Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you have had a good couple of weeks. Mine have as ever been very busy and involved lots of fun things. I have still been doing a bit of work at Wembley Stadium recently. I was there for the latest England Football Team Press Conference. The one where the manager announced his first post World Cup Squad. For the friendly with Norway and the Euro 2016 Qualifying match away to Switzerland. I just happened to be standing in the Mixed Zone area. Which is a corridor just outside of the Press Conference Room. When the boss Mr Roy Hodgson himself came past to head in and speak to the members of the media inside. I have met him before, so fair play to him. He did give me a quick nod and a smile as our paths crossed. I also saw the England Under 21 manager Gareth Southgate. He was there naming his latest squad for his team’s next two games. The whole event was covered by Sky Sports. And I did bump in to their Chief Football Reporter Nick Collins a couple of times during the day to. There is always a nice buzz around that area when squads are announced.

He also confirmed Wayne Rooney as the next England Captain. Which personally I think is a very good choice. And I wish Wayne all the best with the new role. I feel he is easily the best man for the job. I will be very surprised if he does not go on to break Sir Bobby Charlton’s long standing record of forty-nine goals for the national team. I also think he has a good chance of beating David Beckham’s record of one hundred and fifteen caps for an outfield player, for the men’s national team. Wayne is twenty-eight years old. He currently has forty-one goals in ninety-six appearances for England. So he is closing in on both of those records.

Staying with football and the national team for just a little bit longer. I took my Dad to see England play Norway at Wembley the other week. It was nice to be able to return the favour. Because as a child I remember him taking me to see my first full England game. When we played Holland at the Old Wembley Stadium. I remember it being loads of fun and very exciting to see the top players up close and in person. So as my Dad had never been to the new place to see a match. And as he had not seen an England team play for over twenty-five years. I think he was as excited as I was, when the roles where reversed all that time ago.

It all worked out perfectly. We got an early train in, so both of us had a seat. We went to a bar I know right near the Stadium. Where there was no queue at all at the bar. So we were able to have a relaxing drink before heading in to the ground. There was no waiting at the turn style. So we went straight in and grabbed a quick bite to eat before taking our seats. In time to see the team’s warm up. Which is something we both like to do. The match was good and most importantly England won. We found a hotel bar near the station for a quick drink. So we could wait for the crowds to go and then jumped on a quiet train home. It was a perfectly fun night, watching a game at a truly great stadium. It really is a comfortable place for the fans. My dad enjoyed it so much. That he has already booked tickets to see the next home England match there against San Marino on the 9th October.

My mum celebrated a land mark birthday last weekend. So as well as spoiling her with presents and flowers. We went out for a nice family meal together at a local pub, where my parents often go. Once a month they have a steak night with a special set price on a meal for two. Which includes a bottle of wine in it. This worked out very nicely for me. As I was paired with my sister. Who does not normally drink. And who was driving all of us home that night. Which basically meant I got a whole bottle of red wine to myself. Result! I had not had a steak for ages, so I really enjoyed it. Over the last couple of years I have started getting a bit braver with them. So I now have them medium. And fair play mine was cooked to perfection.

The night got even better when they came round with the desert menu. As I managed to finish things off with Apple Crumble and Custard. Which is certainly up there in my top three favourite puddings. There was also a singing duo there performing for us during the evening. My parents actually know the people who run the pub. So with their help we proceeded to embarrass my mum by getting the band to lead the whole pub in singing her happy birthday. Just before the music finished. We did all manage to get up on the dance floor and have a little family dance. It was a really nice evening, spending time together as a family and celebrating a big occasion. Most importantly of all the birthday girl had a great time and really enjoyed it.

Last Sunday night I did manage to get along to the Wycombe Swan to see my friend Ben Langley’s new show Ha Ha Hood. After making a brief appearance the last time one of his show’s was in Buckinghamshire.This visit was spent completely in the comfort of the auditorium watching with the rest of the audience. As normal with the Ha Ha brand Ben takes a well known story and re-writes it for comedy effect. While keeping with the variety and madness of the Ha Ha style. This latest play sees us catching up with the icon that is Robin Hood. Ten years on from the last we heard of him. A lot has happened. There have been many things that have changed. And then some things in his life that have seemingly remained the same. Ben plays Robin Hood. He is joined in the cast for this show by the fantastic Su Pollard. Who plays Maid Marion. And the comedy legends Cannon and Ball. Who both have duel hero and villain roles in the show. Which in itself leads to plenty of confusion and fun on stage. They are joined lastly by Andy Pickering. Who as well as supplying the musical accompaniment. Does pop up from time to time with some classic comedy moments of his own.

