Pre-Menopausal Women`s Pass(ed) Times

Don`t Cry For Me Argentina

2012-02-01T21:27:00.001Z

What have we learned from Margaret Thatcher`s attempt to divert public attention from her shite policies. When politics aren`t working to your advantage cause a war, now it`s happening again, Cameron is following suit. Why should British people think that they can just aquire an island and live there? Maybe our colonial past tells us that it`s ok? Here we go again

Decided to pick up where I left off from my teens and get back into drawing. Have the use of a studio in town courtesy of a friend who can`t use it on certain days. Thoroughly enjoyed being part of a life drawing group in the studio last Saturday and will certainly be there again in two weeks. Not sure if there will be a female model, first one was male. The room was packed, I worked on a wooden easle and we did around 8 two minute sketches of different poses. Didnt enjoy this, and was thinking that I wouldn`t go back, but once we got into the more detailed work of 40 and 20 minute drawings I felt right at home.

New-ish tapa`s restaurant in town, Las Iguana`s is a great place to be. Been there half a dozen times and loved it. Coconut chicken and choriso sausage washed down with a Dark and Stormy cocktail, mmmm. Course the company helps. Around 20 of us and great switching seats to chat.

Jacky Pittam`s art exhibition at People`s Theatre was amazing. She works from home and has a room to make a mess in. I find too many distractions at home and enjoy the perfect peace of being in a studio.

Big Bang Theory (Best comedy on tv)

2011-12-17T18:41:00.002Z

http://youtu.be/FigGBZkEVko

Check this out. A box set of the series is on my list for spends with xmas money

December, the Countdown Begins

2011-12-07T19:30:00.001Z

First visit to Iguana`s tapas bar in Grey Street with friends. Great atmosphere enhanced by two for the price of one cocktails. Didn`t order food, but Paul and Jane`s fayre looked soooo tasty. Had already eaten, but will be going here again soon to sample gamba`s, chorizo and chicken dishes. We met at 1.30 and the time passed so quickly chatting until 7.30

Southpaw on Friday at the Chillingham Arms was great with amazing pperformers. Looking forward to next year`s programme.

Watched a brilliant programme on BBC4 last night The Strange Science of Decay. A special glass room was constructed and monitored over 50 days. Fresh food, cooked meats, sandwiches and wine were left to rot and filmed. The most amazing patterns and formations emerged. First the flies and maggots moved in. When the last of the edible food was gone and only hardened skin on the pig and chicken were left, then the beetles took over. From among all of the dead things, life emerged in plants, wonderful.

Also watched Spinal Tap for the first time, side splitting stuff. The lyrics in their songs "You`re sweet, but you still got your baby teeth"
and comments "As long as there`s sex I can do without rock and roll" The mini-Stonehenge designed on a napkin. And, when one of the band is pulled up at customs with a cucumber down his kecks, hilarious. Watched Another Year, a bit depressing, miserable.

As usual D has his present early, an ipad which he is using regularly. Unlike last year`s present, a wii fit! It has been under the tv stand since January this year with the occasional dusting. However there is an Abba dance disc out, so he might be persuaded to follow that?

Hoshyar-Foundation

2011-12-07T18:40:00.000Z

http://portal.sliderocket.com/BBVXH/Hoshyar-Foundation

Newcastle Winter Book Festival

2011-12-02T16:29:00.001Z

Was asked to volunteer at the book festival.

At first imagined that I would be serving books, offering a puppet show or crafts session, no, serving tea with a request to wear my pinny and turban. Hundreds of parents and children attended the event which was packed with activities. A magician, circus performer, many eminent authors. Thoroughly enjoyed the day chatting with lots of interesting people.

Central library put on a great event on Sunday 27th. Poems and Pastries. Poets Catherine Graham, Tom Kelly and Peter Bennet read from their collections. The Northumbrian Language Society members read and spoke of how they promote, preserve, research and publish rich dialects from Northumberland to Durham (including Tyneside) AND there was tea and cakes!

Borderline Books

2011-12-02T15:53:00.001Z

A kindly member of the public donated a fridge, all we had to do was pick it up. Now we can take a sandwich to keep us going. Last week A gave 600 books away to a community group who are setting up a multi-language library. So there were more book boxes to empty, stamp and sort into languages and categories. A task which I thoroughly enjoy as this project is so worthy. Trouble is that I always see a book or two that I like, while trying to sort my books at home, I bring a bag full to donate, then go away with a few more!!

A curious thing happened, I noticed an old paperback, The World of Suzi Wong, printed in 1957, I remembered that my mother had a copy of this and thought that I would take it to read. On flipping through, discovered a poem in a language that I didn`t recognise, but a name stood out which I did, Yvonne, my own name. Got home and keyed in a couple of words into Google Translations. It`s Dutch, so I could have asked Amina to translate as she has lived there and is fluent. Next Monday will offer it up to her. Some of the words meant ice, cold, mountains, so really curious to know more.

Amina found a piece of paper with the words "uncontrolled stock" How ironic is that, in a place where every bloody thing is? Couldn`t miss the opportunity to take a photo of her among the sea of literature. On the theme of sea, another thing that I have learned today, Silverfish. Two of the little horrors wriggled out from a book I was stamping. First time I have encountered such things, yet everyone that I have mentioned this to already know about them. They eat paper an are usually found in foisty old damp buildings. I suppose this is the problem, receiving donations of books, we don`t know where they have been stored.

Received a fabulous book through the post today. After taking photos at the 60`S Experience and sending them to Alan Mosca of Herman`s Hermits, I was sent a gift from the lads. A limited edition of rare photos of Cliff, not actually one of my favourite performers, but the photos are outstanding, book in a presentation box and black and white photo included. What a lovely thought.

Talking Heads (Psycho Killer)

2011-11-19T22:33:00.000Z

This reminds me of when our Paul was in his heavy metal days. Having to sit in a smoky den of the Golden Fleece in Marlborough because he was only 16, listening to their group blasting Rancid, headachesville days, but good fun.

Chaos Theory (The Butterfly Effect)

2011-11-16T13:29:00.000Z

Hope that this programme comes out on dvd soon, fantastic.

Alan Turing

2011-11-16T12:59:00.001Z

Looking forward to attending the reception at Saville Exchange Building to celebrate Tommy Brown, WW2 hero who rescued the Enigma codes from a sinking ship. Tommy had joined the navy as an under-age kitchen hand. When the ship was going down he retrieved the books, climbed up the ladder holding them under his arm. Turing would have been proud. I had the good fortune to meet Tommy`s sister at the last event held at North Shields where I read some of my poems recorded in Monkfish Productions poetry booth.

Turing was persecuted for being gay. He was offered a choice to accept beinging injected with female hormones or jail. He chose the former which drove him to commit suicide. He was in his early forties. We think computing has advanced, what if he`d lived? Because of evolution in computing, this reinforces my belief that we have no need of a creator, just a designer, self organisation....the way to go.

