peopletalk's Podcast

  GIRL ON THE TORTURE WHEEL By JEFFERSON AMES This 1940s detective story is an old fashioned pastiche but amusing critique of the war time American private eye genre. It is not politically correct nor dose it shun from being controversial about how the author, chose to write at the time. So, if you can listen with an open ear you might find it a humorous snapshots on times gone by.   Narrated by Malcolm Clarke Recorded and produced by Nigel Killick Please click the Music link to hear more music from Dazie Mae:  Artist: Dazie Mae   Malcolm also narrated an Englishman in Brazil Malcolm Clarke is an English actor who has married a Brazilian and moved to a small city called Curitiba which is the capital city of the Brazilian state of Paraná, located in southern Brazil.  In his narration  Malcolm gives a vivid impression of his new life and surroundings.  Painting a colourful picture of his new city and the people. Giving us an insight into an Englishman's impression  of the rich and diverse cultures of Brazil.  Malcolm sent us more of his observations and thoughts about his new adopted country. An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 1 An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 2 An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 3 An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 3 An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 4 Also Fear by Achmed Abdullah narrated by Malcolm Clarke Recorded and produced by Nigel Killick  THE fact that the man whom he feared had died ten years earlier did not in the least lessen Stuart McGregor's obsession of horror, of a certain grim expectancy, every time he recalled that final scene, just before Farragut Hutchison disappeared in to the African jungle to his death. McGregor stood, spectrally motionless, waiting for the screams to come from the jungle.  http://peopletalk.libsyn.com/fear-by-achmed-abdullah      

  THE DEVIL AND TOM WALKER  by Washington Irving (1783-1859) New England The morality play is a genre of Medieval and early Tudor theatrical entertainment. In their own time, these plays were known as interludes, a broader term given to dramas with or without a moral. Morality plays have a type of hidden meaning, in which the main human character is met by the devil in various disguises who tempts and entices the mortal and tricks him into selling his soul to the Devil in return for worldly goods and therefore choosing an evil life over a Godly path. THE DEVIL AND TOM WALKER follows in the long tradition of variety plays. This is a peopletalk audio production©2015. Narrated by Pipp Hamilton Recorded & Produced by Nigel Killick ------------------------------ About Pipp Hamilton Pipe Hamilton started recording in 2013 with National Talking Newspapers and Magazines on a weekly basis with the material ranging from Saga to the Morning Star, later to become RNIB Newsagent. Then, in 2014, he went on a day's basic voiceover course with the intention of picking up some pointers to improve his listeners' experience. To his surprise, because he had not heard his own recorded voice in that way before, he was encouraged to return in March 2015 to record a narrative and a commercial reel. In the meantime, he had agreed to be one of the narrators in a local amateur dramatics production, set in the First World War. The piece he was given was Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen. On the last night, he was approached and asked to record the piece to be used in training potential officer material in the British Army. --------- You can buy the Music used in this production at: Kosta T: 5-Exaltations http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kosta_T/5-Exaltations Kai Engel: The Scope http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kai_Engel/The_Scope/ Pipp Hamilton photo by Rebecca Byford

   It's a true story of intrigue, victory and betrayal, a story of industrial espionage  and corporate greed, counterfeiting and corporate wrongdoing.    It's the story of an audio invention that revolutionised the world music business; a story that could have come straight out of the pages of a thriller novel.  It is not fiction, but a true story told by Marie Louise Killick's daughter Cynthia Killick.      In 1957, our mother Marie Louise Killick's long legal fight was vindicated by the Royal Courts of Justice, in London, against Pye Radio. The court upheld her claims that Pye had infringed her patent rights covering a gramophone record stylus worth ten's of millions of pounds. After her victory, Pye insured themselves for £2,500,000 with the Prudential Insurance Company to protect their retailers from possible claims for selling their counterfeit stylus around Britain.   Pye had lost, but in 1959 Marie was manoeuvred into bankruptcy. She began a three year battle with the Official Receiver in an attempt to prevent him from taking over her damages claim against Pye Radio and settling for the derisory sum of £4,300, when she was owed millions. Marie never received a penny in damages.    Her stylus was a revolution in sound reproduction quality. The gemstone was ground to a flat at its tip and this rode on the sides of the record groove, dramatically reducing distortion, surface noise and wear and tear to the gramophone record. Decca declared 'Sapphox' to be the best thing on the market and offered her £750,000 in 1945 for her British patent rights.     In the late 1940s Pye Radio realised that the patent rights protecting her invention were not for sale. They then swamped the market with a counterfeit product, squeezing her business out of its growing profits.   Marie would not give up the fight even when she was 'kidnapped' off the street and locked away in a mental asylum.    Marie paid a heavy price for her passion to bring to music lovers superb sound reproduction, and the world benefited enormously from her invention.    Introduction narration by Nick Wyard   Book narration by Teresa Critchley   Produced by Nigel Killick  You can buy Cynthia Killick's book at this link: "A Sound Revolution" at lulu.com.    Or search for….    "A Sound Revolution" in Lulu search box or the Book ISBN 9781291468304     Music: Attribution-NonCommercial-No 3 United States Music from: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/MIT_Symphony_Orchestra/ "La Traviata, Brindisi (Verdi)" (by MIT Symphony Orchestra) "Manon Lescaut, Intermezzo (Puccini)" (by MIT Symphony Orchestra) "Chopin: Three Mazurkas, Op. 59" (by Jonathan Biss)

Fear by Achmed Abdullah THE fact that the man whom he feared had died ten years earlier did not in the least lessen Stuart McGregor’s obsession of horror, of a certain grim expectancy, every time he recalled that final scene, just before Farragut Hutchison disappeared in to the African jungle to his death. McGregor stood, spectrally motionless, waiting for the screams to come from the jungle.    Fear by Achmed Abdullah Narrated by Malcolm Clark and Produced by Nigel Killick A peopletalk short audio story production© copyright 2015.      

    A Will to Kill For by Emil Petaja. This short fictional story is in the long tradition of pulp fiction. It's a story of greed and murder but with a good twist at the end.     Narrated by Tim Danko and produced by Nigel Killick with music by Benjamin Orth     About Tim Danko.   After a successful career in technology and management consulting, Tim has returned to the work he so loved in college – voiceover.  During college, this meant working in both commercial and public radio, now it means audiobooks and long-form narration.   Tim focuses on contemporary mysteries, science fiction, faith and spirituality, and business.  Currently, he works mostly with independent authors and publishers.  He has studied with the highly respected coaches, directors, and voice actors Patrick Fraley, Scott Brick, and Paul Alan Ruben.  His voice has been described as warm and engendering trust.   Tim lives in Pennsylvania in the United States with his wife, Sally.     Here is a link to the music on ccmixter.org by Benjamin Orth, featuring Jacinda Espinosa.   http://ccmixter.org/files/Benjamin_Orth/31696

    Recorded by Kay Barbour on an iPod, edited & produced by Nigel Killick   Here is an interview between Dorotha Miller 94 years old and her daughters  Kay Barbour about Dorotha early life and her Father who had to become was a Bootlegger and outlaw after the Great Depression of 1929. These were hard and dangerous times. It was also around the time of Bonnie and Clyde.           Dorotha Miller was born in Huntington West Virginia in 1921 and will be 94 in May. Her family wasn't necessarily poor but what we call today as the "working poor". Sometimes her father had a job and sometimes he didn't. Bootlegging was what he did to make up the difference. It was easy money but it came with a risk and he spent some time in and out of jail as you will tell from her story.   Then after the stock market crash in 1929, bootlegging became a way to make money to put food on the table. She tells a story about her aunt getting arrested for bootlegging during the depression after her husband died.  Her aunt ( her fathers sister) lived way up in the hills of West Virginia and had five kids to feed and no way to get a job. Not only did she not have any skills but even able bodied men could not get a job.   There was no such thing as Social Security or Welfare or any other "safety net" for people in this situation. So she started bootlegging; selling whiskey out of her home out of desperation to provide for her children. She got busted by the police and went to jail for a year. She was afraid the authorities would try to take her children away and put them in orphanages so she asked my mother's mother(my grandmother) to go get the children and try to find homes for them till she got out of jail.   Times were hard and lots of people did not have jobs so she knew that one family could not take all five children. So the children were split up among cousins, grandparents and aunts & uncles. One of the older girls stayed in my mother's home. And a year later when she got out of jail she got her children and went right back to bootlegging! What else was she going to do? But this time she was smarter and knew what to do to not get busted again!   The point is that a lot of bootlegging and moonshining was done during the depression as a way to make money when people were out of jobs.   Dorotha Miller also says that there was a famous Irish bootlegger, who's made his money this way.  Dorotha talks about this with great indignation in her voice! Her father spent time in jail and was looked down on for what he did but other people, well connected people made millions during the Depression time and are looked upon a respectable members in the American society today!  

