The Radio Verulam Film Guide: 31st January 2013

On the sohw tniohgt Cirhs dcedied to wtire the bolg in an ectixnig new way and mix the ltetres in the wdros up and hpoe taht it was vugaely radeblae. How deos it look?

Ok, that was a bad idea, but Simon was in the studio to talk about the UK box office and the films on free to air TV for the coming week. They also discussed the film Devil's Due and a clever prank used to promote the film that has gone viral recently. As a special treat, you can see it below.

Friday
Clear and Present Danger
9.00pm – 11.45pm
More4

Saturday
Made in Dagenham
9.15pm – 11.00pm
BBC2

Funny People
12.10am – 2.50am
ITV2

One Hour Photo
9.00pm – 10.55pm
Movie Mix

Sunday
Goldfinger
3.40pm – 5.50pm
ITV

Arachnophobia
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Channel 5

Monday
The Big Chill
11.45pm – 1.55pm
Movie Mix

Tuesday
Dirty Dancing
9.00pm – 11.15pm
5*

Chris' Film Club: The Royal Tenenbaums

Today is Gene Hackman’s 84th birthday
He is one part of this great Wes Anderson ensemble comedy-drama about a thoroughly dysfunctional family. The film also stars Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anjelica Housirou.
And here's the trailer:

Jeff Newman on local homeless charity, Emmuas St Albans

Today we had Jeff Newman in to talk about local homeless charity, Emmaus St Albans and how they will be celebrating their 60th anniversary of the "Uprising of kindness". They would like to invite you to join them on their sofa in St Albans marketplace, this Saturday 1st February to discuss the topic.

For more information you can visit their website: http://www.emmaus.org.uk/st-albans

Chris' Film Club: Shane

Alan Ladd died today in 1964.
He played the title character in the 1953 film Shane, a film that lays a claim to being one of the greatest
westerns EVER.
A mysterious gunslinger roles into town, gets rough with the local gang, and
becomes a hero in the process.
Shane stars Ladd, Van Heflin, Jean Arthur, Jack Palance and Emile Meyer.

And here's the trailer, partners:

The Drivetime Sessions with Pete Waters

 

With us in the studio this afternoon was local singer-songwriter Pete Waters. He played three songs for us: two originals -  the reflective 'No fixed abode' and a currently unnamed song (Danny suggested 'It'll be alright on the night') -  and he also covered 'Heaven must have sent you', first recorded by the Elgins in 1966.

For more information on private bookings, gigs and new covers go to http://www.lemonrock.com/petewaters or find him on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pete.waters.31?fref=ts

If you missed the session, head on over to our listen again service on the Radio Verulam website





 

Chris' Film Club: The Challenger

Today in 1986, the Challenger Space Shuttle exploded shortly after take-off, killing
all 7 crew on board.
Television movie The Challenger shows the investigation that followed. The title refers not only
to the incident, but to Richard Feynman, the noted physicist who joined the
investigation and would not accept the simple explanations for the accident that he
was being fed and thus challenging the excepted explanation.
The film stars William Hurt, Bruce Greenwood, Brian Dennehy and Joanne Whalley.

And here's the trailer:

Gwendoline talks about the latest interior designs of 2014

Tonight in the studio we were joined by our resident interior design correspondent Gwendoline speaking about the latest trends of 2014 and how to make sure your home looks up to date.

We learnt the colour of the year ...

Radiant Orchid

And Gwendalin's personal favourite ...

Dazzling Blue which can be used with wood and whites

. 

For more information visit:

Website - www.ga-interiors.co.uk

Twitter - twitter.com/gainteriors

Facebook - facebook.com/gainteriors 

Chris' Film Club: Babe

Today is actor James Cromwell’s 74th birthday.
He plays Farmer Hoggett in Babe, a film about a pig that dreams to be the first Sheep-pig and herd the sheep on the farm.
The film was nominated for 7 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor,
Best Director and Best Screenplay (it also won best Visual Effects).

And here's the trailer:

Science Feature with @smrolfe looking at growing faces on chests & sharks on twitter!

