Chatiryworld

Autumn or spring?

This pretty little cardigan was knit using a lovely pattern called Autumn Leaves by Nikki van de Car.  But as it's spring I named it Spring Leaves on Ravelry.  Then I decided it could got to baby Rose in New Zealand (haven't actually posted it yet though), where it is autumn, so it all comes back round again.  

Autumn Leaves is a lovely easy pattern and pretty much seamless apart from the bottoms of the sleeves.  I used some hand-dyed yarn I bought from Blackbird Fibres at Morningside Makers Market the other week.  There are supposed to be buttons but the button holes turned out so tiny I decided not to bother.

The Edinburgh Science Festival was on recently and we finally managed to get a long to a couple of events.  Robin Ince presented a kind of Nine Lessons-lite event, Carl Sagan is my God, where he and guests enthused about science.  Some of the guests were a bit hit and miss but Robin Ince was very funny.  Last year he did some free gigs at the Fringe in a pub near where I work, might attempt to go this year.  We also saw Richard Dawkins last weekend who was excellent, talking about evolution (funnily enough).

Right, back to knitting.

David Walliams - naked!

(First of all, hello to Googlers, no pictures here, move along now.)

So, last night, probably at least a year since purchasing the tickets, Ellen, Martha and I, plus two of Martha's friends, went along to see Little Britain at Sheffield City Hall. We were far from disappointed.

All the favourites are in the show, queen of chavs Vicky Pollard (with six babies by seven men, one baby named Nokia), ladies Emily and Florence, Computer Says No, Dennis Waterman. Some made a return, Des Kay ('wicky-woo'), which was a tad too close to the bone as it now transpires that he likes little boys, amusing audience participation though. Also Anne, who eh-eh-eh-ed her way through the Titanic theme on Stars in their Eyes.

My favourites were Ray McKooney (also making a welcome return) and his hotel sprites, Lou and Andy, and Roy, Margaret and Mr Man ('I find colours unecessary'). Marjorie Dawes and her fat fighters was also hilarious. The part that had me laughing the most was the Sebastian and Prime Minister sketch. I've always found it mildly funny, but not one of my favourites. In the sketch, the prime minister and his wife seperate, and Sebastian comes up with a great way to cheer the prime minister up. Now, I have no idea how David Walliams managed this (well, I do have some idea), maybe blokes can enlighten us, but he stripped off, had his back to the audience ('this always makes people laugh in the commons bar'), then turns round to reveal that he has somehow tucked his willy in and kept his legs together and now looks as though he is a woman. He kept it up (or down?) for longer than I would have thought comfortable before having to revert to hiding behind his hands. Best of all, they fluffed on this sketch which always makes it funnier with a bit of ad-libbing. Especially when naked.

Encore was of course provided by the only gay in the village, Daffyd, and his Village People style dance.

Sold out left, right and centre, but if you can beg, borrow or steal a ticket, it's worth it!

Festival,

the film, is not especially outstanding but does star these comedy greats:

Garth Merenghi
Dean Learner
Dr Guilaume Secretan

and the great

Synthesizer Patel

Laughter therapy

It's Red Nose Day, there have been some very moving films on so far this evening. If you do nothing else, buy the Peter Kay and Tony Christie single on Monday, it's far better than McFly.

To keep you out of mischief

Get your screen cleaned
Don't breathe!

Via B3ta

This afternoon I saw a transvestite who was even worse than Emily Howard.  He was in the Next clearance shop, had long straggly hair, an enormous long, white puffa jacket, knee-high stripy socks and a lady's black mini-rucksack that was falling off his arms.  And he was looking at women's clothes (well, all tops £3, you've got to, haven't you).

Oh, more comedy news, stand by 5-channel buddies - Kath and Kim are coming to BBC2!!!!  (There is something in yesterday's Guardian but their website doesn't appear to be working as I type this).  According to Heat, which I read in the laundrette today, it airs next month.  Watch it and enjoy and remember you saw it here first.

Play at being Kirsty Wark

With the BBC's Dead Ringers game.

Yeeeeeeeeeeeees

The talented siblings and various student types (and me) are going to see Little Britain next year!!! 

Massive apologies to other talented siblings and friends I didn't get in on the act, but it's been hard work getting five and I've just had to shell out £134.  Of course I'm getting it back, but, well, feels a bit odd.  If you want to come too but not necessarily sit with us call Hallam FM Arena on 0114 256 5656 between 9am and 9pm Monday to Friday.

Britain Britain Britain

If you have BBC3 this may mean something to you:

'Please Judy, no more lesbian jam.'

Still amusing me. The rest of you I believe will have to wait until December for something a little less piratey.

Peter Kay alert

10.50pm. Channel 4. Monday night. The Services, his first spoof docusoap for tv. Very funny. He's also on on Wednesday in between Big Brother.

Drunken midgets

Last night E, M, EB and I went over to Brattford (actual pronunciation) to see the wonderful Dylan Moran live. Good old Bradford, it gets a lot of stick for being a dump, which to some extent it is, but when they've done up the city centre it will be lovely. It's a lot more interesting and has more going for it culturally than Leeds (I am going to do a post on good things about Leeds soon, because I slag it off too much), plus housing is a lot cheaper, and not just in rubbish areas. Also how can anyone not love a city that has a 'Chips'n'Dips' kiosk in the station? Chips and garlic mayo all round!

Anyway, the lovely Dylan/Bernard. He was very funny, and drank and smoked his way through the performance. He made several excellent observations, such as children really being drunken midgets (they're small, act strange, make odd noises and eat weird food), air hostesses giving food and drink out on planes because it stops them saying 'We're all going to die, we shouldn't be up here, it's where the birds live!' and isn't it a shame that mens genitalia isn't something more attractive, like a kitten's head? I have still got that image in my head... We also enjoyed his Irish hairstyle impression.

Would love to go and see Bill Bailey next week but haven't really got the spare cash :-(

Kath and Kim go up in the world

The divine Kath and Kim have graduated up to Living TV. Still not terrestrial, analogue buddies, but one step closer to Channel 4, methinks. Read all about them in today's Guide in the Guardian.

Remember - you saw it here first.

Uuurgh. Mnnnnnnn

Went to see Shaun of the Dead this afternoon. Not the world's greatest film but sometimes you just need something to make you laugh. EB thought I scared the man at the food kiosk by asking 'what sort of chocolatey Ben & Jerrys do you have?' Maybe I should have asked him if he had anything a bit less piratey.

On the bus on the way home there were a load of junkies. Looked and indeed sounded a bit like zombies.

I love you BBC3

I saw the pilot for Cyderdelic about, oh, a year or two ago, and it was hilarious. Good old BBC3 have commissioned a whole series of it starting Monday 16th February. If you were wavering about getting freeview for Kath and Kim, definitely get it for this!

Kath & Kim

I love Kath and Kim! I accidently discovered it one night on the digital channel ftn. I am trying to bring it to the masses as it is absolutely hilarious and I am seriously considering buying a magnetic dress-up set, all the way from Australia.

Go forth and get freeview so you can watch it!!

I love tinternet, me

I can sit in the comfort of my own home and listen to the full interview with Little Britain stars Matt Lucas and David Walliams on the Chris Moyles show on Radio 1 yesterday. I couldn't listen to it all yesterday as I had to go to work, it really gets in the way doesn't it?