HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY TO OUR DAFFY BLOG!!


Howdo!


I'm hoping to get THIS anniversary right! You see I think the 200th post back in April ended up being our 199th post - it only became evident when blogger changed its format a week or two ago and it became easier to see how many posts had been posted! Ooops. Anyway, this definitely IS the 10th anniversary! 10 years ago on Thursday 2nd May 2002 I began this blog with a little limerick...

There was a young man from Nantucket,
Who kept his wife's head in a bucket...
It would bob up and down -
With never a frown...
And now and again he would duck it! :)

Since then, I have debutted another 118 new poems in my posts, although one or two recently have been to promote my 10th anniversary collections, but anyway - most were posted here first before they were published and some even exist on the blog in slightly earlier drafts that were later altered closer to publication. Not all were poems, more recently some have been short stories or prose pieces - but that hardly matters, what matters is which ones they were.

I'm going to end this post with a list of those poems, but first I want to announce a new episode of SHY YETI ON LOCATION - a slightly longer episode too in celebration of 10 years of blogging. Here's some more information and the links to where you can view it...

SHY YETI GOES WILD is an extra-special episode of SHY YETI ON LOCATION to celebrate 10 years of yeti-poem-blogging on Paul's www.shyyeti.com site. This episode includes 4 poems on a wild-life theme - DIAGONAL CAT, MICE TAP-DANCING, WHY DON'T DRAGONS CLEAN THEIR TEETH and HOORAY FOR BEARS. There are also 3, yes THREE yeti dances in this edition, which was filmed in Surrey, London and the surrounding area between 23rd March and 8th April 2012. This episode guest-stars Dominic McCauley and Mauro MausCat Notch. Camera work by Paul Chandler, Dominic McCauley and Calum Williamson, music by Luca. This film and all poems contained within it are Copyright Paul Chandler, 2012.

You can currently view this episode at:

Youtube: http://youtu.be/8bNUwebWalU

Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/41414366

There is also a special mini compilation available for this episode:

SHY YETI GOES WILD is a mini-collection of over 25 poems that Paul Chandler a.k.a. Mr Yeti has written over the last few years concerning animals or pets. These include: BECOMING MORE CAT-LIKE, THE BLACK-EYED GROWL, DIAGONAL CAT, DO SHEEP MIGRATE?, A FLEA TEA PARTY, A LITTLE MOUSE, A WASP IN A WIG and many more. These are pieces that he’s read at gigs and open-mike events and which appear to get the furriest, most enthusiastic growls from a crowd! Go on, take a peek!

It's available in paperback for £4.99 at the following link:

http://www.lulu.com/shop/paul-chandler/shy-yeti-goes-wild/paperback/product-20095610.html

I'll hopefully be doing a Radio Wey show in June or July to promote this mini-collection and celebrate the 10th anniversary too. More news on that when I have a definite date for it.


This isn't the last you'll hear of the 10th anniversary of this blog - I have two shows coming up at The Poetry Cafe, one this Saturday 5th May and one on Friday 8th June 2012. The first show the postponed 10th anniversary show for my 2nd collection, ROLLERCOASTER and the June date is to celebrate the blog. The May show will comprise of some new pieces and pieces from ROLLERCOASTER and the June show will comprise of my favourite pieces from the 118 that I have posted on here since 2002.

Anyway, enough about that for now... I'm busy putting together my next full collection, ARE WE THERE YETI!?, but as I am also working on the next Mouse Of Commons book, due out in July - I don't expect my next prose and poetry book to be completed until mid-August, in time for my September Poetry Cafe show.

Anyway, that's it for now...

More soon...

Yeti hugs,

Paul xx

PS As promised, here comes that list...

118 BLOGGED POEMS IN 10 YEARS…

HERBAL TEABAGS (2002)