Episode Six Final Episode– Last Boat to Misahualli  “There's something about saying the word 'jungle' which immediately invites the thoughts of danger and intense curiosity: a secret Utopia which only the boldest of spirits will dare to venture into. So I decided to pack my bag, and go it alone…..well, sort of." In the last instalment of Sal Bolton’s six part Amazonian adventure story, we follow Sal in her most boldest odyssey yet….deciding to pack her bag and curiously head into the oddities and untamed mystery of the jungle alone, adhering to the call of the wild on her first solo expedition to further explore Ecuador’s Amazonia. Having safely left her tenacious - mannered new found piglet after a series of disappearing acts back at the reserve; she embarks on a very wet early morning venture to the nearby jungle villageport of Misahualli.  After securing a ride on a motor canoe with her native driver Miguel, we are carried along on a journey, deeper into the sacred and mysterious heart of the rainforest and the fleeting river side life.  Upon reaching a remote area of the forest further up river, Sal meets quirky jungle tour guide and translator Elibar which she soon realises she may have got more than she bargained for when she discovers he doesn’t speak a word of English! Together lost in translation and armed with machetes, the pair head into the unpredictable cocoon of the jungle on a whirlwind adventure; revealing the extraordinary secrets and sometimes unnerving surprises of the rainforest, meeting an indigenous shaman offering to spiritually ‘cleanse’ their souls and a playful game of tree vine swinging nearly going horribly wrong!  It is here the final curtain comes to a close as Sal’s exotic frontier comes to an end, bidding farewell to this magnificent and unforgettable special place on earth which has not only captured her imagination but a piece of her heart – echoing in the calm waters of Amazonia on the last boat back to Misahualli….   Episode One:   In Dr Jones Footsteps Episode Two:   Into The Amazon Episode Three: Welcome To The Jungle Episode Four:   The Enchanted Forest Episode Five:    Finding Miss PiggyEpisode Six:      Last Boat to Misahualli Written and Narrated by Sal BoltonDirected and Produced by Nigel Killick Please Buy an Acre for £25 from The Rainforest Foundation UK http://www.rainforestfoundationuk.org/Protect_an_acre_of_rainforest

    My interview today is with BJ Harrison who is the award-winning audiobook narrator and producer of the critically acclaimed Classic Tales Podcast. His work has received over 700 five-star ratings at the iTunes Music Store and Audible.com. Through his distinctive character voices, incredible range of accents, and detailed understanding of the written word, he has gained a reputation for generating a unique and dynamic audiobook experience.  Why not check out BJ Harrison's audiobooks on audible.com below Audible.com The Classic Tales Audiobooks BJ Harrison website atwww.thebestaudiobooks.com.  BJ Harrison latest latest release:The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu, by Sax Rohmer (Unabridged mp3 audiobook)    

   For those who enjoyed listening to Sal Bolton's  'The Call of Africa', you are invited to follow her on another adventure, this time into the rain forests of Ecuador, South America. Sal, inspired by her childhood film hero, Indiana Jones, and with only a basic school-girl knowledge of Spanish, attempts her own adventure into the Amazon, one of the most mysterious and formidable bio-diverse ecosystems on the planet; a place that has drawn explorers and travellers for generations into its dark and sacred heart.    Episode Five - Finding Miss Piggy 'Letter's from the Amazon'   This amusing and enlightening story is told in in six short audio episodes.  In this latest instalment of Sal's exotic South American adventure, we find ourselves following the pages of her journal notes during her isolation in Ecuador's remote deepest darkest Amazon Rainforest for well over a month later. Having been initially enchanted by the whirlwind of the jungles bewitching charm, she soon begins to feel the over whelming effects of 'jungle fever', the realism of wild seclusion in a foreign community and the occasional crippling pangs of alienation and looming loneliness.... Until one day, a curly tailed friend is about to turn her world upside down.....a piglet.  Armed with a $50 note and a new found spring in her step, Sal embarks on a road trip adventure with native ranger Sergio to the local jungle town of Tena in search of a little 'chanchita' as a new addition to the Jatun Sacha reserve. Failing to find one at the market, they begin tenaciously scouring the dusty back streets of Tena searching for clues -  sending them in hot pursuit of 'Senor Rodriguez' to the neighbouring town of Cotundo in their quest of finding Miss Piggy....     Episode One:   In Dr Jones Footsteps Episode Two:   Into The Amazon Episode Three: Welcome To The Jungle Episode Four:   The Enchanted ForestEpisode Five:    Finding Miss Piggy Coming soon...... Episode Six: Last Boat to Misahualli     Written and Narrated by Sal Bolton Directed and Produced by Nigel Killick   Please Buy an Acre for £25 from The Rainforest Foundation UK http://www.rainforestfoundationuk.org/Protect_an_acre_of_rainforest

    J.J. HENSLEY is a former police officer and Special Agent with the U.S. Secret Service who has drawn upon his experiences in law enforcement to write stories full of suspense and insight. Hensley graduated from Penn State University with a B.S. in Administration of Justice and has a M.S. degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University. The author is currently a training supervisor with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and lives with his beautiful wife, daughter, and two dogs near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.     Mr. Hensley's novel RESOLVE was named one of the BEST BOOKS OF 2013 by Suspense Magazine and was named a finalist for Best First Novel by the International Thriller Writers organization. He is a member of the International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime.   Links to purchase Resolve:   Amazon (includes hardcover, Kindle, and Audible.com): http://www.amazon.com/Resolve-J-J-Hensley/dp/1579623131/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0   Barnes and Noble (includes hardcover and Nook versions): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/resolve-j-j-hensley/1113453274?ean=2940016244785   Also available through iTunes and iBooks.     I also have a Kindle exclusive short story for purchase at: http://www.amazon.com/Vehemence-bonus-stories-J-J-Hensley-ebook/dp/B00IWVDT1G/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0D0STMS45E2XX3ZQM12K

For those who enjoyed listening to Sal Bolton's 'The Call of Africa', you are invited to follow her on another adventure, this time into the rain forests of Ecuador, South America. Sal, inspired by her childhood film hero, Indiana Jones, and with only a basic school-girl knowledge of Spanish, attempts her own adventure into the Amazon, one of the most mysterious and formidable bio-diverse ecosystems on the planet; a place that has drawn explorers and travellers for generations into its dark and sacred heart.  'Letter's from the Amazon'   This amusing and enlightening story is told in in six short audio episodes.  Episode Four The Enchanted Forest Come on in and listen closely.....to the hidden calls of the wild.....  Episode Four of Sal's South American adventure 'Letters From The Amazon' begins with her having survived a rather unpredictable (and itchy) first night in the jungle with all the strange, bewildering and somewhat seemingly frightening sounds that filled the dark night at the Jatun Sacha Reserve, as the dawning of a brand-new day awakens the heart of Ecuadors Amazon Rainforest and all the surprises that come with it. The episode follows' Sal's letters from her first experience of the raw life in the wild - getting up close and personal with marauding jungle mosquitoes and the overwhelming charm and magic from the spell of 'Enchanted Forest' itself - revealing the secrets hidden away so protectively from the outside world, making it one of the most sacred places on earth. Under the guidance of trusty and charismatic native station ranger Sergio; Sal is invited into experiencing the pure cocooned beauty and plight that is Amazonia.  As daylight breathes new pulsating life into the 'Lungs of the Earth', it begins to revealing itself to her behind its intimidating myths and tales as an undisclosed Utopia of rare and wonderful flora and fauna, precious medicinal plants and ancient trees. Despite becoming enchanted by the pureness of the Amazon, she soon discovers the harsh reality of the unforgiving elements of nature as her adventures find her being caught in the middle of a ferocious jungle thunderstorm....thirty metres above the canopy.   Episode One:   In Dr Jones FootstepsEpisode Two:   Into The AmazonEpisode Three: Welcome To The JungleEpisode Four:   The Enchanted ForestEpisode Five:   Finding Miss Piggy Coming soon...... Episode Five: Finding Miss PiggyEpisode Six: Last Boat to Misahualli  Written and Narrated by Sal BoltonDirected and Produced by Nigel Killick Please Buy an Acre for £25 from The Rainforest Foundation UKhttp://www.rainforestfoundationuk.org/Protect_an_acre_of_rainforest Jatun Sacha Reservehttp://www.jatunsacha.org/ingles/ World Land Trusthttp://www.worldlandtrust.org/projects/buy-acre Sky Rainforest Rescuehttps://rainforestrescue.sky.com/amazon-rainforest Read more from Sal's online blog about The Amazonhttp://lettersfromtheamazon.travellerspoint.com/9/    

  My interview today is with Basil Sands who has written a new novel called Ice Hammer.  In the interview, we talk about his military history and his experience in surviving in extreme Arctic winters in Alaska. How he became a writer and what it has taken for him to become an author. Synopsis of the book. Ice Hammer is a three book fiction series seen through the eyes of a family ripped apart by invasion and the ensuing war that consumes the North American continent, including their home state of Alaska. It is not about the bigger political game that stands behind all war, but it is about the lives, the loves and the bitter struggles of those trying to survive to see another day.    ·         2013: NSA spy scandal lost the US many of its friends. ·         2016: The US government defaults on its debts. With the collapse of the American Empire the few remaining US allies turn their backs as well. ·         2017: Massive drought and crop failures spread across Eurasia threatening both China and the former Soviet states with starvation. ·         2018: The decision is made. America will pay its debts. In a sweeping measure to collect what they are owed, guarantee ample food supplies and take fertile land for their own people, China and the newly re-Sovietized Russia combine forces and invade North America.  --------------- Basil Sands has been weaving stories for anyone who would listen since he was a child.  From humble beginnings over 40 years ago on a rural homestead in interior Alaska and his school years among the cornfields of Ohio he grew to become one of the most popular new audio book talents on the web.   He nearly became a professional stand-up comedian but the big break came too late.  He had already enlisted in the US Marines. After only six months though he broke his ankle and found himself out of a job. Unsure of what to do he worked in a wide variety of fields (many simultaneously) including restaurant manager for the National Security Agency (chef to the spies), owned a computer shop, worked as a carpenter, farmer, stage actor, lumberjack, tv voice, Wilderness Medic, network manager, Boy Scout leader, university teacher, IT training specialist, radio talk show host, computer forensics technician, and youth minister.   Please visit Basil Sands web site at: www.basilsands.com

'Letter's from the Amazon'   This amusing and enlightening story is told in in six short audio episodes. For those who enjoyed listening to Sal Bolton's 'The Call of Africa', you are invited to follow her on another adventure, this time into the rain forests of Ecuador, South America.  Sal, inspired by her childhood film hero, Indiana Jones, and with only a basic school-girl knowledge of Spanish, attempts her own adventure into the Amazon, one of the most mysterious and formidable bio-diverse ecosystems on the planet; a place that has drawn explorers and travellers for generations into its dark and sacred heart. Episode 3. Welcome to the Jungle. Part Three of 'Letters From The Amazon' In this third instalment of Sal's exotic South American adventure, we continue to follow the story of the 'English Gringa's' unpredictable mishaps, as she persists in meeting the challenge of reaching the Jatun Sacha Biological Reserve, in the Orient Region of Ecuador's Amazon Rainforest. Sal finds herself stranded and confused, standing by the roadside in the Jungle town of Tena. Clutching a bus ticket with the name 'SARL' written on it, she struggles to decide what to do next: Divine intervention and a little help from the Spanish locals gets her on the right jungle bus towards Ahuano, where the next stage of her journey unfolds. Struggling with the unfamiliar customs and etiquette (and odours) that come with being crushed in with the commuting jungle natives, as she heads away from the familiarity of civilisation and into the wild isolation of the jungle – all made bearable by her unquenchable appetite for foreign adventure. Finally Sal reaches the Jatun Sacha Reserve and she begins to settle into her new, bizarre and mysterious home  in Amazonia....along with  those strange things that go  'bump'  in the jungle night....  Episode One:   In Dr Jones FootstepsEpisode Two:   Into The AmazonEpisode Three: Welcome To The JungleEpisode Four:   The Enchanted ForestEpisode Five:   Finding Miss Piggy Coming soon...... Episode Six: Last Boat to Misahualli  Written and Narrated by Sal BoltonDirected and Produced by Nigel Killick Please Buy an Acre for £25 from The Rainforest Foundation UKhttp://www.rainforestfoundationuk.org/Protect_an_acre_of_rainforest Jatun Sacha Reservehttp://www.jatunsacha.org/ingles/ World Land Trusthttp://www.worldlandtrust.org/projects/buy-acre Sky Rainforest Rescuehttps://rainforestrescue.sky.com/amazon-rainforest Read more from Sal's online blog about The Amazonhttp://lettersfromtheamazon.travellerspoint.com/9/ Direct download: LFTA_Episode_2.mp3      

