{"version":"https:\/\/jsonfeed.org\/version\/1","title":"Stu Haycock at Breakfast","home_page_url":"https:\/\/www.vibe1.uk\/blogs\/stu-haycock-at-breakfast\/","feed_url":"https:\/\/www.vibe1.uk\/blogs\/stu-haycock-at-breakfast\/json","description":"He talks... some more.","items":[{"id":"o1029-1432-671e77b2a7875","url":"https:\/\/www.vibe1.uk\/blogs\/stu-haycock-at-breakfast\/post\/university-open-day\/","title":"University Open Day!","date_published":"2024-10-27T17:26:00+00:00","summary":"We got invited down to the Blackheath Lane campus.","content_html":"

I got the chance to check out the University of Staffordshire's <\/strong>open day on Saturday (26th October). I'll be honest, the whole thing was rather mind blowing! \"\"
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\n\"\"The Blackheath Lane campus is steeped in history and has been there for as long as I can remember... but <\/em>it now boasts a centre for Innovation & Health with state of the art facilities. In fact, the facilities of first class!
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\nIt was great to see so many prospective students turning up to explore the possibilities - and to listen to the talks and Live demonstrations. 
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\nSome of our team caught the demonstrations and we got to hear from some of the tutors.
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\nWARNING:<\/strong> VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED 
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We bought some cereal at the weekend for the first time in what seems like forever ago! It got me thinking that pretty much everything seemed so much better back when we were kids. Simple things like buying a pack of cereal was an exciting thing to do.
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\nThe Friday 'big shop' at Kwik Save on Wildwood was always an occasion for my brother and I. Not least because Mum would always let us choose a treat. Quite often whilst my brother was stood glaring lovingly at the penny sweets at Terry's, I'd be quite content with a toffee apple. I used to love those things - and there were some weeks where mum would also let me choose the crisps too!
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\nMy favourite crisps were always those Salt'n'Vinegar flavoured Chipsticks, but some weeks mum would push the boat out and get us a multipack of the Salt n Shake crisps. Do you remember those things? I have no idea if they still sell them but you got a small sachet of salt inside the Ready Salted flavoured crisps - you'd empty the salt contents into the packet - hold it tight - and shake. Although I used to sometimes add vinegar. Yum! Weird?
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\nThe reason I mention this is because I remember buying packets of cereal back when we were kids. If we were lucky we'd sometimes be allowed to choose - and that was super exciting! I don't think my brother and I even bothered to look at what cereal we wanted for breakfast, it was just what was in the box of cereal. You used to get all sorts of toys and 'tat' in them, but it was fun. \"\"
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\nDoes anyone still own one of those Cornflake bike reflectors? (pictured)
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\nThere were pencil toppers, 3D glasses and water transfers to name a few! 
\nEverything was better back then - and I sometimes think that living in the past was a much nicer place.<\/p>","image":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/1029\/65368e55a2bb4.jpg","author":{"name":"Stu Haycock"},"_mobile_inapp_url":"https:\/\/www.vibe1.uk\/_app_pages\/stations\/4909\/blogs\/posts\/70466"},{"id":"o1029-1432-651bfe2cb6ef4","url":"https:\/\/www.vibe1.uk\/blogs\/stu-haycock-at-breakfast\/post\/this-day-9-years-ago\/","title":"This day 9 years ago...","date_published":"2023-10-03T11:42:36+00:00","summary":"Stafford FM won it's full time FM radio license.","content_html":"


\nI was reminded this morning that it was this day (3rd October) in 2014 that we received the phone call form the broadcasting regulator, Ofcom, to inform us that Stafford FM had won a full time FM license. That was quite a bizarre day but one that was filled with elation.
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\nI remember exactly where I was and what I was doing. In fact, I can quite vividly recall the rush of emotions that ran through my body when the news was relayed to me via a 5 minute phone call from some chap at Ofcom. Although I very nearly didn't answer the call...
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\nIt was a Friday afternoon and I had just picked up the kids from St.Anne's. My parents used to live on Witney Road, Baswich, and I'd called in to see them with Sam and Em. I can still remember my mums face when when we were walking up the drive. She used to love having the kids and when she saw us trotting up the drive her face lit up like a Christmas tree. 