BALLAD OF A CHILD ACTOR (2002)
DISCO (2002)
REINCARNATION (2002)
THINGS AIN’T WHAT THEY USED TO BE – PT 1 (2002)
OH, FLORENCE (2002)
ANOTHER PATHETIC ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT (2002)
OWN GOAL? (2002)
THIRD TIME LUCKY (2003)
DRUNK (2003)
BLACK AND WHITE COWS (2003)
YOU AND WHOSE ARMY? (2003)
SOMETHING OLD – SOMETHING NEW (2003)
ANIMAL CRUELTY (2003)
BLUE EYED LOVER (2003)
WICKED SANTA (2003)
FLAUNT TRADITION (2004)
CRASHING BORES (2004)
IF I WERE A MOO COW (2004)
TIDDLES HAS A PROBLEM (2004)
I AM NEVER INVITED TO ORGIES (2005)
I CAN’T BEAR THE END (BIOGRAPHICAL WORK) (2005)
NEVER STEAL ANOTHER MAN’S RHUBARB (2005)
THE ONLY YOU THERE IS (2005)
A YETI’S FUR (2005)
CRIME OFTEN PAYS (2005)
I WOULDN’T WANT TO BE 18, AGAIN (2005)
I WANT TO BE BORN BEFORE CHRISTMAS (2005)
MY DOG IN A DRESS (2005)
ADVERT FOR A TRAINEE SEX SYMBOL (2006)
A NIGHT ON THE TOWN WITH A YETI (2006)
ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLES (2006)
GIRLS LIKE ALENA (2006)
I WANT THEM TO SEE ME (ON TOP OF THE POPS) (2006)
THE BALLAD OF CHARLIE GRRR (2006)
A CURE FOR ALL KNOWN ILLS (2006)
I WILL EAT PIES (2007)
THE WAY PIE’S MEANT TO BE (2007)
DISCO YETI (2007)
YOUR APRIL FOOL (2007)
BELHAVEN BEACH (2007)
WE DON’T DANCE TO LOVESONGS (2007)
RHYMES BEARS STEAL PIES FOR (2007)
THEIR SPECIAL DAY (2007)
A LIFE TOGETHER (2007)
THE STAND-UP CHAMELEON (2007)
I KNOW WE’LL NEVER BE TOGETHER (2007)
MY MOMENT IS NOW (2007)
ALL GIVE NO TAKE (2007)
GROOVE (2007)
LITTLE PIG (2007)
YETI SPAGHETTI (2007)
RABBITS DON’T REALLY LIKE LETTUCE (2007)
SUPER YETI AND COSMIC BEAR (2008)
THE UNGRATEFUL VALENTINE (2008)
YOU CRAMP MY STYLE (2008)
X-RAY TED (2008)
SO MUCH LOVE – SO LITTLE TIME (2008)
THEY WARNED ME ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE YOU (2008)
DIAGONAL CAT (2008)
A VOICE IN HIS HEAD (2008)
SWAGGER (2008)
OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER (2008)
YOU ARE CAT-NIP TO ME (2008)
TOO SLUSHY FOR SNOWMEN (2008)
CAT THIEF (2009)
IF POEMS WERE PIES (2009)
BACK WHEN THE INTERNET WAS YOUNG (2009)
OUT OF WORK ACTORS (2009)
MAKE ALL YOUR LIES TRUE (2009)
MAKING TOAST FOR THE ENEMY (2009)
BRAND NEW PULLING PANTS (2009)
MY CREATIVE GNU (2009)
COLIN THE CUSTARD EATING SPIDER (2009)
STEALING MY THUNDER (2009)
THE UNAFFORDABLE FJORD (2009)
THE DAY THE PRIME MINISTER CAME TO TEA (2009)
CATFOOD IN YOUR EYEBROWS (2009)
THE YETI OF MUSWELL HILL (2009)
DO YETI WEAR PYJAMAS? (2009)
BLACKMAILING SANTA (2009)
CHRISTMASTIME FOR SKELETONS (2009)
MY SELFISH CAT (2010)
WHY AGNES, YOU’RE LOVELY (2010)
CARELESS TALK COST (2010)
CUPCAKE (2010)
I’M ALL FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS (2010)
BECOMING MORE CAT-LIKE (2010)
YOU COULD BE MY PIN-UP (2010)
NOT SEEING ANYBODY ELSE (2010)
TO BE BESIDE THE SEASIDE (2010)
THE CROCODILE (2010)
I LOVE YOU LESS (2010)
HE EATS SO MUCH (2010)
FAMOUS PEOPLE ARE A PAIN IN THE ARSE (2010)
RESPECTABLE TEXTS (2010)
JUST TO GET MYSELF TO YOU (2010)
FIRST SNOG (2010)
SANTAS DON’T TEXT (2010)
GRANDPA’S WIG (2011)
THEY DON’T RHYME THEIR POEMS IN L.A. (2011)
STREETLIGHT GLAMOUR (2011)
WORK IS RUBBISH (2011)
WE’RE AN ITEM NOW (2011)
THE BROKEN LIFT (2011)
THE CAT NEXT DOOR (2011)
JOHN, I’M ONLY RHYMING (2011)
I SHOULD NEVER (2011)
STOUT LEGS IN A SUMMER STORM (2011)
THE TRUE LIGHT (2011)
THE TRUE LIGHT – ALTERNATIVE (2011)
THE BALLAD OF AN ALRIGHT BLOKE (2011)
SUMMER SKIES (2011)
SANTA’S BIT ON THE SIDE (2011)
TAKE CARE WHEN GIVING CHRISTMAS PRESENTS (2011)
COMING CLEAN (2012)
LOVE AND AMNESIA (2012)

THE WEDDING BREAKFAST (2012)

May there be many more to come!!!

This Post is Copyright Paul Chandler 2012.

A VERY NEW POEM FOR A VERY SPECIAL DAY...

Hello!

As promised, here is the brand new poem written for and read by me at my friend's Glyn and David's Civil Partnership on Friday 27th April 2012... It's called THE WEDDING BREAKFAST and was written between November 2011 and April 2012. It took me a while to get it just right and was originally conceived more as a song or, at very least, a poem with verses. At one stage it was intended for reading at the reception - but when I was asked to upgrade it for performance at the ceremony itself I decided to make it one verse and rewrote a lot of the early lines. Thankfully it seemed to go down pretty well and I even ended up reading another wedding themed piece at the reception called A LIFE TOGETHER that I wrote a few years back.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it!

Next week we'll be back on Wednesday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of this blog; to launch a new SHY YETI ON LOCATION video and to discuss the forthcoming show at the Poetry Cafe on Saturday 5th May 2012.

More soon!

Yeti hugs,

Paul xx

P.S. Congratulations once again to Glyn and David!

P.P.S. Did I wear my red top hat when I read - of course I did! Photos to prove it next post!

THE WEDDING BREAKFAST

For Glyn and David's civil partnership ceremony…

It is time to duly toast the happy couple…

It is time we reached the business of the day…

Now our friends have made their love affair official…

Three cheers, yet now I've something more to say!

I have known this pair of grooms for quite some time now…

They are looking very smart you will agree!

With their beards all spruced up nice for the occasion!

They will pose for photos soon – but for a fee.

A little later you will see them on the dance-floor –

Well, rumour has it they've got rhythm by the yard…

They will pull some disco shapes - such groovy movers!

Get out their way if they are waltzing extra hard.

You're very welcome, if you wish - to come and join them...

If you want to come and have a little whirl!