If you like good old fashioned laugh out loud fun. You must go and see this show. It has jokes, songs, pathos, lots of silliness. All with the added bonus that you are never totally sure what exactly is going to happen next. I was lucky enough to have a very quick catch up with Ben Langley before the show. He is a top bloke and really deserves all the success that he is having with the Ha Ha series. I did also manage to say hello to and shake the hands of Bobby Ball and Tommy Cannon. Who are both excellent in the show. It reminded me of when I used to watch them on television, when I was a kid growing up. They have lost none of the old magic. Nor has Su Pollard who proves yet again what a wonderful all round performer she is. And she does also get the opportunity to showcase her great singing voice. I had forgotten that she has released a few records over the years. I totally enjoyed the show. It was entertaining, funny and made me laugh out loud on several occasions. I will be going to see it again later on in the tour for sure. So if you can, do go and see it. Find out more here www.hahahood.com

It is fair to say I do have very limited options when it comes to what I can do with my hair nowadays. At the moment I normally visit the hairdressers around every three weeks. And have my head shaved with a grade one cut all over with the clippers. Now I always go to the same place. Which is a family run barbers near where I live. So I have one of the three relations in there cut my hair. I went in as usual the other week. I had to wait a little bit for my turn. Which is quite unusual. As I normally time it right, so I can just walk straight in and sit down in the the main chair. But this time I had to wait for a while. I then got called up to go to the chair. I was wearing my glasses. So as I sat in the chair for the haircut. I took them off. Meaning of course that I could not see.

Normally they do ask and check what I want before they start. But this time they didn’t. However as I have been having the same thing done there for the last two years. I thought nothing of it and just let them get on with it. We were chatting away as normal. At which point I started to feel that something was not quite right. Then at the end of the haircut. When I put my glasses back on and looked in the mirror. I instantly noticed my hair looked a lot shorter than normal. Instead of a grade one cut. I think they had done an half grade or even a grade zero. Which doesn’t sound much of a difference, when you say it quickly like that. But believe me it looked a lot shorter than I had ever seen it before. And it took me a few seconds to actually recognise myself in the mirror. Too shocked I didn’t say anything afterwards I just paid as normal and walked out. On the plus side. As it will have a lot more growing to do. I will probably not need to go back for at least a month now. And I will definitely confirm with the hairdresser exactly what we are doing before we get started next time. I will not make the same mistake twice.

Good news if you remember the new potential television quiz show. That I went to do some work on. To help them develop it a couple of months ago. It has now been taken up by a major TV channel. I am afraid I still can’t say which one yet at this stage. But it looks like they are going to make the first series of it early next year. They are starting to look for potential contestants for it at the moment. It is a very different concept and format to the more normal and conventional game shows. So I do think when it launches there will be a lot of publicity surrounding it. There is a very good chance that I may well still be involved with it in some way, before it hits our screens in 2015.

The new series of the brilliant Radio 4 Extra comedy show Newsjack starts on the station on Thursday 25th September. I know this as I am going to watch it being recorded at the BBC Radio Theatre in London the night before. I will once again be writing some jokes for the programme. So the ideal situation would be that I get to see and hear some of my work being performed, that night while I am there. I am looking forward to catching up with the very talented cast and seeing them in action again. It is always a good fun night out. I am actually back there at the BBC Theatre the night after to watch the excellent The Now Show with the amazing Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis being recorded. I have seen both of them live in the theatre before. And they are just fantastic. So I have a couple of decent nights of comedy lined up to enjoy there.

Have fun and we will catch up again in a couple of weeks. Cheers Neil.

Hello again, I hope all is well with you. And that you have had a very good couple of weeks. Mine have been a lot of fun. When I spoke to you last I was off out to the New Theatre in Oxford to see Avenue Q. I interviewed one of its stars. When it was on in the West End eight years ago. And had been wanting to see it ever since. So it was really nice to finally get round to seeing it. We had fantastic seats. Right in the middle of the Upper Circle with a perfect view of the stage. The show itself was worth the wait. It was absolutely fantastic. It has to be the most modern and up to date musical I have ever seen. In respect of the story lines and the song lyrics. It is fair to say it’s not for the faint hearted. And it is not for people who are easily offended or do not like swearing. But if you like a fun night out with some very catchy and clever songs. I would recommend that you see it. Due to the fact that the majority of the cast are puppets. It does mean they can get away with a lot more than you would be able to with real actors in certain scenes. But that all adds to the fun and the naughtiness of the show. It is in many ways like a very adult version of Sesame Street. I managed to have a very brief conversation with one of the stars after the show. And needless to say they love performing it. Plus it always seems to get a great reaction wherever they go. I really enjoyed seeing it. And I am glad that I finally got round to watching it.

