We decided to add another date to the walk at short notice as we sold out. That was tonight. Problem was, Jo couldn’t do it. She’s the gin hag. She’s been doing this for a decade and is perfectly happy to be the spooky buxom older lady. She serves everyone their drink with boils on her face, then she pops up on the heath with a shopping list of filth, then she is a bride of Dracula, then a nun, then the ghost of a body snatcher victim. She has written monologues, she has made props, and she drives everything around behind the scenes. She’s ace.
I ended up having to be her this evening. Canice came in as the guide as we had him in the back pocket anyway because I’ve always had tomorrow at The Globe and tomorrow was always gonna be sold out at the walk. I can’t be in two places at once, more’s the pity. Canice was my solution.
The costume stuff I have in Canterbury came in very handy. I can’t actually be Jo, but I can do her track with Bergie. We had to cross load everything from her car to mine late last night. Then tonight we loaded it all back after the walk.
Evening found me wearing the most ridiculous frock and serving Vermouth to strangers in the dark. Then I drove to a little car park and jumped out from behind a tree and convinced one guy to vanish off with me for a moment, then return him and rush back and drive to a church, change into a little sequin number and be the bride of Dracula right next door to Boy George’s place.
Then back in the car and drive with the dress to the Duke of Hamilton where I had to persuade someone to come out and unzip me. Then dress up as a nun and sing, run back to the car, drive to Gaucho and let people throw things in the door as they run past, then drive to another church and put on a mask and tell a sad tale. It’s a very odd very varied populated walk and there are four people needed to run it. Lovely to understand someone else’s track. I’ve only experienced it as the guide, which is complete enough if I can have perspective on myself. Doing Jo I felt the lack of Jo. I am always gonna be a man in drag if I’m wearing a dress. Sure I can lean into it but it makes it a different show.
I’m exhausted again and it is late. I’m eating a fish pie. The cats are being glorious. Lou is fast asleep, I hope. All is well.
AlBarclay 