Strong, secure, safe. Wallpaper election special.

CARLISLE changed hands last Friday morning from Labour to Conservative, joining Penrith and the Border as a representative seat of the new government. To celebrate, Wallpaper of the week brings you Carlisle Castle. Enjoy.

Happy Birthday, Mele!

MONDAY, the third of May, 2010, is not only the May Day Holiday in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, but is also the Birthday of Mele Koning, pictured left.

Mele (Emelie) is Swedish, grew up in and studied in Sweden, complimenting her school and college studies with becoming a model and a DJ, which has served Mele well, by securing modelling work in Europe and playing DJ sets in Europe and the United States of America.

Mele divides her time between Ostersund and Stockholm in Sweden and New York City and Los Angeles in the USA, as well as points between.

Mele is currently in the USA, following her first loves, those American boys - Isaac, Taylor and Zac - Hanson, who are touring the States with their new music.

Mele is keeping up to date with the tour and everything else on her web pages, which are as follows:

Twitter : http://twitter.com/allispretty

Tumblr : http://allispretty.tumblr.com/

Wordpress : http://allispretty.wordpress.com/

The official Hanson web is http://www.hanson.net/

Happy Birthday, Mele! Everyone else - Have a great Holiday weekend!

Wallpaper of the week, 1 May 2010

WALLPAPER of the week for the beginning of May features the crest of the city of Carlisle, situated on an external wall of Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery.

Wallpaper of the week, 25 April 2010

WALLPAPER of the week returns with an image of Carlisle Cathedral, which I hope you enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Maria!

THE CURRENT EDITION of The Westmorland Gazette, published Thursday, April 15, 2010, lists this coming Monday, April 18, as the twenty - third birthday of former Wimbledon tennis champion, Maria Sharapova, pictured left. Here's hoping Maria has an enjoyable day and best of luck for the 2010 tennis season!

Follow Maria online at her official website: http://www.mariasharapova.com and keep up to date with The Westmorland Gazette online at http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk

As mentioned above, hopefully Miss Sharapova will appear during the tennis season as part of the 2010 summer of sport, which will be covered here on Reporting From The Fox Tower. I intend to share with you my thoughts and reactions to the close of the domestic football season, the build-up and the results of the South Africa football World Cup and other events taking place during 2010, not just the summer. Better get revising the sporting calendar!

Apologies for the absence of Wallpaper of the Week recently, but it will return very soon. Until then, take care and be good!

Short Wave DX: April 2010

HERE is a list of what I heard on the Short Wave radio band, on the evening of Thursday 8 April 2010. All times in GMT / UTC, all frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz). Enjoy!

• 1849 UTC, 7520 kHz : Radio Tirana, Albania. English to Europe and America. Website.
• 1904 UTC, 7550 kHz : All India Radio, General Overseas Service. English to Europe and Africa. Website.
• 1925 UTC, 7570 kHz : Radio Thailand. News, Business news. English to Europe via Udon Thani, Thailand. Website.
• 20:00 UTC, 9490 kHz : Family Radio. "Send an email to international@familyradio.com to receive our card", Off air.
• 2018 UTC, 9645 kHz : Vatican Radio. "Visit us [online]".
• 2033 UTC, 11610 kHz : Radio Netherlands Worldwide, Hilversum, Holland. English to West Africa via Kigali, Rwanda. "Visit our website". 'Earth Beat' programme, 'Reloaded' programme. Radio Netherlands Worldwide is also on Facebook and Twitter.

Finally, may I bring back some memories of the much missed 'Long Wave Giant' Atlantic 252 - How many of you had, or still have, a sticker from them, as featured below?

FM DX Logs, Sunday 28 March 2010

Sunday 28 March 2010 was the day Carlisle United Football Club contested the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final, against Southampton FC, at Wembley Stadium. I travelled to the game on a bus and spent the day listening to my pocket FM radio in the early morning and evening, the broadcasts I heard are as follows (all times in British Summer Time) :

• 0635 BST : STRAY FM, Harrogate (97.2 MHz). Host: Paul Hartley, music from Black Eyed Peas 'Meet Me Half Way' and Billy Joel 'Uptown Girl'. Strayfm.com
• 0700 BST : BBC RADIO HUMBERSIDE, Hull (95.9 MHz). Host: Andy links to the news at 0700. bbc.co.uk for Humberside
• 0720 BST : BBC RADIO SHEFFIELD (104.1 MHz). 'Traffic and travel for South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire'. Sports news with Sarah Major. bbc.co.uk for Sheffield
• 0825 BST : HEART. Music from Gabrielle, ID, Take That. heart.co.uk
• 0830 BST : BBC RADIO LEICESTER (104.9 MHz). Host: Steven Butt, ID, news: Murder charge. bbc.co.uk for Leicester