While I was heading in to the theatre. I noticed a big poster on display for a play that is coming to Oxford later in the year. The reason that it caught my eye was that it featured my mate Ben Langley. It was promoting his new show Ha Ha Hood. Which also stars Su Pollard, Cannon & Ball and Andy Pickering. It starts its nationwide tour in a week’s time. And is then set to go all around the country. Recently it has been on at the Chelmsford Civic Theatre for a week .To put the finishing touches to it before it heads out on the road. It then comes to the Swan Theatre in High Wycombe on Sunday 7th September. Now I am very much hoping to be able to get along and see it that night, if I possibly can. If not I will definitely be there to watch it the next time the show makes an appearance in Buckinghamshire. To find out more about the show click here  http://www.hahahood.com/

Did you know? That if you have one of the new style card driver licence’s. They need updating and renewing every ten year’s. And I do believe everybody in England now legally has to have one of these new licences. If you don’t believe me have a look at your driving card licence. It will have an expiry date on it. Luckily the DVLA do write to you to remind you when this needs to be done. Unluckily for me I needed to update mine this week. So there were two options. Go and get your own photo taken and then send the form back yourself. Or just go to a Post Office and they can sort it all out for you there digitally. I was a little sceptical as it all sounded a bit to simple and straightforward. But I decided to give it a go. So I walked in signed and dated the form. Then they have to take your picture for you in this little booth.I was wearing my glasses. And you are not allowed to have these on for an official legal document photo. So the women dealing with me asked me to remove my glasses, which I did. She then tried to direct me to the exact place that I needed to stand to have my photo taken. Which was a bit difficult because by then my glasses were off and I couldn’t see. A point I have to confess that I did feel the need to make to her. But we got there in the end. To be fair it was quick and painless apart from the twenty five pounds that it cost me to renew something that I have to have. Unfortunately I didn’t get to approve the photo on the day. So the first time I will see the picture I am stuck with for the next decade will be when the new licence drops through the door. Fingers crossed it is a nice one of me.

Last Saturday I went along to a good friend of mines joint 50th Birthday Party and 30th Wedding Anniversary. Which I did feel meant I had to get two presents. As it was of course a double celebration. So I got one for him for his birthday and one for his wife for putting up with him for thirty years. I had a good time catching up with quite a few people who I had not seen for a while. Which is always a nice way of spending the evening, I think. My mate had booked a band. Who he knew and liked as the main evening’s entertainment. They were great. And fair play to them they knew a lot of songs and actually played for nearly three hours in total. They were heading towards Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band territory there. With that sort of length of performance time.

During one of the bands rare breaks. There was a surprise act that the birthday boy had arranged for everyone. He is a big fan of Irish music. So he had organised for an Irish Traditional Dancing Troupe to put on a bit of a show. They were brilliant. And had a great mixture of ages from one star performer, who could have only been around five years old. To dancers in their late teens. After a couple of dances they paused and then invited up the guy whose party it was to join them. He then decided he did not want to do it on his own. So then me and another one of our mates suddenly found ourselves thrust on to centre stage. About to embark on a brand new Irish Dancing career. With no previous experience. It was fantastic fun and I was doing my best to watch the professional dancers. And try to copy their moves but I have to admit it was really hard. They move their legs and feet so quickly. And move them in to what seemed to be some very unusual positions to me. But we all gave our performance everything. And we did get a generous round of applause from the rest of the guests who were there. When our routine had finished. I remember seeing

Ant & Dec join in with the cast of River Dance during the last series of Saturday Night Takeaway. They managed to get away with it and look good. Which once again does highlight how annoying talented those two are. After that party night I think I have earned the nickname Michael Flat-Feet for my Irish Dancing display. But it was great fun to be involved in though.

This is always a slightly depressing point but we have just enjoyed the last Bank Holiday until Christmas. So I hope you made the most of it and had a good one. Well done to my good mate Dez Kay. Who did a great job hosting Hobble on the Cobbles in Aylesbury. An all afternoon free music event which was headlined by the band Toploader. I had quite a quiet and relaxing Bank Holiday Monday in the end. I just relaxed around the house and took it easy. While still being very happy with the start to the new football season. I know we are only two games in. And there is a long way to go but my team Tottenham are currently top of the Premiership. I appreciate this may well not last. But I intend to enjoy it while I can. If that is still the case when I go to Liverpool to watch Spurs at Everton for the last day of the season next year. I can see that being a bigger than normal party weekend. And they are normally pretty big when I head up there anyway.

I am really looking forward to going to see England play Norway at Wembley next Wednesday night. In a friendly ahead of our important European Championship qualifier. Now that the two great servants that were Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have retired from International Football. It is time to see which players can rise to the challenge and establish themselves as England regulars. As both of those players mentioned each have over one hundred appearances for the national side. They do leave big boots to fill.

So just when I thought I had got away with it. Suddenly out of nowhere I got a double nomination for the Ice Bucket Challenge. I had been watching from a safe distance as various celebrities were doing it. Then more and more of my family and friends seemed to be doing it. Still I kept my head low and started to avoid social media but in the end it was unavoidable. It is to raise awareness and money for an excellent cause. When I was working at Mix 96 in Aylesbury. I did a little bit of work with the local branch of the Motor Neurone Disease Association. I spoke to people who were directly affected by it. And some who were actually suffering from it. It really is a very unforgiving and nasty condition. Which they still have no cure for at the minute. And it is something that can effect anyone at pretty much any time. The effects of the disease are life limiting making things you take for granted impossible. And unfortunately in some instances life shortening. Please take a minute to find out more about MND here http://www.mndassociation.org/  Never one to refuse a challenge of course specially for such a good cause as this. I did take up the challenge. So please see my Ice Bucket Challenge video below.

