Adebayor's started so well for Man City
Archives for August 2008
Happiness is...
Researchers have ranked the happiest places to live in Britain.
Powys in mid Wales tops the table, while Edinburgh comes out as the most miserable. So does where you live affect how happy you are?
The research was carried out by the -- you can take the survey here - and tell me how happy you are!
Do you feel under pressure to lose weight after having a baby?
Eighty per-cent of new mums say they're unhappy with their body weight after giving birth -- with many struggling to shift the weight nearly two years on.
And daily pictures of celebrities who manage to shed pounds weeks after the birth only add to the pressure.
We spoke to some women at a mums and baby workout group in London - we'll post the interviews here in a short while, but here are some pictures of the session taking place:
Brooke Kinsella
Brooke Kinsella, the sister of Ben Kinsella, the 16 year old stabbed to death in June is planning to visit police in New York to see the lessons that can be learned for this country. Ben was celebrating the end of his GCSE exams when he was killed in June. Last week his family collected his results for him. He passed with flying colours.
Since Ben's death, his sister, the former Eastenders actress, has been campaigning against knife crime. Later this year two 18 year olds and a 19 year old will go on trial charged with Ben's murder.
Brooke told me what she hoped to learn from the Police in New York.
Ben's death had a massive impact on the young people in her area. Two days after his death there was a march for Ben, and against knife crime.
And she told me why she wants to go into schools to educate young people about the consequences of knife crime.
He packs a punch
Olympic champion James DeGale who won gold in the middleweight boxing drops by to show off his medal.
Interesting that oo 98% of you who commented on when he should turn pro said do it now, it's not worth hanging about. Wish I'd made a bit more of an effort with the old blusher and lippie looking at that photo.
On the Road
At the end of September we're heading for Birmingham and Manchester to do programmes with a live audience (hopefully involving you) from the Labour and Conservative party conferences. We won't actually be AT the conferences because with the security involved we wouldn't be able to get enough passes for members of the audience, so we may be in a hotel or somewhere nearby. Will let you know a bit nearer the time how you might be able to join us.
What's Team GB got that the footballers haven't?
It's a comparison you've been making since the Games began so let's talk about it this morning - after last night's friendlies involving England Scotland Northern Ireland and Wales. Is it a fair comparison?
There wasn't the same kind of expectation on Team GB as there is on top footballers; there isn't the same level of scrutiny or media attention. The Olympians have 4 years of relative obscurity, the footballers are the focus of attention pretty much all year round.
You compare the salaries of the Olympians and the footballers - but which of you is interested in cycling swimming and modern pentathlon except every 4 years? (cue loads of you saying "I am!")
Goodbye, Adrian
I was very sad to hear about .
Adrian, who was 27, has been on the show a lot campaigning for better awareness of bone marrow and lots of listeners offered to help out by talking to schools and doing other things like printing posters.
Many of you were in touch yesterday when you heard. Marie emailed: "I've just heard about Adrian's death. It's amazing how people who you've never met can make such an impression. Bravery is an over-used word where illness is concerned but it's just amazing to hear people who are terminally ill trying to help others before they go."
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Are Brits the new Ozzies?
I am loving British sporting success; can't get used to it. Is this a new era in British sport do you reckon?
"Mummy, why's that woman so fat?"
Hi there.. It's Lou, Victoria's Editor here. And no, for all those asking, I'm not related to the ex DG John Birt (not unless there's something my mum's not telling me, anyway..) If you missed today's show, we talked about things your children say - usually loudly in public -which make you want the ground to swallow you up.
The Great 5 Live Commute
How unusual is your journey to work? Next Monday we're doing the "Great Five Live Commute". So post on here, email me a photo (victoria@bbc.co.uk), or ring me next Monday on 0500 909693; we know already we're going to talk to listeners who kite-surf to work and who ride a horse into the office and we'll be on the Britain's busiest peak-time train journey (Woking to Waterloo if you're interested).