 For those who enjoyed listening to Sal Bolton's 'The Call of Africa', you are invited to follow her on another adventure, this time into the rain forests of Ecuador, South America. Sal, inspired by her childhood film hero, Indiana Jones, and with only a basic school-girl knowledge of Spanish, attempts her own adventure into the Amazon, one of the most mysterious and formidable bio-diverse ecosystems on the planet; a place that has drawn explorers and travellers for generations into its dark and sacred heart. Episode Two - Into the Amazon Part Two of 'Letters From The Amazon' sees the exotic adventure begin to unravel, as Sal begins to embark on a cross country bus ride, setting off from the concrete jungle of Ecuador's valley capital Quito and into the fantasia of the real wild jungle of the Amazon.....by herself. Left to follow instructions on a piece of paper and stuck on a South American bus for six hours whilst needing the desperate urge for a bathroom; we follow in her first steps of the journey on the road into the Amazon. Catching her first overwhelming glimpse of the mighty real Rainforest, she soon finds herself relying on the divine intervention of her guardian angel and the help of good natured rural natives as she becomes lost in translation and stranded in the jungle town of Tena......     Episode One:   In Dr Jones FootstepsEpisode Two:   Into The AmazonEpisode Three: Welcome To The JungleEpisode Four:   The Enchanted ForestEpisode Five:   Finding Miss Piggy   Coming soon...... Episode Six: Last Boat to Misahualli  Written and Narrated by Sal BoltonDirected and Produced by Nigel Killick Please Buy an Acre for £25 from The Rainforest Foundation UKhttp://www.rainforestfoundationuk.org/Protect_an_acre_of_rainforest Jatun Sacha Reservehttp://www.jatunsacha.org/ingles/ World Land Trusthttp://www.worldlandtrust.org/projects/buy-acre Sky Rainforest Rescuehttps://rainforestrescue.sky.com/amazon-rainforest Read more from Sal's online blog about The Amazonhttp://lettersfromtheamazon.travellerspoint.com/9/  

'Letter's from the Amazon'   This amusing and enlightening story is told in in six short audio episodes.For those who enjoyed listening to Sal Bolton's 'The Call of Africa', you are invited to follow her on another adventure, this time into the rain forests of Ecuador, South America. Sal, inspired by her childhood film hero, Indiana Jones, and with only a basic school-girl knowledge of Spanish, attempts her own adventure into the Amazon, one of the most mysterious and formidable bio-diverse ecosystems on the planet; a place that has drawn explorers and travellers for generations into its dark and sacred heart.'Letters From The Amazon' hopes to unlock the reality for us of living and breathing something of this spell-binding cocooned world that is life in the Amazon; revealing, as the adventure unfolds, precious glimpses of rare wildlife, medicines and flora and fauna that are found hidden away in isolation. It should inspire in us the need to preserve and protect this unique, irreplaceable endangered eco-system. In her own words, "Hola, welcome to the jungle. Come on in and listen closely to the hidden calls of the wild. There's something about saying the word 'jungle' which immediately invites the thoughts of danger and intense curiosity: a secret Utopia which only the boldest of spirits will dare to venture into. So I decided to pack my bag, and go it alone; well, sort of." Based on Sal's journal, notes and letters whilst living in the rain forest, this series highlights some of her most unpredictable, amusing challenges and mishaps and adventures. Despite being lost among the indigenous jungle locals and their customs, she makes it to her destination “with”, as she puts it, “a little help from my inner guardian angel!” The episodes follow the emotional highs and lows of the journey of an English 'Gringa', as she shares with us the reality of living in wild isolation. We discover the magic and sacredness of the rainforest as we are carried along on a canoe journey to a remote place upriver to visit an indigenous shaman.Sal tells of the marauding, biting mosquitoes, jungle bus rides and of being caught in an Amazon thunderstorm. Her occasional pangs of frustration tell, in a humorous way, of her experiences of 'Jungle Fever', things that go 'bump' in the night and how her loneliness is healed by a curly tailed friend.   Episode One: In Dr Jones FootstepsEpisode Two: Into The AmazonEpisode Three: Welcome To The JungleEpisode Four: The Enchanted ForestEpisode Five: Finding Miss Piggy   Coming soon...... Episode Six: Last Boat to Misahualli    Written and Narrated by Sal BoltonDirected and Produced by Nigel Killick Please Buy an Acre for £25 from The Rainforest Foundation UKhttp://www.rainforestfoundationuk.org/Protect_an_acre_of_rainforest Jatun Sacha Reservehttp://www.jatunsacha.org/ingles/ World Land Trusthttp://www.worldlandtrust.org/projects/buy-acre Sky Rainforest Rescuehttps://rainforestrescue.sky.com/amazon-rainforest Read more from Sal's online blog about The Amazonhttp://lettersfromtheamazon.travellerspoint.com/9/      

In my interview we talk about her characters, storyline and how she writes historical novels. It's a ripping story of a British Royal Navy Captain named James Blackwell,  who commands a small third rates gunned British man-of-war frigate, that dose battle against the pride of a Spanish navy's ship of the line. It's the story of, what it was like to be on a British man-of-war of the times, fighting for old King George, combined with a romance between a hard-bitten English sea captain and a Spanish beauty.    V.E. Ulett is a long time resident of California and is an avid reader as well as writer of historical fiction.  V.E. is a member of the National Books Critics Circle and an active member and reviewer for the Historical Novel Society. Eighteenth and nineteenth century journals and letters inspired the writing of CAPTAIN BLACKWELL'S PRIZE. The sequel takes Captain Blackwell and Mercedes into the Pacific ocean and the world of early nineteenth century exploration. A world where betrayal and danger lurk round every coral atoll.   http://www.veulett.com http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15773930-captain-blackwell-s-prize  

Peter Higginbotham is one of Britain's best known authors and researchers on the workhouse - a much detested institution which for almost three centuries provided shelter, in return for labour, for the nation's destitute. In the course of his researches, Peter has visited every corner of the British Isles, from Cornwall to Shetland, and from Kent to Galway, in order to track down former workhouse buildings. His work on the workhouse, and the larger poor relief system of which it formed a pivotal part, has resulted in the highly regarded website www.workhouses.org.uk together with a number of books on the subject including The Workhouse Encyclopedia, Voices from the Workhouse, The Workhouse Cookbook and A Grim Almanac of the Workhouse. Peter is also a frequent contributor to radio programmes such as BBC Radio 4's Making History and Tracing Your Roots, and TV shows such as Heir Hunters and Who Do Yo Think You Are? Track: Boy Don't Cry (ft. Scomber , Admiral Bob (admiralbob77)) 2013 Jeris Licensed to at: http://ccmixter.org Jeris / CC BY-NC 3.0 

My interview today is with Eric Ryland, who In his youth worked in some very dangerous large industries in Wales, nearly being killed on a couple of occasions. After doing his compulsory military service in the British Army, at a time when the Suez Crisis hit the headlines and when Britain was preparing to go to war. He and his fellow conscripts waited anxiously as they boarded a military plane for Cyprus to go to Egypt and the war zone. Luckily, by the time his battalion reached the War area his battalion was quickly withdrawn back to Britain.     After being demobbed from the army he returned to his old job as a steam train fireman to find his job was under threat by the new diesel trains being adopted by British rail, so he changed careers yet again.    Being Welsh, Eric had a good singing voice and got involved with a group of young German musicians as the lead singer in a band, touring all around Britain's working men's clubs in the early 60s.  The band later went on to tour Germany and other European countries.    Eric by this time had a small family and had to make some painful decisions, as he knew in his heart that the music scene was too precarious now that he was a family man. It was around this time that he decided to take his whole family and move thousands of miles across the world to live in South Africa, which at that time still have had apartheid and was a totally different from his experience in his own country.   Music track: Drunk in a Smoking Bar Drinking an Imperial Porter Mix by  Lasswell.      Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0)    Here is a link to take to you to the music. http://dig.ccmixter.org/podcast_music?dig-query=lasswell  

Our interview today is with the authors of Deadly Focus and Consequences novels by RC Bridgestock.     This husband and wife team from the fourth largest police force in England have swapped crime fighting for crime writing. Bob Bridgestock, 60, a retired detective superintendent who took charge of numerous high profile murder and serious crime investigations in his 30 year career, and his wife Carol, 51, who was a civilian support worker with West Yorkshire Police for 17 years, draw upon their extensive knowledge of real life investigations.    Their experience has been invaluable on their path to becoming fully-fledged authors.  The couple, who now live on the Isle of Wight, launched  their first novel, 'Deadly Focus' (Caffeine Nights Publishing) in June, 2010. It is also available on kindle and this month it also came out as an Audio book. In April, 2012, 'Consequences', the sequel, was published:  both novels are extremely popular with crime fiction readers throughout the world.    'The greatest compliment we get is from police personnel who say the series is "just as it is and not over-dramatised".' The Dylan series explores the world of senior investigator DI Jack Dylan (loosely based on Bob), who goes from one drama to another in his professional and in his personal life, with his partner, Jen (loosely based on Carol).    'You've probably heard the saying, "There's a book in everyone," and for years Bob has had people laughing and crying with his tales,' Carol said. 'So you can imagine my surprise and delight when Bob enrolled us both on a writing course at the Isle of Wight College five years ago and as they say, "The rest is history".    The couple have written a further two novels in the series, which will be published next year, and are working on books 5 & 6 in the Dylan series for 2014.   Interviewer and producer Nigel Killick Peopletalk literary editor Mr. Gareth Kenyon-Goldthorpe   www.rcbridgestock.com Books/Kindle/Audio available from:- http://www.caffeine-nights.com/book-store.html Deadly Focus http://www.amazon.co.uk/Deadly-Focus-D-I-Dylan-Bridgestock/dp/1907565086/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_1  

