I had gotten into work earlier than usual in order to enable me to get an earlier departure. I took my early departure and blasted towards Liverpool. The secret to this is to use the M6 toll road and go as fast as the laws of physics and the laws of the road will allow.

Last time I headed to "The Pool", I got there at a hassled 8.30pm. Somehow, I'd managed to get a head start on the trip this time and I even had a chance to answer a last-minute request to buy a set of raffle tickets (for running a raffle, rather than for me to participate) before arriving at 8pm or so at the venue.

The journey was especially joyous. I listened to Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf, for the second time, and I also listened to That Mitchell & Webb Sound, third series - both the CDs of which had arrived the previous day. I laughed and grinned like a moron for much of the way.

Having a good time on the way to the gig always bodes well - it puts me in the right frame of mind to do the gig.

So it was, after we had a mini raffle to determine who went on in which order (not using the raffle tickets), that I was put on in the middle section. There was a promoter/agent in the audience, who had seen me at a rather unsalubrious gig previously, in which I'd made the audience laugh, but offended a fellow act (whom I'd hoped might come that night, so I could apologise). Anyway, I went on in the middle and had a nice time. There were some nice moments of interaction and improvisation and I left the venue with laughter ringing in my ears.

Job done.

A trip back home with more comedy and I was ready for more sleep.

The gig had been a preview for The Great Big Comedy Picnic - our Edinburgh show. It cost me a fair whack to go along, but the profits from the show will pay towards our Edinburgh experience. Technically, I would have been better just shoving my petrol money into the pot and not going, but that wouldn't have been in keeping with the spirit of things.