...a polar bear walks into a bar...

Blogging can be semi-funny, semi-detached and semi-interesting. It can also be a bit weird (as noted here). How open and honest can you be? Well my blog has been a tad semi-confessional - and hear comes another...

I'm having lessons on how to be funny - it's truly amazing what you can take evening classes in! As with many slightly daft ideas it started in a pub. Last December someone asked me "when are you going to try stand up comedy?" Now admittedly he'd had a couple of halves of shandy, but it seemed a genuine question. My response, "I lack two things - material and stage presence..." Conversation nipped in bud.

But it got me thinking and in Dec/Jan I had a look to see if you could perhaps learn or dabble in this. Found a couple of courses - one entitled "Finding your funny bone" and another which described itself as "just the course for those who make their friends laugh." Well, spring was a bit busy so I couldn't commit - I bottled it - but I had another look before Easter.

I wasn't sure stand up was for me but was tempted to dip my toe in the waters of comedy. So, a few weeks ago I started a low key introduction to writing comedy course - a bit on stand up, a bit on sketches and hopefully a bit on sitcom. Interesting... as I suspected being a smart ass and making the odd quick witted comment is very different to starting with a blank piece of paper.

Will anything come from this?? Doubtful, but I've managed to raise the odd laugh and it's definitely an experience...

Website of the week - #3

Are you fed up with lenghty movie reviews? Can you just not be bothered to wade through what Derek Malcolm or Mark Kermode thought of the latest releases? Is even Sleazy Kid from Movie Lounge on C5 a little too highbrow?

What you need is The Four Word Film Review.

You can even submit your own...

As one chapter closes...

On Friday the sale of my parents’ house was completed. As it was the final major thing to sort out from last year I was expecting a sense of relief. Have to admit that it has been different than I imagined; not a sudden flood of relief, but gradually over the bank holiday weekend I’ve felt a burden lifting. I’m not one for therapy speak - much more “a good talking to and pull yourself together” type - but the idea of 'closure', or more accurately little episodes of 'closure', is one I’m more open to following the last year.

Looking back over the past 12 months there is a paradox. On one level everything has changed; I finished studying, I moved flat, others have moved, Mum’s moved (twice!), the house I grew up in has been sold - about the only ‘most stressful’ thing I haven’t done is get divorced! Yet on another level little has changed and it is only now I’m able to unfreeze and embark on many things I was intending on doing last year - getting to know where I live, plan a holiday, work on friendships. Over the weekend I’ve had a growing sense of one chapter closing; but also one of excitement as the next chapter starts!

Friday evening - although I was in a bit of a funny mood and doubt I was the best of company (I put Coldplay on for the drive back - say no more!!) - it was lovely to spend some time catching up with friends. A nice few hours of detox and refreshment and a good opening to the next chapter.

From high to low

Having spent the best part of two days in bed - and not in a good way - yesterday was back to work and a bulging inbox - remember work before email.?.?. Fortunately the day was rescued by a fantastic concert at the Barbican where the Hertfordshire Chorus sang 5 Negro Spirituals (Tippett) , the Chichester Psalms (Bernstein) and various bits from Porgy and Bess (Gershwin) - wonderful.

I have admit I love the Barbican. It's just so slightly weird - in reality an upmarket council estate that happens to have a fantastic arts centre as its community centre. And the events at the Barbican are so eclectic - in past few months I've been to a graduation, a very camp Christmas show and the above concert - not to mention used the fantastic cinemas. I'd love to live there.

Anyway, just to prove that I'm not as highbrow as I make out, the next concert I'm going to will be turning it up to 11 as it's Bon Jovi. Don't ask...... it was supposed to be the first concert at the new Wembley. Apparently though they've still got the builders in so it's now moved to 'The National Bowl' @ Milton Keynes.

I noticed the posters say 'the same as Wembley, only different'. Well that's certainly one way to look at it...

Thought for the day

"Dance your cares away,
Worry's for another day.
Let the music play,
Down at Fraggle Rock."

...wise words...

Green with....

I'm a big fan of Green Wing - see here.

Surely I'm not the only one disappointed by the end of series 2.

Debbie Aldridge going off with???

Really?!?! No!!

Website of the week - #2

Are your friends just not glamourous enough? Do you wish your parties had that little bit extra - maybe D list celebrity would enliven it?

