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!
I’m got back to Edinburgh on Saturday evening, and settled down to a night of live CNN feeds from the US primary in South Carolina. I have become a bit obsessed with the American election, I think my neighbours may be wondering why they hear a whole lot of whooping and yelling at 3 in the morning… but they will hide in my bookcase. I know a lot of you have been waiting to see which candidate I endorse? Well, I’m pleased to announce I am officially throwing my political weight behind Barack Obama. Just watch his ratings go through the roof when this story leaks. “What’s that? Bhoy’s backing Obama? That’s Bhoy and Winfrey now. This guy’s a stick on!” The reason I’m backing Barack, is because I was listening to his speech after the South Carolina victory, and by the end of it I realised I was standing up and couldn’t remember at what point in the speech I had risen to my feet. That it quite a strange and uplifting experience. His campaign message is “Change We Can Believe In”, which ironically is exactly what my cab driver wanted from me on Friday night!
Anyway, I’m looking forward to heading out to Australia this Friday. So much to do, I have no idea where to begin, but I think putting on some pants might be a start (I’ve only got 3 minutes of credit left on this computer anyway.) I will hopefully be announcing some Edinburgh Festival and UK tour dates very soon, so keep checking back on the website, as you know those Hull Truck Theatre tickets go like hot cakes (in a room full of diabetics with heat-sensitive gums). There may also be some South Africa and Canada gigs this year, but still awaiting confirmation on both of those. I’ve just realised that this will be the first time I will be returning to Australia officially as an Australian resident. How exciting? I better learn my Koalas from my Kookaburras…you don’t want to cook up the wrong one for Thanksgiving. And god forbid I get the words to your national anthem wrong on Australia Day next month. I better start practicing now. Once a jolly swagman camped by a Billabong……
All the Best,
Danny Bhoy
p.s. I know, I know. Happy Australia Day!