My interview today is with John Parry the author of a humourous but poignant book called "Not for Wimps"about men and the aging process published by the Book Guild UK. John Parry was the BBC's first arts correspondent and left the corporation in the mid-90s after 12 years, he wrote a regular arts column for the Spectator before creating and editing Sculptors, the magazine of the Royal Society of British sculptors. He also wrote book reviews for the Mail on Sunday. He lives in Brighton with his wife, the actress and author, Judy Cornwell. In this interview I talk to John about his prodigious career in the world of the Media and he reads a selection of  extracts from his book and talks about what made him write this book? An extracts from his book. 'The other evening, I walked into the theatre. With a dressy celebration party afterwards, I was wearing black tie, feeling sprightly and youthful. The occasion had all the promise of being great fun. At least it did until the moment I approached a small group of quite jolly young people gathered on the pavement -- and no mercifully, I was not about to be mugged. One of the girls simply shouted out, 'Oi, you looked like Winston Churchill.' Her friends yelled with laughter.   I was devastated. Not for a second was I deluded enough to think that she was saying I looked like a war hero, an inspiring orator, a Prime Minister who led the nations to victory. What she was saying, of course was I looked rather elderly and rotund with a pink and shiny face from the exertion of my brisk walk. It was crushing. I arrived at the theatre feeling rather less than sprightly and useful. Infuriatingly, my own friends thought it was a stoically funny when I told them the story and laughed as much as the crowd of young people had done.' To Buy John Parry book "Not for Wimps" click here Click here to to retun to front page Music: Chansons sans paroles (1989) op. 2 Valse-Scherzo Album: Dry Fig Trees Artist: Gerard Satamian :To buy this music click here

Our latest audio documentary by David Allen is about Mr. Leslie Gilliat -Location Manager and Producer of many classic British films including three of the fondly remembered St. Trinian's films. With the new St. Trinian's film directed by Oliver Parker and Barnaby Thompson due for release  this autumn, what a wonderful opportunity to look back on the long and distinguished career of Mr. Leslie Gilliat [1917 -] Leslie having worked in the camera department, and as Location Manager and Producer of many films including three of the fondly remembered St. Trinian's films of the 50's and 60's that many now regard as British comedy classics. Born in 1917, Leslie worked for Gainsborough Pictures between 1936 and 1939 with such comedy stars as Will Hay on Oh, Mr. Porter! [1937] Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen and the famous comedy troupe The Crazy Gang on Alf's Button Afloat [1938]. Leslie also worked with Alfred Hitchcock as a cameraman on the classic comedy thriller The Lady Vanishes [1938] starring Michael Redgrave and Margaret Lockwood, which was made shortly before Hitchcock moved to Hollywood to film Rebecca [1940] for David O. Selznick. After serving his country in the Second World War, Leslie joined his older brother Sydney who had formed a prolific writing and directing partnership with his lifelong collaborator Frank Launder, who had both written the screenplay for The Lady Vanishes. The Gilliat brothers and Launder team went on to collaborate on many great British films, such as The Blue Lagoon [1948] starring Jean Simmons, The Green Man [1956]  with George Cole, Terry-Thomas and the lugubrious Alistair Sim, The Smallest Show on Earth [1957] with Margaret Rutherford and Peter Sellers, and of course the St. Trinian's films, which starred Alistair Sim in drag as the headmistress Miss Fritton, Terry-Thomas as Captain Romney Carlton-Ricketts, Joyce Grenfell as the hapless Police Sergeant Ruby Gates and George Cole as the lovable rogue Flash Harry. This is a peopletalk production © 2007 Production Team: David Allen - Interviewer & Associate Editor/Producer. Josephine Bloom - Assistant Editor. Nigel Killick - Executive Producer. We would also like to thank Mr. Leslie Gilliat & Mr. Julian Fox for their help in making this documentary. Click here for David Allen's page Click here for Music kingdom hearts track Hikari (Instrumental)© Please click on Comments and have your say! We are always looking for donations to help us to continue to produce high quality free programs. (All trademarks acknowledged.)

Smugglers, pirates and villains on the south coast of England in times gone by. Douglas d'Enno is a local historian and author of some interesting & insightful books on local Sussex history. In our latest conversation, Douglas spent time with me on a glorious sunny October day at the end of Brighton's Victorian pier. There we discussed the activities of smugglers, pirates and villains on the south coast of England in times gone by. We chatted about excise men patrolling along the top of dangerous cliffs at night on the lookout for smugglers and ship wreckers, and how it sometimes became a life and death struggle between both sides. Smuggling was part of everyday life for some of the small fishing villages along the coast. We talked about a local vicar, the Reverend Thomas Hooker, a pillar of the community who was nonetheless heavily involved in contraband activities in his village. We also talked about the cat and mouse game played by revenue officers and their quarry the smugglers - who shamelessly continued to ply their trade with the French while England was at war with Napoleon. Douglas was kind enough in 2006 to take our listeners on an interesting tour of the darker side of life of Brighton's past. We talked as we walked to some of the locations of the town's notorious murders. This audio tour, 'Brighton's Murder Walk', is still available on our site, click here to hear Murder Walks Books by Douglas d'Enno Brighton Crime & Vice. Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths Around Brighton. published by Wharncliffe UK. Here is a link to buy the books above We would just like to thank the following artists and songwriter's for their kind permission to use their works in the making of this programme. (All copyrights are retained by artists and songwriters © 08) Please see links to artists web sites. Track 1: A Smugglers' Song- Arranged and performed by Andrew McKay & by Carole Etherton, words by Rudyard Kipling.  (http://www.cranedrivinmusic.com) Track 2- Paris-White Sail- Paris-Chris Harvey. http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/harvey-wsail/ Track 3- Ship Keeper- Trim Rig And A Doxy (TRAAD). http://www.trimrigdoxy.com/ Track 4- Leave Her Johnny Leave Her-Trim Rig And A Doxy (TRAAD). http://www.trimrigdoxy.com/ Track 5- Trawling Trade- (John Conolly)- Trim Rig And A Doxy (TRAAD). Track 6- Paris-White Sail- Paris-Chris Harvey-http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/harvey-wsail/ Track 7- Scarecrow -Andrew McKay and Carole Etherton, written by © Maria Cunningham. Track 8- Mary Baker-Andrew McKay and Carole Etherton and written by Carole Etherton Track 9- Smugglers-Arranged and performed by Andrew McKay & Carole Etherton, words by Rudyard Kipling. Track 10-Paris-White Sail- Paris-Chris Harvey-http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/harvey-wsail/

An interview with Terry Fallis, a Canadian writer who published his own novel and made the Canadian literary world take notice. After almost a year of banging on the closed doors of the literary establishment, he decided to take matters into his own hands by narrating and publishing an audio book version of his novel on the Internet for free. He wanted to test an audience reaction to his book to see if he was wasting his time, the response he received confirmed he had a successful book on his hands. So he took the plunge and self published his book and then went on to win one of Canada's most prestigious awards for literature. In our interview you will hear how he went from being a weekend writer to a successful published Author, who has already been commissioned to write his second novel. About Terry Fallis. Despite an engineering degree, for 25 years Terry Fallis enjoyed a successful career first in politics, as an advisor to Liberal federal and Ontario cabinet ministers, and then in public affairs and public relations consulting. But through it all, there was something missing. In 2005, he found it when he finally wrote the novel that had been rattling around inside his head. He spent a year peddling the manuscript to agents and publishers but was greeted with a deafening silence. Undeterred, he podcast The Best Laid Plans, his debut satirical novel of Canadian politics, chapter-by-chapter, gathering rave reviews from legions of listeners in Canada and around the world. Encouraged by the response, he self-published the novel in September 2007. Then, in April 2008 came the shock of his life. The Best Laid Plans won the 2008 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, the first self-published novel ever honoured with this venerable literary award. Within a week, Fallis signed a publishing deal with McClelland & Stewart. In the fall of 2008, the novel hit bookstore shelves and Terry Fallis hit the speaking circuit entertaining audiences with the same thoughtful wit and humour that won him the Leacock Medal. The sequel to The Best Laid Plans, entitled The High Road, is due out in 2010. Terry Fallis web site at www.terryfallis.com Click here to to retun to front page Music credits: 1st Track Music from Magnatune at http://magnatune.com. Track: Extraordinaire Album: Prospects Artist: Chris Juergensen Click here to take you to track. Music played in Terry Fallis audio extract is: Winter Serenade by Jon Schmidt at http:///www.musicalley.com. Track & Artist: Winter Serenade by Jon Schmidt Click here to take you to track.

