For Fork's Sake
The next time one of the newspapers exposes the jaw-dropping salary levels of 91Èȱ¬ managers I would like you to deduct £3.99 from the amount they say I'm soaking from the licence-payers. That was how much I had to fork out for a new set of cutlery for the 91Èȱ¬ kitchen in Inverness. That's coming straight out of my own pocket because, well, no one can be bothered with the Beeb's complicated procurement procedures. In my case I just don't want a Freedom of Information request to reveal I'm claiming cash for spoons. There are drugs connotations with that, you know.
Chocolate pudding connotations too.
To describe our current situation as a 'Cutlery Crisis' would not be an exaggeration. Truth is we were down to our last fork and there was talk of a booking system being introduced. People were eating spaghetti with their bare hands and it was only a matter of time before the rioting started.
So, as is our way, a small working group was sent up, a series of ideas were tested with focus groups, a report compiled and finally I was sent down to the bargain shops to see what I could find.
Meanwhile, I want to assure you, that everyone else here in Inverness was hard at work making programmes. I gathered four of our top creative folk together for the group shot above and, just in case you thought that all they did was pose for photographs holding forks, here's what each of them is up to. So, from left to right...
Lee- Ann Howieson (Content Assistant)
I am currently in the early stages of a No Going Back programme on the Fèis movement and how it has impacted Gaelic music and culture since it began in 1981
Jonathan Taylor (91Èȱ¬ Production Trainee)
I'm just finishing the Laughed Off the Page series - recording the last one a week today - Next week I'm moving to London to work on the Horizon programme.
Dan Holland (Producer)
2010 is the centenary year of some of the original great polar expeditions - Shackletons legendary battle for survival, Amundsen set off into the unknown for the South Pole and Scott departed on his ill fated expedition to claim the Pole only to find that he had been beaten to it. Exploration and adventure is at the heart of a brand new series for 91Èȱ¬ Radio Scotland called Into The Unknown which will bring you stories of pushing frontiers and pioneering new lands and with some of the modern days greatest explorers. Crocodile initiations, defying death in the Bering sea and Grand piano's in The Amazon Jungle....Into The Unknown starts on 91Èȱ¬ Radio Scotland Thursday 11th February
Suzy Beaumont
I am currently finishing a 'Give Me a Voice' to go out on the 18th Jan 2010 at 11.30
Synopsis
Christina lives in Thurso in the far north but despite the lack of local sporting facilities her own son Andrew managed to become Scotland's number one in various events including the Triple Jump and the 400 meters. Christina struggled to fund his trips to compete and came close to giving up but she was determined her son would not miss out just because they lived in the Highlands, now she is campaigning and challenging the Scottish Government to fund all travel costs so that all youngsters can reach their true sporting potential
I am also finishing off the paperwork for the last in the series of 'Success against the odds' with Pat Nevin, a series about inspirational people striving to reach their chosen goal.
And I'm also working on a new 'Give Me a Voice' about Sophie Dow who after the challenges of bringing up a daughter with learning difficulties she is now fighting to create such awareness, that by the year 2020, all children and adults in this country with learning difficulties, will receive the recognition, help and support they need to reach the very best that they can achieve.
As for me, I'm counting the spoons.
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