Fountain of Sorrow (Jackson Browne)

2011-11-15T22:24:00.002Z

Crocodile Tears

2011-11-15T22:15:00.001Z

Brother D L and sister in law A here again to sort me out on the computer. De-fragging again and deleting and re-installing itunes. D was working separately in his room trying to put stuff on a disc, he shouted through for DL, he replied "Are you sure it`s not your discs, last time I was round here I went to take one from the tower and at least 10 of them were covered in tomato sauce?" "No, no, they`re fine." DL came back to me and A, showing us a disc "Look at this, I just took it randomly from the middle of the pile!!!" It was scratched to hell. When DL points this out to D, he comes back with "Well I don`t know how that`s happened, I`m very careful with discs. "Right, so Peter Rabbit came in" I said and A added "He came in and shit on them and then wiped his arse on them" To which DL quotes randomly, which he is apt to do. "An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile hoping it will eat him last." We all then ping pong about looking for quotes, I like Rupert Murdoch, brother wants Winston Churchill and A would rather listen to Depeche Mode. D has lost interest and goes back from whence he came. My favourite RP quote is "I`m a catalyst for change. You can`t be an outsider and be successful for 30 years without leaving a certain amount of scar tissue around the place." Then we learn from DL that the crocodile quote is one of Winston`s.

DL was talking about music and recommended Mamalian Locomotion, but thought that the track was "Something.......your inhibitions?" We looked for it and turned out it was Shelter your Needs, so very alike!! I suggested we play a Pink cd, DL plays You`re speaking my language by Juliette Lewis and the Licks on youtube and we agree that Pink was influenced by her. I`m really enjoying listening to new music at the moment, inspired by KF who has put some fabulous tracks on my ipod shuffle. Jackson Browne Fountain of Sorrow a favourite among many others. Once I`m familiar with itunes, I`ll be raring to go. D likes Katherine Jenkins.

DL wants to put one of his Radiohead cd`s in my stereo and asks how to open it as it has 3 disc tables, I say left, no the right side of the left one with the 3 little lights, he replies "Don`t apply for a job as an interface designer" (Who would have thought that this lovely little child, pictured, would have such a tongue? It`s a good job that I love him!

We get back on track after D disappears back in his room again. More de-fragging and A mentions that my book case could do with de-fragging, so to teach her a lesson, I make up a bag of 8 or so books to take home with her, she also gets a jumper, but don`t get me started on de-clagging the wardrobe!!

David Luscombe (Photographer, musician, designer)

2011-11-15T21:32:00.002Z

https://plus.google.com/116133710641268277011#116133710641268277011/photos

The Tremeloes

2011-11-14T22:52:00.002Z

Freddie and The Dreamers

2011-11-14T22:49:00.002Z

Herman`s Hermits

2011-11-14T22:46:00.002Z

Union Gap

2011-11-14T22:44:00.000Z

60`s Experience, Tyne Theatre Newcastle upon Tyne

2011-11-13T18:58:00.001Z

A fantastic show at Tyne Theatre, performed by Herman`s Hermits, The Dreamers, The Tremeloes and Union Gap.

JazzCafe (Pink Lane Poetry and Performance) Halloween Party

2011-11-13T15:15:00.000Z

Fantastic belated Halloween party at the Jazz Cafe. Burlesque by the marvelous Toxic Cherry, haunting poetry by Shaft, comedy resident duo F & L had us all in stitches with their act. Robbie Lee Hurst and improv muscic group were fantastic.

The brilliant Claire Morgan of Monkfish stunned us with her performance, some new acts which were great, but well done to everyone especially Jess for staging the event.

Visited the studio in the old Waygood building on High Bridge with K, we are to have a space here to paint. Must sort my easle out to transport there so that I can finish a painting I have started. Problems at home being too many distractions with computer, books, housework etc, so it will be great to just BE in this fabulous building to concentrate on art for a change.

Germaine Greer and Guy Fawkes

2011-11-07T23:33:00.002Z

Enjoyed the talk by Germaine Greer at the Sage, a full house. A more mellow self, but still hugely entertaining and informative. Freedom, children are the least free of our society, which begins from being swaddled and then ordered around. I agree that children need rules, but I didn`t ever have any growing up and was allowed to roam around as I pleased without restriction.

A mix of bad parenting and free thinking. The old saying "Never did me any harm." comes to mind, but is that true or did me and my brother just "bury bad news" as they also say? Greer explored Sharia law, the hijab, women`s lib, rape and orgasm comparing the latter to revolution, it doesn`t last.

Guy Fawkes gathering at my brother D`s and sister in law A`s.....We open the patio door and there is much steam from the oven. Husband D`s glasses steam up and he asks me for a tissue. He is very irritated as I root through my bag, not quick enough for him, so I say "It`s not going to kill you to wait for a tissue is it??" my brother shows where his allegiance lies when he says "It would if you had cyanide on your eyes"

My brother made a pizza, his own base to which he`d added yeast. It is the
6th of November, Sunday. He`s showing off wafting the dough which has risen due to addition of yeast. Jamie like, he spreads the secret ingredients,then black olives, fresh prawns and 2 cheeses. The taste, I have to admit is wonderful, bastard!!! We quaff red wine and sister in law A saws wood to fuel the chimenea. Brother D pontificates on using a patio heater, could his carbon footprint be sullied? I point out that the people who pontificate to us on such subjects AKA Tony Blair, have 3 houses and have enough furniture in their homes to supply a small rain forest, fly around the world more times than Tom Pepper, so why should we worry about a teensy weensy little patio heater? We KNOW that we are adding to global warming, but it`s only a tiny contribution, isn`t it???

So... we dress up in halloween costumes that I brought and brother says "It`s not technically Halloween is it?" to which I reply
"Well, it`s not technically Guy Fawkes being the 6th is it?" "Aye" he says "Fair point, another drink?"

Being a greedy cow, I have eaten chilli with loads of cheese on top and a slice of pizza. People are in the garden setting off rockets and going "Ooooh, that`s a lovely one" and I spy a bowl of nuts on the kitchen table. After eating most of them, brother D is really concerned when I say "Lovely nuts" he gasps "They were for the bird table, they`re not fit for human consumption!!" to which my lovely husband drawls "That`s ok, she`s not human"

We hear A shouting "Is it ahad" The fire she means, so we need more wood.
D and A take it in turns to saw wood and we sit outside from 6.30- 11.30, it`s freezing cold, but we are well wrapped up in our woolly coats, scarves, witches hats, wings and vampire capes. Nobody remembered the false nashers which we had last year.

Brother D wants to show me the spiders colony they have in their shed, WHAT, is he mad, can`t he remember the near fainting fits at the sight of a spider. Although I am reaching at the thought, he still goes on to describe the "lovely patterns" on their backs "Shut up, or you will end up on the bonfire!" But, he`s back in the good books as he rang next day to find out if I`m ok after gorging on birdy num nums. (For the people who don`t get the reference, it`s from The Party starring Peter Sellers, watch it, the best film ever)

BBC 3 Free Thinking Festival (Celestial Navigation Radio on ne`fm)

2011-11-07T22:46:00.001Z

http://celestialnavigation.podomatic.com/entry/2011-11-04T17_34_06-07_00

Enjoyed reading my poems with Catherine Graham at The Sage on Friday. Wilfred Owen`s poem left a lasting impression of war, waste of young lives, it is still happening.

"Coming live from the Sage Gateshead in the hour before the start of the Radio 3 Free Thinking Festival:
We speak first with Matthew Dodd, Editor of Speech at Radio 3 about the Free Thinking Festival and why everyone should come to the Sage this weekend to hear a myriad of speakers and ideas.
Then we remember the poet Wilfred Owen who was killed on November 4 1918. His parents received the news a week later on 11 November - Armistice Day. Three poems of Owen read to a background of excerpts from Benjamin Britten's War Requiem.
Then we have the return of the 'Daughters of Tyne' - local poets Catherine Graham and Yvonne Young who read their poems about the area as it once was, 'women's work' and many other local memories. - all bound together with the music we grew up with."

My Sharona (Reality Bites)

2011-11-07T22:39:00.000Z

Love this film and the music.

