Copenhagen

Marcus Brigstock on the Now Show - sums up the Copenhagen mess quite nicely.
People, I think we need to lead from the front as obviously those idot politicians never will

The review of the play

Here's what John Slim (until recently the Amateur Drama reporter for the Birmingham Mail) had to say about our play on his website, Behind the Arras

Fast moving thriller does not disappoint

The Small Hours

Billesley Players

Dovehouse Theatre, Solihull

***

A NEW-LOOK company has no fewer than four players in the cast making their first appearance - and the result is undeniably satisfying.

This is a Francis Durbridge story that was written as a radio play, which is probably why its ten scenes give it an episodic flavour, but Iain Neville's production moves slickly between them and never gives its audience time to become restless.

At its heart is a toy koala bear - and the fact that Carl Houston just happened to mention koalas on his flight home from Australia is enough to put his life in danger and cause his wife nearly to lose hers.

It seems a tenuous link between koalas and crises, as he was speaking only to his passenger neighbour. It leaves us to suppose that his neighbour must have decided to relay the conversation later to somebody who turns out to be a Mr Big in the world of fencing stolen valuables.

WELL ENGINEERED

Not that it matters. The tension builds. There are some well-engineered confrontations between anxious people. And we go on guessing at the secret of the unseen koala.

Graham Mason is Houston, a clean-cut British hero type, delivered in a performance of confidence opposite Anna Downes, in fine form as his feisty wife Vanessa.

There is confidence, too, in the quick, high-heeled strut of Claire Davies as his PA, and in the probing questioning of Sheila Parkes, as the representative of the law.

Michael Nile gives us a pleasingly unusual character in Bernard Decker, the chef with quiet little expressions, an amusing snigger and an optimistic line in blackmail. Gemma Harris pleases as his wife and Edward Fellows is another strong performer as the shady Oliver Radford.

BLOWN THE GAFF

Nick Storr is the aeroplane passenger we suspect of having inadvertently blown the gaff on a stranger's casual mention of koala bears. He and Graham Mason set the production rolling on their borrowed aircraft seats - thank you, Flybe - with a conversation that rolls with satisfying unstoppability.

It's an excellent all-round effort. What a shame it was all for the sake of a production lasting only two nights. The only cavvil is that several players could do with a bit more push and projecion on a stage that is apparently without microphones.

To 14.11.09.

John Slim

http://www.billesleyplayers.co.uk/

The last week

Or alternatively this post could have been entitled "Hectic".
I started at Ernst & Young on Monday and it's been a bit of a baptism of fire. Usually I start a job and the last 5 times at least I've been surrounded by apologies. 'Sorry it's so busy, you've joined at a really bad time.' 'Sorry there isn't much time to train you, but you look as if you're ok' etc. Temp or perm that's always how it's been. I can't recall having training that's lasted more than a morning and all this week has been nothing but! There are 20 of us and we are all joiners, mostly new, and all of us have been trained on the procedures and equipment all week, with another week scheduled in to go before we go live. It's pretty heavy but reassuring and it's just a very different work environment to get used to. However plus points so far are:
Easy journey in to work, nice people starting alongside me, nice managers (so far), nice toilets, city centre location (therefore good for shops and yummy lunches)
However every night after work I got the bus home then jumped in the car and drove to Solihull for the final rehearsals of The Small Hours. On Friday and Saturday we performed in front of approx 290 people which was a real thrill. It has left me officially pooped however. Too tired to write much more but below are the photos I took on my camera of the set build, rehearsals and break down. In a few weeks I should get the official photos and be able to see what I looked like! In summary though it was great fun!

Este semana he empezado mi trabajo nuevo y ademas presentamos el obra de teatro este fin de semana y cada noche he estado ensayando. Esta manana desmantelamos el escenario y al finar puedo descansar. Bueno, descansar - es decir planchar mientras viendo Doctor Who...

A summary in Spanish

Vale, que poco he escrito en Español asi que aqui está mi sumario. A ver, en mi vida, dejé el trabajo que me jodía tanto para encontrar cosas nuevas. He pasado los últimos dos meses trabajando temporalmente, en contratos de 2 o 3 semanas y he ido a montones de entrevistas. Finalmente encontré una posición permanente y empiezo allí la semana que viene. Ha sido totalmente genial dejar Leukaemia Care, la mejor decisión que he tenido en anos... lo he gustado un montón, he conocido a mucha gente y después de tantos meses de un ambiente muy negativo todos que he conocido me han apreciado. No podía escribir en ingles como sentía, ni cuando trabajé alli ni despues porque no quería ser indiscreto pero al fin y al cabo no tengo ni el menor cantidad de fe en las decisiones de aquella organizacion.


