tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188704332012-01-17T17:48:58.321ZThe ongoing adventures of a relatively unknown Scottish cardmanThe Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.comBlogger1721100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-33556502142050579882012-01-13T23:19:00.000Z2012-01-17T17:48:58.331Z

Hi folks Please note: If you are visiting this post from a link to www.thecardman.co.uk, please click this direct page link to allow the PayPal page to work.  Sorry for any inconvenience. In my last post, I mentioned that I was working on a new set of lecture notes for my upcoming lecture at Paisley Magic Circle.  Well, I can now give you the details. "The Difficult Second Album" is the title

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-36194190956345604172011-12-16T18:30:00.000Z2011-12-18T23:52:57.847Z

Hi folks I thought I'd let you know about a few lectures that I will be presenting in the coming few months. The first will be at Paisley Magic Circle on Thursday 19th January 2012 at their regular meeting place - St Ninian's Church Hall, 81-83 Blackstoun Road, Paisley, PA3 1NR (map).  The lecture is due to start at 7:30pm and non-member magicians can get full details from the Hon. Secretary,

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-50012618355577080432011-12-06T18:30:00.000Z2011-12-21T14:44:51.011Z

Hi folks I first met Mathieu Bich some 10 years ago at the IBM British Ring Convention in Scarborough.  Since then, I have had the pleasure of meeting him on a number of occasions and have watched in wonder countless times as he has performed effects that his brilliantly creative mind has created.  He is one of the performers who fooled Penn and Teller on their ITV series earlier in the year but

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-63515275192912337912011-11-14T18:35:00.000Z2011-12-18T23:52:36.885Z

Saturday 19th November at 10am sees the 28th International Magic Close Up Competition for The Kevin Reay Trophy.  The international field competing is:- Ludovic Julliot - France James Piper - Wales Benoit Dulche - France PIPO - Spain Claes Danell - Sweden Andost - USA Javi Sánchez - Spain Paul Sommersguter - Austria Hayashi - Germany Trabuk - Italy Alexander Popov - Russia Hector Mancha - Spain

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-30837926412847945322011-11-14T18:30:00.000Z2011-12-18T23:52:20.078Z

Today sees the start of a week of magic in London with the launch of the LONDON FESTIVAL OF MAGIC at the intimate Bridewell Theatre, followed by a weekend of action packed magic commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the International Magic Convention at the fabulous Mermaid Theatre (the theatres are within 5 minutes walk of each other). The Convention weekend kicks off at 7:30pm on the Friday

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-46114917502692347182011-10-26T21:23:00.000Z2011-10-26T21:24:25.655Z

In just over 3 weeks, on Saturday 19th November, 17 competitors from 12 countries (including Japan, Canada, USA, France, Spain, Sweden, Russia, Denmark and Italy) will compete for the Kevin Reay Trophy along with a £1000 cash prize in the International Close Up Competition at The Mermaid Theatre in London.  This event forms just part of the packed weekend International Magic Convention which

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-76863200852416304092011-10-26T18:00:00.000Z2011-10-26T18:00:05.931Z

Hi folks It's only a short time ago since John Carey decided to pop his head up from the magical underground and start sharing his material with the wider magical world, instead of just a number of close confidants.  In the last couple of years, John has been lecturing around the UK and, on Wednesday 9th November, he finally makes a trip north of the border to lecture, presenting this year's

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-25469900720926178132011-10-22T17:44:00.000Z2011-10-22T17:44:52.444Z

Hi folks More news and information has arrived from the gang at International Magic about this year's convention, which is only 4 short weeks away. Unfortunately Paul Stockman has had to withdraw from the Mentalism Day of the Festival of Magic being held in central London on November 16th, but we are thrilled to announce that Chris Cox - star of 5 Edinburgh Fringe Shows, 3 UK Tours and "one

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-50298572994721739972011-10-15T15:30:00.001Z2011-10-15T15:30:04.700Z

Hi folks There is just over a month to go before the International Magic Convention (18-20 November) and the London Festival of Magic (14-20 November) and now is the time to register as some of the events are close to being full (the Sunday Night performance of the Gala Show) while some have only just a handful of tickets left (the Saturday Night performance of the Gala Show).  Do not be as

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-8012818730822387392011-10-12T19:00:00.000Z2011-10-12T19:00:02.401Z

Hi folks You might not have heard the name Michael Neto before but in Scotland, he is regarded as one of the best Close Up magicians to emerge in recent years.  In the last year or 2, he has really come into his own winning awards at several prestigious magic competitions around the UK:- SAMS John Ramsay Rose Bowl - 2008, 2009 and 2011; SAMS Ann Warlock Trophy - 2009, 2010 and 2011; ‘Magician

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-11585879271571445542011-10-08T18:00:00.000Z2011-10-08T18:00:00.121Z

Hi folks Today, I have a little bit more information about this year's London Festival Of Magic, taking place next month (yay!) in London.  I'm going to hand you over to Noel Britten, the Talent Co-Ordinator of both The London Festival Of Magic and The International Magic Convention who will give you all the details. “In the world of magic the word ‘genius’ is bandied around rather too freely

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-90065139259162764052011-09-24T18:00:00.000Z2011-09-24T18:00:01.269Z

Hi folks Today's blog post brings us more information about International Magic's Festival of Magic, which will be taking place from Monday 14th to Thursday 17th November in the Bridewell Theatre in London, immediately prior to the 40th International Magic Convention - 18th to 20th November at the Mermaid Theatre.  I'll pass you onto the gang from International Magic... “Max Maven – Thinking In

