Alternative Comedy Memorial Society. New Red Lion.

Organised and hosted by John-Luke Roberts and Thom (Luke) Tuck, this was the first of many Alternative Comedy Memorial Society gigs at the New Red Lion. The plan is that comedians can come and try out "hilarious invention" - stand-up that is a little bit different from the norm. The first line-up included the likes of Elis James, Terry Saunders, David McNeill and Lawry Lewin, William Andrews, Tom Bell, Nadia Kamil, Jigsaw (sketch from Nat Luurtsema, Tom Craine and Dan Antopolski) and Tony Law.

I haven't laughed so hard and so much in ages; not a bad word will be said about it. After every act Thom or John-Luke would say "a failure" to which the audience would respond with "a noble failure" and only 3 heckles were permitted, one of which being "we appreciate what you're trying to do".

Nadia was introduced as Nadia Kamil Pretending To Be A Penis Pretending To Be Another Thing (a fish) and Will was introduced as Will Andrews Has a Thing On His Head. I hope this means that they will both have a fortnightly spot - SO FUNNY. Andrews' material about setting his watch fast so he'd no longer by late was inspired.

Elis did his whole set in Welsh, Terry Saunders encouraged the audience to boycott Barclays by stealing pens, David McNeill and Lawry Lewin told us how nunchuckas have, somewhat, ruined their lives, a masked Tom Bell danced around while handing out pieces of Yorkie to women, Jigsaw showcased their new sketches (I particularly liked the chat line sketch - "tell me how local you are!") and Tony Law did some hilarious improv about the venue which segued into a tale about a bus ride with his young twins.

In the intervals when we weren't being treated to live music or drawing things that would be common in the future (half a squid was my favourite), we taste-tested salted chocolate ice cream in an attempt to find out what food is "hilariousest". On top of all these larks, the remaining comedians read through a transcript of a Captain Planet episode before the headline act.

What an incredible evening. Photos by Daimond Geyser.

A thought.

Good comedy makes me so, soooo, SO happy.

Platforms Live. The Luminaire.

Incredible line-up. Wonderful venue. £6. BARGAIN. Headliners, The Mariner's Children were joined by Peggy Sue and Lulu and the Lampshades. RiP Luminaire, you shall be missed.

It was my first time seeing Peggy Sue and Lulu and the Lampshades and I thought they were amazing. Peggy Sue played some brilliant music, but they weren't as fun to watch. Luisa Gerstein and Eloise Tunstall Behrens of Lulu and the Lampshades are incredibly talented musicians; as well as having amazing voices, they seemed to by able to play an array of different instruments.

The Mariner's Children played a pretty long set with an encore. When the lead singer, Ben Rubenstein, asked the stage manager if he could keep playing, a heckler shouted a very polite "WINNING!". It was almost as good as when somebody shouted out "Stephen!" and Ben responded with "just coming!" and seemed mighty chuffed to play along. The Mariner's Children's music is beautiful and enchanting and I must see them live again soon - so, so good.

A thought.

If I ever get married (big if), I want my bridesmaids to wear different dresses.

Ten-Year Self Improvement Plan. Update Six.

My initial plan can be found here and this is how i'm progressing:

1) I've read a few books since my last update: The Happiest Refugee by Anh Do, Atonement by Ian McEwan and i'm halfway through Moab Is My Washpot by Stephen Fry.

I couldn't put Anh's book down; what a life he's led! I felt a few things were unnecessarily repeated, though. He spoke about the book on Adam Hills in Gordon Street Tonight.

I enjoyed reading Atonement far more than watching the film. I had so much hatred for Briony whilst reading this book, even at the end.

Not really enjoying Stephen's autobiography - I thought it would make me like him more... it's not.

2) A comedian came up to me and introduced himself! I was so completely chuffed! What a lovely guy! Not saying who because i'm convinced he searches for his name and I don't want him to know that I am an overly-enthusiastic fangirl.

