night`s skin by Sheree Mack

between the floorboards by Degna Stone

Went to the Lit and Phil last night to listen to Degna Stone read from her new chapbook published by ID on Tyne. The seats were all full. I love these poems, have re read them today, they bring back memories and have inspired me to write some new poems. Supported by fine writer`s Catherine Graham and Maggie Tate.

World`s Biggest Coffee Morning

Joined in with the Macmillan Cancer Coffee Morning today. I donned my pinny and turban, told some jokes, monologues and passed around the memorabilia, flat iron, children`s games, plunger, rolling pin and the eternal dickie comb among lots of other stuff. Some of the young lads there were game to try some of the fashioned toys like the top and whip and diablo. Kevin stood in the stocks to be pelted by wet sponges for a small fee, Sylvia,Dorothy and Irene taught the men how to knit, there were raffles, bingo,cake decorating, fortune telling, cakes and cream teas and much more. Everything raised went to cancer research.

One lass I got chatting to had me in stitches with stories about her son who came home from school with news

"Mam, we`ve been learning about half a vegetable"

Turned out it was Harvest Festival.

Then when he sang a nursery rhyme Little Lucy`s Grandad which was his interpretation of Goosey Goosey Gander.

Aren`t kids great?

Don`t Call me Urban

National Poetry Day - Monkfish Productions

Monkfish Productions: National Poetry Day Special Event

Poetry Booth*
Thursday 7 October
@The Shed, High St South, Gateshead NE8 1EN
7-9pm (Free)

Just in time for National Poetry Day Monkfish Productions launches their shiny new Poetry Booth!
This is a unique travelling poetic portal like no other!
Come and share your poems, stories or thoughts for the day
Come and bring your musings on the theme of Home (this year's NP Day theme)
Or enjoy a free glass of wine or juice in The Shed's foyer space

We will have friendly Poetry Booth attendants and writing ideas to get your creative juices flowing. This is
YOUR chance to record your work in the booth!

For more info www.bit.ly/wordtank
See you at The Shed!

Cobblers to that.

I was talking to a friend, telling him about the reminiscence sessions I`ve been doing at care homes. I take along an old flat iron,dressing table brush set, ink well and pen,old books and photos, traditional games such as Ludo, marbles and top and whip. Then I go on to monologues, jokes and we finish off with singing. I mentioned to him that when we`d cleared my dad`s flat I left behind his cobbler`s last. R said "Open that door" There, was a silver last.
R "I made it when I worked at Scotswood iron foundry.you can have that." I was over the moon, it was so much more important that it was made by him.

I took it around to three venues, then was booked for a fourth. Decided to tidy my trolley out where I store them all and the last was missing!! I rang the other places I`d been, nothing. I was gutted. Then I started to pull everything out of the cupboards, I got into the shed, maybe D had used it to chock something open and forgotten to tell me, the garage, nothing!

Our G came around with three T shirts for me to take up on the machine, all different colours so I had to change the threads, then he brought out two dress shirts which were a bugger to line up the front. I got on chatting and mentioned that I had lost a cobbler`s last

G "What`s that?"

Me "Years ago people repaired their own shoes so they used a metal stand which usually had three different sized "feet"

G "Ah, that anchor looking thing...it`s in my garden!"

Without a by you leave, he had just picked it up to use as decoration next to his plant pots. It is now back in MY house, thanks very much! But something good came from the fiasco. I told my cousin the tale and she gave me a replica iron, the kind that people used to put hot coals inside. So G...you`ve done something right for once!

Jibba Jabba at the Trent

JibbaJabba

Saturday 11th September

Doors 8pm for 8.30 start


The Trent House (upstairs)

1-2 Leazes Lane, Newcastle.


A veritable feast of all things oratory, hosted by Karl Thomson and J.J.Pascoe.
Entertain us! Be entertained!
Cheap drinks, friendly faces, what more could you ask for?
Only £3 for a crackin' show, or perform yourself and get in absolutely free!!



If you're on Facebook, please join our group at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=138158896202998 for photos and event updates.


OR e-mail vaudevillainous@yahoo.co.uk to receive regular updates on future events.

Pink Lane Poetry & Perfomance

Jessica JohnsonSeptember 8, 2010 at 5:55pm
Subject: Pink Lane Poetry & Performance
Hello Pinky Poohs

After a long, hot, summer break....

Pink Lane Poetry & Performance is *** BACK***
Not 1..not 2...but 3 times sexier than before!!! WHEY!!

So my Pink Panthers get your FREAKIN' bottoms down to see us @ The Jazz Cafe this Thursday!.... with a host of arty farty delights in store we'll titillate your senses till you can't take no more.

Pink Lane 'because your worth it!'

Doors 7pm Show 8pm

£3 Entry!

By gum I've missed this crack!

X

Remembering Benwell

St James’ Church, Benwell

HERITAGE OPEN DAYS EVENTS
September 10TH-12TH 2010


Open for visitors:

Friday 10th 10.30-4, Saturday 11th 10.30-4.30, Sunday 12th 12 – 4.


Every day:

• Photographic displays – “Remembering Benwell” and “West end churches”.
• Explore the church and graveyard - self-guided tours.
• Find your ancestors - searchable data-base and plan of graveyard.
• Noah’s Ark exhibition – hundreds of woolly animals and a knitted Ark on display!
• Refreshments


Friday 10th September

10.30 a.m. Doors open. Coffee and scones.

