Who Listens to the Radio?

Morning peak hour, and we’re heading down through busy freeway traffic from Bribie Island to Coolangatta. The ABC radio channel crackles and croaks: morning radio and the Melbournian sounds of Jon Faine seem like a long way from here, both physically and culturally. Scanning through the options, we find an Indian channel that keeps us amused, with a pleasant mix of Bollywood and Indian classics interspersed with Hindi chatter, which lasts the duration or the journey. At one point, the commentator broke into English and simply said,

              Make the most of the day you have been given

This little phrase interrupted my thoughts. I stopped playing with the phone and began to reflect, as the hypnotic sounds of a Hindi melody transported me to another place, like meditation and a morning Raga.

Now a week later and I am back home, that little phrase still hangs in the air. I have found an online Indian radio station, Radio Garam Masala, to be a wonderful antidote to all the bad news, political posturing or mindless guffawing on the radio. Not knowing the language helps!

              Make the most of the day you have been given

22 thoughts on “Who Listens to the Radio?”

  2. Where are you now? – are you home yet? I thought you said ‘bed’ but then I read ‘bread’ Lol
    I am going to make the most of the day by visiting “Mediterranean Wholesalers” for the first time this afternoon. I need some spaghetti bowls.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. it’s interesting when listening to the radio that a phrase or song just pops out, as if it is a secret little message meant only for you. It sometimes happens when in unfamiliar surroundings too, a comment is made and it reaches your ear as if you were meant to hear it. Sometimes it is very funny and other times quite thought provoking. Enjoy your bread baking.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. I liked the way this phrase was so different from ‘Have a nice day’ or ‘Enjoy your day’. It might have been that additional ‘that you have been given’ that sent me back to the land of India, meditation and song.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  4. “Make the most of the day you have been given” is a user friendly version of a prayer attributable to a few sources, or none, depending on where you look…
    “This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good. What I do today is very important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving something in its place I have traded for it. I want it to be gain, not loss — good, not evil. Success, not failure in order that I shall not forget the price I paid for it.”
    It’s interesting the music that speaks to us… I listen to a commercial radio, a variety of music most of which harks back to my teenage Australian rock music era but there’s a 60 minute program on 2 SER community radio on Saturdays called Dirt Music “country, folk, blues, Americana and so much more” that differs mostly from my usual fare but really speaks to me.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks for that lovely extract which expands on the daily prayer.
      I try to remember to listen to 3PBS ‘What the Folk’ from time to time, similar to Dirt Music but a bit more folky. The CD collection is all world music. Radio music can be soothing if the commentaries aren’t too inane.

      Like

      Reply

  6. I like RN, thought provoking discussion across a wide range of topic, although it’s been a bit too much politics of late!! must look for you Indian station!. My fave music genre is world too, especially for when the radio drives me crazy in the car.

    Like

    Reply

  7. I miss not being able to get ABC radio apart from when in the car, that’s not often! 774 is so sports focussed and me being a member of the anti football league doesn’t blend well. I find 621 (RN) is much more frequented when the opportunity arises. Podcasts are brilliant for those long trips where reception eludes you. Love that brightly coloured Ganeesh, I have a true fondness for all Indian movement, sound, colour and appreciation of life. I see a message from you has just appeared. I’d better go read it! Enjoy your trip!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. I starting singing the song as soon as saw the email. Who listens to the Radi-O. Then for some strange reason I started singing “Far away eyes” by the stones. It has that thank you line it:
        ‘I was driving home early Sunday morning through Bakersfield
        Listening to gospel music on the colored radio station
        And the preacher said, “You know you always have the Lord by your side”
        And I was so pleased to be informed of this that I ran
        Twenty red lights in his honor
        Thank you Jesus, thank you Lord’
        So you double song planted me

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply

        1. I have never heard that song until today. The phony American accent is quite weird on Jagger. Odd sort of tune Mick: do you play this with our band?
          Who listens to the Radi-O, that’s what I’d like to know. LOL

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

    1. I think I just turned it on because of the name! Then I could’;t work out how to turn the damn thing off. Every now and then, a girl needs some Bollywood in her life.

      Like

      Reply

Now over to you.

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.