I am still busy writing new material for a Stand Up Comedy competition. That I have got coming up in a couple of months. Once the set is written I will be out and about doing some try outs ahead of the night itself. Or at least that is certainly the plan currently. The new series of Newsjack starts again on Radio 4 Extra next month. So I once again plan on doing some joke writing for that. Plus I am still hopefully going along to a few more radio comedy recordings. I am also very pleased to hear that ITV are bringing back an old television institution in Sunday Night at The London Palladium. I can’t wait to see variety acts back on our screens to round off the weekend. I am in the process at the moment of trying to get myself some tickets for one of the shows during the new series. I think that would be a brilliant way to spend a Sunday evening.As you would expect the acts that are rumoured to be lined up to be on the bill for these shows are amazing.

Have fun and we will catch up again in a couple of weeks. Cheers Neil.

Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you have had a good couple of weeks. Mine have been lots of fun. And very busy to with quite a few things going on. I had a nice chat with one of the producers of a brand new game show. That is currently being developed for a major terrestrial television channel. This could lead to me spending a day or two with them. To help them get the project in to a position where they can present it to the station executives. And hopefully get it made into a whole series. They already have a well known celebrity lined up to host it. If that does come off that will be a lot of fun. I am still currently waiting to hear if the last game show I worked on will make it on to our screens. It all sounded very positive the last time I spoke to them about it. If it does get commissioned you will be the first to know of course. And I will be able to tell you more about it at that point. There is still a possibility that I might be involved with it in some form, if it does get on television.

As I have mentioned before. I do come from a rather large family. Which is great because as there are so many different relations around. We tend to average at least one wedding every year. So the other week I was at a family wedding. It was a lovely occasion and great to catch up with everyone there. We hired a minibus to get to and from the venue. Have you ever been in a situation where you are being driven somewhere by a professional driver. To a place you think you know and they go a route that seems odd or at best a very long way around. But you don’t say anything because you think that they know best. Or you start doubting that you have the right place in your head. Thinking it is you who has confused the location. That is exactly what happened on the way to the wedding. Until we finally realised the minibus driver was lost. And decided it was time to start giving him directions. The important thing is we got there in the end. And that we did still arrive before the bride and groom were introduced the the room.

I have to say I really liked the buffet. It was basically a choice of bacon, sausage or egg rolls with some chips, chicken nuggets and a few crisps thrown in. A simple and yet brilliant and very tasty idea I thought. They also had a photography area where you could have your picture taken while wearing silly props like hats, glasses or wigs. Needless to say these photos got stranger as the night went on. I did have some taken but fortunately I have not seen any of these yet. I was there with my parents. So it did feel a tiny bit like being a kid again at times. Specially when I got a bag of various penny sweets at the end of the night. That they had available there in the form of a miniature sweet shop. Complete with a lady in a white coat to administer the treats. I started eating these sweets on the minibus home and despite not being that hungry. I managed to finish the whole bag. And then felt a bit sick at the end of it. Which led to me feeling like an eight year old. As I got off at my stop with my mum claiming from the back of the bus. That she had told me not to eat them all at once. Will I ever grow up? I think we all possibly know the answer to that question by now.

Last Saturday I was at another family party. This time it was the annual summer barbecue at my Uncle’s. We were lucky with the weather. In that it mostly stayed dry apart from one big shower. Which meant that we all had to pile into the small marquee he had up for half an hour. Although that did give me a nice chance to have a chat with everyone who was there at the same time. A bit of a common theme currently it would seem. But once again I do have to say the food was brilliant. Burgers, sausages, chicken, pasta dishes and great deserts to. I have a very sweet tooth and pretty much have to end every meal with a pudding of some sort. As part of proceedings we had the hugely anticipated Quigley Table Tennis Championships. Think of it as like Wimbledon for table tennis. Only a lot smaller and with hardly anyone watching. I got beaten in the final last year. So I was keen to go one better this time around. Although it would be a tough challenge. As we are a very competitive family. Last year was the first time it had happened. So this time round I knew how good the opposition were. With the exception of a friend of the host who had been invited along to join in the fun for the afternoon. I then managed to draw this mystery man in the second round. And he was unexpectedly good. We were matching each over all the way but in the end he beat me in a tie breaker. Much to my annoyance. I really hate losing. He then went on to lose to my Uncle in the final. The same one who beat me last year. This is not me being bitter at all. But if it was just family involved I would have made the final. And then still lost. As my Uncle owns the table tennis table and therefore he gets to practice when he is at home. And I only play once a year. That said I am still hoping next year it could be my time.

