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I'll try not to make this read like a diary entry -- or maybe that's the point of a blog. In any case, it's been an impossibly long day. It started with the phone-in show this morning, and the continuing debate about Lawrie Sanchez's future as Northern Ireland manager. The Belfast Telegraph's sports editor Stephen Beacom came in for some criticism from listeners (that's putting it mildly) about his reporting of Sanchez. Some of the criticism was patently unfair; it's the job of a sports writer to analyse and criticise management decisions where necessary.

The programme ended at 10.30 am and I stayed behind the mic to record an interview with the author of a new book -- a massive tome -- on the . Then I was off to finish reading Ian Rankin's soon-to-be-published new Rebus novel, ; I was to interview Ian at 3.00 pm for the next series of the Book Programme.

I finished my prep in time to pop into a packed studio 1 and catch the final half-hour of Talk Back's 20th anniversary programme. David was on form, as ever; the studio guests included many regular callers and contributors; and the Daily Mirror presented him with a terrific mock-up front page featuring pictures of David Dunseith and his predecessor, the late Barry Cowan. After the programme, the party continued with lunch, speeches and a birthday cake. I had to return to a studio to record a debate about between the Tory MP Anne Widdecombe and Mark Leech, editor of The Prisons Handbook.

Then it was back to the Talk Back party, to hear Tim McGarry celebrating the programme with a very funny speech (the Hole in the Wall Gang began as writers of occasional political sketches on the programme). After toasting David and his team, I was back to another studio to record a discussion about Anglican-Jewish relations, with Rabbi David Rosen and Bishop Michael Jackson (no relation).

Then, quick change of topic (mental flexibility helps in this job), I was talking to the creator of the Inspector Rebus novels. As ever, Ian gave a wonderful interview; and the book's pretty good too. In this one, we find Rebus at last year's G8 summit in Gleneagles (where he manages to collide with President Bush on his mountain bike). When he created Rebus in 1985, Ian decided that the novels should tell his story in real-time, as it were. Rebus is now a year away from retirement, which makes this the penultimate novel in the series. Ian isn't ruling out a new series featuring Rebus's side-kick, Siobhan Clarke. I tried persude him to bring to Rebus to Northern Ireland at some point during the final novel -- and since Ian's wife is Northern Irish, he might be tempted. Rankin's early espionage thriller Watchman includes a Belfast theme, of course; but wouldn't it be fun to see Rebus cross the Irish Sea?