A LITTLE SHOW (OR TWO) FOR HALLOWEEN...

MAYBE EVEN TWO LITTLE SPOOKY SHOWS!!

Hello beasties!

This week I am very happy to be able to release a new podcast episode - or maybe two... The first is our official Halloween episode, which I actually recorded back in April, well in advance of Halloween...

Why so early?

The only reason, I suppose, was that I was staying in a slightly spooky house and it seemed as good a reason as any to channel the spookiness of the location! In fact you may remember that I recorded at the same location a number of times in the past...

So here we are - this is the finished episode, as released this weekend......

THE SHY LIFE PODCAST - 118: SHY YETI'S HORRIBLE HOUSE OF GHOUL... (2017 HALLOWEEN SPECIAL)


Here we are for episode 118 - and it's our 2017 Halloween Special!! This time we head into the countryside to share a scary adventure recorded back in the summer; proving that not all Halloween stories take place in October! Paul and Yeti Uncle John return to a literal(!) old haunt but find that not all the ghosts are welcoming!!! Our next episode, number 119 takes place on an apparently normal day at home for Mr Yeti; but of course nothing is ever completely normal on this show! Do join us, won't you? Thank you to Toppie Smellie from The Smellcast for his help with this episode and also to Andrew T from Round The Archives podcast for his assistance. Please email me at shyyeti@yahoo.co.uk if you have any comments - you can even send me a sound-file and I'll include it on the show. The music is by Shy Yeti and Luca. Sounds effects by Shy Yeti. Phone by Soundbible. All content of this episode is Copyright Paul Chandler, 2017.  Episode 118 was recorded between the 3rd April and 4th October 2017. 

This episode can be downloaded on iTunes, Acast, Podbean and also from Soundcloud at the following link:

118: https://soundcloud.com/shyyeti/the-shy-life-podcast-118-shy-yetis-horrible-house-of-ghoul-2017-halloween-special

Our second episode this time is a sort of unofficial Halloween episode - it's set on Halloween when Mr Yeti is at home attempting to kill time before his housemates return; even Deeley is out on the town! In a way it's also a sort of companion piece to our last live episode - episod 116, although you don't have to have heard it to understand what's going on. Here's some more information on it...

THE SHY LIFE PODCAST - 119: HOME ALONE AT HALLOWEEN...


Here we are for episode 119 - where we find Mr Yeti home alone on Halloween night waiting for his flat-mates to come home; even Deeley is out! Paul is glad to have some listeners to spend his time with and there is time for quizzes, stories and some pre-recorded chattered with Nick G. But eventually Paul's mind begins to wander as to what Cromitty is working on in his laboratory - especially those robots that we previously met in our last live episode, #116. What he finds will send shivers of fear through you and that's no word of a lie!! Our next episode, number 120 sees Mr Yeti and the gang trying to cheer up Dameus Twinklehorn - but things do not quite go to plan!! Do join us, won't you? Thank you to Nick Goodman for his help with this episode. Please email me at shyyeti@yahoo.co.uk if you have any comments - you can even send me a sound-file and I'll include it on the show. The music is by Shy Yeti and Luca. Sounds effects by Shy Yeti. All content of this episode is Copyright Paul Chandler, 2017.  Episode 119 was recorded between the 17th and 21st October 2017.

This episode can be downloaded on iTunes, Acast, Podbean and also from Soundcloud at the following link:

119: https://soundcloud.com/shyyeti/the-shy-life-podcast-119-home-alone-at-halloween

Coming up at the end of this post is the five short scenes that I wrote for our Halloween episode between myself and The Cryptkeeper... They were good fun to write and I've just finished some lines for another episode that is due out towards the end of the year. There is one more script that I aim to finish in the next month or so which will probably become part of one of the first episodes for 2018.

I'm not quite sure when our next post will be as I'll be away next week for my birthday... I'll be taking plenty of photos and probably writing a diary, not to mention recording new episodes. It may be that I do a short post before I go of any podcast episodes that I release between now and then - but we shall see!

To finish with, here is the script of the links that I wrote for Andrew T for our Halloween episode. I hope you enjoy it.