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is still very much in full swing. I have been taking a keen interest on what has been going on up there in Scotland. Being a big comedy fan I did manage to see quite a few of the preview shows performed in the lead up to the event. And I have to say it is really good to see lots of the shows I saw and thought were very funny getting good reviews. Particularly nice to see Silky, Matt Forde and Gavin Webster doing well. I thought all three of their shows although hugely different were really entertaining. And it does seem that the crowd and critics up there are agreeing with me. The other thing I am liking is how supportive the comedians are of one another. They are all recommending each other. And trying to see as many of the other comics shows as they can while they are there, which is great. That is one thing I found when I started doing comedy. You imagine it is very cut throat and that everyone is out to try and out do each other. Just wanting themselves to get all the laughs, while everybody else struggles. But that is not the case. Most comedians on the circuit are so encouraging. They want the whole of the line up to get laughs and all to go down well. They are often very happy to offer tips and advice to. That is one of the things that really makes doing stand up fun. The people that you can find yourself working with.

Do you remember last year I made a brief cameo appearance in my mate Ben Langley’s play called Ha Ha Holmes at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury. Well Ben is back with a brand new play. Which is set to go on a huge UK wide tour very soon. It is another in the Ha Ha brand.He once again has written it. He will direct it as well as starring in it alongside comedy greats Cannon and Ball, and Su Pollard. It will also feature the very talented Andy Pickering. Who did appear in the previous play as the much picked on musician. According to Ben the rehearsals are going great and it is shaping up very nicely. Plus he also seems to be enjoying hearing some classic old show business stories from the rest of the cast. The play is called Ha Ha Hood. And yes it does have some links to a certain well known tale but tells us the story of Robin some twenty years on, from when we last saw him. So a few things in his life have altered, just a little shall we say. I had two cracking nights watching the previous show. Which was hilariously funny. So I really can’t wait to see this new one. I am still considering asking Ben if he has any cameo roles available for this year’s production that may be I could do. I had such a great time being involved the last time. I urge you to go and see this play. You will not be disappointed if you like silly old fashioned good old proper laughs. It you want to find out more about Ha Ha Hood including when it comes to your nearest theatre check out the link here http://www.hahahood.com/  

The Premier League football season gets under way this weekend. So I am hoping that my team Tottenham Hotspur get off to a good start and have a decent season. I am quite optimistic about our chances. But then again I always am at this stage of the season. After last year’s disappointment. I have not had any bets with any Everton supporting friends. On which of our teams will finish the highest this time around. Although as it turns out Everton play Tottenham at Goodison Park on the last day of the season. So I have already made plans to go to Liverpool for the weekend to catch up with my mate and watch the game. I think it could well be another wide open and interesting season.With a few different clubs in with a chance of claiming the title. Spurs kick off the season with a trip to West Ham. A team who beat us three times last season. So it would be extra nice to get a win today to make up for that. But as it is a marathon and not a sprint. I will remain level headed whatever the result. Good luck to your side this year. Hope they have a good one, except if and when they play my team of course.

Tonight I am going to the New Theatre in Oxford to see the musical Avenue Q with my sister. It is a show that I have not yet seen, but have heard very good things about. So I am really looking forward to it. When it was in London’s West End I actually interviewed one of its then stars Mark Goldthorp. It was while I was working at Ivel fm in Yeovil. Mark was from the Somerset town and was coming home to perform a charity concert. So I spoke to him about that and his musical theatre career. I remember when he was describing the show to me that it sounded like something that I would greatly enjoy. Yet it appears to have taken me over six years to actually get round to seeing it. I have heard it explained as like Sesame Street for adults with some very good and catchy original songs in it. It has got some pedigree as it won a Tony Award when it was on Broadway in America. I will let you know what I thought about it when I speak to you next.

Have fun and we will catch up again in a couple of weeks. Cheers Neil.

Hello again, I hope all is well with you. And that you have had a very good couple of weeks. Mine have been lots of fun. Last time we spoke I was up in Warrington visiting an old school friend of mine and his family. I had not seen them for over two years. During that period him and his wife had started running a pub. So I went and stayed with them at the pub for the weekend. Now I have spent a fair amount of time in pubs over the years but this was actually the first time that I had slept in one. I arrived on the Friday afternoon. I got the train up and my mate met me at the station to drive me to the pub. I have to say that the train journey just flew by. As I had borrowed Harry Redknapp’s autobiography off someone I know. That kept me well and truly entertained for the entire trip, as I headed north. When we arrived we had a nice chat and a good catch up.Then they made me some lovely food. And my friend asked me what I would like to drink? To which I replied what have you got? (Kind of forgetting where we were.) To which my friend said “well imagine you are in a pub”. So rather than make him list all the drinks he served. I just made do with a lemonade for starters.

