Another week, another mini-crisis, and another example of this great area pulling together.

Thursday night and the snow has at last come. It’s been a long day and, at Basildon station, the flurry is turning into a blizzard. I look over the railings and I can see the snow settling on the road and the cars already sliding all over the place.

It’s a no-brainer. Get back into the warmth of Gateway Towers, get in touch with the Met Office, Trafficlink and the rail lines, and let the community know what’s happening in our area.

It’s not good. On the Liverpool Street line, late night commuters are stranded as all services to Billericay and Wickford are cancelled. It’s little better on the Fenchurch Street line, where the Tilbury Loop is put out of action. On the road, as the sleet and snow continues to fall, problems mount up on the QE2 Bridge and the A13.

Danny and his Evening Crew are rudely interrupted as the bad tidings are spread out across the airwaves at regular intervals. The Snow Line is activated. To my surprise – and joy to a small extent – the phone is ringing regularly. People, appreciating the fact 87.7 Gateway FM is the only station giving them the information they need at that time of night.

It goes on through the night. Though the Snow Line is deactivated for a few hours, the website is continually updated as the hours pass giving the latest news on weather, travel, and even sightings of gritters on the road.

By the time morning comes there’s a comprehensive list of the comprehensive (and junior and infant) schools that are closed, both read out on air and on the website. Unlike other media outlets, who were putting out incorrect information, 87.7 Gateway FM were confirming that both the Basildon Lower AND Upper Academies were open!

Then comes the Mid-Morning Show. Groyney’s Morning Kick. Hmmm, it could be Groyney’s Morning On-Air Kip as the hours spent in Gateway Towers and the Goldfish Bowl creep up to the 24 mark. Mike Jones, the Friday guest, was extremely affable, but he must have been bemused by the bleary eyed bewilderedness that met him when I tried to shake his hand and missed!

The phone calls, e-mails and text messages through the night and morning, however, prove that the right thing was done. Really local, local radio in every sense, where both radio staff and listeners bonded in adversity, albeit minor adversity, in order to make things a bit easier and better for everyone. The true ethos.

I may grind my gears every day, and Man United fans, shoppers, and bus drivers in particular may well have good cause to come knocking on the door of the Goldfish Bowl asking if I like hospital food. Deep down, though, I’m proud of being brought up, living the vast majority of my life, and voluntarily working in this great area. The 26 hour stint bears that out.

All because of a bit of snow. Funny old life innit?

Premier League football fans. Not the kids, not the senior citizens, not the ones in between that have a life, but the rest of them.

Just how unbelievably dull, childish and stupid can they be? Every day on the tv and in the papers you get force fed it. Shock horror! Wayne Rooney had a curry, thought he had wind, but he was wrong! Let’s have a programme about it because there’s enough morons about that will ring us or text us! And they do.

These so-called fans infest our pubs, clog up the airwaves and bore us to death at work with their non-stop mantra about ‘best league in the world’ or ‘big four’ which sounds vaguely like a number of Snow White’s dwarfs boasting again.

They walk around town centres, seasides and Spain with their disgustingly garish shirts failing to hide their disgustingly oversized stomachs. ‘Look at me; look at what a great fan I am’ they’re ty think they’re saying. No. What you’re really saying is “my self-esteem is so low I have to attach myself to a team to cling onto my last vestige of self-confidence. And I am a virgin.’

Any chat about local football, or any team not Premier League, is met with confusion and disdain. because they’re too damn thick and ignorant to realise that football used to be about playing or supporting your team, not about money, greed, arrogance and mouthing off in the pub.

Go away. I hate you. Take your mindless chat about multi-millionaires on the pitch that don’t give a flying monkey’s about what you think. Go home, cry about why you have no real friends, then go out and get a life. And go on a diet. And start following your local team. Only then will you be a football fan rather than the sad billy-no-mates you really are at the moment. Until that point, shut up.

What’s grinding yours? E-mail the show at studio@gatewayfm.com on Wednesday between 9am and 12 Noon, when you can also find out what else Grinds My Gears!