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-31238146683705234542011-09-23T10:37:00.001Z2011-10-15T15:32:42.590Z

Hi folks A prediction made days or weeks in advance matches the serial number of a spectator’s borrowed bank note.  A spectator names a card and is found to be the only card in an examinable blank deck.  These are a couple of the effects that Alan Rorrison has just released in his latest download “A Little Bit Mental”. A few weeks ago, Alan got in front of the camera and recorded these

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-55635350080219961872011-09-21T22:29:00.001Z2011-09-21T22:29:46.353Z

Hi folks Well, chances are that you will have heard about R.E.M.'s decision to break up.  If you hadn't before, I'm sorry to be the one to break the news. Before I really get started, let me just say that this post may be a bit rambling.  I'm sorry for that, but I wanted to get my thoughts down before they left me. I have been a fan of REM since I was in college.  I heard a wee song called "

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-1678180608540894632011-09-19T18:30:00.000Z2011-09-19T18:30:00.920Z

Hi folks I first met Pete Wardell at an International Magic Convention a number of years ago.  This was the year he entered the competition and won it with his brilliant performance of his street act.  Sure, it was the Cups and Balls, but what a performance!  Since then, Pete's gone onto bigger and better things, including being the only performer to have won both Stage Magician of the Year and

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-75119836966367172602011-09-07T20:53:00.000Z2011-09-07T20:59:34.250Z

Hi folks Shawn Farquhar is not only one of the magicians who fooled Penn & Teller but is the reigning World Champion of Close Up Magic.  At the end of this month, Shawn will be doing a short Scottish lecture tour.  He will be visiting 3 clubs in 4 night nights.  The details are as follows:- Monday 26th September Dundee Society of Magicians - Contact Harry Moodie on 07950 603 409 Tuesday 27th

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-88330268414242556722011-08-27T18:00:00.003Z2011-08-27T18:00:02.704Z

Hi folks Always a high spot of The International Magic Convention, the Close Up Competition has now reached it's allocated number of entrants. If you wish to be added to the waiting list, for a spot in the event of drop outs, please contact georgia@internationalmagic.com. The winning performer, picked by the international panel of judges which includes many foreign Convention organisers, wins

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-7491516110652623662011-08-17T22:29:00.000Z2011-10-17T11:19:35.646Z

Hi folks The Gala Show (19 & 20 November) at this years International Magic Convention - known affectionately known as “Ron’s” - once again promises to be a wonderful evening’s entertainment of magic and variety including three completely new-to-the-UK acts. These include a phenomenal Korean manipulator, a German act packed with unbelievable magic and surprises and an act based on one of the

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-53676702096130257382011-08-16T18:50:00.001Z2011-08-19T11:19:43.665Z

Hi folks Last weekend, I had a couple of days at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe where I managed to catch 6 shows - 3 each day. I thought you might be interested in my thoughts on them. I am going to try not to quote gags or tell you which tricks are performed during these "reviews". I have also given a "star" rating which is out of 5. Michael Winslow - The Man Of 10,000 VoicesIf you've

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-41236988001656716902011-08-03T00:04:00.005Z2011-08-07T18:50:19.771Z

Hi folksThe gang at International Magic have been really busy over the last few weeks, not only putting the 40th edition of the International Magic Convention (18th to 20th November) but also organising the first London Festival of Magic which will take place the week leading up to the Convention itself. The Festival will feature Workshops and Seminars during the day and performances at night,

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-35678353435371771012011-07-22T00:21:00.003Z2011-07-22T07:53:10.865Z

"A state of mind, an independent voice". That's how Opus Magazine introduced itself on every... however often it appeared. Now, the Opus Editorial Team™ of Chris Power and JJ have decided to revamp their website, add an online shop where you can buy the PDF downloads of the first couple of volumes (with, we are promised, more to follow in due course) and even start a forum for like-minded

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-82007560262953300862011-07-14T11:24:00.006Z2011-07-19T09:17:56.145Z

Hi folksThis time, instead of me typing the words, here's a wee message from the MacMillan Family themselves about this year's International Magic Convention.“For the last few years the ultimate event of the Sunday daytime of The International Magic Convention (18th to 20th November) has been the presentation of the David Berglas International Magic Award. Always a closely guarded secret the

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-76914508778757953462011-07-04T08:48:00.005Z2011-07-04T09:03:07.485Z

Hi folksInternational Magic are proud to announce that Harry Anderson will be making his first ever European Magic Convention appearance at this year's International Magic Convention. With multiple appearances on USA’s Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, as well as being a regular guest artist in Cheers, a star of his 2 very own highly successful sitcoms spanning 12

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-67003089228225369102011-06-24T14:12:00.008Z2011-07-04T08:47:19.468Z

Hi folksWell, more information has been handed to me from the gang at International Magic about this year's convention. They are very happy to announce that David Williamson, magic’s greatest comedic force of nature, will be one of the many artists appearing at their 40th Anniversary Convention, taking place in London from November 18th to 20th.David will be performing in both the Close Up and

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-4196018446635039992011-06-20T10:17:00.005Z2011-06-20T10:25:03.965Z

Hi folksFirst of all, my apologies for not posting over the weekend. Family stuff and whatnot. Also, the gang at International Magic have asked me to hold off on mentioning the name that I hinted at in my last blog post. I am respecting that request and hope that you do too. Thanks.Max Maven will be lecturing all new material to the UK, at the International Magic Convention being held later

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-52174860135702882362011-06-13T10:36:00.009Z2011-06-20T10:13:42.955Z

Hi folksFive months from now sees one of my favourite times of the year - the International Magic Convention in London (aka Ron's Day or, simply, Ron's). It was established by Ron MacMillan, who started the International Magic shop in London (hence the convention nicknames). Not only is 2011 the 50th anniversary of the shop itself (you can read a great article about the shop on the Spitalfields

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-32896490941017969362011-06-12T12:16:00.010Z2011-08-25T12:12:52.113Z

Hi folks Blimey! Have I not posted since January??? Erm, sorry (hangs head in shame). Things have been a bit busy and I'll post a wee blog about the America trip in the coming few days. I've also got some information about my favourite UK magic Convention which I am not yet allowed to divulge but will do as soon as I am allowed to. No, don't ask. I'm not allowed! Pain of death and all that.

The Cardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00248538052289685818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-61763986356891988372011-01-04T16:00:00.004Z2011-03-17T09:45:09.008Z

Hi folks First of all, may I wish you and yours a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2011.  I hope it is a good one for you. For me, the first few months are starting to look busy - especially April - as I have a few lectures coming up.  First, on Thursday 24th February, I will be visiting Kilmarnock Magic Circle at their headquarters at Galston Community Centre, Orchard Street, Galston to

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-24524617838304556372011-01-03T01:33:00.004Z2011-08-25T12:13:02.194Z

Hi folks Those of you who read this blog from time to time (hello and thanks!) may remember a post I made last February after the passing of Pat Page. Well, at the recent International Magic Convention in London, Pat's family were there with a stand launching a new website all about the man himself - www.patrickpagemagic.co.uk They were also selling the same things that Pat himself would sell

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-48449470230977992302011-01-01T22:44:00.000Z2011-06-20T10:15:24.071Z

As ever at the end of November, International Magic held their annual convention in central London.  As ever at the end of November, I was there to enjoy what was, in my opinion, one of the best conventions it has been my pleasure to attend in quite some time.  It was a great chance to catch up with friends that I hadn't seen since last year's convention - and some I hadn't seen in 4 or 5 years!

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-74481435349710270842010-11-16T22:45:00.002Z2010-12-14T10:34:50.749Z

Hi folks Sorry I haven't been posting that often lately.  Apart from a second trip to the Edinburgh Fringe back in August, which I only got time to blog about when it was too late to blog about it, I've not been up to too much to talk about.  However, one thing that I can now talk about is a website that I have been busy building. My cousin, Janice, has just started her own business called 

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-57966759269539848342010-08-18T14:12:00.004Z2010-08-18T19:37:59.619Z

The world of magic has lost one of its giants.  JC Wagner was regarding of one of the greatest bar magicians of all time.  His routines became the staple of many magicians the world over who studied his books and DVDs (and videos back in the day). My first encounter with him and his work was via the medium of video some 15 or so years ago.  To be honest, I had never heard of him before I put the

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-36894567986652021962010-08-11T19:42:00.003Z2010-09-01T13:37:25.320Z

Hi folks Well, it's August and that means the annual Edinburgh Festival Fringe is now under way in Scotland's capital city.  As long-term readers (hi there and thanks for reading) may know, I like to try to get through to Edinburgh as often as I can during the month to see some of the shows and watch a number of the street performers.  I got back yesterday from the first weekend of this year's

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-63706764937603113292010-06-11T10:30:00.005Z2010-06-13T22:10:05.419Z

Hi folks Edinburgh is becoming a bit of a magical city with the upcoming Edinburgh International Magic Festival taking place next month and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe always having a good deal of magic in it.The Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme was released yesterday and, as always, there's a good chunk of magic in there. Actually, this year sees the most magic that I can remember in many

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-39739659437111958622010-06-08T22:29:00.000Z2010-06-08T22:29:02.890Z

Hi folks Magicians who read this blog will undoubtedly know the names of Aldo and Rachel Colombini.  I have been lucky to know both Aldo and Rachel for a number of years - even before they met and then married a few years ago.  Well, now these friends are in need of help, so I thought I'd pass on the information to try to spread the word. Basically, Rachel is in need of open heart surgery due to

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-51566746515935665852010-06-08T22:23:00.001Z2010-06-08T22:23:39.084Z

Hi folks. I'm Peter and I'm a Crowded House fan.  There, I said it and I am neither ashamed nor embarrassed by it.  Actually, I'm proud to say it - especially after their recent concert in Glasgow. This was my second time getting to see them live - the first being about 2½ years ago in Hall 4 of the SECC.  This time, it was the Clyde Auditorium (aka "The Armadillo") which is part of the SECC

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-14250622717735201672010-04-26T18:57:00.008Z2010-04-26T19:06:00.649Z

Hi folks A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that Peter Duffie's latest e-book was nearing release.  Well, I am now happy to announce that the e-book has now been released and is available to buy here. The e-book itself has 35 contributors from Scotland, Wales and Ireland sharing a total of 44 items - including 2 essays - in over 170 pages, illustrated with photographs.  I contributed a couple of

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-37274394611855707432010-04-26T11:01:00.003Z2010-04-26T19:06:15.581Z

Hi folks Just a quick post to let you know of a couple of magic conventions coming up very near future. First up is the 59th Annual Convention of the Scottish Association of Magical Societies - otherwise known as "SAMS" - which takes place this weekend (Friday 30th April to Sunday 2nd May) at the Tontine Hotel in Greenock. There will be lectures from John Archer and Dave Forrest (both of which I

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-11240428543523234522010-04-09T21:07:00.006Z2010-04-09T21:19:04.314Z

The Celtic Cabal A New Collection of Magic and Mentalism From Ireland, Scotland and Wales  35 contributors - 44 routines, including two essays. Over 170 Pages! Coming Soon! This is a new e-book compiled by Peter Duffie which will be available very very soon from both here and peterduffie.com  Full details will be available in the coming days. Speak soon.

