Northampton & The Cubblers

See What I did there?

Cobblers? Cubblers?

I am so besotted with the beautiful new cubs at London Zoo. They are simply gorgeous. I am going especially on my non zoo Sunday to see them this weekend and am beside myself with excitement. I've even surprised myself on this one... Jo & Excitement are not two words to be put together lightly.

Went to Northampton last night with Norm. It was a really nice gig. Norm kept calm when we got caught in traffic for 45 minutes before even getting off the North Circular and really put his foot down when we did make it to the M1 to get us there only twenty or so minutes later than planned...

The crowd was friendly. I wasn't on until 5th of 6 comics and that meant I was performing about 11 o'clock when some people had scarpered home, but still I felt like I had some nice moments where I engaged with the remaining crowd (still plenty of people). I didn't just stick religiously to my material either. I think I might have been just shy of 10 minutes, but not too far off that mark. The other comics all seemed to do well and everyone seemed happy.

Norm did good for his 40th gig and after it all, he got us both home safe, even though it was an ungodly time of the night.

A fun time was had by all.

That film I went to see on Wednesday with Sprogs was creepy. Odd and creepy. Enough said!! Antichrist by Lars von Trier. The premise is two people grieving for their dead baby and how the husband tries to help his wife as she struggles to come to terms with that loss. She goes a bit bonkers to say the least.

The film was quite slow to get going though and two people even walked out of the cinema after about 45 minutes, but the tension did build up as it progressed. Although surreal and gruesome, the ending was worth the wait. (Even if when you are at the 11.30 showing and the ending happens at 1.30 am on a school night.)

If you do see it, you'll never be able to look at foxes the same way again. Or crows. Acorns could leave you a bit wobbly too... Rusty old scissors? You'll be avoiding those for sure! Gosh, I should be a film critic. I think I have hidden talents. ha ha ha.

BUT, Don't waste your time at the cinema. Go see the Lion Cubs. cubs cubs cubs cubs. I just love those cubs. I hope Barry is bringing some strong sedatives with him for this trip to the zoo on Sunday or he could have an overwhelmed Oglet on his hands!!

Sorting Things Out A Little Bit

So I still haven't read any books. I did look up an insect I saw on the tube in my big British Wildlife book to find out what it might be called... It was called a Forest Bug. I am going to see a film tomorrow too, so watch this space for what I thinks to that. . .

I have this little rash going on just by my eye and my nose and it has been bothering me a bit, but I kept putting off finding out how to try and fix it. I went to the chemist today. The lady there gave me some EMOLLIENT cream. The jury is out on whether the EMOLLIENT cream will help, but I guess the point is - I did something about it...

In other news: I did a gig last week, which wasn't amazing, but got me back into things comedy again. I'm doing two more gigs this week and another gig and a few days jaunt to Edinburgh next week. I haven't done much to find a new job yet, but I've been a bit busier at work, which takes my mind off how much I hate it all for some of the time anyway.

AND I just signed up to a charity based 12 week channel swim style challenge to try and shift my fitness up a gear over the coming months. You see you swim the 22 miles, over the 12 weeks, in the comfort of your local pool... Barry has offered to cover me in goose fat before each session (for added channel swim experience authenticity) but I think that might eventually just clog up the filter at the Virgin Active pool.

Oooh, why not stop by my fundraising page to donate money to the peeples with spinal injuries? Or not. It is there anyway.

http://www.justgiving.com/Oglets-Big-Swim-09/

OK, I have to go or I'll be late for this shin dig gig at Manny's.

CATS

When stuck in a rut with one's bloggage. Do not fear: Please return to the funny kitty pics that have served so well in hard times before:

This just made me chuckle. Is it wrong to say spaz attack?

This just struck a chord for some reason...

In case that writing is a bit tiny on this "Your Mama Loves U" pic - it Says: "even if the other kids calls u fat, she knows uz jus fluffy.

Pickies courtesy of...
http://icanhascheezburger.com/

I still haven't read any books yet.

To Blog Or Not To Blog.

I'm not blogging anymore. There is no money in it anyway. Or is there? Norm has a new blog and it is covered in adverts. I bet he is raking it in now. Have I been super naiive? Could I retire on the ad hits from my blog alone? With only 6 followers to date, I'd better not bank on that. I've never been one to assume everything has to end in a pay cheque and I'm not sure the blog really benefits from being plastered in ads, but what would I know. . .



But no, I haven't quit blogging just yet, I do keep meaning to blog. Only 3 posts in July? That is shocking. All of those posts at the start of the month - so no posts since July 2nd? Again - it is a shocker, where have I been? What has been going on with me?