Sam Rolfe, our very own Brian Cox was in the studio today to discuss the following:

Girl Grows a new face on her chest
Seventeen-year-old Xu Jianmei, a girl from a small fishing town in China’s Fujian province, became disfigured after getting burned in a fire when she was only five years old. At the time, her parents were unable to afford treatment, which meant that Xu would miss the window where optimal healing from skin grafts could occur. For most of her life, Xu has been missing a chin, eyelids, and a portion of her right ear.
In 2012 she was offered the opportunity to have her life changed beyond all recognition. Doctors proposed that they use blood vessel fascia from her leg in order to grow enough skin needed for her face. A balloon was placed in her chest in order to expand and stretch the skin as it grew. The process of growing the skin took several months and the doctors had to ensure that the skin could stay alive in its new location before the next steps could be taken.

Sharks on Twitter




The Australian State of Western Australia (WA) has signed over 300 sharks up to Twitter.
The program sees sharks tagged with gadgets that, when they come close to floating monitors located near popular beaches, detect the beasts' presence.
When a tracker-equipped shark does so, alerts about its location are piped into the Surf Life Saving WA Twitter feed

Scientist of the month
Margherita Hack
Margherita Hack,12 June 1922 – 29 June 2013) was an Italian astrophysicist and popular science writer. The asteroid 8558 Hack, discovered in 1995, was named in her honour.
Born in Florence, she graduated in physics from the University of Florence in 1945, with a thesis in astrophysics on Cepheid variables, after studies made in the Arcetri Observatory. She was full professor of astronomy from 1964 to 1997 at the University of Trieste before she retired in 1998.

Night Sky this month
http://www.jodrellbank.net/night-sky/

New Music Playlist w/c 27th January 2014 & this week's featured track by @caroemerald

Hi Drivetimers

Here is our new music playlist for the forthcoming week:

A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera - Say Something
Beyoncé - XO
Boy George - My God
Boyzone - Light Up The Night
Broken Bells - Holding On For Life
Caro Emerald - One Day
Chris Young - Lonely Eyes
Chromeo - Come Alive
City and Colour - Harder Than Stone
Embrace - Refugees
Gary Barlow & Elton John - Face To Face
Gregory Porter - Liquid Spirit
Imagine Dragons - Demons
James Blunt - Heart To Heart
Jennifer Hudson - I Can't Describe (The Way I Feel) (feat. T.I)
Jessica Clemmons - Single Tonight
John Smith - Great Lakes
Katie Melua - Where Does The Ocean Go?
Katy B - Crying For No Reason
Lorde - Team
Neil Finn - Flying In The Face Of Love
OneRepublic - If I Lose Myself
Pharrell Williams - Happy
Rod Stewart - Beautiful Morning
Seth Lakeman - The Courier
Sheryl Crow - Easy
Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Young Blood
Suzanne Vega - Fool's Complaint
Toni Braxton & Babyface - Hurt You

Items in BOLD are new additions

This week's featured track is One Day by Caro Emerald:

The Radio Verulam Film Guide: 24th January 2013

Tonight saw the devilishly handsome and suave Chris Aikman standing in for the tired and frumpy Simon Carver. Simon decided he needed a break doing the Film Guide, having worked solidly for 30 minutes last week after having about 4 weeks off. Of course Simon does need a break because he looks about 90 years old (he's only 87) so he headed off for a week in Malibu with his second family. You see, while in St Albans, Simon seems to lead an average existence and wear a lot of grey, but in Malibu he is a mustache-twirling drug lord, and was in fact the inspiration for the film Scarface. True story.

Ok, that was a lie, but Simon wasn't here and so Chris manfully stepped in and he and Danny talked about the UK box office top 10 and Chris' pick of films on TV for the coming week.

Friday
No Country for Old Men
11:25pm – 01:45am
Film4

Saturday
Braveheart
9:00pm – 12:20am
Film4

Sunday
Despicable Me
7:00pm – 9:00pm
ITV2

Monday
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
9:00pm – 11:25pm
Film4

Tuesday
The Negotiator
10:55pm – 1:25pm
Film4

Wednesday
Grease
6:50pm – 9:00pm
Film4

Thursday
Heat
9:00pm – 12:20pm
Film4

Melanie Bundock on Relaxation Techniques @theraphealing

This afternoon Melanie popped in to talk to us about stress, the problems it causes, and the methods we can use to counter it.
Stress is certainly becoming more of a problem, and we might particularly feel its effects in January. (Christmas is over and the New Years resolutions have all gone to pot).
Stress doesn't only effect you mentally, we can also feel its effects physically to the point that it can even make you unwell, did you know that 75% of Dr's visits are actually stress related?
Melanie also spoke to us about the benefits of meditation- it might surprise you to find out that it doesn't have to involve incense and chanting, you can find simple things that have the same effect like walking the dog, or having a relaxing bath.
Melanie provides treatments such as Reflexology, Emotional Freedom Technique, Reiki and Hopi Ear Candles at the  Espirtu Salon and Spa at Battlers Green Farm in Radlett.

