Confessions of a Struggling Actor

And it all seemed to be going so well last week.

Tax paying time is upon us.  Biggest bill ever (as the funds from 'Green Street' came back to bite me in the ar$e) so a hermit's life for me over the next couple of months.  This was then compounded by a Court Summons!!  From the inland revenue!!  Saying I was owe them money from 5 years ago!!  What a great start to Saturday.  I'm going to call them this afternoon and find out what they're talking about.  It's really annoying as they've been crap at sending me tax return, statements, etc. despite me informing them of change of addresses in writing, by phone and just stopping short of going to the bloody office in Teeside to write it on their foreheads.  To get a court summons is pretty upsetting and confusing as I had no idea of this 'debt' and had never had a letter about it, or had it mentioned in any of my dealings over the phone.  At least next year won't be so stressful as I'm on salary now, so this month's payment should pretty much see me through.  And I swear that I'm going to get it sorted in April this year and not wait til the last minute again.

So financial stress aside, there was my flatmate's 30th on Saturday night, which was OK.  Must have told 30 people about my show, so I'm hoping for better audiences this week.  Saw most of them at football on Sunday.  Well, I say football...

I start in midfield and get my 5th in 8 games midway through the first half and we're having no problems really.  Hull sneak a goal back before half time and we're already at stretching point with our only sub used and three other carrying knock.  After being backs to the wall for most of the half, I prod the ball through for our striker to put us 2-1 up.  With 5 to go.  Our centre back (who had been spoiling for a fight with the opposition, team mates and referee all match) then gifted them 2 goals and we'd lost 3-2.  Gutting wasn't the word.  I had cramp and been kicked around and couldn't believe that BigMouth had totally thrown it away.  And now I had to get to my show.

And the Northern line was playing up, so I was dragging my football bag from Camden to Kentish Town in a desperate attempt not to be late.  All for nothing as it happens, as we had to cancel as no-one was in.  The writer turned up as he's back in Paris today, so I had a couple of beers with him and Nika the set designer and trudged home.  My body then ached so much that i couldn't get to sleep before 2.  At least I got a chance to see some of the Poliakoff season on BBC4.

Ach well, new week, new luck I hope.  The audiences for the play are growing - I better get some cash out of this as they're all my mates - and I've got a script reading for a potential BBC1 sitcom tonight, so we'll see if anything comes of that.