Wednesday 26 January 2011

Off Side Rule






Maybe the reason why some women don`t understand the off side rule could be because the men are crap at explaining it! Every time I`ve asked husband, son any old man around, they all say the same thing "Well....its a bit complicated to explain." then they don`t bother. Could be that they don`t know either? Or even - because the game only involves two teams kicking a ball into eachothers nets, they somehow have to invent something to make it appear more interesting. But if you`re getting 1 million a year, you`ve already been warned for behaving like a 12 year old, wouldn`t you at least try to pretend that you were a professional? But it`ll be like everything else - for instance when a politician/celebrity gets a bollocking and is sacked (e.g. Johnathan Ross) they lie low for a while and when they think everyone has forgotten about it, lo and behold they`re back.

On the bus, there were 2 buggies already on and a mother with a third tried to board. The driver refused and it didn`t half cause a fuss. The women were saying things such as "It`s bloody terrible, other drivers let three on" and "Some of these drivers aren`t worth a light" etc then a bloke got involved "It`s up to the driver, he can use his own discretion whether to allow two or three on." and "It`s for health and safety reasons" and "What if a wheelchair gets on"

As this was all going on, a mobile phone sounded with Lulu`s Shout as the ring tone. A fella in his sixties wearing a Northern Rock baseball cap and carrying a Use me again carrier bag answered but was struggling to hear among the kerfuffle. I love being on the bus!

Saw Singles at Live Theatre, comdy monologues presented by members of Live`s Youth Theatre. It was hilarious, but all of the pieces had a sting in the tail. These young un`s can really act.

On a visit to a lady who lives in Knotts Flats at North Shields. her place is right at the top with fabulous views across the river. We went for a walk along towards the Collingwood memorial, didn`t even know it was there. She gave me some letters sent between her mother and father during WW2. They are in Airgraph form and in fabulous condition. I took them to a session I did at a care home and one man, who will be 105 in February, wearing his Green Howards tie was amazed to see them, it brought back memories for him. I have received the gas mask to add to my collection of objects to use during the memory sessions. This one isn`t WW2, but from Lithuania and quite new. WW2 models tend to have asbestos in them so I thought it best to use this one as people will be handling it. Still can`t find a mushroom shaped top and whip, I only have the cone shaped one.

Been involved in a project by Julie Ballands and Taryn Edmondson. Julie produced the Woolly West cd about a group of women in the West End who represented their area in knitting. There were buildings, rag and bone men, buses, tanks and gardens - all knitted beautifully. The lasses are filming local people and recording their memories. I`ve read a piece I wrote, stood on the land where my house once stood and travelled on the number 1 bus and submitted photos from my past. Looking forward to seeing their finished work.

Met old school pals Kath and Peter at the Old George. kath is visiting from Woodbridge and is trying to fit everyone in as well as taking her mother out and about, so it was great to catch up. We were joined by blast from the past Martin who delighted us all with his anecdotes. I`d love to record his memories, but I don`t suppose I`ll be doing another book, but it would be good to get the accounts on cd.

Had a lovely cup of coffee and a slice of chocolate mousse cake at La Boca Cafe, who needs an off side rule when you`ve got cake?

Thursday 13 January 2011

Stephen Tomkinson at Live



Had an invite to the launch of forthcoming events at Live Theatre. Stephen Tomkinson spoke of looking forward to working on Faith and Cold Healing. He`s from Stockton and feels like he`s coming home when he`s in the North East as he spends time in London and also travelling with his role in Wild at Heart. He was really relaxed, sitting on the stage and chatting to Max from Live. We watched excellent clips from Micky who appears in Singles and Beccy in Sawdust and Stardust.

I`m on the current writer`s group at Live and will begin the first session next week. If it`s anything like the Introduction to Playwriting course, it`ll be brilliant.

Watched Trevor Macdonald presenting The Secret Mediterranean - Tunisia. He went to a bull fight. The bulls have ribbons on their horns which are snatched off by runners. The runners escape by leaping over the boundary walls of the ring as the bull chases, no animal is harmed. Why can`t the Spanish adopt this method instead of killing the poor creatures?

Loose Women - some of them admitted to having personal shoppers. I too can share in this, my shopping is done personally by me!

