It's all in the delivery

I had an entertaining evening on Thursday. I had dinner in downtown Chelsea with my step-brother Michael and his colleague Bulldog. Now this Bulldog character can tell a story. I've got to give it to him, there aren't many people who can raise a laugh out of a serial-killer-roaming-your-neighbourhood story. But Bulldog did. I had to admire him. His timing was perfect. The delivery impeccable. Understated. Self-deprecating. Stunning.

I was taking tips.

Then, a story. A story about coming back from the camping ground showers in a pair of Y-fronts and a towel and getting into a fight with the annoying heavies in the tent next door. The towel was lost. Bulldog's dignity was revived in the fine telling of such a preposterous tale.

But hadn't I heard this somewhere before? Suddenly quite a few of his stories started to have a familiar sound. Wasn't this a scene in Choice Bro Caravan Park? Now, for the non-Australians, I will need to explain that Choice Bro Caravan Park was the brilliant radio drama of Merrick and Rosso. Rosso happens to be Bulldog's best mate.

I smelled a rat. Merrick and Rosso have been getting laughs out of their mates' stories for years. And why not? It doesn't matter who it happened to, it's all in the delivery.

And that got me to thinking. With some tips from Bulldog, I reckon I can become one of the great story tellers. And I don't even need my own jokes. It's what happens in the industry!

I'm spending the next few days working on it. Dave Levato once said to me, "Gabs I like your stories, but if they went for half the time, they'd be even better." And he's right. Bulldog's build up was just right. Timing. Delivery.

So to all my friends whose stories I've been dining out on for years: you got any more?