Service resumed
Yes, well, sorry about yesterday. I am having a bit of trouble doing the blog, and doing various things in fact, for reasons which aren’t worth going in to here. I’ll tell you on this day in 2015. That should ensure at least some people stay the course.
(On that note, by the way, ‘big’ – as they say – ‘up’ to the handful of people who, having come to the blog late, are leaving Comments on entries which I wrote months ago. I still get to see them, and it’s quite exciting seeing you trying to catch up. Whose will is going to break first, yours or mine?)
(Oh, and also, particular thanks to Laura for an especially lovely Comment on the Manchester show. It was the sort of thing I dream of people saying after a show. There are quite a few Lauras around here, but she’ll know who she is. Anyone else called Laura can also share the goodwill. Also today, hello to all the Helens. This is a new feature called Hello Popular Names, designed to reduce the marginalisation felt by people with those names.)
Anyway – we were indebted to one of the Emergency Blogging Team, or EBT, whose identities are such a closely-guarded secret that they are issued with a pill and instructed to take it if their names are ever revealed. (It’s not a suicide pill, just a Paracetamol, but they can do funny things to you). I hope over the next few years this team will become so hyperevolved that I can, if necessary, disappear from the world altogether and the blog will rattle mercilessly on, like an ABBA tribute band. So, thank you Emergency Blogger.
And massive thanks to all of you for your good wishes. I, or someone else carrying out my wishes in an only slightly sinister way, will continue to be in touch every day. I am off to present the second ‘Kicks Off’ show. I aim to make it about 10% better than last week, still leaving room for better in the weeks to come.
Posted by Laura on October 27, 2010
I shall also share that goodwill.
Your Manchester show was amazing, I had a front row ticket as well which I was incredibly pleased about.
I have to say that I don’t really agree with your take on people not liking the taste of alcohol, but I’m only 17 so maybe I’ll learn to like it someday…
It’s a pity I didn’t see Morrissey about, I think he was in disguise.
I can’t wait for October 25th 2015 now.
Posted by Tibbs on October 27, 2010
Glad to see you back on the interwebs; still a bit curious as to what happened, but I guess I can wait til 2015!
Hope the second Kicks Off filming went well! I loved the first episode and I’m hoping I’ll be able to track down all future episodes.
Posted by Rachael on October 26, 2010
Phew, didn’t have the chance to check for a couple of days so as far as I knew you were still MIA. Good to have you back, can’t wait to see the new episode on thursday.
Posted by Andrew on October 26, 2010
You dare to doubt me, Watson? I am precisely four months behind. It took me literally years to catch up with Richard Herring after I discovered him incredibly late; you I reckon I’ll have done by the end of November.
Posted by Laura on October 26, 2010
I’m so glad that my comment made an impact, i re-wrote it a few times for fear of sounding cheesy. I’m also quite excited to be personally named in your blog! So thank you for that
I hope that you are ok and that whatever it is thats going on sorts itself out. I look forward to 25th October 2015, I’ll put it in my diary.
Posted by Lydia on October 26, 2010
It’s good to have you back, we were all getting worried. Good luck with your show filming x
Posted by Tracey on October 26, 2010
Hi Mark, great to have you back. Talking of names, I seem to be the only Tracey at the moment. Of course I could easily be completely wrong on this but at the moment I’m enjoying the novelty as when you were born in the early sixties the most popular names for girls seemed to be Sharon, Tracey and Debbie. Granted there’s also about five ways of spelling it:Tracy, Tracie, Tracey, Tracee or even Treyc. I’m not used to being the only Tracey around, there were always loads of us at school! Anyway,good luck with the show and all you do. Tracey x
Posted by Kate W on October 26, 2010
Hope said troubles soon melt away and that this week’s MWKO is perfectly calibrated to be even better than last week’s, but not so excellent as to make topping it impossible.
Posted by Neil Smith on October 26, 2010
There doesn’t seem to be many male followers leaving comments…. What is the reason for this?? I half expected to see a Blog entry from your Mum “Mark won be available to blog today as he has been unwell, and is still suffering from the symptoms” like a letter written to your school to get you out of PE.
Posted by Glamlovinkitty on October 26, 2010
Hello back, from one of the many Helens!
Posted by Melanie on October 26, 2010
Glad to see you back Mark!
