An enjoyable run around Cheddar reservoir this morning. I haven't been able to exercise as much as I'd like in the last couple of weeks, but I guess all the lifting and packing and dashing about has provided quite a good workout. The run felt easy.
The reservoir was dotted with ducks, which I'd never seen before, little black balls spread over the whole expanse of the water. But we were surrounded by wildlife, which is not something we experience on our runs down by the Thames. Sheep were walking on the path and drinking from the water - it was all quite idyllic. A man fishing shouted, "Hello Rich". He looked a bit familiar but I didn't know if it was someone from school or someone who had just recognised me from my comedy or just from being my dad's son. I shouted back a greeting that could be taken any way. I reminded myself of my dad though, as I was smiling and saying hello to everyone who we passed, even though I didn't know them. When my parents came to London I had to advise my dad not to do this to everyone in Shepherd's Bush. If you catch people's eye here and smile or give a salutation you run a risk of getting into trouble, but old habits die hard and dad found it hard not to smile at all the hoodies, which I feared they might take as sarcastic or invasive. But here back at home, as part of a community that I know, I felt I could be like him. And it's a shame that the same is not true in the place I now live. It made me hanker a little bit for life in the countryside, but my fiancee said she thought I would only like it for a couple of days and then it would become too isolated and unexciting. Who knows?
Though I can not get round the res as quickly as I did when I was 18 when I think it took me 16 minutes, I still felt pretty good for a man who is somehow close to being halfway through his 40s - God I wish I was 40 again now! I was bragging to my fiancee about my levels of fitness when a family with a couple of dogs approached. One of the dogs was running right at me. I turned right to avoid it, but the little collie also chose to go right at the same time. We were both going too fast to stop and so I had no choice but to leap over the small dog. My fiancee said I came close to kicking it in the head, but I cleared the obstacle with ease. I've still got it.
As we carried on I discussed how embarrassing it would have been if I had killed the dog. My girlfriend added, "And tragic." Which shows the different ways we look at things. But the death or brain damage of a collie would be nothing compared to the awkwardness of having to apologise to the owners in a town where everyone knows everyone. And not that tragic as they had another collie that looked exactly the same.
I don't think I have properly enjoyed the show for a week or so - it's all been going fine, with some slight distractions, and I've been satisfied with all the performances, but tonight in Exeter I found the joy again and had a lot of fun. There were nearly 400 people in, which helped a lot and the theatre was properly lovely from start to finish (just the fact that the loading doors were right at the back of the theatre and I was able to park there and stay parked there all night was a thrill - a surprising number of venues don't have such facilities). The young crew were efficient and helpful and my fiancee was with me and was doing the driving - and all this probably contributed to me having some energy and cheekiness on the night. I think I've been a bit overwhelmed lately and annoyances have thrown me slightly. But I had had a good sleep and had been made welcome and the audience were up for watching comedy, rather than trying to reach oblivion. I ad-libbed several good new lines (will I remember them all? It doesn't really matter), made a few slip ups but didn't let them get to me, mocked Devon for not being as sophisticated as Somerset (when I picked on a couple where I said the girl could do better and she pointed out she was with her brother - we don't allow that kind of thing in Somerset any more) and then in turn mocked the people from further South West as guileless and feral apemen. It was all taken in the spirit that it was intended in. I love the south west and in actuality the further south west I get, the more I love it. These are my people. And thanks to them I pretty much nailed it tonight and I made myself laugh as well as the crowd of slightly sub-human Devonians.
From now on I have the slightly tricky hurdle to negotiate of updating the Ferrero Rocher routine to include another Valentine's Day. It shouldn't be too tricky, but might trip me up a little bit. But if I can leap an unpredictable dog, then I am sure I can work out the maths required to make that work. Valentine's Day in Canterbury - bring your date to a show that purports to destroy love. It will either strengthen or weaken your own love. Worth the gamble I think.
