Yesterday we enjoyed a visit from our friend, Iain Prior (or 'Sweetlips' as he is/was known to friends and customers). When Jane and I ran The Prince of Wales Feathers pub in Castor, Cambridgeshire we became victims of our own success and became busier than we could manage. Right on cue, Iain walked in one day and mumbled "Gi's a job" (but not so eloquently). We just wanted extra part-time staff, but he was hoping for full-time. We gave him a trial (full-time) and he quickly became a valuable asset. So much so, that, when we bought our house in Glen Urquhart and started spending more time there, we were happy to leave Iain in charge between Mondays and Thursdays while I did the weekly 1,000 mile commute between Castor and the Highlands. There were some questions over his decision-making (he supports Crystal Palace and is a Status Quo fan), but he did a good job for us and was well-liked by the pub customers.
Since leaving the pub in 2006, he has had a varied career, including, most recently, catering for Russell Crowe et al on the set of the forthcoming Robin Hood film. Other highlights of Iain's career include window cleaning (despite having no head for heights) and lorry driving (despite what terrified passengers have told him about his driving). But that is Iain's strength, he can turn his hand to anything: He learned how to make animals from balloons - He started with simple things like worms and snakes, but has now progressed to eels. He also taught himself magic - mainly to improve his chat-up lines. And his prowess as a comedian is legendary; he is always telling jokes and making people laugh..... just not at the same time.
As you may know, the Edinburgh Fringe is in full swing. Unfortunately, modern stand-up relies more on 'observational humour', rather than jokes. However, every now and then an actual joke sneaks out. The winner of The Dave (TV) Joke of the Festival went to Dan Antopolski for his line, "Hedgehogs - Why can't they just share the hedge?". Hard to imagine that was THE BEST joke of the Fringe. Some others I preferred:
Jack Whitehall - "I'm sure wherever my dad is; he's looking down on us. He's not dead, just very condescending."
Rhod Gilbert - "A spa hotel? It's like a normal hotel, only in reception there's a picture of a pebble."
Adam Hills - "Going to Starbucks for coffee is like going to prison for sex. You know you're going to get it, but it's going to be rough."
And the philosopher in me liked this one,
Paddy Lennox - "I was watching the London Marathon and saw one runner dressed as a chicken and another runner dressed as an egg. I thought: 'This could be interesting'."
Sorry Iain, not much new material for you there..... best stick to the old material (again).
Anyway, it was good to see you Iain (yes, really). Have a safe drive back and good luck with your snake-charming, stunt-piloting, spoon-bending, brain surgery, or whatever else it is you're going to do next.
Later in the evening I called my mum. Just general chit-chat really. However, she told me she had been reading this blog! I'm going to have to be very careful what I write now now: No more jokes about going to prison for sex; no more sticking two fingers up to the Head of the FBI; no more telling you what the English translation of Pajero is; no more telling you that 'this instructor called that instructor a dickhead'; no more tales of Tinas' Slippery Nipples; and no more mildly pornographic pictures. Hmmm...... I'm stuck for something to write now. You'll just have to cover your eyes Mum.
Since leaving the pub in 2006, he has had a varied career, including, most recently, catering for Russell Crowe et al on the set of the forthcoming Robin Hood film. Other highlights of Iain's career include window cleaning (despite having no head for heights) and lorry driving (despite what terrified passengers have told him about his driving). But that is Iain's strength, he can turn his hand to anything: He learned how to make animals from balloons - He started with simple things like worms and snakes, but has now progressed to eels. He also taught himself magic - mainly to improve his chat-up lines. And his prowess as a comedian is legendary; he is always telling jokes and making people laugh..... just not at the same time.
As you may know, the Edinburgh Fringe is in full swing. Unfortunately, modern stand-up relies more on 'observational humour', rather than jokes. However, every now and then an actual joke sneaks out. The winner of The Dave (TV) Joke of the Festival went to Dan Antopolski for his line, "Hedgehogs - Why can't they just share the hedge?". Hard to imagine that was THE BEST joke of the Fringe. Some others I preferred:
Jack Whitehall - "I'm sure wherever my dad is; he's looking down on us. He's not dead, just very condescending."
Rhod Gilbert - "A spa hotel? It's like a normal hotel, only in reception there's a picture of a pebble."
Adam Hills - "Going to Starbucks for coffee is like going to prison for sex. You know you're going to get it, but it's going to be rough."
And the philosopher in me liked this one,
Paddy Lennox - "I was watching the London Marathon and saw one runner dressed as a chicken and another runner dressed as an egg. I thought: 'This could be interesting'."
Sorry Iain, not much new material for you there..... best stick to the old material (again).
Anyway, it was good to see you Iain (yes, really). Have a safe drive back and good luck with your snake-charming, stunt-piloting, spoon-bending, brain surgery, or whatever else it is you're going to do next.
Later in the evening I called my mum. Just general chit-chat really. However, she told me she had been reading this blog! I'm going to have to be very careful what I write now now: No more jokes about going to prison for sex; no more sticking two fingers up to the Head of the FBI; no more telling you what the English translation of Pajero is; no more telling you that 'this instructor called that instructor a dickhead'; no more tales of Tinas' Slippery Nipples; and no more mildly pornographic pictures. Hmmm...... I'm stuck for something to write now. You'll just have to cover your eyes Mum.
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