Dune Of London.

Many years ago, on eBay I bought my first DAB radio. It was beautiful and all leather on the outside. I took it to work to show a friend who also at that time worked part time making fantastic saddles for horses, I’d told her about it and I wanted to bring it in so she could reverify that it was in fact real leather, she touched it and smelt it and said, “Yes, its definitely real leather, I’ve never seen a radio like it before.” I’d got it for a song, as not many people are bidding in the middle of the night, I was the only bidder, back then when I shopped on eBay I’d often bid very early in the morning or just before I went to bed very late at night. So, I was chuffed to bits. But I had to keep moving it around the house when I wanted to listen to it, for no one else in the house like the music I played. It was only on one channel Premier Christian Radio. Eventually the aerial broke off and signal was bad. So, it stayed in my bedroom unused.

As with most things now, digital things, time quickly moves on, and a lot of things were found to be on smartphones, games, information, maps, Facebook, on-line shopping music, and much more!

Moving forward now, it was great in the works van, it was new and had a DAB radio in. So it was fantastic when I was using it to go places many times 70 miles in a day, I enjoyed listening to Premier Christian Radio, then on Easter Sunday they launched Premier Praise, that was even better for me for it was 24 hours of just music! I heard amazing Artists I’d never heard of before, my first favourite one was Chris McClarney singing, Blessed Assurance. I grew up singing this song, but I loved his new version, one of the songs I intend to have at my funeral and it would be even better if he sang it live! WOW! Another music Artist I love and have come to know of their fab music is Elevation Worship, I love SO many of their songs. What is unusual about this Band is they have a different singer each time singing lead, while the others are backing singers, and their names are not known! They’re just called Elevation Worship, sadly they are not in the UK or I’d go and see them, I’ve played their songs as well as Blessed Assurance many, many times on YouTube. Some of my very favourites by this amazing band is, Do It Again, He Is Lord, Yours (Glory And Praise), Mighty Cross, Here As It Is In Heaven, Grateful, Here In His Presence …..

I wanted my own DAB radio in my car, but it was old and eventually my beloved Skoda was scrapped and I got only £100 for it! I then had a newer car, it came with the original radio, I was given £150 for my birthday, I didn’t spend it, in case we needed it for bills, or for some other emergency. I asked a few people, “If I bought a DAB radio would they put it in for me?” They said, “I will, just get all the bits that go with it.” I didn’t have the foggiest what they meant! So, I decided to just go for it myself and go to Halfords and get it from there and for them to fit it. A work mate suggested I buy a second hand one from eBay, but I didn’t want that, might as well have a new one. I’d just assumed I could just drive there, pick one and have it fitted, good thing I rang first on the advice of my Husband Paul. I’d have chosen the £70 one but Paul said, “Have the Sony, they’re the best,” It was on special offer for £120! That’s a lot of money for a radio! My other one was £10 plus £10 package and postage. I value Paul’s judgement, so I agreed and the Sales Assistant picked other things from the shelves that would go to make it all fit together, then at the till he said, “That will be, with fitting, £197.50,” Flipping heck, I thought, so I paid £150 in cash and the rest I paid on my card. A date was booked for me to go in to have it fitted, I was excited to be honest. It would be surreal to have Christian music fitted in my own car, there whenever I needed it. For everyone else, in the UK all they had to do was turn on their radio for their favourite song, be it on Magic, Smooth, Radio One etc.

I parked under Halfords gazebo that was in the car park at their entrance and the mechanic, fitted it, I notice the Security Guard was talking to him, that I didn’t like, for I wanted him to 100% concentrate! So, I went out of the store and stood next to the Security Guard and he got the hint!

An hour later he was finished, he showed me how to remove the front, how there is now a microphone, so I can be hands-free, he showed me I have a CD player! I didn’t know anyone still used them, but I have many at home along with my LP’s all on the shelves. I asked him, “Please can you tune it into Premier Christian Radio, for this is the only reason why I’ve bought a DAB radio.” He turned the dial, and it could not be found! He said, “Sometimes it takes a while for it to come through,” I said, “I hope so, for this is the only reason I got this.”

