June 2005

INTRODUCTION
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand, strawberries in the other – body thoroughly used up, totally worn out - and screaming, "Woo-Hoo! What a ride!"

****
Well, this month was supposed to be a quiet one... but it wasn’t!
In short, my book is out. (Sorry, but it’s only for those "in the industry") and is doing exceptionally well, despite the fact that the marketing / review campaign hasn’t even kicked off yet. According to the distributor: "I thought you'd like to know that, as well as the UK and USA, your book has ALREADY been ordered by customers in Belgium, Ireland, Austria, Australia, Spain, Sweden and Japan!" How cool is that?

Perhaps of more interest to readers. If your name is in this list, then you received a mention in the acknowledgements at the back of the book (a copy of the thanks and acknowledgements section is reproduced at the end of this newsletter, so you can see what I said about you!) This is specifically aimed at those who have helped get my career to where it is already – and, yes, a lot of you aren’t mentioned. Believe me, that’s down to lack of space rather than lack of gratitude. Here’s the list: EDDIE ANDERSON, DAVE ARCARI, PAUL BRIGNALL DAVE CAIRNS, STUART FARQUHAR, URI GELLER, DOUGLAS GILLESPIE, TOM DUFFIN, ROBBIE GLEN, FIONA GOLDTHORPE, IAN GRINDLAY, STEVE HARLEY, DON JACK, TED KARMILOVICH, KENNY AND NOEL (TWICE) AT TMC, STEVE LINDSAY, LIOR MANOR, RICHARD MARK, HORSE MACDONALD, GERRY MACFARLANE, COLIN MCLEOD, IAN MCLURG, BILLY MCMURRAY, JOHN MORTON, LEN MURRAY, MARC OBERON, MARC PAUL, FAY PRESTO, PAT QUINN, IAN ROWLAND, LIAM RUDDEN,, MARC SALEM AND TOVA, TOM SOLLEY AND PAUL ZENON.

****
GET "SHE" MAGAZINE THIS MONTH
Out this month (JULY) is the August edition of the prestigious SHE Magazine. There’s a cracking big piece about an experiment I carried out with three families. Like The Scotsman piece that was out last month (a full page, but it carried a photograph of Tom Cruise instead of me – long story) it’s written by JOAN MCFADYN, so it’ll be thoughtfully constructed, well written, and beautifully crafted. In other words, a belter. And after the day-long photos-shoot, they’d better not have used Cruise’s picture again! Get your newsagent to put a copy aside, now!

****
Just what I needed: Phone call from LIAM RUDDEN at the Evening News. "What are you doing from Sunday through to Tuesday?" he asks. "Nothing", says I. The result? I’m flying off to Manchester with my FCC (Female Companion of Choice, for new subscribers to this newsletter) for an all-expenses-paid 3-day break, which includes tickets to the sell-out Oasis concert! And in return? I have to write a short travel piece. Wheeeee! Thanks, Liam.

****
GIGS THIS MONTH:
Steady, without being under pressure, describes this month’s gig list. There was a pre-conference gig for an oil company in Aberdeen, then straight on to the Dunkeld Hilton and a cabaret spot for a major blue-chip company. There was also a gig at Rosyth Naval Base and a cracking little gig for university directors at Pollock Halls in the company of the WONDERFUL GARY JAMES. Then there was another return gig at the Moathouse Hotel in Glasgow for a medical group. Busy enough, considering this is the quietest time of year.

Oh, yes, and I turned 50 this month, but was a pallbearer at a funeral on the morning of my birthday. So, not much to celebrate there, really.

****
A NEW BABY! (No, not mine)
Congratulations, though, to MIKE PICKFORD, Swallow Hotel manager extrodinaire who has used my services many times, and a call from him is always welcome. He became the proud father of a beautiful baby daughter, Ella Louise. Apparently, he was hoping for a chocolate-coloured Labrador, but a daughter will do just fine! He says: "Both mother and daughter are well and conning me out of money for clothes shopping, (first stop when we got out of hospital - Next). Congratulations, mate!

****
AND ANOTHER NEW BABY
Congratulations to MARC SALEM and TOVA on the birth of their latest grandchild.

****
WEIRD E-MAIL
Just in from top entertainer – comedy and mentalism, JOHN ARCHER, with whom I’ll be meeting up again later this year. Apparently, Kabul in Afghanistan is hot-hot-hot at this time of year. What ARE you doing there?

SCRUBS
Those of you who know me well know that I’m hooked on the SCRUBS television show – it’s about the only thing I watch. Well, the first series is out on DVD. Do yourself a favour, (a) buy it (b) phone in to work sick (3) slump onto your sofa and watch all 24 episodes, plus extras, back to back.

