Just a quick update… Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been working with Flippin’Mental Theatre to provide the final video element to an online Drama Project, Drama For The Mind 2021.
The participants have developed their own work, and have then performed their monologues to camera. There’s 8 lovely pieces, funny, moving, emotional… a fantastic job by all involved.
I’ve assembled it all to in to a video to Premiere online this Saturday evening at 7pm (UK). Please drop by if you can. https://youtu.be/t72A6-RtVeo
Meanwhile Lockdown continues.
As does my Lockdown log. We’re now at Lockdown 3, Day 74 – can you believe it?
And still the bnuch of lying con artists we have in government continue. And now they are trying to stop us protesting. I see trouble ahead….
You can see my latest updates below….
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Laurie Anderson - O Superman [Official Music Video]
My Day. Sun 28 Mar. Lockdown 3/Day 83. L03D83.
My Day. Sat 27 Mar. Lockdown 3/Day 82. L03D82.
My Day. Fri 26 Mar. Lockdown 3/Day 81. L03D81
My Day. Thurs 25 Mar. Lockdown 3/Day 80. L03D80
My Day. Weds 24 Mar. Lockdown 3/Day 79. L03D79
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As you can see from the updates, I’m building a garden bar, assembled from old pallets, in preparation for the March 29 Roadmap date for meeting another person in your garden – and the April 12 date for up to 6 people meeting in a garden.
Better stock up on the booze 🙂
Ey up from the Steel City!!! Hope you’re all doing okay, staying warm and staying safe.
I write this on the 39th day of Lockdown 3. It just goes on and on doesn’t it?
But, thankfully, I have something to tickle your funny bones on these cold nights.
I’m a member of Sketch Up! – a group of Actor’s, Writers and Voice Artists, that got together to record comedy sketches, directly from the mind and nimble fingers of Rachel E. Thorn
We were due to perform these LIVE!!! Yes, LIVE!!! with an audience, at the renowned Leicester Comedy Festival. But, alas, a Global Pandemic thwarted our bid for Global Sketch Comedy Stardom.
Live comedy’s loss is, however, your gain…
Thanks to the power of T’interwebs, you can enjoy our sketches in the comfort of your very own home/car/van/tent/workplace/ears… via the Leicester Comedy Festival – until Feb 21.
We’ve already had a 4-STAR REVIEW (“a delight…with a bit of bite!”) and lots of lovely feedback which is great. Its free to listen (you bloody old misers) online – 45 comedy sketches – listen all in one go or individually.
They range from the surreal to the domestic and sometimes incorporate a bit of both but nowhere will you find even the vaguest reference to the dreaded pandemic!
Last weekend was a happy/sad one… My eldest son Benjamin turned 19. He lives just outside Blackpool, and with Lockdowns and Tiers, etc, we haven’t seen each other in person since last August.
Sadly Benjamin, my daughter Sophie and my youngest son, Joseph, lost their mum, my ex-wife Jane, to Covid just before Christmas. It’s such a difficult time for everyone. And it’s really hard not seeing my children, when all I want to do is hug them.
I posted a link to my Ko-Fi account in case anyone wanted to send Benjamin a bit of birthday love. And many of you did, thank you so very much! It made his day!
Benjamin has now created his own Ko-Fi Page, so if you’d like to check it out and send him the price of a a coffee, cake, or even more, the link is here….
A reminder, I post daily Twitter and YouTube Lockdown Log updates, featuring 2 Minute 20 Second updates on the boring minutiae of my Lockdown life. Really selling that, aren’t I?
Here’s the YouTube Playlist…
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Laurie Anderson - O Superman [Official Music Video]
My Day. Sun 28 Mar. Lockdown 3/Day 83. L03D83.
My Day. Sat 27 Mar. Lockdown 3/Day 82. L03D82.
My Day. Fri 26 Mar. Lockdown 3/Day 81. L03D81
My Day. Thurs 25 Mar. Lockdown 3/Day 80. L03D80
My Day. Weds 24 Mar. Lockdown 3/Day 79. L03D79
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My first update of 2021, and we find ourselves in a situation even more dire than December.
New strains, more cases, sadly many more deaths,. No going out, no physical contact, no idea when any degree of normality will return. Not this year I fear.
On today’s No 10 Briefing, featuring the very evil, and the letter G incapable, Home Secretary, Priti Patel, a reporter asked the question – as people must be desperate for a holiday after all we’ve been through, can they think about booking a summer holiday?
BOOK A F**KING SUMMER HOLIDAY!!!! Are you mad?
Be grateful to still be breathing.
It will end when it ends, it will be safe when it is safe.
Remember that DISASTROUS “Eat Out To Help Out” cheap meal/mass-killing scheme.
Too early Rishi!
One good thing in the world is that that Orange Trump Stain has been removed! I watched the Biden/Harris Inauguration yesterday, hated much of the schmaltz and flag adoration, but loved Amanda Gorman and her wonderful poem – here’s Barack Obama’s link to it
One can only imagine the Big Orange Baby sulking in Florida.
