September 2008

Hello again!

Drew McAdam Newsletter / Diary / General gossip sheet : SEPTEMBER 2008

This month, you can meet:
DOUGIE JACKSON
SEAN (THE SHEEP) ELDER AND FIONA
LIAM RUDDEN AND ANDREW
EWAN AND WENDY McALLISTER
SARAH AND JAYESH
HIS EXCELLENCY, ZAMBIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER, ANDERSON K. CHIBWA.
J.K. ROWLING
PAUL DABEK
VIC, PETER, LUCY AND ANNE
GORDON GILTRAP
MARIE CARTER


First and foremost, this is for all of you who live within striking distance of Central Scotland. As you may or may not know, I am performing the full theatre show FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY at the Regal Theatre in Bathgate. I must say, I am VERY much looking forward to this, not least because a large section of the audience will comprise of friends and acquaintances… It will be great to see so many friends all in one place. The bar will be the place to be after the show!

Details: Friday OCTOBER 24. Doors open 7pm (bar available.) Show starts 8pm. You can get tickets by phoning the box office on 01506 433634. Tickets £10 and £8 for concessions. Go on, do it NOW!

---------------------- Besides interviews about the show with the newspapers, there are also a couple of Radio Shows going out in the next few days. I’ve already recorded one with Dougie Jackson at Smooth FM. It goes out on Friday drivetime (4pm until 8pm) on 105.2fm. You can also listen live on the internet at: Smooth Radio Glasgow - 105.2fm :: Home . You can even send comments online while the show is being broadcast by clicking on "Contact the Studio." Of course, I won't actually BE there, because the show was recorded earlier in the week. I will be getting ready to go onstage in Oxford - so I will miss it. There is also a “Listen Again” facility.

The second programme and interview goes out from 11am until around noon on Tuesday, 7th October on talk 107. You can listen live on the internet at talk107 - local radio, news and sport for Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians by clicking the "Listen Live" button. Just below the little player you can click on "Click Here to email the studio" and you can make a comment or ask a question... I'll be able to respond live on air. That should be fun! Just keep it clean, folks!

SOMEBODY ONCE SAID: “SOME DAYS YOU’RE THE PIGEON: OTHER DAYS YOU’RE THE STATUE.” THIS MONTH HAS CERTAINLY PROVED THE TRUTH OF THAT STATEMENT:

---------------------- I became a grandfather…. Again. Two more grandchildren born within three days of each other, bringing the total to 10… That’s right TEN.

---------------------- I had a great meal with two old friends, Sean (The Sheep) Elder – from my paragliding days - and his lovely wife Fiona, at a great place called “The Chop and Ale House.” What a GREAT evening we all had. Thanks, Sean!

---------------------- Car trouble. Following a great night out at the theatre (Thanks to Liam Rudden, Entertainment Editor at the Edinburgh Evening News) I returned to my car to find the driver’s window had been smashed and my iPod nicked. Great. There followed a three hour wait for the rescue service to appear, and then all the usual palaver of insurance claims and window replacement. As if THAT were not enough, a few days later I had a bump (not my fault. Honest.) that seriously messed up my bumper. Sheeeghh!

---------------------- I had a nice piece in the Edinburgh Evening News this month, and I was also asked to contribute a piece to MORE Magazine. They even paid me!

---------------------- I also had the pleasure of attending the 25th Anniversary celebrations of one of the nicest couples I know, Ewan and Wendy McAllister at the Karma Restaurant and function suite… what a GREAT evening that was. Thanks guys!

---------------------- Another couple of episodes of me in my role as The Interrogator were broadcast – nice meaty ones they were, too. I still squirm when I see myself on telly, though. In my mind, I’m a LOT more handsome and debonair.

---------------------- It was good fun, the meeting at the BBC Headquarters – a brainstorming session in which some really great ideas and suggestions were considered. Watch this space!

---------------------- I drove down to Leicester for a charity evening. And what a wonderful time I had. Funds were being raised for the very worthy U-foundation (remember I cycled from London to Paris for them last year?) Sarah and Jayesh, who have become good friends, organised the whole thing with an Arabian theme.

While at the U-Foundation dinner, I was introduced to a lovely fellow who insisted I call him “Anderson”. We had a long and fascinating chat before I discovered that this fella was His Excellency, Zambian High Commissioner, Anderson K. Chibwa. I was wearing my kilt and found it hilarious to curtsy and refer to him from time to time as “Your Grace.” Not the protocol, apparently, but – hey – it made ME laugh!

Oh, and as result of all this, you will be receiving a newsletter from Zambia some time next year!

----------------------On my return from Leicester, it was straight through to Edinburgh to help celebrate the loving relationship of Liam and Andrew at The Dome. Another great evening.

---------------------- I happened to be at the Sheraton Spa, and had a bun and coffee in the bistro area. I spied a very well dressed lady who was totally engrossed, filling a large notebook with writing. As I passed – being rather nosy – I tried to see what on earth she was writing. She looked up, and I realised it was none other than J.K. Rowling! How cool is THAT?!

---------------------- All the videos from the BBC programme “School for Genius” are up on the web site. You can get a little taste of what I was up to by visiting: http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/learning/news_views/2008/08/11/school_genius

---------------------- What a great interview on Smooth FM Glasgow, which goes out on Friday, October 3. And what a lovely fella the presenter Dougie Jackson is – seriously. At one point during the interview – and I can only hope this works on the radio – I had six photographs of Smooth FM presenters, with their name below. Dougie selected one – Dave Marshall - and I turned it over to reveal the words on the back: “You will pick Dave Marshall.” After a moment, he demanded to see the reverse of the other photographs… You guessed: the back of every other photograph ALSO had “You will pick Dave Marshall.” Printed across the back. Phew! That only works about one in every six attempts J

---------------------- Gigs this month included: Houston House, Airth Castle with magician and top comedian Steven Dick, the sumptuous Archerfield House and Stirling Castle – thanks to Mark Fiskin for that one; it was so much fun to work with so many talented people including one of the most professional magicians (and all-round nice guys) it has been my pleasure to work with, Paul Dabek – though it was terrifying following HIM! To all who shared the experience… hello, and thank you.

---------------------- Next Month I have more newspaper and radio interviews, a gig at Cameron House on Loch Lomond (well, not ON it, but BESIDE it, of course!), a return gig in Oxford, and a gig at Dynamic Earth. I will also be having a meal with Vic, Peter, Lucy and Anne – the wonderful BBC crew that worked so hard on “School for Genius” – I am SO looking forward to that!

---------------------- My latest appearance on The Trisha Show will be shown later in the month, and there are a couple of things I’m not going to miss.. And you may want to be there, too.

---------------------- The first is a gig by Gordon Giltrap at Rosslyn Chapel, Edinburgh on Saturday, October 25th. “Gordon’s technical skill and wide ranging compositional output makes him one of the British guitar scene’s foremost class acts and one of the most able acoustic guitarists of our time. Doors open 6.45. Tickets available from 0131 448 0878. By the way, Gordon, I will see you the night before at MY show for a change! I look forward to it.

---------------------- Also, a lady I knew a while back – and sort of kept in touch - has written a very successful book The Trapeze Diaries. Now living in New York, Marie Carter is returning to Edinburgh for a short time and will be reading at Blackwell, 52-63 South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1YS on Tuesday October 7th at 6.30pm

Okay, that’s enough for now. I hope to see you at the Regal Theatre in Bathgate on Friday October 24. Don’t forget to say “Hello!” – but not in the middle of the show!

Best wishes,

Drew McAdam