Shhh!

Once in a while I lament my north London existence (close enough to town to feel the buzz of the city, not close enough to be a part of it). I read about film premieres and exhibition openings in the paper, but never get round to booking tickets or organising a babysitter. Since we had Logan even going to the cinema is a luxury!

One event I really regret not booking in advance is Bristol's Slapstick festival, on next weekend and now in it's fifth year. As Mark will attest, there's nothing I find funnier than someone falling over - you can't beat a good pratfall, can you?

Buster Keaton was one of the best, and his 1923 film Our Hospitality will be shown on Saturday, accompanied by Prima Vista Social Club, one of the best silent film orchestras in Europe (apparently).

Also on the bill are The Goodies (minus Bill Oddie, who's probably holed up somewhere watching big cats/badgers) chatting to Phil Jupitus, Eric Sykes chatting to The Goodies, films by Harold Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin and a new project from The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain (did you know Marilyn Monroe played the ukelele?). There's even an event wholly given over to finding out why falling over is funny.

I have a whole year to organise a weekend babysitter for the next one, any offers?