Through the morning haze of toast and coffee wafted the words, “the quiz was won by Meredith Wheeler…” from the radio on the desk in the kitchen.
It took a second’s delay for my brain to clarify the message.
Meredith Wheeler, the person enjoying breakfast in bed listening to our favourite Sunday morning radio show–Broadcasting House with the wonderful Paddy O’Connell–had been, according to the words that I was now sure I’d heard moments ago, the first to guess correctly the answer to the weekly quiz, audio clues to a notable news story in the past week*.
It took another nano second before I found myself rising from my chair and moving to the entrance hall–emitting a very loud whooping sound which was met from the landing upstairs by a similar primal scream of surprise and delight.
It was like our team had scored in the last second of the final–thus winning us the cup!
We then joined each other on the landing in an unashamed display of triumph.
This took the form of prolonged hugs and jumps and further yelps.
After a period of relative calm, confirmation that our ears had not deceived us came in email form from Bonnie in the BH production office, promising the dispatch of the coverted prize, a wooden spoon, as soon as new supplies arrived.
CHAMPION!!
*The story was about the 3-year-old Emma who managed to telephone the emergency services when her pregnant mother fell down the stairs at home and knocked herself unconscious.
Here is the report including the audio of Emma’s remarkable call:
Robin Ellis 
Well done, Meredith! (The best writer/eporters usually are great listeners, too.)
Congratulations Meredith! ‘Unashamed displays of triumph’ are absolutely obligatory in these circumstances!!
Happy New Year to both of you
Regards,
Fran Shaw.
Congratulations Meredith, its the excitement of hearing your name on the radio thats thrilling as well xx
What an amazing little girl..good for you Meredith. I love programs like yours and a wooden spoon is coming your way, What fun. Happy New Year! You know what this means..Robin has a lot of cooking to share this year. My best to you both. barb stegun
Congratulations to Mrs. Ellis. Very well done indeed! You should frame The Spoon – save it from a life of stirring and culinary labor. It could be a supervisor.
Best wishes for a prosperous 2016 to you and Mrs. Ellis and to the cats.
Alix
Thank you, Alix and the same to you.
A wooden spoon. Wow!. Put it on the mantlepiece, not the stove. But what was the question and what was the answer. The link was clear enough and I read the story, but the audio did not come through.
Sweet story of a 3 year old girl who called emergency and explained lucidly that her mum and the baby had fallen down the stairs.
Where’s the baby they asked. In mummy’s tummy, she said. We’ll be right there, they said. The door’s unlocked she said.
Bob, the audio clues were the sound of a phone being dialed and an ambulance siren. There were musical clues too–but Meredith had no idea what they meant….
Bravo!! Ending the year as you started – a winner!! Well done!
How fun is that? And at Christmas, too! Congratulations & thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas & a very happy and healthy year in 2016, Robin and Meredith!
Same to you, Mari–and thanks.
Atta girl Meredith!!!
you have a smart wife…you must be so proud of her…also..i watch the girl with her mom.pregnant with baby 911 call…she did such a good job…I was almost in tears after the 911 lady said she did a fantastic job helping her mummy…kids are so smart and unfearful today…loved it!…maryc
Absolutely fantastic!!!
The pleasure lies in the winning! And I’m sure Robin can find a use for a wooden spoon!
How wonderful! Congratulations to the champion and a happy new year!
That’s a great little story Robin, and well done Meredith! Nothing like celebrating with a hug!
The only time I ever won anything was years ago at a “do” where we had bought a couple of raffle tickets, the proceeds going to a local charity.
My number was called out and I jumped up with the hot little ticket in my hand, all excited, to receive my prize (a bottle of whiskey) but before I got my hands on it, Bill my husband, said “She doesn’t drink, put it back in the raffle!” I know I didn’t drink whiskey, but it would have been the first time I’d have ever won anything. Bill wondered why I was upset with him! Ha ha, makes me laugh to remember it now 40 years later. Wishing you both the best of luck for 2016.
In peace and love, Heth xx
Warmest congratulations, dear Meredith! A well deserved surprize to start the New Year! But what a brave and quick witted little girl Emma is. A treasure…
My warmest congratulations, dear Meredith! A well deserved prize to start the New Year! What an amazingly quick witted little girl is Emma. A HERO!
How lovely. Well done to Meredith. I wonder, will she be willing to share her prize with you Robin?
Hope you are having a wonderful Christmas. Best wishes, Heidi
Congratulations – I too heard it yesterday morning but I’m afraid the winner’s name didn’t register when PO’C gave the result. However, sorry to learn that they only give you a wooden spoon, which Wikipedia tells me is nowadays a honey spoon (and it doesn’t seem quite right to have to say that you won the wooden spoon in a competition!) – it always used to be a spurtle to stir your porridge with, something not readily available here in SW France. I bought mine when on holiday in Lerwick so it is genuinely Scots. Bonne Année.
Meredith is married to Robin Ellis, having breakfast in bed made by him, AND wins a wooden spoon? Lucky, lucky Meredith! All jest aside, I loved reading this, your lives sound wonderful! A true love story.
Yes, heard it on the radio as I love the programme too but didn’t make the connection. Is it still the wooden spurtle or whatever it’s called, for stirring porridge?
We wait but are not holding our breath!
Now they call it a wooden spoon.
Woop! Woop! Well done to both of you, and a Very Happy New Year.
Now, all we need is some frost and snow, fed up with the very unseasonal warm weather, though I guess it’s all part of the cycle Mother Earth goes through! We have been more fortunate, here in Cornwall, than the poor folk in the North of England!
Congratulations Meredith, whAt an amazing little girl, and one very clever lady.Now Meredith I hope this spoon will have your name.on it, we wouldn’t want it to fall into. the wrong hands would we.( only kidding Robin I am sure you and Meredith share and share alike)
Congratulations Meredith!
Happy Birthday Robin!
Wishing you a fabulous year ahead full of love, laughter and captivating cuisine.
I’m so thrilled that you’re filming more scenes for the second series of Poldark. I must admit that after a slight reluctance to see any adaptation beyond the original series, I am well and truly hooked. The writing, acting, locations and music are magnificent. To have you acting in this production is all the endorsement I ever needed – thank you so much.
Lana
Thanks for the good wishes, Lana–mine to you for 2016!
Oh Robin!!!!! This is Rosaria again from Italy! Giuseppe and I join Your Worldwide friends to wish you a Happy birthday and long long life!!!! Lots of love to Meredith too! Buon Compleanno!
Thank you Rosaria and Giuseppe in Italy!
Yes I know how you feel about the Broadcasting House Wooden spoon I now have three Broadcasting House wooden spoons,it is always a bit of a surprise to win actually I am just as pleased if I get the answer for the quiz right. I do tend to get it right most times.
Congrats on your impressive record, Ciaron!