Que mas? He estado practicando mi segunda obra de teatro y nos la realizaremos el viernes y sabado que viene. Mi papel es mas grande esta vez y mas interesante así que ha sido mas durillo pero ya que falta tan poco para hacerlo todo parece estar casi listo. Crúzate los dedos!

Pads, nuestra gatita, es muy contenta - mas que nunca me parece, pero le gusta mordear nosotros y nuestros amigos un poco mas de lo que yo considero natural. Hay que mantener la paciencia con ella porque es una gata rescatada pero aun diciendo esto la tengo que castigar. Por lo monos asi puedo practicar hablando como una mamá frustrada con su hijo travieso...

Mañana nos llevaran las alfomras nuevas y esto me hace muy contente. Es el final del proyecto que empezo casi hace un año cuando renovaron la instalacion electrica. Ya era tiempo!

Continuamos viendo amigos de los fines de semana como siempre. Ahora mas que nunca siempre parece haber un cumpleanos o fiesta o plan en el calendario. Es la temporada supongo pero me parece que ha sido asi desde anos! Hay los amigos de la universidad, mis amigos de Coventry, los amigos de Al que son un poco mas esparcidos por Inglaterra, amigos del trabajo... en fin demasiados para ver lo suficiente y no me gusta no mantener amistades. Los que nos vemos más son Nathan y Laura y su hija Emma porque son los amigos mejores en birmingham y porque viven muy cerca. Emma ya tiene 3 y es una monada. Ella pasó la noche en nuestra casa por primera vez hace un mes y fué genial. La leímos cuentos de hadas, nos vimos dvds y me acompané a la iglesia el domingo.

Y pues poco mas. Alex trabaja mucho, yo poco, la gata muerde, los tareas domesticas y amigos nos distraen y... pues ya esta. Estamos felices!
 
Y si mi español es tan pobre que ya no puedes leer ni entender lo que he escrito aqui pues perdoname por favor, pero creo que las cosas no van tan malos asi que no voy a preocuparme... claro!

What you learn when...

What happens when you google your name or someone you know?

My best friend Danielle, thanks to her distinctive name, appears pretty high up from her time at the wolf sanctuary. The Gap year website has chosen her quote to use online: "The people were amazing - both the permanent staff and fellow volunteers. I made loads of new friends and have kept in touch with a lot of people. The work was great, I enjoyed the building and maintenance projects and learned a lot! The wolves were also fantasic, I fell in love with all of them and developed real bonds with some. I miss the wolves and the people loads!" Ah, bless

I googled Martyn Richards and discovered a snippet of dad's writing on a strangely named website about the Umbrella Club called Musical English Lessons. Weirdly it's not available if you search pages by UK. I discovered that:
"Once a thousand strong, Coventry Umbrella Club had become a shadow of its former glories. It had slimmed down to fewer than fifty members. My wife and I are still members of the club. Its various activities now operate through the home of its Secretary.The Umbrella Club was opened in November 1955 by Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan. The trio were then presenting their "Goon Show" at the Coventry "Hippodrome" Theatre, now demolished.Early magazines of the club contained entries from Coventry poet Philip Larkin and city novellist Susan Hill. This early heritage, however, has only recently re-emerged due to the reminiscing leading to the celebration of the club's Golden Jubilee in November 2005."
Wow. I mean seriously wow. Philip Larkin? Harry Secombe. Spike Milligan. All giants. This split second research actually managed to catch my interest in te same way that tuning into radio 4/radio 2 does on my way back from drama rehearsal at night. I also discovered there is a Martyn Richards who is a Visiting Teaching Fellow at the Centre for Peace Studies, Coventry University. I wonder how many times he and dad have submitted articles to that toilet paper substitue of a local newspaper? I wonder how many local journalists have been confused?

Antonia Richards, Antonia Tomas and Antonia Tomas Mascaro are very numerous but nothing enlightening.

My cousin Laura's face pops up on image results when you google her name!

Despite what my nan thought of her parents choice for her first name there are, it seems, quite a few other Winifred Richards out there, including a peer. Not that that's an accolade. This particular Winifred can't be particularly well heeled however, being on page 40182 (Prince Charles is on page 1).

