Batteries to Power, Turbines to Speed
Roger, Ready to Move Out
18.04.2008 - 03.05.2008
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AKL-MAN
on suggs69's travel map.
Hello again,
right.. now this Injury Blog is soon to turn back into a Travel Blog again as my back is feeling heaps better. I've stopped walking like the usual verbal suspect although my right leg is still slightly numb (weird since it was my left L5 sciatica nerve which was affected previously) but I've been told this will go. Ahem! The dressing is off and I have a nice neat n tidy scar on my back to which I have to "tell 'em I got knifed in Central Park. Chicks dig it".
So I am good to go. I have booked my flight outta here. I leave Tuesday 6 May at a nice respectable red eye time of 05:50, just after the Foo Fighters on Monday night. I'm heading to Vietnam via Sydney with Jetstar. This means a long haul on a budget airline with no food or entertainment. Promises to be Worst Flight Ever.
The original booking had me down for Sydney for a creditable five days and South East Asia for sweaty seven weeks. This time it's a nippy five hours and three weeks respectively. This is to get me back in Manchester in time for end of May when I don't hang around and go to Poland for a stag do, returning to Manchester for the Foo Fighters again. I really want to see whether they tell both cities they're the best. For the last few weeks I've been in stitches of a different kind as I've been a regular on the comedy circuit for the NZ International Comedy Festival. Not on the stage mind, merely a viewer and reviewer. More later.
I have already mentioned that I have been looked after incredibly well by Di, Paul and Isabella, and I cannot thank them enough for that (but.. Paul, next time, cross out the clue number after you complete a word in the cryptic crossword.. grrrr!) but the house is not theirs. It belongs to a small chap known to me as CC. He's a funny little fella. When he comes round he alternates between running and walking, so he'll jog halfway into a room then walk, then on the way out he'll skip for a few metres before slowing. It's a great way of getting about and a sure fire way to put a smile on your face as well as those around you. I think everyone should do this. I urge you to try it tomorrow at work or in the supermarket and see the positive results.
I should also mention that CC is very soft and loves a good tummy tickle, so much so that he'll drop down and faint as soon as you touch him as can be seen here. Unusually, and quite possibly unnaturally, he'll never use his claws on you, merely pads you away if he's had enough. Bender and Fry, who are fantastic and are now living a very contented life down in rural Rotorua, always managed to get the odd claw in if you annoyed them. Actually Fry would for any reason.
Staying on the subject of cats, here's a snap of one taken outside a Fish and Chip shop, displaying the very pinnacle of patience: 
I'd better start packing again now. What a pain this is.
Will I be back? Of course I will. I want to come back and see a walkway and cycle path over the bridge. Vote now
FAQs
When will you be in UK? See travel map (link at start)
How's your back? See above
Ka kite ano Aotearoa
Steve / Suggs
x x x
ps: Now that United have reached Moscow, there could be slight alterations to the plan. There are a few sticking points though that have to be overcome first: Travel, Visa, Accommodation and of course a ticket. I altered the start of my travels back in 1999 so that I could go to the European final so it's only apt that I alter them now for the final too.
Slim chance, I know. Very slim but do you know anyone who has a ticket for me?
pps: Is there a real life version of Facebook? Of course there is. See it here
ppps: Here's my run down of the comedy:
Opening Gala Superb night. I was a little uncomfortable due to the recent operation but it's a fabulous show to see performers that you wouldn't normally have chosen to see. That and you usually get their best material on the short time they're on stage. Paul Tonkinson, Mark Watson, David O'Doherty and Josie Long shone. A huge thank you to Kylie for getting me decent seats after the show had sold out.
Jeff Green Was hoping for a return of him and expected him to be great and he didn't disappoint. I find his relationship observations very accurate. Must buy his book(s).