Free Thinking Festival at the Sage (Friday 4th November 4-6 p.m)

2011-11-03T00:29:00.000Z

Will be reading my poems and prose with Catherine Graham at the Sage this Friday as Daughters of Tyne. Amina Marix Evans is hosting (Celestial Navigation Radio) for BBC3.

Mandelbrot

2011-11-03T00:22:00.002Z

Mandelbrot Sets

2011-11-03T00:18:00.003Z

We don`t need a creator, only a good designer

Tom Waits "Take it with me when I go" (Snow Cake)

2011-10-18T23:38:00.003+01:00

Man Booker Prize

2011-10-18T22:44:00.000+01:00

Enjoyed a lovely lunch at Newcastle`s Slug and Lettuce and had a tour around the Drum Centre, what a fabulous old building, must visit the archive to research the history of the place.

Busy day today, three meetings which went very well. I have another reading/memories group to start on 1st November and new contacts for mental health projects.

Get in!!! Man Booker Prize won by Julian Barnes "The Sense of an Ending". Just got back from Toon Man Booker at Newcastle`s own Central Library where we were treated to the first chapter from the 6 shortlisted books. We were split into 8`s with wine and nibbles to help the decision making. Snowdrops was a contender, here was me thinking what a lovely title, when it was explained that
in Russia after the harsh winter thaw, bodies are discovered, usually vagrants, murder victims and unfortunate drunks, so they are given the name "Snowdrops". I bought and voted for the winner, can`t wait to start this one

"I remember, in no particular order:
- a shiny inner wrist;
- steam rising from a wet sink as a hot frying pan is laughingly tossed into it;
-gouts of sperm circling a plughole, before being sluiced down the full length of a tall house;- a river rushing nonsensically upstream, it`s wave and wash lit by half a dozen chasing torchbeams;

(and also love this part)

"We live in time - it holds us and moulds us - but I`ve never felt I understood it very well. And I`m not referring to the theories about how it bends and doubles back , or may exist elsewhere in parallel versions. No, I mean ordinary, everyday time, which clocks and watches assure us passes regularly: tick-tock, tick-tock."

Loved the launch of Tyne Bridge Publisher`s new book All Right Now on the 70`s, also at Central Libary, as usual the speakers were spot on and very entertaining. I have my free copy as a contributor. My piece centered on my time as a G.P.O telephonist during the strike in 71.

Husband D purchased one of those air freshner contraptions which puff- blast evevery 20 minutes, fine, but it scared the shit out of me. I was watching a programme and just as someone mentioned "And they hid the body under the floorboards..." the bloody thing puffed out and I nearly shit myself!!

Just bought Reality Bites, it`s a long time since I watched this film, but I love the part where the 4 friends are waiting to be served in a service station. My Sherona is playing on the radio and 3 of them start dancing in the aisle while the fourth is mortified. Also watched The Notebook and was in floods of tears, brilliant!! The Butterfly Effect is a great film. Called in to A Touch of Class on Adelaide Terrace, second hand goods, 4 dvd`s for a quid, hence the list of films. Watched The Five People you Meet in Heaven, read the book and it sticks reliably to the text.

My eldest son G bought me a bottle of Monsoon perfume! What is he after I ask, but still, I shouldn`t complain, he often presents me with chocolate, so anyone who can do that is ok in my opinion, especially is it`s Twirl, yum.

Ira Lightman and Andrew Mcmillan (Lit and Phil) 3rd October 2011

2011-10-05T20:14:00.001+01:00

Richard W Hardwick "Andalucia" Lit and Phil 30th September 2011

2011-10-05T19:58:00.001+01:00

Ira Lightman and Andrew Mc Millan (Lit and Phil)

2011-10-05T19:17:00.001+01:00

Colin Will "Sushi and Chips"

2011-10-05T18:59:00.002+01:00

Poems
This is a selection from my published poems.

The Red-eye

I leave this at your ear for when you wake,
the shell I picked up last week from the beach.
You said you heard the long waves curl and break,
reminding you of times now out of reach.
I slip out of the room and close the door,
leaving your house as quietly as I came.
The parcels for the kids are on the floor –
just books, no toys, CDs or X-Box games.
I’ll walk into town and catch the early bus.
My flight’s at noon, so I’ll have lots of time.
I hate goodbyes, you know I can’t stand fussed
departures, tears we’d both regret, the pantomime
of hugs and hands stretched out for one last touch
where fingers fail but lips would be too much.

From: The floorshow at the Mad Yak Café, Red Squirrel Scotland
Copyright © Colin Will, 2010

To listen to an MP3 of this poem, click here.

A short history of Xi’an

The Great Walls of Chang’an once divided
outsider from insider, barbarian from citizen.

No more. We stroll along the broad rampart
between parapets, peer down into smoggy city,

take grey photos with phones. A tall T’ang warrior
dawdles to the guardhouse, shiny breastplate

of moulded resin, helmet crowned with red nylon plumes.
In a side temple at the Great Goose Pagoda

I make three fearless bows to the Buddha. A little man
sidles in, looks both ways before kneeling.

He would have been all right, I believe, even if witnessed,
and he’s surely better for performing right actions.

Some varieties of experience must be undertaken,
not just observed. In the evening news comes

of a new feathered dinosaur from Liaoning Province,
but this is not a novelty. That is how birds became.

From: The floorshow at the Mad Yak Café, Red Squirrel Scotland
Copyright © Colin Will, 2010

Circumstantial evidence

On the backside of her denim skirt
the traces of a faint green tinge,
a many-washed echo of grass stains,
the weight of him an unregretted pressure,
the rightness of it, a sudden mutual crush,
her smiling invitation, his rugged blush.

She remembers his clothes, a spring shirt,
soft collar checks in her fingers,
the roughness of his afternoon face
against her neck - a file to freedom,
an hour snatched out of destiny
and a programmed life,
sandwiches and kisses
with a young near stranger, all
the dangers of a crowded park.

Her husband knows she wears it
in a good mood, he’s happy
that she smiles, though the reason
escapes him, something he can’t quite
put his finger on.

From Sushi & Chips, Diehard Press, 2006, available from Calder Wood Press
Copyright © Colin Will, 2006

Take Ten, Cumberland Arms.

2011-09-23T09:34:00.002+01:00

Heritage Day, Saville Exchange

2011-09-14T00:14:00.000+01:00

Are Poets Mad?

2011-09-13T23:53:00.002+01:00

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12368624

Steve Urwin book launch Shades of Grey (Red Squirrel)

2011-09-09T13:31:00.001+01:00

Tuesday, October 4 · 7:00pm - 9:00pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Location Literary & Philosophical Society
23 Westgate Road
Newcastle, United Kingdom

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Created By Steve Urwin

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More Info The eagerly anticipated publication of Steve Urwin's new book. Shades of Grey is a brooding collection of prose vignettes, diary entries and nightmarish reveries from one of the most prolific spoken word artists in the North East.

Joint launch with first Red Squirrel Press non-fiction publication, Mike Pratt's (CEO Northumberland Wildlife Trust) Iona, a Spiritual Landscape.

Tuesday 4th October - 7.00pm - Part of Red Squirrel Press Week at Lit & Phil

Telephone: 0191 232 0192 or email: library@litandphil.org.uk

On Being a People Watcher

2011-09-06T20:22:00.000+01:00

I couldn`t live in a better position, a field right outside my front door which is peopled by dog walkers and kids playing. A huge green metal fence runs from the end of my garden through the middle of the field. This doesn`t please the kids, when their ball goes over the top, they have to walk the full perimeter to retrieve it, poor darlings. So they hit on an idea which involved digging a kind of moat under the fence. They slide their legs through and u shape under.