Take care - more soon,

Yeti hugs,

Paul (aka Shy Yeti) xx

CRYPTKEEPER SCENE FOR THE SHY LIFE CAST...

This script was written during late August and early September 2017 to be included as links for THE SHY LIFE PODCAST'S Halloween episode to go alongside pre-recorded scenes for this edition...

SCENE 1

To be played right at the start of the episode...

PAUL: (excitedly-introduction voice)

Hello and welcome to a very exciting edition of The Shy Life Podcast! This one has been waiting for you for a while now - we recorded it on location in April as we really wanted to be prepared. Also we wanted to be different and present to you with a Spring ghost story and...

CRYPTKEEPER: (yokel accent, attempting doom)

Note: Mr Trowby. Please adapt any lines to accommodate additional yokelisms.

Ooh ahh. Excuse me, sir! I'm sorry - but you can't record Halloween podcasts there!

PAUL: (disgruntled)

Really? Says who? You? Who have you come dressed as? A bargain budget grim reaper? My goodness - I've heard of austerity, but this is ridiculous...

CRYPTKEEPER: (somewhat sternly)

No... No... No... That is not the case at all - I'm not the Reaper; Grim is actually my cousin... Boy is that one a show off... Young whipper-snapper - flaunting his oopizootics and flashing his impressive blade about! I swear that one day he's going to have somebody's eye out with that thing!

PAUL: (mellowing slightly)

Good grief! It doesn't bear thinking about! So who are you, exactly?

CRYPTKEEPER: (proudly)

I'm the cryptkeeper, Dorset branch.

PAUL: (doubtful)

Really? You don't sound especially scary? Are you meant to be?

CRYPTKEEPER: (doing his best yokel Brian Blessed impression)

Don't try me, Madame... I say, don't try me... Run the title music!

PAUL: (initially put out and then resignedly, but in his radio voice)

Hey! That's my line... Oh, for goodness... Go on then... You heard the man! Run the title music! (mutters, impressed) Good grief, listeners... His eyes are actually quite hypnotic! Even on audio!!

The Title Music Plays...

SCENE 2

Before things get going...

PAUL: (still doing his confident podcasting voice)

So, there we go... That was the title music! Moving on now - we have a fear packed new episode of THE SHY LIFE PODCAST for you today... and... actually... that does sound a little off-putting when I say it like that... Really... It'll be very enjoyable - but because it's Halloween it'll also be a little scary too, maybe... Well, hopefully, I should say - but - you know - in a good way...

CRYPTKEEPER: (interrupting)

Hello! You do know that you can't do that here, don't you?

PAUL: (put out)

I beg your pardon!?

CRYPTKEEPER: (matter-of-fact)

You do know that you can't do that here - that there podcasting... You can't do it here... All I'm telling you is exactly what I told that last lot...

PAUL: (curious)

The last lot of what!?

CRYPTKEEPER:

Of podcasters... From them there Round The Archives podcast...

PAUL: (excitedly)

Oh, I know them... They're very good... I've been on that show, you know... I did the end theme tune...

CRYPTKEEPER: (mutters to self, but Shy overhears)

That explains a lot...

PAUL: (grumpily)

Hey! Don't be mean! Anyway - how come you get to say who stands here anyway...

CRYPTKEEPER: (forcefully)

It's MY crypt! So please - go on your way... I don't want to have to do to you what I did to your podcasting colleagues...

PAUL: (with concern)

Oh, blimey... What did you do?

CRYPTKEEPER: (sounding quite impressed by his own actions)

I don't want to go into it, but let's just say I had to open up a brand new box of rubber spiders and order extra squirty cobwebs once I was done...

PAUL: (quick to make an exit)

Good grief man! There's no need for talk like that! Alright... Alright... I'm going... I presume there must be another spooky graveyard somewhere around here... Come on listeners... Let's go... Moving on...

SCENE 3

This occurs somewhere near the middle of the episode...