Evening :

• 1950 BST : BBC RADIO SHEFFIELD (88.6 / 94.7 / 104.1 MHz). 'Eastern Air' Community broadcast.
• 1955 BST : BBC RADIO NOTTINGHAM (95.5 / 103.8 MHz). Community broadcast, text 07786 201038. bbc.co.uk for Nottingham
• 1958 - 20:00 BST : TRENT FM (96.2 / 96.5 MHz). Ad for John Rose Jewellers, music: Ke$ha 'Tik Tok'. trentfm.co.uk

I hope you find the above of interest, if you would like to interact, please use the comment facility below. Finally, may I take this opportunity to wish you a Happy Easter!

Wallpaper of the week, 21 March 2010

VIEW of the skyline from Buttermere, July 2009.

Wallpaper of the week, 16 March 2010

THIS week, Wallpaper of the week brings you a view of a Herdwick sheep, nibbling at the grass beside the rural road which winds its way alongside Buttermere,which you can see over the wall. This photograph was taken by myself, July 2009. Enjoy.

Medium Wave DX Logs, March 2010

Medium Wave:

• 756 kHz : BBC Radio Cumbria (1kW via Carlisle, Belinda Artingstoll Drivetime)
• 756 kHz : Deutschlandfunk (100 - 200kW via Germany)
• 765 kHz : BBC Essex (500 watts via Chelmsford, Sue Marchant show)
• 765 kHz : Option Musique (600kW via Sottens, Switzerland)
• 774 kHz : RNE [Radio Nacional de Espana] 1 (20 - 100kW via Spain)
• 783 kHz : MDR [Mittel Deutscher Rundfunk] Info (100kW via Leipzig, Germany)
• 792 kHz : France Info (300kW via Limoges, France)

That's yer lot for March, as far as my radio is concerned, short and sweet; BBC Essex did throw me at the time, as I was delighted to hear them this far north! Roll on Spring...

DX Logs, January and February 2010

Listening to Medium Wave and Short Wave in the early days of 2010 went like this:



January 2010:

• 675 kHz [Medium Wave] : NRK-1 via Rost, Norway.


• 675 kHz : Radio Maria Nederland & Vlaanderen via Lopik, Holland.


• 684 kHz : RNE [Radio Nacional de Espana] 1 via Seville, Spain.


• 693 kHz : Radio Rossii via Moscow, Russia.


• 693 kHz : BBC Radio Five Live via Stagshaw, Northumberland, UK.


• 711 kHz : France Info via Rennes, France.


• 738 kHz : RNE 1 via Barcelona, Spain.


• 747 kHz : NOS Radio 5 via Flevoland, Holland.


• 756 kHz : BBC Radio Cumbria via Carlisle, Cumbria, UK [The Richard Nankivell Late Show].

February 2010:

• 5010 kHz [Short Wave] : HIMI 5010 Radio Cristal International via Dominican Republic [Presumed].


• 5830 kHz : Radio Ukraine International [German Service].


• 6075 kHz : Deutsche Welle, Germany. German to Europe via Rampisham, UK.


• 6100 kHz : International Radio Serbia, English to Europe.


• 6200 kHz : Radio Bulgaria, English to Europe.


• 6240 kHz : Radio PMR [Pridnestrovye Moldovan Republic], English to Europe and America via Moldova.


• 7220 kHz : Radio Romania International, English to Europe, Asia and America.

Best Wishes until next time!

DAB Radio Update, January - February 2010

• Absolute Radio - www.absoluteradio.co.uk
• Amazing Radio - www.amazingtunes.com
• BBC Asian Network - www.bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork
• BBC Radio 1Xtra - Text: 88111, www.bbc.co.uk/1Xtra
• BBC Radio 6 Music
• BBC Radio 1 - www.bbc.co.uk/radio1
• BBC Radio 2
• BBC Radio 3 - www.bbc.co.uk/radio3
• BBC Radio 4
• BBC Radio 5 Live
• BBC Radio 5 Live SportsXtra
• BBC Radio 7
• BBC World Service
• BFBS Radio - UK Telephone: 01494 848001, UK Text: 07740 377377 (start message with UK followed by a space), www.bfbs-radio.com
• Classic FM - Postal address: Leicester Square, LONDON WC2H 7LA www.classicfm.com
• D1 Test 1 (Test transmission) - www.ukdigitalradio.com
• NME Radio UK
• Panjab Radio UK - Telephone: 020 8848 8877, www.panjabradio.co.uk
• Planet Rock - www.planetrock.com
• Premier Christian - www.premier.org.uk
• talkSPORT
• UCB UK Christian - Telephone: 08456 300 400, www.ucb.co.uk

List compiled Saturday 23 January 2010. The telephone numbers, text numbers and website addresses were noted from the scrolling display on the DAB radio.