This has it`s drawbacks for other field players. A man out with his labrador dog watched as the animal scrabbled under the moat and was thoroughly enjoying itself running about in the field beyond. The owner was screaming "Get here, get here!!" all to no avail. Then he began bashing the lead against the fence and stamping his feet. Fido wasn`t paying the least bit attention. There is one couple who walk their shit machine, they carry the little plastic bag as if to say, "We are public spirited individuals who clean up after our pet." But when it craps, they turn the other way. As I say, it`s great to live here watching what goes on.

Over the years I`ve seen an alcoholic stashing her booze among the grass near the fence. Helped a kid down who was impaled by the hands, rang 999 when a lass was kicked by a horse, rang 999 when an old lady was pulled over by her dog and suffered a dislocated knee. Chased R H when he was smashing glass. But today I`ve seen my first robin of the year, and that means cold weather usually, so the walkers will be few and far between before long and the picture show will cease for the time being.

D was bumbling around in the bedroom before leaving for work. I had dozed off again and then nearly jumped out of my skin as I felt a hand on my nose.

Y "What are you doing?"
D "I thought you were dead, I was just checking."
Y "Well you nearly killed me you daft bugger!"

Sometimes I am also expected to be a mind reader.

D (Looking in the cupboard) "Where`s the lawnmower?"
Y "In the fridge?"
D "I mean the hoover"
Y "I think you were using it in the garage."

And also

D "I`ve just seen what the m`call her."
Y "Gis a clue"
D "You know who I mean"
Y "Not really."
D "Who I said I was going to call on"
Y "Nora?"
D "Aye, her. Her son, what`s his name, is going to give me a call, just in case he rings when I`m out and you don`t know who it is."
Y !!!!!!!

Well, time for a gin and orange.

Dr Whoooowoooohooo

2011-09-05T14:34:00.002+01:00

Kids do wonders for your self confidence, who`d have them? After the last car burst into flames, D swore that he wouldn`t get another 2nd car, he`d make do with the one he has. I gave him a couple of months, sure enough he now has another. An Alpha Romeo which has also been polished within an inch of it`s life! Son G called around to view the vehicle. I turned the corner into the garage to overhear

G "Naa, naa, you do`nt want to be doing that!"
D "You`re mother just wants to learn to drive again and use this car"
Y "No, you`re mother doesn`t want to do that at all!"
G "Good, because I know for a fact that you`d prang it up"
D "She used to be a good driver, but she lost her confidence"
G "She`d be a bloody liability on the road"

We decided to have a trip out to Beamish, well D did, and I found out that there was a car rally event on. However when we arrived there were only about nine cars, 7 Viva`s and 2 Victor`s. I was over the moon as we wouldn`t be trawling round and around, stopping and talking to various blokes about fan belts etc. I said "Get in" and D replied "You`re all heart!" I sat at the picnic table while D told the lass at the desk that they were an HA car, Ha van, HB Viva, Hc Viva, FD Victor and 2 Viva Gt`s. She said that she had always wanted to know what they were. She allowed him to lift the bonnets and nose around. I went for a sugar cornet with a flake in! The merry go round was spinning away to I`d Like to Teach the World to sing and people were milling around with their camera`s snapping the trams and people dressed up in period clothing.

We had been there for about an hour and a half when my mobile rang

G "Why isn`t dad answering his mobile, I have an emergency here!"
Y "I`ll put him on, his phone isn`t getting a signal"
D (Listens to the tirade of why are we not at home, where have we been etc) "I told you not to touch that pipe....I said that it wasn`t defunct....it`s your own f.....yes, it is. Well didn`t you turn off the stopcock?"

So we were on our way home, minus the stop off at a pub for dinner. D had to go to Wickes for supplies, repaired the pipe which G didn`t actually stump up for afterwards.

Brother D and sister in law A came round to ours last night. Brother had been baking a fab chilli game pie and he brought some samples. We had a few drinks and it was revealed that son G has been on Facbook telling the tale of the flood in his house. (I have been denied a friend request from said son, his brother doesn`t mind, being the more mature sibling)

Quote G " The day you wish you'd never started. Yip house flooded due to my own stupidity, that pipes defo ok to cut and remove......doh, by the rivers of Babylon. In my defence the tit who originally installed them did it wrong. Never my own fault, never.....
"bank of young" had to come round and fix it. how dare he go out on a sunday and not answer his phone, off with his head.

But...this is not the only revelation from his site!!!

"that moment in a bar in town when u look across the room and c a woman....its my mam 100% i keep lookun, its defo her, then she starts snoggin a random, cnt believe it, i storm over lookin staring and get filthy looks from a couple, its not my mam but her double, dohhhh feel like even more of a tit than normal"

As I said, kids, who`d have em? They are enemies of the state..exterminate..exterminate!!

Amanda Baker

2011-09-05T14:10:00.000+01:00

Amanda Baker
with extracts from her Edinburgh Fringe shows
In

SNAIL LOVE!
*
Comedy & Performance Poetry - benefit gig

Morpeth Rugby Club - Mitford Rd.

Tuesday Oct 4th 8.30 – 9.45p.m. with interval
(pay bar from 7.30 – 10.30p.m.)

Tickets £7 from Morpeth Methodist Church Reception or on the door

All proceeds to
Pearl of Africa Child Care ltd.
charity no. 1122809

*
N.B. audience shots from the show may appear on the internet

Jibba Jabba (Jenni`s birthday)

2011-08-23T09:23:00.002+01:00

tor" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">

2CI%2BJ%2B%2526%2BK.jpg" />

Linda`s 50th

2011-08-14T14:20:00.002+01:00

iv>

Cumberland

2011-08-12T13:15:00.000+01:00

Take Ten (Cumberland Arms)

2011-08-12T12:33:00.004+01:00

http://s1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee479/MichelleBaylyPhotography/Take%20Ten%20Poetry%20Night%2028th%20July%202011/

Identity on Tyne (Literary and Philosophical Society Newcastle)

2011-08-03T22:46:00.002+01:00

Thursday 15 September 7.30pm
ID on Tyne Plays Host to American Poet

Sheree Mack will be introducing Lynn Ciesielski to the North East via the Lit and Phil. Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne.
There will be a special reading from ID on Tyne poets such as Catherine Graham and Maggie Tate, as well as our special USA guest, Lynn Ciesielski.
Lynn Ciesielski hails from the States. She has spent most of her life in Buffalo, upstate New York. Lynn has a Master's Degree in Special Education and worked for twenty-three years with disabled adults and children. Two years ago, she took an early retirement and now devotes most of her energy to her poetry. Lynn is soon to be guest editor of the Poetry Kit online magazine Transparent Words, she is thrilled to be here sharing her work on Tyneside.

Benwell`s Big Houses (Mike Greatbatch)

2011-07-21T23:45:00.000+01:00

Heavy Metal

2011-07-21T23:20:00.000+01:00

Someone gave me a toffee, knew I shouldn`t have taken it, greedy cow! Felt something inside it, my crown. Now I have a black peg of an old tooth showing until my appointment at the dentists. I look like one of the owld hags that stood around the guilotine, knitting. I`ve asked for another silver crown to be taken out at the same time and a white one to replace. The existing one is like a bullet, huge bloody thing. I was told that they are apparently ordered from China, one size fits all and made up from old keys and scrap metal. Hope it doesn`t hurt too much, I`m a dreadful coward where pain is concerned!! Still,I`ve got until the 12th to prepare myself.

