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I got to the museum in plenty of time on Wednesday to take over the evening storytelling shift while David went off to appear in Wuthering Heights. Five minutes later, my first audience came in...

It went well. My two young actress volunteers improvised their way through Elizabeth Woodville and Jacquetta of Luxembourg's story and it was different every time. They were enthusiastic and creative and had fun... I hope!

The last group had a few kids, including one who was all 'yeah, yeah, I'm bored, this isn't scary'... and we managed to get him to shut up and listen. YES!

Sadly, the BBC didn't come to film us as they couldn't get permissions to film everything they wanted, so they went to another part of the tour instead. Boo.

I made sure the girls were back safe at rendezvous point in the library, where I learned the tours were running about 40 minutes late. So, no trek to the pub for all the tour lot then. But I still had to go to see how my comedy night was doing... and the answer was, not so well. Lessons learned there, I'm afraid. Still it was lovely to talk to Pat Burtscher and Will Marsh.

I also made sure I got to see James Acaster, David Trent and Jake Moore doing their thing this week, as it was the last chance for me as we have diary clashes elsewhere. So funny! I was super-cold in the club, though, and a bit head-achey, so I think this weekend some lurg-fighting TLC is required.

I was super-glad that with very careful budgeting last month, despite the fact I didn't get a full wage, I managed not to go overdrawn. That's a couple of beers' worth of money transferred to the wedding/convention/Christmas budget. I'm hoping to get back into the swing of booking conventions at lower rates like I used to, as well. That will also save money.

I'm also getting more editorial work coming through now, which is great. The future is on its way.

So, it's the start of the month. Here are some goals:

Health and fitness - hope I can build up to going swimming later this month. I've also volunteered to marshal at parkrun until I'm well enough to run it again.

Wedding - I need to book the venues in Gretna and Northampton.

Conventions - Sci-Fi Weekender - deposit is sent. Just need to make sure we have a full caravan now.

Creative ideas - I'm performing poetry at a Christmas Lights switch on in December and there are merchandising possibilities... make a CD? What would go down better, I wonder... a general poetry CD or a Christmas album? Not long to decide.

I've also got to submit a piece for Northampton Science Fiction Writers Group. I might rewrite my 90s nostalgia story, or I already have a novella chapter written and submitted somewhere... but a crit is only useful if that somewhere is a dead end. Let's see what can be achieved over the next 2 weeks.

I've got to finalize the line-up for the Christmas Cabaret at the Racehorse. Exciting stuff! We have punk-jazz poetry, comedy, burlesque and geek show sideshow magic so far!

Writing comedy material on the joy of crap discos.

Must. Do. More. Knitting!

Leisure time - I'm planning very little in this month: a party on Friday, cinema trip on Tuesday. Frugality rules. Neil and I are planning to make a date to see either a TV film or DVD (old or borrowed) at least once a week. Last week's was Spirited Away, lent to us by a friend a few months back. That's how busy we've been! *Guilt* This week, Princess Mononoke from the same friend. Then we can post them back.

I also intend to read at least 2 books a month for pleasure - as in, not obliged to for a review or work. Am currently enjoying Joanne Harris's The Lollipop Shoes.

Frugality and money - I want to put a good chunk towards the wedding this month - it will probably have to go straight out again on securing the venues, but that will feel like progress. Hopefully Neil will have stuck to budget to get a new freezer.

declutter Kitchen cupboards, your time has come!
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N is currently cooking me a lovely surprise tea and I am glad because I am knackered. I have had the first day of my writing sabbatical today and spent all morning in the office, due to a combination of guilt, dread and an utter inability to leave things alone.

I was knackered to begin with, due to a late night last night. I went to the Labour Club for Jake Moore’s Xylophone Club – I love going to see comedy, especially when someone else has had the stress of organising it. Headlining was Josie Long – who was brilliant as ever (and I realise I am slightly jealous as some of my company was commenting on how cute she is – plus her being a comedy genius, and all). Middle Act was Daniel Smith who I first gigged with in Oxford. He was good then and he’s better now. Opening act was David Trent who I had not seen before. I loved his twist on ‘spontaneous’ comedy and deft use of PowerPoint and video. What a fun night.

I was starving, so I bought some food there. Two meals for £2.50!!!! Thank you Gordon Brown, erm, for that.

Alan Moore was there too – but here is the sad news, for me at least. The edits for the first issue of Dodgem Logic have been done by someone else on this occasion. I’m a bit disappointed, but hey, the magazine is looking really cool and I am sure will run and run, so hopefully I’ll get on board another time. It has had input from Alex Musson, who runs the amazing Mustard magazine, Josie Long and will feature a CD of local music from the last 50 years, including m’friend Downtown Joe Brown (that’s the chap painting my portrait!). It’s launching November 26th here in Northampton, so you really need to visit us and get hold of your copy before anyone else so you can feel all exclusive and special. It will be available globally though, too, from December. One place you will be able to get it is Forbidden Planet – so check that out. It will be out every other month at £2.50 an issue.

In the meantime, I’m in a slam competition on Saturday. I submitted my 30-word intro for that today. I’m really looking forward to it, but I’m also incredibly nervous, particularly as I only have one piece (mostly) prepared so far. My aim is to act the hell out of it, and try to get through to round 2, but I’m up against some terribly good poets, so don’t hold out any hopes for further than that. Here’s a rival, Heather Wastie:

I’ll put a video of mine up when I get round to it, I think.

Ah well, this is what the holiday is for – that and the editing work which is picking up pace again. £10 – Bilston Imperial Palace, 8pm – includes free curry!! Tickets available from: Big Deal Music, 128 Salop Street, Wolverhampton. Tel: 01902 423567 or you can reserve tickets by emailing Emma Purshouse: emmaasif@hotmail.com

I practised my one slam poem at the Raising of the Arwen event last week, and to be honest, I’m not sure if that was much of a gauge of whether it was good enough. Could be that I didn’t know the poem too well and just read it. I don’t know. I’ve been getting paranoid a lot lately (just because you know you’re paranoid…) so my perspective is skewed. Heck… I liked my poem when I wrote it.

The night was really good though. I’d say most of the acts were really good (not sure about read-out poems in fake accents that go on for fifteen minutes apiece, but hey) and I was thrilled to get jelly sweets and a lovely pair of witch’s yellow and black striped popsocks from the Arweners. Might wear them out one of the days.

On Thursday, I’m going to see Stewart Lee – again, as a punter – leaving our Rugby night to Neil. So, I need to find someone else to go with, besides my bro, as I have a spare ticket (we booked months and months ago). It’s on the same night as Purple Monkey, run by m’friends in Northampton’s Fishmarket, and they’ve got Ed Achsel, so I have a feeling the comedy connoisseurs would and should go there, really. What to do?

Oh, oh and oh! I’ve got a gig coming up on 12th in Brum. And I’m supporting Sarah Millican!!! That’s at the Victoria Inn.

Oh, oh, and oh, and again, oh! We’ve just put together an amazing night in beautiful Earls Barton for November 20th – and how excited am I – Paul Foot is headlining! Check out my website for details http://www.badgerandboodleentertainment.com I put links to my gigs there too.

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Neil and Donna Bond

February 2021

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