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Well here I am, chilling out after a hard day’s snoozing and sitting around at Kelting House, taking in Danny Lawrence’s ever-popular show and trying to find out where Charles was Ho-ho-hoing from. My guess of Plymouth or that Chinese take-away by Laindon station was sadly wide of the mark.

Then – did my ears deceive me? A soundbite from the Bob Spink interview? Blimey! It was a cracker mind. I lobbed the MP for Castle Point a dolly to start proceedings, asking him how important he felt community radio was, and he hit it for six, giving effusive praise not for us but for the concept in general.

It was a stimulating experience questioning, chatting to, and disagreeing occasionally with one of the most active and controversial politicians of recent years. Bob Spink has had a colourful Commons career and he’s certainly not about to give that up easily.

There’s an air of that typically Yorkshire persona of what-you-see-is-what-you get. Unlike most from that area, though, where there is genuine warmth but a real bluntness about them, there’s a certain cheeky charm to Bob which is particular to this area of the country. He seems to have taken the very best from both his Worth Valley roots and adopted South Essex home.

The chat was varied. From Gordon Brown, the decline of the manufacturing industry, MP’s expenses, immigration, Basildon Hospital, Europe, right through to the Bronte sisters and cricket. For the most part I let the man talk. When you’ve promised someone in as a guest on the show, the listeners want to hear what he has to say, not the presenter. I simply asked the question and kept quiet while he answered it.

The result was a number of answers which certain sections of the national press would say was controversial but in all truth was what a fair proportion think but don’t say. That’s where Bob Spink excels as a politician. He puts forward, by and large, what he believes is best for the constituents.

That’s not to say it was an easy ride for him.  At one point he talked about his belief that MP’s shouldn’t have second jobs.  That set off alarm bells in my mind as he continued on that theme.  I then changed tack and asked him about his experience of working with former Chancellor Kenneth Clark.

Bob was lavish in his praise as a person, MP and effectiveness in the job.  I then pointed out that Mr. Clark famously held a second job in the tobacco industry at the time.  A rare furrowed brow came my way, just as it did when I suggested that in the European Union we did actually elect them in.

To round things off, I asked if he might fancy a flutter on himself to win his seat next summer, as the bookies had his Conservative opponent as very short odds-on favourite and Independent Mr. Spink very much up against it.  With a twinkle in his eye he said “I might just have a cheeky tenner.  Or maybe a bit more.”

I might just join him.  To hark back to cricket, if part of being an MP is answering every question with a straight bat then Bob has a real chance.  Whatever happens he illuminated Thursday morning in the Goldfish Bowl and gave us a cracking trailer we can air.

Cheers Bob.  Don’t be a stranger.

Tomorrow in the studio for Groyney’s Morning Kick is one of the most interesting and controversial political characters of recent years.

Causing a swirl of controversy in 2005 over the question ‘What part of shut the gates don’t you understand?” he addressed to Tony Blair via the Yellow Advertiser, he then went and caused more controversy over de-selection, withdrawal of the party whip and his departure from the Conservative party in 2008.

Despite all that, he is respected for his strong but not overly forthright views on a number of issues and an engaging political orator.

He is the MP for Castle Point, Bob Spink, and on Groyney’s Morning Kick tomorrow he will be answering YOUR questions.

People of Canvey, of Thundersley, of Hadleigh and Benfleet – it’s YOUR views that count, it’s YOUR questions Bob will be answering, as he makes himself accountable to YOU and you alone.

Exclusively live on 87.7 Gateway FM as part of Groyney’s Morning Kick – Bob Spink MP.  How could you dare miss it?

Okay, okay, so I’m not a morning person.  Any time before 9.30am is officially listed as ‘far too early’ as far as I’m concerned.  Bed, breakfast, and a couple of hours of contemplation, wondering if popular culture is a contradiction in terms or trying to work out which one is Ant and which one Dec, is the order of the day.