Very good session this morning. I read from Great Expectations, Miss Haversham and Pip, they loved it and lots of discussion arose regarding their experiences of past feelings of being left out and made to feel inadequate. Stories from evacuation and large families.

Straight to Discovery Museum and a meeting to discuss the possibility of my being able to borrow equipment to enhance my sessions. Met some great people who are just as keen as me to share resources. I was given a tour behind the scenes, they have dozens of fab boxes with everything from Greek, Roman, Victorian and war time. Mediatheque is the most fabulous thing I have experienced for a long time. Little booths with up to three headphones, you can access any film from their archive. This will be on my list for places to go!

Spent a little time afterwards at 4.30 in a charity shop which has boxes of photos, selected a dozen and also bought a few cd`s.

The smell of smoke was still evident when I got home at 5.30. This morning, cooked chicken, but being clever decided to boil potatoes and carrots just before I left the house. Forgot didn`t I? Caught the carrots, but the potatoes were a chisle job to remove from the pan. It looked like a little moonscape, blackened with peaks of white peeping through. Windows opened and air freshner don`t do it!

Decided to put my name down for Improv session at the Jazz Cafe on 25th August. £5 and cheap at double the price.

And All that Jazz

2011-07-19T19:01:00.002+01:00

Spent a lovely week in St Ives, apart from the fact that I was expecting a log cabin and ended up in little more than a shed. The bedroom had a circle light above the door and no bedside lamp. Wardrobe, home made and painted white was closed, but on putting clothes inside refused to once more. It was right next to the bedroom door. So when I got up to visit the bathroom during the night, unable to shed light on the situation I wandered inside the wardrobe.

Bathroom with sliding door which was just as well because bath, toilet and hand basin were all fighting for space. You would have been able to turn on the taps while sitting on the loo if you`d a mind to. The bath was an old scratched ceramic type and it was necessary to get dried standing in the bath as there was no space.

However, it was set in woods with ancient trees with squirrels and rabbits running around. Not that we were in there much as we went into St Ives town most days, Newquay, St Austell and Zennor. Favourite place was Gwithian where Godrevy lighthouse (on which Virgia Woolf based her novel To the Lighthouse) is situated. We did take a peek at Talland House, but it`s quite expensive to stay there, one day!

I took part in a painting session with St Ives Artists, £5 to paint to Jazz music which was very satisfying. It must be great to go on a week painting holiday, but there`s not much chance of that when D waited at the harbour until I`d finished, couldn`t be persuaded to join in. One lady had difficulty getting started "I don`t understand the music!" I remember years ago when I ran a creative group. A group of older women who had been through the system where everything had to be kept within the lines. They`d asked for a session making something for children so I took some silk, paints and as an example a clown drawing which I`d done at home. They all wanted to make a clown, although there were other designs. They even chose the exact colours I`d used. When I pointed out that they could choose their own colours, they said "We want to do it properly" They were of a generation where anyone showing innovation or individuality would be classed as "Well up themselves."

Don`t get me started on the press, police and politicians steeped in it up to their eyebrows. Slap them all with shaving foam I say!

Quote of the day by David Icke

""Politics, now there`s a funny thing. It comes from the word "poly" meaning many and "tics" meaning blood sucking insects, ironic isn`t it?"

Northern Pride 2011

2011-07-19T18:12:00.000+01:00

The weather was appalling, but that didn`t put off the party animals at Northern Pride. The cabaret tent put on a fabulous show, there were tea , beer arts and crafts tents, healthworks, bands, fair ground entertainment and much more.

Take Ten. Cumberland Arms Thursday 28th July

2011-07-18T19:00:00.000+01:00

Take Ten will be back at the Cumberland Arms on 28th July with ten artists, each with ten minutes to entertain you with spoken word and acoustic music.

July will feature the seductive Radikal Queen, the thought-provoking Amina Evans, delightfully funny Yvonne Young, slam winning Ian Williams, accomplished poet Mark Corcoran-Lettice, with special visitors from Middlesbrough King Ink.

King Ink was born out of the gutters of Teesside and the disturbed minds of Michael Hann, Tim Marshall and John Chadwick. Together they produce award winning short films, write zines, make merry multi media murder with poetry and prose and take part in various performance events around the North East and UK.

We are delighted to welcome poetry newcomers Richard Want and Gene Groves, and the return of Take Ten’s favourite strum maestro Robby Thinman, and musical newcomers Alix and Justin. Your host for the evening is Poetry Jack.

Bonnets and Old Boots

2011-06-22T22:43:00.002+01:00

Boot sales are curious places. Rooting through a cardboard box, I saw a furry ET next to The Joy of Sex manual. Overheard a woman talking to someone she was with, "Our Pauline just bought a pair of toe clippers" Sellers display their way of life to everyone passing by, what they have read - books including Jordan. This all went on at Hexham Auction Mart, a huge place where animals are usually held, but on Sundays each seller has his own pen in which to round up their goods.

I defy anyone to go there and not come away with something, that they don`t really need! Hence I was tempted by the offer of two necklaces for £1. But, I now have a poss stick, which will be great for one of my memories sessions.(Brass with wooden handle, Co-op) Also some cd`s for 50p each. It`s such a large place, I overheard a woman on her mobile "Yes, yes, I`ll be there soon, I`m still trying to find my way out." This could be what I need to get rid of some of my old tat, but as D is always reminding me "You haven`t got any old tat, only new tat that you haven`t worn!"

Made a start sorting stuff to take, but so far I have only selected 3 books, it`s like drawing teeth parting with them. D is watching Inglorious Bastards and so far I have heard them saying "Achtung" "Schnell,schnell" and wonder when they will come out with Swinehund! There is lots of talk of "broads" and much male bravado. There seems to be one woman who can use a gun, but even when she shoots a nazi dead she looks like she`s part of a fashion shoot.

At last, I now have control of the controls and can watch Vintage tv. The Clash are on, London`s Calling and God Save the Queen by the Sex Pistols, now that`s more like it. Kim Wilde is hosting, I remember watching her dad!! Where has the time gone?

The Pitmen Painters at People`s Theatre was excellent, we enjoyed the show so much that we have also booked to see Lee Hall`s company in August at Tyne Theatre. Looking forward to writing for radio workshop at Live Theatre on Thursday then watching the play The Girls from Poppyfield Close. Just discovered that Herman`s Hermits and others will be coming to Tyne Theatre later in the year, must go to see that show.

Not everything has gone ok. D swapped his vintage Singer 24 for a Jaguar XK8. Only had the bloody thing for six weeks and it caught fire as he was driving. Luckily, as he wasn`t aware, staff from an estate agents rushed from their office with fire extinguishers. The fire brigade were called. Windscreen melted, roof a mess, bonnet had to be prised open, so it`s a write-off. But nobody hurt and insured so no harm done. D is gutted as he loved this car, says that it has put him off having an older car, but I`ll give him a fortnight. You don`t just admit defeat with a passion.

Black Light Engine Room 1st Birthday (Middlesbrough)

2011-06-19T20:07:00.002+01:00

Joan Armatrading

2011-06-16T17:45:00.000+01:00

Daughters of Tyne

2011-05-29T10:09:00.000+01:00

Spider eating

2011-05-10T14:09:00.006+01:00

While on the phone to my son and daughter in law, they request that I switch on tv to check out Gordon`s Great Escape. Ramsay is in Cambodia and is told that cooking massive spiders is the way to go. However, a lady looking on continually holds a cloth up to her face. Now you may argue that she was feeling the heat. But I suspect that she too found mashing a blackened claw fisted arachnid between your teeth a little barf making! As he mulled it over in his mouth, he states that it`s surprisingly like Kentucky Fried Chicken, crunchy, until he bites into the body where a puss ridden mess explodes into his mouth. I warn you two...I`ll set Chico onto you.

