The other day I tried to get a nap in the usual way by plugging myself into a radio drama whilst lying on the sofa and drifting off, but it didn't work.
I tuned in to Wilkie Collins's 'No Name' on iPlayer, and was hooked into the 6 hour-long episodes so firmly that I could not drift off in case I missed something.
I had only intended to lie there for about half an hour, but ended up listening to 4 episodes. That's 4 hours.
This morning, I awoke stupidly early (about the same time as Cro writes his posts) and decided to listen to the last two episodes. I won't spoil it for you, but I will say that everything works out for the best in the tortuous end.
I think it was the twists and turns of the plot which kept me awake, because if some radio drama is very well done but uneventful, it will induce a delicious sleep during which I may or may not be aware of the goings-on, but if I am then it is only on a subliminal level.
I first used this technique for a enforced nap when listening to the first series of 'On Mardle Fen' by Nick Warburton. I told you about it at the time. The wonderful solo flute music which accompanies 'No Name' is very similar to the music which runs through Mardle (as we aficionados refer to it - in the same way as the production team...) - it is haunting, mysterious and compelling. It compels you to listen to the next episode in fact.
So in a sort of Pavlovian response, I would settle down to listen to the latest episode of Mardle, then instantly fall asleep. This meant I had to listen to each episode of each series three times.
I wrote to Nick Warburton to congratulate him on the perfect drama with the perfect actors making it, and added that he shouldn't take it the wrong way when I told him that I always fell asleep when listening to it. He assured me that he knew what I was talking about and sometimes did it himself.
He sent me at least one guaranteed night's sleep in the form of one series on CD, which was very generous of him. Some people are therapists without even being aware of it.
If you are a resident of the UK, then you can listen to No Name on 4 Extra at iPlayer, but you have a limited amount of time before it is taken down.
ReplyDeleteListening to Nigel Farage on LBC send me to sleep almost at once. He could market tapes for insomniacs.
ReplyDeleteI wish he had.
DeleteI sleep unaided.
ReplyDeleteI hope the same goes for your waking hours.
DeleteI read Wilkie Collins' "The Woman in White" several years ago and couldn't put it down. I read it so fast, I ended up with a splitting headache, but it was worth it!
ReplyDeleteHe was good. 'Call Me and I'll Come to You, My Lad' was a chilling story - but maybe it wasn't by Wilkie Collins...
DeleteWasn't that 'Whistle and I'll come to you' by M R James?
DeleteYes. You are right.
DeleteCan get this in France ( It's the i TV that is unavailable). As to sleeping I find the more interesting the prog. or play is the quicker I fall asleep, but SOD's Law says that when I fix an RdV to listen to The Afternoon Play at 3:15 it's not my cup of tea.
ReplyDeleteI could fall asleep on a branch !!! But you have obviously found your way of nodding off ! XXXX
ReplyDeleteTossing off...
DeleteI often fall asleep whilst watching something I-really-want-to-watch, which is a bit of a pisser.
ReplyDeleteLove the way the plot gets incorporated into my dreams though...such fun!
Anna :o]
Yes, sometimes I find myself lying in bed next to a newsreader like Cathy Clugston, trying to keep quiet while she does her job. Difficult.
DeleteThat would relate to your method of falling asleep as described to Jackie@ above I assume.
DeleteNo. She's not my type.
DeleteI am falling asleep reading this.....zzzzzzzzz
ReplyDelete