Well...



I've been in a mini lull. There are a lot of things I haven't been doing like I should...I only gigged twice in July too. Work has been a bit hard going. I haven't been to the gym. WW plateued at only 2lbs weight loss. Its all gone to the dogs!! Gone to the dogs, but still no puppy :'( Poor Ogs.



I did have a fantastic time in Cornwall. It wasn't sunny every day, but we did have a few lovely hot afternoons/mornings and one whole hotter than hot day on the beach. And little tiny toddler niece loves the beach too, so everyone was pleased with that. Constantine Bay was as beautiful as I'd promised and I think even Mum and Dad were taken aback by it. We ate out all the time. We visited places like the Eden Project and Tintagel Castle. I turned 33. It was a really nice family break.



I only had one tense moment, when by Wednesday, used to suiting myself 24/7, I felt like I had overdosed on 'happy family life'. I felt myself getting tetchy and grumpy for no good reason, but after grasping a few hours to myself on Wednesday morning, I put my smile back on. We all had a lovely last day or so and found our way to Friday morning and goodbye time, with everyone in excellent spirits...



I stayed on for a few more days with Vicky, for lots more eating, drinking and Cornish merriment, then sadly it was time to come back to London.


I've been back at work for nearly 3 weeks now and they have not been the happiest or the proudest 3 weeks of my 'career'. The boss has got wind of the fact I am - at best - coasting, at worst - drowing (in boredom and despair, rather than being overworked...) Oddly enough - he has started to get a bit shirty when things don't always get done as requested. Who knew? These managers can be so unreasonable at times!!



I did have a very nice gig in Eastbourne on the 17th. Thanks to Peter G for inviting me along to that.



Roger's tail seems to be looking pretty good after a few nasty bouts of finrot earlier this year and the cats are in fine fettle, so that is nice.


No point in detailing all that has been going on in July at this late stage: July, as they say, has been and gone. August lies ahead of us with a whiff of wonder, the parfum of promise or is that just more rain in the air? Anyway, it is August now, so it is onward and upward for this here Ogs...



Perhaps I'll try and switch to a more topical blog for August on a trial basis. Hey, I could even attempt to look at the news, read a book (or maybe read an article about a book). Maybe I'll watch a film between now and September. Lets face it, writing about me and the things I haven't been up to, is getting a little tiring... for all concerned.



Well there we have it - I am back up and running and more to follow soon, we hopes xx Sorry if it is a bit of a slow re-start, just as well I'm not reliant on that advertising income just yet...

You turn your back for one minute...

Mornington is getting in on the act. She hasn't been checking her forecasts either. Do you think she has heard about all the lovely seafood on offer in Padstow?

A packing day...

Lucy wants to come to Cornwall. She obviously hasn't been looking at the same weather forecast as me. Heavy showers right through until Monday :(

Cornwall A Go Go ...

Well what a week it has been. There have been ups, there have been downs. Does anyone really care? Do they? I don't!! I am very close to the end of the last day at the job I loathe. Well I say last day - not forever, but I won't be coming back here for a whole 11 days and I am oh so grateful for my time off. :)

As you may have guessed from the heading of this bloggage: I am off to Sunny Cornwall. Will the sun shine? We bloody hope it will! A family holiday in Cornwall is going to be a real shocker without at least a few days of sunshine. I love my family, (ahem, no I do, don't let the comedy set fool you...), but nobody wants to sit around playing endless cards or scrabble while it pees down outside for a whole week! Ogden tempers will become frayed...

I don't leave until Friday, but have tomorrow off to do packing and all that... Cleaning the flat, so my team of cat sitters aren't too appalled. Sproglet is usually fairly forgiving on that front mind you... Thank you Sproggles for cat sitting :) Wuv you, Miss you :) Not sure what the upstairs neighbours (who are on duty for the first two days) make of the place when I leave it in a mess. One tries not to dwell on that thought too much.

Ah, the beach, the sea, the ice creams, the pasties, the cider, the Eden Project, the sand, the sun, the pasties, the cider (yeah pasties and cider twice) I can hardly wait...

I will miss my scientist though (A LOT) and my friends and I am going to be on regular mini-missions to locate the best mobile signal, or any effing mobile signal, so I can keep up to date on London goings on...

It is nearly time to pack up my work things now. wooohooo.

I'll try and take a few choice snaps, so you can get a flavour of how the hollibobs turned out, but wouldn't like to promise a blog entry while I'm there. I'm not sure they have the technology for it... xxx