Here's my entry to Bosko and Honeys Competition. For more details go to ukulelesafari.com

Having attempted to start a Ukulele club last year and failed, I was pleased when Sarah Thomas from Penarth wanted to start one up. The club's been going for nearly three months now and is going great. We're working our way through some great songs, including our club song 'Delilah'.

We've also taken a trip to TUSC and had a feature written about us in the South Wales Echo. Not bad for such a young club!

Have a look at the club blog here.

On the August Bank Holiday Weekend I was at the Greenbelt Festival which is held on Cheltenham Race Course. I've been for several years now but this was my favorite by far, probably because I had chance to perform and show off. I did spots on the stand up comedy open mic, the acoustic open mic and I discovered a slot called the late night twist where people can get up and do stuff. The twist was probably my favorite venue but I got a good response at all of them. Here's a video from the Acoustic Open Mic. It was a great feeling to have the crowd sing along on the chorus of a song i'd only written the week before. Roll on Greenbelt09.

Check out this video: Rhesus Monkey



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This is an article from the sun newspaper which highlights an ever common problem faced by those who dress up in animal costumes. It's terrible. (Please let me know if you see any more examples of such behaviour)

This is the text from the article:
April 25th 2001

Mascot Mauled By Yobs


A cuddly mascot bear was recovering last night after two teenagers beat him up as he chatted to kids in a shopping centre. The attack even continued after fluffy Fossie Bear was punched to the ground. Yesterday John Venable, who was inside the costume said "i was stunned. But I remained in character for the sake of the children - although they all burst into tears." Fossie, mascot for Leicester's giant Fossie Park Complex, was surrounded by happy youngsters as the yobs struck.

John, 36, said "I'm used to getting jostled a bit - that's just kids. But you don't expect to get beaten to the ground out of the blue." John suffered bruises. Fossie is bearing up after being bandaged by furst aiders. Centre manager Mark Cartwright said "We have had lots of phone calls from customers asking if Fossie Bear is all right. The Children were crying but John kept his cool. He didn't even take his head off." Police said they were quizzing a 15 year old and are on the trail of a second youth.


My favourite quote from this article:


i was stunned. But I remained in character for the sake of the children (please just imagine for a moment how he remained in character)


I was in tears (you decide which kind) when i first read this.

Perhaps i was subconciously thinking about this kind of flat bowler when deciding on the head gear for shire horses.

As i was driving around today i got to thinking about what would be suitable head gear for a shire horse. Of course we can disregard the straw hat straight away as that belongs to the idiot cousins, the donkey and the ass. And if we had to think of something for the standard horse, it would have to be a baseball cap, but definately worn facing forward.

But the shire horse needs something a bit more refined, i was drawn to the bowler hat and the fez. The bowler felt right as if the shire was a working gentleman from the first half of the 20th centuary and also in comedy tribute to Charlie Cairoli.
And when it dawned on me that the Fez belongs to the Shetland pony (in tribute to Tommy Cooper) my feeling for the bowler was confirmed.

How would you rate the best days of your life? Were they pre-planned events, such as a wedding, or a day where everything fell into place to make it a great day. Consider this day of mine in 1999.

My wife was away on some conference, so i had the saturday to myself. The Chuckle Brothers were appearing at the Grand Theatre in Swansea for which I had previously bought a ticket. (At this stage in my life I did not have any children) I drove up to Swansea with plenty of time to spare, so i popped into a local amusement arcade to have a go on the fruit machines (an old vice of mine which I now have under control). I went in with 20 pounds and came out with 86 pounds having won a triple jackpot! They had to give me some money from the cashier as the machine ran out of money! I went behind the bus station to count my money. I went to the Chuckle Brothers feeling pleased with myself.

At this point the day had potential to go bad as i was a single man in a theatre full of families, and i was the only person sitting on the second row. I started to sink into my seat, but then a woman and her son came to sit next to me. Hooray, it looked like they were with me! I thoroughly enjoyed the show and even had the privilege of meeting Paul and Barry Chuckle afterwards.

Now if that wasn't a perfect day, i don't know what is.

I was getting ready to watch England in the World Cup when I had a phone call from a friend saying he had heard School for Chimps on the radio.

When I got back home I went on to Radio 2's listen again facility and did indeed hear a name check on the show called The Day the Music Died. They have there own MySpace page here where I registered a friend request last week and where they are now featuring my Comfy Monkey song.

Needless to say I was pleased. But that's it, I think I may have reached my peak here. I don't think I made any enemies on the way up so I should be alright.