Erm...How the buggering hell did this happen?

From: "xxxxx xxxxx"
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2005 15:38:20 -0000
Subject: Today weblog

Hi,

Thank you very much for applying to be a blogger for the Today programme during the forthcoming General Election campaign. In order to further narrow down the many many applications we received, we'd like to see what our potential bloggers would actually come up with if chosen…

If you're still interested in blogging for us, please submit a sample blog (anything up to around 700 words, but it can be as short as you like) between now and 10pm Friday. Please send it direct to me at xxxxx.xxxxx@bbc.co.uk

The blog should be politically-themed - as it would be during the campaign - and should be as personal, opinionated and punchy as possible. Humour wouldn't go amiss, but isn't compulsory. Listeners will be able to respond to the thoughts of our chosen bloggers: what have you written that would arouse their interest and make them want to respond?

You can pick on anything - or anyone - the choice is yours.

And thanks again for taking part

xxxxx
xxxxxxx xxxxxx, Today

http://www.bbc.co.uk/

I appear to have been shortlisted for the Today weblog, as a result of the 100 words on why I should be chosen which I submitted last week.

This is lovely, but more lovely is that it is the second thing in one week to make me feel more confident about my writing. The first thing is the comment someone identifying themself as a professional writer posted here the other day. They wrote: Like that weirdo from the TV..today I was 'mostly going to drink beer and write beautifully' Then I accidentally landed on this site and today I mostly sat and read your archives from start to finish! It took me 5 hours.


There's much more, some constructive criticsm that my writing was more 'vibrant' in 2003, which I actually agree with, and some advice. But basically it's the best compliment I have ever had about what I write.

So yes. And now 'Today'!

What the hell am I going to write about? The whole bent of my 100 words was that they should pick me precisely because I am not an obvious great political thinker, but that many things currently in my day to life would be relevant and pertinent. So I don't have to write about the in's and out's of parliamentary questions or detailed comment on the economic implications of the budget. But I still have to find something interesting.

Tactically the best move would be to write about my job, since it's very unusual and very relevant. It's being directly affected by the election in that the government will not make a decision on the A303 tunnel until after the election and this means we cannot make a decision on Stonehenge. But the thing is it's a tricky issue because I am also supposed to remain impartial on the whole subject. Writing an opinionated 700 words on how the government should get on with it might compromise the project somewhat.

I could write about being sent to the back of the list for my Rheumatoid Arthritis specialist even though I've been through the system once, purely because the last appointment I had to see him was over a year ago. This is quite frankly, outrageous because the specialist told me to make another appoinment when my hands got worse. I have no control over how long that has taken! Now I have to go back to my GP, get referred to the specialist and go on the waiting list again.

I could write about lots of things, but I just don't know what!. Help. Help...