Posted by misha on October 26, 2010
Nice to have you back. Tonights comment bought to you from just outside paddington station, dressed as a vampire awaiting rescue.
Posted by LollyPolly on October 26, 2010
As a recipient of a part share of goodwill and daily blog reader I thought it about time I pop on to say Hello…”Hello”
*waves a bit*
OK, I guess this is why I don’t usually post comments.
Laura x
Posted by Carl on October 25, 2010
The EBT are fantastic, but it’s always lovely to read the words created by your own fingers. Welcome back.
Posted by Helen on October 25, 2010
Hello Mark, other Helens and everyone else! Hope the recording went well x
Posted by Suzy on October 25, 2010
Hi Suzanne – I’m just Suzy, not short for anything. Weird I know!
Posted by josie on October 25, 2010
i’m so glad you’re back blogging!
i’m going to have to gather a gang of Josies now so we can be on the Popular Names list.
Posted by Suzanne on October 25, 2010
Hi Suzy … tell me …are you another Suzanne or were you registered as Suzy???
Posted by Suzy on October 25, 2010
Hurrah I have figured out a way to comment when I’m not at work! (It involved downloading Google Chrome, if you are intersested). I would like to say similar things to Mariam, and also that I hope you are ok … and rather selfishly I hope that the trouble that you are having doing blogging and other things doesn’t extend to your live shows, as I’ve been looking forward to your show in Aberystwyth tomorrow for months and it’s the highlight of my year!! (Ok, I don’t have much of a life, so it doesn’t take much!)
Oh and I have a feeling there may be more than one Suzy on here so maybe we’ll get a special hello
Posted by Helen on October 25, 2010
Hello!! as another Helen I felt obliged to check-in.
Glad to see you’re back in blogging-action Mark x
Posted by Suzy on October 25, 2010
I’m having trouble with commenting. Not sure if this will work.
Posted by Ingrid on October 25, 2010
Yes Nuala… cant wait for my name’s mention in ‘hello popular names’ either. Glad to have you back mark.
Posted by Helen on October 25, 2010
On behalf of all the Helens, hello Mark and everyone else! xx
Posted by Nuala on October 25, 2010
Look forward to being mentioned in the new ‘Hello Popular Names’ feature. I’m sure there are loads of us on here!
Posted by Anji on October 25, 2010
Ah Mr Watson. I don’t think we’d ever allow you to disappear from the world altogether. We’d notice and miss you. Even if the EBT do a fantastic job.
And I have to agree with one of the above comments, we’d certainly rather have you OK and well, and no blog, *gasp* for a day – besides I think there are enough of us to then technically make that day non existent and never have happned if we need too!
Anyways MWKO is on the old sky already! So looking forward to it!
Posted by Mariam on October 25, 2010
I really hope it’s nothing serious. I know you want to ensure there’s a blog every day but in the grand scheme of things (I hate that phrase, but it’s appropriate), it is, and please don’t hurt me for saying this, just a blog. We’re not going to lynch you if/when the blogless day arrives if the reason it is so blogless is because something bad has happened!
All this goes without saying but I felt like I should say it anyway!
Posted by Katie on October 25, 2010
Still hope everything’s alright – glad you’re back, too. x
Posted by Rachel/Pandora on October 25, 2010
Hope you’re alright Mark.
I kinda want to be an Emergency Blogger. It’d be like being a super-hero with a secret identity, only with writing rather that crime fighting.
I wonder if they have capes…?
Posted by fuzzy_ducky (Laura) on October 25, 2010
Glad you’re back
(and yes, i’ll share in the goodwill
)
Posted by Simon on October 25, 2010
Phew! I was almost certain you’d been killed.
Thanks for continuing to exist and enriching my daily blog rounds with your excellent writings. And good luck with the recording tonight!
Posted by Suzanne on October 25, 2010
Hooray for the real Mark Watson … welcome back!!! Very magnanimous of me considering it’s your blog!!!
Phew – you really did give us all a scare yesterday … but many thanks to the EB for a magnificent stand in, as opposed to stand up, I suppose!!!
Also delighted to know that you’ve been able to pretend or actually blog today!!!
Good luck for the MW KO show tonight … can’t wait till Thursday to see the 10% better version and who this week’s guests are … AND which sports star you’ll be challenging …
Take care … we can’t be without you for more than a few hours … xx