He will wear the bear again
I would like to place it on record that after the considerable difficulty we had in letting people know it was even bloody happening, the Dundee show on Sunday night was one of the best of the tour so far. Those who braved the considerable odds, ignoring ‘cancelled’ red herrings and venue changes, were very enthusiastic and I had a great time. Special thanks to Katie, one of the world’s premier Watsonians, for leading an expedition from Glasgow to boost what looked at the time like being a desperately low crowd. In the end it wasn’t, but in part that’s thanks to everyone’s help in publicising it. THANK YOU.
But also, a lot of the credit must go to the fabled bear T-shirt, which, after seemingly being written off in Edinburgh during the Fringe (see blog on about August 18-ish or something like that, maybe)… has come back from the dead, its wine-stain all but obliterated. I’ve been wearing it occasionally on tour, for special occasions, and it will probably get the coveted role of being on my back for the Hammersmith Apollo show in December, which is a massive show and the one all the shirts want to be in.
Someone at one of the shows on this tour gave me none other than an ACTUAL BEAR with the printed slogan ‘he will wear the bear again’. This has become something of a motto of positivity for the tour, and the bear himself is keeping Kit company in his nursery these days. But I shamefully can’t remember who it was. I think it might have been in Aberystwyth, but after this much traversing the country in illogical orders, your brain does confuse things. If it was you, please make yourself known, but either way, I’d like you know it has brightened things up considerably.
I’ve chosen people for free tickets from the bewildering range of sob stories on Saturday’s blog. I apologise if it wasn’t you. I went some way over the intended allocation of 10 pairs of tickets, and even then, it’s mostly people with pretty dark stories. Plus a couple who are really poor. If you think you had a pretty good claim, and you didn’t win, send me a tweet or something near the time of the show in question – I can quite often sneak extra people in. Soft as putty, me. People think I’m a hard man, a monster, but in reality I’m soft as putty. Oh. Actually nobody thinks I’m a hard man. Well. Still.
Posted by MusicalLottie on November 16, 2010
Oops, re-read and you said it’d *probably* be at Hammersmith … please do wear it!
Posted by MusicalLottie on November 16, 2010
Hooray! I look forward to seeing the bear
Posted by AmyH on November 16, 2010
You must wear the bear to Hammersmith!
Posted by Josh on November 16, 2010
If I’d have known not having any money counted as a sob-story I’d have.. done it.
I like to imagine Mark being a really hard man.
In my head he’s a cage fighter.
It’s awesome.
Posted by Dan on November 15, 2010
You must be a hard man, Kicks Off is “Real Men’s TV” according to the sponsorship
Posted by Aislinn on November 15, 2010
Oh. No. Sorry. Had a bit of a moment then and thought it was possible to take pictures of food after it had been eaten. Ah well. Next time!
Posted by Aislinn on November 15, 2010
Hello!
I have just done a catch-up on a few blogs because, for once, I have not been lazy but busy. You should probably laugh this idea off and say write a blog and do a tour and look after a baby and that’s what busy is but you seem far too nice to say that.
Yesterday I went to the Horne Section and bought Joe Stilgoe some pic’n'mix as last time I saw the Horne Section he was eating some. He liked it. I shall attempt to take pictures of my Indian Pudding – which I made for some very worthy teachers – in the next day or two.
Posted by Helen on November 15, 2010
I find this blog extremely exciting as it was me who gave you that bear! It was in Brighton, I was the one wearing the strange plastic structure complete with a foam (holed) area in the middle that I have to wear until my spine recovers from being fused (by a surgeon) to two metal rods. You shouldn’t feel any shame at all in not remembering, I’m just so glad you liked it! And I’m so pleased to hear that you have indeed worn the bear again and plan to in the future, wonderful news. Thank You so much for, as this blog often does, brightening up my day.
Posted by Shell on November 15, 2010
What a lovely blog of generosity, success and positivity.
Mark – I quite often read this blog and simply think “He’s [that's you] a lovely human!” and you restore my, sometimes battered, faith in people on a regular basis.
xx
Posted by niki evans on November 15, 2010
Yey for the bear. Had a feeling Id missed the boat for the tickets as only got online this morning but was worth a try. Might camp outside warwick arts centre on friday and listen through the door instead.lol
Posted by Rachael on November 15, 2010
Very glad to hear the bear is back in action, are you going to tell us what it was that brought it back to life or is it a secret? Just in case we ever have red wine accidents…
Posted by Sam on November 15, 2010
It’s been a good few blogging days. We’re a fair way into our first year and the momentum is still here.
In a way I’m starting to think with you keeping up at this pace it will probably take over and the lives of all involved.
On the other hand we may well make the world a better place.
I think with the continued existence of the bear shirt the latter is now the only possibility.
Posted by Tracey on November 15, 2010
Great story about the bear! Glad Dundee went well. Hope you have a good week. Tracey x
Posted by Misha on November 15, 2010
We think you’re a pointy man.
It slipped my mind on the night but I was pleased to see the return of the bear in Cardiff. It is, an excellent shirt. I believe you may even have been wearing it the very first time we met; but as that was my first night of Edinburgh and I’d had next to no sleep I can’t be called upon as a hugely reliable witness. I do remember some incredibly hot sweaty hugs going on.
Anyway, I think (to return to the first point) it’s much nicer to be a big softie. But then that’s just the kind of person I am.
Posted by h2osarah on November 15, 2010
Aw, Mark. You are far to nice. But it’s why we love you. Also, I am stupidly happy that the bear shirt is back from the dead. I think something about sorting through hundreds of ‘last ever’ 24 hour show photos for that book, on top of spending 24 hours with you in it means that it has a special place in my heart. That’s a bit creepy. But then again, so am I.
Posted by Tibbs on November 15, 2010
Having read the post, I am now very happy. Especially as I will be at that December gig.
Also, you are a sweatheart.
Posted by Tibbs on November 15, 2010
I haven’t read the post yet, but I just wanted to say the title made me happy.