Just to continue with the sick making comments, I was on the bus when a balding gentleman sat in front. He scratched around his head until he found a scab, then proceeded to flick bits of skin around the place. I quickly pulled my shopping bag towards me and fled to another seat.

I`ve finally managed to send in my 45 minute play to Live Writer`s. We`ve all been working hard on our individual plays for a while now deadline day Friday 13th May, didn`t want to tempt providence so it`s gone earlier, ready or not. We will all receive feedback, and it might be a possibility that some of us may be advised to try radio. As always, Live don`t give advice without a back up plan, so we have been invited to attend a Radio Workshop event. If anyone is thinking of writing a play, their first stop should be Live Theatre website. Sessions are stimulating, supportive and very professional. Actors have read our work, we have met writer`s, attended plays and discussions with directors and actors.

Been to a christening on Sunday, next week a wedding and in June a retirement. Need to buy more cards!

Improvisation Class and "FaceAche"

2011-05-10T14:06:00.001+01:00

Robbie Lee Hurst
Improvisation class - drop in
Location: People's Theatre, Stephenson Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 5QF
Time: ‎7:00PM Tuesday, May 10th..

Robbie Lee Hurst
Monkfish is performing their brand new show, 'FaceAche'.
Event picture by - picturesbybish
Flick The Switch @ Late Shows
Location: The Mining Institute, Neville Hall
Time

WordJazz6

2011-05-10T14:04:00.000+01:00

Get yourself along to a great night of tea and cake..and the rest of all the creative crew from around the mixed molllasses! Is it 10pm or earlier? Must be a midnight session!

WordJazz6 Open Mic Spoken Word Poetry and Acoustic Music
Location: Citizens House
Time: ‎10:00PM Wednesday, May 25th..

Archive for change (Chronicle review)

2011-05-05T11:14:00.001+01:00

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2011/05/04/film-on-newcastle-s-west-end-set-to-be-shown-72703-28632994/

Annie Moir at The Cumberland Arms 7.30 Wed 11th May

2011-05-04T15:10:00.002+01:00

Archive for Change (Journeys Home)

2011-04-30T17:24:00.001+01:00

Vera Preview (Vera Stanhope Books by Ann Cleeves)

2011-04-29T11:57:00.003+01:00

A Must See

"Vera names the day
ITV have at last revealed when we can see the eagerly awaited television detective drama series based on Ann Cleeves' Vera Stanhope books. Episode 1 - Hidden Depths - will be screened on the evening of Sunday May 1st, on ITV1 from 8.00 to 10.00 pm.

After two young people are killed in the same way - placed in water and surrounded by flowers - DCI Vera Stanhope knows that she must catch the murderer before they strike again. Aided by her team, especially her trusted right-hand man Sgt Joe Ashworth, she unpicks the complex and dysfunctional relationships amongst a group of bird-watching friends. As the friends' loyalty turns to betrayal, Vera finds that a small act of teenage blackmail and an illicit affair may have driven someone to kill. With Brenda Blethyn, David Leon, Wunmi Mosaku, Paul Ritter, and Juliet Aubrey.
Watch video interviews with Brenda Blethyn, who stars as Vera, and David Leon, who plsys her sidekick Joe Ashworth. Or read an interview in The Independent with Brenda Blethyn.

Will Vera be the new Morse? The Northern Echo thinks she might be..."

Read to Lead

2011-04-29T10:21:00.004+01:00

Completed a week course at Inglewood Manor, Cheshire to work as a facilitator for the library service. I will be setting up three shared reading groups in Scotswood/Benwell for the next two years. It was a very intensive programme consisting of workshops on various poets, playwrights and authors. We held our own groups, met lots of very enthusiatic trainers and ended with a mock up of a Shakespeare play based on a Big Brother theme. I took the part of Geordie Macbeth, Sylvia was Hamlet Rooney, Monica - Mark Anthony, Julia - Portia, Naomi - Cordelia. Some of the lasses were the "Rabble" voting in the winner, we had the BB voice by Ginny and Sheila was Davina. We mixed comedy with tragedy for 20 minutes performed to an audience of around 30 people. It went great, and as producer/director and part writer they bought me a fabulous present from the hotel shop Molton Brown products, oils, lotions, perfume. It was a lovely surprise. We all worked so hard to put on the show as well as carrying out the workshops and course work.

"Get Into Reading groups are led by trained project workers and volunteers, meeting each week to read books and poems together in locations such as care homes, libraries, prisons, mental health drop-in centres, community centres, schools, hostels, refugee centres and workplaces. We read aloud, slowly, taking time over each text, allowing thoughts, connections and understanding to emerge."

http://thereader.org.uk/get-into-reading/

Been a busy few weeks, went to Live Theatre to see a short film Seige and Storm of John Marlay`s defense of the city walls in 1644, question and answer time afterwards. To the Sage, Joanne Trollope - a talk of her new book set in Newcastle. The preview of Vera at Tyneside Cinema, Brenda Blethyn is perfect in the role of a Geordie detective, I was on the edge of my seat. Chatted and got her autograph, she`s really friendly. The drama was shot in and around Northumberland/Newcastle and is extremely well done. Writer Anne Cleeves should be well proud of herself.

It is the BIG Day and we have our patriotic bunting of Wills and Kate in the garden. Will be going to a garden party later today. At the moment watching the whole shebang on TV. I have my plastic goblets, party food, Wills and Kate beer and biscuits and hand made veil complete with linen flowers. I bought a huge piece of net, gathered it, sewed it onto a head band and arranged the flowers across the top. Ready to go!

Clare Maguire

2011-04-25T23:19:00.003+01:00

Sheree Mack - Family Album

2011-04-20T00:06:00.000+01:00

Poems that do not flinch from the conflicts and inconsistencies of family bonds.’ Cynthia Fuller

Flambard Press would like to invite you to the launch of Sheree Mack’s first poetry collection, Family Album.
Morden Tower, Newcastle on Tyne, Wednesday 4th May, 7.30pm.

Sheree Mack was born in Bradford to a Trinidadian father and a Geordie mother of Bajan and Ghanaian heritage. She has lived in Newcastle from the age of ten. Married with two children, she works as a freelance writer and lecturer for the Open University and has recently completed her PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. Family Album is her first full collection.

Take Ten and Celestial Navigation (Check them out)

2011-04-03T21:35:00.000+01:00

Beckett (Green Grass Green)

2011-04-02T18:49:00.000+01:00

Tanya Davis (UK Tour)

2011-03-29T13:37:00.000+01:00

Hello! I am UK Bound

Finally, a trip over the sea to the United Kingdom. I've been waiting for awhile to make this journey. Or, more accurately, I was stalling on making this journey as I was overwhelmed by the distance and the new-ness of it all and by how much I didn't know. Then, one day, someone extended a hand. Big thanks for Scott at Shhh! Promotions in Brighton for setting up my first show, the anchor around which I built this wee tour.

If you live in any of these towns, or you know anyone who does, please, come on out to the show. Or, send your pal/mum/cousin/teacher/cute friend out to greet me. Show me what this place is made of, tell me a story, point me in the direction of your favorite place for lunch, the best chips, the most beautiful old building that I wouldn't find on my own as an overwhelmed Canadian without a guide book or a map. In exchange, I will sing songs and poems.