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\nI think we'd only been at the house about half an hour and I was pottering around in the kitchen when my phone rang. I remember looking at the number and thinking... "I don't know who this is." Normally, I wouldn't answer a call I don't recognise but after about 5 or 6 rings it did cross my mind whether it was someone to do with licensing at Ofcom, or at least I hoped it was. You see, it had been such a long and quite often frustrating journey up until that point. 13 years of trying to make something happen with little to no comeback. Believe you me, there are many times that I and the team nearly jacked it. Ray and I used to talk about giving up, and even just a few days before that phone call, we were having to deal with another drama - mopping up someone else's mess ups.
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\nStafford FM has always been a challenge. It's been a labour of love for most of us, and despite the knock back's, the disappointments and the let downs, we always found the inner strength to carry on. In may ways, before we got the license - it was easier than what then ensued after being awarded the license. The whole journey has been a long and winding road, full of every sort of emotion that you can imagine. It's cost some of our team friendships, relationships, financially and emotionally. I have lost track of the amount of people that have come into the radio station - promised the earth, given a little bit and then done one at the first sign of trouble. I do understand that to an extent, but I have always wondered whether those people realise the mentally challenging impact that had on the rest of us. That's a rhetorical question. It's all water under the bridge now.
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\nOnce I'd realised that it was a London number calling me and that there could be a chance that it's Ofcom, I told my kids and parents that I was going to take the call outside. I dashed out the front door and stood at the end of the drive. It's also worth pointing out that the signal was a bit naff in my parents house and therefore it was necessary to take any phone call whilst at theirs at the end of the drive!
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\nAfter I answered the call with a simple "Hello?", a voice appeared on the other end of the call... "Is that Stu Haycock from Stafford Radio Broadcasting Limited?" he asked. I immediately knew that I was right to answer the call. I tentatively replied with a "Yes".
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\nNow, I must also point out that even though it was Ofcom, there could be a chance they would be calling to inform me that we had not won the license. Those thoughts started to enter my head, but thankfully the guy continued with the words "Great News!"
\n\"Ray
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\n"Congratulations. I know this has been a long journey for you with Stafford FM but I am pleased to inform you that we would like to grant you a full time FM community radio license for Stafford."
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\nI am not quite sure what I said after that but I do remember shaking frantically and just wanting the guy to put the phone down so I could call the rest of the team. However, we must have had a brief conversation afterwards but that parts a bit of a bleurgh, if I'm honest.
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\nAfter we finally ended the call, I dashed straight into my parents house jumping up and down, screaming, shouting with joy and I recall crying like a baby. My kids hugged me and the one thing I can quite clearly remember is my mums face. She was so happy for me. I can't ever remember her looking so proud of me as she did that day. That will always live with me.
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\nMy mum loved Stafford FM. When we used to be at Mount Street, she would rock up every day with a Tuna Baguette for my lunch which would fuel me up for the day. She would call my mobile or text me to say she was downstairs - and I'd shoot down to see her and grab the sarnie from her. She
\nreligiously listen the radio station and always seemed to be really proud of our achievements. It's the one thing I remind myself of when I am finding the whole thing challenging. I haven't achieved very much in my life but I would have to say that I am proud of how we got here, despite the people who have tried to scupper our plans. Having said that - it's cost an awful lot over time. Before now, Ray and I have tried to work out how much money we've collectively lost chasing this dream - and without putting an actual figure on it, you're talking 6 figures at the very least. Is it worth it? I would always say yes - and there's one reason for this. The listener.
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\n\"The
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\nSince Ray's initial idea and conversations with the 'founding father' in his back garden at Rickerscote some years ago, we have always felt love and warmth from the community. I know that Stafford FM has done some incredible things over the years. We were once described as a 'ground breaking' local broadcaster by our mentor, John Evington. Hearing those words from one of the industries finest Programmers meant a huge amount to us. We have a few presenters who worked at Signal Radio for the great man, but Ray and I both knew that with John on board during the application process, we would win it - and we were proved right. 
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\nStafford FM has always tried to innovate. OK - we don't get everything right - and sometimes we have to try things which don't quite work, but that's the exciting thing about it. We're not tied to anyone else and we have some freedom to engage, entertain and promote the interests of Mid Staffordshire like no other radio station can or ever will. 
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\nGoing back to the phone call... the one thing I am trying to remember is who I called first from the team that we had? I'm not too sure about that one either. However, I do recall ringing around and wanting to tell absolutely everyone - and I think I must have done at some point!