Rather wonderfully, my quiet, unassuming, hard working auntie Shelagh gets a mention and is at position number 1, 2, and 3 of the Google search for her name. Bless! Companies would kill for that kind of listing... Here's what's said online:
"Last but not least we have to say we are also very grateful to Shelagh Monks for being our ever hard working tea lady who looks after us all with a little help from Dave by making sure we all have our welcoming cups of tea at all our meetings, from the bottom of our hearts Leigh, Richard & Jean thank you all so much, we could not do it without you all. "
And
"We have almost reached another milestone in the history of the Coventry & District RP Branch as we will be celebrating 30 years of giving support information and above all friendship to so many who have walked through our doors suffering from Retinitis Pigmentosa... It was great to take a trip down memory lane and there are so many we would love to mention, perhaps one or two more such as Betty Hall who always kept our refreshment trays in order just as Shelagh Monks does today," both from http://www.the-eyesite.org/
And
"Shelagh Monks went to the Locarno in 1967 with a friend (after having found the Lanchester College too noisy) and met her future husband (who was dressed as a page boy)" http://www.vornster.co.uk/AIW/pages/library/lib2.html

As for my other half, Al, there is apparently a singer, song writer and performer from Royston, Camridgeshire, a mountain climber, an American political photographer, and a recently deceased paralympian. In fact there are so many websites with names like alex.harris.com that I'm starting to think there must be some implicit arrongance that comes with having the name and start to forgive my very own Alexander for his occasional big-headed moments. God love him, he does it with charm!

Finally there is a Gemma Richards who is a research technician in Veterinary Science at Bristol Uni, a model and a hollywood actress. There are LOADS of Gemma Harris', we're dead common! On Linked In there are 16 at least including my own profile from when I was at Leukaemia CARE. There is also a web designer in Nottingham, a lawyer in Cambridge. and apparently a keen slalom skiier. Lots of my press releases and networking profiles from the last few years are online too.

Googlegangers. It's a fascinating business. Sometimes you learn things that someone has tried to tell you but you've been too busy to hear. Sometimes it's just a giggle.

The Play's progress

Well we're now on 2 rehearsals a week and it's stepping up from dull and repetitive to having some soul and spirit. I was getting a bit bored but now I'm really getting into it again.

I've got a new phone that's a bit swankier than before so I'm taking photos and filming snippets of films during rehearsal. Tracey's back in rehearsals as she's props mistress and she's a real hoot, makes everything fun and a real motivator. As a result we're all having the odd giggle which makes rehearsing a serious play a lot more fun and manageable. We're rehearsing 8-10.30pm twice a week so it needs to be fun or we'd go starck staring bonkers.

There are so few weeks left and so few rehearsals left and it's getting very real now. I still have to finally decide what I'm wearing and how to do my hair... But my lines are starting to feel like my own at last. My character, Millie, is making sense to me and we're getting into a flow, me and Graham. Graham's great. One of the nicest chaps around. He's also got one of the most expressive faces I've ever known so I used to get so drawn into his lines that I'd forget to say my own! I've never known anything like it... listen to me going on!

If you want to see an excerpt of one of our rehearsals a few weeks ago then watch the clips below. I think we all breathed in giggle gas just prior to this rehearsal...

Clip #1 and Clip #2

Finally a photo of Ed who normally doesn't look anything like this... and it wasn't even Halloween!

Super-temp at Work

Super-temp at Work


I'm temping at Future Home Care which is a charitable agency caring for learning disabled adults, it helps them to gain a certain amount of independence and it's a bit of an insight into another industry I'd never worked in. Even though it has charitable roots the work is totally different to Leukaemia CARE; much more hands on, and it's a much bigger organisation.
From my perspective I sit at reception and do the switchboard, paperwork, write up incidence reports, meet and greet visitors, order stationary and generally try to keep the place shipshape. It's my 2nd day - yesterday was pretty busy but I'm into the swing of it now.
I wanted to show you my dead cool Janet Jackson headset which allows me to answer the phone without actually picking up the handset! I can even go and make a cup of tea in the kitchen and still answer the phone - not that I've dared do that much. Everyone is really nice here... I'm glad to be a receptionist for a week and a half and looking forward to starting at Ernst and Young in November. I may yet fit in another short term contract somewhere so who knows what I'll do next!!!
I don't miss Marketing at all and have really been having fun the last few weeks. Even the diy has picked up. I disassembled the wardrobe that was delivered at the weekend because it was too big to go through the door and reassembled it. What a palarva. I've just got to finish sanding and painting the staircase before the carpet is delivered and finish painting the dadorail (is that how you spell it?) in the living room. That plus job hunting and the rehearsals for the play have kept me very busy.

News

Well... After many interviews and perseverance I have been given a job offer at Ernst & Young. I'm going to be an administrator and I start on November the 9th. Yey! Smiley face, clap hands ra ra ra!

Ahem, I have composed myself. It's a departure from Marketing, a new challenge and I'm really looking forward to it. Yey!

Three weeks in

I have just finished a three week contract at BIAD; Birmingham Institute of Art and Design at Birmingham City University. I left with a box of chocolates, a thank you card, a warm glow and a boost of confidence. In that time I've had 2 interviews and I'm waiting for the result of the last one. It's weird how much you can love being a happy little administrator with no money and no responsibility. It was a lovely crowd in the faculty office and I'll miss them lots. We had a busy enrolment period and an open day and I met loads of people, made friends and generally felt at home but all good things must come to an end.