PAUL: (doing his radio voice again)

Hello listeners... I hope you're enjoying our Halloween episode - it's terribly spooky, isn't it? We're going to pause for a bit of poetry now... Well, when I say a bit of poetry - don't worry - I am going to read a whole poem... I'm not going to suddenly tail off half-way through... Although I imagine one or two of you would rather that's exactly what I did! There really is no accounting for taste...

CRYPTKEEPER: (surprised)

HEY! YOU! What are you doing here? I told you - you're not welcome!

PAUL: (equally as surprised, but quite casual considering)

Oh! It's you again! The cryptkeeper with the... regional accent...

CRYPTKEEPER: (attempting to scare them)

That be me... I thought I told you to be on your way... Do you want me to dig out a pair of fake devil horns and a rather unconvincing plastic pitchfork to send the fear of the all hallows into you?

PAUL: (hurriedly, with concern)

No! No! Not at all... I'm sorry... I had no idea I'd wandered back into your crypt... I seem to be going round and around here... It's so hard to tell when you're working on audio...

CRYPTKEEPER: (disapprovingly)

Lack-lustre sound effects - that's your problem!

PAUL: (a little sombrely) 

I know! I know! We're just not up to the standard of some shows...

CRYPTKEEPER: (knowingly)

You're no Smellcast, that's for sure... You need to have a word with Toppie Smellie... He'll set you on the right road when comes to sound effects...

PAUL: (surprised)

You know Toppie!?!

CRYPTKEEPER: (casually)

Sure... We play bingo together... We have a fictional childhood together where we play all manner of card and board games...

PAUL: (upset)

You do... You what!?! I'm shocked... Oh! The Horror! The Horror! I thought I was the only one who he had a fictional childhood with... I'm devastated...

CRYPTKEEPER: (chuckling)

I'm only teasing, I was listening to one of your old episodes earlier... Now get out of here you bubble-headed boobie, you - before I set my pack of slightly grumpy chihuahuas on you and your rather meagre audience...

PAUL: (urgently, hurried, moving on...)

Ohhhhhhhhhhh,., Run listeners! Run! Here are some poems...

SCENE 4

Just before the end...

PAUL: (radio voice)

So, that's about all we've got time for this episode... Oh... Just a minute... This place looks familiar... Oh, cor blimey... You'll never guess where we've ended up... 

CRYPTKEEPER: (non-plussed)

Back at my crypt...

PAUL: (embarrassed)

Sorry... Yes... It wasn't intentional... It's just such a lovely creepy location... All the other locations on this show are really low budget... Just mist with a random spot of howling or screaming thrown in... You've actually got gravestones here and some semblance of half-arsed spookiness...

CRYPTKEEPER: (mellowing)

So kind... Ah... Shucks... You do know how to flatter a fella, don't ya, yeti...

PAUL: (slightly awkwardly)

I only speak as I find... Anyway... I suppose we better be going...

CRYPTKEEPER: (now almost friendly)

Oh! Never mind... You're persistent! I admire that! How about a cup of tea and a slice of cake? Do you want to see around my crypt?

PAUL: (excitedly)

Oooh! It's the best offer that I've had all day... Can the audience come too!

CRYPTKEEPER: (overly pleased)

Why, of course! I'm always stocked up on tea bags... Come in! Come in! None of you are ticklish, are you? We have a poltergeist here called Barnaby who has wandering hands...

PAUL: (enthused)

Oooh! Sounds marvellous! Come on listeners... Let's run the end theme tune...

SCENE 5

Right at the very end...

PAUL: (just talking quietly to the listeners)

Hello again listeners... How is your tea? Isn't he nice this cryptkeeper... I knew he wasn't as mean as he made out...

CRYPTKEEPER: (curious but kindly)

What are you saying about me, yeti?

PAUL: (happy)

Ooh! Nothing bad... Just how lovely it's been to have you on the show...

CRYPTKEEPER: (apologetically)

Oh... Well... I'm sorry we got off on the wrong fang...

PAUL: (with affection)

You're a bit of softy really aren't you... Despite your spooky look...

CRYPTKEEPER: (giggles)

Hehe... I am rather... But don't tell anyone, will you?

PAUL: (sincere, hopeful)

I won't... It's fine... What did you think of the episode? Was it scary enough?