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\nWe will write a book one day.<\/p>","image":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/1029\/651bfd24b1e0a.jpg","author":{"name":"Stu Haycock"},"_mobile_inapp_url":"https:\/\/www.vibe1.uk\/_app_pages\/stations\/4909\/blogs\/posts\/70019"},{"id":"o1029-1432-64c6b2b8c06d1","url":"https:\/\/www.vibe1.uk\/blogs\/stu-haycock-at-breakfast\/post\/the-new-mr-and-mrs-never-thought-id-be-here-again\/","title":"The new Mr & Mrs (Never thought I'd be here again!)","date_published":"2023-07-30T18:58:00+00:00","summary":"Where it all began...","content_html":"

I'm not quite sure where that last week went, but here we are...
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\n*Cue the wedding march music
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\nI completely understand why a honeymoon right after a wedding is almost a given. What an exhausting week! 
\nIf you'd had said to me 5 years ago that I'd be re-married, I would have laughed. In fact, I think I did at just the thought of it a number of times. Fast forward to 2023... and I am now officially wed. We have both been completely overwhelmed by the love, affection and best wishes from those who took the time to send us congratulatory messages. The whole experience was magical and although we kind of dragged it out over 2 days, it was well worth it!
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\nOne of the questions that I got asked a number of times last week was... "Where did you meet Amy?" A number of folk asked me this question and in all honesty, I do think the story of how we met is one of those 'chance meetings'. \"\"
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\nIt won't surprise you in the least that we met at Costa (by Primark). The thing with this story is that it's a bit of an awkward story but also somewhat even more awkward when you find out that she also used to live a cross the road from me in Wildwood at the time of my first marriage! That is just WEIRD. I know, right? Thing is... I knew her, sort of, but I never really knew her, if that makes sense.
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\nOur first 'proper' meeting came a few years later in 2018. Amy had just been on holiday to Greece and I happened to have just ordered a medium hot chocolate and was waiting for the Barista to hand me my drink when I glanced to my left and I saw her walk in. As I was stood there, I noticed that she almost had her head down and barely gave me a second look. She stood there waiting to be served looking all awkward - and ignoring anything and anyone around her. However, I waited for that moment for her to look over... and eventually she pretty much gave me side eye. I took my opportunity to say hello as I walked past with my drink in hand.... "Hi there!" I said. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. She completely blanked me. Wow, I thought. I just scarpered. 
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\nAa few hours later and I was scrolling on Facebook.... and I just happened to look at my inbox. The first thing I saw was a message from Amy. Huh? What on earth could she possibly be messaging me about? I opened it and the rest is history, as they say. She apologised that she hadn't spoken to me earlier and explained how she had wanted to but didn't. Over time I have come to understand that Amy is really quite remarkable. Even though she's someone who doesn't really bother with many people and likes to keep herself to herself - she's also fiercely protective of those closest to her. She's also loving, caring and a genuinely wonderful person. 
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\nOur first date was also really quite something. That one is for a blog another time.
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\nSince I met Amy I don't think I have ever laughed or smiled as much. We all have stories to tell about failed relationships and whilst I do not regret anything about my past -  I feel as if I have gained a best friend and a whole new family. It's funny how things work out isn't it? That meeting in Costa was the best £2.69 I have ever spent!
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\n <\/p>","image":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/1029\/64c6aa5900957.jpg","author":{"name":"Stu Haycock"},"_mobile_inapp_url":"https:\/\/www.vibe1.uk\/_app_pages\/stations\/4909\/blogs\/posts\/68656"},{"id":"o1029-1432-64a4616059d67","url":"https:\/\/www.vibe1.uk\/blogs\/stu-haycock-at-breakfast\/post\/reason-994-why-i-dont-like-rollercoasters\/","title":"Reason 994 why I don't like rollercoasters!","date_published":"2023-07-04T18:13:52+00:00","summary":"This is what we were talking about on Breakfast this morning.","content_html":"

If you caught the Breakfast Show this morning - I have tracked down the video of the rollercoaster in the US that has an actual crack on it!
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\nThis was filmed by a dad who took his kids to the theme park. It's like something out of Final Destination!
\nThe thrill seekers are completely oblivious to the events unfolding around them as they fly past screaming their heads off. Seriously - this is just another reason why I am not too fond of rollercoasters. I'm sure you'll be having second thoughts next time your kids try and drag you on a ride at Alton Towers?
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