Come and dance whichever way you feel best-suited...

An energetic dozey-doh - or simply twirl!

On this very special day they’re celebrating...

If I may, I’d like to offer up a toast!

Of all the friends I have whose names are Glyn and David;

These two, they are the ones I like the most...

Ah, true love is something always to be treasured...

There are so many choices now for them to make…

My choices though involve the Wedding Breakfast –

And my thoughts drift quickly to the actual cake!

I’m wondering if the grooms on top are bearded...

I’m wondering if the cake’s shaped like a bear...

I’m wondering if there’s any chance of seconds!?

Sneak some home beneath my hat, now would I dare?

I am informed that they will honeymoon in Venice –

Oh, very nice - I say - a quite fantastic place!

With all the sights and sounds and quite delicious ice cream!

Is there some chance that they might squeeze me in their case?

If I’m very nice to them, perhaps they'll let me...

If I promise to be good and quite polite!

If they have themselves some pasta or lasagne...

I’ll behave myself for just a little bite!

Still, I must curtail these dreams of foreign travel...

And sign off on happy thoughts, this special day!

To our two stupendous grooms, now, here before us...

Let us wish them all the best, hip hip hooray...

THE WEDDING BREAKFAST will appear in the collection NOT AS SHY AS I WAS which has no exact release date, as yet - but will hopefully be finished by late 2012, early 2013. It and all the contents of this post is Copyright Paul Chandler, 2012.

A TALE OF 2 CITIES - 1 YETI: A PHOTO GALLERY...

Hi,

Well! As promised, this week there will be two posts... The first is about my recent trip to Germany and the second is an exclusive poem written for a friend's civil partnership; but you'll have to wait until Saturday for that, as I can't risk posting it until then or the groom and groom might see it before the big day and it's meant to be a surprise!

Firstly, as promised - here are some photos from behind the scenes on the German trip from last week. Some of the photos are from the first episode - which is set in Dusseldorf and some are from the location of the second episode, which was filmed in Cologne. Some of the photos won't make much sense yet - but you'll see how it all fits in when you finally get to see the actual episodes that we filmed out there. Hopefully they'll be up mid-May/early June.

I'd like to be able to announce which poems I recorded for this episode - but I've forgotten; I can however announce which poems appear in my next episode SHY YETI GOES WILD, which will hopefully be posted next week. The poems in that episode are DIAGONAL CAT, MICE TAP-DANCING, WHY DON'T DRAGONS CLEAN THEIR TEETH and HOORAY FOR BEARS, which are all included in my mini-compilation of the same title, which will be released on www.lulu.com next week.

Well, that's about it for now - tune in again late Friday/early Saturday for an exclusive new poem that was written especially for my friends Glyn and David. We'll be back again next week - when we'll be looking ahead to my next Poetry Cafe gig on Saturday 5th May and also the 10th anniversary of this very blog-site.

More soon!

Yeti hugs,

Paul xx

The contents of this blog, including all the photos are Copyright Paul Chandler 2012.

BACK FROM GERMANY AND A NEW YETI FILM...

Hello!

We're back!! How are you?

Well, I am happy to be able to announce that on our return from Germany there are now two new episodes in the can - one from Dusseldorf and one from Cologne. At the moment this two parter has been tentatively entitled A TALE OF TWO CITIES - AND ONE YETI! The episodes feature two poems each and lots of the usual yeti daftness; we were reasonably lucky with the weather so managed to record quite a bit - including two yeti dances, one which even caused a car to slow down to view it! Aside from the poems (a mixture of old and new) I hope I managed to get enough footage to give you a bit of feel for the atmosphere and appearance of both cities.

At the moment I'm expecting to start work on these two episodes once I've finished work on SHY YETI GOES WILD - but next week I plan on giving you a bit of a sneak peek behind the scenes on the German shoot... Next week, in a separate post, I'm also hoping on posting an exclusive new poem in honour of two very special people - but I have to keep that one under my hat for now...

Moving on, I am glad to be able to announce that I have just uploaded a new SHY YETI ON LOCATION episode - here's a bit about it...

SHY YETI WELCOMES SPRING

SHY YETI WELCOMES SPRING is a new episode of SHY YETI ON LOCATION filmed in March 2012 and released the following month. It also includes a couple of "lost" poems filmed in June 2011. The episode was filmed in a number of locations - from a "secret location" in London, to Broadstairs and also up in the Durham area of England. Poems include NOT A HAPPY BUNNY, FLAUNT TRADITION, THE HALF YOU LEFT ME WITH and the new/previously unreleased A YETI IN A HAT. As usual there is also a lot of silliness, a yeti dance and cameos from Dominic McCauley, Dan Hodges and Barry Dunkley. The music is by Luca and this episode's cameramen were Paul Chandler and Dominic McCauley. This episode and all its contents are Copyright 2012.           

Youtube: http://youtu.be/nBe63eLBoMo
Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/40371330

Before we go here is just a quick update of all SHY YETI ON LOCATION episodes that are currently unedited, but that are "safe in the can", as it were!

SHY YETI ON LOCATION - COMING SOON!

SHY YETI GOES WILD (2 episodes - April/May 2012)
A TALE OF 2 CITIES - AND 1 YETI! (2 episodes - May/June 2012)
VAMPIRE COWS SPECIAL (Lost episode from 2011 - June 2012)
A YETI "LOST" IN HOLLYWOOD (Lost episode from 2011 - July 2012)

These are the episodes I currently have in the can, however I am on leave for a week in late May and also have 2 live gigs coming up in May and June - so there will be new episodes filmed then. I'm also off for 3 weeks in August - so goodness knows what will be going on then!

