I woke in the middle of the night in confusion, believing I had invented a new word that was unpronounceable for a human being. The word seemed to be real, but sure enough I could not make any sense of it in human language or thought. It just floated there in my mind as an unidentifiable, unsayable blob.
I was, I think it's fair to say, not yet recovered.
But I couldn't stay in bed because for some reason I had agreed to do an interview for Woman's Hour on Radio 4 about moustaches. I don't know why I was doing this. I am not a woman. I don't have a moustache (not any more) and more pertinently, Edinburgh has just finished and thus publicity appearances are of little immediate use to me.
But hey, it was Woman's Hour and I'd get to meet Jenni Murray and there is nothing - NOTHING - I wouldn't do for that woman. The student me who used to listen to Radio 4 in bed and was often not up before 10am would not believe that in the space of one month I would be on Just a Minute and Woman's Hour.
The interview was a prerecord and will be on the show on Friday I believe if you want to listen. I don't know why Woman's Hour was interested in moustaches, but luckily there was a fashion journalist from GQ on with me, who had more than done her homework and seemed to know everything about the subject. Jenni Murray asked me if I hoped that the Hitler moustache might one day be known as the Herring moustache and I told her that I had a rude joke about that very question which I would not dare to tell on Woman's Hour. But Jenni insisted on hearing it and I told her, "Well it does sound like something you'd get after giving oral sex to someone with questionable personal hygiene." Jenni guffawed and agreed that that wouldn't go out on the show. But it was cool to make her laugh. It was nice to make a radio legend chortle with a slightly naughty joke. The student me would be quite astonished if I could only go back and tell him. But I wouldn't go back and tell him even if I could. Because I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise of the moment. And I hope the 60 year old Richard Herring (if there should ever be such a thing) who lives in a future when time travel must surely be possible, will respect my wish to keep everything fresh and unexpected.
I stayed in all day and read my book, watched about ten episodes of the brilliant "The Office: An American Workplace" and "Gran Torino" which wasn't quite what I expected, but was enjoyable enough nonetheless.
I also got an email today from a woman called Rosalind who informed me that because of my Edinburgh show she had just registered to vote for the first time. I have had a few comments from people letting me know that they will make sure they go out to vote at future elections. Which makes me feel a little bit chuffed. It's nice to make a difference, even if only a small one. Even though I would obviously have preferred loads of awards and shit, encouraging one person to use exercise their democratic right is a pretty good second place.
As long as she hasn't registered so she can vote for the BNP. That would be to somewhat misunderstand the show.
