Tour de Devon
I’m about to begin the final leg of the tour which you heard about rather often last year. This last stretch of shows were booked in October 2009, when We Need Answers was the biggest show on TV and Gordon Brown was the Prime Minister; it’s something of a relief to finally be doing them. When they were first scheduled, I thought ‘February 2011? I could be dead by then.’ But it looks like I’m not. I am, on the contrary, in Plymouth. And Torquay tomorrow. It was a very pleasant train ride down here. Well done so far, Devon.
If it’s quite impossible for you to come to one of the remaining February shows – York, Chesterfield, etc – you should take solace in the fact that any day now, ANY SECOND NOW I am going to unleash a new set of dates for the summer. A list as long as your arm, longer in some cases.
I hope I can remember my jokes. I seem to recall there was one about a pigeon, but that might have been from a past life or something.
Giles (long-suffering tour manager, glasses, etc) is now openly hassling me to give him the laptop. He’s even suggested that I write this. Although he suggested I used the phrase ‘fat rockabilly’ to describe him. Either way I’d better do as he says.
Posted by Jen on February 9, 2011
Enjoy the rest of your tour…looking forward to the next…eeeeeek!!!!Jx
…im going testing out cakes in abit…alot of prep needed if im going to create an edible cake!..im no Jamie Oliver thats for sure!
Posted by A lot of Rachels on February 9, 2011
I hope the last leg of the tour goes well and look forward to Saturday.
Posted by Rachael on February 9, 2011
Operation not-so-tired update: In testing you theory I was up at 8am yesterday and had been to a meeting and into town and came back in the time that I would usually still have been sitting around thinking about getting dressed. It felt surprisingly good and the sun was even out. I wasn’t sure if it was a fluke or if it is always out at that time of day and I just usually miss it. Today I plan to do lots of writing, hopefully.
Posted by amycool on February 9, 2011
There’s a whole warehouse just for old Chesterfield settees (sofa and couch never caught on in my house) and the cheapest is about £500, for a 1980s one. I’d quite like one, even though they’re usually leather, as it’s old leather and the cow is long dead.
Not really related to the blog, but where else will I get to talk about my love of old furniture?
Posted by Tibbs on February 9, 2011
@Someone That’s funny, here chesterfield is definitely not something I would think of as high class; just the opposite. I would say sofa was the poshest term, couch is sort of generic, and chesterfield is the comfy, ratty thing that you’ve had for ages / just took in off the street. Weird how language works.
And (as you could probably deduce), I too often come back to read through the new comments, especially if I’m one of the first to reply. It’s nice to see what everyone has to say!
Posted by Zoe Fell on February 9, 2011
Thank you so, so much for tonight Mark, I had an exceptionally lovely evening. Hearing people talking about you in the interval with such a nice range of comments was fab. Seriously, you don’t know how much you mean to me. And thanks for not finding the cake, or the biro thing *too* weird.
xx
Posted by Someone on February 8, 2011
I happened to be passing back through (I would make an excuse but fact is I just like reading people’s comments) and just thought I’d say about Chesterfield, to Tibbs, I don’t know if you’ve seen the show Bottom out there in lovely ol’ Canada, but there’s an episode where they’re being burgled and there’s a crash and Richie goes “I think that was the chesterfield!” and Eddie goes “Nah, I don’t think it was that far away!” and oh how we laughed. So the point, if I have one, is I think it’s a piece of furniture over here too, but maybe associated with posh people. I will stop loitering now.
Posted by Tibbs on February 8, 2011
I love that Chesterfield is an actual place. Don’t know if you use chesterfield to mean a couch / sofa, or if that’s just a Canadian thing (it may even be a Nova Scotian thing), but every time I see the place name I have a bit of a giggle.
Oh, and Cymruangel apparently hasn’t been able to see the most recent posts, so didn’t know she was supposed to be in charge of collating people’s thoughts on the blog; she says that pm’ing her on the forums (http://www.markwatsonfans.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=251) is probably the best way to get submissions to her.
Posted by Natalie-Helen on February 8, 2011
I was going to put exactly the same as Someone.
I love that train journey so much, Especially whn it goes along the coast and up the river.
I’ve been known to stand staring by an open window to look at the sea.
Go to the Hoe. It still makes me laugh.
^_^
Posted by Someone on February 8, 2011
I know that train journey is lovely. The bit between Exeter and Totnes especially, which I’m guessing you had to go through. Gutted I can’t help promote comics coming to Devon by attending. Devon is putting up a shoddy show for itself. I still claim Exeter is better at turning up to things. I hope and am sure it’ll go really well at any rate! I listed you in my local magazine events page, for all the good that’ll do; I hope someone takes note!
Posted by Ingrid on February 8, 2011
Ooh the suspense!
Posted by Anji on February 8, 2011
Glad Devon has been pleasant so far! We try and keep it ship shape and friendly to most visitors. Hope Plymouth is going well. I was trying to get more people to buy tickets for tomorrow. I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow night, a lovely way to finish a day off!
Posted by misha on February 8, 2011
I think “mum” is a better description of Giles.