Getting Through The Long Journeys

With a massive 25,000 miles of driving under my belt last year and 630+ miles this weekend (I underestimated my wedding sets yesterday adding another 100+ to my total) it’s hard to say how I haven’t lost my mind.

The key is to keep your brain interested; keeping your driving instincts sharp and your internal timer on fast forward. The way to do this is simple. Apart from my Tomtom (which is the worlds greatest gift to anyone who drives) the iPod / mp3 is a must have for your car. Music and podcasts keep me focused and happy for all the massive journey’s I do.

More recently I’ve taken to ordering a few audiobooks online. It started with the latest series of the Ricky Gervais Podcast (which is classed as an audiobook) and frankly if you enjoy Gervais’s style of humor, want to find out a little more about Office and Extra’s Co-writer Steve Merchant and an Orange-Headed Shaven Chimp called Carl Pilkington who is such an idiot he’s a comedy genius – this is the thing for you.

I used to listen to them in the morning on my my way to practice at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Thoroughly entertaining and brilliant to listen to again and again. But be aware, the more you listen the more you start to understand the special thoughts of Carl. You’ll understand the last 2 paragraphs if and when you’ve heard their show.

After that I found the Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy on Audiobook and after listening to them on the way back from Leicester (to London) last night I was almost sad when I got home as I’d have to wait to find out what happens next. Now when you’ve driven 250+ miles in a day and it’s 2 o’clock in the morning that says something about the power of audio books.

So if you do a lot of tedious driving and can’t stand the watered down rubbish that plays on the radio there are plenty of podcasts to download including some great comedy; The best bits of radio 1 (Chris Moyles and Scott Mills), 8 out of 10 cats, The Adam and Joe Show and loads more. There are more Audiobooks that you can believe out there and enough to suit most tastes. And don’t forget to load up your mp3 with loads of great music!!!

Oh, and don’t forget that the MR Music Podcast will be released very soon!!