He turned off the engine and there was a beeping sound, he said, “That is to remind you to take it out,” I said, “That’s a good idea,” He then handed me the front, I said, “Where’s the case for it?” He said, “There is no case for it, this is how it comes.” I was horrified and said, “A big Company like Sony, sells an item this expensive and delicate and it doesn’t come with a case?” He said, “That’s right.” I was a bit ‘nervous’ at leaving the store, but I was glad that I’d had it done there and not anywhere else, for if there was a problem then, they’d be able to sort it. Foolishly, I then at home, looked at the reviews of the model I’d just bought, oh dear, it was all bad!!! Up until this point, all I’d known and thought about was that I’d chosen, paid for in full and booked in for it to be fitted and that it was Sony! It wasn’t until then, I’d thought about feedbacks, which are very important to me.

The next day was my day off, so with my precious item in the box it came in, I went from mobile store to mobile store, looking for a sock type pouch in which I could put my very delicate radio front in. All the stores asked me, “What mobile phone do you have?” I replied to all, “I bought a DAB Sony radio from Halfords and it does not come with a case!” Eyebrows were raised, and some said, “No, they don’t come with cases, look on Amazon.” But that was one place I wasn’t going to look!

So, I looked in Claire’s, and the many Pound shops, for a sock type pouch, but really a sock type thing wasn’t ideal, for the fluff of it would eventually pull at the connector part, so I didn’t know what to do, but I did know when I found the right thing I’d know. Ideally a glasses case would be good, not perfect, but good. I couldn’t put it in my handbag as it was, as it would get broken, for if I put it in my handbag inside its box that it came in, (no padding) it was too big to fit inside my little bag!

I went to my favourite shop, TKMaxx this week and looked in the small purses section, and there it was! A Dune London, I don’t know what it is for, it is triangle in shape, so its freestanding, green with eight tiny gold studs on one side, it has a gold tiny padlock and tassels, it’s worth retail price £35 pounds and they are selling it for £10 that’s a lot of money! But as Christ mas is cancelled this year and forever, this is my Christ mas gift to me! Plus, my little radio is worth it, it is SO sweet, it fits lovely in my bag and it’s lovely to hold, it gives me quick and easy access, to my wonderful radio station. Well done Dune of London, you have saved the day.

The day after I had Halfords set up my DAB radio, I took it to work and a mate helped me, but he didn’t do anything really for as he played around with it, there it was Premier Christian Radio,(Premier Praise section), he’d said to me, “Don’t forget to bring the booklet,” Well I’d forgotten, hadn’t I, he said, “Not to worry, Men don’t read instruction booklets,” And we both smiled and I said, “Paul is the same, and me!”

So, on my fab DAB radio station I can hear regularly bands and Artists listed below: -

Passion singing, God of Wonders.

United Pursuit singing, Here and Now, (Featuring Will Reagan).

Zach Williams singing, Chain Breaker.

My Daughter loves Francesca Battistelli, all of her songs, I wish she had concerts in the UK, I’d get tickets for Meghan as a fab surprise.

I love Hillsong Worship, the fantastic Australian Band.

Bethel Music, singing God, I Look To You.

Rivers and Robots! Singing, We Have Overcome.

Morning Has Broken, the NEW version, (when you find out who sings this, let me know).

Hawk Nelson singing, Diamonds.

Matt Redman.

All Sons & Daughters.

Chris Tomlin.

Needtobreathe.

Integrity Music.

Hosanna Music.

DC Talk singing, In The Light, What If I Stumble, Jesus Freak, Coloured People.

Big Daddy Weave singing, Trust And Obey.  

Phillips, Craig And Dean, singing Revelation Song.

The City Harmonic singing, Manifesto.

Barlow Girls, my Daughter LOVES this Band.

David Crowder Band.

Casting Crowns.

Jars of Clay.

Third Day.

Mercy Me.

And many, many, more it’s another World.

I’ve yet to hear songs from an album I had years ago called The, 77’s

Why not give them a try if you have a DAB radio, you might be presently surprised. x