Those yellow jackets ruined our annual cruise to France '“ Rick Jackson

I remember one Christmas working so hard in the run-up to the big day that by the time I'd finished work on Christmas Eve all the shops had shut and I didn't have anything in for my Christmas dinner.

I was 24 and I'd been frantically busy out and about preparing for the Christmas Day breakfast show on Power FM, which started later at 9am.

I know this sounds bizarre, but I'd spent most of Christmas Eve picking up batteries that had been donated by supermarkets and I'd placed them under the tree in the studio.

On Christmas morning we threw open the doors to the radio station and people came into the studios for a mince pie and to get some free batteries for their new toys.

It was magical watching children's faces as their toys and games lit up for the first time and it certainly made for great radio.

But by the time I got home it was 2pm.

My folks are on the Isle of Wight and I had no way of getting back over there, so I popped into the only petrol station which was open and bought enough food to make a full English.

How times change.

Today, with two children, we actually have three Christmas Days.

There's one at home on the day itself after my breakfast show finishes at 9am.

Then on Boxing Day we get together with all of Sarah's family.

On December 27 we pack up the car and head off to the Isle of Wight to see my folks where yet another mountain of food is consumed.

I know I am lucky as I have seen Christmas from both sides.

However, there are times when I could actually do with five minutes to myself!

It's always such a busy time preparing for the big day, which in itself is tremendously hard work, so after December 27 is over, that's me on the sofa until 2019!

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, no matter how you spend it.

 

He's underneath you! Baby Jesus was below the stage

Freddie's first school play was a triumph. He was dressed as a cowboy and stayed that way throughout.

It was the nativity, although I wondered how a cowboy would mix with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, but they did. I'd never seen so many donkeys and sheep under one roof.

The Year R and Year 1 kids did a fantastic job, singing beautifully and remembering their lines, generally. It was that good you could forgive Mary for forgetting Jesus was under the stage and one of the animals constantly dropping his microphone.

As for Freddie, I was so proud as he sang alone, followed the choreography beautifully, and only picked his nose in one of the songs!

 

Those yellow jackets ruined our annual cruise to France

The French curtailed one of our Christmas parties last weekend when hundreds of Wave 105 listeners were about to sail to St Malo on our annual cruise with Brittany Ferries.

Sadly, with only hours to go, the announcement was made that dockers in France had gone on strike and the cruise was off. The '˜gilets jaunes' again.

I do have a bit of admiration for  the French though. If they don't like something, they show the government their disgust until they win change.

In the UK, we take things lying down. I can see us protesting about fuel prices right now. '˜I'm staying here until my flask of tea runs out,' I can hear a protester cry.