They prerecord part of a radio show, of course.

Phoenix stalwart John Hall is one of the driving forces behind Phoenix FM’s popular monthly radio show Cranky Old Blokes and with his kidneys playing up he risked missing the popular monthly program.

That was until fellow presenter Bill Whitbread paid a visit to St John of God’s Bendigo Hospital.

Mr Hall was able to launch the latest show in a prerecorded segment which went to air earlier this month.

Mr Hall does not miss many shows, though he has been beset by “a bad year” which has seen him battle kidney problems.

Before that he was hospitalised after breaking his hip while out on assignment for Phoenix FM program.

“I fell over in Goynes Road taking questions around to election candidates and broke the left hip,” Mr Hall said.

Four days later he fell in the hospital ward and broke his right hip.

Mr Hall is one of the station’s stalwarts and returned to regular duties in the studio on Tuesday. 

As well as monthly program Cranky Old Blokes, Mr Hall co-hosts history program Bendigo Past, Present & Future and political show Council Capers with Darren Wright, Happy Talk with Val Hogan and Sports Talk with Richard Jones.

He is also part of the team broadcasting City of Greater Bendigo council meetings every three weeks.

“It’s not full-on but I’m busy every week,” Mr Hall said.

Cranky Old Blokes sees senior presenters at the volunteer radio station reminisce about their lives, with a particular focus on childhood.

“We just go in there and waffle on about our younger days,” Mr Whitbread said.

He said every time presenters sat down for a show they shared treasured stories.

“We talk about cracking on, going around blowing up letter boxes and all that mischievous stuff,” Mr Whitbread said.

Mr Hall said that sort of thing was part of life for kids in those days.

“(The show) is just about bringing back those sorts of memories. They’re fun things. Nothing like that happens now because kids don’t get a chance to be themselves,” he said.

“You played in the streets. You weren’t pushed into areas you had to be played in.”

“I went back to Thornbury to see where I lived. I couldn’t believe it was so narrow. It was a big street when I was playing in it.”

The next Cranky Old Blokes is scheduled to air on 106.7 Phoenix FM on Tuesday 2 August.