I had a great weekend. Drinking in his pub, talking to his customers, playing darts and taking part in the Saturday night charity bingo and meat raffle. Neither of which I did particularly well in. I also got thrashed playing FIFA on the X-box by their fourteen year old son. Who then later in the same day went on to beat me very convincingly at darts to. Although I did manage to head outside with him and slightly out shine him with my football skills. So I did regain some pride from the situation. It was a lovely weekend catching up with old friends. Just chatting, laughing, eating and drinking. The simple things in life are always the best. Although I was not overly popular on the Sunday morning. When I ventured downstairs from the living quarters towards the kitchen and the pub, completely forgetting that there was an alarm. Which to be fair my mate had told me about. And he had informed me of the code that was required to turn it off. But sadly for him and the rest of the family I could not remember what it was. So the alarm went off and he had to come down and turn it off. He was very polite and understanding about it.Which proves what a good friend he is.

It only seems like five minutes ago that the World Cup in Brazil ended. When Germany were crowned World Champions. But we are now already well and truly into the pre-season period for the new domestic football season. Last week I went for an interesting meeting with a sports production company in London.To discuss doing some football commentary for them for the upcoming season. I had a wonderful chat with the boss there about what the business already does as well as what it plans to do in the future. Which all sounds very exciting. Currently they supply a lot of the digital and mobile sports content. For a lot of very well known brands and sport providers. As part of the meeting process. So that I could display my skills. I got to commentate on the first half of a big football match, while I was there. I really enjoyed it and thought it went well. I will know in a couple weeks if they shared my opinion. And therefore will use me to commentate on some football matches for this season and possibly some tennis matches to.

I am still doing quite a bit of work at Wembley Stadium at the moment. It is of course the home of English Football and England’s ground but that is by no means the only thing that happens there. Since the new stadium opened in 2007 it has always had a great relationship with the NFL. In fact there has been one NFL American Football match at the stadium every year. Until last year when they had two NFL International Series games. This year they go one better with three NFL matches being played at the venue. The first of which takes place at the end of September between the Oakland Raiders and the Miami Dolphins. When I was at Wembley last week some of the players were over from those teams to promote the match. When I arrived I had to very politely ask some of them to move so I could get into the lift. They are huge guys who look scary enough in normal clothes. Let alone with all the padding and helmets on. They were doing lots of interviews pitch side. When one of the Dolphins players decided he wanted to take a “selfie” on his phone with a group of people who had gathered near by to watch. I wonder how many retweets that got if indeed he did put it on Twitter. All of these players are huge stars in the States but I have to confess I do not really follow the sport,that closely. So I had no idea who they were. I might well have been rubbing shoulders with players American Fans would see as a once in a lifetime chance to meet. Without having a clue who they were. I guess it would be like someone from America standing and talking to Wayne Rooney. While having no idea who he was.

I arranged to meet up with someone I know for a drink in central London last week. I let them choose the location. After checking with me if I was scared of heights or not. Luckily I am not. They suggested we meet at a place called Sushi Samba.It was not somewhere I was familiar with. So I did the first thing we all do in this situation. I had a look for it on the internet. On doing this I discovered that it was a very nice restaurant and bar on the thirty-ninth floor of the Heron Tower. Which is just along the road from Liverpool Street Station. On arrival you have to queue outside at the roped area until the lift is free. And then you can go inside to catch it.The lift up to the place is like the glass elevator from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In that you have full panoramic views of the capital as you head up. And because it is possibly the fastest lift I have ever been in. It practically catapults you up to the top in a very short space of time. The place itself is amazing it has an outside bar as well as two inside bars and the views from it are spectacular. You are looking down on the city landscape. While towering over the Gherkin. Which is sitting below you. It does have a selection of different drinks but it specializes in Cocktails. So while I was there I thought it would be rude not to try out a couple. Now the menu did not come with any pictures and these were not your standard everyday cocktails. Like you would get on a package holiday, shall we say. So I selected my first one on ingredients alone. It then arrived in the most feminine of glasses. Which meant it did not look very manly of butch. When I was drinking it. That said it did taste nice. I thought I had learnt my lesson. When I ordered my second one. I noticed on the menu it said which one’s were the tall drinks. As they came in bigger glasses I thought that would look more acceptable. And it would have done. If the cocktail I had ordered was not bright pink in colour. Yes it did come in a longer glass but no it did not look any more masculine. Yet once again and most importantly it tasted very good. It’s a really cool place to have a drink and I enjoyed it there. And yes in case you were wondering the lift is as quick on the way down as it was on the way up.

