It was an early start today as I had my annual appearance on the Fred Mcauley show. It's live from the Spiegeltent and Fred is, as last year, joined by the wonderful Su Perkins.
In the past I have done this show through the fog of hangover and fatigue. In fact two or three years ago I had been at a party all night and maybe had two hours sleep and had gone on still pretty drunk. When asked how I was I could only respond "I am really not sure."
This year I had got a relatively early night and so didn't feel quite so spaced out and was able to confirm that the audience, who I had assumed I had sort of dreamt over the last few years, are indeed as strange and stary as I recall. They are not that bad really, but Fred is a favoured son of Scotland and the people who come to see him are largely probably not interested in my various crude endeavours. But like them I really like Fred and think he's a fine and sharp radio host, so I am always happy to do the show, even if once I am in the cab there I am usually regretting the decision to agree to go on.
There was a very funny sketch group on the show as well called
The Ugly Kid, not quite up there with Pappy's Fun Club (rather wonderfully nominated for the Iffies comedy award today) for me, but still seemingly breathing some life into a generally moribund art form. Look out for them. I think they will do well and they have a TV pilot coming up soon.
It was a fun interview, but over soon enough and I was heading home in a cab.
I tried to go back to sleep but with little luck, so it turned out to be a lazy day, sorting out my charity money and sending out more programmes to all you generous idiots who contributed to the SCOPE programme fund.
The show was a good one tonight, despite my weariness, though numbers were right down, probably only about 120 in. The last week has been like this for a few years now, but it was noticeable how few punters there were around in town. There are still tickets left for all 4 remaining shows - please book < a href="http://www.underbellyvenues.co.uk/edinburgh/2007/whatson/index.php"> here if you are going to be in town this weekend. I am planning on having lots of fun with the last few, so it should be worth seeing!
After a few beers I walked home for an earlyish night. I passed "The Clamshell" chip shop, which is a place that I definitely visited regularly on my first visit here in 1987 (probably before I ever knew about the Tempting Tattie). I decided to pop in for old times sake, though was disappointed to see the place had had a bit of a re-fit and the petulant staff were dressed in a uniform, so it looked more like a Chicken Cottage than the charming tiny chipshop selling chocolate bars and cans of pop that I remember. I suppose things have to change, but my attempt to connect with the past, just made it seem more isolated. Plus I ended up eating greasy chips, which I must stop doing. There is a big diet coming in September, I can tell you that. After Thailand and my London run. So October then.
Should get all the programmes out to people this week as have been spending my afternoons packing up envelopes and licking stamps. But I don't have addresses for the people below. If you could get them to me by Friday lunchtime I would be very grateful. Email me at herring1967@googlemail.com asap if your name appears below
Jamie Jamieson
Dafyff Tomos
Neil Jones
Ian Seckington
Monastico
Sandra Crouch_Pettitt
Kieran Wellard
James Scott
Dominic Graham
Stephen Nuttall
Michael Wood
Jo Gostling
Sally Stephens