Usually anyway.  Now though, after the past week, I’ve had to change my view of being up and about with the living before Noon.  I never knew you could have so much fun so early in the day!

The shows have passed so quickly.  From the first nervy few moments on, time has simply zipped by.  I’ve absolutely loved it.  I so hope you have as well.

Highlight for me was last Monday and the musings from Jill about what life working at Basildon Hospital really was about – it was certainly an eye-opener for me and put the somewhat hysterical press reaction in certain instances into true perspective.  It was so moving and made me feel proud to be from this great area.

Of course it wasn’t all serious.  Being the very first show on the planet to tell you who England faced in the World Cup, with the help of my trusty pen, paper, carrier bag and colleague who didn’t have the first clue about football was a proud moment.  Oh, and that Kick In The Groyne, what Grinds My Gears, and the true or false section, I do hope brings even the smallest of grins.

This week there’s no let up.  On Tuesday the talking point will be the Great Essex pub and the people that populate it.  Thursday promises to be a real Christmas cracker though.  Controversial Castle Point MP Bob Spink is coming into the Goldfish Bowl and will be grilled on the subjects YOU want to talk about, giving you the answers YOU want.

It’s all interspersed, of course, with typically eclectic but great music so keep it on 87.7 Gateway FM and Groyney’s Morning Kick – it’s so, so nice to have your company.

Friday’s morning kick is going to be something special!  With talk now being centred on all things World Cup, and speculation reaching fever pitch on who England will get, WE will get there first!

Just after 11, live from the Goldfish Bowl, 32 teams will be put into the hat.  well, a carrier bag, at least.  No pots, no seedings.  Then a special guest will draw the teams out.  And THAT will be the 87.7 Gateway FM World Cup draw!

There’s also going to be the usual shenanigans, with the regular and painful Kick In The Groyne, true or false, finding out what Grinds My Gears, and – of course – great music.

It’s always lovely to have your company and I hope we can have even more fun tomorrow as the World Cup gets a bit of Groyney’s Morning Kick on 87.7 Gateway FM or online at http://www.gatewayfm.com

I always thought I was a calm, laid back, placid guy, where nothing could phase me.  I found out differently at 8.59 on Monday.

Show time.

There was the ever excellent Brian Wesley wrapping up the Brighter Breakfast and then it hit me big time.  I’d always expected butterflies in the stomach, maybe even the odd shaky finger, but there was another part of my anatomy going 19 to the dozen.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be fine” soothed Brian and Angie – with little effect.

9.02 – this really was it.  The nerves really took a hold.  My mouth moved but no sound came.  For perhaps the only time ever.  It was probably only a second or two but it felt like an hour.

The first track of the day.  Phew.  Time to get myself together.  Nobody’s going to go starving or homeless just because I might not be word perfect the first time I ever present a show.  A swig of Irn Bru, elixir of life, and all of a sudden the nerves dissipated.

The time absolutely flew by.  Basildon Hospital was still in the news, and my friend Jill wanted a voice heard for the workers, the ones always in the firing line.  I was soon into my stride – it’s easy when you have certain convictions on an issue.

Before I knew it, I was grinding my gears, giving you all a Kick In The Groyne, getting e-mails and texts, and then – boom – mid-day.  It really did pass in the twinkling of an eye.

Today went even quicker.  Still full of butterflies but bereft of the jelly bottom, so many people e-mailed and text in to say what makes them proud to be a part of this great area.  Friday will probably go by at speed-of-light proportions.

It’s been brilliant so far.  Thank you for all your kind comments.  Hopefully the fun will continue.  On Friday there’s more than a little sporting flavour.  With the World Cup draw taking place, there will be a wry take on the beautiful game.  With, of course, your customary Kick In The Groyne and another rant of what Grinds My Gears amongst all the other regular features.

With Castle Point MP Bob Spink popping in next week, and Basildon & East Thurrock representative, the Right Honourable Angela Smith MP possibly making an appearance nearer Christmas, the mix of current affairs and the off-beat will continue.  But with a bottom of stone rather than jelly in future.