Magnificent Mella.

http://twitter.com/mellameic

http://www.facebook.com/melissa.meic

Wallpaper of the Week, 9 January 2010.

THE first wallpaper for 'Twenty Ten' is this rather unusual road sign, spotted by my good self in May 2009, on the Sunbiggin Tarn Road. It was originally a rather mundane 'Beware of sheep' sign, which has been altered (not by me) to now display 'Beware of ... Rhino'!

Your New Year Resolution for 2010

CHRISTMAS 2009 is now behind us and I hope you enjoyed your presents. Thinking ahead to the New Year which arrives this week, have you made a New Year resolution, or thinking of making a resolution?

May I suggest that you take a moment to consider making a donation to the charity which will gain from the monumental effort to be put in by Sarah Cowin (pictured right) in the Summer of 2010.

Sarah is to join a group who will climb Mount Kilimanjaro in June 2010 to raise money for the charity Scope, who work to help those with Cerebral Palsy.

Please sponsor Sarah by visiting her fundraising website at:

http://www.justgiving.com/sarahinafrica

Please give generously!

Wallpaper of the Week, 26 December 2009

WALLPAPER of the Week returns to RFTFT and as it is deepest mid winter, take heart from a photograph I took during the Summer of 2009, showing the track bed of the now long gone Stainmore Railway and the road bridge which still bears the soot of the steam trains which passed under it. It is close to this point that the British Transport Film 'Snowdrift At Bleath Gill' recorded the recovery of the goods train from Kirkby Stephen which became trapped by a snowdrift around half a century ago.

I hope you enjoy the image and are enjoying the festive season.

Radio Round up, 2009

WELCOME to my end of year radio listening round up, details include Short Wave and Medium Wave logs made June to December 2009 :

June 2009 :

• 9510 kHz [Short Wave], IRRS - Shortwave, English to Europe & Middle East via Rimavska Sobota, Slovakia.
• 9895 kHz, Radio Nederland Wereldomroep, Dutch to France, Spain, Portugal and the Balearics.
• 12040 kHz, Voice of Russia, English to Europe, Middle East and Asia via Moscow, Russia.

August 2009 :

• 585 kHz [Medium Wave], BBC Scotland via Dumfries.
• 594 kHz, HR Info via Frankfurt, Germany.
• 603 kHz, BBC Radio 4 via Wrekenton, Newcastle - Upon - Tyne.

October 2009 :

• 12040 kHz, Voice of Russia, English to Europe via Moscow, Russia.
• 12080 kHz, Voice of America, VOA Special English to Africa via Botswana.
• 12095 kHz, BBC World Service, English to East & South Africa via Cyprus.
• 12160 kHz, WWCR-3 Nashville TN USA to America and Europe.
• 13590 kHz, 1Africa, English to Africa via Lusaka, Zambia.
• 13780 kHz, Deutsche Welle, German to East Africa via Skelton, Cumbria, UK.
• 13790 kHz, China Radio International, English to Europe, Africa, Asia & America via Urumchi, China.
• 13845 kHz, WWCR-2 Nashville TN USA, English to Africa (University Network).
• 15225 kHz, Radio Kuwait, Main Arabic Programme to Europe and North America.
• 15400 kHz, BBC World Service, English to West Africa via Ascension Island.
• 15580 kHz, Voice of America, English to Africa via Botswana.

November 2009 :

• 603 kHz, BBC Radio 4 via Wrekenton, Newcastle - Upon - Tyne.
• 603 kHz, France Info via Lyon, France.
• 612 kHz, RNE1 [Radio Nacional Espana] via Vitoria, Spain.
• 621 kHz, RTBF1 via Wavre, Belgium.
• 630 kHz, NRK Euuropakanalen via Vigra, Norway.
• 630 kHz, Voice of Russia, German via Germany / Russia.
• 639 kHz, RNE1, Football commentary in Spanish.
• 639 kHz, Czech Radio 2 via Prague, Czech Republic.
• 648 kHz, BBC World Service via Orford Ness, Suffolk.
• 666 kHz, Sudwestrundfunk via Rohrdorf, Germany.
• 675 kHz, Radio Maria, Dutch via Lopik, Holland

December 2009 :

• 15575 kHz, BBC World Service, English to Middle East via Cyprus.
• 15585 kHz, Radio Exterior de Espana, Spanish to Europe.
• 15595 kHz, Vatican Radio, Angelus (Liturgy) with Pope Benedict XVI to Europe, Asia via Santa Maria di Galeria, The Vatican.
• 15650 kHz, Voice of Greece to Europe, Middle East and Asia.
• 17760 kHz, Radio Romania International, English to Europe and Africa.
• 11675 kHz, Polish Radio External Service, English Section to Europe via Moosbrunn, Austria.

