EDINBURGH!
Well, I wasn't there for too much of it to be honest... which was a shame. But it was lovely to see the man again after nearly a month apart!
I went to see his show with his dad, in fact, I surprised him by going a day early - but aparantly I didn't really surprise him as he guessed I'd try to surprise him at some point... lol... I'm so unpredictably predictable!
Now, don't judge me too harshly for this people. But when I saw John's show, I was proud, and happy - but I was also very hurt. This was a show about his life with Eczema, a show that was inpsired by the flare up he had when we moved in together, the flare up that I helped him though, that I held him through, that I watched him go through. This was a show that I'd helped him with by brainstorming, keeping him happy when it was making him sad, not moaning when he'd spend the evenings writing... this was a show about his whole life up to the present.
So I sat and watched it with his dad, for the first time, I'd never seen any previews, he'd never read any of it to me...
It got to a story about his ex , a story which I had suggested he put in there, a rather rude story... and then, the show ended.
And I was kind of sat there just thinking "no, wait, there's a bit more isn't there... you know, the bit where you meet me and we're really happy and you feel really confident and sexy and your flare up and all that, and we live together... " but it ended on his ex girlfriend, and how great SHE made him feel, how she gave him confidence and self estheem.
I was happy for john and his show, but I was hurt.
And, yes I was a bit hurt I wasn't in the show... but I was mostly hurt because it hadn't occurred to him to mention to me at any point that I wasn't going to be mentioned and that the show would end with everyone thinking he was still with his ex (and yes, a lot of people came up to me and assumed that story was about me!).
I didn't tell him I was hurt, because mostly I was proud of him. And his Dad was proud too. He'd overcome a lot of stuff to get this far, and to make such a great show! (some people went to see it two or three times!)
When I told him i was hurt he didn't understand why, he thought it was just because my ego was sore or something... it took a few days for him to grasp that it was more the fact that he hadn't thought to mention it to me before hand... because I'm a creative type too - I understand artistic license and all that... i am not stupid.

Having said all that, our relationship is a lot stronger since Edinburgh - partly because of some serious talks we had, and partly because of the time spent apart.
I love him to bits.

So - other Edinburgh stuff..

ComedySportz - the first show went great! Then I headed back home for a week to do the project I was commissioned to do. Aparantly it all fell apart a bit at that point, I think a combination of attitudes and jet lag... so when i got back the following week there was a fair bit to sort out.
All in all the shows went great. Here's our Four Star Review

ComedySportz @ Laughing Horse Free FestivalComedySportzEveryone knows rules
are no fun, right? So you would understand my concern when I was first
introduced to the 'rules' of ComedySportz, the competitive version of improvised
comedy. I shouldn't have worried. The simple and familiar rules were thus: two
teams of comedians must each come up with an improvised sketch based on an
initial topic suggestion from the audience. Sounds risky? Indeed, but the gamble
definitely paid off as this group proved themselves skilled and funny with a
remarkable ability to think on their feet. They were clearly enjoying
themselves, and it was obvious that this delight rubbed off on the audience.
Surprisingly funny, more than a little bizarre, and a good afternoon of fun for
all the family.Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar, 10 - 25 Aug, 3.05pm (4.05pm), free,
fpp 41.tw rating 4/5

And we broke in a couple of new players too ! Which was great!

Am just chuffed we've had our first real review... only taken 6 years to get here!

BRON

x

I think I may have to marry Richard Herring... lol...
He's been a wonderful person to me, letting me stalk him and take pictures ;)

http://www.richardherring.com/warmingup/warmingup.php?id=2117

once again they made it to his blog... this being my favourite of the night:

So to Portland... i nearly didn't make it! I managed to wait in the wrong spot for the bus to the airport for half an hour!! Luckly a text from Myles pointed me in the right direction.

I flew in, found Jenny and was transported to our hotel..

Our hotel was fantastic by the way!! Multicoloured rooms, dishwasher, microwave, sink! Madness. I actually forgot to take a picture of the room which is annoyed but here's their website:http://www.northrupstation.com/

And there was a constant supply of fruit and sweets all day!

Tournament started a bit weirdly for me, not all the guys were there when I was, and they slowly drifted in as time went by... the first night Chris had to share my bed as we were to be up and out of the hotel by 4.30am!! To go and do the TV recording that I already posted below... yes that was shot at about 5am! We were shattered.

Later that day my Jillo arrived and the room family was complete.

Workshops didn't start for another day but I had Managers meetings all day, in a gorgeous house I must add.

Actually I may be getting my days mixed up - serves me right for taking AGES to post all this!

Anyhoo... the first workshop I took was my own! Myles and myself ran a Warm Ups workshop, which was great fun - learned some new ones, and even led the group into making some new ones up! Which I shall be using soon!

New games workshop was great fun! We got up and showed a couple of new games - one that Darryl made up and one that Daisy made up. Great fun - they both went down well (Darryl's so well that Milwaukee played it in their championship match!)

Rick Steadman decided to use me as his Fair Test subject for his ever changing facial hair - the results over the week shown below:

I think Rick only brought two shirts for the whole trip...and how is it possible for an american to be paler than me?!

So, to our match!

My parents came over to Portland to watch! And they got to meet some of my friends, which is always nice.

We had a fun match, seemed a little over competitive at times though, which spoiled the feeling a little for me, but fun was still had.

And for the first time in 5 years.... we didn't win! (although aparantly it was technically a draw... and they didnt' take apoint off for a brown bag the Portland team got... so technically we won... but i'm not really bothered ;) )

More fun was had over the week, but my brain hurts from trying to remember... I will write more when I can

Don't worry, there are LOADS more photos ;)

hahaha

Well, the rest of America was great!
GOt to LA and stayed at their Kids Camp! Was very jelous, apart from the fact that the location for this is on top of a mountain with a gorgeous School, overlooking the mountains and hills with clear blue sky and sun... they get about 500 kids every summer over 6 weeks!! Mental! And exciting...
Some of these kids travel from all over the states to go there! Fantastic - they are all really keen and wanting to learn. I was in mini heaven.

The next night I stayed with the love of my american life, Brian Allman, who had saved his fantastic facial hair that he grew for a play for me to see! And it was LOVELY. We had some lovely chats and caught up nicely, we even spent an afternoon taking photos! This man loves to pose ;)

That night I met up with Ross and Tom in LA, and we played CSz at the LA space... was good craic. Tom Roche, man of BOTH matches for me... and the only one on the UK team who wasn't nearly asleep!

The next day I took these pictures of Brian and then was dropped with the lovely Myles for Fimo and DVD fun! We had a lovely night just chatting and watching DVDs...

I've never watched so many DVD's in one sitting than I had with Brian and Myles this weekend! lol

ANd I loved it, just hanging out with great pals :D

Myles left for his road trip to Portland at 5am the next morning, and i was still asleep... he left so quietly I didn't hear him go!

So i got up and headed to get my bus to the airport (after locking up Myles' house!)... I managed to stand in the wrong spot for about 20 minutes... slowly burning... til I texted Myles to check... luckily I gave myself an extra hour for just such a stupid move on my part... so yay.

I had such a lovely time in LA, I didn't see any sights, I didn't really go anywhere, I just sat with friends and had an absolute ball!

my boys xx

we are famous in Portland