A Surprising Few Weeks

I meant to write this up weeks ago but we've been making the most of some sun here in Britain, and anyone who knows Britain knows to make the most of good weather while it happens and not sit in front of a computer...

On March 20th Alex dropped me off at Mum and Dad's and we waited for her 'chauffeur', my lovely best friend Danielle, to arrive and drive us to an 'un-named location'. She discovered upon arrival that it was Ardencote Manor Hotel and Spa, in Claverdon, Warwickshire. Hilarious journey as mum tried directing Danielle - fortunately Senor Tom Tom knew the way!

When we got there a lovely lady called Nicky set about making us feel welcome. All the staff had been brieed and the spa was good as gold in not letting on to mum subtle details like prices or itinery. We were shown to a posh room to complete our health questionnaires then given a tour of the facilities. Mum didn't stop smiling and I couldn't help but feel it was going rather well!

We swam in the pool, used the sauna then I walked mum to the next bit of her surprise, a massage. It was all very luxurious and even me, constantly planning and thinking ahead, couldn't help but feel relatively relaxed. When mum came out of the massage in her bathrobe she looked like she'd been to heaven, bless her! I led her back downstairs from the elegant manicure room towards the pool but instead we went to the outdoor hot tub. Divine is the word. As Nicky walked past the window giving another client a tour she signalled 'five minutes' to me so I knew we were on schedule. A few minutes later she arrived with a chilled champagne bucket. And because she approached from behind mum she really didn't suspect a thing until she was literally handed a glass! Sat there in the fresh air, the clouds slowly parted and we enjoyed a glass of champagne sat in the warm water and got a taste of how the other half live!

It was a really nice morning, full of surprises but also quite relaxing and a chance to catch up properly which was nice. After the hot tub we got changed and walked across the site to the lunch room where we enjoyed a tasty lunch of chicken and pasta and even indulged in pudding. I say even because I knew what was coming!

I explained that that was the end of the surprises and we'd be heading back to the bar to be collected by Danielle. Then when we walked in 15 friends and family members were awaiting and she got another big shock! Lots of coffee and cake ensued and I left mum to be in the thick of it for the most part. Life and soul of the party, bless her.

The next week it was Alex's birthday. That man never makes a fuss so I thought he deserved a bit of a surprise for his big 30th birthday. Nathan Laura and I took him to the Hare and Hounds and told him he we'd have a curry just the 4 of us. He seemed perfectly happy with the plan... :)

Me and Laura said we were going to the toilet and capitalised on the fact that girls always take ages in the loo to pop over the road and check that everything was going ok at Sylhet Spice, the curry house we'd asked everyone to meet us at. It was all going to plan. Alex walked like a lamb into the curry house without the slightest suspicion! There were 18 of us in the end. Milly and Rob made it over from Bristol, bless them. Alex was blown away and we all had a lovely night. After the curry we went to the pub and back to ours for a chin wag, a drink and finally a bit of Guitar Hero for the last people standing; Nath Al, me and Phil. 

Much fun was had!

Travel troubles

Ever year of my life practically I've flown to Barcelona from Birmingham, that beautiful coastal town; you know? The one that Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballe sung about? A few million other people visit it every year but apparently none from Birmingham because the heathens at BMI Baby; those imbeciles, those drones, those wimps, those morons... have decided to cancel ALL flights. I'm not having trouble getting flights to Gemma's wedding because it's high season and more flights would soon be released like an oompaloompa at Expedia told me. No! It's because in their wisdom the only airline operating a service to one of Europe's preeminent capitals of culture decides to cancel the route in its entirety and not to update their website. Apparently the only Brummies who travel to Northern Spain are visiting Reus and the delights of Salou. Oh Joy. The northern Benidorm of the Iberian peninsula.... So now we're going to have to travel with Ryan air then journey a couple of hours.
Not happy
No f-ing happy..