3) TICK! Go me! I was reading over some of my blogs the other day and so grateful that i've kept at it.

4) They are written all over the place. I'm not very organised...

5) Kinda forgot about this one. I wrote to my friend Jess who's having a baby and asked her how she was - I guess that counts.

6) Feeling good. I've become a vegetarian and at first I was always starving hungry, but all is fine now. Buying a size 14, instead of a 16 is awesome.

A thought.

A couple of friends that I don't get to see that often came and stayed at my place after Mark Watson's Live Address To The Nation recording and we chatted for hours and hours. I miss them so.

Simon Amstell Work In Progress. The Invisible Dot HQ.

Still my favourite venue in the whole wide world. I don't know why I keeping saying this, I very much doubt it's going to change.

Some great new material from Amstell; he basically told little anecdotes that had no correlation as yet. I loved his tales about gluttony.

He seemed very laid back and held a Q&A at the very end. Fun times.

A thought.

I never know who British TV personalities are. I know most of the Aussie ones. It's proving quite difficult to learn and makes me feel stupid.

Mark Watson's Live Address To The Nation. BBC Radio Theatre.

The atmosphere in the BBC Radio Theatre minutes before Mark Watson's Live Address To The Nation was TENSE. Those following Mark on Twitter knew how nervous he was and matters weren't helped by audience members being seated as the 11 o'clock news played into the studio. The story about the plight of ruddy ducks coupled with this atmosphere saw a huge roar of laughter rip through the theatre moments before going live.

Since the broadcast, I have listened to the show an insane number of times and it just gets better. I really, really wish it'll be commissioned. Tim Key's cheeky chappy demeanour was the funniest thing; from the Freudian slips "Steve Redgay" and "cockless four" to interrupting Mark to tell him that he eats "breakfast in the nude".

Quite a lot of pages of script were abandoned as time ran out. Hopefully this won't happen next time (if the is a next time - fingers crossed) as admin will have been addressed.

A thought.

I use the word "love" too loosely. It has lost all it's power.

Triceratops. Leicester Square Theatre.

A new night from Feature Spot where Colin Hoult, Nick Mohammed and Adam Ritches try-out new characters/sketches. This particular evening also featured the marvelous Flange Krammer.

Nick Mohammed (piano and backing vocals) and Colin Hoult (lead vocals) were improvising a song upon arrival; this character from Hoult also turned out to be the MC and reminded Mr. Bewley. Nick Mohammed, Colin Hoult and Adam Ritches didn't perform together again apart from Riches' Mastermind sketch in which Nick Mohammed lent a helping hand; SO FUNNY.

Other highlights included Colin Hoult's St. Germaine character (lots of great Dad-dancing and Zimbani-style facial expressions), Nick Mohammed's Mr. Swallow and Adam Ritches' promoter/agent character.

Such a good night.

A thought.

I have so much love for those who are good at hugging.

The Special Relationship. Concrete.

Trendy Shoreditch is trendy; intimidatingly trendy. Still, a bloody good gig where I had a bloody good time. The regular Special Relationshipers, Tom Basden, Jarred McGinnis and Sam Taradash, were joined by Matthew Robins (and co.), Joe Dunthorne and Simon Munnery at Concrete as a part of YARN Festival.

This was my 3rd time seeing the brilliant Matthew Robins and his band and it was just as spectacular. The stories/songs are childlike and charming and the puppetry is stunning - seeing what they do for yourself is a must.

Joe Dunthorne had written a Chose Your Own Adventure for grown-ups for this special occasion. I loved the way he wrote and will have to seek out his novels asap; his website is worth a gander.

I do like Simon Munnery, but I think on this occasion he misjudged his audience. I felt we warmed to him more when he recited his poetry/stories.

My favourite story of the night came from the newly bearded, Jarred McGinnis, who left me captivated with his tale of a young American who was talked into giving a troubled gentleman a lift while at a laundrette.

Some wonderful photos from the night can be found here.

A thought.

I NEED to buy this book.