Hello again!

I know I know, don’t look at me like that, I know. I get it. It must be so frustrating. I say I’ll blog every week. I actually mean it too, but then, what’s it been? 3 months? I promise I’ll endeavour to be better, but we know what I’m like. I’ll see what I can do.

I’m currently writing to you from a very nice lounge in Helsinki airport with huge floor-to-ceiling windows facing out onto the runway. The sun is pelting through, and it’s cooking every single one of us smug lounge goers (loungies?) from the inside out, like one of those Finnish Saunas that they are famous for. Despite that, I’ve got a cold lemonade with drips on the outside of the glass, not too dissimilar from the sweat running down my back. But I’m not one to complain, because this lemonade is free (after a huge annual payment for lounge passes).

I’ve just finished a contract on board P&O Britannia. It was a shorter one than normal, which is good for me cos it keeps me busy. And busy is good! The audiences, were absolutely lovely, and the shows were genuinely a lot of fun.

The previous week I was performing at the largest performing arts festival in the world, Glastonbury Festival. This was my 20th year anniversary of being booked to perform here, as when I was 15, I did my school work experience at the festival! Yep, whilst others were folding t-shirts in clothes shops or learning how to use a till, I was camping in a tent at night and working backstage at the circus big top by day. I managed to land this sweet deal because the person that runs the big top, Jade Dunbar, had been giving me gigs for the previous 5 years since I was 10 years old. During my work experience, I was helping out backstage, moving props, that sort of thing, and on the Sunday, they needed 5 minutes filling on the stage. Jade sent Jon the hippy-grub juggler up to fill it, and I was awful. Then the next few years, I was given a free ticket if I did a show. I wasn’t paid, but a ticket was all I wanted! And I’ve been doing the festival ever since, though thankfully with payment. This year was a little different though as for the first time since 1990, the Theatre and Circus Field was in charge of the opening ceremony for the entire festival. I had the honour of being asked to perform a juggling solo with “backing dancers” consisting of remarkably talented hat jugglers of all ages. It was performed in front of approximately 75,000 people and is regarded as being the biggest live audience of all time for a circus performance. Pretty mad! You can check it some clips of it here.

Right, back to business, in a couple of days I’m doing my last tour date for a few months. I’ll be performing my solo show at the lovely Pound Arts Centre, in Corsham. If you are nearby, come along. And if you’re not nearby, then get nearby, then come along. Tell anyone in the area. Let’s sell this puppy out. Tickets here.

That’s all from me. I’ve got a flight to catch.

Smile at a grumpy old lady. Buy someone a coffee just for the sake of it. Stay hydrated.