Episode One: Africa is calling Episode Two: Gateway to AfricaEpisode Three: First impressionsEpisode Four: Voyage to The NorthEpisode Five: To Walk With The ElephantsEpisode Six: Making a Difference Go back to front page Narrated and written by Sal Bolton Directed and produced by Nigel Killick‘You can do it for 3 months or longer, West Africa, country called Ghana – you could teach the kids how to play tennis there’….Akwaaba! These 6 short episodes depict memoirs from the stories of young University Graduate Sal Bolton making a soul searching decision in taking the sport she loves to aid the underprivileged communties of deepest darkest Africa to the land of the Black Star, Ghana.  The episodes follow Sal’s adventures from the encouraging words of a university friend to make a difference in the world after a heavy night of student partying in England….to the unpredictable Tro Tro rides of the dusty congested backstreets of Accra, an adrenaline fuelled adventure across the biggest lake in Africa and roaming the roads of the unknown to walk with the elephants, and receiving her very first marriage proposal whilst being sold a steering wheel. The series highlights the interesting and comedic customs and etiquette she encounters as an ‘Obruni’ in Africa, whilst interacting with the ‘happy go lucky’ local Ghanaians in their habitat and also the heartwarming inner peace she finally finds whilst offering a hand to those less fortunate.  These stories are adapted from a forthcoming book, The Call of Africa which hope to inspire and open the eyes for anybody that’s ever wondered what its like to be a young white girl living and breathing this magical continent in the aim of making a difference. Sal Bolton is a professional actress and attended the CWF Studio Film Academy, London I would like to acknowledge and thank Cat O’Connor for her help with this project. http://www.myspace.com/catoconnorGhana Tennis Aid web page:http://ghanatennisaid.wetpaint.com/View photos of the Ghana Tennis project at http://www.myalbum.com/Album=6WM6QZ6B

Episode One: Africa is calling Episode Two: Gateway to AfricaEpisode Three: First impressionsEpisode Four: Voyage to The NorthEpisode Five: To Walk With The ElephantsEpisode Six: Making a Difference  Go back to front page Narrated and written by Sal Bolton Directed and produced by Nigel Killick‘You can do it for 3 months or longer, West Africa, country called Ghana – you could teach the kids how to play tennis there’….Akwaaba! These 6 short episodes depict memoirs from the stories of young University Graduate Sal Bolton making a soul searching decision in taking the sport she loves to aid the underprivileged communties of deepest darkest Africa to the land of the Black Star, Ghana.  The episodes follow Sal’s adventures from the encouraging words of a university friend to make a difference in the world after a heavy night of student partying in England….to the unpredictable Tro Tro rides of the dusty congested backstreets of Accra, an adrenaline fuelled adventure across the biggest lake in Africa and roaming the roads of the unknown to walk with the elephants, and receiving her very first marriage proposal whilst being sold a steering wheel. The series highlights the interesting and comedic customs and etiquette she encounters as an ‘Obruni’ in Africa, whilst interacting with the ‘happy go lucky’ local Ghanaians in their habitat and also the heartwarming inner peace she finally finds whilst offering a hand to those less fortunate.  These stories are adapted from a forthcoming book, The Call of Africa which hope to inspire and open the eyes for anybody that’s ever wondered what its like to be a young white girl living and breathing this magical continent in the aim of making a difference. Sal Bolton is a professional actress and attended the CWF Studio Film Academy, London I would like to acknowledge and thank Cat O’Connor for her help with this projecthttp://www.myspace.com/catoconnorGhana Tennis Aid web page:http://ghanatennisaid.wetpaint.com/View photos of the Ghana Tennis project at http://www.myalbum.com/Album=6WM6QZ6B

Episode One: Africa is calling Episode Two: Gateway to AfricaEpisode Three: First impressionsEpisode Four: Voyage to The NorthEpisode Five: To Walk With The ElephantsEpisode Six: Making a Difference  Go back to front page Narrated and written by Sal Bolton Directed and produced by Nigel Killick‘You can do it for 3 months or longer, West Africa, country called Ghana – you could teach the kids how to play tennis there’….Akwaaba! These 6 short episodes depict memoirs from the stories of young University Graduate Sal Bolton making a soul searching decision in taking the sport she loves to aid the underprivileged communties of deepest darkest Africa to the land of the Black Star, Ghana.  The episodes follow Sal’s adventures from the encouraging words of a university friend to make a difference in the world after a heavy night of student partying in England….to the unpredictable Tro Tro rides of the dusty congested backstreets of Accra, an adrenaline fuelled adventure across the biggest lake in Africa and roaming the roads of the unknown to walk with the elephants, and receiving her very first marriage proposal whilst being sold a steering wheel. The series highlights the interesting and comedic customs and etiquette she encounters as an ‘Obruni’ in Africa, whilst interacting with the ‘happy go lucky’ local Ghanaians in their habitat and also the heartwarming inner peace she finally finds whilst offering a hand to those less fortunate.  These stories are adapted from a forthcoming book, The Call of Africa which hope to inspire and open the eyes for anybody that’s ever wondered what its like to be a young white girl living and breathing this magical continent in the aim of making a difference. Sal Bolton is a professional actress and attended the CWF Studio Film Academy, London I would like to acknowledge and thank Cat O’Connor for her help with this projecthttp://www.myspace.com/catoconnorGhana Tennis Aid web page:http://ghanatennisaid.wetpaint.com/View photos of the Ghana Tennis project at http://www.myalbum.com/Album=6WM6QZ6B

Episode One: Africa is calling Episode Two: Gateway to AfricaEpisode Three: First impressionsEpisode Four: Voyage to The NorthEpisode Five: To Walk With The ElephantsEpisode Six: Making a Difference  Go back to front page Narrated and written by Sal Bolton Directed and produced by Nigel Killick‘You can do it for 3 months or longer, West Africa, country called Ghana – you could teach the kids how to play tennis there’….Akwaaba! These 6 short episodes depict memoirs from the stories of young University Graduate Sal Bolton making a soul searching decision in taking the sport she loves to aid the underprivileged communties of deepest darkest Africa to the land of the Black Star, Ghana.  The episodes follow Sal’s adventures from the encouraging words of a university friend to make a difference in the world after a heavy night of student partying in England….to the unpredictable Tro Tro rides of the dusty congested backstreets of Accra, an adrenaline fuelled adventure across the biggest lake in Africa and roaming the roads of the unknown to walk with the elephants, and receiving her very first marriage proposal whilst being sold a steering wheel. The series highlights the interesting and comedic customs and etiquette she encounters as an ‘Obruni’ in Africa, whilst interacting with the ‘happy go lucky’ local Ghanaians in their habitat and also the heartwarming inner peace she finally finds whilst offering a hand to those less fortunate.  These stories are adapted from a forthcoming book, The Call of Africa which hope to inspire and open the eyes for anybody that’s ever wondered what its like to be a young white girl living and breathing this magical continent in the aim of making a difference. Sal Bolton is a professional actress and attended the CWF Studio Film Academy, London I would like to acknowledge and thank Cat O’Connor for her help with this projecthttp://www.myspace.com/catoconnorGhana Tennis Aid web page:http://ghanatennisaid.wetpaint.com/View photos of the Ghana Tennis project at http://www.myalbum.com/Album=6WM6QZ6B

Episode One: Africa is calling Episode Two: Gateway to AfricaEpisode Three: First impressionsEpisode Four: Voyage to The NorthEpisode Five: To Walk With The ElephantsEpisode Six: Making a Difference  Go back to front page Narrated and written by Sal Bolton Directed and produced by Nigel Killick‘You can do it for 3 months or longer, West Africa, country called Ghana – you could teach the kids how to play tennis there’….Akwaaba! These 6 short episodes depict memoirs from the stories of young University Graduate Sal Bolton making a soul searching decision in taking the sport she loves to aid the underprivileged communties of deepest darkest Africa to the land of the Black Star, Ghana.  The episodes follow Sal’s adventures from the encouraging words of a university friend to make a difference in the world after a heavy night of student partying in England….to the unpredictable Tro Tro rides of the dusty congested backstreets of Accra, an adrenaline fuelled adventure across the biggest lake in Africa and roaming the roads of the unknown to walk with the elephants, and receiving her very first marriage proposal whilst being sold a steering wheel. The series highlights the interesting and comedic customs and etiquette she encounters as an ‘Obruni’ in Africa, whilst interacting with the ‘happy go lucky’ local Ghanaians in their habitat and also the heartwarming inner peace she finally finds whilst offering a hand to those less fortunate.  These stories are adapted from a forthcoming book, The Call of Africa which hope to inspire and open the eyes for anybody that’s ever wondered what its like to be a young white girl living and breathing this magical continent in the aim of making a difference. Sal Bolton is a professional actress and attended the CWF Studio Film Academy, London I would like to acknowledge and thank Cat O’Connor for her help with this projecthttp://www.myspace.com/catoconnorGhana Tennis Aid web page:http://ghanatennisaid.wetpaint.com/View photos of the Ghana Tennis project at http://www.myalbum.com/Album=6WM6QZ6B

Episode One: Africa is calling Episode Two: Gateway to AfricaEpisode Three: First impressionsEpisode Four: Voyage to The NorthEpisode Five: To Walk With The ElephantsEpisode Six: Making a Difference  Go back to front page Narrated and written by Sal Bolton Directed and produced by Nigel Killick‘You can do it for 3 months or longer, West Africa, country called Ghana – you could teach the kids how to play tennis there’….Akwaaba! These 6 short episodes depict memoirs from the stories of young University Graduate Sal Bolton making a soul searching decision in taking the sport she loves to aid the underprivileged communties of deepest darkest Africa to the land of the Black Star, Ghana.  The episodes follow Sal’s adventures from the encouraging words of a university friend to make a difference in the world after a heavy night of student partying in England….to the unpredictable Tro Tro rides of the dusty congested backstreets of Accra, an adrenaline fuelled adventure across the biggest lake in Africa and roaming the roads of the unknown to walk with the elephants, and receiving her very first marriage proposal whilst being sold a steering wheel. The series highlights the interesting and comedic customs and etiquette she encounters as an ‘Obruni’ in Africa, whilst interacting with the ‘happy go lucky’ local Ghanaians in their habitat and also the heartwarming inner peace she finally finds whilst offering a hand to those less fortunate.  These stories are adapted from a forthcoming book, The Call of Africa which hope to inspire and open the eyes for anybody that’s ever wondered what its like to be a young white girl living and breathing this magical continent in the aim of making a difference. Sal Bolton is a professional actress and attended the CWF Studio Film Academy, London I would like to acknowledge and thank Cat O’Connor for her help with this projecthttp://www.myspace.com/catoconnorGhana Tennis Aid web page:http://ghanatennisaid.wetpaint.com/View photos of the Ghana Tennis project at http://www.myalbum.com/Album=6WM6QZ6B

