Welcome home
Hi.
Well, Latitude was marvellous. I slogged my way through a slightly difficult gig in the comedy tent, then got agreeably drunk and ranted semi-coherently about my book in the literary tent. I saw one of my favourite stand-ups Emo Philips shaking his floppy hair about in his usual highly entertaining manner. I wandered around between overpriced stalls feeling like a teenager again – it’s been a couple of years since I was at a festival – except that I had a baby in a tiny ‘LATITUDE’ T-shirt and bandanna. Finally I stood with a goofy grin on my face watching Grizzly Bear, who I like a lot, playing their wonderful low-key anthems in a tent full of quiet respectful slightly-but-not-offensively pissed people like myself. When they played a particularly lovely song called ‘Cheerleader’ I felt like I was made of marshmallows and might just float right out into the Suffolk sky. Didn’t, though.
In between, I was fortunate enough to meet quite a few readers of this blog, some of whom claimed a swag of Where’s Watson points by going to the book signing/stopping me as I walked around/standing awkwardly next to me waiting for one of the unlockable cattle-shed toilets to become available. I also got to chat to several TYSIC participants. They included John who has taken steps towards becoming a professional writer by getting work published on two film websites, and Rachael who is beavering away trying to set up an urban farm.
Thank you everyone who helped me enjoy this long, sun-baked day as much as I did, whether by propping up the sometimes rather thin laughs in the comedy gig, tolerating my alcohol-fuelled book ‘reading’, smiling at me, or appearing to smile at me when they were actually looking at someone behind.
It will still be 24 hours or so before I get back to full steam, but I have some cunning blog-ideas lined up, including one about what that psychic octopus means for our lives, and one about charities. And a preview of Edinburgh and some more book information and news on people’s world-changing and many more things besides. In the meantime, some admin:
-The Very Late Review, volume 5, is waiting for you (Megan nominated a new set of candidates last week)… but I might add a couple of things, so if you’re thinking of contributing, maybe wait for tomorrow.
-If you left a Comment over the past week, you might find it’s not been published because there was a pile of them waiting for ‘moderation’. This might have been particularly galling if you’ve never put a Comment up before, and plucked up courage to do so, and then it wasn’t there. But they are all on the site now. I almost never censor things. Even if I occasionally wish I could.
-Madeleine wrote a mournful Comment yesterday saying that ‘the run had to end’ because she couldn’t find a blog. As always though, it was up there (entitled PLatitudes, and written as I was about to go onto the site). Some people seem to be able to find the blog every day, others find it doesn’t always show up. I don’t know why this is but I think if you have an ‘RSS feed’ it appears automatically. But I’m saying that like I know what it means. I, of course, don’t. Someone may be kind enough to explain below.
-You are all excellent. Sorry there isn’t time for more today.
Mark
(I don’t normally sign these blogs, but we’ve been apart a while)
Posted by Kate W on July 21, 2010
And when I say “the actual reading delegate”, clearly I mean “delegate the actual reading” – reading makes my speaking English good.
Posted by Kate W on July 21, 2010
The book reading was great fun and I think thoroughly enjoyed by everyone in the tent. To make a suggestion I’d have made then if I’d been nearer the stage, if you really don’t like reading your own work/want to give a running authorial commentary, you could always the actual reading delegate to an audience member (or indeed series of audience members) in a 24 Hour Show style.
To stake my claim for Where’s Watson points, saw you heading towards the main stage about 5pm with Kit in your right hand and the buggy in your left, then said hello at the back of the Literary Tent before your reading and got my copy of Eleven signed afterwards. Which equals some number of points.
I had a really great weekend at Latitude. Glad to hear you both enjoyed and survived your time there.
Posted by Rachel Winter on July 20, 2010
Ah, I’d forgotten about Where’s Watson.
I look forward to getting about a million points during the 3 weeks of edinburgh. *smiley face*
Posted by Zoe on July 20, 2010
Sounds like you had a lovely time at Latitude.
I’m off to see Emo Thursday week. I’m treating my dad as a late Father’s Day present. It’s a double win for me as I get good daughter points and see Emo at the same time.
Glad you’re back chap.
Zoe x
Posted by Amy B on July 20, 2010
I was near the front in the comedy tent (you posed for a picture for me, thanks for that
), and I can verify that you were excellent and the laughs were definitely not thin. It was the first stand-up gig I’ve seen which was delivered almost entirely with the use of a cane/stick (some controversy over which it was). Just so you know, Mumford & Sons are probably my favourite band at the moment, but I stayed for your whole show and was very glad I did.
Points: I met you at the signing, so points there I think
Not sure if either of these count but I asked a question in your agreeably drunk book reading and you posed for a photo in the comedy tent, so maybe some half points there?
I’ve just bought tickets to your Norwich & Cambridge shows. I’ll be living in London at that point, and for the Norwich one I’m seeing Ross Noble, and then Minchin twice the 3 nights before so if you spot somebody asleep in your front row… sorry, it’s really nothing personal!
Glad you had a good time at latitude- I did too and your shows were definitely something to do with that. Currently only on chapter 1 of the book but it’s excellent so far. I plan to spend most of today reading it
Posted by Paul on July 20, 2010
In the spirit of the subject matter, can I guess as to what the psychic octopus might mean for our lives before you’ve posted about it? Presumably it’s going to be impossible to visit an aquarium during a major football tournament any more. Also, I fear it extending to other sporting events, so before the next Ashes I expect there’ll be a lobster in the Sea Life Centre at Alton Towers faced with picking who is going to be ‘man of the series’ from eleven molluscs placed before it.