The interview was for a marketing role for a company that is actually part of the Home Office, and I'm due to hear the result of that this wee. Tomorrow I find myself going to an Assessment Centre for a potential job in a huge financial services company and Thursday I have an interview for a PA job at a large Union. I've also been long-listed for a marketing job in a university and have to put together a project for submission by Tuesday. Meanwhile I'm being put forward for about 6 other jobs, to be honest I'm just keeping an open mind and trying not to lose track! The list I made two weeks ago is now hopelessly out of date! They weren't kidding when they said looking for a job is a full time job in itself. In between taking calls today I have finally painted our bedroom meaning at last at the weekend we're hoping to choose some carpet and put the blasted rewiring we had done behind us; it's nearly a year ago so it's about time. I have also painted the fireplace, cleaned the windows, cooked loads and made homemade rice pudding, yum. I've not wanted to keep still really, and not having to be at work has been ace in terms of allowing me to crack on with a few chores. Still it's only been 2 working days since I finished work and I'm a-hankering for a new challenge (not to mention some money) so hopefully the next one isn't far away.

Yesterday was fun... I went to the butchers 2 Saturdays ago and was waiting to order some meat when I overheard the butcher chatting to a girl of about my age. I heard her saying she'd studied Hispanic Studies. Well it had been forever since I'd heard someone say that, so I introduced myself. We met yesterday and it was so cool. I've not had anyone to practice with and we met for coffee in Kings Heath, at this really cool little cafe, the Kitchen Garden Cafe. It's such a gorgeous spot, you feel like you're in the countryside, not in the middle of Kings Heath and there's a really funky feel to it, kind of hippy, bohemian but cute at the same time. Food's nice too. Elena's half Spanish like me and half Greek too, and doing a Phd and learning japanese. We had tea, I scoffed a bagel, and talked for 2 hours until I realised that if I didn't hurry I'd get a parking fine. As I ran back to the car the fluorescent parking demons were hovering around my car but I think I got there in the nick of time. Phew. Then I can home (painted the fireplace), and headed off to Jean and Mike's. They live down the road from me and I see them in church most weeks. They have two little boys Samuel and Daniel (good old testament names). Samuel is 2ish and Daniel is about 6 months. They are both cute as buttons. Samuel reminds me of Jack from 2 years ago. Jean fed me tea and cake and then Samuel climbed all over me and measured me, giggled and generally messed around in that adorable, trusting, boyish way of his.

I walked home feeling very spoilt!

The job search and more news

I had 2 weeks being a housewife after we got back from holiday in the end. I couldn't sit still. Even though I managed to ignore any inbuilt panic buttons I still had to keep busy so I ended up doing a lot of diy. Much sanding was done. The bedroom walls are now ready to be painted and the fireplace in the living room is on its way. Yes I know I should finish one job before I start the next but... well there is no but, I just got stuck in! 

I applied for jobs too, don't want you thinking I just divved about with diy. I had an interview at Birmingham University Business School. The interview panel were really nice, we got on well, there was absolutely no doubt in my mind that I could do the job, I had a lot of experience that meant I was a good fit etc so I went home feeling cautiously optimistic. A couple of days later I got a very nice email saying they would like me to apply for similar jobs there but on this occasion I was unsuccessful. Gutted! Still though it gave me the opportunity to poke around the campus for the first time since 2002, when I graduated. I really loved being back. I would love to work there... Leon took out his lunch break to show me around, which was cool. There have been lots of changes like the new buildings by the train station, a new enormous and cheap fruit and veg stall on campus (v encouraging) but by far the most amazing change was Muirhead Tower. That tower, that blot on the landscape, was famously know to students as being the building the university allowed students to design to reduce wind velocity then it was erected inside out, exacerbating the wind velocity problem for generations. I don't know if that is an urban myth but it is a protected building that the uni wasn't allowed to just pull down and certainly during my time the 'temporary' scaffolding and "Caution in High Winds" signs were a permanent fixture. picture below. Well, do you know, they've gone and redeveloped it! The exterior is less ugly, more space age with fancy panels, v cool (see the link). Inside they've opened it up and built an extension so there are 4 lifts instead of 2, allowing students I imagine at least a cat in hell's chance of getting to their lectures in time without walking to the 12th floor! There is, wait for it, a lobby and a Starbucks!!! Yes a Starbucks people. I wasn't sure how I felt about that but there is now a fancy looking cafe thing in most of the buildings it seems, an attempt I imagine to keep students out of the Guild until at least after their lectures, and if that's their plan it would seem to be working. All the students I saw looked, well, studious!