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-76968308694510939402010-03-24T11:19:00.001Z2011-08-25T12:13:42.329Z

Hi folks Kostya Kimlat will be presenting his magic lecture to the Scottish Conjurers' Association on Wednesday 7 April at their headquarters - The Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre (8-10 Balcarres Avenue, Glasgow, G12 0QF). Entry into the lecture for non-members of the SCA is £10. Kostya lectured a number of years ago at Paisley Magic Circle (you can read about that here) and since then has gone

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-62294026309571919162010-03-21T15:08:00.001Z2011-08-25T12:13:55.292Z

Hi folks I thought I'd do a quick post to let as many people as possible learn about the first Edinburgh International Magic Festival. The Festival will run from 7 to 11 July 2010 at venues located around the Royal Mile, with the hub of the Festival being the Scottish Storytelling Centre on the Royal Mile. In the last few years, the popularity of magic has risen dramatically with the rise of

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-51126565336358981762010-03-21T00:57:00.000Z2010-03-21T00:57:27.016Z

Hi folks I first met Bill Goodwin when Paul Wilson organised for him to present his magic lecture in Glasgow a number of years ago.  The lecture he gave that day was nothing short of brilliant.  A full 2-and-a-half hour lecture was presented in about 1 hour 20 minutes!  Now, that is not anything against Bill, his lecture or his way of teaching.  He was so thorough in his lecture that we didn't

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-59509625322100059342010-03-02T22:35:00.003Z2011-05-04T11:16:02.505Z

Hi folksIt feels like it, but my latest Germany trip was only 4 weeks ago and is now but a memory. Visiting Sonja for a few days as well as watching the World Team Pool Championships and doing a magic lecture in Hannover made for a busy, and fun, week.First thing I should mention is the weather. It was COLD! Not quite as cold as it was here from mid-December to mid-January but still cold enough

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-35078500069821373082010-02-28T17:30:00.001Z2010-02-28T17:35:24.153Z

Hi folksHere’s the one-word review: PHENOMINAL!!!For those of you that want a bit more, here we go...As many long-time readers (hi there!) will know I am a huge fan of American comedian Bill Hicks. This is all thanks to my best mate, Peter, who would listen to Hicks’ CDs as he went to sleep. Any night I was staying over – and sleeping on his floor – I would be listening to Hicks ranting

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-57219203935735851472010-02-13T11:41:00.002Z2010-02-13T11:50:54.914Z

The magic world has lost another giant in the form of Patrick Page. Pat was a walking, talking encyclopaedia of magic. What he did not know probably wasn’t worth knowing. He was the most brilliant all-round magical brain I have ever encountered. He was a great performer, a brilliant author and a phenomenal teacher. He was all that and a whole lot more. He was not scared to voice his opinion

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-58775560419206385122010-01-12T12:38:00.007Z2011-03-17T09:45:09.009Z

Hi folksI am presenting my card magic lecture to Magischen Zirkels Hannover (or Hannover Magic Circle - click here for the website in English) on Sunday 7 February starting at 3pm at RSV Restaurant, Elbestraße 39, 30419 Hannover (click here for a map). The details of the cost of entry for non-members can be obtained directly from the club themselves. Lecture notes, in German, will be available

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-1603244056746054412010-01-10T20:58:00.004Z2010-01-11T14:19:41.970Z

Hi folks and Happy New YearI hope this post finds you all well and fully recovered from the excesses of the Christmas and New Year season. Mine was a lot of fun with lots of time seeing family.So, what has 2010 got in store for you? I hope that, whatever it is, it is what you are hoping for or hoping it will be.As for me, I've not got anything much on the horizon at the moment. There are a

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-60032401201105673752009-12-31T15:48:00.001Z2011-06-20T10:15:24.075Z

Hi folks I know that it was a few weeks ago, but I have not had a lot of time to be able to post this up. So, now that I've got a few minutes, let's get typing. Now, what was I going to type about? Oh yes...London, London, London. I enjoy my now annual visit to the "big smoke" for a bunch of reasons. The buzz of the Christmas shoppers swarming along the pavements. Meeting up with friends old and

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-31972238100096518392009-12-10T18:00:00.000Z2009-12-10T15:19:10.347Z

Hi folksI'd like you to meet...Andrew Callum MacNee Those of you who follow me on Facebook will already know that my Sister gave birth to a baby boy in the very early hours of last Saturday morning, 28 November 2009. Andrew arrived, as most of the family had predicted, while I was in London at the International Magic Convention (a post on which will be appearing here soon) and weighed in at 8lb

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-89125942126396353802009-11-20T11:59:00.004Z2009-11-20T12:31:40.424Z

Hi folksGeoff Williams will be presenting his "The Lecture Your Mother Never Gave You" lecture for Paisley Magic Circle at 7:30pm on Thursday 3rd December at their usual location, St Margaret's Church Hall in Renfrew.Geoff is the author of the critically acclaimed 2-DVD set "Miracles For Mortals" and his DVD "The 'I Hate David Copperfield' Trick" reached number 2 on the Murphy's Magic Supplies

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-61718392180756724502009-10-24T14:20:00.006Z2010-01-12T15:36:53.283Z