11.00 a.m. Talk on: “Methodism in West Newcastle”:

2.00 p.m. Talk on: “The local heritage of John Dobson”:

4.00 p.m. Film show: “West Newcastle through the past century”


Saturday 11th September

10.30 a.m. Doors open

All day Family activities – graveyard trail, colouring, face painting, etc

11.00 a.m. Try our homemade cakes

11.30 a.m. Guided tour of church

2.00 p.m. Guided tour of church



Sunday 12th September

12 noon Doors open

All day Graveyard wildlife quiz

Rewind the 60`s (BBC Staff)

Rewind the 60`s

Was contacted by Tyne Bridge Publishing to ask if I was interested in speaking about the
60`s for the BBC. A programme to be screened for a week on daytime television. I happened to mention that I often take a look in a vintage shop called Attica, courtyard of the Old George pub. They decided to film me there. I wandered around the shop looking at clothing from the period,trying them on and recounting memories.

No wonder filming takes so long. Three times I was in full flow with what I had to say and was stopped because the pub were rolling beer barrels along the cobbles outside. Lighting was a problem in the shop, being an old building and pretty closed in along an alleyway, but the cameraman had filters and other wonderful things which I knew nothing about.

Knowing that the programme would go out in October sometime, I thought that would be all I`d hear until they had an exact date. Received a phone call asking if I would like to go to London to be filmed on a chat show called Rewind the 60`s with Lulu as the presenter...would I ever!! I was suddenly slammed back to when I was 13 dancing around the jukebox to Shout at the Spanish City in Whitley Bay. Friend K asked "Find out what she does to look so young."

A taxi picked me up at home and I was taken to Central Station with tickets for King`s Cross and a tube ticket to Paddington. A taxi picked me up there and I was taken to Ramada Hotel. I was given a voucher for £100 for my evening meal. As my daughter in law B was already in London working on a contract I met up with her later at Charing Cross. We went for a meal and a few drinks. Got back to hotel around 10.30.

Picked up again by taxi after breakfast and taken to Shepherd`s Bush studios where I was met by Claire who had sorted me out at Attica. Makeup was first, wow what a revelation. Everything was put on with a brush, liquid makeup, blusher, eyeshadow...even the eyebrows. I have NEVER had eyebrows like this! I looked like one of those women in the before/after shows. In the green room I was shown how they had put the film from Newcastle together and it`s great. Then, Lulu came walking up the corridor, I could only see her from behind, she was so slim with a light jumper with tiny jewelly things on and a fabulous pair of beige suede boots over her knee with high heels. I could see even from behind that her hair was lovely.

Heard her talking to someone and Claire said "That`s Zandra Rhodes." I was gobsmaked, we loved her in the 60`s, her adventurous styles and the way she dressed. At this point I`m waiting for other people to arrive who are to be on the show, maybe someone from Newcastle? But, no it`s only me! I was taken onto the set before Lulu and Zandra got settled for a look around. Took photos. It was brilliant, white tv, huge white chair which I could sit in, record player that released 6 discs at a time and one of those rocket shaped lava lamps.

Back in the green room I could see Lulu and Zandra on set chatting, but couldn`t hear them. The BBC staff were brilliant, popping in and out to chat and offer me food and drinks. Then it was my turn. They were really friendly and made me feel right at home. Lulu commented that my complexion was lovely, I was chuffed. Lulu directed questions alternately to me and Zandra. She sat in a cream leather chair and we were on a sofa. I was asked for my address so that Lulu could send me some of her products.

Then all too quickly I was in a taxi heading for Paddington tube station.

Dragging my little trolley case behind me I realised that nothing was getting through to King`s Cross from the usual line, I had to go to Edgeware to get another tube out. On arrival at King`s Cross I had two hours to spare so I went out to St Pancras Station for a look around and something to eat. Couldn`t resist calling in to Bodyshop for an eyebrow brush and powder! Got carried away and spent another £26 on other stuff, but I bet the make-up artist at the studio spends heaps more than that!

On getting back to King`s Cross it was packed...some poor bugger had landed on a train line, so nothing was getting into King`s Cross at all. We all waited until it was clear then things got moving. People were complaining, but I know that I`d rather be sitting there than having a policeman knocking at my door to tell me that someone I loved had died in that terrible way. Wouldn`t like to be in that house.

I was expecting to receive a few samples of beauty products similar to what Avon give out, but NO. A massive parcel arrived with Lulu`s Time Bomb and Bomb Shell range. Friend K was at my house at the time, she said "Quick, Google it to see how much it is!" Day, night, eye, foot and hand cream. I`ve used it since, the fragrance is lavender and it`s so light. I`ve taken the hand cream around with me and my friends have tried it, everyone comments on how gorgeous it is. Maybe I can look like Lulu....but isn`t it strange to think of all those years ago when I was dancing around the juke box, Lulu was jetting all over the world, wearing the best clothes, staying in hotels and I was in Whitley Bay. It`s taken forty odd years to meet her, she`s still going strong and as popular. Our lives couldn`t have been more different, but we still share our memories of the 60`s as being the best era.