Category: Other

Last night was the second in a new season of the Improvised Comedy Workshop I attend. For those out of the loop improvised comedy is where you get up with no script, no characters, no idea and your audience give you the setup and you derive humour from it – like Whose Line Is It Anyway?

It’s been a couple of months since I felt that energised, that ready to just commit myself to dashing about and acting stupid and it is so much fun. Once you get over the hurdle of any embarrassment you realise that nine times out of ten you are performing to people who are with you, they want to be entertained, they’re on your side. It’s a wonderful feeling to have when your self esteem tends to wain for no reason at all.

Sitting in the pub with them afterwards I realised what a good group I get to perform with, and how really it’s a shame that we only have those few hours together on a Thursday night, they’re all so funny, all such characters and so supportive of whatever each other have going on, it’s a brilliant environment to operate in and I feel privileged to be a part of it.

Detective Frank Horowitz entered the room like he owned it, and for all anyone else knew he may well have done, he wasn’t one for photos of family on his desk or requesting days off for school plays, that is, if he even had a family.
Holloway walked over to the desk, pulled out his Parker and dug it into the mouth of Martin Yale (recently deceased).
‘This is foul play’ he declared.

I am overwhelmed by the response so far to my fundraising. I hoped people would catch on quickly but the generosity and messages have been lovely.

I would like to personally thank Kate, Emily, Terri, Mex, Luke, Antony, Jade, John and Stephanie for their donations. I won’t forget where that first £120 came from and I hope there’s more to come from others.

I’ve set the ball rolling on a couple of ideas to organise different things to raise funds, one of which I am particularly excited about but it’ll have to wait for confirmation.

In the mean time go here to get in on the action.

Sorry, I’ve been very busy this weekend, there’s a perfectly logical explanation for it which will all be revealed in time, just be patient avid readers.

I went to see Anna Karenina last night which left me in an odd mood, it’s a very bleak film and having never read any Tolstoy I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was squirming in my seat by the end, it was like the Ludovico treatment.

For the time being though I’m back on the train, back on my commute, but with a spring in my step.

I’ve spent this weekend sat at my computer with a guitar and microphone plugged into it, right now my Mac feels like it could just explode, it’s never been this hot, I’ve never had such a surge of work on. It’s taken just over twenty-four hours but I’ve recorded a five track EP that will be available as a download soon. I’ve just burnt it to a CD so I can go for a drive later and listen to see if there’s any adjustments I want to make and then you can all hear it.
It’s part of a bigger thing I’ve got coming up, but like a good Jewish boy I need to tell my Mum before I can tell anyone else.
I’ll speak to you later, when all will be explained.

I’ve turned my little bedroom into a studio. I’m working on some new songs (and some very old songs). I’m hoping that you will all get to hear them soon because I’m going to offer them up as an EP that you can download.

As I stood in the bathroom this morning brushing my teeth I realised that it was Friday and I felt burdened to write my usual Friday blog.
I couldn’t think of anyone to write about, having covered pretty much everyone in the last couple of months, I think I’m just going to put the idea to rest and that’s all I’ve got to write today.
I apologise that it isn’t more exciting but I’ll have news after the weekend

X

I ran three miles this morning. It’s the first time I’ve done that in a month and I feel really good for it, although I’m aching slightly already which will have to get worse before it gets better.

I’ve really come to enjoy running and I’m glad I don’t have to pack it in completely. I was worried that I’d developed shin splints due to my Dad’s horror stories and a brief spell of having shooting pains up my shins whenever I ran three miles. I realise now it was probably down to a combination of the wrong footwear and trying to run too hard when I should be going for distance. I backed off a bit and was just doing the odd mile here and there but it was really nice to do my usual trek this morning, makes me feel setup for the day, regardless of what I have to spend my weekdays doing at the moment.

Sorry, that wasn’t particularly exciting was it.

If you’re going to offer up someone advice, make sure it’s beneficial.
It’s something that has been bothering me since I brief exchange I had with someone at work.
She asked how my novel was going and I said that I had sent it off to ten agents, that I’d had rejection letters from three but I’d see how it went with the rest.
The next thing she said was this;
“Well, the odds of getting it published are like winning the lottery”

I don’t need to know that. I don’t want to know that.
I’m just trying to get something done. I’m trying to achieve something, I’m not interested in odds, or statistics or numbers, I deal in words, and my words are important to me, so watch yours.
All you have to say is ‘good luck with that’ and walk away, that’s all the justification I need.
I’m aware it’s a hard vocation I’ve dived into, I’m trying my best, just have a little courtesy and a little patience around the area, it’s a sensitive issue, in case you couldn’t tell.