James O'Neill's Breakfast Show Blog

To snow or not to snow?

13th January 2013

Hi there ... writing this on Sunday evening after a lovely weekend away with family in Devon, still full of roast beef and Yorkshire pud.

I checked the Met Office forecast for Dorchester, Weymouth & Bridport just this morning and there was no mention of snow, despite lots across the rest of the UK.  But a couple of hours later, some snow is being forecast for overnight tonight in Dorchester and surrounding areas, with some sleet in Bridport, and none in Weymouth.  So we'll see what happens!  Remember all the news on travel and any possible school closures will be on the Wessex FM Breakfast Show.

There's something new to play along with from this week on the show, called Play Your Birthday Cards Right!  Listen and play along with me and Luke or Maria from the news team at about 7:50am, and don't forget to fill out the form below if you know someone celebrating a birthday soon.

Posted by James O'Neill at 7:12pm

Living In The Dark Ages!

7th January 2013

I'm sure that at some point, you have been without the internet or mislaid your mobile phone.  Well, imagine being without both all over Christmas!  My phone wouldn't charge up so I had it sent off for repair, and the replacement handset could only do calls and texts!  No internet, camera, or apps!  I also ended up without broadband at home after swapping providers, and due to go on-line again tomorrow.  As it was the holidays it took ages to get my phone back, but I'm happily reunited and can join the modern world again.  Being without both was like going back to the eighties!

I'm really keen to hear from any first or primary schools in Dorset who would like to be on my Breakfast Show School Report this term.  It was hugely popular last term, and the children we had on each week provided us with plenty of giggles!  If you're interested, please call me on 01305 250333 or email james.oneill@wessexfm.com!

Posted by James O'Neill at 12:30pm

Happy New Year!

2nd January 2013

Happy New Year!  I hope you had a brilliant Christmas and New Year.  I managed to get a few days away seeing family over Christmas, which was nice.

I was asking this morning on the show for the things you are most looking forward to in 2013.  For me, it'll be running the London Marathon for Weldmar Hospice.  I can't wait - it'll be my fourth marathon having done London twice before and New York in 2007.  You may get the impression I am a seasoned runner but that's not true!  I don't go out running regularly, only when training for an event like this, so I am starting from scratch.

So, the New Year for me means stepping up the regular training runs and eating carefully - no more Ben & Jerrys!  It's my first full day back in the office today at Wessex FM too, so it was a salad and pasta for lunch!  If you're taking part in a challenge this year (perhaps even doing the London Marathon yourself), the very best of luck to you!

Posted by James O'Neill at 1:05pm

Busy busy Christmas

10th December 2012

What a busy past week it's been!  The team from Wessex FM has been out all over the place, and we might have snapped you wherever we've been, so check out the photos from Weymouth Christmas Lights, Bridport Christmas Cheer, Dorchester Christmas Cracker, and the Wessex FM Christmas Party.

The party on Friday evening was brilliant, well done to all of our bands for a top night at the Pavilion - Queen Alive, Shooter, Hustle (led by our own Maria Greenwood of course), and All About Gaga.  Hope you enjoyed it if you were there.

The festive celebrations have not finished yet, we'll be at Weymouth Christmas Sparkle on Thursday, hope to see you there.

I'm having great fun with the Big Switch On, not least on Saturday when I turned on the Christmas tree lights at Vicky Gilford's place in Wyke Regis, with Vicky and all her friends having a festive pyjama party!  If you want me to switch on your Christmas tree lights, get in touch!

Posted by James O'Neill at 7:37pm

Are you in the Christmas mood yet?

4th December 2012

A huge thank you to everyone who came to see us at the Weymouth Christmas Lights event last Saturday!  It was a great afternoon with plenty of live music and entertainment, including aspiring pop star Totally Sophie, and the lights being switched on by star of Jack & The Beanstalk Andy Abraham.  See the photos here.

This week we'll be at the Bridport Christmas Cheer and Dorchester Christmas Cracker.  Come and see us for free sweets, car stickers, and a go on our code breaker game where you can win a pile of CD's!

Don't forget that if you want Wessex FM to switch on your Christmas Lights at home, work, or school, get in touch and we'll come and do the honours, and bring some goodies from Baston's card and party shop in Weymouth!  Even if it's just the family round at your place, make it a special event this year!

Finally, I can't not mention the X Factor Final this weekend.  Christopher made it then!  There is a little part of me that would love to see him win - just to see what would happen!  The fall out, what the tabloids say, etc. All the best to him, he's come in for quite a lot of ridicule but people are voting and he's still there working hard and doing his best.

Posted by James O'Neill at 10:59am