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Into London town again to record four podcasts in four hours at the Podcast Room.
It was all kicking off at 11am, but I got there by 10ish and had a small second breakfast, as I figured I might not get time for lunch. I was meant to be doing prep for the interviews, but instead mainly waited on hold on the phone, as I'd had texts saying I had a hospital appointment tomorrow at 9.30am but no indication of which department it would be in or what it was for.
The people on the switchboards were very helpful and polite and after a couple of transfers I managed to get the info, but again it seems like the NHS could save quite a lot of money and time if these systems worked efficiently. Last week I got another couple of letters informing me about appointments that had already happened and which I'd been told about by text or email or NHS app. It's a shame to see money and time spunked up like this.
Anyway I did a last bit of prep after this and then thought I should get a takeaway sandwich in case I got a chance for a nibble between guests. I picked out one of the scandi-salmon rolls and went to purchase it. A man was standing not quite in the queue and I indicated to ask if he was waiting, but he moved out the way apologetically.
He walked away but then came back to me, "Excuse me," he said, "Would you be able to pay for a sandwich for me?"
What a well-worded question this was. Of course I was able to. I thought about it for about one second and had to admit that I would be able to do that. Not only did I have the money but I'd be paying for this purchase with the podcast company credit card. So really I wouldn't be paying at all, but giffgaff or Now TV or maybe one of the badgers would be paying for the sandwich of a man I didn't know, who needed a sandwich and had, I think, come up with the perfect way to ask for one.
Unless he was planning to sell the sandwich to someone it was good to know I was helping someone in need get actual food, but also he was polite and proud and someone I could help in a small way (using money that is sort of, but not really, mine).
It feels good helping someone and I got more than a sandwich's cost of happiness from being able to do this for him. It would worth even more to me if I never told anyone what I had done and I never have.
Look, it didn't make me feel like I was a great bloke (luckily because I am not), but I'd done the right thing and also that guy deserves a sandwich for having worked out the best possible way to ask for one.
Imagine standing there with your £5 sandwich and then brazenly telling someone that you weren't able to buy another one.
If you want a free sandwich then give this a go. I think it will work enough times for you never to have to pay for food again.
I assumed the man was homeless, but maybe he just doesn't like paying for sandwiches. Either way, good luck to him.
Four more lovely podcasts in the can too and as anticipated some philosophical chats with my guests. I did two podcast with Minchin - who I see every six or seven years and then only to podcast with. He did the first RHLSTP (where the first question (unprepared) turned out to be, "Have you ever tried to suck your own cock?" which probably set the tone. He wants to be involved in the last one we ever do and I suggested he could zoom into the end of it, whilst attempting to suck his own cock, bringing everything literally full circle.
Great guy. Lovely to see him. I bet he didn't buy a (presumably) homeless man a sandwich today though.
The stand up gig that Catie and I are doing at St Albans Roman Theatre on 7th June has sold out, so we’re doing a second performance at 8.30 the same night. Get your tickets here.
