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Alex Jones and Quilts

Alex Jones updates Chris on her adventures in Northern Ireland on The One Show's Big Causeway Crawl and Chris immerses himself in the Festival of Quilts with Helen Marriott.

Alex Jones updates Chris on her adventures in Northern Ireland on The One Show's Big Causeway Crawl, why she's fallen in love with the nation and why sausages should be quiet. We immerse ourselves in the Festival of Quilts with Director of Content Helen Marriott, so for today's Top Tenuous we ask you if you can beat the Festival of Quilts? We hear about your baby brain incidents, from walking to the petrol station to fill up the car to walking the dog without the pooch! Vassos chats to Mimi Anderson about her challenge of running across America and Sarah Joseph provides the daily Pause For Thought inspired by signing up for the gym.

2 hours, 59 minutes

Music Played

  • Mark Ronson

    Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars)

    • (CD Single).
    • Columbia.
    • 001.
  • Elkie Brooks

    Forgive And Forget

    • The Very Best Of.
    • A&M.
    • 10.
  • The Pointer Sisters

    Neutron Dance

    • The Best Of The Pointer Sisters.
    • RCA.
  • Bruce Springsteen

    Hungry Heart

    • Bruce Springsteen - Greatest Hits.
    • Columbia.
  • Wheatus

    Teenage Dirtbag

    • Now 49 (Various Artists).
    • Now.
  • The Housemartins

    Happy Hour

    • Now That's What I Call Quite Good.
    • Go! Discs.
  • Callum Beattie

    Man Behind The Sun

    • (CD Single).
    • 3Beat.
  • Elton John

    Are You Ready for Love

    • Diamonds.
    • Virgin EMI Records.
  • Modjo

    Lady (Hear Me Tonight)

    • Now 47 (Various Artists).
    • Now.
  • Helen Shapiro

    Walkin' Back To Happiness

    • The Ivor Novello Winners.
    • EMI.
  • Coldplay & Big Sean

    Miracles (Someone Special)

    • (CD Single).
    • Parlophone.
  • Santana & The Product G&B

    Maria Maria

    • (CD Single).
    • Arista.
  • Oasis

    Live Forever

    • Definitely Maybe.
    • Big Brother Records.
    • 003.
  • Oasis

    She's Electric

    • What's The Story Morning Glory -Oasis.
    • Creation Records.
  • Electric Light Orchestra

    Mr. Blue Sky

    • ELO - Out Of The Blue.
    • Jet.
  • Liam Gallagher

    For What It's Worth

    • (CD Single).
    • Warner Bros.
  • Van Morrison

    Bright Side Of The Road

    • The Very Best Of Van Morrison.
    • Polydor.
  • Martine McCutcheon

    Any Sign Of Life

    • (CD Single).
    • BMG.
  • Freddie Mercury

    Living On My Own

    • (CD Single).
    • Parlophone.
  • CeCe Peniston

    Finally

    • Now That's What I Call Music! 1992 (Various Artists).
    • Now.
  • Rudimental

    Sun Comes Up (feat. James Arthur)

    • (CD Single).
    • Atlantic.
  • Bruce Hornsby & the Range

    The Way It Is

    • Life In The Fast Lane (Various Artists).
    • Telstar.
  • John Farnham

    You're The Voice

    • Life In The Fast Lane (Various).
    • Telstar.
    • 2.
  • Chris Rea

    The Road Ahead

    • (CD Single).
    • BMG.
  • Pilot

    Magic

    • 25 Years Of Rock'n'Roll Vol.2 (1974).
    • Connoisseur Collection.

Pause for Thought

Pause for Thought

I recently joined a Gym.

 Exercise, in my experience, is one of the most boring things known to man, and quite frankly I would prefer any spare time in my life to be a spent on things I find more enjoyable – like going to the dentist. 

 And yet, here I am – giving hours of my week to treadmills, cross-trainers, swimming pools, weights, and yoga mats.

Ìý°Â³ó²â?!

 Believe me, I ask myself this question every morning when I get out of bed and my legs and arms scream at me in pain. My reason however is clear – my grandchildren.

 Now, I do not actually have any grandchildren. Yet these potential unborn humans, are my motivation to curb my four-decade mistrust of exercise.

 I want to be able to run around after them, to take them camping, to take long walks across wild hills with them, and to be fit and strong enough for that to not completely collapse me.

I survived my children because I had youth on my side – having all of them by thirty. It will not be the same with grandkids.

 So here I am, putting my present self through something I don’t relish, for an unknown future, that may not even come to pass. In some ways it’s completely illogical, and yet, it works for me as a motivation.

There is also positive news for my here and now. I feel better, both physically and mentally.

All of this, brings me to another part of myself - my spiritual well-being. 

 I do a lot of things which are difficult – fasting Ramadan and praying for example, but also being kind to people who may hurt me, or looking out for opportunities to do good. Such things can eat into your time, your wealth, your enjoyment. Yet, there’s a potential, as yet unknown future beyond this world, and such actions train me for that. And in turn, my here and now benefits. I’m happier for this way of life.

Some may find it strange that I am striving for an unknown future, and yet, to do nothing seems like an act of wilful neglect of my body, my mind, and my spirit. And I owe it to the whole of me, to attempt to be a better version of myself in every way that I can.

Broadcast

  • Thu 10 Aug 2017 06:30

Farewell Chris Evans: The best bits from his last shows at Radio 2

After eight years of hosting the Breakfast Show, Chris Evans leaves Radio 2.

500 Words

Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Radio 2's story-writing competition for kids.