That's about it for now - more soon!
Yeti hugs,

Paul xx

This post and its contents are Copyright Paul Chandler 2012

SHY YETI ON LOCATION - UPDATED RATINGS - APRIL 2012...

Hello!

Nice Easter?

This will be a slightly shorter post than usual, because I'm just about to go away... Yes, it's the German trip, finally! But more on that later...

I've been quite busy on both ARE WE THERE, YETI? - basically getting it in shape so that I effectively have a draft edition to do final proofing on. I've also added a few new pieces to NOT AS SHY AS I WAS... I've been typing up some stories that I've written recently, but during my commutes have been working on a number of new poems - titles include: THE BEST WORSTEST DANCER IN THE WORLD, THE WORLD IS FULL OF BULLIES and WIGS AND CO. So, they sound my usual sensible fare, don't they!? ;)

Filming-wise - and in slow time, I've been working on my SHY YETI GOES WILD episode. This was originally meant to go alongside my next Radio Wey appearance and I've even put together a small collection for this; although as Tim is only doing his show once a month it may take a month or two before we manage to find a date that suits us both. SHY YETI GOES WILD is an animal-themed compilation and so I've been recording animal poems for a forthcoming episode - in fact the Easter weekend has pretty much seen me complete this episode after the initial filming I did back in late March around Horsell Common near Woking. Further filming has since taken place, again near Woking - but also in Richmond Park, in the Alton area of Hampshire and finally up in Highgate Woods on Easter Day. In fact the main question now is do I do one long episode or have I enough for a two parter... As I'm hoping to film around the Windsor area on Tuesday 10th April, weather allowing, it may be that I do record enough for a two-part special. Both Dominic and Calum have been helping me out with the episode and Dominic makes an appearance - but I'll do a longer post on this one in a week or two and show you a few behind-the-scenes photos.

I've also been quite busy working on completing a poem for my friend's Glyn and David's civil partnership poem; which I'm sure I will eventually post here - but for now all I can tell you is its title... THE WEDDING BREAKFAST!! I was specifically asked to write a quite silly piece and so that's exactly what I did; although it does have some rather nice wedding bits too! Anyway, the wedding is on Friday 27th April 2012 and hopefully there will be a video to show you after that date; so watch this space!

I've also been busy editing the next SHY YETI ON LOCATION video - which I hope will be ready for you once I'm back from Germany, as it's almost done. It's called SHY YETI WELCOMES SPRING and was mostly filmed last month in Broadstairs and London; although it does feature a couple of poems that I saved from the "digital cutting room floor" which were filmed in June 2011.

As I've said before, I'm a little reticent to talk about my big trip this week to Dusseldorf and Cologne just in case something goes wrong and I don't get there - or I do get there but I lose my camera or delete the files! It has happened - AND there was snow in Scotland only last week; who knows what might happen! I may even run off to join my yeti relatives... Now that WOULD be some video! ;)

But anyway aside from all that I do hope that we get there and if we do then next week I'll be able to tell you a little more about what I've filmed! But let's not tempt fate, aye!?

Ratings... We're creeping slowly towards our 6000th hit, which - if memory serves me is over 2000 hits since I last mentioned this subject back in late January/early February 2012. Anyway, the ratings are coming up next - bizarrely Part 2 of Sutton Park has overtaken Part 1 by quite a few hits; I have no idea why that is! Meanwhile, some of the other videos are rattling up the chart - I'll leave you to look, should you wish to and leave you with the news that there are now 39 videos with over 100 hits!

Anyway, more soon! Very soon...