DREW – ON DVD (Somebody else’s)
Now, here’s a stunner. During the 1970’s, STEVE HARLEY & Cockney Rebel were amongst the most distinctive of British rock brands. Original lyrics and memorable melodies combined to produce enduring songs, the highlight of which is the unmistakable Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me). Well, Steve has a new DVD – filmed live at the Isle of Wight Festival and in Edinburgh. It really is a cracker. There’s also an on-the-road documentary, featuring sound-check and interviews with band members, crew and Steve himself. In the band member interview, there are also a couple of interviews with... ME! And, yes, I bend a spoon for the camera. You can get hold of the DVD at
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00096J1GO/qid=1120146216/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/026-0382577-1524407

THANKS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The following list is in alphabetical order, and comprises many of those people I would like to thank in person. Each of them, in some way, has had an impact on what I perform, and how I perform. In other words, it’s their fault!
Eddie Anderson, a genuine, talented editor and businessman who has always supported me, in a myriad of ways, as has Dave Arcari, musician and PR guru who, when the chips are down, is always available to lend a hand. (Usually picking up the chips!) Paul Brignall has given freely of his time and talent. A funny, funny, man, and top-flight magician, he is a joy to know. The same goes for Dave Cairns, whose support, help and friendship knows no bounds. Stuart Farquhar has always been genuinely interested in what I’m up to. He has a real writing talent and is a good friend. Uri Geller also has a talent! He is also a good friend and is one of the most generous, genuine, enthusiastic and positive people I know. Douglas Gillespie is one switched-on agent, and a jolly nice fellow to boot, whereas Tom Duffin is just plain crazy – but thank you for teaching me to fly. Robbie Glen, ex-governor of Barlinnie Prison, is an after-dinner speaker, who has offered me advice and guidance, and who has only one equal. (See Len Murray, below.) Fiona Goldthorpe, a lovely lady and an efficient and effective agent. Ian Grindlay for letting me ride in his helicopter – even though I broke it once (though not as much as he did when he hit the power cables!) The full-of-life Steve Harley, one of my boyhood heroes, always a supporter and, more importantly, a friend. For that I thank you – and for your music, of course. (Not all heroes have feet of clay!) Don Jack, bright, intelligent and a real "ideas" man. Paul Johnson a long-time friend and one of the best. He’s also the sound of reason, never afraid to tell me when I’m going off the rails. Ted Karmilovich a top-notch performer and ideas man – one of the top geezers in our field. He will always be the real "pooshy galore" (Sorry, private joke!) Kenny and Noel (they come as a double-act) from TMC - entertainment agents who go to great pains to support, encourage and explain – thanks, lads. The late Steve Lindsay. I’ve learned a lot from you. Steve was a man who truly realised that his magic was a business. Lior Manor, thanks for the laughs we’ve had. And thanks, too, for being so willing to share your ideas and ingenious corporate concepts. There wasn’t a duff one among them! Richard Mark, quiet and unassuming, a real rock in the world of mentalism. Horse MacDonald; the Scottish diva. Your music and your voice, made me laugh and, equally, made me cry. Gerry MacFarlane: a friend for over thirty years, he probably knows me better than any man alive on this planet. And that’s worrying! Gerry is somebody who, with only a word or two can make me double up in laughter. We’ll probably die, sitting on a park bench, sharing memories and mint imperials. I hope so. Colin McLeod. If you want to know what the future face of mentalism is, you need look no further. Colin has more workable ideas per hour than I have in a decade. Whereas Colin came up with the mentalism goods, Ian McLurg’s talent lies with computers. He has put my little grey box back together one time more than I’ve managed to break it. Billy McMurray is much, much more than a fellow paraglider pilot. He is funny, interesting, and a darned good mate. Cheers, chum! And whereas Billy is one of my bestest friends in the whole world, John Morton is one of those rare things: a client who has also become a friend. Besides having a wicked sense of humour, he is one of the brightest men I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Len Murray is an after-dinner speaker, and a thoroughly likeable bloke, who has offered me advice and guidance, and who has only one equal. (See Robbie Glen, above.) Noel and Kenny from TMC for looking after me, having confidence in me, and getting me some cracking gigs. Marc Oberon is a fantastic magician. He is quiet, unassuming and a specialist in his art. The same can be said of nice-guy Marc Paul (Officially "The World’s Greatest Mind Reader"), and Fay Presto who is always generous with her time and her ideas. Pat Quinn: There is nobody in this world quite like Pat. A writer of some repute, his way with words is second to none. He’s a real diamond geezer, as they would say in his part of the world. A gentleman and a scholar, rather like Ian Rowland, a special friend and mentor. He is generous with his time and his ideas, and engaging in his concepts and conversation – never a dull moment. Liam Rudden, the entertainment editor at the Edinburgh Evening News; thanks for all your encouragement. Marc Salem and Tova – two of my favourite people in this world. More than just friends, you are family. Thanks for your "picture perfect" friendship. I owe you more than you’ll ever know. Tom Solley is more than "just" an agent. I appreciate the advice and the guidance. And I thank you for your friendship. Paul Zenon just for being Paul Zenon, somebody who has taken magic, re-invented it, and made it more entertaining than it was before... It’s always a pleasure.
Thanks also to those people and things that give my life the special texture and colour. Each one of them has brought something special into my life and made my being on this planet a richer experience: Alice Cooper, Vespa Scooters, Fender guitars, North Berwick, all my buddies, Laphroaig Whisky, Moira (my paraglider), Balquhidder, and last but not least, Li’l Emily and her mummy, Susan.