Bring back my turntables so I can cue up a disc again | Rick Jackson

Nothing flash, not by today’s standards, but it’s my little haven, where for me, the magic happens each morning.

I have to look after this studio though. She’s no spring chicken and unlike the modern studios you might find elsewhere, she has no neon lights, flashy monitors or touch screen faders.

No, this wonderful studio is proper old-school. A traditional radio desk; analogue not digital. Think Boeing 747 versus Airbus A380 or an E-Type Jaguar versus a Tesla.

Enough of the mechanical terminology and down to brass tacks.

For me, I love this little desk. It’s where I communicate with my listeners and they communicate back. This desk helps me put it all together.

Today’s modern radio studios are very high tech. You can configure them in any way you wish, even control them remotely.

This old desk you have to operate yourself, but if it goes wrong you can take a bit of it out and replace it. Not something you can do with a touch screen.

Digital desks either work or they don’t. The other morning, one fader on mine was only working in one channel, so I gave it a gentle tap and it worked again!

This is the original Wave 105 desk from when the station began broadcasting in 1998. I also used the same type of desk previously at 2CR-FM in Bournemouth and Isle of Wight Radio.

The system that plays out the music may well be computerised these days, but this old desk would have been connected to CD players and turntables back in the day.

FM has warmth, DAB sounds too cold. It’s the same with digital sound. How I long to have turntables reinstalled to the studio and have that wonderful theatre of cueing up a record again.

Technology does make things easier and more accessible, but it lacks the charm and physical enjoyment of the good old days.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Anything Saints do, Pompey have done first... and better

Anything you can do, we have done better. That’s been my motto this week on social media with those who have bombarded me with messages about Saints going top of the Premier League.

About time. Been there, bought the T-shirt. Keep up. We first did it in 2003 and again in 2007. Pompey may not have been in the top flight for a long time, but our trophy cabinet is much bigger.

We’ve won the FA Cup twice and been in the final five times. We’ve won every cup they have and even if the unthinkable happened and they won the league, we’ve done that twice as well. We were also the first Premier League club to enter administration, best not mention that.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Up at the crack of dawn just to amuse passing motorists

Doing a work-out at work isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, crack being the operative word!

Our offices are now empty so I take my mobile to the top floor and connect with my gym, which is doing live workouts, via Zoom. I don’t need any weights, my body is heavy enough.

Thing is, when I’m attempting a one-legged pivot, stretching out the hamstring, lowering my head and keeping my standing leg straight, it looks like I’m practising ballet to anyone who sees me as they pass on the Segensworth roundabout. Even more embarrassing is the ‘pike press up’ which sees your bum high in the air as you lower yourself. I gave the office opposite a right old eyeful yesterday!