Yeti hugs,

Paul x

RATINGS FROM YETI VIDEOS – AS OF 03/04/2012

1^st SUTTON PARK SW1 - PART 2 = 523 views
2^nd SUTTON PARK SW1 - PART 1 = 459 views
3^rd SUTTON PARK SW1 - PART 3 = 262 views
4^th SHY YETI ON LOCATION IN DORSET = 206 views
5^th A YETI BACK IN HOLLYWOOD – PT 1 = 200 views
6^th SHY YETI'S VALENTINE'S DAY SPECIAL = 196 views
7^th SUTTON PARK SW1 - PART 4 = 187 views
8^th SHY YETI GOES TO HOLLYWOOD = 183 views
9^th SHY YETI IN A SECRET LOCATION = 181 views
10^th BALLAD OF A GO-GO BEAR = 176 views
11^th TOO LATE – A SHORT STORY= 173 views
12^th A YETI IN WINTER = 162 views
13^th SHY YETI AT THE COBALT CAFÉ = 161 views
14^th OUT AND ABOUT WITH SHY YETI = 154 views
15^th SUTTON PARK SW1 - PART 5 = 153 views
16^th SUTTON PARK SW1 - PART 7 = 152 views
17^th SUTTON PARK SW1 - PART 6 = 148 views
18^th SHY YETI LIVE - 06/03/2010 = 145 views
19^th SHY'S SNOW SPECTACULAR = 144 views
20^th I AM NEVER INVITED TO ORGIES = 141 views
21^st UNGRATEFUL VALENTINE = 140 views
22^nd SHY YETI TALKS = 127 views
23^rd SHY YETI VERSUS AUTUMN – PT 1 = 125 views
24^th A YETI BACK IN HOLLYWOOD – PT 4 = 123 views
25^th A YETI IN PARIS – PART 1= 119 views
26^th A YETI BACK IN HOLLYWOOD – PT 2 = 117 views
27^th SHY YETI LIVE - 06/03/2010 (2) = 116 views
=28^th SHY YETI ON LOCATION IN DORSET (O/T) = 115 views
=28^th A YETI ON RADIO WEY = 115 views
=30^th A YETI BACK IN HOLLYWOOD – PT 3 = 114 views
=30^th YETI DANCE A-GO-GO… = 114 views
32^nd SHY YETI OUT IN THE COUNTRY = 112 views
33^rd SUTTON PARK – PART 8 (1 OF 2) = 110 views
=34^th SHY YETI IN A SECRET LOCATION (O/T) = 108 views
=34^th SHY YETI LIVE – 02/04/2011 = 108 views
36^th SHY YETI VERSUS AUTUMN – PART 2 = 108 views
=37^th A PERFECT MATCH = 102 views
=37^th YETI SPAGHETTI = 102 views
39^th YETI HUNT U.S.A – PART 1 = 100 views
40^th SHY YETI LIVE – 22/11/2010 – PART 1 = 99 views
41^st SHY YETI LIVE – 22/11/2010 – PART 3 = 98 views
42^nd A YETI IN PARIS – PART 2 = 94 views
43^rd SHY YETI BACK AT THE COBALT CAFE = 93 views
44^th YETI HUNT U.S.A – PART 3 = 91 views
45th YETI HUNT U.S.A – PART 2 = 86 views
46^th A DEVIL WITHOUT HORNS – A POEM = 81 views
47^th AN EVENING WITH SHY YETI... = 80 views
48^th YOU CRAMP MY STYLE = 76 views
49^th SOMETHING TO CHEW ON= 74 views
50^th ANOTHER EVENING WITH SHY YETI… = 72 views
51^st SHY YETI LIVE – 22/11/2010 – LIVE REVIVED = 71 views
52^nd SHY YETI BACK ON RADIO WEY – PART 1 = 69 views
53^rd SHY YETI LIVE – 22/11/2010 – PART 2 = 66 views
=54^th MINI EUROPEAN TOUR 2011 – PART 1 = 64 views
=54^th YETI SPAGHETTI (OUT-TAKES) = 64 views
=54^th LITTLE PIG = 64 views
57^th YETI HUNT U.S.A. – PART 5 = 61 views
=58^th MINI EUROPEAN TOUR 2011 – PART 2 = 60 views
=58^th JUNK/FOOD GIG 1 = 60 views
=60^th MY MOMENT IS NOW = 58 views
=60^th PICCADILLY CIRCUS = 58 views
62^nd YETI HUNT U.S.A. – PART 4 = 56 views
63^rd SHY YETI BACK ON RADIO WEY – PART 2 = 54 views
64^th YETI HUNT U.S.A. – PART 6 = 52 views
65^th THEY WARNED ME... = 48 views
66^th CRASHTESTBOYFRIEND = 47 views
67^th JUNK/FOOD GIG 2 = 45 views
68^th YETI HUNT U.S.A – PART 7 = 44 views
69^th YETI HUNT U.S.A – PART 8 = 43 views
70^th SHY YETI OUT IN THE NEW FOREST = 42 views
71^st SHY YETI LIVE - 18/11/2008 = 40 views
72^nd MY DOG IN A DRESS = 37 views
=73^rd THE TRUE LIGHT = 35 views
=73^rd THINGS AIN'T... = 35 views
=75^th SHY YETI GOES BUSHY = 31 views
=75^th THE DAY CHARLIE GRRR... – PART 2 = 31 views
77^th GOOD HUG = 27 views
=78^th DAREDEVIL = 26 views
=78^th THE SORRY TALE... = 26 views
=80^th SHY YETI ON RADIO FOR VALENTINE’S = 24 views
=80^th RECKLESSLY = 24 views
82^nd THE DAY CHARLIE GRRR... – PART 1 = 23 views
=83^rd A VOICE IN HIS HEAD = 21 views
=83^rd SHY YETI TAKES (A TRIP) TO BATH = 21 views

This post and its contents is Copyright Paul Chandler, 2012. 

A NEW SHY YETI INTERVIEW BY OUR FRIENDS IN BEARGRRRIA!


Hello all!

This week we have in store for you...

A FURTHER SLIGHTLY-OVER 60 SECOND CHAT WITH SHY YETI

Here is another interview that I did recently with Beargrrria’s top magazine for chat; THE GROWL GAZETTE. They know me over there due to my dubious connection with a certain Beargrrrian superstar named Charlie Grrr. This is the third time that they have interviewed me in the last couple of years! They really MUST be short of people to interview. This time I’m speaking mainly about my new book – ARE WE THERE, YETI? So, here’s what they asked and what I said in reply – straight from the yeti’s mouth, as it were!!!

Q. So, Paul - tell us about your latest book. Firstly, what’s it called?

A. Well, it’s due out in early Summer and is called ARE WE THERE, YETI?

Q. ARE WE THERE, YETI!? That’s a bit cheesy, isn’t it?

A. Absolutely… I’m never one to avoid an obvious pun when it’s staring me in the face – especially when it has the word yeti in it! I like the title very much! Those who have read a book of mine before should know that the contents aren’t going to be all daft – in fact a lot of it is kinda creepy, horror stories and the like. However, that said, there is a lot of black comedy in my work – so, hopefully it prepares the unsuspecting reader for something a little different.

Q. So is this collection all stories? Or does it also involve poetry?

A. It’s both; although as with FUNERAL FOR A SHOE there are far more short stories than poems – although there are a fair few vignettes that are somewhere in between. One way or another you have 100 new yeti items to examine and hopefully to enjoy! I’m sorry, if you don’t like it then you won’t get your money back – I suggest that maybe you seek the attentions of a head doctor. Or maybe read it all again. And again! I mean – how many times do you listen to an album before you like it; usually more than once. I jest… Although you probably MAY still need to see that head doctor.

