Ice Galas, da-da and first steps...

I am up to my ears in the project of building my studio. Audio and visual and linking up all the bits - one moment audio engineering next minute into the detail of chromakeying and staging. If ever there was a University course in how to make audio / visuals that was 24/7 this is it... and I love it. From codec's to jib's falling over to being gobsmacked at pictures that are being created and innovating all over the place this is a super challenge. My goal is to have the studio operational by the end of this month, next quarter will be joing the dots and making it work and quarter after that - well output... by Christmas. Nothing like being occupied.

Galas have been on the agenda - A charity one for breast cancer in guildford inspired and skated in by Charlotte Hawkins and then two for Arena Group last weekend. All very intense in terms of scripting on the day as I expected but went really well and were fun. Kevin Van De Perrin and Jenna McCorkell starring in the Arena Group ones led a strong cast.

Da da - my son says this first thing in the morning. He is 16 months old and a joy. He walked four steps on Monday after holding onto my leg for a moment. I gleefully told his grandmother's on both sides of the family who were singularly unimpressed as apparently that's what little one's do... as in walk. Well it was an exciting moment for Christiane and I! Tiger himself didn't seem that impressed but then he had ben inspired by seeing a young fellow of his height running around on the Sunday in church - maybe that got him going...

DANCING ON ICE TOUR..... BIRMINGHAM 09...

Nearing the end of the shortened, more compact DOI Tour. The team - or rather I should say the DOI Army - from talent to tv to tech to catering is running smoothly. It's all very impressive, a big show. Crowds have been full houses and appreciative Chris and Jayne doing Bolero every night a joy as the focus of this year. Celebs doing better than ever - all good.

Took Tiger swimming this morning - he loved it. He's almost walking and almost talking... He held court in the hotel this morning to an audience of diners from adjoining tables - great fun.

No Jason on the panel - a different dynamic. Seems to work, we are all having fun with the odd disagreement that is part of the show - normally caused by yours truly!

Back soon to set up studio - exciting and challenging times ahead. Can't wait... well actually I could wait and have a holiday in the Bahamas before I get down to business but that's not on the cards right now...

Love

N

March Already

Who's the judge?

My sister in law berated me the other day for not having been blogging. Why have I been quiet... Well.... it's about TV, a studio and life...

DANCING ON ICE 4 - The series is now at semi final stage. As I expected we've seen celebs and pro skaters combine to deliver drama, fun and surprises that make the DOI format so brilliant. 

Ray - on sheer talent should win - if he can relax and not get focused on not being perfect, and the British public vote for him and not just expect him to win. Jessica, if she gets driving numbers and not slow ones can challenge him. Donal - doing better and better still needs to get ' Marriage Gear Forward' to improve his posture. Colleen - goodness, the John Sargent factor kicked in last week. She skated with the most guts and attack and anything is possible on DOI. Flying this week. A must see. 

Chris and Jayne have been great - she has lost weight and is so toned.. must be the fitness video! He's got bigger muscles... the result is some new flick lifts that are very clever alongside their easy mirror style. 

Judges - Jason has been on form. He is Mr Predictable - Mr Nasty to start, Mr Nicer now. He berates and clobbers verbally early on moves into giving challenges and advice and then claims success with the survivors as we near the end of the journey. Not always easy to be on the receiving end of jibes but the pantomime of it has been embraced by our celebs this year more than ever. Robin - has often spoken so eloquently what I was thinking. Ruthie has her heart on her sleeve and has the courage to stand her ground in this. Karen has won the glamour stakes with a new look and maintains an encouraging stance for celebs when speaking. All in all the panel has been more involved as a group in debate at times this year, I do like that more. It would be great to have more air time though - I do commentary for Eurosport - been doing a lot this year - and can speak of the performances afterwards. Pain to not be able to share this and get it out of the system!!!! Must find a way of doing this therapy....

So for me as a judge on DOI - I do have a mix of emotions. I love being involved with the show of it all. It's always a challenging time some weeks to separate some of the couples as they may be good technically and bad artistically or vice versa. But.. what I have to say is more than a sound bite, my style works more in discussion format but there is no air time for this so I find it very frustrating at times to (1) not be asked and (2) to have a sound bite segment to answer in. However, that's the job, so no point moaning. Ha I hear you say  - I should have been blogging more... I've tried to encourage the celebs and the pros more this year and not be concerned about sound bites. To do what they do is brave, crazy and - whether paid well or not - crazily entertaining!

So DOI Tour next - faster than last year with less dates. Will be fun to meet the team on tour again. Looking forward to breakfast at the Lowry in Manchester.

Thanks for the people who have said hello via the blog and messages and have asked for pics and signatures. I'll get back to you soon. Always great to hear from you and sorry for my delays in replying.

I've been doing a lot more commentary for Eurosport this autumn and new year. Junior Worlds the other week was an eye opener as expected with some fabulous skating the other week. This has taken up time, in an entertaining way. Must work out a way of covering World's though - I miss doing this every year as Simon and Chris do it.

So why haven't I been online more. What's going on? What's my focus? Studio building.... To create music and film. Sounds easy, but it's like building a house. I'm loving the challenge and learning loads but in danger of becoming and anorack at times. I understand about codecs! I was at the Broadcast Expo the other week and met some of the techies from Dancing On Ice... The cost of the kit we use on DOI and how great are technical team across the board are. I appreciate it more and more.

