Bill Cashmore, Hannah Rosenfelder, Martin Plimmer, Kerry Shale, Luke Haines and Keggie Carew at The Compass.

They came in defiance of some foul weather to pack out the room above The Compass last night and listen to five stories, three of which had a Christmas theme running through them. The first turn was Bill Cashmore, who’d attended previous TSTLs as a member of the audience. He talked about one childhood Christmas where he’d taken to his bed rather than wear “the ill trousers”. In case we had any doubt he introduced the aforesaid netherwear as evidence. Hannah Rosenfelder recalled the unfortunate consequences of getting dressed up for Purim in Switzerland. Luke Haines told the story of being attacked  by a dwarf on stage in France during a short-lived period as the Next Big Thing. There are plenty more like it in his book “Bad Times”. He also performed “Lenny Valentino”, the song he was trying to sing at the time. Compere Kerry Shale slipped in a vignette about Christmas in Winnipeg, a city which is seeking to redefine cold. Keggie Carew recounted a terrifying run-in with a backwoodsman in the wilds of Texas and Martin Plimmer relived his experience playing Santa Claus at the school fete in all its itchy detail. Thanks to them all and to everyone who came. The picture is by Charlotte Schepke. The next TSTL is on January 13th at the same place.