Dog on a Skateboard…
I was on the radio today, . Oooh get me.
I spoke at length about the joy of waiting tables and on the topic of customer service in general. My twenty plus years in the game have marked me as an expert in the field and the great and the good call upon me from time to time to postulate over all such issues. There was witty repartee between the presenter, Julian Worricker, and myself and despite his initial hostility I was able to win him over to my argument by carefully demolishing his anti-waiter stance point by point. We are now great mates and he has invited me to summer with him later in the year, we are thinking of Provence.
Of course all this is utter tosh but I had to fill the near fifty minutes I sat waiting in a tiny studio (think fancy cupboard, the cupboard of a show house if you will) at the BBC in Belfast. Day dreaming comes easy to waiters. Obviously there were weightier issues to be discussed before getting onto the inconsequential banter that is, my life. Heh.
The highlight, you'll be delighted to hear, was not my monotone intonation invading the polite homes of the average Radio Four listener but the actors who played out last week's story about the woman returning her shoes to the wrong shop. Oh how I would have laughed out loud like the kids do if I hadn't been so racked with nerves. In the end I had only a few minutes to make my point and was just about to let rip, the moan-o-meter was cranking up to full grumble mode, when I was cut in favour of the news. Rage.
It was at that point that I realised I was the "...and finally" moment, the light-hearted send off. I was the radio equivalent of a dog on a skateboard.
Anyhoo - scroll through to the 49 minute mark. Not sure readers from outside the UK can access it, oh well. Just imagine other great orators of our time moaning on about rude customers and then imagine the exact opposite and you'll have my voice perfectly.
Big thanks to the producer Paul for contacting me. Cheers fella, it was another delightful occasion for Manuel and WDF as we approach our fifth birthday.
Nicely done, sugar! I think you did quiet well! You really should have been given more time! I would have much rather heard your stories instead of the long winded bit on cosmetic surgery! xoxoxoxox
I meant, QUITE well! *sigh*
I got ya….I was nervous at first then bored then I got going and then I got bumped…story of my life heh
ah savannah the monday misspelling curse strikes..been happening to me all freakin’ day!
yes manuel, outsiders such as myself across the big pond could access and hear just fine =)
silly interviewer didn’t know the wealth of wit and charm he had on the line, i remember that story.
nicely done manuel
I’m so glad you folks got to hear my three minutes of glory…!
You will be delighted to hear that reception is loud and clear in The Real Ireland. Ya done well [as they say here]. I think Herself went a bit dewey-eyed at the sound of your voice though….
Oh if only she knew…
The reception is nice and clear in Dubai as well. Well done Manuel!
Ohhh Dubai…nice!
it took me a few moments to realise it was you and not former norn iron manager Bryan Hamilton
I will hunt you down and kill you…in your face…with fire
You managed to get the presenter to apologise for the whole raison d’etre of the programme – which isn’t bad.
And also managed to not swear profusely – which after waiting so long to go on is a massive achievement (and an even more massive relief).
Now you’ve been on, maybe Gerry Anderson should be given another go on Radio 4 – the Home Counties might be ready this time.
All joking aside, it was great craic..!
Woohoo! And yes, I agree with others: More Manuel on teh radio!
no ta…but thanks