I've listed the show details below. Please feel free to pass this along and/or check out my website at www.tanyadavis.ca

Looking forward to my feet upon the old soil, my hands tracing a line along the stone.
Tanya

The Shows:

Monday April 4th - The Slaughtered Lamb
34 - 35 Great Sutton St. Clerkenwell,
London,
T. 020 7253 1516
Show: 8pm
Advance tickets: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/107015

~~~

Wed April 6th - The Prince Albert
48 Trafalgar St
BRIGHTON, East Sussex
T: 01273 730 499

Show: 7:30pm
with - Lianne Hall

More info: www.shhhpromotions.net

~~~
Friday April 8 - The Moon & Sixpence
1 Bernard Street
Glossop, Derbyshire,
SK13 7AA
T: 01457865777

~~~
Sunday April 10th - Alington House
4 NORTH BAILEY
DURHAM
Tel: 0191 3864088
8:00pm show time
With: 'The Diamond Family Archive'

~~~
Monday April 11th - Tyneside Cinema, Tyneside Bar
10 Pilgrim Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 6QG, United Kingdom
T: 0845 217 9909

~~~
Tuesday April 12th - The Forest
3 Bristo Pl
Edinburgh
EH1 1EY, United Kingdom
0131 220 4538

32 Brinkburn Street (BBC Drama North)

2011-03-22T09:02:00.004Z

From left to right Alice Nutter(writer), Kate Rowland(Creative Director) and Karen Laws(writer).

Attended the premiere screening of 32 Brinkburn Street last night at Side Cinema. This programme will be shown on BBC One Daytime tv next week. It`s a five part-er developed by Karen Laws after a writersroom Drama Development Day.

It`s set in a Georgian terraced house in Manchester and follows the lives of two generations of the same family, one in 1931 and the other in 2011.

"The drama moves between contemporary Britain and thirties Manchester, exploring the changing nature of society and the family and how each respective character copes with similar issues, subtly highlighting how the world has changed but how human nature fundamentally remains the same."

THIS IS FANTASTIC. A little complicated at first to move between the many characters and time lines, but once in after only a few minutes, I was totally gripped. Can`t wait to see the other episodes. A must to record if you are at work!!!

Also, the BBC writersroom website is worth signing up for their regular e mails, competitions, writer`s events and advice

www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom and also to follow on twitter @bbcwritersroom

Coming of Age (NCLA Creative Writer`s Group)

2011-03-14T20:08:00.002Z

The Hancock ‘Coming of Age’ writers (from left to right): Raghavannair Parameswaran, Olya Bowers, Kate Bowles, Yvonne Young, Heather Shannon, Dorothy Connelly, Kate Butler, Jonne Robinson, Christine Routledge, Diane Packham, Isobel Dykes, Beverley Thompson

Check out our stories at www.comingofagefrontline@wordpress.com

LIve Theatre (Faith & Cold Reading)

2011-03-11T14:46:00.003Z

Another visit to Live to see Faith and Cold reading which was excellent. As I saw it on opening night, I knew what was about to happen during the scary parts. Eight of us went to see the play and it was great when the lasses either cried out or jumped.

We had a fabulous meal at restaurant Six in Baltic, I had seafood pie which I will be having again next time I go. The potato on top was the best I`ve ever tasted, lots of butter and cream.

Another good session at Byker for around 30 senior citizens. They loved the owld stuff from the past and much was said about the children`s games and christening hat. Must add some new objects for next time.

I must say that I feel vindicated!! Husband D put on his jumper and complained that the hem was curling up. He said

"You haven`t ironed it properly." I said

"Well iron it yourself then." which he did and returned triumphant with flat hem. However, after five minutes it was curling up again like a rollmop. When I mentioned this he said "I know!!!" Ha HAAAAAA.

Going to see Blue Giro tonight.

Take Ten at the Cumberland Arms(Thurs 24th March)

2011-03-07T11:43:00.000Z

Des Walton

2011-03-04T18:41:00.004Z

Photos

Des with Mr & Mrs Alan Morgan
Des with Simon Donald
Dennis Carss and Des

The life of a great man, Des Walton was celebrated at Dilston Road Methodist Church. He discovered Jimmy Forsyth the local photographer, set up many local history groups, wrote many books, recorded memories, collected photos and took his own for the archive. He raised a wonderful family, remained committed to his interests and fun loving until the last. Sleep tight Des.

Live Wires

2011-03-04T18:39:00.000Z

Fran Biggs
LIVE WIRES have just performed our latest Variety Show in Rothbury to a great audience of approx 80 members of their over 60s club. It was very well received and we thoroughly enjoyed doing it.

We shall be starting work on a new show this Tuesday 1st March so if anyone wishes to join us, now would be an excellent time to do so.

We meet... at ‘The Mixer’, (upstairs at The Jesmond Legion), 3 West Jesmond Ave. Newcastle NE2 3EX and would like to extend a warm invitation to any fellow actors/singers, to join us on Tuesdays from 12 noon until 3pm.

Every member’s contribution is valued and a lot of fun is had by all.

If you are interested, enthusiastic and committed, please contact me on 07890306239.
Thank you -x-

Faith and Cold Reading by Shaun Prendergast

2011-03-02T22:31:00.004Z

Saw the Black Swan, very disturbing film, but worth seeing. Faith and Cold Reading on the other hand was packed with scary, sinister tense and highly amusing scenes in equal measure. Stephen Tomkinson shines, I was totally amazed at how he handled this role after only ever having seen him playing the canny body in different styles of acting. Loved him in Brassed off. We went to the event Meet the Writer, Stephen Tomkinson Shaun Prendergast (Writer) and director, Jonathan Moore spoke of how they met, inspiration, former work and answered questions from the audience, excellent. Going to see it again next week. Went for an Indian meal afterwards which was quite bland, still, you can`t have everything.

Overheard two old men in the library

"Well, ah mean, what`s he deein at his age dyin his hair"
"Ah knaar, what does he look like, yi can tell it`s dyed."

They were discussing Gadaffi, so no mention of torture, carnage or despotism then?

Then they went on to discuss how they won`t use the computers as they`d witnessed people picking their noses while typing.

In Northumberland Street, a Chinese man smoking a cigarette. Lad of about 16, built like a barn door squared up to him "MATE....do you want to buy a tab off me?" the man asked "Pardon?" so the lad enforced his request "DO YOU want to but a cigarette off me?" So choice, but no choice really. He bullied him into buying. There are some real shits walking around Newcastle.

Interviewed an ex G.P.O telephonist supervisor, what a memory, she`s 83 and I wrote 20 pages from her recollections. Went to Gibraltar for 3 years service as a clerk with an Ak Ak unit, drove a Bond motorbike and helped to run shows for a group of women at New Theatre. Borrowed 45 photos of hers to scan. Fabulous 50`s dresses and costumes. She enjoyed performing comedy routines of Little Geordie Broon from Backworth. In her role as lecturer for the G.P.O she stood in front of a packed hall, only for someone from the crowd to shout "Eee whey it`s Little Geordie Broon"

I now have 3 headsets as props for my play Get off the line there`s a train coming. I`ve put a bid in for the G.P.O dial pencils on e bay. Also for my memorabilia collection for the care home sessions, I now have an Ark Royal hat. Spent quite a time on micro-fische at the library researching 1971 when the strikes were at their peak. I was out for around 6 weeks as a telephonist, but it didn`t have such an impact on me as I was still living at home and no bills to pay. People worked a three day week afterwards and there were continual power cuts, walks to work as the buses were off, pits, shipyards, boilermakers and airports, everyone demanding a decent living wage.