Comic Potential @ the Old Rep

We (the Billesley Players) are rehearsing our new play Comic Potential by Alan Ayckbourn. Iain is directing this one again (his debut was our last play, the Small Hours) and the added confidence means the whole process is a few notches up the fun scales. Everyone's very much more chilled out in fact - we still take it seriously because it's a very complex play in some ways but I'm having a ball. I'm really looking forward to the curtain going up already. Our friend Leon who came to see two plays has joined the group to have a go himself and it's so cool to hang out with him everyweek. Plus Sam who joined for the last play but didn't get a part is acting opposite me and that's really cool cause she is lovely. We've also had at least 4 new members join, 2 of whom have parts, Lee and Roshan and 2/3 girls who joined too late for parts but who are enjoying watching, chilling and getting involved. In the year since I joined the Billesley Players has changed loads and it's attracting new members and growing; it's a really nice way to spend a Thursday.
So, the play - here's the synopsis:
Billesley Players bring to life ‘Comic Potential’ by Alan Ayckbourn. A lively, comic masterpiece, a satire on human folly with a touch of Pygmalion and androids... Set in the forseeable future, everything has changed except human nature. Ayckbourn’s hilarious and heartbreaking play charts what happens when a relationship begins to form between a young scriptwriter and Jacie Triplethree; an android with a sense of humour.

It's a really funny script and I'm looking forward to being on stage again. We're putting the play on at the Old Rep, which is just beautiful, on May 28 and 29 2010. We got the leaflets on Thursday - I was so nervous to give them out at work but there were a few people who had been so genuinely supportive of it from the start that I think they might actually buy tickets!
I have such fond memories of running around backstage. It's a real proper backstage area. There's a whole floor above and below the stage as well as the space directly behind the stage so everyone's creeping around all over the place to make sure they walk on from the right side. It's a mini version of the hippodrome and it's spellbinding. Last year was when I took hundreds of photos of it all then we lost the camera - this year I'm sorting out a new camera and keeping hold of it come what may!!! Learning lines seems to get easier as well, which is a good job too cause I've got tonnes of them this time.
Still, ahead of the play I'm looking forward to lots of things; Al's 30th birthday and my own; mum's birthday, and a few other thing that I have up my sleeve. And in July we've got Gemma and Hannah's weddings- what an amazing year!

Something a bit sporty

A few weeks ago Leon and Teresa, Danielle and I went to watch Coventry Blaze Ice Hockey. I hadn't been for years but all I could remember was that I loved it and wanted to go and finally we sorted it out. It was amazing! It was great to be in Coventry to be surrounded by passionate, enthusiastic, crazy people because more often than not Coventry folk are more known for being a bit apathetic quite frankly. Secondly it was pretty great as stadiums go; it's obviously benefiting the people and the city of Coventry loads and it's nice and central (fab cheap parking) and perfect for an evening out. Thirdly Coventry are actually good! The team has a growing number of British players which is great for British sport generally and gives the kids of Coventry something extra to aspire to. And we're at the top of the league. Not only that but as far as I could tell the quality of the game was pretty high. We won but it was a tight game against Edinburgh; they game us a real fight. It was really thrilling! There were plenty of times we went down to 10 men 'cause a Canadian chap on our team had a tendency of getting a little overheated - bless him. It was thrilling, it went to extra time, it was fast, and aggressive... I'm hooked and definitely hooked - 'Come On You Blaze'... might even ask for the shirt for my birthday!

Last weekend we gathered for a quite different sporting event. Alex is a Villa fan, as is my dad and as was granddad. Brummies got very excited that Vila had made it to the league cup final last week at Wembley against Man U. Leon and Nathan, Milly and Rob gathered in our upstairs room to watch it on the Radiation King. It all started off rather well. Villa went ahead quite early and looked intent on doing some damage, then they just sort of sat back and tried to hold on to their lead. Then the ref had a mild case of being blind and stupid every time Man U fouled a Villa Player (but not the other way round) - and no I'm not being biased! Then, predictably Man U brought on Roony, Villa ran out of ideas and Man U started to make it look easy. I could barely watch the telly (which bearing in mind that monster takes over half the room meant I had to get a book out just to ignore it). Finally we ran out of time and Villa got the runner's up prize. Bless them... But, as Milly consoled herself before their drive home to Bristol, they don't have the experience of big events that Man U does - and at least we didn't lose to Man City. The boys did the only thing left to do, the only thing a self-respecting Villa fan has left on these occasions - we printed a photo of Alex Fergusson's face, put it on the dartboard, and played a game.