BAIBS Monday 19/11/12

As regular readers will know I try to keep this mostly flippant. The odd serious comment may slip through the flip-filter but not many which makes this such a hard blog to write today.

This weekend my good friend Peter Meredith passed away. A devoted husband and father and a loyal and true friend. Certain people make you feel better about yourself without even trying. Just 5 minutes with Yorkshire Pete and I'd walk away smiling, feeling good about, well, everything. I can honestly say I never saw Pete without the biggest grin on his face. It was infectious.

When myself and, Pete's best friend, Mark Kelly did the record breaking biggest show ever Pete was our rock. Of the 72 hours we did Pete was there for well over half that time. Stepping in on our breaks but more importantly keeping us going, whether it was nudging us awake, fetching honey and lemon drinks or just generally keeping our spirits up. He did it magnificently and without him we wouldn't have managed it. Pete is , hand on my heart, one of the funniest, genuine, most selfless people it has ever been my privilege to know.

This may be a 'you had to be there' thing but it makes me laugh every time I think about it. Final stretch of the biggest show and me and Mark are worse for wear. Probably about 2am on the Thursday morning. 66 hours done, 6 to go. The studio littered with cans of Red Bull. (Other energy drinks are available). Mark decides to rip his fingernails off, depositing said nails in one of the many cans. I reach for a drink. Wrong can.  Mouth full of Mark's fingernails. I look up hoping no-one noticed. Pete's looking at me in tears, desperately muffling his laughter. He'd seen it all unfold. I caught his eye and that was me gone. Mark still trying to be professional as ever while me and Pete rolled around hysterically.

As a presenter Pete was a huge asset to The Home Run Show. As a friend he's irreplaceable.

Goodbye My Friend

Playlist Monday 19/11/12

Goodbye My Friend - White Valentine

Never Fade Away - Spector

My Sweet Lord - George Harrison

Design For Life - Manic Street Preachers

Men's Needs - The Cribs

Millionaires - Famous Villains

Souls Uncensored - Section 60

When It All Comes Down - The Icicle Works

My Very Favourite Stalker - The Adulescents UK

After Hours - We Are Scientists

I Always Knew - The Vaccines

Underdog - Kasabian

Star - James

My First Love - Paper Aeroplanes

Best Of Friends - Palma Violets

Back To Black - Amy Winehouse

Right Now - Bang Bang Romeo

Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles

Wrecking Ball - Bruce Springsteen

Pretty Vacant - Sex Pistols

Emily's Heart - Jamie T

Ziggy Stardust - David Bowie

Inhaler - Foals

10/10 - Paulo Nutini

To Be Like - China Rats

What You Do To Me - Teenage Fanclub

Sound Of The Suburbs - The Members

Mr. Brightside - The Killers

Sun - Two Door Cinema Club

Up The Junction - Squeeze

I Don't Feel Amazing Now - The Guillemots

Slumdog Millionaire - The Beeds

The Messenger - Johnny Marr

Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan

Song Away - Hockey

Somewhere - The Pilots

Shakespeare's Sister - The Smiths

Brother's In Arms - Dire Straits

Hi Ho Silver Lining - Jeff Beck