CRYPTKEEPER: (blithely)

Oh! I wouldn't know... I don't listen to scary things - I live it - I don't want to hear it in my spare time!

PAUL: (surprised)

You never watch horror films? Not even at Halloween?

CRYPTKEEPER: (keen)

Oh no... It's romantic comedies and anything involving making sponge cakes for me... Do you ever discuss romantic comedies and sponge cakes on your show?

PAUL: (unsure)

Hmm... Not yet... I guess we could... Would you be willing to come back on the show?

CRYPTKEEPER: (dreamily)

I'd love to... You know what I've always wanted to do, yeti...

PAUL: (curious)

No... What?

CRYPTKEEPER: (excitedly)

Play Santa... I've always wanted to do it - the red suit - the beard - the ho,ho,hos - the works...

PAUL: (uncertain)

Really?

CRYPTKEEPER:

Too right! As I say, I'd be prepared to dress up...

PAUL: (resignedly)

Well, I'm sure that could arranged - not that your costume would be too much of a problem on a podcast!

CRYPTKEEPER:

Oh, but I'd HAVE to dress up - that's half the fun...

PAUL: (in agreement)

Alright then... Fantastic! That's a deal... I'm not much of a Christmas person...

CRYPTKEEPER:

Are you not? Oh! I love it...

PAUL:

I love the food, of course... Anyway, let's do it - I'll be in touch...

CRYPTKEEPER: (quite emotional)

Terrific! You've made an old cryptkeeper very happy...

PAUL: (taking control again)

Great! I'm glad. Well, we have to go now... Say goodbye to the listeners please, cryptkeeper...

CRYPTKEEPER: (politely)

You can call me Gordon...

PAUL:

Say goodbye to the listeners please, Gordon...

GORDON: (over-playing it)

Goodbyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee listeners...

PAUL: (to audience, lowering voice)

He's really not scary at all once you get to know him...

GORDON: (distant)

What's he saying about me? I'm ever so spooky... Honest I am... (fade out as Paul laughs)

This post and all contents are Copyright Paul Chandler, 2017.

BEHIND THE SCENES ON THE PODCAST...

SPOILERS!! WELL, NOT REALLY...

Hello beasties!

This week I'll be telling you a little about what I've been up to with the recording of the podcast... We'll start off by giving you more information on our most recent episode...

THE SHY LIFE PODCAST - 117: A CIRCLE IN A SQUARE...

Here we are for episode 117 - where this time we head out into familiar territory to help Yeti Uncle John hone a growing talent - with the help of some of his friends. Why is our episode called what it is? Because we are visiting a circular park in an old London Square; that's why! Our next episode, number 118 is our Halloween Special, recorded on location earlier in the year. Do join us, won't you? Thank you to Big Fatty for the use of a clip from Big Fatty Online, also many thanks to Toppie Smellie from The Smellcast for arranging access to record with Aunt Tappie. Please email me at shyyeti@yahoo.co.uk if you have any comments - you can even send me a sound-file and I'll include it on the show. The music is by Shy Yeti and Luca. Sounds effects by Shy Yeti and Soundbible. All content of this episode is Copyright Paul Chandler, 2017.  Episode 117 was recorded between the 9th and 13th October 2017.

This episode can be downloaded on iTunes, Acast, Podbean and also from Soundcloud at the following link:

117: https://soundcloud.com/shyyeti/the-shy-life-podcast-117-a-circle-in-a-square

Here are photos taken during the recording of episode 117...

Deeley also recently celebrated his birthday - here he is looking pretty/handsome... He's looking pretty purry for an old 13 year old, although it's possible that he still thinks he's a kitten!

This weekend just gone Nick and I were meant to be going to the coast to record for ROUND THE ARCHIVES and also for THE SHY LIFE PODCAST... In the end the weather was against us and we stayed in Salisbury and recorded just the two of us, but we did do a lot! Not only did we complete two different Dr Who-related articles, but we also completed lots of little bits and pieces for future episodes of the show between now and the end of the year. And yes... I can officially announce that recording for the Christmas episode of the show has now begun; not just with Nick - but Tallulah Twinklehorn has also been playing us some Christmas carols. It's going to be an experience!!