More information can be found at Melanie's website: http://www.theraphealing.co.uk/

Chris' Film Club: Batman Begins

Today is Rutger Hauer’s 70th birthday he starred in Christopher Nolan’s reboot of the Batman franchise which tells the origins of Batman.
The film stars Christian Bale, Katie Holmes, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman,
Cillian Murphy and Gary Oldman.
And here's the trailer:

The Drivetime Sessions with our special guests, @SaidTheMaiden

Live in the studio this Wednesday we had the enchanting sounds of the musical trio, 'Said the Maiden'. They played three songs for us - 'False false' (A traditional folk song), 'Fiddlers Green' (by John Connoly) and 'Derby Ram' (another traditional folk song).

For more information on private bookings, gigs and new covers go to their facebook page, at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Said-The-Maiden/201177073299665?fref=ts or go to their website: http://www.saidthemaiden.blogspot.co.uk/.

If you missed the session, head on over to our listen again service on the Radio Verulam website.

Chris' Film Club: Legion

Legion came out on this very day, four whole years ago in 2010.
The plot of the film goes a little something like this: God has lost faith in humanity and has set out to destroy it. Archangel Michael goes against God’s wishes and tries to protect humanity, using
guns and stuff. Of course.
The film stars Paul Bettany, Dennis Quaid, Lucas Black, Adrianne Palicki and
Tyrese Gibso.
And here's the trailer:

Team Honk comes to St. Albans! @cheetahsinshoes

Today local Blogger Jenny Smith popped in to tell us about the St Albans contingent of the nationwide fundraising network Team Honk. After having great success fundraising for Comic Relief and Red Nose Day they are hoping to raise £20,000 this year for Sports Relief.

The challenge this year is to transport a baton along the iconic route from Lands End to John O' Groats. The baton will be passing through St. Albans on the 4th of February, it will cycle, scoot and be passed along a human chain created by the students of Mandeville School, and finally board a train to St. Pancras in order begin the next leg of it's journey for a life size game of monopoly around London.

To find out more about the project visit http://teamhonk.org/about/.

There are still opportunities to sponsor the St. Albans team so take a peak at their JustGiving site http://my.sportrelief.com/sponsor/stalbansteamhonk.

While I'm at it, I will just pass on the details of Jenny's very own blog: cheetahsinmyshoes.com.

Chris' Film Club: A League of Their Own

It's Geena Davis’ 58th birthday today. Happy birthday Geena!
A Leage of Their Own is a comedy about the formation of a women’s baseball league in the
1940s.
The film stars Tom Hanks, Davis and Madonna,
and here's the trailer:

Chris' Film Club: Breakfast at Tiffany's

Audrey Hepburn passed away today in 1993.
In this big screen version of Truman Capote’s book she plays the socialite Holly Golightly.
The film also stars George Peppard, Patricia Neal and Mickey Rooney (as an old Japanese man).
And here's the trailer!

Lisa Pearson - Lifestyle

Life Check
This is the time of year when people are looking at their lives and thinking of what they want for the new year.
Comparisons
However, be careful of comparisons and wether they are helpful or hurtful.

Everything has a Downside
Also think about why you think that person is so great when you are comparing yourself to them and have a look at the downsides.
See things clearly
When comparing yourself to what people have – houses, cars, clothes etc.  Think about why you like those things?  Maybe you can get them, but differently.
full details can be found at the web site http://mummywhispererblog.com/

New Music Playlist w/c 20th January 2014 & this week's featured track by @SethLakemanNews

Hi Drivetimers

Here is our new music playlist for the forthcoming week:

Alfie Boe - Trust
Beyoncé - XO
Boy George - My God
Boyzone - Light Up The Night
Broken Bells - Holding On For Life
Bruce Springsteen - High Hopes
Chromeo - Come Alive
City and Colour - Harder Than Stone
FM - Better Late Than Never
Gary Barlow & Elton John - Face To Face
Gregory Porter - Liquid Spirit
James Blunt - Heart To Heart
Jennifer Hudson - I Can't Describe (The Way I Feel) (feat. T.I)
Jessica Clemmons - Single Tonight
John Smith - Great Lakes
Kacey Musgraves - Step Off
Katie Melua - Where Does The Ocean Go?
Katy B - Crying For No Reason
Keane - Won't Be Broken
Neil Finn - Flying In The Face Of Love
OneRepublic - If I Lose Myself
Pharrell Williams - Happy
Rod Stewart - Beautiful Morning
Seth Lakeman - The Courier
Shane Filan - Knee Deep In My Heart
Sheryl Crow - Easy
Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Young Blood
Suzanne Vega - Fool's Complaint
Toni Braxton & Babyface - Hurt You

Items in BOLD are new additions

This week's featured track is The Courier by Seth Lakeman.

