Going back, soon

What a pleasure a odiscover a new pub, a new restaurant, a new "hangout"! Warm welcome, good food (it did smell and look so) served and books all along the windows. Places to speak. 

Well that "speak" was the only thing that gave some problem to us, comedians, standup, Thursday, after nine in the evening, as we tried to make those, who did want to have good time and laugh, listen to us in one of the corners of the place. One day, they will solve the problem, or isolating the place, there is enough room and corner to do so, or asking all there to participate for those one or two hours.

But it is a place I feel I will return with someone I want to speak with around a nice meal. I am not sure yet, how much one can hear each other, but for sure there are quiet corners and even tables outside, behind. And it is not far from where I live. With the bus, 15 minutes. Considering the time to the bus, the time the bus arrives, in is still less then half an hour. Yes, I will go back.

This morning, I made another discovery, that of a wonderful woman and family. 5 children. Probably from two different husbands, a husband so attractive. Joys and sorrows of a life, working woman, writing woman, and most of all, someone who does care. One can feel the care from her wonderful (French) prose. Art. I am still very moved by it. The joys of a blog and the joys of connection!

I will go back soon, to both.

January 2011. the worst was the best

I went to a Comedy School, at the beginning of last year. My first one.

I was the fish out of water, with all this boys, men who wanted to behave like kids again.

It was the worst environment for me, the only woman, the only old, the only "too much reminding them boundaries".

It was the best environment for me, too.

Preparing me to what will be most of the audience and how to conquer them, how to speak their language in some way, how to communicate with them.

After that, it went uphill.

No I was not "obliged" to swear, for them to accept me, but when you are in a new place, do you not try to learn and use "their language"? I think, you do. Weather that is "English", or "Scottish" or Hungarian. Or the language of the street or the language of comedy.

It is not about clean or not clean. There are not really "dirty" words, it is more what is in your head. What conveys what and how I say it.

"I gather my shit and come back to you" from a young comedian meant only, he has to find a place where the gig will be held. "What I am doing in this shit" from me it shows I can speak like them. I do not have to. I enjoy it, on the podium only of course.

I am still happy of what I have accomplished so far. But now, I prepare for tonight gig, on Lewisham High street (details in my Competent Communicator blog), and all the rest is behind me.

What counts now is the next gig, the next experiment, the next audience.

Great paper on me in the Guardian

Yes, after so many month, the Guardian did publish the 5 papers on "New life after 60".

It was supposed to be in the Christmas magazine or newspaper. It did not gel then. In February, I was send a nice photographer (but he did not send me - yet? - the other photos as promised) to Comedy in Tooting. He has taken more then hundred different images then.

Another bank holiday, it will be published, I was told.

Bank holidays come and went and nothing. I told myself, well, "c'est la vie". So goes life. So what?

Yesterday afternoon a sudden email "it is in the paper"!

Not only with a great and huge photo of me gigging, but also with mention of those through whom I arrived to Comedy. The Toastmasters International, public speaking clubs, where I fall in love with the audience and telling about my life, three years and three month ago. Spark London with whom I told true stories at the Canal Café Theatre, (and soon in Edinburgh Fringe for a week). And the Silver Comedy, with whom I won the "Best Newcomer 2012" award in Leicester, and who linked to Dave's Comedy festival had a great Public Relation's team or journalist. So far, she linked me to many journals.

Well, it is coming and going, but it was a great afternoon and it will be a great day! The summer is up, my energy is up, my plans for the future look bright, too.

But I had a nightmare, this evening. I was asked to perform... comedy for one hour! What? I always want "more" then my usual 5 minutes but already 10 seems plenty. For the moment. We build our material slowly, experimenting, writing, experimenting again. A lot more to gig, before I go to even 20!

Of course, if someone asked me to tell stories, true tales, that would be another mater. No nightmare.

Birthday cake

Celebrating the Diamond Jubilee in London, it did not rain this time.

Celebration the passage from 40 to 41 is also a great event! We did it with this rich cake created by my grand daughter.

Of course, it is my daughter in law and not me, at that age. What is passing to 41 ? Just growing up.

I will finish wishing her... till 120.

Can-can in the rain

Well, perhaps we will not see French Can Can in London tonight, but if it rains, the dance (if any) or if not the music and songs for sure, will continue.

I looked at the face of the Queen on the boat while it was raining and going down the Thames, she was not happy and she was cold. Still stayed there despite all her years.

I hope she will not catch cold.

I would in her place, and yes, I did stay home and looked at all in my again warmed appartment.

Meanwile at least I created new stories in my mind and got some new ideas for the incomming Toastmaster's year.

Remembering the dancers in the rain the 1 May 2006 in Argenteuil. They did not stop, they went on!

Where do we go from here?

At the beginning I do not plan.

I fear or / and I dream.

I can not yet imagine where the road, even if the rails are already there, will lead me.

Yes! Something frightening. Yes, something great. For sure, interesting.

At some time, while doing some very different thing or reading a book non related, the idea arrives. Often, even when I am half awaken in the morning. Yes! That is what I should try to do.

At least, reassured today, I have a better idea, what I'll try, how i'll try to put my experience into my new role.

À Nice smillé wins over

I begun to tape this on my iPad with a virtual French keyboard. It automatically changed what I have typed, adding instead something in the title about Churchill and then overdose!

From where they take all that nonsens suggestions?

Why do not just recognise I write now in English no more in French?

Here is a nice warm comic, stand up from the Lion's Den Comedy club.

Yes!

With her warmth and smile and manners she did win me over. That is already a huge step forward.