Next time it'll be Halloween and we have plenty of things in store - not just our Halloween podcast...

That's all for now... Take care - more soon,

Yeti hugs, Paul (aka Shy Yeti) xx

This post and all contents are Copyright Paul Chandler, 2017.

SHY YETI TELLS ALL... (ISH!)

CHECKING IN WITH BEARGRRRIA...

Hello beasties! 

This week, along with information on our latest podcasts we also have another interview with myself by The Beargrrrian Gazette, who approached me to find out exactly what I've been up to with my writing and other creative endeavours!

Before we go any further I should let you know about our newest podcast - which is a recording of last Sunday's live show...

THE SHY LIFE PODCAST - 116: OUR 14TH LIVE PRIDE48 SHOW...

Here we are for episode 116 - where this time we join Mr Yeti for his 14th LIVE Pride48 show, ably assisted by Cromitty and Yeti Uncle John. We also have updates from Bettina, Ikk and Dameus and Lisa assists us in the chat-room. It's quite a science-y episode with robots galore - but also with some poems and stories in our extra content section this month. Our next episode, number 117 sees Yeti Uncle John developing his skills as a tour-guide. Do join us, won't you? Please email me at shyyeti@yahoo.co.uk if you have any comments - you can even send me a sound-file and I'll include it on the show. The music is by Shy Yeti and Luca. All content of this episode is Copyright Paul Chandler, 2017.  Episode 116 was recorded live on Sunday 15th October 2017 from around 9pm-10.15pm (GMT) / 4pm - 5.15pm (EDT). Additional inserts were recorded  between the 10th and 14th October 2017.

This episode can be downloaded on iTunes, Acast, Podbean and also from Soundcloud at the following link:

116: https://soundcloud.com/shyyeti/the-shy-life-podcast-116-our-14th-live-pride48-show

Our live show includes a number of robots - something that I hadn't originally planned for the episode; the main plot thrust was initially just Cromitty's plans for hypnosis experiments. However whilst thinking of ideas for the episode I came across a number of websites which allowed you to produce voices directly by typing in what you wanted the voice to say. One of the voices being a very robotic voice and the other being producing a range of human-sounding voices. These voices worked well on the show and so, with time on my hands, I have since produced another post-Halloween episode with further robotic appearances which should be out in a couple of weeks! You won't have to wait long to see what we get up to...

Next time I have some more behind the scenes chatter from recent and forthcoming episodes, but next up we have that new BEARGRRRIAN GAZETTE article to share with you... Enjoy!!

Take care - more soon,

Yeti hugs,

Paul (aka Shy Yeti) xx

A THIRTEENTH SLIGHTLY-OVER 60 SECOND CHAT WITH SHY YETI

Here is a recent interview from Beargrrria’s top magazine for chat; THE GROWL GAZETTE. They know me there partly due to my dubious connection with Beargrrrian superstar, Charlie Grrr. This is the 13th time that they have interviewed me in recent years – they like to check up on me every six months or so. As usual I mainly discuss what I’m up to creatively – so here’s what they asked and what I said in reply; straight from the yeti’s mouth, as it were!!!

Q. Welcome Mr Yeti!

Hello… Have we met?! Joking!! It’s great to be back!

Q. What have you released so far this year? Will there be any more books out during 2017

A. The three books that I’ve released so far in 2017 have been script-books – the second seasons of KENSINGTON GORE and HOT STUFF and the BEAST OF FRIENDS movie script – YETI DON’T FALL BACKWARDS… I’d been working on them for over two years – so it was nice to finally get them out there and to receive so many lovely comments about the new seasons from my readers. As for what’s next there are a number of other projects that I’d like to release – it just depends on how much time I get to spend on them over the next few months, what with the podcast going on too. I’ll get there eventually though, don’t you worry!