So busy in this studio creation - the output due to be starting from the end of June this year. Not a lot of time... No pressure then.

Christiane's coming to DOI on Sunday, her first visit this year due to Tiger needing to be looked after. It will be his first 'part evening' on his own. He'll be at my brother's and we'll be back after the show so he'll be fine - we hope. He's almost walking and is adorable...

See you Sunday.

Love

Nicky

Crazy rules

I haven't been blogging for a while. I read on a developers website that no news means that work was being done.... I suppose that's true of me. Time flies, family visits, covering the Grand Prix Series for Eurosport last quarter of last year and digging foundations for our new business.

This week Dancing On Ice 4 starts - the ITV reality series featuring celebrities learning to Ice Dance. I will be judging again. This will be fun and lasts for eleven weeks with the tour running after that.

In the midst of that is Eurosport commentary on Europeans from Helsinki with Chris Howarth - we'll have a blast.

My son was ill with his first cold over Christmas - bless him. As he's 10 months this was and is a big deal for him poor chap. I've been doing 3.45 am shifts with him resting on my shoulder. He's given me his cough now - hope I can speak by Sunday for live TV!

Research and development to set up my studio is progressing well. Just takes a long time to trawl through the myriad of options on each area and fit to a developing business plan. I'm excited about the capability we will have when it's done. A production factory for music and audio visuals being the goal.

I read an Obituary in the Times that Christiane had sent to her. The death was recorded of Common Sense.... having had lunch with some Brits who have moved to New Zealand and hearing how life is there I think we seem to live in a place that is sadly loosing perspective in many areas of administration. NZ sounds great by comparison - you fall over on the street and you can't sue people. It's your job to stand up... makes sense to me. Encouraging though how the British humour and the decency of people can still shine through, I'm meeting loads of great folk at the moment. Who makes the crazy rules we hear about? Did I hear it right we are not going to call schools schools because the term is not positive? At least it gives Terry Wogan something to talk about on an ongoing basis....

Here's to a great 2009 and a rebellion against the faceless administrators that introduce crazy rules....

Love

N

Foundations

To build a tall building I've seen you need strong foundations. Currently I am building towards a vision for a new company. To build it well I see, and Christiane helps me see, that I need strong foundations in place. It takes time..... and sometimes I find that frustrating, I want to move faster but other times I feel this is definitely the right way.

Creating a studio, looking at what's the output, who's it for? What will be the benefit and who will be the customer? Over the years I've done lots of coaching and learnt lots about business but never really done it! Now, a detailed business plan, a production factory set up is being established and I'm learning loads.

As I share with people I think they may think I am a little crazy, perhaps I am.... but I am also quietly excited about having a space to create some magic .. when will it surface... next year now. 

My son Tiger swam with me for the first time the other day, I'm blessed with having great times with my family. I know many dad's don't have that much time with their children as they grow up, currently I get to see lots of my little boy as he grows daily, brilliant - if exhausting - at times!

So wherever you are on your life's journey I wish you well. I am privileged to be enjoying the journey and I hope you are too. It's an amazing time for us.

I'm doing commentary on Eurosport every weekend this month too. Great fun being alongside Chris and Simon. I tried to do a pancake live on air two days ago! You had to be there to get it. Hope you can tune it to join us.

Love

Nicky

AUTUMN LEAVES

Today we walked through a nearby park. It was beautiful. I sat with Tiger under a tree and covered him in leaves that had fallen. His first time seeing leaves in autumn, he loves to feel everything and as an 8 month old, try to taste it too!

Having lived nine years on the sea front in Brighton I would see the change of season with seaside businesses closing down, shutters being put up and the sea front preparing for winter storms. This year it's different. I now live looking over a river estuary, it's quieter, more peaceful. A great place for creativity and a park is around the corner. I'm seeing more green and brown.

So what? Well it's just good to be alive and see the miracle of the seasons.

Telephones and broadband and BT!

I forget to mention about the land line saga - and the mobile saga for that matter! What choice we have. How I would like less choice and better service. Even when you've identified what you want from all the information on offer you find it doesn't work in your area. So what was the point of all that time in working through the details - no point at all - it's just to get me into the shop so I can be sold.... 

So BT - you have the most incredible telephone menu system in the world that takes me ten minutes ever time I call to get anywhere, and sometimes to the wrong place. The best menu item so far... " you have reached the broadband test area - (how goodness knows) press one  to test your line - sorry this option is not available - press two to .... ahhhh!!

And then, after traveling via numbers all over the place a voice says we will call you back in under 45 minutes leave your number. And they do - brilliant - but why the pain beforehand, madness and my life is worth more than the time you take and the energy you take!!!

So - thank you lovely man who took my order on phone, thank you engineer who came to fix the line after I was assured it was working, err not my end.... 

But I'm off to Talk Talk - even though you are charging me £70 to leave your contract BT - how can you be allowed to do that!! Ratbags...

Great people when you get them at BT, lousy systems and skulduggery in the charging. I can get a person after four clicks on Talk Talk - yeah!!!

Now to sort the mobile contract....