Anyway, I joined the Unitemps online agency and last week I got a 2 week contract covering the enrolment at Birmingham City University (the old UCE) at Birmingham Institute of Art and Design. You should see the students, so cute! They're all fashion students, graphic design, creative, jewellery students and the like so they all have mad hair and dress to match. Bless em. Nothing like my lot who mainly rolled out of bed, pulled on flairs, and pretty much made as little effort with dressing for lectures as possible. Mind, during my week off I went to my old stomping ground, the University of Birmingham, and all the little students seemed quite trendy there too so there's obviously been a change. I mean they were wear make up and jeans that haven't been bought from a charity shop... weird.

I've enjoyed being at work again and the people at BCU BIAD are nice. I've mainly covered the office but for one day I sat in the tent helping to enrol the students, issuing ID cards, giving out free gifts etc. It was fun!

Yesterday I had an interview at the Shakespeare trust, the charity that looks after the various Stratford properties associated with Shakespeare and the archive, museum and educational events. I again felt confident, I'd obviously had experience of marketing the Restoration project at Kings Norton, now known as St Nicolas Place. Again we got on well, but I could feel I wasn't what they necessarily wanted. The lady kept on smiling sympathetically at me, and when the interview ended she hadn't even wanted to see my portfolio. It would have been a dream to not only market something I am so passionate about but work with people who are undoubtedly so professional. You could see she really knew her onions. More upsetting still I got the impression that if I hadn't spent the majority of the last 3 years in working environments where basically I was the most senior marketing person I might have learned more and have the kind of skills and confidence she thought I should have. She said she could see I had the nouse to learn quickly and the makings of a really good person for that role but they needed someone to start and be pretty much self sufficient and she felt I would be a risk. Fair enough. Back to the drawing board.

The job search

Yesterday was the 11th, that's officially 1 month since I walked out of the Leukaemia CARe offices for the last time. In the 2 weeks since returning from holiday I've signed up with agencies, fielded incoming calls about prospective jobs, put my cv on Monster, been to a jobs fair, been to an interview at Birmingham university, gone to the jobcentre, and searched online for a job for hundreds of hours. The interview went well and the panel advised me to apply for other similar roles but crucially I didn't get it. On the plus side I'm well on top of the housework... I've re-potted the mint and the rosemary, last thursday was washday and I did a handwash too, and I'm about to start a marathon ironing fest. I miss human contact by the friday but theatre on thursday night and the gym with Nathan on tuesday keeps me sane. Or sane-ish. But I hate not earning. And I hate knowing that means I'm not contributing. It'll come come good in the end I'm sure...

Tango in the Aisles

Caught up with my friend Emily from University and had a good old chat last night. Turns out the motivated ms bridges has made a film to submit into the Sadlers Wells Global Dance Contest, the idea of which is to turn the winning film I believe into a dance on stage. Firstly, bloody marvellous Em for coming up with the idea and actually doing it. Conceiving of a plan is something I'm great at, carrying it out... not always so hot. Secondly, a big thumbs up for motivating all those people and being the generally creative, fun marvellous person you are. Ladies and gentleman, ahem (dramatic pause), I leave you with... 'Tango in the Aisles'

Pues claro

I've been a bit quiet the last few weeks (nothing unnusual) because I didn't want to broadcast the fact that we were out of the country. But anyway we are back from holiday now and I can tell you all about it...

We flew on bmi baby from Birmingham to Barcelona, I must have done that flight 100's of times now, and it was a perferct flight and landing so no probs there. We had a nice full day before flying, I went to church and Al cooked lunch before going as it was a late flight. Arrived on sunday 16th at 8ish and got the train to Barna Sants and the usual train to Cubelles. My darling tiets had waited for us at the flat, and it was about midnight bless them, to welcome us and get things ready. Tieta had even prepared truita de patates or potato omellete so we could have a nibble once we were settled. The night was hot and they both said the weather had been boiling this summer so we were excited. Now I'm back we are both enjoying the cool again but when we arrived there we were desperate for HEAT!

We were able to catch up with els tiets before they set off again in the car for Igualada, and we knew we would see them in a few days for the big family gathering too. Then once we'd unpacked we sat on the balcony to enjoy the cool (in inverted commas), enjoy the beer and supper together. Loving the holiday!

That first week was blissful, honest to god getting in the mediterranean for the first time in 2 years was bloody beautiful. I honestly don't think I'd be at all bearable without my top up of the med every so often! Lol... Pictures below are of us on the beach in Cubelles, one of the few we haven't deemed as either of us being too fat, double chin or white to be published! And of one night in Vilanove. The one of me is at our favourite bar their called del mar, very creative I know, but there's a really relaxed feel and a nice view.

