A non-survival guide blog

Hi everyone, hope you sipping a nice cuppa (trans: Cup of tea)!

Well yesterday was a mammoth day! Due to one of us being away for 2 weeks, we were determined to get 2 podcasts recorded in one day, a feat that last time we tried ended in the second cast being binned :(

It was also a exciting day because we'd taken the plunge and bought a new microphone, so instead of each of us on headphone mics, we know have one to share between us all. And it is from a great mic manufacturer, so we had/have high hopes for it, turned out they were proved right, such a rich full sound.

Why have we splashed on this new mic? Well I think we've all been startled by how many of you are downloading the podcast, and, this is the big one, sticking with us!!! And we think and hope we're getting better, we're new to this and learning as we go - and that's why we always bleat on about feedback. If you guys were a live audience we'd know what works and what doesn't, but as this medium can be so 'remote' we rely on email (studio@abigailstearoom.co.uk) twitter (@abigailstearoom) and facebook to keep us in touch with you, and to know what we're doing badly and what we're doing well.

Keep with us, we're all slightly driven to keep getting better... help us?

Anyway, I digress (a shock listeners, I know! 'winky smiley')..... As two of us had an hour before the others joined us, we decided to try and record a little into/jingle/song for a quiz (that hopefully will feature in Episode 7) using the new mic. So it ended up having a guitar track, a banjo track and a double bass track!!! Plus 2 vocals tracks! It's the first time one of us had written and sung on a song, so that was doubly exciting!!! Maybe we'll put it up as a separate download??? Not sure what you guys want (if anything) in terms of additional content, so let us know.

Bear with us as we get used to this new tech, like any new tool it can take a while to get the best from it.

I've also just taken some of the pre-show recording clips and thrown through Garageband to make a little 'cheesy-DJ' demo for Chris, hope you like it mate!

Anyway, must dash, email's are piling up....

And remember "If you're problem doesn't seem better after a 'cuppa', you've got the wrong problem"

EarlJonty

Episode Five Survival Guide

Good day to you, dedicated follower of pods!

Man, it feels good to be out of that cellar. Don't get me wrong, Markeejay was good company and all but it was the smell down there that really got to me. That musty, unloved smell of yesteryear that things once useful possess. Still, he's had a shower now and everything's OK again. Zing!

So Episode Five is released and it's me, Chris, hosting again. Hosting a podcast is not easy. There seems to be so much to remember and so much going on that I find my brain overheating regularly, which is why I would like to apologise for the baggy, rambling episode you may or may not have heard yet. My respect for radio DJs has increased dramatically since we've been doing this podcast.

This week we're discussing British phrases and sayings. Why? The beauty of podcasting is that it is a truly international medium and according to the stats from our hosts at Halcyon, Abigail's Tearoom has listeners from all over the world. It seemed only fair that we help the world understand English, starting with some of the bizarre sayings we use every day.

On a separate matter, there's talk that Abigail's Tearoom might release a mini episode between full episodes - watch this space. Also, new tech may be on the way too so the poor sound quality should be a thing of the past!

So enjoy the episode, sorry for the poor sound quality and may you achieve many wonderful things this week.

Much love! Chris.

Now some links that may or may not tie in with the episode...

Cockney Rhyming Slang

Expressions and Sayings

Episode four survival guide

Hello tea guzzlers

Hang on a sec, I'm just going to grab a handful of pistachios and a refreshing beverage... back now. Episode four has been given its lunch money and sent off into the wide world. Please be nice to it and don't give it a wedgie or anything.

We were discussing pop psychology this time. So do opposites attract as Paula Abdul would have us believe? Although maybe we shouldn't listen to anything she says as she's a bit strange. Pete also highlighted the oodles of self help books available, though the BBC think they're a bit rubs. And if you've ever thought letting your anger out Jonty has some advice for you, as does this Elephant.

We also discuss chatting up the moon, and quite frankly who wouldn't want a piece of that cheese, pommel horses ever so briefly, and whether free diving is a good way to relax. I'd choose a nice cup of tea and a sit down rather than this..

As always, thanks for listening. And if you have any subjects you'd like us to take on go ahead and get in touch.

Cheers now

The T-Shock (Marky)