It’s always good to be back reading the national news at BBC Radio 5 Live.

Having played for England at 3 world cups, Beckham was not aware that the tournament traditionally continues into July.

Dame Penelope Keith, star of The Good Life, dies aged 86

"FOR THE LOVE OF GOD SLOW DOWN ALAN THIS IS MADNESS"

My nine year old asked for a Rosetta Stone cake for his birthday

The iconic Carnforth Station clock, which was made famous by the 1945 film Brief Encounter, has returned to its home on the station platform in Lancashire following an extensive restoration. It was manufactured in 1895 by Joyce & Co. of Whitchurch in Shropshire.

A small win for me today. I’m no longer morbidly obese as my BMI has gone down from 54.8 to 29.8. I’m now just merely overweight. I’m down from 25 stone (350 pounds) to 13 stone 8 pounds (190 pounds). I won’t be having cake to celebrate, as there’s still more work to be done.

20 years ago today, we got married on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. We walked through this door in our kilts to the sound of bagpipes and the smiling faces of our family and friends. The old registry office is now the luxurious Virgin Hotels Edinburgh. It’s really good to be back in the city.

Today I turn 65, standing on a beach in the west of Scotland in my kilt. My father was born and spent all his life just up the coast from here. Today, more than ever, I’m grateful for my husband, my family, and my friends. Much love to you all.

It’s been a while since I walked Scotland visiting lighthouses, but I’m putting that right this week. Turnberry Lighthouse is operated by the Northern Lighthouse Board and is a conspicuous landmark on the South Ayrshire coast. It was designed by David and Thomas Stevenson, and completed in 1873.

I love my new town crier livery. It was made by Michael Jay Tailoring who are a civil and military tailors based at Stowmarket in Suffolk. I’m really impressed by their work.

There are some marvellous pictures from the historic opening of the new Tram Bridge in Preston. It was wonderful to be involved in such a spectacular community celebration and to lead the civic procession over the bridge in the spring sunshine.

I chose the hottest day of the year to get back into the town crier business. It was marvellous to make the proclamations for Preston City Council at the opening of the new Tram Bridge over the River Ribble. It was a pleasure to spend time with Councillor Nweeda Khan, the 698th Mayor of the city.

A quick stop at Brough Castle in Cumbria. It was built on the site of a 1st-century Roman fort and was destroyed by a fire in 1521 following a "lavish Christmas feast".

The handsome husband enjoys the sunshine at Millport on the island of Great Cumbrae off the west coast of Scotland.

I reach my 65th birthday next month, and somehow, despite industry cutbacks and increased networking, I’m still working in professional radio. I’ll be back reading the national news on 40 BBC radio stations across England and the Channel Islands tonight from 7 p.m.

We’re back at Boscobel House, near Wolverhampton, on the Shropshire–Staffordshire border. It’s best known for its role in the escape of Charles II after the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Charles spent some time hiding in an oak tree before spending the night in one of Boscobel’s priest holes.

I’ve been on a pilgrimage to 267 Tettenhall Road in Wolverhampton. The building was home to Beacon Radio which went on the air 50 years ago today. The station blew my teenage mind and inspired me to work in radio. It was marvellous to meet many former Beacon staff at a reunion in the city yesterday.

We’ve had an excellent walk through the rolling countryside of Dumfries and Galloway ending up at the world’s oldest post office in Sanquhar. The business has been in continuous operation since 1712.

A relaxing day of reading in the library at our Scottish place at Maybole in South Ayrshire.

The handsome husband surveys the Scottish coast at Culzean Castle in South Ayrshire.

The impressive display of weapons in the entrance hall at Culzean Castle on the South Ayrshire coast. The collection features 716 flintlock pistols arranged in decorative patterns across the walls. There are over a thousand weapons in total, including hundreds of swords, cutlasses, and pikes.

It was marvellous to take John, our friend from the Californian Desert, to the magnificent Inn at Whitewell in the Forest of Bowland. The inn has excellent food, amazing service and a stunning location next to the River Hodder.

Blue skies at Carlisle Castle in Cumbria. The castle is widely regarded as the most besieged in England, having endured at least seven major incidents due to its location near the Scottish border.

We’re in the Downtown Park in Palm Springs and the handsome husband is preparing to bid a fond farewell to the desert after a month here in the Coachella Valley.

Lunch in Palm Springs with our friend Daniel who’s the town crier of Provincetown in Massachusetts.

There’s something magical about palm trees and snow in the same scene. The view from Cathedral City in California.

We’re staying with a friend at Cathedral City in California who has a large private collection of RCMP uniforms and memorabilia. I’ve always had something of a thing for Mounties and enjoyed the opportunity to play dress-up.

The 26-foot-tall 'Forever Marilyn' statue in Palm Springs seems even more remarkable by night.

The Joshua Tree is an iconic symbol of this part of Southern California. I’ve always been fascinated by their otherworldly appearance.

We seem to keep coming back to Skull Rock which is deep inside the vast Joshua Tree National Park in California.

The Brittlebush is blooming in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in Southern California.

It’s fair to say that I look neither stylish nor sexy while reclining on an artificial grass couch in downtown Palm Springs.

We’re starting the day at Dave’s favourite coffee shop in Palm Springs.

The extraordinary Mexican inspired Fountain of Life at Town Square Park in Cathedral City.

I’ve read Marvel’s Avengers since I was given issue #68 in 1969 and now have a complete run back to 1963. I was delighted to pick up the anniversary issue #800 from the legendary Sid Johnson at Desert Oasis Comics in Palm Desert. It really is the best comic book store in the Coachella Valley.

The waterfall at the Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden at Palm Desert which is part of the Palm Springs Art Museum.

The four cherubs of Palm Springs.

It’s always a pleasure to visit the Palm Springs Art Museum to see one of my favourite exhibits. The 80" Great Rhombicosidodecahedron by artist Anthony James uses internal LED lights to create an infinity mirror of cascading and deeply recessed geometric shapes.

We’re back … and we’re here in the Coachella Valley till the end of the month. We’re looking forward to some extended downtime in the desert sunshine.🌵

After a day walking for miles around Dublin you invariably end up in Temple Bar at night.

It’s an Irish law that if you’re in Dublin you have to do the Supermac’s thing within 24 hours of arriving in the city.

I’m reading the news on BBC Radio Manchester tomorrow. I’ve not done a lot of work here over the years but I was first on the station back in 1997 which makes this my longest run on any outlet from first to most recent appearance.

We’ve been Avanti spotting on the Settle–Carlisle line in the Yorkshire Dales. Here’s one about to cross the iconic Ribblehead Viaduct on an extraordinarily cold day. The historic line is being used as a diversionary route while work is being carried out on the main line in Cumbria.

Dave waits for a train in sub-zero temperatures at Ribblehead railway station in the Yorkshire Dales.