I took a course on how to be a radio presenter 2 years ago and up until the Lockdown I’d been broadcasting a weekly Time Capsule Show where a guest picks 4 pieces of music and we chat about their choices. As the music plays out so their life story unfolds. It’s one of the best things I’ve done in my life. It’s been an honour to share people's stories and be introduced to great new music.

When the Lockdown was announced our community radio station, Ipswich Community Radio (ICR) was shut but thanks to Martin Webby, one of the ICR Directors, I was provided with the equipment to broadcast live from home. I was given a mixer, a studio-quality microphone, and after 3 hours of technical support from our Tech Guru, Daniel Moore, I was up and running.

Yes, there have been plenty of technical issues, like the time I sounded like a dying Dalek but my philosophy has always been to plough on regardless and not to take myself too seriously, after all, it’s not the BBC! Mistakes do happen, even when I was in the studio I've been known to sing along to tracks with the mic turned on!

The station is still shut but I’m now broadcasting 3 times a week from home, the 2 extra shows are Corona Virus updates for residents to hear local news and find out what remarkable things people in the community are doing. I co-present with Stephen Spencer, our styles are complimentary but like me he’s calm in a crisis!

Some of the people we’ve interviewed include Crystal Stanley, who's up for an award from the Queen for her Rainbow Trail Facebook initiative, Gavin Walker, a Security Guard working throughout Lockdown with vulnerable young people and Jules Button from the Woodbridge Emporium who sends out Book Hugs to NHS staff. I’m hoping our biweekly shows provides support to those in the community and that we might in some way brighten up peoples' days.

My Time Capsule show has morphed during the Lockdown. I don't have a guest anymore, I broadcast solo. One week I played lots of sad love songs. I've even created a Spotify Playlist called Loving in the Time Of Covid. Another week I shared dance songs with a warm-up and cool-down song to begin and end the show. Last week I invited friends to share one piece of music they love and to tell me why. This week I’m going to try broadcasting live to Facebook at the same time as being on FM Radio. I'll invite people to jump onto my live radio show. It could be a total disaster but worth exploring.

Live radio is edgy but always fun and ticks some of the boxes suggested by Ryan Ramsey, a Submarine Captain on how to survive isolation during the Lockdown. 

1. Routine - Find one and stick to it

2. Cleaning – Don’t let standards slip

3. Downtime-Make time for yourself, avoid too much news and reduce anxiety

4. Conflict- Find a way to de-escalate

5. Communicate – Call people as a way to socialise

I like these tips, routine being the most important one for me. What ways of coping have you found helpful during these last 2 months? I'd love to hear from you.

#MyPrelovedLife : 27/5/20