Obviously life is quiet here. Good news is my Mum has had both Vaccine injections, so let’s hope she is safe(r). I await my turn.
Just before Christmas, I was lucky enough to have a small role in a TV ad, which is apparently airing so often that people keep telling me they saw me on the telly!
Here it is….
I’m happy to be working on an Audiobook narration at the moment, and loving the book. It’s called CRONIES, by Robert Craft. I’ll let you know when the audiobook version is finished and available.
If you fancy a bit of Audio Fun, I am co-host of Write Radio (Comedy edition) on Sheffield Live. The Christmas Day show was a special one, where yer old pal Dave goes full on Scrooge, so take a listen – Go to the SHEFFIELD LIVE site, and click on Dec 25, Hour 1 and Hour 2.
And that’s about it. I carry on with my Daily Lockdown logs, recording the dull monotony of Lockdown 3. Posted on my Twitter and Playlisted on YouTube (and below).
Stay safe you Beauties, I look forward to lifting a glass with you some time in the future! Contact me via form below if you fancy a video catchup!
Dave X
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Laurie Anderson - O Superman [Official Music Video]
Over lockdown I’ve been helping out with an amazing project looking at Suicide and mental health. Something that many have struggled with over the course of this Pandemic.
The Suicide Monologues are a series of thirteen short films which present the testimonies of people who have been affected by suicide and attempted suicide.
The project is a collaboration between Kathryn Littlewood, Penny Capper, Charlie Barnes, Brendan Stone, myself, and others. It was funded by the University of Sheffield, and supported by the mental health charity Sheffield Flourish.
The aim of The Suicide Monologues is to challenge stigma around this complex subject, increase understanding, and create discussion.
You’ll be able to view the films at this link on Saturday 19th September at 19.00. Please feel free to share this message, but please note that some viewers may find these films distressing.
If you need help you can talk to someone now by phoning Samaritans on 116 123. You can also contact the 24/7 UK crisis service Shout simply by texting the word ‘Shout’ to 85258.
Festival of the Mind brings together University academics and professionals from Sheffield’s cultural, creative and digital industries to bring our research to life in exciting, entertaining and innovative ways.
Christmas is almost here!
We’ve had the first dusting of snow on the Sheffield hills, my cards are sent, presents mostly bought, now I’m making lists for food shopping for the big day.
I’ve also been busy on the business side, getting new actor headshot pics and making a new video to share with you, so lots to tell you about in this update….
I usually record a video each Christmas of me reading A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS (‘Twas the night…). I used to read it to my children on Christmas eve in the pre-divorce days, but I never see them to read it now, so I started recording it for them.
This year I decided to record an audio version for them and put a bit more into the production side, with sound effects and such. I’m very pleased with the results.
I’ve put it on YouTube with some family photos and videos under the audio, here it is….
If you’d like the original audio version in it’s full glory, it’s here to listen or download…. or buy if you wish to send me money.
I’m going to be in your house in January!
Earlier this year I recorded a lovely episode of GIRLFRIENDS, Kay Mellor’s new drama for ITV. A couple of nice scenes with Miranda Richardson and Zoë Wanamaker. The series begins Weds January 3rd. I’m in Episode 3. It’s a lovely cast, please watch.
Here’s some of the new pics of the new slimmer me (over 80lbs lost now) – and with new glasses too. I’m hoping the new slimmer look leads to more TV work as directors move me from the obese to hunky casting category 😁
And here’s a final Christmassy treat for you, the firstYorkshire Teabaggersvideo. Our parody take on one of the most popular of Christmas songs.
What a lot of Christmas goodies eh?
So, now I’ve unloaded my sack on you, I will bid you a Very Merry Christmas and the Happiest New Year.
Stay warm, stay safe, help others, spread the love and be good to yourself.
Since the last update I had a great day on a new ITV drama, GIRLFRIENDS, written and directed by the lovely Kay Mellor. Had a lovely scene with Miranda Richardson and Zoë Wanamaker.
Had a couple of meaty auditions for a lovely soap stint and a new musical tour, but no luck on either. Sad Dave. But keeping busy with Showreel updates, so if you’re an actor looking for a new reel, or want to refresh the one you have, give me a shout!
Had a nice photo session yesterday with an up and coming photographer, Samantha Devine, and I’m including a few below. Click to full-size them….
Photo by Samantha Devine 2017
Photo by Samantha Devine 2017
Photo by Samantha Devine 2017
Photo by Samantha Devine 2017
The eagle-eyed amongst you may notice there is less of me to feast your eyes upon…
I’m delighted to say my weight-loss routine is going well, I’ve lost over 50lbs since this time last year. Feeling great and buying new clothes to fit the new me.
And finally, coming up, a BBC animated sitcom, STICKY, starring Tom Hardy. More on that when I get the details. You’ll have my voice and an animated version of me!
As mentioned in a couple of recent posts, I have been in agony with sciatica as a result of some gardening work, I could barely move a month ago and wasn’t sleeping at all.
