Ice on the Paddock, Foggy on the Road

Good evening, folks.

I made it home at last and not one animal was harmed. Another day of plans and pivots, and another radio show “in the can.”

But first, the new house tradition.

👕 T-Shirt of the Day

The Shirt du Jour: Black with white writing inside a thin white border. “Undiagnosed” in bold, with “but something’s a bit off” underneath… truer words were never spoken… or written.

Act I: I’m Not Riding in That!

I’d originally intended to ride my bike down to St Helens for my radio show today, but the ice all around changed my mind. I haven’t yet switched back to winter mode, but my locality sadly has. Just as well I now have a car available to me midweek.

Before I set out for the station, though, I asked my new collaborator, Gemini, for some ideas for new station sweeps I can use for my show based on my dry, Dave Allen-inspired style. We came up with some of what I think of as good ones:

"You’re listening to Dr Dave's Travelling Medicine Show. No prescription required. This music is available over the counter here on Australia’s number one streaming radio station, StarFM."

"Another hour of music selected by a bloke who should probably be doing something more productive. I’m Dr Dave, this is my Travelling Medicine Show, and this is Tasmania’s best music mix, StarFM."

"Broadcasting from the edge of the map. Right here on Tasmania’s best music mix, Dr Dave's Travelling Medicine Show."

"The music is good. The medical advice is questionable. Dr Dave in Dr Dave’s Travelling Medicine Show, right here on StarFM, Tasmania’s best music mix."

"Your weekly dose of auditory therapy delivered aurally. I’m Dr Dave and this is StarFM."

"Fewer ads, better tunes, zero medical credentials. Dr Dave’s Travelling Medicine Show right here on StarFM, on the fabulous east coast of Tasmania."

Act II: A Cunning Plan

My regular Thursday show runs from 3–6 PM. It’s the drive slot, so naturally, I call it Dr Dave’s Travelling Medicine Show. Today was my 703rd show altogether between my regular Thursday and Saturday shows. I also used to do a Tuesday show and miscellaneous fill-ins over the years—they all add up. For the last 79 Thursdays, I’ve been using the tagline: “Songs you’re guaranteed to know or your money back.”

Planning for today’s show started with the idea of a “magic carpet ride” through the ages from 1968 to the modern day. I figured I could use one remarkable song from each year, working my way from 1968 into the 2000s by the time my three-hour show was done.

I kept them high energy. You don’t want anything soporific in a drive show; harm can come to people if they fall asleep at the wheel. Starting (of course) with Magic Carpet Ride, I plotted a path of chunky 70s songs through most of the first hour, then made it to 1980 to start the second hour, partway into the 90s at the end, then on into the last hour—finishing with a solid Powderfinger song to play over my departure from the station.

Act III: A Valley of Mist

A quick call from a client across the road to set up some replacement batteries for some old UPS devices, and a quick stop-off at an elderly client on the coast on the way back to help keep the roof over my head after a day of volunteer work, then on the road again.

By the time I made my way to the top of St Mary’s Pass, I was shrouded in mist most of the way home. In places, the fog was so thick I couldn’t see the guard rails on the side of the road. My decision to leave ol’ Liz (my bike) at home this morning was feeling even better as I picked my way back along the bottom of the valley. More than a few animals were narrowly avoided.

The Evening Ledger

I made it home alive and I managed not to contribute to the state’s prodigious roadkill toll.

Time to break out the Ugg boots, cover myself in cats, and relax for the night.

Drop me a line if you’d like a request on the radio. We really are Australia’s number one streaming radio station at www.starfm.org.au and I’d love to hear from you.

Barefoot, Out.