Hi folksAs with everthing with this blog of late, this review post has been sitting waiting to be done for a wee while. In fact, this review has been waiting since about March to be posted! Well, better late than never - I hope!James Chadier is a new name to me. In fact, other than the contents of this DVD, I don't really know much about this French performer. The DVD is, however, contains some

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-46489127262837167262009-10-14T08:27:00.012Z2009-10-14T10:26:23.228Z

Oh boy! Where do I start?Hi folks and welcome back to the blog which was on a “can’t be bothered updating but when I can be bothered I don’t have the time” break. Apologies for the serious lack of updates eecently. I hope this post (and it’s a big ‘un too!) will help make up for those.So, when last we spoke, I had just been to see the mighty AC/DC in concert at The National Stadium, Hampden Park

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-76408779475119455842009-07-14T14:35:00.012Z2009-07-16T11:38:53.684Z

Hi folksAs I walked into Hampden for the second time in as many weeks, I found myself asking "could it really have been 10 days since I was at Hampden last and could I really have been here for a concert as different as the one I was about to see?" The answer to both those questions was "yes" as I was back at the National Stadium, this time with my brother in law, Callum, and best mate, Peter, to

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-81199421733560375332009-06-22T14:35:00.012Z2009-07-06T22:32:58.083Z

Hi folksSo, 15 years ago, if you had told me that I would have been attending a Take That concert with my sister and enjoyed it, I would have probably looked at you in a funny way – and I don’t mean “funny haha.” Yet, a couple of Saturdays ago, I was with Mhairi, her husband Callum and her best friend Irene at Scotland’s National Stadium at Hampden in Glasgow to see the former Boy Band perform. I

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-76933479843054190632009-06-17T11:05:00.004Z2009-06-17T11:29:06.076Z

Hi folksJust a quick post to let you all know that Mark Elsdon is doing a couple of lectures in Scotland next week. The first is one that he has organised himself and will be held on Wednesday 24th June at the SCA's headquarters - the Scottish Mask and Puppet Theatre, 8-10 Balcarres Avenue, Glasgow, G12 0QF starting at 7:30pm. The entry fee for this lecture will be £10 and includes 2 free sets of

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-86361659618924732062009-06-16T10:33:00.020Z2011-03-17T09:46:55.877Z

Hi folksWell, things have been a bit busy of late, but there is a blog that is long overdue. Hope you’re sitting comfortably because it’s a big one!The events themselves were a long time coming, incredibly fast in passing and now, sitting typing this, almost feel like the distant past. A trip involving a trip to Germany to visit Sonja for a few days and lecture for Magische Nordlichter in Hamburg

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-80935654648068081272009-05-05T09:55:00.005Z2009-05-05T16:46:41.723Z

Hi folks I thought I'd do a quick post to let you know about a couple of lectures that the Scottish Conjurers’ Association are putting on in the next couple of weeks. First off, on Wednesday 13 May, is Canada’s Shawn Farquhar who will be presenting his “Bread And Butter Lecture” in what will be his only Scottish date on his current lecture tour. I saw Shawn present the one-hour version of this

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-70474564569138470972009-05-03T00:27:00.003Z2009-05-03T00:32:15.555Z

Hi folksA quick post just now.Both my Mum and my Sister are going to be taking part in the Race For Life in aid of Cancer Research UK. This charity is very close to me and Mhairi's hearts as both our parents have survived cancer - Dad twice! - so, if you can, please click on one of the links below and give some money to this worthy cause.Mhairi's donation page (Mhairi will be 13 weeks pregnant

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-35696737284448915682009-03-31T14:08:00.002Z2009-03-31T14:13:33.952Z

Hi folksA quick post to let you know of a few events taking place in Central Scotland in the coming couple of weeks.First off, on Thursday 9th April, Paisley Magic Circle will be hosting a lecture by American Close Up Magician Gregory Wilson as part of his limited UK lecture tour. The lecture will take place at their usual meeting place at St Margaret's Church Hall, Oxford Road, Renfrew, PA4 0SJ

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-86100328897123786782009-03-18T11:41:00.005Z2011-03-17T09:46:55.878Z

Hi folksA brief post to let you know of a couple of things I've got coming up.First off, on Saturday 18 April, I will be presenting a lecture for Magischen Nordlichter (click here for the site translated into English) starting at 2pm in their headquarters in Hamburg, Germany. You can get more information about the admission fee from the club directly. German lecture notes will be available and

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-69909272040715787822009-03-18T11:19:00.003Z2009-03-18T11:41:12.744Z

Hi folksWell, you might just have noticed that the blog is looking a little different. Well, for the last few weeks I have been attending an introductory course about Flash (ah-ahhhh!) at Glasgow Metropolitan College. I've been learning how to do some pretty cool wee animations, as well as creating websites within the package. One of the important things that we learn is about making things as

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-19682248085106461002009-03-11T12:07:00.009Z2009-03-17T13:33:41.207Z

Price: $25 plus $5 shipping and handling anywhere in the worldAvailable from: Aaron Fisher's website from 4pm EST (9pm GMT) on 17 March 2009From reading the information above, you'll probably realise that this is not a review. This is, in fact, a preview. Let me just state here that I have not seen the product in question, but I do perform this effect on a regular basis which is why I am posting

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-36976976120002917422009-03-06T23:25:00.020Z2009-03-17T13:43:47.559Z

Price: £15 postpaid in the UK ($25 postpaid for the rest of the world)Available direct from John via PayPal at johncareymagic@googlemail.comJohn Carey is one of the UK's top "underground" magicians who, after some cajoling from his friends, has popped his head out into the open to share some of his material. This DVD contains a number of effects previously published in his "Carey's Cards" lecture

