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Home support, but no chance of a medal - August 7, 2008

Hello Everybody,

To millions of people around the globe, tomorrow sees the start of the 25th Games of the Olympiad in Beijing, but to a considerably smaller group of people tomorrow marks the opening of the 10th anniversary of the Comedy of Danny Bhoy in East Lothian. I’m sure when the Olympic Committee discovered their big opening clashed with such a momentous event on the other side of world they were kicking themselves (which incidentally I’ve always thought should be an event). In fact, there is an argument that stand up comedy requires similar skills to that of our top Olympic athletes. I may not be very good at throwing an object for distance, but I’m not too bad at dodging them. And trying to keep one’s focus and balance while attempting to get through a complicated routine almost perfectly describes my last gig in Port Hedland, Australia. Perhaps one day, falling into an orchestra pit will be an Olympic event, in which case I’ve got the gold in the bag!

Father Bhoy - June 21, 2008

Hello Everybody,

I am back in London after a week long mini tour of Ireland where I played some delightful little venues up and down the country. Ireland is the ultimate ‘wind down’ country. There really does seem to be nothing there that requires immediate attention. I was asked by the front of house manager in Sligo if I had a policy on latecomers? I said I didn’t mind if people drifted in after the start of the show. “Thank god!” she said “otherwise the show would be completely empty!” I was travelling round with top Australian comic Adam Hills, who had a week of holiday planned after Kilkenny, but like all comics started to itchy feet…well, foot. We started in Ballybofey up in the North of Ireland, and then did shows in Roscommon, Carrick On Shannon, Galway, Sligo and Cork. I was, of course, concentrating hard on my forthcoming Edinburgh show..so much so, that I nearly missed an easy 3 foot putt on the 15th at Strandhill. It was a brilliant week. One of the highlights for me was the gig in Roscommon where I conducted a mock Communion with some audience members including a prominent local Member of Parliament. Allow me to explain...

Someday? Somewhere? Someone? - April 21, 2008

Hello everyone,

And welcome to my first April blog of 2008. It seems like months since I last sent a few paragraphs about my life out there into cyberspace, hoping that someone somewhere reads them with mild interest. I’m still here in my flat in Edinburgh which hasn’t changed much since my last blog. Oh, actually, I bought a chest of drawers yesterday from a local charity shop which now stands proudly in my bedroom supporting a flatscreen TV. The charity shop had neglected to clear out all the items belonging to the previous owner from the drawers, which means I am now the owner of a pair of legwarmers, a nearly full pack of cards, a French textbook and a black and white photograph of a child standing next to a circus elephant. It’s understandable that the charity shop probably thought such items were not really sellable as individual pieces, but to smuggle them into my chest was a little underhand. Shame on you Dr. Barnardo.

End of WA Tour - March 4, 2008

Hello Everyone,

It’s the end of my tour of Western Australia which started on the 5th of February in Perth. It has been another amazing if slightly draining tour. As one woman said to me at the last show “Danny, you’re looking tired.” We have covered another three and half thousand miles by car, and god knows how much by air to visit as far north as Karratha, as far East as Alice Springs and as far south as Esperance. The tour has taken us from the hedonistic nightlife of Kalgoorlie to the gentle rolling vineyards of Margaret River. (From Skimpys to wrinklies). There are places I would have liked to have stayed longer and places were one night was too long, but everywhere I went I got some truly fantastic audiences, so thank you.

Happy Burns Night - January 27, 2008

It was, as I’m sure you will all be aware, Robert Burns Night on Friday 25th January. It’s a traditional night when us Scots get together, drink lots, eat crap and recite bollocks to each other….or as it’s known throughout the rest of the year, a Friday! I was unable to take part in the festivities this year, as I was in London over the weekend trying out some new material for the forthcoming shows in WA. Thanks to those of you who gave up their haggis dinners on Friday night to come along to the gig, and experience a different kind of offal. I do like going to down to London for a couple of nights, now that I no longer live there. I particularly enjoy the look of complete contempt I get when I attempt to pay for anything with a Scottish banknote. My cab driver on Friday night insisted that I go to a shop and buy something with my Scottish £20 note, so I could pay him in English money with the change. Unbelievable!