Malcolm Clark is an English actor who has married a Brazilian and moved to a small city called Curitiba which is the capital city of the Brazilian state of Paraná, located in southern Brazil.  In his narration  Malcolm gives a vivid impression of his new life and surroundings.  Painting a colourful picture of his new city and the people. Giving us an insight into an Englishman's impression  of the rich and diverse cultures of Brazil. In the coming months Malcolm will be sending us more of his observations and thoughts about his new adopted country. An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 1 An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 2 An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 3 An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 3 An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 4 Back to peopletalk front page Recorded at Brighton University Media Services UK.Music:  Track: 01-Eu nao sabia (I did not know) Artist:   AnamarAlbum: Transfadohttp://www.magnatune.com

Malcolm Clark is an English actor who has married a Brazilian and moved to a small city called Curitiba which is the capital city of the Brazilian state of Paraná, located in southern Brazil.  In his narration  Malcolm gives a vivid impression of his new life and surroundings.  Painting a colourful picture of his new landscape and the people. Giving us an insight into an Englishman's impression  of the rich and diverse cultures of Brazil. In this second report he tells us of his visit to a small island off the Brazilian coast called Ilha Do Mel, a small haven of peace and tranquillity with no cars or motor driven vehicles, just the sounds of the sea, tropical bird song and a little Brazilian music.      "Situated off the North coast of the state of Parana in Southern Brazil, at the entrance to the bay of Paranagua, Ilha Do Mel attracts visitors from all over the world and it's easy to see why. Free from traffic, and offering trekking, surfing and canoeing or just plain swimming and walking in a beautiful, peaceful environment, it's the perfect place to unwind. When my wife first described it to me,  I knew straight away it was somewhere I had to go. What I like about the island is its simplicity. You stay in a pousada - a chalet made of timber, with just the most basic facilities.   A small group of pousadas will be run by their owner who provides breakfast and, if you want, an evening meal.   I think it was on our second visit there that we stopped at an open-air restaurant along one of the sandy trails that winds among the pousadas. It looked like a very pleasant place to sit down with a cool drink, nestling there among the trees and palms, so we took a seat and were waiting to order when my attention was caught by a conversation going on at the next table.  A man was talking to two Americans in nothing short of a "top draw" English accent. It turned out he, together with his wife was the proprietor of the restaurant, so I was intrigued to know how this apparently English native had wound up on Ilha Do Mel".     In the coming months Malcolm will be sending us more of his observations and thoughts about his new adopted country Brazil. An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 1 An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 2 An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 3 An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 3 An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 4 Back to peopletalk front page  Recorded at Brighton University Media Services UK. Music:  Track: 01-Eu nao sabia (I did not know)  Artist:   Anamar Album: Transfado http://www.magnatune.com    

Malcolm Clark is an English actor who has married a Brazilian and moved to a small city called Curitiba which is the capital city of the Brazilian state of Paraná, located in southern Brazil.  In his narration Malcolm gives a vivid impression of his new life and surroundings.  Painting a colourful picture of his new landscape and the people. Giving us an insight into an Englishman's impression  of the rich and diverse cultures of Brazil. In this, his third report, he talks about one of many experiences he has had whilst getting to grips with the language, and then goes on to describe a trial by mountain-climbing and a peaceful couple of days spent in the midst of the South Atlantic Rainforest.    In the coming months Malcolm will be sending us more of his observations and thoughts about his new adopted country Brazil. Directed and produced by Nigel Killick An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 1 An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 2 An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 3 An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 3 An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 4 Back to peopletalk front page Recorded at Brighton University Media Services UK. Music:  Track: 01-Eu nao sabia (I did not know)  Artist:   Anamar Album: Transfado http://www.magnatune.com    

Malcolm Clark is an English actor who has married a Brazilian and moved to a small city called Curitiba which is the capital city of the Brazilian state of Paraná, located in southern Brazil.  In his narration Malcolm gives a vivid impression of his new life and surroundings.  Painting a colourful picture of his new landscape and the people. Giving us an insight into an Englishman's impression  of the rich and diverse cultures of Brazil. In part 4, Malcolm talks a bit about everyday  life of people  in Curitiba and about the many positive aspects of living in Brazil that are not made well-known outside the country, as well as some of the negative aspects and shares a few nostalgic moments, recounting some of the things he misses about his way of life in England.  In the coming months Malcolm will be sending us more of his observations and thoughts about his new adopted country Brazil. Directed and produced by Nigel Killick An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 1 An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 2 An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 3 An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 3 An Englishman in Brazil by Malcolm Clark Part 4 Back to peopletalk front page Recorded at Brighton University Media Services UK. Music:  Track: 01-Eu nao sabia (I did not know)  Artist:   Anamar Album: Transfado http://www.magnatune.com

Running Spies by Gary Mepsted. Synopsis of the story: Literary agent, Katherine, finds herself trapped in a cell and interrogated by her captors who are convinced that she is a spy. Is Katherine the tragic victim of misidentification, or is nothing as it quite appears. Running Spies is a dark, slippery tale of modern espionage. The Cast:  Written and directed by Gary Mepsted Lucy Shaw as Lucy Francesca Cicic as Katherine Paul Bentinck as Malcolm   Produced by Nigel Killick Go back to front page

Today we have a spotlight interview with Gary Mepsted, Gary has written a number of short stories for peopletalk, so why don't you check out his body of work on this site. Click on the links below. The Spirit of You Never a Rose  A room without a Smile Word Games Gary is writer, director, broadcaster and occasional - and reluctant - actor. His most recent project, a show for the Brighton Festival 'Enjoying Alan Bennett', was huge success. He's currently working on his new, as yet untitled, stage play. When he's not writing Gary plays the electric guitar (with enthusiasm rather than finesse), paints,  reads voraciously, appears on radio reviewing books and discussing matters literary. He also teaches creative writing.     

Teenager, Abbie Lefevre, has vanished without trace. When struggling private detective Abe Gunnings is called in by Abbie's mother to investigate her disappearance, he quickly discovers that nothing about the case is as it first appears. Written and directed by Gary Mepsted, narrated by Nick Green, edited and produced by  Nigel Killick        Nicholas Green – Actor Profile Born in Wallington, South London, during the 60s, Nicholas Green has been involved with music, drama & television all his life. Nicholas is involved with media production for over 40 satellite & TV broadcasters with his company TV Media Publishing and now runs local Brighton production company, Driftwood Productions, producing live theatre recordings, comedy, music, drama and film. Driftwood is recently to be found working on a series of short films collectively compiled under the film banner, ‘Driftwood’ due to be released during 2011. Nicholas is also a keen actor, studying drama at North Kesteven in Lincolnshire. Over the years he has acted in numerous productions such as ‘The Wall’, ‘Of Mice and Men’ and ‘1984’. Moving to East Sussex in the 90’s he further studied drama at ACT Brighton. In 2009 he starred in the ACT production of David Hare’s play, ‘The Blue Room’ as the taxi driver. During 2010’s May Festival he has worked on PPZ Productions’ Henry VIII play, ‘The Royal Informer’. Currently he is appearing in Crimson Horse Theatre stage adaptation of ‘A Clockwork Orange’ and their self-devised play ‘Closure’.    

As Chekhov wrote to a friend, "Medicine is my lawful wife, and literature is my mistress. When I get fed up with one, I spend the night with the other. Though it is irregular, it is less boring this way, and besides, neither of them loses anything through my infidelity." Chekhov's attitude towards life. "In front of that dreary, grey crowd of helpless people there passed a great, wise, and observant man; he looked at all those dreary inhabitants of his country, and, with a sad smile, with a tone of gentle but deep reproach, with anguish in his face and in his heart, in a beautiful and sincere voice he said to them: 'You live badly, my friends. It is shameful to live like that.' " Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860-1914) was one of the most representative Russian writers in the last two decades of the nineteenth century. His works present a vivid picture of Russia's everyday life with its triumphant complacency, deplorable banality, cruel senselessness, dull boredom, stunted intellect, and moral emptiness. Chekhov did not pose as a moral teacher, but as an imaginative investigator. He often insisted that he was not called upon as a writer to suggest remedies for the diseases of society, but, as a physician by training, to diagnose them. Yet, in reading his dismal account of Russia, one cannot help hearing the author's condemnation of the laziness and self-indulgence of his fellow-men, of their l9th nineteenth century life in which everything is shallow, stupid, and commonplace. A thoughtful reader of Chekhov will hardly accuse him of being indifferent to morality and society. He will rather perceive in his works a skilful criticism of that commonplace Russian life in which nobody else seemed interested and of which so few understood the significance and the value. But men of genius like Chekhov are usually not satisfied with flinging only criticisms. When they criticise and condemn the sluggish current of contemporary existence, their action is motivated by a sort of "categorical imperative," by the persistent innate demand of their restless souls which cannot be appeased by existing conditions. This demand is in itself something positive, something real; for it is born of an ideal of life which the author has visualised, towards which he aspires, and with which he compares the humdrum world. Undoubtedly Chekhov, too, had an attitude towards human problems that was peculiarly his own, coloured by his own ideal of a beautiful and harmonious life. M. Gorky, Reminiscenus of Anton Cheklwv, by Gorky, Kuprin and Bunin, New York, 1921,p.2j. 658 Narrated by Sandra Ventris,  directed and produced by Nigel Killick Recorded at the University of Brighton's Media department recording studios. peopletalk© 2010 For more information about Anton Chekhov please follow the link below: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Chekhov

'Death is no barrier to Beatrice and Florence's friendship, but when Beatrice leaves her childhood home Florence is forced to remain in the house, and the future of their relationship is threatened.'   Arabella Gibbins is an actress, singer and songwriter Arabella studied dance and drama from an early age. She moved to Spain  with her family for three years at the age of 13, and during her time there collaborated with a Flamenco guitarist in Jerez to write and record her first album. Arabella returned to Oxford to finish school, before going on to study at Bristol University.    During her time at Bristol Arabella continued to study and perform drama; she also worked in Bristol Old Vic Theatre. Her performances include ‘Laurie’ in Oklahoma (directed by James Page), ‘Queen Ann’ in Shakespeare’s Richard III (directed by Ben Cooper) and ‘Inez’ in Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Way Out (directed by Till Wagner). Radio work includes ‘Hopes and Fears’ by S. Fairburn. Arabella also acted in a touring production of The Vagina Monologues, which was taken to Glastonbury Festival in 2007.   Training and sang with Brighton Goes Gospel and The Sound of the City choirs. She is now the lead singer of Brighton’s up-and-coming band ‘Illustrators’. Arabella performed in Gary Mepsted’s short film ‘The Glove’ which will be screened later this year and is currently working on a one-woman show titled ‘Storms and Strangers’, also directed by Gary Mepsted. She is rehearsing for The Royal Informer, a musical based on the life and loves of Henry VIII, to be performed this summer.  Lucy Mepsted actress Although she is only 19, Lucy has been acting for many years. Recent productions include 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat', 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' for the Shakespeare Youth Festival, 'An Evening with Noel Coward' for the Brighton Festival, 2008, 'Attempts on Her Life' by Martin Crimp, and 'Enjoying Alan Bennett', for the Brighton Festival,2009.  She has also recently worked on a short film, 'The Glove'. Lucy is currently in rehearsal for a new musical, 'The Royal Informer' which will debut at the Brighton Festival 2010, and transfer to the Edinburgh Festival.  Lucy is also an enthusiastic and accomplished singer and (slightly reluctant) dancer. Gary Mepsted writer Gary is a writer, director, broadcaster and occasional actor. He is currently involved in various theatre and film projects (as writer/director). Gary also writes reviews for a number of publications. His full length stage play, 'Two Minute Egg' is now in rehearsal. When he's not writing Gary plays the electric guitar (with enthusiasm rather than finesse), paints, draws, reads voraciously - and teaches creative writing. He also appears regularly on radio reviewing books and discussing matters literary.