It was so weird in Cubelles. Not that it's turned into Benidorm over night but I heard french german, italian possibly dutch and english as well as spanish and the obligatory catalan. In fact catalan was in the minority. I get a bit scared and bored alex rigid going on about it... Ayuntamiento de Cubelles, si leas este blog, por el amor de dios, cuida de tu pueblo que lo quiero mucho y no lo dejes que los ingleses vienen demasiado! El encanto de Cubelles, the delight of a holiday in a place like Cubelles is that the menu's aren't translated, the food is caught and made fresh, the bar owners are friendly, everything is in walking distance, the things you leave on the beach are not going to get robbed, your children are safe, the beach is clean... in summary people travel 1000's of miles nowadays for that kind of experience to, I don't know, Alaska... I always hoped Cubelles would remain a secret. Boring it may be but for me and Alex it's our kind of holiday!

On the friday my cousing Edu and his girlfriend Neus came in the car to pick us up - Neus drove actually. At the same time the tiets were off to Lleida to collect Laura and Luis. So after a tour of Edu and Neus' apartment and a mini beer moment we were all back at the tiet's, all of us, Edu and Neus, me and Al, Laura and Luis; the three cousins and partners together in Igualada for the first time. For that whole weekend tieta was mother hen and happy as larry. The pictures below are snippets of our very happy family gathering. The festa major allowed Al to see Igualada at its best. We took a walk down the Rambla for a drink with Laura and Luis; down C/ San Agustin some games had been organised for the children and the Rambla had been pedestrianised so we weren't drowned out by the scooters. Later on after L and L (sorry it's quicker than writing Laura and Luis each time) had gone to meet an old friend of Laura's we had a look around the shops and the Rambla filled up with a street party. A long line of tressle tables were arranged down the mmiddle of the road and hundreds of families broaght food; impromtu bbq's and grills were set up, hot plates and even open spit roasts were going on. The smells of cooking snails, pork, paella and everything else you can imagine filled the air as well as a sense of excitement. We were loving it, just walking through it... Then we went back to the flat where the first of 2 family meals were to take place. Neus' parents, Edy and Neus, L and L, me and Alex and the tiets all gathered in the flat downstairs to eat in iaia's old living room (something I can't remember happening since I was about 7 and the golden wedding).  The big old table was laid out in the midst of an otherwise almost bare room (the flat is undergoing extensive redevelopment) and the lunch was delicious. It had been 6 years since I'd been in Igualada (pretty shocking, what with visiting Cubelles other years it hadn't felt that long) and I'd worried about Al but he really seemed to enjoy it. Food is never a problem, he can eat pretty much anything, but it's pretty scary not knowing what anyone is saying to you, even so Al has picked up quite a few words and even managed to complement tieta on the food and say hello, goodbye, encantado, please, thankyou, yes, no and those sorts of things. I was dead proud of him.

Below are the photos of our gathering at tieta Natalia's house, that's tieta's sister, where we caught up for the first time in ages with David and his little boys Oriol and Arnau. Arnau isn't pictured cause he was in his baby bouncer-sleep-thingy. The next picture is of me and Rosa Munconill. That was a surprise! I had been planning to call Rosa on the sunday as I'd heard she had wanted to catch up but it was the saturday night when me and Al were out for the festa waiting to meet Edu and the gang. We were looking for something to eat (again - that's basically all we did that holiday!) when I did a double take at this blonde lady. "That's Rosa!" one of mum's best friends. We had a lovely chat, far better than by phone and Toni even managed to get us a table and we eat like kings listening to the live bands in Cal Font (they were pretty good, too). I was so happy! Al had seen how genuinely kind and lovely everyone we met in Igualada was and felt part of the family, there was a fresh evening air, everything was perfect! Then we found out that Rosa and Toni had already paid for our food. The waiter was such a dude! He said he'd been sworn to secrecy and as they'd already left to walk home we couldn't even thank them. Loved up doesn't describe it! I'll always treasure the memory of that night...

Later on at 2am I called Edu to find out if there was any danger of them making it away from their house party to the street party and though Edu promised they'd leave any minute we decided to call it a night. Apparently the boys didn't get away til 3am so even though wwe missed them it was probably the right decision. Still, it feels weird to have been at a festa major and not danced...

My job, The Small Hours and a surprise

A month ago I took the momentous decision to throw myself onto the winds of fate and hand in my resignation at Leukaemia CARE. My problem was that I couldn't be anything but 100% committed to keep up with the work that was needed in my role and that didn't allow me the energy to look for another job... it was catch 22 for quite a few reasons. Anyway, I made my decision and the last month was hard because I don't like feeling as though I'm letting people down and there were quite a few disappointed people when I made my decision. But it was the right thing to do for me and I'm sure they'll get someone to replace me who does a bang up job. 

