Sweet Dreams Sign

Branching out Sweet dreams Spell-check Meaty matter Keep it in the family Road ...

The Diary was in the audience for the first night at the Theatre Royal and it was a splendid show: lots of perfect punchlines and clever analysis of what makes stuff funny.

Speaking to Mr Cleese about the show this week, we asked him the serious question: what is funny? He told us a story about Fawlty Towers and the famous scene in which he gives the Mini a thrashing with a branch. The first branch, said John, was too rigid and it wasn’t funny so he tried another but that wasn’t rigid enough. Finally, he tried a branch that was a little bit rigid and a little bit flexible and it worked – it was hilarious. Which we think means the answer to our question is: funny is the right degree of floppy.

Graham Chapman was the star of quite a few of the funny stories John Cleese told at the Theatre Royal this week. One he didn’t have time for was the few days the Python team spent in Balluchulish for the making of The Holy Grail.

The Pythons were in the hotel trying to get some sleep when suddenly Michael Palin heard Chapman, who’d had a few, in the room next door saying “Betty Marsden” in a variety of silly voices. Naturally, the Pythons told Chapman to shut up and go to sleep.

The next night, a note was slipped very quietly under Palin’s door. “Best wishes, Betty Marsden,” it said.

We’ve been so busy reading John Cleese’s tweets today that we missed the one from SNP activist Richard Laird – but Stephen Fyfe from Giffnock spotted it. “John Finnie is looking for a parliamentary assisant,” it said. Presumably, an assisant who can spell.

Our story about the man who mistook 1lb of tomatoes for 116 tomatoes reminded Hugh Steele of his own bit of food confusion. Hugh and a friend were having a pub lunch and were scanning the menu. “I wonder what a Boz steak is?” said Hugh at which his friend burst out laughing. “It’s not a Boz steak,” he said. “It’s an 8oz steak.”

Glasgow’s West End Festival is under way, and some people seem to be having a very good time.

A colleague of STV presenter John MacKay overheard a woman giving her other half a telling off. “We’re here for the weans,” she said, “no for you to get mad wi’ it.”

Driving in this morning, we kept getting distracted by the signs over the motorway, particularly the one that said “avoid distractions while driving”.

simple: across the meadow :: lullabies for sweet dreams CD {giveaway}

I appreciated the moment of great joy as I wateched my son sit to read a book and cuddle in with a stuffed animal friend while the wonderfully arranged lullabies and classical favorites filled the room. We all know there are countless children's music CDs available on the market. But this CD seems to hit a mark that so many others miss. Tastefully simple music showcases the soothing sounds of violin and piano to set a calming tone. Lullabies for Sweet Dreams does a great job creating music that inspires the mind and satisfies the soul. And it is music that can be enjoyed by all ages -- you won't ever walk away after listening to it thinking, "I have that awful song stuck in my head." (I have been there with other children's CDs).

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