I can never predict what sort of bookings I will get for December of any year, partly because so many of the organisations I speak to book a musical act or make their own entertainment. In 2005, I had seven; in 2001 and 2004 there were none at all. Some years will involve a number of Christmas lunches/dinners (on one memorable day, I had turkey with all the trimmings at a lunch where I spoke in Guildford followed by the same at a dinner in Poole hours later (I'm not complaining!)

I had three bookings last month and although none involved turkey, all had a festive feeling about them and were fun.

Ferndown Historical Society

I delivered my presentation Dorothy Parker and the Wits of the Algonquin Round Table for Ferndown Historical Society at the Barrington Centre on 4 December. There were around 50 there and the talk went well. The revisions that I have made this year have made such a difference.

This was my second-ever talk for a historical society (my first was at Tadley in May) and I was struck by the fact that, as with literary societies, there was nothing stuffy or academic about them, just a group of friendly people with a common interest in a particular subject.

Public Speaking Tip #273: A presentation to a specialist group, such as an historical society, does not have to be dry. Just deliver your usual talk but perhaps with some extra detail. As long as you know your subject, you should be fine.

There was a good question and answer session afterwards which covered a whole range of comedy and I sold a decent number of copies of Nick R's in a Twist!. This was followed by refreshments which included mince pies.

I had an enjoyable evening there. My thanks to their Chairman Peter Dodds for running me all the way back to Bournemouth.

Portsmouth and District National Trust

A week later, I had a return booking for the members of Portsmouth and District National Trust who I had previously spoken to in December 2006 - another Christmas meeting.

Around 65 turned up this time, which was a respectable crowd, considering that this meeting was competing with a concert by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra at Portsmouth's Guildhall.

This time I delivered my Patrick Campbell talk which always presents a particular dilemma for me: whether to include one particular story...

I have drawn on a very large number of resources in the research for this presentation, one of which is the late Frank Muir's excellent autobiography, A Kentish Lad.  Anyone who has read this will, I'm sure, remember the 'quenelle' anecdote involving Patrick Campbell and a rude but very funny play on words which is not suitable for every audience. So I have to make a choice at every booking for this talk about whether to include this particular story. There has only been one occasion when my decision to use it seemed to be a mistake and that group rebooked me shortly afterwards so no real harm was done!

Talks on Church premises can be tricky for humorous speakers. A few years ago, I delivered my (then new) talk about Groucho Marx for a group at a Bournemouth church. I had spoken there many times before, always after a lunch followed by prayers and a hymn from their Minister.

Public Speaking Tip #274: Be prepared for the fact that if you are speaking to an organisation attached to a church, they may hold a short service just before you are introduced.

I cut out a number of tales about the Marx Brothers which I considered to be too risque for an audience on church premises following a service. Afterwards, their Speaker Secretary, an incredibly active chap in his nineties, told me that the talk had seemed a little short so I explained why. He laughed - and then proceeded to tell me a joke that was doing the rounds about nuns and social diseases! It's tricky, as I have said.

And here I was, about to speak in the Discovery Centre attached to
St John's Catholic Cathedral in Portsmouth...

On this occasion, standing in a room surrounded by religious notices, etc, I decided that I would not feel comfortable using that Patrick Campbell story so I cut it. There are, after all, plenty of other big laughs over the 50 minutes!

Some of you may feel that I should have simply gone ahead and used that material. Well, politicians may find themselves having to deliver content which may not please their audiences but I am a humorous speaker, an entertainer - and I have choice!

Public Speaking Tip #275: Some speakers, for example those involved in politics, may have little option but to deliver uncomfortable material from time to time, but speakers whose purpose is to entertain can pick and choose their content. Crowd-pleasing is fine; if in doubt, leave it out!

My talk was followed by refreshments (including some excellent home-made cake) and then I was asked to draw the tickets for the raffle. The group joked that this might be the longest prize draw that I had ever seen and they probably weren't far wrong but it was fun.

Amberwood Women's Institute

My final talk of 2008 was a return to Amberwood WI at the Methodist Church in Highcliffe, Dorset. I last spoke to them in July 2004 and this was another booking for the Patrick Campbell talk.

There were about 60 there and I was just sorry that I hadn't been able to join them for their buffet before my talk. Once again, I decided not to include the quenelle story but the talk was well-received; humour and Christmas meetings are a good mix.

Public Speaking Tip #276: Groups that book speakers usually try and select a light-hearted topic for their Christmas meetings. Does your list of presentations include one?

I may have missed the buffet but I was given several slices of a very good Christmas cake to take away with me!

My thanks to a lovely Welsh couple, Mr and Mrs Rees, for the lift back to Bournemouth.

A good end to my thirteenth year of speaking engagements.