Q. What projects are you currently working on that you hope to release soon?

A. There are many! I’m slowly putting the finishing touches to the third seasons of HOT STUFF!! and KENSINGTON GORE – although those won’t be out until at least early/mid-2018. Meanwhile, season 4 of HOT STUFF!! is already written in first draft – but I won’t get to that until the third season is done. Meanwhile I am writing the 4^th season of KENSINGTON GORE whilst working on the 5^th season of HOT STUFF!! I’m also working on another lost BEAST OF FRIENDS series, this time it’s a whole series worth of episodes that are meant to have occurred around the end of season one.

Q. How do you see the future of both KENSINGTON GORE and HOT STUFF?

A. I’m definitely not ready to end the series yet. To be honest I probably have more ideas for HOT STUFF than GORE – but I definitely intend to do a fifth season of GORE and have quite detailed plans for the 6^th season of HOT STUFF! It doesn’t usually take me that long to come up with new ideas – I simply haven’t sat down and thought in any meaningful way about these series beyond their next couple of outings. Watch this space… or my blog (shyyeti.com) at least! The only reason it’s taken me longer to write the most recent seasons of GORE and HOT STUFF than usual is because I’ve been focussing on my podcast over all other projects this year. Still, I’m not complaining; I’m happy to have released three new books during 2017 – that’s quite enough for one year!

Q. Will you also be writing more BEAST OF FRIENDS episodes?

A. I don’t see why not… During the current “lost” season I have brought back the main core of the show, Horner, Colin, Katrina and Warren – and also another new character. I’m afraid I’ve sent Cromitty and Clive off on an extended holiday – mainly because they were always harder to fit into the format and were probably only there because I was fond of their contribution to SUTTON PARK. Or course, Cromitty has become a main character on the podcast and works much better as a vocal character than in print. I did find that the 8 (mainly) stand-alone storylines for the lost season came to me very quickly – so whether I’d do another “lost” season or try another BEAST feature-length movie, I’d have to see. Writing the movie was an interesting experience – but I think I probably prefer either writing one-off episodes with these characters or maybe a series of shorter scripts with an on-going story of some kind. So I’d have to think carefully… I’m currently less than half-way through writing the “lost” season – so there is still much to be done on that project yet. The only on-going plot-line in this focuses on the fifth member of the team who comes to live with the characters in the house for the course of the season.

Q. Are you working on another collection of poetry?

A. Well, it’s been a while in the making! It’s not just poetry – it’s also flash prose, but it’s all material that I’ve released on the blog since the start of 2015 – so it’s about three years in the making. It’s only when I started to collect it together that I realised how pleased I am with the pieces that I wrote during this period. It’s easy to forget when you’re just writing them in isolation for the blog, when you only work on them for a short time before you release them to the world! Some of them I’ve performed at shows or on the podcast – but I’m really keen to do something more consolidated and spectacular (maybe that’s over-doing it slightly, I can’t afford fire-works!) once the book come out; probably sometime during the first half of 2018.

Q. How are things going with the Shy Yeti scripts?

A. Very well, although I am currently on a break from writing any new episodes whilst I put together a collection of the scripts that have been written so far… They were all proofread and tweaked to a certain level before they were posted – but I want to go through them just once more to make sure they’re super right and ready to fly. Of course all this re-reading of the scripts takes time – so I’m not sure the book will be out before the end of the year. As soon as it’s done I’ll probably start thinking about doing some new scripts. There just aren’t enough hours in the day!

Q. How do you feel about reaching your 100^th episode of THE SHY LIFE PODCAST?

A. I’m really happy about it – it’s hard to believe that I was only on episode 45 at the start of the year – although I did predict that going at the same rate of production I would be doing 100 by the summer! I was right, but that said – there are many factors that could have prevented that. The series theatrical side has come on apace and I couldn’t be more happy with that. I love have contributions from friends and podcasters – but my favourite thing is to have them joining in with the fantasy. I guess it’s a little like doing Sutton Park on the radio – but this time we have an audience and the possibilities are endless. Episode 100 was particularly lovely because of the range of guests involved and how we found a balance between speaking to them and involving them in the story with Bettina, Aunt Tappie and Toppie in the second half. At the moment I’m focusing on episodes up to the New Year – I don’t yet know what 2018 has in store for us, but it is bound to be fun.

