Adrian Phelan

Post 3

ABBA | Job seeking update | Ultra comedy gig no more | Meeting Kieron | Turning 50 | Do Good Well | Three is the magic number  

Having the time of your life  

Sorry I’m a bit late with this week’s blog. I had family (brother, sister and brother’s girlfriend) staying which took away some computer time; but I’m back online now reflecting on a great couple of days hanging out with them locally and in London. We went to see ABBA Voyage, and I don’t want to give too much away about the show, but our collective scores out of ten totalled 42 out of 50. We congratulated ourselves on the maths with that one. We made a day of it and took in the cable car over the Thames, walked around Canary Wharf and had lunch at The O2 Arena. It was quality time and helped me to further heal from them hogging the remote control when we were 12.  

Sign on you crazy diamond  

I had a call with my JSA (Job Seekers’ Allowance) buddy this week and it was ok but we’ve established that there’s little point in taking a couple of days work here and there because it throws everything out of sync, doesn’t really bring any extra cash to support me and the family and takes me away from finding that substantive role. I have a real desire to show willing though so it’s a bit frustrating. I’ll put last week’s two days in Watford down to experience and look with optimism around the corner. A good colleague was in touch and said, ‘”You just have to keep going,” and I will.  

Ultra no more – release the date  

Please note that I will now not be taking part in the Ultra Comedy event on 30 November. It sold out before I sold my quota of tickets and they have firm rules on that. I am disappointed but I’m planning to find an open mic slot elsewhere, so I’ll let you know the details when I have them. If it’s anything like last time I’ll be on at drinking up time when they’re trying to get everyone out, so don’t come early.  

I know your name, but your face escapes me  

I’m very good at remembering faces but don’t have a very memorable face myself so I often strike panic into people who haven’t seen me for a while when I come up and say hello. On my way back from Ultra Comedy training last week, I bumped into Kieron and Sue Concannon, parents of Luke who is the singer with folk/hip-hop/alternative duo Nizlopi. I’ve met Kieron several times at various gigs, but it’s been a while. After a few bars of me rattling through our lives together, it finally clicked and we had a good catch-up about how Luke and Nizlopi are doing. I’ve included some links above I hope you’ll check out their websites, their music and perhaps consider buying Nizolpi’s first album which has just been released on vinyl. Both Luke as a solo artiste and Nizlopi as a group have an amazing catalogue so do check them out. They did two triumphant gigs at The Water Rats last Sunday but alas, I couldn’t make them. However they are returning to London to play The Moth Club on 30 November.  

I’ll go 50/50  

I went to the first of what will be a couple of years of 50ths for me and all our school/university friends. It was a top night/occasion in a club in Brixton, and we met many people we hadn’t seen for ages. Some had read last week’s blog so there was a general disappointment that we are now all too old to donate poo for medical purposes. We’re all now seeking alternative side hustles. If being there taught me anything it was that I wasted an opportunity to get people together by not having a 40^th. I will remedy that next year when I turn 50 myself. It is very surreal to type that.  

Do Good Well  

I’ve not done anything for a good cause this week and to atone for walking past several Big Issue sellers without buying a copy, that’s my plea for this section. I shall buy the next one I come across. If you send me a picture of you and your big issue I’ll include it in next week’s post.

Three is a magic number  

I’ve got to three blogs now. Whether I have 3 or 300 views I’ll carry on regardless. And this is a safe space. I’d love to hear your thoughts on anything be it about the blog or otherwise. It will all be taken in good spirits. Until next Friday, have a good week. 

Adrian  

adrianphelan@hotmail.co.uk   

07974669338