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My energy is definitely returning, possibly at higher levels than before the chemo. In an attempt to not let six weeks pass without doing any work and because it feels like I am back in lockdown, I attempted two remote RHLSTP Book Clubs today.
Sometimes it can be tough doing these remotely, especially if there is a tiny delay on the feed, which can really throw off the conversation, but today I had a huge amount of fun. My morning guest was Professor Turi King who has written a fabulous book about DNA. Not only had she also read my Ball Back book, she realised how much crossover there was in our interests: she writes about Cheddar Man and my history teacher and why it's not really that impressive that they share some DNA, also she used Hitler's DNA to make some tentative analysis of what it might mean for the one ball situation, she got into genetics as a result of the Romanovs bones being discovered and most notably she was heavily involved in the discovery of Richard III's bones. Also the whole subject of DNA and the fact we're all related to every living thing on the planet is one of my major interests, so I was looking forward to this.
And not only was she a brilliant guest but she was a lot of fun too and our chat about Rasputin and historical penises continued on after we'd stopped recording. This will be out in a couple of weeks, but in the meantime
do read her book. It's great.
In the afternoon I chatted to Paul Tonkinson, who I've known since we gigged together in the early 90s, about his book about running an insane 250km race through part of the Sahara desert. Again the book is also about a lot of things I've been thinking about recently, most notably how men cope with ageing and losing their strength (amongst other things), but also getting older as a comedian and the mindset you require to not become bitter and mean. Paul is a proper stand up who loves the job and appreciates how lucky he is. He really has his head screwed on, even if he is insane enough to take on ridiculous challenges that could harm or kill him. But he learned a lot out there in the desert and he's a brilliant writer,
so here's another book I can heartily recommend.
In between all this I managed to walk up to the Post Office in the midday sun to post off this month's badger prize and a couple of other bits and bobs. Apart from going to hospital I have been largely housebound in the last month, so it felt great to be in the real world.
I then recorded
today's Newsround, which had the air of a man who had been running in the desert for a week and was now hallucinating.
Even after all this I felt pretty good and continue to wonder if having blood cancer might have been affecting my energy levels. Who knew cancer could have such negative side effects.
Two more guests announced for Edinburgh RHLSTPs. On 8th August I am talking to Felicity Ward and on the 11th Mark Thomas. T
ickets and other guests here. 
