5691/18711
Good to see that my new Emergency Questions book (out in October) is already #1856 in Books > Humour > Love, Sex & Marriage on Amazon. RESULT! I mean it's not really about love, sex or marriage (well any more than it is about anything - unless you have a marriage that largely revolves around what you want to put up each other's arses - I know I do), but it's just nice to be in the running. I am amazed there are 1855 other books in that cateogary. I wouldn't be surprised if that is all there are. You can preorder from Amazon, but I think Chris Evans (not that one) will be putting it up on Go Faster Stripe soon, so buy it from him. We will also be making a few special limited editions with bonus questions available as part of the next Kickstarter to pay for series 13 and 14 of RHLSTP.
I had, perhaps foolishly, agreed to take part in the “We Need To Talk About It” podcast which was recording at 9.30am this morning in London. It was at least close to Kings Cross, but it meant a stupidly early start and then having to negotiate rush hour trains at a time when trains are being cancelled left, right and centre.
I have a choice of lots of different stations that are about 15-20 minutes drive from my house, but still getting to grips with which is the best and which has the easiest parking. Someone had suggested Hatfield, which is a bit further away, but closer to London which would mean a cheaper ticket and it had a car park right next door. And I think it might haver been a good call.
I worried if I’d get caught up in rush hour traffic, but made it there relatively easily and in time for the train. But of course the train was cancelled. I could get the Moorgate train, though that was slower and would mean changing at Finsbury Park.
As I waited on the platform I was aware I needed a wee. I had a look round, but couldn’t see any toilets in this unfamiliar station. Did I have time to pop out and find somewhere to go or should I risk hoping the train had a toilet?
I decided on the latter and of course was frustrated. There were no loos. So I had a pretty uncomfortably 40 minute journey, trying to think of something else, but getting hotter and unable to concentrate on anything but my old and bulging bladder. Ironically the first question on the podcast was to be discussing Ed Sheeran stopping his gig for a wee. So it was all good research.
I considered getting off the train, it was that bad, but knew I would be late for the recording if I did that. And thanks to the delays I was already going to be a bit late. Thankfully Finsbury Park had a horrible toilet on the next platform over from the one I needed and I had time to go. But the relief of the relief didn’t make up for the previous hour of discomfort.
The podcast was fun. Human Berocca Russell Kane was on, along with the dazzlingly brainy Ash Sarkar and the host is Jolyon Rubinstein, who is definitely my favourite Jolyon. It was a bit early in the morning for my brain to be working, but I was impressed by everyone else.
We did it in a restaurant which for some reason has a recording studio in the back which is all part of a swanky new development just to the north of Kings Cross. Loads of cafes and open squares and stalls selling artisan food, where once there was proper industry (and some prostitutes). But to be fair it feels modern and continental and the kind of stuff that there should be in an area where there are lots of tourists looking to spend money. And wankers have to eat too.
I thought about making something of my time in London, but was exhausted and after a little mooch I headed back to Hatfield. I discovered that the toilets in Hatfield station are on the other side of the ticket barriers. Though the gents was out of order. Maybe it had been fated that I would have to go through this. But what kind of sick higher being or force would plan this. And for what reason. God is one seriously fucked up dude. But I guess his work elsewhere in the world shows that already.
At home, too tired and unmotivated to work (I think I might have finally emptied my brain of ideas or ambition, same result) I watched the entirity of the 1981 TV series "The Day of the Triffids". It made me very happy.