Friday 7 January 2011

Amanda Baker (Pick `n` Mix)

Tickets £5
6.30 pm Wednesday
19th January
ARC Stockton Arts Centre,
Dovecot Street, TS18 1LL
Showcase
Comedy Drama Film Visual
Art
Spoken
Word
Pick
‘n’
mix
Start 2011 with one chance to see five multi-talented arts
practitioners under one roof on one night.
This unique mix of women will be showcasing Paintings
from Sri Lanka, Photographs from Teeside, Spoken word
from the Caribbean via Tyne and Wear, film from
Yorkshire and Geordie Visual Storytelling.
All available to book, buy or borrow. Make it your
January bargain. Fabulous no frills guarantee.
Programme includes:-
Proact Sue Buchan (theatre and film) “Passionate, powerful and persuasive”
Funny Fanny Amanda Baker (comedy spoken word) “Tremendously Talented”
Hot Paint Cool Ink Jayamini De Silva (art exhibition) “Breathtaking and beautiful”
Workout Shirley Anne Wood (photography exhibition) “creative and quirky”
Design in mind Hayley Rodgers (Visual storytelling) “Hilarious and hirsute”
in association with
Bookings @ Box Office: 01642 525199 email: box.office@arconline.co.uk

Thursday 6 January 2011

Check out what`s on at Live Theatre Newcastle (Sat 15th - 22nd January at 8pm)

Sawdust and Stardust
By Laura Lindow and Beccy Owen
Wanted: one climbing companion for the ascent of a lifetime.

Do you have:
a) an easy-going disposition
b) a ready supply of Kendal Mint Cake
c) the feeling that your life has come to a stand-still?

If the answer is YES then YOU could be the ONE I’m LOOKING for. Let’s live the dream. Feel the fear
and do it anyway! Sawdust and Stardust is the story of 30-something Stella in her ultimate quest to make a change and reach the top... But what goes up must come down.

From the recipients of Live Theatre and The Empty Space’s emerging artists’ bursary, celebrated singer songwriter Beccy Owen and acclaimed writer/director Laura Lindow comes a heartfelt one-woman show.
Weaving together a heady mix of quixotic music and imaginative text, this exhilarating new piece is set to
deliver an enigmatic evening in the company of a heroine whose own dark truth is the only version that counts.

This is your severe weather warning. So brush off the sawdust and stay close. Anything can happen when you’re up a height!

Why not book Sawdust and Stardust along with one of the accompanying workshops Voice in Performance or Building a ‘Musical Landscape’ for a special rate of £20; £15 concs. Call the box office on (0191) 232 1232 for more information.

Sunday 2 January 2011

Please hang up and try again later


Why say Pigs in blankets? I can cope with eating a sausage wrapped in bacon, I know it`s pork and from a pig, but there`s something unsavoury when they have that name. Other than that little old lady moan, it`s been a good Xmas and New Year. Now I`m ready to get cracking with new projects and updating old ones. I`ve ordered a gas mask from ebay to add to my collection of memorabilia. I didn`t know that WW2 masks had asbestos in them! So I`ll not be letting anyone try it on. Also ordered a 1960 telephonist`s headset. Brought back memories of when I was a G.P.0 telephonist. Hoax calls, pervert calls and irate customers spiced up the job. A man asked for a transfer charge call to Edmundbyers.

Me "I have a call from Edmundbyers, will you accept the charge?"

Woman "Yes"

Man "Hello"

Woman "Hello Edmund."

Man "You stupid cow, that`s the village I`m calling from!"

I once picked up a 999 call from a hysterical Spanish woman screaming for police. We were required to listen in at the beginning of a call to check that they were through to the appropriate service or if they put the phone down, the location could be traced. She screamed "Help Help", I imagined no less than a murder case. "My chickens have escaped" she yelled. When the policeman suggested that this was not an emergency, she shrieked back at him that it was to her and they had better get someone round there to round them up!!

I`ve got a booking for Age Concern soon, so I`ll pack up my collection of stuff from the past. Got some new stories and photos to add so I`m looking forward to trying them out.


Watched Inception, loved this film, now one of my favourites, a little bit Matrix-y but action packed and you ceratinly couldn`t make a cup of tea while it`s on. Got tickets for the play Faith and Cold Healing at Live Theatre, but that`s not on until March, so I`ll be looking around for something new in the meantime. On TV over the Xmas - Toast was brilliant and enjoyed the three episodes of Upstairs Downstairs and The Indian Doctor. Missed Meera Syal on Saturday radio playing Shirley Valentine, thought I could get it on iplayer, but it`s been taken off, hey that`s a bit early! I suppose I could try again later, but Alan Bennett`s Lady in the Van is available so I`ll listen to that for now.

Saturday 1 January 2011