Back to School

I have a few slightly odd things on my list, but one thing I didn't have on there is "do a stand-up comedy routine."  So how is it that a couple of weeks ago when Belinda asked me if I'd do a course with her, I found myself saying yes?  The surprising thing is that I didn't even really hesitate.   I found it rather an exciting, if slightly daunting prospect!  Maybe it had something to do with the website saying for "bucket-list tickers."  That's me, OK I'm in, where do I sign.

So there we have it.  We've signed up for the 5 day course starting on 21 January 2018 with The School of Hard Knock Knocks.  Yep, 5 days of making fools of ourselves on purpose and paying for the privilege. Some would say I make a fool of myself on a regular basis anyway, so I guess it's not really stretching reality in any way. 

So how does it work?  How do you go to school to learn how to be "funny?" Is it something that can be taught or are you born funny?  Am I funny? I'm crap at telling jokes, so I certainly won't be going down that route. What the fuck will I base my routine on then?  Life.  Life is funny enough. And sometimes if you can't laugh at life, you'll just end up crying.

Now I've got to come up with some material.  Thought about just winging it, but that my fail completely flat.  Might be able to base the whole 5 mins around B's boobs.  I know that sound a bit odd, but let's face it there is a LOT to work with there.

Anyway, this is how the course goes - just in case anyone else reads this and say "yeah I wanna do that!"

Day 1 – The Basics & Finding yourself
Introduction to the basics of stand-up comedy and the jargon of the comedic industry before launching into the deep end with your very own mini set.

Day 2 – Your Audience and Taboos   
Learn to gauge your audience and how to recognise and manage taboo topics while learning confidence building/ fear smashing techniques.

Day 3: The opener
Learn to write a strong open to your comedy set. Tonight students will also have the opportunity to refine some of their own writing with our guest comedian.

Day 4: The Heckler and The Closer 
Practice delivering your set as well as building skills to deal with the dreaded (or welcomed - I actually think I would welcome) heckler before polishing a strong close to your set ready for the graduation ceremony.

Day 5: Graduation Night and Performance 

Back to Baconsville

I began my reporting career earlier in the year when we first visited Baconsville. And would you believe it, we're back again.  I knew something was going on that morning (Sunday 5 November) and sure enough we were off.  This time with the lovely B and my new human sis, Aitana.

Quality Control

Having extra people in the car is the best - I get scratches and cuddles all the way.  Stopped at Boat O'Craigo winery in the Yarra Valley for lunch.  Mum and B went wine tasting and looks like they couldn't make up their mind 'cos they had to then bring out a full bottle of the pink one to make sure that they had properly tasted it (Ed note, we did particularly enjoy the chilled Rose).  The winery's name comes from the town of Craigo in Scotland.  The water was OK.  I thought we might be partaking in some Haggis, being Scottish and all, but no, we had pizzas.  Very tasty - especially the bits I got with some rather delicate semi-soft fresh Fior Di Latte mozzarella - buonissimo!

On we drove up the gorgeous Black Spur and there we were - back at the Vibe Hotel! Same smells, this time, they even took my picture - probably for their monthly cutest guest report. Same same, but different room.  My bed was smaller, but I had already eyed off the bed and couch.  We went for a nice long walk around the town and park and YES! That delicious stream water was still there and was still delicious! I rolled, waded, scratched, sniffed, peed and did poo.  After all that I was pretty pooped so dinner and to bed to dream of bacon.  Didn't even miss the humans when they went out - OK, I did a little bit.

The Girls

Brilliant dream - a whole bowl of bacon and sausages and brilliant because it came true!  After my morning constitutional, I had a nap and when I woke up mum and dad had returned with a whole bag of food for moi. Off we went.   Back to Steavenson’s Falls.  I stayed with Dad guarding the car.  Then the girls went back to visit Bruno at Bruno’s Art and Sculpture Garden.  Been there, done that so was happy to head off with Dad checking out the local fishing spots.  We all had a lovely afternoon stopping along the river.  Back to the hotel for a rest and wine drinking (I stuck to water, someone needs to remain vigilant).  For dinner, I got yep, you guessed it - more bacon and sausages.  I really did try and keep my eyes open to remain on guard, but my belly was full, it had been a long day and the couch was calling me.......

I got my own sign for the door!

 My dad and the rodo rhododren rhododendrons - the pink flowers

Can you ever really have too much bacon?  I was packed and ready to go after saying goodbye to my new friends.  We had a walk around Healesville on the way home and stopped at Four Pillars distillery.  B and Mum drinking again!  They seemed happy and I got more scratches all the way home.  Love and Licks Lola the Explorer xx

 

 

 

 

Aitana and I pretending we were in a scene from Tom Sawyer

 

Me keeping a close eye on my dad

 

Me looking gorgeous

Gin - I'll stick to water

Mirror Mirror on the wall......

A warm, windy Sunday in Melbourne - time to be tourists.  We'd (B, Kaz, Claire, Aitana and I) booked tixs to go do the Art Centre tour, but decided we'd get there early and check out the House of Mirrors which has been set up just out the front of the Art Centre.  So between sneezes (shocking hay fever - it was actually quiet amusing hearing everyone coughing, sneezing and spluttering), in we went.

House of Mirrors is the creation of Melbourne artists Christian Wagstaff and Keith Courtney (no idea who they are, got it from the promo). What do you get when you put 40 tonnes of steel and more than 15 tonnes of mirrored glass together?  A simple looking labyrinth - how hard can it be?  Surprisingly, much harder than it looks. 

Shadowed - so can't see the snot dripping

Looks simple, isn't

The reflections are deceiving and you quickly become disorientated and find yourself walking around in a circle.  Not that I particularly wanted to take a photo of 10 times my butt, but if I had wanted to, I could have.  As for double chins - they were everywhere I looked.  Not a good place for your self esteem, but interesting all the same.  And we made it out.

Too early on a Sunday for that many views of my fat arse

 

 

 

Next, our Backstage tour of the Art Centre.  Starting at 11am and running for around 90 minutes, we learnt a little about the history and visited some of the backstage rooms, hidden passageways and learnt how some of the technical contraptions work.  No whistling allowed on stage, because a sandbag might fall on your head - superstitious lot these actor sorts. Interesting chat from one of the costume guys and was particularly enthralled by the vomitorium.  No not a room to go and have a spew, it's a passage below the seats for actors to enter and leave the stage.  From the Latin word meaning  "to spew forth". All up, very interesting, a tick off the list and well worth the $20.  Tours are available every Sunday.  

 

Checked out MPavilion across the road in the Queen Victoria Gardens.  Part stage, part space - it even has a bar.  Anyway, the musicians due to perform were running late and we had a lunch date with a trolley of goodies at Secret Kitchen, so will need to check it out another day.  Hadn't been for Yum Cha in ages. Yum.  Tried to show some restraint as we had a dinner to get to. 

 

Pleasant day with an added stroll through Chinatown. Always so much to see and do in this fair city of ours. Love it.  Thanks girls xxx

 

Claire and Aitana give the tour a thumbs up

Cute little custard filled piggies