An Audience With Mr Nice

Review of Howard Marks – Live at Greenwich Comedy Festival, London

Do you know the best way to avoid being caught at customs searches? Lion shit. So says Howard Marks, the legendary Welsh don of dope smokers who used the moniker ‘Mr Nice’ in his smuggling days in the 1980s, when he was Britain’s most wanted fugitive. All you have to do apparently, is weigh up an ounce of a lion’s finest and wrap it neatly in a concealed part of your luggage. If you are caught, it diverts attention away from your real stash, hidden internally, and if you are searched by a sniffer dog, the poor mutt takes one sniff and runs for the hills to the bemusement of its trainer. It also freaks out police horses if you are planning a demonstration, as were commonplace for Marks in the Vietnam-era 1970s. Throw some of that and the horse flees with its rider hanging off fearing for his life. Nothing illegal about carry lion shit with you! And it’s easy to come by – Marks used to buy a sackful for £3 from Dudley Zoo. Continue reading

Advice on the ‘Tricky First Date’: Blokes

So, you’ve finally managed to bag a date with that hot girl from accounts. Grr, you tiger! You want to show her that you’re a true gent, but with a bit of an edge – no-one likes a sap. But what about the awkward meet and greet kiss on the cheek? How many kisses is it these days? You don’t want to accidentally headbutt her by going for the wrong number! Tip: if British, go for the quick one and out. If foreign, count the number of syllables in her country’s name and replicate that with the number of kisses on her cheeks. Holland? Two. Italy? Three. Easy! Avoid going on a date with a girl from the Democratic Republic of Congo. She will feel like she’s on a date with Woody Woodpecker.

If she is foreign, don’t feign interest in her, pretending that you know what she’s talking about, to try and impress her. If she says she’s from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, don’t ask her how many girls she sung with in the Grenadines and how many hit singles they had. Continue reading

Advice on the ‘Tricky First Date’: Girls

At long last! That handsome bloke that you’ve had you eye on has finally asked you out. How many more hints could he have possibly missed?! So, you go straight home from work to ‘prepare’ for that ‘Tricky First Date’. You want to make this work as you deserve it. You think you stand out from the competition. Why? Two words… de-sire.

But what to wear? Hmm, better empty the entire contents of your wardrobe and try everything on, just in case something looks different on you now to how it did the last time you wore it. You never know; it’s been a while since you popped down the gym. Whilst you’re at it, why not open a bottle of wine to relax you… Leggings? Comfortable but too casual. That slinky black mini-dress? Maybe for the second date. Just go for those tight jeans and top that you bought from Primark. He’ll never know that you only paid £1.99 for it as it looks good quality – Indian children’s hands are so adept at sowing. Continue reading

How Good Is Your Music Knowledge?

1. It’s a medical fact that Florence, from Florence and the Machine fame, is 90% legs. True or false?

2. Legendary ‘monkey man’ Liam Gallagher from Oasis was tested by anthropologists who were investigating a missing link between early homo-sapiens and an offshoot evolutionary group called homo-mancunians. True or false?

3. The Prodigy’s Keith Flint was investigated by animal protection enforcement over claims that he smacked his female labrador. True or false? Continue reading

Guide to Speed Dating for Blokes

1. You totally suck at finding the right girl, so out of desperation you’ve decided to give speed dating a try as you’ve grown tired of your left hand and you can’t ‘re-connect’ with your right hand – never go back! It could never be as good as it used to be… But you’re not stupid, you know that girls look for a confident man, so your most important task is to drink enough to make you feel cool, calm and assured. Hell, why not down a couple of whiskey chasers before you start? Don’t worry, the smell of alcohol will merge with your aftershave to create a heady aroma that no woman can refuse.

2. Once proceedings get underway, ensure that you lie about your job. This will make you seem more interesting and you’ve had enough to drink now, so you can blag it if she asks any awkward technical questions. But, to be safe, research how long it takes to become an fighter pilot before you go. Continue reading

Guide to Speed Dating For Ladies

1. You’ve finally decided to give speed dating a try, but don’t whatever you do attend an event on your own. That’s far too scary even though you’re an adult. It makes much more sense to invite as many friends as possible to increase the competition that you will have for the attentions of the few nice men that will be there. In fact why not invite some of your attached friends? Men love competing for unavailable women, thereby wasting an opportunity with the available ones. But at least it’ll be fun, right?

2. Your most important goal is to ascertain how good a job your dates have. This is an essential question to ask. There’s no point in being attracted to a man and enjoying his company if he won’t be able to provide for you and your future children together. Continue reading

Madonna: Please Stop Wearing Skimpy Outfits

The testosterone supplements worked wonders

Everyone admires at least some of Madonna’s work, so she should take this as advice from a concerned friend. However, I’ve grown tired of watching her prance around in next to nothing in her videos whilst I’m working out at the gym. I am forced to watch as there is nothing else to look at.

Madge, you’re turning into Cher with each passing year. What’s with the ‘cheese cutter’ leotard you wear in the ‘Hung Up’ video? No-one needs to see that shit.

You obviously spend a lot of time down the gym, and good on ya for that, but please dress more appropriately for a woman in her 50s.

Save your bulging muscles for your partner’s eyes, or possibly for a body building contest, should you encounter a creative ‘dry patch’ and need another interest. Hell, I’m quite sure that if you were to challenge me to an arm wrestle, then you would beat me hands down. That’s not a good thing. Continue reading