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-65690931743796324142009-03-04T23:22:00.003Z2009-03-04T23:55:37.866Z

Regular readers (hi folks!) will probably know that, thanks to my best mate Peter, I am a big fan of Bill Hicks. My sister and I used to stay over at Peter's after a Friday night out at a '70s night in Paisley and Peter would always play some of Hicks's albums as we were drifting off to sleep. From that, I got really interested in his work. Sadly, this was a few years after his untimely death at

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-55699945521340886812009-02-28T21:58:00.018Z2009-03-04T23:56:53.244Z

Hi folksWell, February is now behind us and another Blackpool Convention is part of history. It was a lot of fun and, to be honest, for the first time in a wee while I had more fun with the social side of things than I did at the organised events.The journey down was easy with me having a seat on the train with an electrical socket, meaning I could plug my laptop in and watch a DVD, making the

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-73020834414622951412009-01-21T11:15:00.008Z2011-03-17T09:46:55.878Z

Hi folksFirst of all, Happy New Year! Yes, I know it is nearly February but I have not really had a chance to post anything up lately. Anyway, I hope you had a great Christmas and New Year and that 2009 is a good one for you.I thought I'd post a quick message to let you know that I will be lecturing at Paisley Magic Circle at St Margaret's Church Hall, Oxford Road, Renfrew on Thursday 5th

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-44028588396668565052008-12-03T21:22:00.019Z2011-06-20T10:15:24.079Z

Well, another convention has come and gone. The International Magic Convention – otherwise lovingly known as “Ron’s Day” (even though it is now held over a weekend) after the late, great Ron MacMillan who started it back in the 1970s ­- is held in London at the end of November each year and has become one of my favourites over the years that I have attended it. This year’s line up had 2 major

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-33664315786618484642008-11-27T11:39:00.009Z2009-03-17T15:32:28.967Z

Price: $13.99Available from: Lee Asher's websiteI thought that I would post one of my rare product reviews. I'm not normally one to do them but I thought the magicians that read this (hello and thank you for reading) might be interested.Recently, I got one of Lee Asher's PDF e-books – "Thunderbird: The Modern Ace Production". I had seen Lee perform this a good number of years ago (possibly as

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-22657577327250916102008-10-29T09:58:00.010Z2008-10-29T14:38:38.769Z

Thanks to my best mate, Peter, I've been a Terrorvision fan for a number of years. It was him that pointed me in the direction of their albums after I heard a couple of their tracks being played at The Cathouse in Glasgow a long number of years ago. It was with great sadness back in 2001 that I attended what I thought would be their last concert in Glasgow as Terrorvision on that year's "Take The

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-65647586130586437002008-10-15T18:03:00.014Z2009-03-17T15:27:54.837Z

Before I get into this post, let me warn you that it is a big 'un! Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy it.As regular readers (greetings!) may know, I love going away to Magic Conventions and I love going to Germany to visit Sonja. On my latest trip, I managed to do both - go to Germany for a few days to visit Sonja, then travel to Eastbourne for what turned out to be an excellent magic convention.The

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-7070520423495436322008-09-30T10:33:00.005Z2009-03-17T15:30:02.865Z

Hi folksJust a quick post to let you know that my friend, who also happens to be the 2008 WEPF Ladies World 8-Ball Champion, Lynette Horsburgh, will be doing a fundraising exhibition at Braehead Shopping Centre this weekend in aid of "Hearing Dogs For Deaf People". The dates and times are:-Friday 3rd October 2008 from 10am till 9pmSaturday 4th October 2008 from 9am till 6:30pmSunday 5th October

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-26649795174008026002008-09-15T11:40:00.007Z2008-09-15T19:58:45.593Z

Hi folksThought I'd do a brief post about an item a friend of mine has launched in time for the IBM British Ring Convention taking place in Eastbourne next week.Annabel De Vetten is a Birmingham-based artist who has designed a poker size deck of cards that I think looks pretty amazing. Now I am normally the first to denounce the use of the likes of "Viper" or "Tiger" playing cards which have

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-24637593365235848252008-08-31T20:05:00.024Z2011-03-17T09:49:53.245Z

Hi folksWell, it took a while to arrive but in what feels like the blink of an eye, my trip to London has been and gone. It was a great few days. I just wish I had a little more time to enjoy it all!ThursdayI arrived at my hotel - the Wardonia Hotel in King's Cross - and quickly unpacked as I had a few things to get done before I presenting my magic lecture for International Magic that evening.

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-68384115218715970022008-08-26T21:17:00.005Z2011-03-17T09:46:55.878Z

Hi folksJust a quick post to remind you that I am presenting my card magic lecture for International Magic. The lecture will be taking place on Thursday 28th August at their usual venue - 'Casa Italiana', 136 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1R 5DL (click here for a map). If you are interested in coming along, please e-mail or telephone Martin MacMillan on martin@internationalmagic.com or 020 7405 7324

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-82651876415464149892008-08-15T20:15:00.018Z2009-03-17T15:34:19.655Z

Hi folksRegular readers (Greee-tings!) may know that I enjoy going to Edinburgh at least once each August to see what's on at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. This year, I managed to go through for a few days in a row, and great fun it was too. This was thanks to my good friend Julie, who had decided to travel up to Edinburgh from Watford for a few days to see what it was all about.We were staying

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-56509780096739213732008-07-24T11:09:00.008Z2011-03-17T09:46:55.879Z

