mostly david ephgrave

I'm trying to keep everything relatively lowkey at the moment and focus on the precious little things that bring good. One such thing is spending time with the dog and enjoying what he enjoys. He loves shooting around the garden, and I like to watch him and spur him on. I'm often so caught up in my head from day to day that I take things like this - or taking him for a walk - for granted. I'm trying not to though, as these moments are what life is all about. Spending time with the wife is another example (though the second-billing was accidental). We've had a lot to process lately, and while this stuff doesn't just vanish, I think we've earnt some time away from it. Recent events have underlined how you can spend a lifetime trapped in someone else's timeline to almost miss out on your own. But approaching forty is a good time to make a conscious effort to live a little differently: to attempt to look to the present and the future instead of always l...

If I were to jot down my Knebworth Park gigs list in its entirety, it would read like this: •1996: Oasis. •2019: Dog Fest. Is that a progression? Today's trip to the canine festival to end all canine festivals (with Elwood in tow) was very pleasant. It's fair to say I've never seen so many dogs in one location, though they were surprisingly well behaved, with no real trouble at all; I'm not sure if the same could have been said for the Oasis gig all those years ago; I'm sure a few Kangol jackets were thrown in anger (without looking back, no doubt). Considering the sheer volume of dogs at the event I'm surprised Elwood took things in his stride, though he did have some jumpy moments when confronted by a couple of the mutts on the planet to be bigger than him (yes: I used the word, "mutts"). Outside of that, he was impressively easy going and didn't flinch when given 'the nose' from his colleagues; he's a very good boy,

Today, my wife and I went on an expedition to introduce our new dog Elwood to my parents. We drove to my Dad's with Elwood in tow, who once again displayed perfect travel etiquette. From the moment they met him I think my dad in particular was smitten, repeatedly offering to look after him whenever we need it. I was particularly glad this was his reaction as he's not been very well lately, so it would be nice for Elwood to be a positive influence in his own way. After he'd had a good explore around the house, we took him out to the garden, which is secure enough for us to let him off the lead without issue (he said, tempting fate). Once he'd realised he was free to run about he made the most of it by galloping around like a nutter. We then got out his squeaky ball (who's his nemesis, second only to squirrels) and played fetch, while he shot about the garden in his element. After that, we had a cup of tea with my parents and my mum handed over some treats she...

I think I’m starting to get used to this having a dog malarkey. He’s settled in with remarkable ease and is no trouble at all really. He’s currently asleep next to me on the sofa and - despite being officially fucking massive - somehow manages to take up so little space. It’s nice to have his company during the day when I’m working, although we still need to get him gradually used to spending a little time on his own so I can go out without a big dog in tow (today was a good example when I narrowly missed out on a hair cut as the shop had closed early by the time my wife had finished work and got back to take over the dog-sitting; consequently I’m going to loaf around tomorrow like some kind of long-haired layabout. I’m also grateful for the chance of extra exercise, having become increasingly lapse with getting out of the house in the months since Edinburgh. At the moment I tend to take him out for around an hour in the morning, and either my wife or I will ...

The last few days have been difficult as my cat, who I dote on, isn’t very well. Unfortunately, the problems she’s having aren’t something she'll get over, which is very hard to bear. She’s comfortable for the most part, but it’s painful to see her struggling, though we hope we might be able to get some help from the vets’ tomorrow, once they’ve done a urine test (my wife being the brave one who managed to collect the sample). Pets are an import aspect of life for me, and Millie’s such a valuable part of the household, who’s welcomed me home late time after time, when I’ve got back from shows and gigs, usually settling on my lap while I unwind over a cup of tea before bed. People who don’t spend time around animals would probably think I’m being soppy in being so upset, but their lives are emptier for the lack of understanding of the positive effect having pets around you can bring; I can’t imagine a time when I won’t have any; they improve me,...

I’m officially on pet-sitting duties for the week, staying at my mum’s to look after her dog and cat (two separate animals) while she’s on holiday in Rhodes. There’s a slight air of responsibility to the whole affair, although I’ve looked after both in the past and have walked my mum’s dog a lot over the years, so I’m sure I’m up to the challenge. As I type, the dog’s asleep in the kitchen and the cat’s asleep on the bed upstairs, so all’s going according to plan for the moment; I haven’t set fire to the house yet. Hopefully it will make for a nice change to spend a few days here in their company. I’ve got quite a lot to prepare for over the next three weeks, what with two Mostly Comedys and the filming of my show, but there’s no reason I can’t do most of the prep here. I’ve brought my computer, my acoustic guitar and my show notes, so there’s little to hold me back; the change of scenery may even help, plus my mum has a nice garden I can sit in if...

