and Greg is spelt with one G

Free Alcohol everywhere! well not everywhere... well you will understand later.

So today I was supposed to be sitting in on the breakfast show... I start at 9.30 and the show finishes at 10, so it wouldn't be for long, but it would still be awesome. So I take my usual route past Buckingham palace and Piccadilly circus from the station, and as I walk towards golden square, I see a huge van outside Absolute with Ritchie and Christian putting loads of equipment into it.

The breakfast show are going to Lapland to do their show Friday live from there. So they were obviously getting ready to leave for the airport. Meaning, no sitting in on the show... I get in and point this out to Kerry, who says sorry and plans to let me sit in next week.

So that is all good. But as soon as I get in, I am given a job.

You may remember I said yesterday that me and Guy had to go and get loads of snacks for the bands playing the gig today. One of the items we had to get was a bottle of Champagne, but turns out, the band who wanted it (Kasabian) pulled out at the last minute. So I had to go back to M + S to try and get the money back for it. I was also told to get other things, including:

• 2 X Ed Sheeran Album
• TWIGLETS

Yes I had to go find those darn Twiglets. So there I am, 9.30am in the morning walking through London with a bottle of champagne in one of my coat pockets, and £40 in the other. Odd. So my first stop is M + S, and I walk up to a counter, which looks like it deals with returns. I explain the story, even mentioning absolute radio and the gig, but he says that they can only refund items that are damaged...

SO IF I DROPPED IT I WOULD GET THE MONEY BACK???

A stupid rule. I ask someone else just to make sure, and they say the same thing :( So I exit the shop with the bottle still in my pocket, I must look a bit dodgy, but ah well. I have also discovered that I can go through M + S to get to Oxford street. Which saves an epic amount of time :) So I go through and find the HMV straight away. I go in, and Ed Sheeran isn't hard to find. Literally the only artist mentioned these days is him.

So I buy two copies of his album (19.98...) and then head to find Twiglets. Luckily the famous Tesco Metro, that has been mentioned a lot of times (Alcohol with Adam, Alcohol for Greg, Alcohol for Xmas party, pretty much everything Greg has asked me to do) And I walk in, go to the Crisp section.... and straight away I see...

TWIGLETS!!!! WAHEYEYEYEYEYEY

My face when I saw them:

So I head back to Absolute. With the goods. Its all good. All sorted.

I get back and find Guy. Once again there are a load of computers free, So whilst guy sorts out the Recon, I get to work on the Live reads, which I haven't done for a while.

If your wondering, there are new ones everyday so it is never ending. But heyho, lets go.

If any presenters or producers from Absolute read this, can they put funny doodles on their Recons... Just to brighten our day :D

It takes a while, as you have to double check if presenters mention the right promotion. But at half 11, its time to get tea and coffee ready for a meeting for 3. Awesome.

Once that's done, its back to paperwork. I finish the first set of Live Reads and then start the second. Turns out I can't do it, as its the live reads for today... Its a bit hard checking each hour if they haven't happened yet...

But we are then get Bing Bonged by Eloise. We go to reception. She says that if we want, we can go to see Madness perform... for free.. So me and Guy are like... Yes..

Yes we would like to see Madness free in London in December.

Sooooooo awesome. So we head to the venue on Soho square, getting lost briefly on the way. We get there, and its a weird chapel, with no entrance to be seen. So after going round it a few times, Guy spots a white door with the chapels name on it.

Its a proper set up, like a huge bouncer on the door, but Kerry and Zoe have the guest list.

So its all good. We get in and its an artististic building. Fancy, nice painting and nice furniture. We get into the room where everyone is gathered, and there is about 30 people, most we dont recognise, but there are waitresses giving out free Mulled wine.

Guy posing with some Art.

I have never tried it before. Its hot wine, and it was disgusting. Not impressed by it. So I went to the little bar and got some white wine. Much better. =D It was all free of course.

They were also giving out little tubs of sausage and mash, which looked amazing, but I decided against it. They also gave out mini mince pies, which I indulged in :)

So we are then called into the venue. Its just a little chapel... Literally, with a Jesus on the cross above it. Its tiny, but we get in to find the place filled with cameras. The real deal.

Then Suggs and the keyboardist from Madness went to the "Stage"

They played four songs, including "It most be love" "Baggy Trousers "Blue Powder" and one I didn't hear the name of. They were awesome, and the whole time a camera was above us, you know the ones on the big tripod things... I cant really explain (And I couldn't find a picture on google) but they are used at festivals alot, and move across the crowd.

So after we leave and make our way back to Absolute. Ed Sherran is playing at 3, and we want to go, but it would probably look pretty unprofessional if we spend most of the day away from Absolute, so we decide not to!

We knew there was a job that needed doing for a guy called Owen... who I hadn't met yet.

In January, there is a talk about Internet changing radio at the Houses of Parliament. Our job was to write out lots of envelope stickers, put them on envelopes and then put invites into the envelopes. There were a fair few on the list. So we made a system. Guy write the names, and I stuck the stickers on the envelope and put the invites in. There were a lot of big media names is well.

The table covered in Envelopes and the other things.

It took around an hour, and by the time we finished there wasn't much to do. We did replace some recycling bags though which is always a lol.

Once that was done we continued getting clips for Brian.

Then that was it.

Alot of paper work and small jobs, broken up by pure Madness :D

So roll on tomorrow :D

You stay Classy Internet

Colin

An interesting thing I found in the "Gallery"

A mini urinal? Awesome