When I think of what I've achieved there it's a marvel, actually, some things I'm really proud of...

Anyway, it's my first official day without a job or a plan and when I look at the list of things I have to do before we go on holiday on sunday I'm actually quite glad to have the next few days off.

One thing I'm looking for is the opportunity to be an extra and I have signed up to an extra's site where hopefully I'll hear of something useful. Fingers crossed!

Then out of the blue a girl from Billesley Players informed the director that she will be unable to see the play through because of all her other commitments and he offered me the part!!! So on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th November 2009, I will be performing as Millie in The Small Hours by Francis Durbridge at the Dovehouse Theatre, Solihull. Tickets are a mere £8. You can pre book from 0121 743 4402 Or download the booking form from the website which is www.billesleyplayers.co.uk/

Yey!

So, on holiday I will be reading the play to learn my part in and amongst my summer reading...

Summer, lakes and babies

I started writing this post on the first of august; I can't believe it!

We had the readings for the next Billesley Players play and over a few weeks we all had a go. I thought I stood a good chance but the group had a huge influx of new members (I say huge, actually it was more like 4 or 5 but that is huge for BP) Anyway I didn't get a part in the end but my friend Claire joined and got a part so I was dead chuffed for her. Now I'm getting involved in different ways so it's ok. I was sad at first, but even though I'm missing rehearsing there's plenty to do. Meantime we're preparing The Small Hours by Francis Durbridge. Fingers crossed for the next one!

I did miss a week last thursday's rehearsal because it was little Emma's 4th birthday, then it was her official party last weekend which was, as ever, fab! She's like the queen, she celebrates her big day across a couple of occasions! All our friends from brum were there, well everyone from Al's school/college days, and for once it didn't rain! Emma has some really good luck; even the year of the floods it didn't get rained out and her birthdays are always bbq's and garden parties.

Wet weather didn't get in the way either of my trip to Lake Windermere to visit my school friend Dan his wife rachel and their baby Finley. The lake district was gorgeous! I'd never been that far north west but it was exactly like all the Romantic novels and poetry had in my head; I felt that I should be reading Wuthering Heights, not a Poirot novel..! The Agatha Christie I had received when I joined a book club a few months ago whereby friends sent each other books in a chain mail system. I now want to read more AC books as she has been on my ever expanding 'list of authors to read'...

Anyway we all stayed in a cottage and it was a lovely break from the madness of work. The cottage was nearish to Kendal. We saw plenty of sight in my 2 days, I could have stayed much longer and I'd recommend it as a destination to anyone...

The view over lake Windermere from Fin's pushchair

Happy gang

 Fin gets top marks on the boat for top cutie

 Boat trip fun

 Wow otters!

On my way back down south I stopped off at a Tudor house called Rufford Old Hall, near Ormskirk in Lancashire. It was a beautiful day and it was a fab way to make the most of a few hours and have a rest and a trillion times nicer than stopping at a service station. I had a guided tour of the house which dates back to the 1490's and apparently a very young as yet not famous Shakespeare performed in its great hall. I had a quick walk around the gardens and a lancashire tea... it was great!

Finding Rufford I drove past a natural look out point that made me think for some reason of my favourite book that I read at school, Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. In it the main character, the butler, stops during his drive at a phenomenally beautiful look out point. I can still remember the notes I made in the margins of the book and the feelings it engendered so on my way back towards the motorway for just one last bit of indulgence I stopped to look at the panorama.

 

Busy times

Since the specials we've been as busy as ever, both of us. The next week I went to see Hannah's new house and me and the boys got to play, especially with Jack cause he's growing up so fast, then we went to see the Star Trek film. Lots of fun and it was good to go for a drink afterwards and catch up. That sunday I had the final set build before the play so I was in my paint spattered gear getting more paint spattered.

The next week on the sunday the family all got together for a rare family celebration. I'd been ages since I'd seen Shelagh David Graham Paul Cath and my folks all in one room - not since the wedding most likely. We went for a curry in Leamington; good choice as it turned out. Although historically my parents don't tend to choose indian food everyone seemed to enjoy what they had chosen and we all got to catch up. It was to say happy birthday, happy anniversary, happy engagement; happy everything and it was fun!

In those weeks in May and June we actually saw some great summery weather, so among other things we did a fair bit of gardening and pottering. In and amongst working and engagements there is nothing me and al like so much as a potter. The garden's loads tidyer and with the sun things have actually grown. We've finally acquired some strawberry plants from Laura's mum; I've dreamed of growing berries for years and I'm pretty happy to finally have some. Hopefully they'll get nice and tall and we'll have plenty of strawberries to pick in a year's time. This year they're only small but we've still got a few berries reddening. yey!

