In what seems like a millennium ago I submitted some travel tips to Diabetes UK for their upcoming book 100 things I wish I’d known about living with diabetes. I instantly forgot about it until they contacted me to say out of the 1100 total entries one of mine had been picked.
When you’re travelling or going on holiday, double up on the amount of suppplies you need, split them across two bags and ALWAYS keep a hand on them. (Both of our daysacks fell out the back of a Tuk-Tuk in India just before a 15-hour train ride!)”I was pleased I got 43, it’s an old favourite Level 42 song of mine, although ’42’ would have been a better number of course.
When the book came out I was pleased to see not only my tip in print but those of friends like Helen and some from celebs like TV legend Phillip Schofield and Hairy Biker Si King. Sylvia from Diabetes UK got in touch and I asked if I’d be happy to promote it, a media article maybe. “Of course, no problem”. The press release didn’t gather much interest except from a local TV channel.
“Would you go on TV Kev?” asked Sylvia.
“Erm, no thanks”. [repeat 100 times]
“Are you sure?”
“Oh, okay then” I relented.
My plan was that as That’s Solent TV only broadcasts in the region so I knew relatively few people would see it, especially if I didn’t tell them when it would be on.
Filming and clip release was planned for World Health Day (7/4/16) which this year was Diabetes related. Shan, the journalist, filmed lots of clips, some of me, lots of Amy and lots of Jane, both of which are far more eloquent than me. We spoke about the travel tip, Amy’s diagnosis, a lot on the DIY tech of Nightscout and xDrip, and Amy gave a demo of her latest gadget the Freestyle Libre from Abbott.
So many clips were shot for the proposed 3 minute clip and I wondered how on earth Shan was going to be able to create something from them, but she said well by focusing on information about the book and Type 1 diagnosis and symptoms. Shan did say later that she hopes to do a second clip featuring all the DIY/medical technology we spoke about.
I was really happy with Shan’s accuracy of information given all the bad press journalists get – due to Daily Mail articles, etc., so well done Shan.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpFzpqN8iQA
1) Tape eyebrows down and stop yourself from looking like you’re Roger-Moore’s-Eyebrow-Stunt-Double.
2) Don’t ever say the word ‘taxi’ as if the reporter has never heard that word before.
3) Don’t just tidy up the bits of the house you know the filming will take place in. Especially don’t move all the junk in the areas you clean up and put them onto the table they definitely won’t film.