Q. How does ARE WE THERE, YETI!?! differ from last year’s books YETI HUGS AND OTHER HORRORS, THE VAMPIRE COWS OF SCUNTHORPE and FUNERAL FOR A SHOE?

A. It’s more of a continuation or a natural development than something that is attempting to be deliberately different. I had no remit when I began as to whether it would be more stories or more poems – I just wrote what I wrote as it came to me. This collection has had a little longer to marinade than the previous two – although I like those very much; this collection reminds me more of YETI HUGS AND OTHER HORRORS in that it took longer to develop – perhaps it’s the mirror image of that collection in that ARE WE THERE, YETI? contains more prose and less poetry. At any rate I’ve been working on this new collection since early July 2011 and now that I’m at the final proofreading stage I’m reading some of the pieces and thinking “It seems a million years since I wrote that one…”; possibly because I’ve performing a number of the pieces for almost a year now!

Q. Tell us about some of your favourites from the new book - which piece or pieces are you most proud of?

A. Well, I like them all – but some have already emerged into the world ahead of the publication of the collection; for instance the poem CACTUS HEART which I wrote in Los Angeles back in the Summer has already spawned its own compilation of “poems for lost loves…” That said, this is more to do with the fact that I had some fab photos of a “cactus heart” that I thought deserved to adorn the cover of a book – so the compilation came about for exactly that reason. Other pieces that I have a particular fondness for from ARE WE THERE, YETI? include GLUE TO MEND A BROKEN HEART, INVITE A YETI ROUND FOR TEA and JOHN, I’M ONLY RHYMING from the poems; this is partly because I’m already having fun performing them at shows and for my Yeti films. As for the stories; I’m in the middle of proofing them – so ask me again when I’m finished – but to be honest I really like them all in different ways or I wouldn’t have considered including them.

Q. Last year was a prolific year – how is 2012 looking? Is it much the same?

A. Well, fittingly as it’s the 10^th anniversary of my blog (www.shyyeti.com) – so it’s rather a year of old and new and as well as new material I’ve been working on a number of compilations of old work. As I’ve mentioned I also have plenty of new books on the way – from new collections ARE WE THERE, YETI? and its follow-up NOT AS SHY AS I WAS to scripted series THE BEAST OF FRIENDS and a couple of Mouse Of Commons projects.

Q. How is the performance poetry going?

A. Good. That said because I’ve been doing videos, radio and my own gigs I haven’t had the desire to do open-mike so much lately. It’s not easy to fit it all in around an already full working day back at the library as the evenings often go onto until 10.30 and then I’ve still got to get back home. This is why my main performance outlet is still my poetry films; I enjoy making them and getting hits and nice comments about them – whether or not it sells me any more books is kind of irrelevant. I have more than enough poems to go around and it’s nice to have a finished product that I can do something with years later! My earliest videos from 2008 still regularly get new viewings, as do the first SHY YETI ON LOCATION films from 2010; I’ve had around 6000 views on my Youtube profile alone, to date.

Q. When is your next show?

A. Well, as it happens there are three booked – one coming up in just over a month to replace the postponed Poetry Café for the 10^th anniversary of second collection,  ROLLERCOASTER. This was to have taken place on Friday 16^th March, however the venue double-booked; which is partly how I’ve ended up with three dates over the next five or six months; for as in apology they gave me two additional nights for free. The first of these shows is on Saturday 5^th May at The Poetry Café, the next on Friday 8^th of June and the final one on Wednesday 5^th September. On top of that I’m also hoping to do a show for the 10^th anniversary of THIRD TIME LUCKY sometime before Christmas.

Q. Will you be reading anything new?

A. Yes, indeed… There are a few pieces from my next collection NOT AS SHY AS I WAS which I especially want to try out – titles include: IF I CAN’T HAVE A BULLDOG, I’M A JELLY FISH, YOUR NEW BOYFRIEND’S A MINGER, DRUNK ELK, I’VE CLEANED OUT MY DIRTY MIND and one or two others. But it won’t all be new stuff; the first of the three gigs is more about celebrating the 10^th anniversary of the publication of my second collection, ROLLERCOASTER; however this also gives me the chance to read a few pieces that have never had the opportunity to have been performed. I’m expecting guests at both shows too – so it won’t just be me! The June show is to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of my blog and I expect the September show to predominantly feature poems from ARE WE THERE, YETI? as it should have been published by this stage.

Q. Will you be back on the radio this year?

A. Well, I’ve already been on once already – my third appearance since October. Those who follow my Youtube and Vimeo profiles will already have seen that the shows were filmed and so if you missed them then you can watch them now, instead. My last appearance was just before Valentine’s Day on Saturday 11^th February 2012 and was a romantically-themed episode; although that doesn’t mean that they were all happy poems. I did manage to do a minor swear when I was on last time… Bad yeti! It wasn’t my fault – it was the poems; but I’d failed to see the word coming up and was unable to amend the line before I had to read it! If I’ve not been banned from the airways (by the way, the word was only bullsh*t!) then I hope to be back in May sometime… More news on that on www.shyyeti.com when I know!

Q. How is the SHY YETI ON LOCATION series progressing?

A. Very well! I’ve already recorded a number of new episodes this year – performing pieces that I’ve never presented in this format before… I’m very happy that all eight episodes of YETI HUNT USA. are now up – and as well as the new episodes I intend to return to a couple that weren’t edited from last year.