My life does seem like it is one big long party at the minute. And to prove that point last Saturday I went to a family party at my cousin’s house to celebrate the fact. That his daughter who was born with a cleft pallet had successfully had all the required operations. And had made a full recovery. It was a proper outdoor summer gathering, With the older members of the family sat down talking, the young children running around playing and the various dogs that were there periodically racing around the garden for no apparent reason. Then to top it all off perfectly there was a barbecue to. Although my cousin who was hosting the party managed to pass on the cooking duties to a friend of his. I think some might call that the art of delegation. Others may call it laziness. It reminds me of a work colleague’s barbecue that I was once invited to. Where somehow I ended up doing all the cooking. Despite never volunteering to do it. And also never at any point stating that I was a great or even an all right chef. Let’s just say that nobody at that do got food poisoning. Because all of the food was very well cooked. In fact it was advisable to enjoy the meat with a lot of added sauce. Shall we say to enhance the taste. It was great as ever to catch up with the family and have a good laugh. It is a good job I do enjoy it that much as I have another family wedding reception to go to this weekend. It is really great having such a large family because you never have to wait that long for the next big occasion.

The Tringe Comedy Festival is sadly now over for another year. It was a huge success once again. With lots of brilliant comedians performing previews of their upcoming shows for this year’s Edinburgh Festival. The Scottish Festival started in the week and runs until the 25th August. It is very much my plan to one year go there and see as many comedy performances as I can. But that will have to wait till at least next year now. As I am currently to busy at the minute to attend this year’s event. Good luck to all the comedians up there taking part. Have a great run and be successful. It does cost a lot of money to put on your own show there. And I know of many people who have ended up out of pocket from doing a show. But Edinburgh has also given a lot of new comics their big break and propelled them on to bigger things. So being there is certainly a risk worth taking, if you are ambitious. I have entered a stand up comedy competition that takes place in London later this year. My heat is in October. I am really looking forward to being involved with it. And hoping of course that I can do well in it. I am currently working on some new material for that. While also probably still keeping a few of my greatest hits in the set, that I will be performing. But we will see what happens a bit nearer the time I guess.

Have fun and we will catch up again in a couple of weeks. Cheers Neil.

Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you have had a good couple of weeks. I have had a very busy fortnight doing a whole variety of fun and interesting things. So when we last spoke I was right in the middle of working for Regatta Radio at the Henley Royal Regatta. Once again I had a brilliant week being heavily involved with the station. That brings people full race commentary of all the races from day one right through to finals day. I was responsible for the production side of this service and was based mainly in the studio. Making sure the excitement of the races were captured and broadcast. I had a fantastic time working with a very talented and knowledgeable group of commentators. Who have such an enthusiasm and passion for their sport. Which really comes across during their commentary pieces and draws you in to the races. It really was great fun. Well done to the whole team on an exceptional job in bringing the whole event alive on the air waves. Rowing is a such a brilliant and dignified sport requiring scary levels of fitness and dedication. The set up at Henley means you can have Olympic Gold Medal winners mixing with and racing sometimes straight after school children. Who are sometimes just in their first season of rowing competitions. Everyone is so supportive of each other and the elite athletes are so happy to chat and help the newer competitors. Which makes for a great atmosphere around the boat tent area. Which is where all the teams prepare and recover before and after the races. As well as producing the commentary and the lunchtime and teatime radio shows. I also produced a series of daily podcasts all about the Regatta across the five days it was staged. Which were great fun to do. They enabled me to meet and talk to a whole host of fascinating people and really get a flavour and a feel for the event. It was also great to see so many spectators there to support the event and have a great time themselves. Having a few drinks and a nice picnic. It really is a very civilised day out but then if you stay out long enough, it can become slightly more uncivilised as the evening goes on. It was a great week. Thanks to the whole team for their hard work and assistance. Apparently even the great Sir Steve Redgrave was a fan of the coverage we supplied during this year’s Regatta. Here is the link to the Podcast’s that I made. http://www.regattaradio.co.uk/podcasts/

A couple of Saturday’s ago I dug out my headphones and dusted off my CD’s to perform as the DJ at my Uncle and Aunty’s Fortieth Wedding Anniversary Party. It was while I was still in the middle of working at Regatta Radio. So I had my sound and light man set up the equipment in the afternoon. So it was all ready to go for when I got there. I arrived from Henley with only about ten minutes to spare before I was due to start. But my family being the party animals they are, were pretty much all there early waiting for me. It was a good night and everybody seemed to have a good time. I managed to get the dance floor jumping. I mean literally jumping. It was held in an old pub with a wooden floor. And the place was certainly rocking with everybody moving around and throwing some quite interesting shapes at times. The speeches were great. I had lots of fun doing it. And it was nice to catch up, all be it briefly with most of the family. Although when you are the DJ at a do, you do not have much time to socialise. As you do of course have to keep the music coming. Congratulations to John and Lorraine. I am glad you enjoyed the night and had a great time. I have to confess when you are doing a party where you know most of the guests so well. It does make it a little bit easier when you are selecting the right songs to get everybody up. Specially as us “Quigley’s” have a few family anthems. That everyone has to get up and dance to with no exceptions. It was nice to be back behind the decks again and having a bit of fun on the microphone.

