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!