And, suddenly, as if from nowhere, the summer holidays are over. How did that happen? I started the six weeks away from teaching drums in schools with plenty of big ideas, but in reality I just carried on teaching - mostly one-off ‘Drums for Beginners’ courses, as well as the odd gig with Fred’s House and also the Queen Bee Blues Band. On the one week we actually went on holiday, I got so sunburnt on my right leg (fell asleep on the beach) I couldn’t walk for nearly 4 days…serves me right for trying to ‘rest’.
I was going to have a year off from the Edinburgh Fringe this year, the reasoning being that 2019 was my best year ever (everything worked, the national press were all over me, it was just a joy), then covid got in the way, the 2022 fringe just felt rubbish and I just wanted a year out to let it all settle again. Naturally, though, I’m Paul Richards and taking time out isn’t a strong point so I got talked into doing just a week this year. Took two new shows up there, The Paul Richards Playhouse and Is This the End of Edward J. Payne, both of which went well but it was so weird only doing week 3…almost felt like a tourist. Next year, I’ll do the full run again.
Things are about to get very busy over the next weeks, more news soon!