What you need is a lookalike! Make that party something your friends will always talk about by inviting....

...Ant & Dec...

...Hyacinth Bucket...

...Bin Laden...

Words

...smattering of applause...

I love this phrase - just sums up what the audience is trying to get across

Long lost sisters

Catching up with various tat I'd recorded on DVD the other day I couldn't help but think that the lovely Summer from The OC, and the even lovelier Kirstie Allsop from Location, Location Location (mmhh - Kirstie Allsop...) could be long lost sisters. Or at least that Summer knows what she will look like in 5-10 years....

Friday night is ??? night

Another wild evening - was at a local church helping to count the money received for Christian Aid week. Seemed to be me and half a dozen pensioners.

Still, on the positive side I got called 'young man' a fair bit - an increasingly rare occurrence - and had plenty of tea and chocolate digestives.....

"Should I stay or should I go..."

Incredibly I've had the lease of my current flat for 10.5 months and the agents have asked do I want to stay here; sign up for another year?

Thought about it a bit. Was very tempted to write of the past year, move out and start over somewhere else in London - a clean slate. I'll admit that if I could live anywhere in London I'd love to live right in the centre (Pimlico/Southbank/City/Barbican) but unless I double my salary, or find a lender dumb enough to front me 10x my salary, it ain't going to happen.

Where I'm currently based would be second choice - easy to get into London and easy to get out into the country. It 'ticks a lot of boxes' and has a nice vibe to the place. As someone said, I need to give it a 'normal' year (whatever that is!).

Moving on was tempting, but it would also negate the good stuff that has happened, and there have been some good moments so let's not lose those. I'm beginning to get to know the area and a few people - it all takes time and its only really been the past 3 months that I've been able to work at this.

Plus why would I move - to try to escape my neuroses? I know, who'd have thought I've neuroses...... Rather than escape them, they tend to follow!!

Guess West London has me for a another year... Who knows, when I've been here a year I might get round to finish unpacking all the boxes or even have some sort of flatwarming thing...

Heaven, Purgatory and Hell

Friday - Heaven

I was the beneficiary of spare ticket syndrome last Friday and ended up at the Lords test match. Great venue, good company, enthralling day's play. Evening spent catching up with a friend - a good day.

Saturday afternoon - Purgatory

Thought 'when was there a decent FA Cup Final match in the past few years?' Decided to skip it and go and watch Harlequins RL v. Bradford Bulls in a Super League match. Quins were painfully bad, a one sided match and I missed a cracking FA Cup Final. A lesson here somewhere??

Saturday evening/Sunday afternoon - Hell

Have discovered hell on earth - aka IKEA Croydon on a Saturday night. Went to feed my addiction to Swedish flat packed furniture, especially bookcases. Spent Sunday afternoon putting them together...

I know, I know - Saturday evening spent in IKEA - the sign of someone who needs a better social life, a wider circle of friends or a decent hobby. As I've said before - beyond parody ;o)

Website of the Week - # 1

Women are you worried that this summer's fashions are too revealing? Some days do you just feel that you want something more practical - something which doesn't detract from your inner beauty?

What you need is Modest Apparel USA.

The search for that Party Dress is finally over!

A gradual return

Thanks for all the comments and feedback.

This blog has evolved in a slightly different way to what I intended when I started it 6 months ago and I expect it will continue to evolve. Got some ideas and we'll see how it goes.

Just to reiterate - this blog is semi anonymous (my name doesn't appear) and no names or even initials will appear. I can't afford to lose the friends I have!

Couldn't resist this...

In today's Metro there is an article (see here) saying that some Japanese research has discovered that kissing can help ease hayfever.

...I suffer quite badly from hayfever...

...I'm willing to try complementary and alternative medicines...

...now if...

Things that make you go mmhh.....

...just went to vote...

...one of my votes (I could have up to 3 ??) went to the Green Party...

...got back in my car (diesel) and drove home...

Quick update

Thanks for those who have commented or emailed about the blog - all gratefully received.

Currently me and the blog are 'on a break' - I'm seeing other blogs etc.

Got various things 'on the go' (and on my mind) at the moment and ideally need to sort a couple of things out over the next week/10 days, so still contemplating whether to return to blogging - will let you know in the next week or so.

Still open to thoughts etc. - though not that one as I don't think it's physically possible.

Will update soon.