Tony Lee Canadian XXX Rated hypnotist. Wasn't going to see him as seen hypnotist before and they're pretty much the same and he didn't really sell himself at the Corbett FAQ but we were sat behind SledDog, his Canadian support band (and their sound guy, Marc from Manchester - he's a Red), and they gave us a two for one voucher. It was funny as. Shame there weren't more people on stage but I think that's a reflection on a small Tuesday audience. It got full on and it was good not to see someone chomping on the usual onion-cum-apple (instead it was chomping on someone's arse).
Josie Long In a word: Daft n Nice. She was the surprise of the festival to me. Never heard of her but saw her two times (due to absolutely positively having to take someone else to see her). Endearingly funny all the way through her show and with art and slide show to keep you amused too. If she's in town, see her. If hearing about a snail who's wife is called Maureen is your cup of tea, see her twice.
Medium Rare Several up and coming Kiwi comedians so a bit hit and miss. Rees and his Tap Hop (a fusion of tap dancing and hip hop) was good to see. Added bonus, or bribery, was the sausage sizzle afterwards.
Paul Tonkinson How dooo. I saw this Yorkshireman about 11 years ago in Manchester and, aye, he wa' as good now as he wa' then. Down to earth, true to life and immensely funny. Doesn't pick on the audience which is great if you're sat on the front row. He's a Red too, getting up early to watch the 6.45am semi final kick off in the pub. Terrible choice in sweaters though!
David O'Doherty Brilliantly funny big Irish guy with a tiny organ. Or a small Irish guy with a big organ. I was too far back and high up to be sure. To be sure. And that was a Yamaha organ he was playing with. Doesn't just rely on the accent and is backed up with quality content and songs.
Ben Hurley Kiwi lad just back from UK. In a small intimate venue, he picked on the audience too much for my liking at the beginning but maybe I escaped cause I got me a Hurley appreciation beard on. Enjoyed the show much more when he left them alone. Sit further back and it'll be a good show. I've seen him before and without taking anything anyway from him, he seemed better and more confident in a larger room.
Corbett FAQ During the festival there is a free after-work chat show that local radio DJ Corbett hosts with three different comedians each week. This is also a good way to see what's on offer. And it's free. The second one with Neil Delamere was riotous. Neil took over the show taking the piss out of Corbett and had us cracking our sides and pissing up.
Did I mention it's free?
Late n Live These are great shows if you can get to them and last night was no exception. You don't know who's on till the night and sometimes they have people who aren't in the festival. We had an Iraqi called Noor, Neil Delamere, Funk Rabbit and Jimeoin all hosted by Mickey D. Great show. V v funny. If you're reading this and you're in Auckland on May 10, buy tickets now for the last Late n Live at the Classic Comedy Bar. It will be a cracker.
Big Show Jason Cook, Neil Delamere (again), John Fothergill and Eddie Ifft. ahhh.. I cant be bothered.. two geordies, the irish guy again and an american. Great night though. I'm all reviewed out especially when the big review is coming up now. Mind you, I bet nobody read this far down anyway. Suffice to say that afterwards we went back to Steve and Becky's to watch United spank West Ham with Ronaldo, very cockily, adding another brace his season's haul.
One Man Star Wars This show starts after I've left but I did want to see it. However, he was doing a show in Sydney last week and my friend, who is running out/ran out of money (that point is relevant but I'll keep her nameless as I'm nicking her material without asking) went along for the trilogy ride.
Here's her review:
"errrrrrrrrmm ahem well..... it wasnt really my cup of tea....!! well seen as i know FUCK ALL about star wars i didnt really understand it... but he was ok i guess. the audience loved it. but then again they were all true true full bodied star wars nerds!! i just wasnt geeky enough to get it. and plus the guy topped it off with the very amusingly witty american humour which only the yanks will ever find funny. i cringed quite a lot. it was like watching a little kid run around in an imaginary world after indulging in too much of daddys cocaine. you have to see it. but dont ever pay $44 when you should have really bought food."
[the performer is Canadian. Americans.. Canadians.. they're all the same though really aren't they?]
She stole the show with that review.
I guess I'm comedied out.
Posted by suggs69 03.05.2008 19:23 Archived in Preparation | New Zealand Comments (0)