Q. Which episodes that you’ve released over the summer have been your favourite episodes of the podcast?

A. There have been some really fun shows in over the last few months – but I suppose my own personal favourites are the ones involving Ikk - who really came into his own during this part of the year. We also had some good interviews with Taffy and Babaloo - not to mention my first experience of the Pride 48 Live Streaming Weekend back in June. Listening to these episodes you'll probably find a lot of little stories weaving their way through - sometimes as the main event, but more usually in the background or maybe towards the end of the episode - maybe between the end music or at the very end. 

Q. How are your live shows going on the podcast?

A. Very well, thank you. I’ve managed to do a show every month – keeping things as complicated as possible. What do I mean? (chuckles slightly cheekily) Well, I guess I see the live episodes as a chance to stretch what it is possible to do with a live format! I can’t possibly make it easy for myself and just sit there and chat; other podcasters do that and do that far better than I do – so there’s nothing for it but to pull out some complex plot-lines instead! Hmm… I’m being a bit unfair – I do happily chat and I hope I interact with the chat-room enough as it’s something that annoys me about other live shows who barely acknowledge the people who are posting in the chat-room.

Q. Is it true that you maybe be doing some extra live shows for an associated network?

A. Yes, hopefully. I still consider it a SHY LIFE PODCAST episode, but it may initially be broadcast as a standalone entity and then later be repackaged as a SHY LIFE PODCAST episode. I’d do these extra episodes more like they were actual poetry shows – kind of making up for not getting to do my Poetry Cafe Shows at the moment.

Q. How do you see the future of the show?

A. I'm extremely positive about it – both in the live and recorded format! Although I enjoy the freedom to do what I want and go where I please (or not!) with the recorded show – as I mentioned earlier I do also like to stretch the limits of my live show by including as much theatrics as possible. I’m pretty much sorted for episodes for the rest of the year – although some will still need to be recorded. I’m still considering whether I want to do a review of the year episode, as I tend to hate that sort of thing when it's other people - but there is definitely an inbuilt desire to somehow mark the passing of the year and to celebrate all the episodes that I have produced during 2017. I did a similar review of 2016, but then I only begun the show in late May, although I did manage to complete 45 episodes. Maybe I’ll do a flashback episode with specific clips instead – something less random and more ordered.

Q. How are your regular cast members doing? Did you have any good special guests over the summer?

A. Yes, the regulars have really come together – with a nice little gang of Yeti Uncle John, Dameus Twinklehorn, Bettina Du Pres, Ikk The Alien, Cromitty and Charlie Grrr. Also we are occasionally gifted with contributions from Gladstone McWhiskers – The Mouse Of Commons and Lords and his trusty assistant, Oliver. In addition to them we have "intelligent" cacti, Bert and Gert, Dameus' sister Tallulah Twinklehorn, friendly, but depressed-sounding zombie, Henry Moss, Ikk's nemesis, Zap (aka Nathan) and one or two others. Of course there is also our band of semi-regulars, Toppie, Nick, Jo, Toby, Calum, Harry, OtherPaul etc - but they are usually less dramatic to hang about with… Guest-wise we’ve had a number of nice chats most-notably with Pride48 podcasters, Taffy and Babaloo who are both, in different ways, attached to the show, Pod Is My Co-Pilot.

Q. What do you have in store for us in the concluding months of 2017?

A. Oh golly – what can I say without saying too much? We’re not long back from Lille where we recorded two episodes – both featuring my old friend, Harry. They are both focused around us celebrating thirty years of our friendship - the first episode is already out (#112) and a second spoof behind-the-scenes/making-of episode (#115) should be out soon after this interview is released. There are also episodes that continue the story of Bettina and Dameus, a trip to Italy and a murder mystery weekend - to mention only a few of the episodes that I am planning. I will also finally get around to releasing my two part Hunt For Nessie story, recorded back in June and July, plus I have a nice little Halloween episode ready which I will be editing over the next couple of weeks.