Hi folksRegular readers (hi there!) may know that I am a huge REM fan and since their only Scottish concert of the current tour was at T In The Park (which I refuse to go to due to the high "Ned factor"), I had to choose one of their concerts elsewhere. Since I like visiting London, I chose the concert scheduled for Twickenham on August 30th (I'll be blogging about this nearer the time).Well,

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-89019639467041832812008-07-10T11:03:00.010Z2009-03-17T15:35:07.894Z

Hi folksRegular readers (greetings!) may remember that I love the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and that I try to get through at least once during August to see some of the mayhem that goes on there. Well, this year is going to be no different and I'm going to be going in Edinburgh for a few days - something I am very much looking forward to.However, before August arrives there is the now annual

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-87688868628675025442008-07-05T15:18:00.006Z2008-09-02T09:50:52.987Z

Hi folksTwo years ago today, right about the time that I am writing this, my Dad, Alexander Campbell McLanachan, died. He'd taken seriously ill a few days previously and never regained consciousness.I was trying to think of a funny story about Dad to put on this post but couldn't think of any. Blogger's block? I don't know. I'll probably think of one as soon as I click "publish post"! All I

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-87697190522770546482008-06-27T19:40:00.004Z2008-09-02T09:51:05.792Z

Hi folks"Smart, funny and cunning ... Miss him at your peril!" - R. Paul Wilson"Norman Beck will fool you very badly. His lecture is an absolute delight." - Marc DeSouzaThese are just a few of the things people in the know are saying about Texas-based Close Up Magician Norman Beck who will be lecturing in Paisley and Aberdeen in the next couple of weeks.The lecture in Paisley is taking place in

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-45627463728299640792008-06-26T14:20:00.004Z2008-09-02T10:04:29.478Z

Hi folksReaders of my blog (hi again and thanks for reading!) may remember a post I made a while ago pleading (OK, begging!) for Terrorvision to play in Scotland. Well, that plea was answered earlier this week when the mighty Terrorvision announced that they will be playing at Glasgow's ABC1 on Thursday 23rd October.The tickets, priced at £16 plus booking and handling fees, are available from the

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-51914159877262684102008-06-25T10:57:00.005Z2008-09-02T10:05:04.253Z

Regular readers (hi there!) will probably remember that I mentioned a short time ago that John Carney was going to be presenting his lecture in Glasgow. Well the day is now a memory, but what a memory it is. After finishing work, I arrived at Tam Shepherd's to see about picking up any magazines that I had waiting for me. It was a nice surprise to see Mr Carney standing there with a couple of the

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-54285994921466009052008-06-10T10:58:00.011Z2011-03-17T09:49:36.009Z

There’s a lot to catch up on, so let’s start with the Magic Conventions. The start of April saw me in Scarborough to lecture at the Northern Magic Circle’s “Spring Parade”. A small convention, about the same size as the Scottish SAMS Convention, but very, very friendly. There were a lot of familiar faces there from my other trips to Conventions in England and it was good to be able to catch up

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-68823262362311358612008-05-30T10:31:00.004Z2008-09-02T10:40:55.359Z

Hi folksJust a quick post to let you know that I'm selling a few things on eBay - both magic and non-magic related. You can find what I'm selling by clicking here.I'll be adding a few more things over the next couple of days, so keep checking back every now and then. I hope you find something there that you like.Speak soonThe Cardman :-)

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-63179494141134333052008-04-27T19:50:00.008Z2008-09-02T10:41:08.903Z

Hi everyoneThose that know me really well will probably know that I am a big fan of the work of American magician John Carney. Now, for those of you not interested in magic, he is an multi award-winning magician who is regarded as one of the best in most forms of magic, whether it be Close Up, Parlour or Stage.For those of you that are interested in magic, Carney is one of the ones that really

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-29021712576977616702008-04-22T09:42:00.005Z2008-09-02T10:41:22.374Z

Hi folksJust a quick post to pass the word on about this year's Irish IBM Ring 85 Convention, taking place at the Plaza Hotel, Tallagh, Dublin from 2nd to 4th May.Performers booked to lecture and/or perform at the convention include Joshua Jay, Alan Shaxon, Trevor Lewis, Quentin Reynolds, Max Marshall and many, many more. Registration for the whole weekend is €95 (around £75 at the current

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-63064900427575107062008-03-24T21:44:00.005Z2011-03-17T09:46:55.879Z

Hi folksJust a quick post to remind you that I am lecuring at this year's Northern Magic Circle Spring Parade Convention which is taking place on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th April (next weekend) in Scarborough.Here's a brief run-down of who's scheduled to be performing during the weekend:-LecturesPeter McLanachan (that's me!) on cards - you wouldn't have guessed!Tricky Ricky (McLeod) on

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-33872351058955541532008-03-18T14:35:00.009Z2008-09-02T10:41:51.291Z

Where to start? It’s been one of those crazy-busy weeks that you get every once in a while where you wonder where all the time went. Let’s start at the beginning, a very good place to start!As the regular reader of my Blog (hello!) may already know, I was going to see Dwight Slade as part of the Glasgow Comedy Festival on 7th March. I had seen him performing before at the Edinburgh Festival

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-41615342864514128182008-03-06T10:15:00.004Z2008-09-02T10:42:06.626Z

Hi folksJust a quick one of these to let you all know that one of my favourite Stand Up Comedians, Dwight Slade, is performing in Glasgow TOMORROW NIGHT at Oran Mor. Doors are at 7pm and I believe his show starts at 8pm. Tickets, priced £10, are still available and I would highly, completely and totally recommend that everyone goes and listens to what he has to say.I found out about him through