The week after we all met for a curry the theatre group I joined in January, the Billesley Players, was getting ready for its production of Nude with Violine. The 2 performances were less than a week away so every night that week I went straight from work to the Old Rep to build the set and rehearse. It all went really quite well and I was dead excited and slightly nervous... The dress rehearsal was on the thursday with the performances on the following 2 days. Here's a photo I took with my mobile during an early rehearsal from the audience.

I really loved being in the theatre. Looking up and around at the lighting rigs, the scenery, sorting out the props with Sheila, watching rehearsals, practicing my lines, watching as things developed over a couple of days to doing our lines and moves in our civies to a full blown performance with lighting and sound effects and music; then finally feeling the reactions of the audience, different each night. Loved it! I took tons of photos, needless to say, backstage, in the green room, putting on make up and of the night out on the saturday, but the camera was stolen in Island bar so the only ones we have left were taken on Al's mobile phone

On the up side it's probably the nicest photo we have of Leon and Teresa though..!

The Specials

Back in December I bought Alex and I tickets for the last night of the Specials' homecoming tour At Coventry Richoh 

Arena. Last friday was the night of the concert. It was amazing! Me and Al grabbed a meal at the Elms first then drove 

through Foleshill in the worst driving rain I've seen for ages.

I've always liked bits of Ska and it's Al who introduced me to most of the music I like now, especially 80's stuff, so it 

seemed appropriate to go go and we'd both been looking forward to it for ages. We were amongst 8000 people, loads 

from Cov, and there was an amazing atmosphere. There are no seats, just tons of bodies and bars dotted around the 

sides of the stadium. We got bumped around a fair bit by the meat heads, but the audience was pretty mixed with families

and couples everywhere and once we moved out of the real tussle we still had a great view and it was still a fab atmosphere.

I think a lot of us were desperately happy to have them back in Coventry; and when the lead singer apologised 

for their absense all these years it seemed so sincere and emotional... It was the first time in a long time that I felt that

proud to be from Coventry. So it was more than just music. 

But fortunately the music was, on it's own, pretty great. I hadn't ever listened to more than the basic tourist's guide to 

Ska; Ghost Town, Too Much Too Young etc. Basically on friday, I was a daytripper! Al's always known more about 

ska, especially Madness - he has their whole back catalogue...I'd better say thank you to my cousin Paul Monks 

right now, seeing as before Alex he was trying to guide me towards good music (and Dr Who too, thanks again), and 

even though I was a brat something must have gone in during those years! 

Here are some videos taken by fellow sudience members. The first clip I have added mainly because it captures the o

pening of the concert; their intro was fab and you can hear how excited everyone is, singing 'Enjoy yourself,it's later than 

you think...' and that's how they ended too. Anyway watch, and judge for yourselves :)

My debut speeding along

The time for my acting debut, as Marie Celeste in Nude with Violin, is speeding towards us! I've learned my lines, pretty much and I think I know more or less my movements, so it's a question of polishing it and interracting with the other actors properly. It's a baptism of fire. Back in January I was happily criticising David Tennant and Catherine Tate in Dr Who (not much to criticise, but there you go) now here I am stumbling along through the process I realise how much more complex it really is. And I only have french tlines to learn. Sebastien, the main man, speaks French, Spanish, English Russian and Chinese!

I'd love it to be a sell out. On the one hand. On t'other that's a scary thought too! But I'd rather do this in front of a full house than an empty one if I'm honest.

Our flyer is below, you can book tickets for the friday and saturday by calling 0121 249 3630, and they are a credit crunching superb value of £8. For that you get a comfy seat and 2 hours of entertainment. Sold yet? Good! If you can't be there just wish me luck please. Send me french vibes too, if you can...

I also took some photos at a rehearsal the other week. Gives you an idea of the small size of the group. They all seem like good friends who go back years with a few of us being relatively new to it all.

The director Pat, doing her thing
The group rehearsing in the palatial Billesley Community Centre, less than a month til books down!

Nick & Iain
Tracy and Doug

Judy

Tracy and Iain

An early set design

That's me and Iain

The hen do

It was Sarah's hen do a few weeks ago, the weekend before our holiday and we all met up in London for a bit of a reunion, 50's music, big twirly skirts and mexican food. But first we went all civilised with an afternoon tea at the Biritish Museum... the pictures tell you all you need to know!

SARAH THE HEN

BEFORE... YUM
DURING... MUNCH

AFTER... AHH
Then all the hens got dressed up and the party got underway!

We all helped each other get ready

The girls posing

Sarah and her sister Jo who organised the night.

We went for cocktails and mexican food followed by dancing at a 50's music club. The polkadot dress was a gift by the hens and Sarah was in love with it. We all got a twirl in it too, it was fab! Everyone needs a rockabilly dress; if you're feeling low take a twirl and it's an instant happy pill!