Just Do More, Richards

Okay, that title was a bit misleading. More than the 'first hints' - I've been feeling festive since schools restarted in September and have been continuously told to 'reign it in a bit' by...well, students, mostly. Kids these days aren't as excited as they used to be. The teachers are, though.  Half-term last week was mostly spent shopping; IKEA, Costco, various other outlets...has to be done, I guess, but I do find it all rather stressful. The rest of the time was spent writing, all new stuff for next year, running one-off courses (to students, all of whom now want to become regulars) and then on Sunday I played my first electric gig with Stateline Sinners. Frankly, a bonkers bunch of lads, but a talented lot. The gig, at the wonderful Six Six Bar in Cambridge, was a cracker. Big, dramatic, some moments of improvisation (understatement) but a whole lot of heart. More of that soon, obviously.  We're now into the Christmas term, student concerts everywhere, ...

Tis the season for...man flu. We've all got it, we all moan about it. Some of us still have to do the shows, though... The lessons were mostly fine, drums drown out the scratchiness of my throat and the kids were happy to get this first half-term of the school year out of the way. A couple of gigs with the blues band last week, Thursday at the retirement village and then back to our hotel residency on Friday. Different singers for both of the gigs, both offering something very different but equally brilliant, it's all a nice project.  Saturday I was back performing The Many Cars show, this time around Phil's house - he's the dad of my close mate's wife, so a new location for me but a lovely audience all the same. I was really struggling with losing my voice and was mega snotty, but they stuck with me. Didn't feel as sharp as the first performance, but they still got a good 80 minutes out of me and it's a nice story. I like this show a lot.  Half-term now but...

That was a daft old week, last week. Having had my first day off in a very long time on Sunday, Monday was back to 9 lessons in 9 different locations. My car started making 'that' noise again, the one that was fixed by the garage but clearly not fixed because on Tuesday morning, on my way to teach, it started again, even louder. Overtaking a lorry in the fast lane of the A14, my car lost power - red battery light flashed on, followed by all of the others, and it went from just under 70 miles an hour to 10. I honestly feel like I should be dead, and I'm so grateful for the awareness of all the other drivers around me, all of whom backed off as I struggled across three lanes to a hard shoulder before the AA could come out to help. The AA were great, there in under 45 minutes, diagnosed it as the automator (why didn't the garage spot this?) and got me home. Borrowed father-in-law's car again for a few days. With my battery charged up to give me about half an hour's...

I've not had a day off for a long time. August, in fact, but I've got one this Sunday. My priority for that day is simple: get a haircut, because I'm looking like a skanky mess. When I said in the last post that I was going to say 'yes' to everything work-wise, I certainly did...and as a result I'm now knackered! It's all good, though, the lessons have been ticking over with a nice balance of limb independence challenges and (early I know) Christmas songs. Long hours, but everyone seems happy. Apart from my car, but you've heard enough about those issues already.  But talking of which...the Many Cars show opened on Thursday, my 'house show' exclusive show. It's the fifth new show I've written this year, and the nearest to stand-up I've done in a while. The joy of it being in a non-conventional venue is that I don't have to keep it to an hour, so I did nearly an hour and a half for the first one around Nicole's flat. It was lov...

Last month I was still unpacking from the Edinburgh Fringe and now one of my booking agents is asking me what shows I have for next year, starting with the Leicester Comedy Fest in February, the deadline for which is tomorrow. I mean, I know, I'm always writing, but it's a bit soon, isn't it? Made the deadline for two new shows with a whole 24 hours to spare. Both of those shows have been in the pipeline for a while; the first is a play based around a conga player who doesn't feel like he gets enough credit as a musician because he is so flamboyant onstage (it's based on someone who plays percussion for someone really famous, but I can't say names here because you never know who reads this blog) (I mean, 68 of you, I think). It feels like a lovely story that needs to be told, how the showman is more popular than the skilled man, and when he changes his 'act' he faces a battle.  The other show is a little more personal. I've been feeling a bit restles...

It's been a busy couple of weeks; some lovely gigs with the band - with FH we've been back at the arts centres, playing to seated, respectful audiences with great sound. Also played a guest house with Claudia the other night which was quirky and great fun.  Most of my time has been either spent teaching, or writing the new house exclusive show, which is about the many cars I've had over the years and my lack of understanding with them. They say write about what you know, yeah? I like the idea of a house exclusive show, because it gets me out of the routine of Leicester (Feb, new show), Brighton (May, show should be tighter by then), Edinburgh (August, it's a proper show by then) and the 60-minute restriction. I can do what I like, I don't have to hire venues and I get to meet lots of lovely people. I said I'd do the show anywhere. And then an old friend in Australia booked me... Just as I was looking at flights, I had to pop out to see my mate Josie for a catch-...