THERE are many things in life I'll never understand.
I'm notorious for flexible timekeeping but the one thing I know I'd never do, is arrive late for stand-up comedy.
It's so obvious. You arrive late and you get picked on. You arrive late for seats in the first couple of rows... well, you know what I'm saying.
But yet again, at a sold-out Arts Centre, there was a considerable number of late arrivals to give Andy Parsons plenty of excuse for audience interaction.
The other notable feature of his opening was regular use of the F word - not exactly the classy technique I was expecting from someone with a reputation for biting political wit. But if its frequent application never subsided during this two-part show, he soon got into his stride and into heavyweight topics that probably helped to explain why the audience had a higher middle-aged content than some on the circuit might attract.
There were plenty of topical references but these were not just scattered about to imply he'd got his finger on the pulse, there were some beautifully judged observations, whether drawn out of our simple judgements on Anglo-American relations or showing the kind of in-depth understanding of PFI you only usually get from Private Eye.
Maybe the F word was an expression of passion but there was also a clearsense of conviction rather than just convenience. You were left believing he really does get angry at injustices in society.
But fear not, this gravity was balanced by both what he termed his bespoke comedy - having discovered a group in the front row were from Attleborough he'd printed off info from the web and the opening of the second half was all about the place - and a clear move in that half to pushing the boundaries a little with sharp-intake-of-breath moments about celebs and cancer and more.
So plenty to take away and that's what we should want from our comedians - a good night out that in its own way is informative and inspirational.
IF any publicity is good publicity then Sunday evening was an unexpected bonus for one small business.
For while front row seats are often something to be avoided at comedy shows, they proved a winner for Geoff Oliver of the Village Cycle Centre in Attleborough.
Hed gone along with three friends to see Andy Parsons and, not surprisingly, was in the perfect place to get picked on.
But this turned into an unplanned promotion for his business - and for Attleborough.
Having got out of Geoff the name of the business and where it was based, the comedian used the interval to print out information, so started the second half with more chat about the shop and about Attleborough, its pubs and its good and not-so-good bits.
And as all this was in front of a sold-out audience at Warwick Arts Centre, it was a unique bit of exposure.
Geoff said: "It was the first time Ive seen him and it was very good. I think sitting on the front row does have its benefits.
"It was not by choice, I think they were the only tickets left. I thought it was strange there were four together in the front row but it was pretty good. I got off lightly.
"Lots of people are funny and lots of people do comedy but when you see a true professional its very enjoyable."
Geoff knows the other three - Dave Young, Gary College and Alex Pope - through the business.
He said: "Shops like this are a bit of a social event, people come in for a chat and a cup of tea."
And though Attleborough took a bit of a bashing at the gig, Geoff disagreed: "Despite his comments about Attleborough, it's a really good bunch of people that come in.
"People are very friendly and willing to have a laugh and a joke."
And having run the business for five years he's finding things are busy at the moment.
"It's that type of industry - in hard times people start to use their bikes a bit more and appreciate the service in smaller shops.
"Cycling is going through a boom time and enjoying a bit of a resurgence. You can spend a whole day cycling for very little money."
Add in the health and environmental benefits and he added: "There is not really a downside for cycling - and we must thank Olympic gold medallist Chris Hoy a little bit."
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