Our Man In Alaska:Episode One:  Living in a postcard and A typical day at -65.Some people think they know what cold is, but unless you’ve been to the arctic you have no idea. Learn just what it’s like to experience deep cold, up close and personal.Many people fantasize about what life would be like way up in the forests and mountains and tundra of the Arctic wilderness. But few will ever actually convince themselves to give it a try. If you have ever wondered what it takes to make it in the Greatland take a listen to these short episodes and you will start to get a picture of it.Basil Sands was born right in the middle of the Alaskan Frontier on a hot summer day in 1968 and now he’s here to tell you all about it. Alaska that is, not his birth…his mother was rather adamant about keeping that bit private. Over the course of these episodes you will learn about the real life and the people of Alaska. Some of the stories are his own experiences. Some as told by friends and family. And some from the early days as told by his pioneer Grandfather who was one of the first civilians to drive up the Alaska/Canada highway in 1946. Most all of the stories are mostly all true, although some names have been changed so Basil doesn’t get into any trouble, since most of his neighbors are very well armed. Episode One: A typical day at -65Episode Two:   Moving my family to the wildernessEpisode Three: MosquitoesEpisode Four:  Grocery Hunting in the Modern AgeEpisode Five:  The Nanny. Every kid needs someone to watch over them.Episode Six:   Brothers on the Frontier.Back to peopletalk front pageOur interview with Basil SandsWhy not visit Basil web site and listen to his great free audio booksat www.basilsands.comBuy Music at magnatune Music credits:1st Track Music from Magnatune at http://magnatune.com.Track: Hagagatan 14Album: GratisJazz Artist: Eternal Jazz ProjectClick here to take you to track.2nd Track: Magnatune at http://magnatune.com.Album: Acoustic Earth - Electric Sky Track: AngelClick here to take you to track.

Our Man In Alaska:Episode Two:  Moving my family to the wilderness.In 1996 Basil moved his wife and son from the relative comforts of the American Midwest back to his birth home of Salcha Alaska. Little did his Korean City Girl wife know what was in store for them.Many people fantasize about what life would be like way up in the forests and mountains and tundra of the Arctic wilderness. But few will ever actually convince themselves to give it a try. If you have ever wondered what it takes to make it in the Greatland take a listen to these short episodes and you will start to get a picture of it.Basil Sands was born right in the middle of the Alaskan Frontier on a hot summer day in 1968 and now he’s here to tell you all about it. Alaska that is, not his birth…his mother was rather adamant about keeping that bit private. Over the course of these episodes you will learn about the real life and the people of Alaska. Some of the stories are his own experiences. Some as told by friends and family. And some from the early days as told by his pioneer Grandfather who was one of the first civilians to drive up the Alaska/Canada highway in 1946. Most all of the stories are mostly all true, although some names have been changed so Basil doesn’t get into any trouble, since most of his neighbors are very well armed. Episode One: A typical day at -65Episode Two:   Moving my family to the wildernessEpisode Three: MosquitoesEpisode Four:  Grocery Hunting in the Modern AgeEpisode Five:  The Nanny. Every kid needs someone to watch over them.Episode Six:   Brothers on the Frontier.Back to peopletalk front page Our interview with Basil SandsWhy not visit Basil web site and listen to his great free audio booksat www.basilsands.comBuy Music at magnatune Music credits:1st Track Music from Magnatune at http://magnatune.com.Track: Hagagatan 14Album: GratisJazz Artist: Eternal Jazz ProjectClick here to take you to track.2nd Track: Magnatune at http://magnatune.com.Album: Acoustic Earth - Electric Sky Track: AngelClick here to take you to track.

Our Man In Alaska:Episode Three: Mosquitoes.There is a joke in Alaska that the state bird is actually the mosquito. The funniest part of the joke is that we’re not joking when we say that.Many people fantasize about what life would be like way up in the forests and mountains and tundra of the Arctic wilderness. But few will ever actually convince themselves to give it a try. If you have ever wondered what it takes to make it in the Greatland take a listen to these short episodes and you will start to get a picture of it.Basil Sands was born right in the middle of the Alaskan Frontier on a hot summer day in 1968 and now he’s here to tell you all about it. Alaska that is, not his birth…his mother was rather adamant about keeping that bit private. Over the course of these episodes you will learn about the real life and the people of Alaska. Some of the stories are his own experiences. Some as told by friends and family. And some from the early days as told by his pioneer Grandfather who was one of the first civilians to drive up the Alaska/Canada highway in 1946. Most all of the stories are mostly all true, although some names have been changed so Basil doesn’t get into any trouble, since most of his neighbors are very well armed. Episode One: A typical day at -65Episode Two:   Moving my family to the wildernessEpisode Three: MosquitoesEpisode Four:  Grocery Hunting in the Modern AgeEpisode Five:  The Nanny. Every kid needs someone to watch over them.Episode Six:   Brothers on the Frontier.Back to peopletalk front page Our interview with Basil SandsWhy not visit Basil web site and listen to his great free audio booksat www.basilsands.comBuy Music at magnatune Music credits:1st Track Music from Magnatune at http://magnatune.com.Track: Hagagatan 14Album: GratisJazz Artist: Eternal Jazz ProjectClick here to take you to track.2nd Track: Magnatune at http://magnatune.com.Album: Acoustic Earth - Electric Sky Track: AngelClick here to take you to track.

Our Man In Alaska: Episode Four: Grocery Hunting in the Modern Age.Hunting is more than just a tradition or past time in Alaska, its part of surviving.  In this episode you’ll hear how wilderness survival and  technology are sometimes at odds with one another.Many people fantasize about what life would be like way up in the forests and mountains and tundra of the Arctic wilderness. But few will ever actually convince themselves to give it a try. If you have ever wondered what it takes to make it in the Greatland take a listen to these short episodes and you will start to get a picture of it.Basil Sands was born right in the middle of the Alaskan Frontier on a hot summer day in 1968 and now he’s here to tell you all about it. Alaska that is, not his birth…his mother was rather adamant about keeping that bit private. Over the course of these episodes you will learn about the real life and the people of Alaska. Some of the stories are his own experiences. Some as told by friends and family. And some from the early days as told by his pioneer Grandfather who was one of the first civilians to drive up the Alaska/Canada highway in 1946. Most all of the stories are mostly all true, although some names have been changed so Basil doesn’t get into any trouble, since most of his neighbors are very well armed. Episode One: Living in a postcard and A typical day at -65.Episode Two: Moving my family to the wildernessEpisode Three: MosquitoesEpisode Four: Grocery Hunting in the Modern AgeEpisode Four: Grocery Hunting in the Modern AgeEpisode Five:The Nanny. Every kid needs someone to watch over them.Episode Six: Brothers on the FrontierOne more episodes are in production and coming soon...........Episode 6 – Brothers on the FrontierThe year was 1946, the Alaska Canada Highway had just opened to civilian traffic. Joe and Pete Balch, freshly released from the military after the war, decide it is time to head north. This is the story of how they got there.Our interview with Basil SandsWhy not visit Basil web site and listen to his great free audio booksat www.basilsands.comBuy Music at magnatune Music credits:1st Track Music from Magnatune at http://magnatune.com.Track: Hagagatan 14Album: GratisJazz Artist: Eternal Jazz ProjectClick here to take you to track.2nd Track: Magnatune at http://magnatune.com.Album: Acoustic Earth - Electric Sky Track: AngelClick here to take you to track.

Our Man In Alaska: Episode Five: The NannyEvery kid needs someone to watch over them. Some rich kids get nannies. But me, I had a great big slobbery Saint Bernard.Many people fantasize about what life would be like way up in the forests and mountains and tundra of the Arctic wilderness. But few will ever actually convince themselves to give it a try. If you have ever wondered what it takes to make it in the Greatland take a listen to these short episodes and you will start to get a picture of it.Basil Sands was born right in the middle of the Alaskan Frontier on a hot summer day in 1968 and now he’s here to tell you all about it. Alaska that is, not his birth…his mother was rather adamant about keeping that bit private. Over the course of these episodes you will learn about the real life and the people of Alaska. Some of the stories are his own experiences. Some as told by friends and family. And some from the early days as told by his pioneer Grandfather who was one of the first civilians to drive up the Alaska/Canada highway in 1946. Most all of the stories are mostly all true, although some names have been changed so Basil doesn’t get into any trouble, since most of his neighbors are very well armed. Episode One: Living in a postcard and A typical day at -65.Episode Two: Moving my family to the wildernessEpisode Three: MosquitoesEpisode Four: Grocery Hunting in the Modern AgeEpisode Five:The Nanny. Every kid needs someone to watch over them.Episode Six:One more episodes are in production and coming soon...........Episode 6 – Brothers on the FrontierThe year was 1946, the Alaska Canada Highway had just opened to civilian traffic. Joe and Pete Balch, freshly released from the military after the war, decide it is time to head north. This is the story of how they got there.Our interview with Basil SandsWhy not visit Basil web site and listen to his great free audio booksat www.basilsands.comBuy Music at magnatune Music credits:1st Track Music from Magnatune at http://magnatune.com.Track: Hagagatan 14Album: GratisJazz Artist: Eternal Jazz ProjectClick here to take you to track.2nd Track: Magnatune at http://magnatune.com.Album: Acoustic Earth - Electric Sky Track: AngelClick here to take you to track.