I can’t decide if this is a good thing or a bad thing; depends if we get whitewashed I suppose.
Posted by A lot of Rach[a]els on July 20, 2010
Thin laughs in the comedy tent? I didn’t get that impression at all. I was outside for most of it and saw many people lazing in the sun laughing a long and towards the end I made my way into the tent and was surrounded by people taking your photo and thought you got a great round of applause.
You’re book reading was way too funny as well. and there should definitely be a DRUNK AUDIOBOOK (capitalised to show how much I’d buy that).
I’m really sad that I missed out on getting my hands on a copy of Eleven, bring more copies next time!! But not long to wait until it comes out and be prepared I’ll bring it to many shows in hope of getting it signed.
Points: I’d like to collect my points please. I’ll admit that I think I should loose points for the book signing, I was there but by the time it came to my turn at the table I wasn’t entirely sure what to say or do so I just left as simone did, plus it was coming close to 10pm and didn’t want you to miss out on Grizzly Bear.
However, I did see you walking around the food stalls early evening (I could give exact time as I was sad enough to tweet about it) it’s a bit harder to verify but I tells the truth.
I loved Latitude and hope you recover from the day quickly. you were definitely one of my highlights of the weekened!
Posted by Sarah (@misswiz) on July 20, 2010
Firstly, I’m sure there were more laughs than you thought at the comedy tent, we were outside, as were a lot of other people and there were lots of laughs which perhaps didn’t travel as far as the stage.
Secondly, your book ‘reading’ was one of the funniest things I saw all weekend. Does this indicate you should do more things ‘agreeably drunk’?
Now on to the serious business of Where’s Watson? points. I saw you at 16.14 just outside the mainstage – you were with Emily and Kit, and talking to Simon Amstell – surely this is worthy of some sort of bonus points? Also then, I spoke to you at the back of the Literary Tent (when really you should have been heading for the stage), and lastly you signed my copy of Eleven.
Now, I’ve not had any points up until now but I’ll be very interested to see where this puts me in the league table.
I’m glad you enjoyed Latitude, it was a brilliant festival weekend – one of my highlights was you fighting over a cane with a 10 year old. Fantastic!
Posted by Rachael on July 20, 2010
It will take me a while to recover properly too, and thats without a baby waking me up! It was lovely to meet you and both your gigs were my highlights of the weekend
Posted by Carl on July 20, 2010
Lovely to have you back.
P.S. Had a dream 2 nights ago that I bumped in to you in a bar and you bought me a drink. So a) Thank you, t’was a tasty beverage and b) Is that worth a Where’s Watson Point?
Posted by James on July 20, 2010
Nerd Alert : RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication and is basically just a list of pages or articles on a site often containing brief summaries. RSS is formatted in a special way (using XML nerds like TLAs) to allow the list to be read by a computer program called an Aggregator which can automatically receive any updates to this list and alert you to all the shiny new blog entries.
Its a shame I never have anything interesting to say really.
Posted by Becca on July 20, 2010
You mention rather thin laughs…it’s disappointing, I watched you on Vernon Kay’s 5 o’clock Show (only reason I’ve ever watched the show cause it looks terrible to be frank.) and I don’t understand how Tony Christie got more of a reaction than you when he’s only famous for one [also terrible] song, I couldn’t stop giggling the entire time you were on screen especially your reaction to Big Brother!
Also it may/may not encourage you to know I will be buying tickets to one of your shows – I am just waiting for my uni timetable to be published so I can know…
Posted by fuzzy_ducky (Laura) on July 19, 2010
I’m beginning to have a love/hate relationship with these blogs Mark!
See, I started working in a restaurant for a Summer job in the middle of June.. Just working weekends. But last week they said that they’re going to need me during the week as well. Now the restaurant is situated in Kilkee… a coastal town in the west of Ireland. And of course, I have no computer or internet down there…
So I have to, one… go nearly a whole week without reading one of your blogs and two… catch up on Monday when I get home. Now honestly, I love having 6 blogs to read, each in a row, and seeing your life and worries show up one day, and not having to wait for the next day to see if it worked out ok.
But I just thought I’d share that with you and my fellow Watsonians!
Posted by HelenLS on July 19, 2010
This blog makes me smile every day. Thank you.
Posted by Megan on July 19, 2010
Advantage of my still fucking UNBELIEVABLY bad sleeping schedule – I woke up to a couple having a fight outside (an hour after going to bed) and there was a new blog post. Hooray! Making a night alone in Poland a little less weird. So thanks you for that and I hope I didn’t sound too stalkerish.
Posted by Steph on July 19, 2010
“We’ve been apart a while”. Glad to have you back. But just as you return, I have to go! Won’t be able to read the blog for a week unless I find a suitable Internet Cafe in Venice. So long…
Posted by Madeleine on July 19, 2010
May have jumped the gun a bit on that comment. Sorry to have doubted you – The legend lives on!
At this time I may be the first commentor, so I would just like to request that you don’t start any challenges or competitions that end before friday night (friday morning for you?) because I’m going on a four day hike and will not be able to check this blog.
I think I’ll miss it more than showers (I probably won’t miss it more than showers).
Glad you had a lovely time at Latitude, sounds amazing.
See you in four days!
Posted by Alex on July 19, 2010
Not that I have a clue what an RSS feed is, but when the blog doesn’t come up automatically they’re usually still in the archive at the side.
I found that out coz I’m a detective, and because I worry about you slightly when there isn’t a blog.