The Radio Verulam Film Guide: 17th January 2014

Tonight saw the return of Simon to the Film Guide hotseat after an extended period away. Chris had to fill in for him before Christmas and last week the show was off so Simon was a tad rusty. Not because he had been away so long but because of the terrible weather. You see, Simon is part machine. If you're imagining something like The Terminator then you are miles away. It is in fact more akin to the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz. You see, if it rains quite a lot (as it has been doing recently) then he starts to rust and cannot move very much. It explains his somewhat stiff delivery and lack of animation....

Ok, that was a lie, but Simon was here to talk about the UK box office and the best films on free-to-air TV for the coming three days.

Friday
The Truman Show
7.00 – 9.00pm
Film4

The Firm
9.00pm – 12.05am
More4

Saturday
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
11.50 – 3.10pm
ITV4

Despicable Me
5.10pm – 7.00pm
ITV

Top Gun
9.00pm – 11.10pm
E4

Sunday
Dr No
3.40pm – 5.50pm
ITV

The Producers
3.00pm – 4.45pm
Film4

The Lake House
10.00pm – 11.55pm
Channel 5

St. Albans Film Festival @StAlbansFF

Today we were joined in the studio by the lovely Leoni Kibbey director of the St. Albans Film Festival which will take place for the 2nd year running from the 1st to the 4th of May.
Although the festival takes place in St. Albans Leoni receives entries from as far a field as Australia and Iceland.
As well as the film competition there are a variety of workshops to attend- last year there was a stop frame animation workshop as well as an extreme sports filming workshop at the Pioneer Club.

Like last year there will be a showing of a feature film in St. Albans Abbey to open the festival. This years theme is Birds- so bets are on for a cheeky bit of Hitchcock...

In 2013 Leoni received the Mayors Pride award for Cultural Innovation for setting up the film festival and in April she will be running the London Marathon to raise funding for the charity Shelter.

Here is a link to the festivals website: http://www.stalbansfilmfestival.com
where you can also find details for Leoni's Just Giving page for the marathon: http://www.justgiving.com/Leoni-Kibbey

New Music Playlist w/c 13th January 2014 & this week's featured track by @I_GregoryPorter

Hi Drivetimers

Happy New Year!  Apologies for no playlist update last week.  Unfortunately, there were technical issues outside our control affecting our updating of the playlist.  However, the techies here at RV towers have managed to sort things out (kinda) so we are back to business as usual!

Here is our new music playlist for the forthcoming week:

Alfie Boe - Trust
Bebe Black - I'll Wait
Beth Nielsen Chapman - Simple Things
Beyoncé - XO
Boy & Bear - Southern Sun
Boy George - My God
Broken Bells - Holding On For Life
Bruce Springsteen - High Hopes
Cher - I Walk Alone
David Bowie - I'd Rather Be High
FM - Better Late Than Never
Gary Barlow & Elton John - Face To Face
Gregory Porter - Liquid Spirit
James Blunt - Heart To Heart
Jessica Clemmons - Single Tonight
John Smith - Great Lakes
Kacey Musgraves - Step Off
Katie Melua - Where Does The Ocean Go?
Katy B - Crying For No Reason
Keane - Won't Be Broken
OneRepublic - If I Lose Myself
Pharrell Williams - Happy
Rod Stewart - Beautiful Morning
Ruarri Joseph - No More Sins
Shane Filan - Knee Deep In My Heart
Sheryl Crow - Easy
Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Young Blood
Suzanne Vega - Fool's Complaint

Items in BOLD are new additions

This week's featured track is Liquid Spirit by Gregory Porter:

Elizabeth Crampton from St Albans Citizens Advice Bureau was our guest tonight and covered the following consumer advice topics;