Last week I was lucky enough to be invited to a special and private showing of the new Jersey Boys film at a cinema in London. On entering the auditorium we were given a complimentary bag of sweet popcorn. Which I thought was a very nice start to proceedings. The film is based on the musical of the same name. Which is actually one of the few West End musicals that I have not seen. The musical and therefore the film is based on the story of the Four Seasons. How four guys from Jersey managed to get out and break free of what could have been a very different life. By beating the odds and becoming huge stars in the music business. Like most success stories it is a mixture of hard work, dedication to a dream and a chance meeting. With a sprinkling of luck along the way. It also looks at friendship, honour amongst friends and how even achieving your professional dreams, can destroy your personal life. There is also plenty of heartache and disappointment along the way to. Personally I thought it was a great film. The story, the songs, the subject matter and the actors. Who were all absolutely brilliant in their roles. Including the actual lead singer with the real Four Seasons Frankie Valli. Who plays his own dad in the film. It is directed by Clint Eastwood. Who does a brilliant job on something you would not really associate him with. Although the movie does have some guns in it and a little bit of violence. Which was in the script and not just added in by the director to make him feel at home. It is a great story. Which really draws you in and makes you feel for all the characters. It shows the highs and lows and all the pit falls of show business. And the finale I reckon could actually have a full cinema dancing in the isles. If you are in to music history, like great music or just fancy being thoroughly entertained for over two hours. Then I would recommend you go and see Jersey Boys. I think I will have to go and see the musical before the end of the summer now. I just know that would be a top night out.

Now while I do like watching Cricket from time to time I can’t claim to be a big fan of the sport. But the chance to have a private VIP tour around the home of Cricket Lords was far to good to turn down. When you first walk in to the place it does have a certain aura about it. You do get a little bit excited about being at the place where some great sporting moments from the past have taken place. The tour was taken by the very entertaining Michael. An actual member of the MCC. Who are the elite members of Lords. Who use the name of the original team that used the ground the Marylebone Cricket Club. It started with a very good and hugely amusing explanation all about how the Ashes series started. While we were looking at the actual original Ashes. Which always stay on display at Lords whoever wins. We then got to have a look in the famous long room. Which the players all walk through on their way to the pitch. Before heading in to the away and then the home dressing rooms. The thing that struck me was how much closer the main pavilion was to the edge of the ground. Than I thought it was from watching a game from there on television. In the dressing rooms there are honour boards up. Where players who have scored over one hundreds runs in an innings or taken five or ten wickets in a match, have their name displayed. No need to tell you there are some great players from the past on display up there. But also there are quite a few hugely successful world performers. Who never managed to get their name on those boards during their long careers. I was surprised to find that Cricket is not the only sport played at Lords. They also have a real tennis court there. While I was there I was lucky enough to see a game of it being played. I also got to handle the real tennis racket and the ball. Which are both very different from the more popular form of the game. It looked rock hard to play to with the uneven bounce of the ball and the fact you can bounce it off the overhanging roof. The tour finished with a walk around the ground. With an opportunity to try out the view from a couple of the different stands. And a visit to the space age media centre. Which is kind of like a hanging bubble on the opposite end from the main Pavilion. It is such an unusual design that it was built by ship builders. As they were the only ones who had the know how to supply the structure that was requested. The view from there is sensational. It was lots of fun and very interesting having a good look around the home of Cricket. It has kind of made me want to go there again and actually watch a game.

The football World Cup is over for another four years then. Congratulations to Germany who became the first European team to win the tournament out in the Americas. They were the best team in the competition. So therefore deserved their one nil win after extra time against Argentina in the final. It looked like they had some party back in Germany, to celebrate. Which having been there drinking beer and having fun in the past at Oktoberfest. I know how good they are at enjoying themselves. I enjoyed the whole event despite England’s early exit from it. It now seems weird not having top class football matches to watch every night any more. I think Brazil did a great job as hosts. Someone I know went out there for the group stages of the competition to watch the England games. And despite the results he had a great time. He did quite a bit of sight seeing including a trip up the mountain to see Christ The Redeemer. Which I would suspect is a must if you are there. He also said the atmosphere there was amazing and had a great time socialising with everybody he met from all over the world. I have a feeling the next World Cup in Russia in 2018 could have a little bit of a different feel to it. We now have four years to rebuild the national team before we can start to dream again. That may be just may be we will have the chance in our lifetime to party like the German’s did last weekend to celebrate being champions of the World.

Talking of football this week I had a meeting with a sports production company about some potential football commentary work with them for the upcoming season. It was great meeting the team there. And a fun and interesting afternoon. As I got to demonstrate my reporting skills describing some great matches. This weekend I am up in the Manchester catching up with an old school friend. Who now just happens to run a pub. He has been there for about two years now and I have finally managed to get a free weekend to go up and see him and his family. I can confirm the place is great and he does happen to pour a very nice pint. I will tell you more about this time up in the North in the next instalment.

Have fun and we will catch up again in a couple of weeks. Cheers Neil.