Today, my mood was sufficiently lightened by an exceptionally well-behaved dog on the bus. He was so quiet I hadn’t even realised he was there, despite being right next to me. His owner was on his mobile for the duration of the journey, but played with his dog’s ears and gave him a general fuss throughout; he clearly doted on him. It was just the thing to see on a dreary day. It never ceases to surprise me how much animals lift my mood, almost instantly. Even now as I write, my cat’s having a scratch and a stretch on my lap, having been there for hours. She’s such good company, particularly when I’m writing; she'll occasionally look at me strangely as I talk through my material, but having her there makes it feel less like work; they should put pets on the National Health. My cat knows my wife’s and my daily routine inside out, often picking up on signals we're barely aware we're giving. She’s an expert on what we do and al...

It may be blindingly obvious unless you’re not an animal lover, but having a cuddle with a cat can be very good for your mood. For the last few days I’ve been feeling a little defeated, which is a thought I’ve tried to not become to attached to, as the intensity of the last few weeks in Edinburgh will inevitably leave me drained and with my positivity frankly zapped (not to be confused with the musician who fronted the Mothers of Invention and had a similar name). My approach to this is as it was when I was in Scotland: to surround myself with things that I enjoy and give me a sense of normality, to not fill my day with too much, but to make sure I meditate regularly; usually once in the morning and once before bed. One thing I turn to to keep my mood on an even keel is to watch and listen to the programmes that make me laugh without fail; most recently Hancock’s Half Hour, The Simpsons, Peep Show and Everybody Loves Raymond. Of these four ...

While waiting for a bus today, I met a puppy out on his first ever walk.   There's no social interaction on the planet more likely to lift my mood than this. The dog's enthusiasm for everything around him was wonderful to see. It was as if could possibly get close enough to you to say how much he loved you; he was a scruffy bundle of energy and joy. The owner filled me in on the puppy's eventful morning as I gave him a fuss (the dog, that is). He'd already explored his first field and growled at a cow since leaving the house. I’d only been prodded and poked by my chiropractor, so I couldn’t compete. When you’re four-legged and small, everything's an adventure. I bet the cow's still quaking with fear.

I caught the bus to Stotfold this morning to walk my mum's dog Barley.  I do this most Thursdays when I'm available, which helps my mum out, as it's one day less to pay a dog-walker while she's at work (and my rates are very reasonable), and it's good for me too, as it's an excuse to get some exercise. While I walk a lot through not driving, it's nice to occasionally do it for the sake of it, without having a particular destination in mind (other than my mum's house to take the dog back). Barley is the softest beast you could meet. He's the epitome of friendliness; always pleased to see you and unlikely to misbehave (save gobbling up the occasional bit of rubbish from the pavement, if you briefly take your eye off the game. I once saw him eat another dog's poo, which wasn't his finest moment).  When we got back from our spot of Stotfold exploration, Barley and my mum's cat Chaser sat with me w...

(Non-cat-lovers had best look away now.) Yesterday morning, when I went into my front room, I noticed that my cat Millie was staring intently out of the window. When I went over to see what she was looking at, I realised she was watching an old lady in a headscarf as she crossed the road. This made me feel a little sad. Millie: butter wouldn't melt... I’ve had Millie for about four years now. I first heard about her through a friend who’s a teacher, who I came into contact with through our mutual interest in cats. She used to own a stray called Suzie, who would visit my flat when my friend went to work. I used to look forward to Suzie’s daily appearance. She’d miaow outside my bedroom window every morning, so I would open it to let her in. Over time we formed an arrangement, until eventually, Suzie wouldn’t even announce her arrival; I’d wake up, check the time, look out of my window and she’d be outside, staring up at me. Back then,...

I’m very into animals. It’s important that you don’t misinterpret the above statement. There’s nothing suspect about my interest in the Animal Kingdom; our relationship has always been strictly platonic. I do, however, function best when there are animals around. My earliest pets were two rabbits named Sooty & Snowy. It probably doesn't take a great leap of the imagination to guess what they both looked like - though it might be best to keep your suppositions to yourself; you don’t want to be branded a rabbit racist. Rabracist? Ra(bb)c(i)s(t)? That’s enough of that. Sooty & Snowy were perfectly happy in the company of each other; it was only when I was added into the equation that things started to kick off.  The trick with rabbits is to start picking them up early; if you don’t get them used to being handled from the beginning then they soon make it clear who’s boss. As a result, my rabbit-keeping days were mostly restricted to feeding blad...