Debt Management 
A large amount of positive work has been undertaken in recent years to help consumers in financial difficulty and ensure free high quality independent advice is available to those who need it:
Regulators, trade associations and firms have developed sector specific rules, guidelines and practices that have driven up standards.
Advisers and creditors have collaborated to improve the way they help people in debt, such as CASHflow and the common financial statement (CFS).
Government and industry continue to fund debt advice services that are free to the consumer.
Organisations in the free advice sector wanted to build on this work. In 2010 they published Do the right thing, which set out how they believe creditors can achieve good practice in debt collection
Gym Membership
Gyms are packed in January. But a few months later, half the people disappear. Resolutions may fade, but if you're locked into a contract, you could be paying £100s a year for nowt.
Gyms aren't cheap either. Add membership administration fees to the monthly charge, and the annual cost is usually north of £500.
Never think a gym costs £50/month. If you're locked in for a year's contract, always multiply it by 12 and think of it as a yearly cost.
And always look at the cancellation charges , particularly if you have to relocate due to your work.

Further details can be found at the web site http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Chris' Film Club: Slumdog Millionaire

·         Released today in 2009.

·         It tells the story of Jamal, a boy from the slums of Mumbai, who goes on Who Wants to be a Millionaire and how he got to that point.

·         Stars Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Madhur Mittal and Anil Kapoor.

Martin from Ayletts joined us in the studio discussing winter gardening!

Tonight in the studio we were joined by Martin discussing the different jobs we can all do in the garden this winter.

Although you may think that all gardening stops in the winter months you'd be mistaken. Martin has given us many idea of both big and small tasks that we can all complete.

The month of January we can all focus on tree and shrub tasks are all about planting, pruning and protection.
Flower of the month = Calathea an outstanding feature with spectacular foliage. with coloured veins and distinct markings.

For more information: 

Website:  http://aylettnurseries.co.uk/

Telephone number: 01727822255

Chris' Film Club: Labyrinth

·         Today is the legendary David Bowie’s birthday (he’s 67)

·         Directed by Jim Henson (he of The Muppets fame) it sees a young girl (Jennifer Connolly) search for her baby brother after he is kidnapped by the King of the Goblins (David Bowie). She must solve his Labyrinth to get him back.

·         Full of weird puppets and strange goings on. 

Drivetime Sessions: Charlotte Collingwood and John King

Live in the studio this Wednesday we had the musical duo Charlotte Collingwood and John King! They played a jazzy version of a Michael Jackson single, a rendition of Wuthering Heights, and also Bridge over Troubled Water.

For more information on private bookings, gigs and new covers go to their Lemonrock page or Charlotte's website. If you missed the session, head on over to our listen again service on the Radio Verulam website.

Chris' Film Club: Bad Day at Black Rock

·    Bad Day at Black Rock   Came out today in 1955

·    The film Stars Spencer Tracy, Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine.

    A mysterious one-armed man arrives in a town looking for someone. The locals are less than welcoming.
    A brilliant and tense film from director John Sturges. 

Chris' Film Club: Boyz N The Hood

·         Today is director John Singleton’s 46^th birthday.

·         Boyz N The Hood tells the story of several young men growing up in South Central LA.

The film Stars Cuba Gooding Jr, Ice Cube, Laurence Fishburne, Morris Chestnut and Angela Bassett. Director Singleton became the youngest ever nominee for Best Director at the Oscars aged 24 for this film.

Sarah Buckingham from the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust was tonight's guest on Drivetime,

Sat, 18/01/2014 - 10:00am - 12:30pm
Know your trees without leaves
Wrap up warm and join us on this Woodlands for People and Wildlife walk to learn how to identify trees when they've got no leaves!  We'll be walking through Balls Wood looking for clues in the bark, twigs, shape and structure of the trees to help us identify the species we find.  We'll also be keeping an eye out for tracks and signs of animal life as we walk.
Venue location
Balls Wood,
Hertfordshire ,
SG13 7PW

30/01/2014 - 8:00pm - 10:00pm
 

The Wild Network is a film-led movement to get more children outside and reconnecting with nature. In partnership with Hertfordshire Natural History Society we will be screening the network's new film, Project Wild Thing, at this evening event.
The film is an ambitious, feature-length documentary that takes a funny and revealing look at a complex issue, the increasingly disparate connection between children and nature.
Free admission/refreshments (donations to cover costs welcome).
BOOKING ESSENTIAL.
further details can be found at /http://www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/