Hot Coffee

Being at the helm of a regular community radio breakfast program is an exercise in versatility and stamina.

Although you work alone it's necessary to clean the studio, prepare the equipment, select your CDs, operate the control console, telephone the weather bureau, keep abreast of traffic movements, co-ordinate the news, meet sponsorship obligations, tear off faxes, answer the telephone, and chat to listeners.

Of course it's fun, otherwise we wouldn't do it but it does use up all the available time; so the first requirement for a breakfast presenter is not a set of golden tonsils but a cast-iron bladder.

Finding time to make a cup of hot coffee is another major problem.

I used to make it when I arrived and drink it cold as the winter chill set in.

Then a listener sent me a recipe for self-heating coffee.

Chuck in a teaspoon of instant coffee, add sugar to taste – then stir in a tablespoon of chili sauce.

Hot?   My god it's hot!

And as I work my way through the morning the cup of coffee bubbles merrily at my elbow while I work up the courage to have another sip.

It has what you would call an acquired taste.