A First Attempt at Soda Bread

I found the recipe not in one of my recipe books, but by asking AI (ChatGTP) for a recipe. This bake is the result of that. It wasn’t perfect….At one point it did go slightly wrong. I poured all the milk & lemon juice in at once – but, just as when adding water to a dough normally – that’s not the way to do it. I had a very wet, sticky dough – which resembled a cake mix. Certainly wasn’t something I chould shape in to a bread dough. Continue reading

On the Air: March 2026 – A Country Month

As we reach the end of March – and the end of Q1 2026 – I am starting something new on this blog. Each month, I will be writing about what has been happening on my radio shows, giving a bit of insight into what I’ve been playing, how the shows have come together, and whatโ€™s coming up next. Continue reading

Hanbury Hall: Inside One of Worcestershire’s Finest Homes

I drove up to Hanbury Hall, a National Trust property near Droitwich in Worcestershire. The house is a real country retreat, offering a glimpse of life in rural Worcestershire in the 18th century. As always, I loved seeing all the different rooms, choosing which rooms were my favourite – which ones I’d use for radio, living room, and my bedroom, if I were to live in such a big house! Continue reading

Country to Country 2026: Big Stages, New Discoveries, Keith Urban, and Brooks & Dunn

One of the things I really enjoy about C2C is discovering new artists. Katie Rigby and Julia Cole were two that really stood out to me this year. Both are independent artists, without major record label backing, which makes their success even more impressive. To be performing at a major festival like C2C on their own terms is a real achievement. Take notice of them! Continue reading