That is all my radio reports for 2009. Happy Christmas!

Merry Christmas, 2009

I WOULD just like to take this opportunity to wish you a Happy Christmas!

Four more stations, celebrity gossip.

APRIL 2009 Short Wave Logs:

Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 6205 kHz, English Service: News headlines follow Prayer. Website: english.irib.ir .

WWRB, Manchester, TN, USA, 9385 kHz, English Service: Global III transmitter relaying Overcomer Ministry. Website: wwrb.org .

All India Radio, 9445 kHz, General Overseas Service - V (English). Website: allindiaradio.org .

Radio Australia, 9500 kHz, English Service: 'Saturday Extra' programme, reviewing 100 days of Obama's Presidency. Website: radioaustralia.net.au .

Celebrity gossip: Britain's youngest WAG dumped by boyfriend

BRITAIN'S youngest WAG Melissa Reeves, pictured above, has been dumped by Everton starlet Jack Rodwell, after she was featured on the front page of the Daily Star Sunday.

Sexy Melissa, 16, from West Derby, Liverpool, was dumped by Rodwell, 17, after a picture showing her in a racy outfit at a Formula One models launch was published on the front page of the paper.

Rodwell told Mel that her modeling career was giving him unwanted attention, and he even accused her of trying to cash in by becoming another fame-hungry WAG.

"He's finished me for his football. I'm stunned. I'm not bothered about the WAG thing - it’s not my fault I was photographed. I love my modelling but I didn’t want anything to come between us," the Daily Star quoted her as saying.

"Just when I thought things were going so well he's gone and done this. I'm gutted. I feel like my world has ended," she added.

The two had been dating only for a few months when they had been compared to ex-Everton star Wayne Rooney and his wife Coleen.

But mates of Rodwell insist he doesn't want to be tarred with the same brush.

"Jack's desperate to make it in the top flight and doesn't want anything to get in the way," one of Rodwell's pals said.

"All those pictures and stories of him with Melissa and comparisons to Wayne and Coleen are not what he wanted.

"He found himself on the front of newspapers instead of on the back page - where he should be.

"Mel was attracting unwanted attention with her modeling so he decided to call it a day.

"Football is his priority now," the friend added.

Radio update May 2008 - March 2009

I PRESENT one year's worth of Short Wave and Medium Wave listening, which I have been neglecting on RFTFT, stations listed below with links to thier websites, beginning May 2008 :

BBC Radio 4 (website), Radio 5 Nostalgie [Holland] (website), BBC Radio Cumbria (website - profile of Gordon Swindlehurst), BBC Radio Leeds (website), BBC Radio Scotland (website), BBC Radio Cumbria (profile of Val Armstrong), BBC Radio Lancashire (Sport : Live Cricket - Lancashire v Scotland), BBC Radio Wales (website), BBC Radio Five Live (Sport), Fresh Radio (website), Magic 999 (Preston), TalkSport (website), Magic 1170 (Stockton on Tees).

June 2008 : BBC Radio Cumbria at Appleby Horse Fair.
Radio Nederland Wereldomroep (Holland - Dutch language).

August 2008 : Vatican Radio (English website), BBC Radio Cumbria (Sport : Live Football - York City v Barrow).

September 2008 : Magic 1170, Radio Sweden (English website), Absolute [formerly Virgin] Radio (website), France Info (French language).

October 2008 : Vatican Radio, Laser Hot Hits (website).

November 2008 : Deutschlandfunk (Germany - German language), Voice of Russia (English website), BBC Radio Ulster (website), Manx Radio (Isle of Man, website), France Info, BBC Radio Gloucestershire (website).

December 2008 : Vatican Radio.

January 2009 : BBC Radio Gloucestershire, Deutschlandfunk, Sunrise Radio (Sunrise website - may ask to download a Quick Time application or add-on, your discretion).

February 2009 : Radio Slovakia International (English website, links also available for Slovak, German, French, Russian, Spanish), Deutsche Welle (Germany, English website, links to other languages in right hand column and bottom of page), Overcomer Ministry (Brother R G Stair, website), Radio Bulgaria (English website).

March 2009 : Sunrise Radio. SER (Spain, Spanish language), France Info, BBC Radio Stoke (website).

You are now up to date with my radio listening, DXing, call it what you will, bar any April listening, which I haven't done yet, but next weekend (Easter 2009) onwards should hopefully change that and I hope to place the results of which here on RFTFT.

As always, any questions or comments, direct them to the comments link below or get on your email and drop me a line.

Take care, see you soon!