UPDATE - 15 Aug 08
We don't just want to hear about your commute, we'd love to see what it looks like. Send us your video clips or pics to victoria@bbc.co.uk. To get you started, here's some images from my commute to work this morning.
Breakfast at my house
Breakfast Snakes and Ladders with my four year old
My trusty motor (nearly 20 years old)
Arriving at ´óÏó´«Ã½ Television Centre, Shepherd's Bush
Belly Strop, Boys in a Strop, Diving partner blames Daley...
A selection of newspaper headlines from this morning's British papers - all talking about 14 year old Tom Daley's synchronised diving partner Blake Aldridge. Blake criticised Tom after their event yesterday in which they came 8th out of 8. Read Blake's comments in . splashed it on their front page.
When Nicky interviewed the pair immediately after their diving yesterday, they spoke to him for a couple of minutes - and there was some brief criticism from Blake about the way Tom had dived - before they were ushered away to undertake more interviews.
Talking to the newspapers a bit later on in the day, Blake didn't hold back.
Fighting for your home...
On this morning's programme we heard from Dave in Chester. He'd originally called us on Friday, an hour before he was due to go to court to try and stop his home being repossessed. Many of you wanted to know what had happened. We found out today - he's got 56 days before he and his family are evicted and his house will be auctioned.
Have a listen to him sounding unbelievably upbeat...
Love it or hate it the Olympics begin today
In Athens four years ago I found myself at the badminton final featuring the British pair Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson. I've never shown any interest in badminton in my life - until then. Yes I was a glory hunter, yes I wanted the two of them to win gold with every fibre in my body (they didn't) , and yes I am fickle. But I absolutely loved it, and it's one of the reasons why I love the Olympics: that fact that once every four years one suddenly becomes interested in a sport that the rest of the time wouldn't ever impinge on your life.
A whiter shade?
Have you seen these pictures of Beyonce?
They've prompted a huge fuss in the US over claims her skin has been made to look whiter in a L'Oreal campaign. The company denies they altered the picture. What do you think?
My new editor..
..is a spectacular lady called Louise Birt. She's not THAT new, probably been in this job for a couple of months now. Thought I'd let her get her feet under the table before introducing her to you. She's evangelical about audience-led programmes and audience-led journalism. I'm hoping she'll start posting on here soon.
The stress of SATs
I was amazed at how many school pupils called us today when we talked about SATs.
Lots of you wanted to talk about how stressed you get at school. It was great to hear from all of you.
One of our callers, Nathan ended up having his comments put to the schools minister Jim Knight. Have a listen to his call below.
Another caller, Sam, has just done his Year Nine SATs.
A year ago financial hell broke loose..
..so this week we're looking back with you at how the credit crunch has affected you and trying to find out from those in the know when it's going to end.
A year ago the price of a barrel of oil was $72, now it's $125 (ish). A year ago Gordon Brown was a popular PM. A year ago house prices were soaring. How things change.
On Thursday's programme we want you to come on the radio and tell us how the financial squeeze is impacting on you, your job, your business, your bills, the value of your home. Post your story here and we hope to feature it on the radio later this week.
Snobbery is alive and well in Britain in 2008 - says Jordan
Katie Price fights back in after being banned from attending the Cartier Polo International. She ponders why she wasn't allowed to go - when she's a successful businesswoman who loves horses. "It's pure snobbery" she says. "No-one should be excluded". Is she right? Have you come across examples of snobbery recently?
Georgia Davies is 15 years old and weighs 33 stone
When I walked into my local shop this morning and scanned all the newspapers' front pages, I was taken aback. I think I actually said out loud "Oh my god". It was because of a photograph of a teenager filling most of the front page of The Sun - she weighs 33 stone. is extremely sad. She says she turned to food to comfort herself when her father died when she was 5 years of age. Doctors have told her she could die at any time...which is why she's going to the in the US to help shed weight and change her outlook on life. In her interview with The Sun she says she's addicted to food in the way some people are addicted to alcohol or drugs.