The NHS Doctor gave me painkillers but they did very little relief of the pain and nothing to get me mobile again.
So, I visited the local Chinese Doctor for Massage and Acupuncture. Two sessions and advice on where to self-massage with a tennis ball was the start to recovery and today I walked in (pain-free) to see him and offer my thanks.
This man cured my Sciatica
For anyone else in back-pain agony, I can strongly recommend massage and acupuncture, it worked for me.
If you live in Sheffield, I went to The Chinese Doctor in the Hillsborough Shopping Centre. Great friendly place and it’s covered by many medical insurance schemes (Westfield, etc)
Nothing sordid to see here, but I’ve had a tennis ball in my pants for the last couple of weeks. The back of my pants, in case you’re curious. And it’s brought me a lot of comfort.
I’ve had sciatica for a few weeks now. Painkillers were doing little. Massage and acupuncture brought some relief , but the tennis ball has really helped me do deep massage on my left cheek when the pain is bad.
Either standing back to a wall and moving around to roll it into painful areas, or rolling it by hand when I need it. I can sit on it and get deep pressure in the sore bits. It’s been a lifesaver.
So if you see a ball drop from my jeans, don’t worry, no funny business, just dealing with the pain.
I’m using a plain cheap Poundland tennis ball, not one of the HEAD balls I bought for tennis. That would just be weird 😜
Lovely sunny Spring day today, very nice to see longer days and some sunshine.
Wanted to do a quick update about my iPhone 5s today. Okay, it’s getting on the old side, but it does everything I need, I like the size of it and it’s in good nick. But the battery life was getting to be awful…. Warning messages at 20% and then shutting down, battery lasting half a day so had to carry cables/chargers, etc with me if I was out and about. And it would always die when I was about to take a great photo. So… I was thinking it was time for a new phone.
But the Yorkshireman in me said no, change the battery lad! I looked at the how-to videos (and this one is particularly good, very detailed). Ordered a new battery/tool pack from Amazon (£12.99) and swapped it over this morning.
Happy to say it all went well and the new battery seems good so far, easy job, just take your time, make room on a desk and have something white to put all the TINY screws on. I used a hair dryer to heat the sticky pads holding the old battery in (blowing on the back, not the exposed innards, and well away from the tiny screws mentioned earlier, didn’t want them blowing off the white pad I’d put them on). First time switched on the screen was showing odd stuff, which meant one of the screen cables wasn’t seated properly, so I went back in, sorted it and job done. I’ll post an update on the life of the new battery in a few weeks, but so far so good!
Oh the agony!
I’m still suffering from back pain. I’ve had sciatica for a couple of weeks now (gardening did me in!) and in agony much of the time. Doc gave me a variety of painkillers, muscle relaxants, etc, but did little to help it. I wasn’t sleeping well at all.
I visited The Chinese Doctor, a local massage/acupuncture place in Hillsborough, and he’s worked wonders. Pinpointed the problem area and I’m now doing my homework to stop muscles in spasm. Hopefully I’ll be back to fine fettle soon.
Teabagging
My back wasn’t feeling great last Friday when the Yorkshire Teabaggers were on the road, playing a gig with the bloody amazing Chuffin Ellvis at the Polish Catholic Centre in Leeds. Painkillers an hour before we went on and the adrenaline of being on stage got me through the show. And thanks to Tommy Teabag for driving me there and carrying my gear. We had a new set list, re-ordered our material, played some new stuff and had an amazing night! Leeds we love you!!!!!
Check the Teabaggers Page for new videos and upcoming dates – we’ve got another brewery show coming up soon!!!
Right, off to stick a tennis ball into the tense bits of my back.
Si the soon!
D x
I did some tree pruning in the garden a couple of weeks ago, did something to my back and I’m now in agony with Sciatica.
Visits to the doctor have given me pain relief that’s not really touching it. I’ve not slept properly in days, moving from bed to floor to chair to find a comfortable position. My TENS machine goes everywhere, along with a tennis ball to press into the painful area.
Had some relief Wednesday from The Chinese Doctor. Massage and Acupuncture seems to have helped. I’m back today for more. Wish me well!
The pain has made sitting at the computer for editing difficult. A few minutes at the desk, on the floor for a while to relieve the pain, back for more editing and the cycle continues….
First up in the edit suite was a short doc with my hairdresser, Martin Strong, retiring after 45 years. I started seeing him from age 15 or so, and returned to him when I moved back to Sheffield. A lovely chap and I wish him well for the future.
I went for my final trim last week. Here’s his story…..
Next up is a new video of The Yorkshire Teabaggers in rehearsal. We met Monday and I sat when I needed to, used the mic stand for support whilst standing and managed to get through it. Follow us on Facebook for the latest gigs and videos!
Enjoy it!!!
Hoping to return to full back health very soon!!!!
Sketch Up! Comedy sketches written by 
Benjamin has now created 
My back wasn’t feeling great last Friday when the 
