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I was a dad at 17, now I’m a grandad at 40 – it saved my life

November 18, 2017TheGuardian

Gary Meikle has forged a career in standup after finding inspiration from his life as a single dad. He also tried material about being a grandad, but audiences didn’t believe he was old enough to be one

When Gary Meikle was 17, he had sex in a cupboard at a party with a girl he barely knew. A child was conceived, and later born. In 99.9% of cases like this (I am making up the statistic, but you get the drift), a teenage dad would not play much part in raising his accidental child, and would probably have lost contact with her by the time she reached adulthood. But Meikle is the 0.1%: not only did he raise his daughter, mostly singlehanded, but also he still lives with her and is helping her to bring up her own daughter, 12-month-old Gracie.

Gary is now a youthful-looking 40, and it seems as remarkable that he is a grandfather as that he raised his child alone. In fact, he says, he doesn’t yet use much material from his life with Gracie for his act as a standup comedian, because when he tried it, the audience thought he was bluffing and couldn’t possibly be a grandad. But his performances draw heavily on his years as a single dad raising Ainsley, who is now 22.

Tim Minchin: ‘If you ask Mum who was the most trouble, she’d say it was me’

October 27, 2017TheGuardian

The comedian, actor and musician on being part of a strong, close family, his parents’ high expectations, and discovering he could write good riffs

My granddad had a 1,500-acre hobby farm that he had built up from scratch in Western Australia, so my siblings and I spent our childhoods going there a lot. That place – and the beach – was a huge part of our lives. I would define myself as someone who had a completely idyllic childhood. Except, of course, that childhood’s complicated!

I was the middle of three children and then the second of four kids when my little sister came along, when I was 10. We all got along, and were expected to do so. We had periods of arguing, but it is a real privilege being part of a gang. I guess that is something I worry about with my kids – that there are only two of them [Minchin and his wife, Sarah, have two children, Violet, 11, and Caspar, eight]. We kids did a lot together, so we never found a reason to reject each other’s choices. I guess it is an affirmation of our relationships – why wouldn’t we want to be with each other?

Related: Tim Minchin: My life as a dad

With the piano, I had that insatiable need to prove myself

Caleb Synan dropped by “Conan” to share some comedy about his family

September 27, 2017TheLaughButton

Conan Synan was the guest comedian on Conan last night and he used his time to talk about family comedy.… MORE

Caleb Synan dropped by “Conan” to share some comedy about his family appeared first on The Laugh Button.

Why I wrote a comedy show about incontinence | Elaine Miller

August 10, 2017TheGuardian

As a physiotherapist, I know a third of women don’t have reliable body control. I wanted to raise awareness of this taboo subject at Edinburgh festival

I’m a physiotherapist, and as a fresh-faced graduate, my ambition was to work in elite sports. I did it, too, thriving on team spirit, travel and free trainers.

Then I had three babies in four years, each blessed with a bigger head than the one before. A dramatic sneeze during a zumba class showed me (and everyone there) that my pelvic floor had been reduced to rubble. In that excruciating instant, I realised that what really mattered was not being able to jump a tiny bit farther, or run a bit faster than others, but, being able to jump and run without wet pants.

10 of the UK’s best music festivals for families

May 6, 2017TheGuardian

Kids’ discos, circus workshops, craft corners, PG-rated comedy … not forgetting proper music lineups, from Stormzy to Happy Mondays – here’s our pick of the events all the family can enjoy

Alfresco was conceived by a music-loving couple who aimed to blend underground sounds with a family friendly hook. Highlights include Alexis Taylor, Psychemagik and Optimo, and kids’ activities are centred on arty and sporty workshops.
26-28 May, Tunbridge Wells, Kent; adult day £22-£38.50, 5-17 years day £19.25, weekend family £214.50, camping from £49.50. alfrescofestival.co.uk

Reginald D Hunter: ‘Getting married, having kids is one ideal. But it’s not my ideal’

April 21, 2017TheGuardian

The American comedian explains how his relationship with his mother affected his life and how you have to leave your home to make sense of it

I’m the fourth funniest person in my family, but No 1 for confidence. For years, Daddy was the funniest, but at 97 his memory is a bit off. I’m the youngest of nine children, although my eldest sister died in 1949 and I had another who died six years ago. My brothers and sisters are so much older than me that they were more like parents than siblings, especially my sisters. They shaped me. They all pitched in to fund my education and decided what experiences I would have, how I would spend my summers.

I grew up in a sleepy place called Albany in Georgia. As a teenager, I played basketball and baseball. I liked Saturday Night Live, chess and girls. My desire to act came from years of watching television. I was a 1970s child and grew up watching Star Trek, The Six Million Dollar Man and Man from Atlantis. By the time I was 18, I was a good mimic.

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