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I was a bit late to the studio today thanks to the terrible London traffic, but we still wrapped up the record by lunchtime. I thought the ending might make me a bit emotional, but I remained largely in control. After lunch we recorded a couple of pick ups and then I donned my jacket (because it was a bit chilly today) and interviewed Right Bollock about what he thought about the book for an audiobook extra.
I had prepared a couple of questions, but obviously had no idea how Right Bollock would answer them, apart from the fact that he would attempt to undermine me. I am glad this was the last thing we recorded though as I think I might have freaked out the sound recordist, Angus. He said he'd seen some weird things in his time in the studio, but nothing as weird as that. He was, of course, the only person to visually witness what happened and if anyone thought that I might have not bothered to bring the puppet along or that I could move my lips as he talked, then you don't know me very well. I just opened up the self-critical part of my brain and let it rip.
I had been concerned that I would be too self-conscious to do the interview in front of an audience of one, but I just lost myself in my own world and let Angus worry about being stuck in a tiny studio with someone with clear mental issues.
We took some photos for social media.
The puppet and the arm in the jacket had already caused a bit of a shock to the other people entering the studio, as I had just left them on a bench in the communal area. When I got home I too would experience being freaked out by the jacket. I had put it on the front passenger seat and as I gathered up my bags as I got home, I must have caught the jacket and the arm lurched out at me and it made me jump out of my skin. My brain totally interpreted it as an arm lunging towards me, even though there was literally nobody there.
Amazing to have for the audiobook done though. It was exhausting work, not helped by the tricky drives in and out. But today I was home by 3.30pm.
On the drive home I listened to Martin Jarvis reading Great Expectations, another audiobook I got years ago, but didn't ever listen to. It's absolutely cracking. It's a while since I've read Dickens and I really appreciated what an incredible, if verbose, writer he is. I like all the ambling unnecessary details though and even just an hour in, there are ideas and descriptions that are so unique and pleasing. He wasn't the nicest of men apparently, but then, who is? I think I studied this book for O level, so know it reasonably well, (though there's lots of plot details that are hazy), but I don't think I enjoyed it as much back then. Martin Jarvis does an absolutely brilliant job too. I'd have preferred the author in this case, but that wasn't practical apparently. I doubt Dickens would have done it as well as Jarvis though.
This evening I went out to record an introduction to stone clearing for the audiobook, but I've just listened back to it and there's a lot of extraneous noise for some reason, so I'll have to do it again. I am planning to do at least one more podcast stone clear before I head north. Which is happening frighteningly soon!