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-81210147716983148662008-03-02T18:02:00.008Z2008-09-02T10:42:23.732Z

It is crazy, busy, rushed and leaves you shattered at the end of it. Yes, another edition of the Blackpool Magicians' Convention is now a memory. It's a chance to meet up with old friends, make new ones. It is a Convention with enough events to easily fill a 4 or 5-day Convention crammed into 2½ days!For years, I've been travelling down to Blackpool on the Thursday morning so I can go play some

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-69804704306284400842008-02-26T18:02:00.003Z2008-09-02T10:42:43.515Z

Hi folksToday sees the 14th anniversary of the passing of, in my opinion, one of the greatest Stand Up Comedians who ever lived - Bill Hicks. He died in 1994 aged 32 from Pancreatic Cancer and performed comedy that REALLY made you think. It is just as relevant today as it was back in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s. Go find his stuff about the first Gulf War and think about the current “War On Terror”,

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-91094053142417637932008-02-11T13:52:00.001Z2008-09-02T10:43:03.067Z

Hi folksJust a quick post to say that tomorrow night at 7pm sees the fifth season of BBC3's hit show "The Real Hustle" start off with 2 back-to-back episodes. This time, our 3 friendly hustlers - Paul Wilson, Alexis Conran and Jessica Jane Clement - hit Las Vegas to see if they can swindle the people and visitors of Sin City out of their hard-earned cash and goods.As some of you will know, I've

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-12969342214757687532008-02-07T22:29:00.001Z2008-09-02T10:43:19.381Z

One of my favourite bands is a group of lads from Bradford called Terrorvision. They played rock music like it was supposed to be played - LOUD! Sadly, in 2001, they decided enough was enough and, disillusioned by the music industry, decided to go their separate ways. Apart from a couple of wee semi-reuniouns, that was it. Well, we thought.Last November, Terrorvision reformed, got themsleves an

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-64872520306158929502008-02-06T14:03:00.001Z2011-03-17T09:46:55.880Z

Hi folksI know I haven’t posted for a wee bit, but I've not been up to anything much that is Blogg-able (if that is, indeed, a word!). However, the Blackpool Convention is not too far away, so I'll make up for lack of posts then.Anyway, I wanted to mention that I am presenting my “A Force Much Greater Than Luck” lecture at Forth Valley Magic Circle on Monday 18th February 2008 at their regular

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-70046593431287148592008-01-21T15:35:00.001Z2011-03-17T09:46:55.880Z

This is just a quick post to let you know that I've been booked to present the one-hour version of my lecture at the Northern Magic Circle's "Spring Parade" taking place in Scarborough on 5th and 6th April. I'm scheduled to lecture some time on the Saturday.The Northern Magic Circle's convention is normally held on Easter weekend (and called the "Easter Parade"), but with Easter being so early

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-56786656565315971992008-01-18T14:49:00.001Z2008-09-02T10:44:35.924Z

This March sees the 2008 edition of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival, sponsored by Magners, and it seems to be fast becoming a well respected and very popular Comedy Festival. Each year sees a whole host of performers coming from around the world to grace the stages of a whole manner of different venues around the city.This year’s names have just been announced and my personal highlight

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-1463980971356114212008-01-16T12:15:00.001Z2008-09-02T10:44:50.403Z

Those of you that I talk to face-to-face may know that my work moved from the Maryhill area of Glasgow to the Auldhouse area on the Southside of the city. The move meant that I am no longer sharing an office with anyone and so, after some 11 years of listening to Glasgow's most popular Pop station, I'm able to choose what station I listen to.I tried listening to a couple of different stations

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-81278307749434274712008-01-04T09:30:00.001Z2011-03-17T09:49:03.551Z

Happy New Year everybody! I hope 2008 is a ton of fun for you and yours. This year’s Christmas and New Year celebrations were, actually, really good fun. Christmas at my Sister’s house – watching the kids rip the wrapping paper off presents like there’s no tomorrow has to be one of the best things ever! – and New Year at home. All was good.A brief mention must be made of this year’s “Only An

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-12651012047255995692007-12-27T09:55:00.001Z2008-09-02T10:45:22.407Z

Hi folks. Just a quick post today.First of all, I hope you all had as good a Christmas as you could and not only that Santa was good to you but also that you were good to Santa.My main reason for posting is to let you all know (in case you didn’t know already) that a friend of mine from Ireland, Keith Barry, finally has his TV special on this Saturday night (29th December) at 9pm on ITV1. I say “

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-53237729368572005092007-12-24T09:22:00.001Z2008-09-02T10:48:30.983Z

Yesterday, I received news that hit me really, really hard - that of the passing of my friend Dave Robertson. Most of you won't have heard of Dave, but he was Scotland's very first Professional Close Up Magician. The one who paved the way for the rest to follow.Dave was one of magic's "good guys" but was not afraid to speak his mind or give his opinion - no matter what people thought of what he

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18870433.post-15389564079755675332007-12-17T21:16:00.001Z2008-09-02T10:48:46.479Z

Well, it's nearly Christmas and that means one thing - I've just had yet another birthday. Since when did I have the right to now be 34??? What the...? It's not fair! I've enjoyed my life so far, but there is the odd occasion when I look back and think "if only I had..." Still, I musn't dwell on what I haven't done, but what I can still get up to!Honestly, Peter and I got dressed in separate

The Cardmannoreply@blogger.com0