Q. Are you still regularly collaborating with Toppie Smellie from The Smellcast?

A. Very much so. The central plot of episode 100 involved Toppie and I and more importantly The Smellcast’s Auntie Tappie and our very own Bettina Du Pres… Our most recent recording session, at the very end of September carries on that story and takes it to the next level… We have lots more ideas to come towards the end of this year into early 2018 - one of these involves the Murder Mystery Weekend that I mentioned before.

Q. We hear that you have new theme music for the show! Another yeti composition?

A. Yes, indeed! It’s good fun to do! I worked on it a month or two before I started using it and in fact it was even anonymously played at the end of one of the episodes a month or two before it became the regular theme. I actually put it together on a train on the way back from Oxford in mid-May and although I really liked it I was still nervous about whether it would work as a theme; I needn’t have worried - it's just right. I’m considering changing the theme every 100 episodes as always like shows that change their title sequences. As I can't change any visual element - other than the logo - my main way of making things different is audibly, with the music and sound collage that I am currently using at the start of the show. We’ll see what happens once I reach episode 200, probably sometime in the next twelve months. I really need to do some more music – but time just flies by…

Q. Are you still making cameos on other podcasts?

A. Yes, indeed. I was recently a guest on LOTSL – my second appearance this year… I also still record messages for other shows – mostly Tastes Like Burning, Big Fatty Online and Vera Speaks… For Real! That said they're not recorded for completely selfless reasons because I tend to include the message itself and sometimes their reactions in my own messages. It's good fun though and often triggers further daft ideas. Goodness knows what their regular listeners make of it all!

Q. Have you been back on hospital radio since we last chatted?

A. It’s funny you mention that – I was just on in late September, with Tim and Nathan and I recorded the whole evening; I intend to put out an episode all about it at some stage, but needs to record some additional voices to go with it. We have plans for the recording of another episode in early December, which I'm informed may well be broadcast around the wards on Christmas Day itself!

Q. Is there any news on new Mouse Of Commons projects?

Well, Gladstone and Oliver did appear on the podcast back in the summer – not to mention being in the beginning title sound collage for a while too. They are always so terribly busy, of course - but I hope, perhaps, that we'll hear from them for this year's Christmas post perhaps. There are still two or three books of stories of their adventures that will emerge at some stage - but they're having to join the queue of projects to be completed. Alas, I need more hours in the day to get everything completed!

Q. Will there be any further poetry projects?

A. If they happen, yes – at the moment I’m probably working more at preserving my old work via the podcast – although I have finished one or two new poems this year; I’ve actually returned to ones that I started but never completed at the time and will be showcasing them on the blog and in my next collection of stories and poems, next year.

Q. Did you do any live poetry shows in 2017?

A. Not at The Poetry Café, no – this was partly because of their refurbishment project – although I’d certainly be up for doing something there in 2018.  Of course, I did do my live monthly podcast and have also been part of a number of Radio Wey (and one Radio Woking) shows this year. In many ways that feels quite enough and also affords me a potentially bigger audience than doing a live-in-person show. To be honest - being a bit of a closet introvert, audio (whether it be podcast or radio) is definitely something that I feel more at home doing, to be honest.

Q. Would we be right in saying that your blog is still going strong?

A. Yes, indeed. I continue to post on a weekly basis and it’s still the first point of call for any new short pieces of writing that I’m working on… I’ve also been moonlighting on a couple of other blogs and writing scripts for podcast collaborations - so that I can send the other actors links… I'm also posting all the chapters of the writing project that I'm doing with Nick Goodman - but we've not made them available yet as we've not finished the story or come up with a title for the finished piece.

Q. Are you taking the podcast out on location again this autumn?

A. Absolutely. I’m just back from a trip to Lille, France with my old friend Harry – something that we did to celebrate 30 years of our friendship. I also have a trip to Verona planned for my birthday in November - where I expect to have time to record (at least) two episodes of the show, plus maybe a few messages for other shows.

Q. Exciting news! Thank you for talking to us, Mr Yeti. See you again in 2018!

A. I’m looking forward to it! Goodbye for now!

This post and all contents are Copyright Paul Chandler, 2017.