Ducking the trend.

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St, James Parked under a heavy sky. Smoke was billowing out of a Buck house chimney – had the Pope died? I walked round the lake and saw with my own eyes families of ducks dipping for supper. There was a veil of damp rain it was quite literally water off a ducks back. My … Read more

ONLY WHEN I LAUGH by JACK SHEPHERD

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I left the flat in the bright sunshine. It was cool and fresh. The boats looked like paper ships on a painted river. Walked over Battersea bridge, down Cheyne Walk right through to Pimlico, down past Victoria Station and then I got really fired up so I walked past Buck house, through to St. James, … Read more

Ox-tails

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Gung Hay Fat Choy! Happy Year of the Ox. I am pogged on dumplings and custard cakes. Thank you to the GOLDEN PALACE in China Town, wonderful service, atmosphere and of course food. I am replete on Jasmine tea and conversation. Jim is doing his first tech run tonight then tomorrow we go to the … Read more

Hertfordshire and back

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Allan Sillitoe on Desert Island Discs, was so predictable. From ‘Old Man River’ to his stories. Not that there is anything wrong with predictability but being surprised by a persons life is always uplifting – he did not uplift me. I arrived at my mothers in time to buy a bag of Turkish delights and … Read more

Logs agogo

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POSITIVE SHRINKING by KEVIN LAYE, has had hundreds of you wanting to know about tapping.
Buy his book, it’s only little, and you’ll be able to tap, dowse and think your self slim – well that’s what he says.
I had a productive meeting with Steve Campen, my ex producer, who is now helping me prepare AN AUDIENCE WITH for March 26th in CROYDON. We talked over coffee in Garfunkles in Leicester Square. He started it – when I saw the tears in his eyes I started blubbing and had to agree that making it to 60 was something to sing about.
Which I may well do….

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Number 11 and still counting

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Getting from here to Leicester Square is turning into a delightful game. The puzzle of London where all roads seem to lead to and from home.
All buses get me near to the Square and all tubes are mere moments away from somewhere.
This morning I set off early, having meditated and researched the programme, the weather was satisfactorily mild and the light perfect for an energetic stroll

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A day at the Office.

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Th Italian caff on the corner of Leicester Square is like being on the continent.
The waitresses are ever so slightly surly, the waitors musically inclined, the paying customers mostly foreign and the big portions of food are served up on big white plates.
Wherever you sit there is a big window to look out of.
The Hippodrome, or Wyndhams Theatre, or The Spotlight offices – for the actors don’t you know – Leicester Square itself. It really feels like you’re a tourist.
This morning Steve Allen and I shared a table.
He had a bagel and Earl grey tea.
I had baked beans, scrambled egg – with a tomato and sprig of parsley garnish, and a cup of coffee.

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To party or not to party

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My eye was glued together when I woke up.
Now it could be an eye-lash ( or ash-leye as Bee used to call it) or my insomnia.
Whatever it is I woke up this morning in a fowl temper.
Jim had decamped to the spare room – he’s dangerously close to opening night – so I woke alone and gummed up.

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The night before Barakaday

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It’s all slowly revealing itself. Today the show was grown up and informative. Took a taxi home too tired to walk. Although this morning I found another route to South Kensington Station. I could hear myself chuntering to myself as I walked new streets.. Tonight I leapt into my pj’s and settled down with Jim … Read more