Q. Tell us about those episodes? Is there any more to come from L.A.?

A. Well, there are a couple of unedited episodes to come – one of them is a special episode that was provisionally meant to be last year’s Summer special, which would have celebrated the publication of my collection VAMPIRE COWS OF SCUNTHORPE. Some of the other bits and pieces I may well put together with more recent footage (such as the scenes filmed in Broadstairs in early March 2012) to make full-length episodes… I’ll see what happens nearer the time! And yes, as far as L.A. is concerned I have saved myself one last episode to release during the Summer; although whether or not I’ll be returning to the United States in 2012 is undecided, as present. At any rate, any return would be to Portland, Oregon now rather than L.A. That said, the episode that I’ve held back is set in L.A. and was filmed on the last day of my 4^th and final trip (to date) to Los Angeles on Saturday 12^th November 2011. It includes a bit of sight-seeing, a story, a poem and my attempt to read a new piece that I’d only just written a first draft of that very day. I’ve since almost completely rewritten that particular vignette – so the version that appears in this video is an insight to my original thoughts for the piece.

Q. And what of the episodes that you have already recorded this year?

A. The year began with me completing work on the last few YETI HUNT USA episodes – not to mention filming during my February visit to Radio Wey; however I’ve now moved on to making, editing and posting episodes filmed on location. They’ve all been UK-based, so far – but good fun, I hope… January began with SHY YETI OUT IN THE NEW FOREST… which featured a number of yeti dances and a couple of poems from a few years back. Early in February I also recorded SHY YETI GOES BUSHY… which was filmed with Dominic McCauley in the remains of the snow in Bushy Park near Hampton Court and includes a couple of poems that have never been available previously. The most recently completed episode was filmed in early March and is entitled SHY YETI TAKES A (TRIP TO) BATH… It was filmed in the City of Bath and includes 3 poems from my 10^th anniversary reissue of my ROLLERCOASTER collection. I am currently working on an episode entitled SHY YETI WELCOMES SPRING – which is a mixture of recent material filmed in Broadstairs and London and some bits and pieces left over from 2010. I’m also intending to film an episode called SHY YETI GOES WILD which will feature animal-themed poems, a theme that I also hope to take over to use on my next appearance on Radio Wey. My friend Tim, whose show I perform, has recently become a dad for the second time and so only does his show once a month – so finding a Saturday that suits me too isn’t as easy as we hoped; for instance my next Poetry Café show clashes with his May radio show… But we’ll sort it out somehow!!

Q. What about overseas? Can we expect more episodes filmed in exotic locations?

A. Yes indeed… In fact, I’m just about to film one over the Easter break in Germany; hopefully in Dusseldorf and Cologne. I really don’t want to say any more for the moment – as any location trip depends on me not missing the plane/train, being well on the day – on the weather – on me not accidentally deleting all the footage at the last minute as I did in Venice! I am a bit of a nightmare with that last one… So, anyway, until all the footage is safely saved on my hard-drive all I will say is that hopefully any episodes that I film should involve Dominic and I and that I’ll probably read something from my old compilation WOODED-ER AWAKENINGS which I’ve just re-released with a new cover. Either that or possibly some animal poems from another compilation that I’m working on to tie in with my one of my next Radio Wey appearances.

Q. Are there any more locations that you can reveal yet for later in the year?

A. I can tell you where I hope to film – taking into consideration that if I go to the States this year it is currently not booked or specifically planned; so I’ll tell you more about the trips that I do know about. After Germany I’m expecting to be in Norfolk in late May, I have a week booked in the Lake District near Keswick in early August and additionally I’m hoping to be back in the Broadstairs area around folk week, also in August. After that nothing is certain. Calum and I are discussing a trip to Brussels and locale for early October and I’m yet to decide on where I want to go for my birthday; although I have been considering either Seville or a return to Venice.

Q. Other than poetry and videos are there any other projects in the pipeline for 2012?

A. There’s a collection of Mouse Of Commons stories that I’ve been working on for several years called THE MCWHISKERS ARCHIVES, which is made up of   short stories that I wrote between 2007 and 2008. There is also a series of scripts called THE BEAST OF FRIENDS, which I actually began plotting back in 2004 – the pilot episode was completed in 2010 and appeared in my YETI HUGS AND OTHER HORRORS book, last year. The first 8 scripts that I originally envisioned were completed between 2010 and early 2012 and are being released as part of the 20^th anniversary celebrations for my SUTTON PARK show. The series features a number of odd characters – most of whom made their debut in the aforementioned show – all living in a house together. It’s an idea that pre-dates the BBC’s Being Human by several years – but THE BEAST OF FRIENDS is envisaged more as a mildly humorous radio series, rather than a gothic horror fest. As I’ve mentioned I am also already working on my next book NOT AS SHY AS I WAS which will be the 20^th original collection of poems that I have written since I began publishing in late 2001.

Q. Is NOT AS SHY AS I WAS going to be the same mix of poetry and prose that you have favoured in recent years?

A. Definitely, yes… As we speak I’ve probably got about 30 pieces already written for this collection. I’m not sure if they’ll be as many as 100 in this book or not; we’ll see. Anyway, of the contents so-far written there is a pretty much equal mix of poems and stories – although I am aiming to have a few shorter prose pieces in line with my THE VAMPIRE COWS OF SCUNTHORPE collection from Summer 2011. Those shorter pieces are great for gigs and yeti videos!

Q. Are you planning any more Sutton Park episodes? Especially as 2012 is the 20^th anniversary?

A. Definitely. There are a number that I filmed back in 2010 that I never edited; it would also be nice to film a new episode too if there is time; maybe during my visit to the Lake District – perhaps linking the footage that was filmed back in 2010 explaining what has happened in the two years since the last episode was posted. We’ll see. I’ve already mentioned THE BEAST OF FRIENDS and how that also links into Sutton Park and I’ve just begun work on a second series of eight scripts, which I hope will be out sometime in late 2013.