Our Man In Alaska: Episode Six: Brothers on the Frontier.The year was 1946, the Alaska Canada Highway had just opened to civilian traffic. Joe and Pete Balch, freshly released from the military after the war, decide it is time to head north. This is the story of how they got there.Many people fantasize about what life would be like way up in the forests and mountains and tundra of the Arctic wilderness. But few will ever actually convince themselves to give it a try. If you have ever wondered what it takes to make it in the Greatland take a listen to these short episodes and you will start to get a picture of it.Basil Sands was born right in the middle of the Alaskan Frontier on a hot summer day in 1968 and now he’s here to tell you all about it. Alaska that is, not his birth…his mother was rather adamant about keeping that bit private. Over the course of these episodes you will learn about the real life and the people of Alaska. Some of the stories are his own experiences. Some as told by friends and family. And some from the early days as told by his pioneer Grandfather who was one of the first civilians to drive up the Alaska/Canada highway in 1946. Most all of the stories are mostly all true, although some names have been changed so Basil doesn’t get into any trouble, since most of his neighbors are very well armed. Episode One: Living in a postcard and A typical day at -65.Episode Two: Moving my family to the wildernessEpisode Three: MosquitoesEpisode Four: Grocery Hunting in the Modern AgeEpisode Five:The Nanny. Every kid needs someone to watch over them.Episode Six: Brothers on the Frontier.Another four more episodes are in production and coming soon...........Our interview with Basil SandsWhy not visit Basil web site and listen to his great free audio booksat www.basilsands.comBuy Music at magnatune Music credits:1st Track Music from Magnatune at http://magnatune.com.Track: Hagagatan 14Album: GratisJazz Artist: Eternal Jazz ProjectClick here to take you to track.2nd Track: Magnatune at http://magnatune.com.Album: Acoustic Earth - Electric Sky Track: AngelClick here to take you to track.

Nicola Dane plays the wifeActor, singer, writer, painter and violinist, Nicola came to acting via Forensic Psychology and encaustic (wax) painting,  exhibiting at the Manchester Art Show. Trained at The Academy of Creative Training, these days she contintues her art while in between doing theatre, film and, her cabaret act, The Vogueabonds. Most recently Nicola performed some Alan Bennett: “Nicola Dane made three classic Bennett characters her own: the redoubtable Mrs Hopkins from Me, I'm Afraid of Virginia Woolf, the unwitting foot masseur Miss Fozzard and The Lady in the Van herself,  Miss Shepherd.”Click here to vistit Nicola Dane Spotlight pageLucy Mepsted Plays the daughter.Although she is only 18 Lucy has been acting for many years. Recent productions include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, A Midsummer Night's Dream for The Shakespeare Youth Festival,  An Evening with Noel Coward for the Brighton Festival 2008, Attempts on her Life by Martin Crimp and Enjoying Alan Bennett,  for the Brighton Festival 2009. Lucy is also an enthusiastic and accomplished singer and (slightly reluctant) dancer. Ruby Chowdhry players the lover.Ruby is from Burnley Lancashire and came to Brighton to undertake a degree in Illustration.  Ruby then took a short course in acting at The Academy of Creative Training, where she was re-commended for the two year diploma.  At this time that she was offered the part in the Brighton Fringe Festival, as a character called ‘Lesley’ in a monologue, ‘Her Big Chance’ by the English, playwright, Alan Bennett. She continues to work on scripts and is due to perform in one of a series of short stories and now is based in Brighton.Gary Mepsted author & director.Gary is writer, director, broadcaster and occasional - and reluctant - actor. His most recent project, a show for the Brighton Festival 'Enjoying Alan Bennett', was huge success. He's currently working on his new, as yet untitled, stage play. When he's not writing Gary plays the electric guitar (with enthusiasm rather than finesse), paints,  reads voraciously, appears on radio reviewing books and discussing matters literary. He also teaches creative writing. Music composed by David M Hoyle & violins and viola play by Rupert Bawden.

My Interview today is with Biddy Cox, who at the tender age of 17 joined the London Fire Brigade as a Driver at the height of the bombing known as the Blitz in World War II. As the haunting sounds of the air raid sirens echoed around London and its population headed for the relative safety of the bomb shelters, the 17-year-old Biddy had to race around London running the nightly ordeal of bombs raining down all around her to get the injured Londoners to a hospital. As the war grind slowly on Biddy managed to get transferred to the Far East, where she joined the SOE, as part of Special Operations Executive working with military James Bond types. Where she met her future husband who was a SOE agent working behind Japanese enemy lines. ---------------------- I would just like to thank Mike O'Hara and Daniel Grimwood of Forgotten Melodies at http://mohstuff.com/FM/ for their kind permission to use their recording of Canzona Serenata Op.38, No.6 by Nikolai Medtner played by Daniel Grimwood. To hear Mike and Daniel talk about the composer Nikolai Medtner go to http://mohstuff.com/FM episode 2

Episode One: Heather Taylor is a Canadian writer and actress who left the un-congested lands of Canada's endless open prairies; where Albertans talk slower and enjoy more space: and travelled halfway around the world, choosing to live in one of the most crowded places on the planet, England.  This series highlights the strange and sometimes unexpected experiences of her new home while interacting with the local inhabitants; their strange customs and exotic architecture make Heather feel that she has stepped into a different world.  She gives us, the listener an insight into her thoughts from the New World to her experiences of living in the old world of Shakespeare surrounded by millions of people.The first episode in the series, How I Ended up on a Small Island, highlights Heather's journey from the prairies of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to the busy metropolis of London, England.  Find out how she got here and why she decided to stayEpisode One: From the prairies of Canada to LondonEpisode Two: The strange and wonderful world of foodEpisode Three: Why I'm here instead of thereEpisode Four: A Sporting LifeEpisode Five: Stuck in the middle of News Episode Six: Going HomePlease click here to go to her Spotlight page Please click here to go to her web site Music: 02-Chansons sans paroles (1989) op. 2 HumoresqueArtist: Gerard Satamian.Album: Dry Fig Trees.  (Preview and buy at www.magnatune.com)

Episode Two: The Strange and Wonderful World of FoodHeather Taylor is a Canadian writer and actress who left the un-congested lands of Canada's endless open prairies; where Albertans talk slower and enjoy more space: and travelled halfway around the world, choosing to live in one of the most crowded places on the planet, England.  This series highlights the strange and sometimes unexpected experiences of her new home while interacting with the local inhabitants; their strange customs and exotic architecture make Heather feel that she has stepped into a different world.  She gives us, the listener an insight into her thoughts from the New World to her experiences of living in the old world of Shakespeare surrounded by millions of people. The second episode in the series, The strange and Wonderful World of Food, highlights Heather's experiences with British cuisine as a strict vegetarian and how she discovered that what you call food determines where you're from.  Episode One: From the prairies of Canada to LondonEpisode Two: The strange and wonderful world of foodEpisode Three: Why I'm here instead of thereEpisode Four: A Sporting LifeEpisode Five: Stuck in the middle of News Episode Six: Going HomePlease click here to go to her Spotlight page Please click here to go to her web site Music: 02-Chansons sans paroles (1989) op. 2 HumoresqueArtist: Gerard Satamian.Album: Dry Fig Trees.  (Preview and buy at www.magnatune.com)

Episode Three: Why I'm here instead of there.Heather Taylor is a Canadian writer and actress who left the un-congested lands of Canada's endless open prairies; where Albertans talk slower and enjoy more space: and travelled halfway around the world, choosing to live in one of the most crowded places on the planet, England.  This series highlights the strange and sometimes unexpected experiences of her new home while interacting with the local inhabitants; their strange customs and exotic architecture make Heather feel that she has stepped into a different world.  She gives us, the listener an insight into her thoughts from the New World to her experiences of living in the old world of Shakespeare surrounded by millions of people. The third episode in the series, Why I'm Here Instead of There, explores the positive and negative aspects of moving to a new country on the other side of the world and why despite that, Heather still wants to stay. Episode One: From the prairies of Canada to LondonEpisode Two: The strange and wonderful world of foodEpisode Three: Why I'm here instead of thereEpisode Four: A Sporting LifeEpisode Five: Stuck in the middle of News Episode Six: Going HomeIf you wish to know more about Heather Taylor.Please click here to go to her Spotlight page Please click here to go to her web site Music: 02-Chansons sans paroles (1989) op. 2 HumoresqueArtist: Gerard Satamian.Album: Dry Fig Trees.  (Preview and buy at www.magnatune.com)

Episode Four: A Sporting LifeHeather Taylor is a Canadian writer and actress who left the un-congested lands of Canada's endless open prairies; where Albertans talk slower and enjoy more space: and travelled halfway around the world, choosing to live in one of the most crowded places on the planet, England.  

This series highlights the strange and sometimes unexpected experiences of her new home while interacting with the local inhabitants; their strange customs and exotic architecture make Heather feel that she has stepped into a different world.  She gives us, the listener an insight into her thoughts from the New World to her experiences of living in the old world of Shakespeare surrounded by millions of people.

The forth episode in the series, A Sporting Life, gives an insight into Heather's theories on the difference between British and North American sports and what it was like to be in the thick of the crowd for her very first professional football match.Episode One: From the prairies of Canada to LondonEpisode Two: The strange and wonderful world of foodEpisode Three: Why I'm here instead of thereEpisode Four: A Sporting LifeEpisode Five: Stuck in the middle of News Episode Six: Going HomePlease click here to go to her Spotlight page Please click here to go to her web site Music: 02-Chansons sans paroles (1989) op. 2 HumoresqueArtist: Gerard Satamian.Album: Dry Fig Trees.  (Preview and buy at www.magnatune.com)