Collings was over this afternoon for
Podcast 72 and I was in increasing discomfort thanks to my gestating pus baby. It threatened to be a puscast. I am getting fairly convinced that there is an alien in there waiting to emerge when I least expect it. Or at least a nest of spiders. I can't bear the anticipation.
It didn't go though, not today, not even when later on Daniel Kitson patted me heavily on the back after his amazing set at tonight's gig at Bush Hall. It seemed to be rumbling and bubbling like it was a Frankingstein coming to life, but it refused to burst. I've had various email second opinions about how I should proceed, but for the moment I am going to sit it out (though slightly and uncomfortably hunched forwards) and see what transpires.
I was tired and run down all day, but as usual the gig tonight lifted me. I had a lot of fun and ended up telling the audience not only about the cyst but about a disgusting sexual practice that someone had emailed me about which involves something so unlikely and unpleasant that I seriously doubt that it has ever been done by anyone. If you have a very strong stomach then you might want to google "shitblister". There are various definitions, but when you find the one that makes you question your own humanity then you've got the right one. The audience in Shepherd's Bush tonight were not too impressed by the practice and none of them admitted to having ever attempted it. But then I don't think anyone has ever attempted it.
These Bush Hall Presents gigs are extraordinarily good and have almost unbelievable line ups. Tonight was the excellent Terry Saunders (a super-sub replacement for Edward Aczel who had broken down on the M25 - hopefully in car), back-slapping Daniel Kitson, who is arguably the best stand up in the country and who always leaves me open mouthed with astonishment at his brilliance and then a certain Stewart Graham Lee, who is arguably the best stand up in the country who mesmerised the audience (well apart from a blonde woman on the front row who didn't seem to enjoy anyone on this evening - it is great to see someone with the exact opposite sense of humour to yourself).
Not that they need the plugs, but if you're up in Edinburgh make sure you book tickets to their shows right now!
And if you want other recommendations then you could do a lot worse than seeing
this guy.