Q. That's good news. Thank you, Mr Yeti.

A. That's okay, thank you for inviting me back for a third visit – hopefully we’ll growl again soon. I’d just like to pass on all my thanks to every one in Beargrrria for all their support and good will over the years

END OF ARTICLE

That's all for this week - next week we'll be looking at the forthcoming trip to Germany and casting an eye over ratings for the first quarter of 2012. Until then, Happy Easter break!

More soon!

Yeti hugs,

Paul xx



















This post and its contents are Copyright Paul Chandler 2012.

SHY YETI TAKES A BATH - AND ALSO GOES TO THE SEASIDE!!

Howdy!?!

Let's start with a link to a new episode...

SHY YETI TAKES A (TRIP TO) BATH is a new episode of SHY YETI ON LOCATION, filmed mostly in the city of Bath on Friday 2nd March 2012 (but also a little bit in the village where I grew up on Saturday 3rd March!) There are 3 poems in this film, all from the 10th anniversary re-issue of my second collection, ROLLERCOASTER: PEACE TREATY, PETRIFIED and I CANNOT COMPARE THEE... There is also quite a bit of silliness; including a yeti dance! Special guest in this episode is Dominic McCauley. Camera: Paul Chandler and Dominic McCauley. Music: Luca. This film and all poems within are Copyright Paul Chandler, 2012.

This episode is just slightly over 10 minutes in length and can be viewed at the following links:

Youtube: http://youtu.be/-0czxBFjDgE

Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/39271603

This week I'm also going to tell you a little bit about what I've been filming in the last couple of weeks -share a few behind-the-scenes photos and also post a piece from my forthcoming collection, ARE WE THERE, YETI!?

Last time I filmed in Broadstairs we ended up with various terribly daft scenes for this episode:

SHY YETI OUT IN THE COUNTRY (July 2010)
http://youtu.be/FTz0BRsrCZs

I've been back at least once since, but not filmed there and I'm very much hoping to go back for a full episode in August 2012; but for now I've returned to one of the locations from SHY YETI OUT IN THE COUNTRY to film a few inserts and a new poem called A YETI IN A HAT which I hope to pair with a few bits and pieces that I filmed in the Summer of 2011 which never found a home.

This isn't the only unfinished episode still to come - the "lost" Hollywood episode I'm saving for the summer - but the other big "missing" episode still to be edited is my VAMPIRE COWS OF SCUNTHORPE special! I guess I'll get onto that one once I've edited whatever I film in Germany - if there's time before I head to Norfolk in late May.

The "Broadstairs and bits" episode is the episode that I have begun working on this week since completing SHY YETI TAKES A (TRIP TO) BATH and which appears to be provisionally entitled SHY YETI WELCOMES SPRING... I've also been filmed in an old haunt for this location and as of this weekend have begun work filming an episode called SHY YETI GOES WILD, but I'll come back to this with a few photos in a week or two. For now here's a few photos from the recent Broadstairs shoot...

 

Above. Dominic, Barry, Dan and I on location in and around Broadstairs - March 3rd 2012.

Next week I have another interview from my fanclub over in Beargrrria... I just can't keep those bears away; not that I'd want to - but it also enables you to find out a bit more about what I expect to be up to over the next few months! All good fun... Good DAFT fun!

I'm going to finish this post with something from my next collection - a poem called MY LONG LOST FRIEND... There'll be a lot more about the new book over the next few weeks; I'm still working on the formatting and proofing - but we should be on track for it to be out around June time; hopefully in good time for my Poetry Cafe show on Friday 8th June 2012.

More soon,

Yeti hugs,

Paul xx

PS Thanks also to Dan Hodges and Barry Dunkley for their help during the recent filming around Broadstairs - they can be seen in some of the photos in this post.

MY LONG LOST FRIEND

 

 

Oh, my long lost friend –
I’d not seen you in years…
I missed you quite sadly –
I was even in tears!
I was often heard sobbing –
By the folks in my street…
But my life has improved –
Since we did once again meet!
You have changed, that’s for sure…
There is no use ignoring!
I just try not to notice;
I wouldn’t say you were boring!
You’re my long lost friend –
I don’t listen to rumour…
I like telling you jokes –
But you have NO sense of humour!

Oh, my long lost friend –

I’d not seen you in ages!
You were once in the news –
On the very front pages!
You were a little bit well-known –
For a play you were in…
No, you cannot stop talking –
About how god made you thin!
It’s a tiny bit like –
You are trying to convert me…
Your tales of the war –
Do not really divert me!
You’re my long lost friend –
It was so good to see you…
But I’m really quite glad –
That I don’t have to be you!


Oh, my long lost friend –
I’ve not seen you forever…
You’ve suggested a night out –
And I’m not known to say never!
But then we went out bell-ringing –
Which, well – didn’t impress…
I thought we’d play merry hell…
But instead we played… chess.
What about karaoke?
It’s not exactly my scene…
But you were once such a rebel!
Now you’re losing your sheen…
You’re my long lost friend –
And on good terms with fame…
I was expecting a wild cat…
You’re just a Tom, oh-so tame!


Oh, my long lost friend –
You were so hard to find!
All those years never called;
No, I tried not to mind…
All those years never wrote –
You had so much to do!
So many pies left to eat –
So many guys still to screw!
I don’t want to condemn…
You’re quite thoughtless behaviour!
‘Cos since I met you again –
I think you did me a favour…
You’re my long lost friend –
I don’t want to abuse you…
But with a little good fortune –
I might even re-lose you!

MY LONG LOST FRIEND appears in Paul's forthcoming collection ARE WE THERE, YETI!?! This poem and all the contents of this blog are Copyright Paul Chandler, 2012.