Sylvia Wood (Woolly West) has knit me a fabulous Florrie doll, complete with turban, rollers, duster and bucket. It`s a bit Cabbage Patch dollish in the facial expression. My sod of a brother remarked on the "Amazing likeness" When a few more people said the same I reached for the bucket, not to spew in, to put over my head.

Off Side Rule

2011-01-26T12:00:00.004Z

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?

Take Ten at the Cumberland Arms

2011-01-15T10:41:00.000Z

Stephen Tomkinson at Live

2011-01-13T22:10:00.003Z

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!

Amanda Baker (Pick `n` Mix)

2011-01-07T23:28:00.000Z

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

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

2011-01-06T12:01:00.002Z

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.

Please hang up and try again later

2011-01-02T11:02:00.007Z

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.

New Years Day 2011

2011-01-01T22:28:00.001Z

Rebecca - The New Queen of Soul

2010-12-12T21:13:00.002Z

Voted for the Queen of Soul - Rebecca, taking up Aretha`s mantle. Can`t believe that she didn`t win, but she is the best, Matt was good but I can see her being World Wide soon. Hope that she has a new album, It`ll be on my shopping list. My African Grey sings along when she`s on tv, so a new Old Grey Whistle Test thumbs up.

Reading about Frank Muir when he was a kid. He enjoyed going up to the railway depot, running up the sand heaps, jumping on the cement bags and pelting nuts and bolts at the watchman`s hut.

"One evening Mother asked us what plans we had for the morning. We said "We`re going to the builder`s depot to play with the Bugger Off Man."

I hate the Xmas card writing farce, parcelling up packs of cards inside elastic bands, dishing them out to everyone. It costs a bloody fortune to post them, I needed 55 stamps! Won`t be getting the tree out of the loft as it`s full of junk, couldn`t retrieve it last year as we had to launch it into the loft the year before. I did run a line of thread between the wall lights and pegged cards on, it looks very nice and ENOUGH! Did win a bottle of gin at a Xmas party so it`s not all bad. Don`t mean to be Bahh Humbug, but at 58, I have listened to Are you hanging up your stocking.....Well here it is Merry Xmas...Walking in a winter wonderla-yawn for donkeys and it all wears a bit thin. But, being a heathen, I do enjoy the spending. I treated myself to a Zandra Rhodes handbag, she was at Collectables on Sunday signing her creations. It`s a fabulous plum patent affair with shell clasps. Can`t wait to stuff it with my junk and go swanking around with it. Yes...I know how shallow that is thankyou!!!

It will be the last playwriting session at Live Theatre on Wednesday and I will miss it. I`ve learned so much from this and I`m raring to go with new ideas.

Maggie Tait`s chapbook launch at the Lit and Phil on Tuesday,

Looking forward to seeing Tron in 3d. Still haven`t seen Inception, but it should be reduced after the holidays so I can wait until then.

Snow

2010-12-02T15:10:00.000Z

Live Theatre Newcastle upon Tyne

2010-12-01T15:37:00.001Z

2010-11-29T22:54:00.002Z

We stood for an hour to board the Ark Royal, it was freezing cold. Hats off then to the young people who man the ship, there all day and well into the evening to clear away once the last visitor has gone, then to take the ship on it`s journey to Germany before returning to Britain. Hearts of lions! They were all so friendly and didn`t mind giving us information.

How are parents managing for money at Xmas? Saw an advert for Mr Potato Head, it said Save £17 - only £32!!! I would be gagging to pay even £10. But you get 2 sets of eyes and mouths, so that makes it ok then!! His eyes, nose and ears pop off when he hears a loud noise. I`m sorry, but what`s wrong with giving them a real potato, let them make the features, I`ll make the loud noise and they can pull the eyes off. Then there was a dinosaur for £50 that tells you when it`s nose is itchy.

Godfrey Bloom - From the man who holds that women don`t clean behind their fridges enough and that he represents Yorkshire men who want their dinners on the table. He`s made a gaff by making unprofessional Nazi jibes at a conference. How can this country ever progress with old dinosaurs like him who can`t keep his twittering pompous gossiping in order. He also states that no self respecting small businessman with a brain in the right place should employ a woman of child bearing age. Mr. Bloom, have you forgotten the roles women played during the war, poor pet , it was a long time ago and maybe he didn`t notice that since then women have been holding down jobs, professions and running homes. And by the way Clean behind your own bloody fridge, you keep food in there too don`t you?

Saw Inheritance for the third time and loved each perfomance, first at dress rehearsal, second with D and third ten of us for our lasses night out. Fabulous meal at Cafe Vivo. I was made up to receive a copy of the play from the theatre signed by the cast, writer and director. As I`m enjoying the playwriting course at Live, I can study the play along with the others we are working on.

At the Metro Centre on Sunday, D was wearing his body warmer with velcro fastenings at the front. As he left the jacket open it kept attaching itself to my new coat. The fabric was going all fluffy. We`re not into the whole keeping presents secret, I knew he wanted a Wii sports system, thingy, whatever they are called. Of course he had all of the bits on the floor setting it up once we got home. He chose a kind of avatar which was wearing an orange jumper. He was watching it stepping on and off a platform and the idea was that he was supposed to copy the actions. Little messages kept flashing on the screen "If you`re having trouble following directions......" D decided to follow the little footprints with arrows on. Then a whole load of little men in different coloured jumpers suddenly got faster.

D "Hi stop it!!! Are you videoing this?"

Result - Dwindling Fire.

So, he changes to a running programme. There are little dogs running past him through a park and lots of people running past doing backward waves at him (He`s still wearing the orange jumper like a little jaffa cake) The words come up encouraging him to wave his arms to burn off more calories. When it finishes he has a score of 94% and says that he is 2nd top

D "See that, see that 2nd top, it`s saying Roaring Fire now."
Y "Well it hadn`t much to beat as it`s only the second game you`ve played."
D "Shut up you!"

It tells him that he has a stable rhythm and if he wants to continue. He declines, then proceeds to the kitchen. Comes back with two apple pies and custard. I`m not complaining, just as long as he remembers to clean behind the fridge.

Crime and Punishment in the North East by Lorna Windham

2010-11-20T13:33:00.003Z

Interested in reivers, press gangs and executioners? Then this could be the book for you! Intrigued by pickpockets, absconding miners and murderers? Then this is definitely the book for you! Fascinated by capital punishment, imprisonment or transportation? Then this is absolutely the book for you!

A great read, packed full of fascinating facts and photographs which bring the North’s past back to life.

Purchase a copy, priced only £4.99 from: www.summerhillbooks.co.uk/books/crimeandpunishment.html

About the Author

Prize winning northern author Lorna Windham's short stories have been published by Byker Books, Talking Pen and on the following websites: BBC www.bbc.co.uk/my-story/stories/family-and-friends/162653 ; the Poetry Library, Southbank Centre, London www.poetrymagazines.org.uk/magazine/record.asp?id=24089 and National Trust for Scotland www.nts.org.uk/culloden/learning/competition.php (writing as Lorna Murray). They have been transmitted on local, hospital radio and The Talking Newspaper for the Blind.

Several of her poems have also been published in The North East Poetry Journal.

Austrian Spice Craft

2010-11-20T13:24:00.001Z

Jibba Jabba at The Trent

2010-11-19T19:53:00.002Z

Rewind the 60`s

2010-11-14T11:26:00.002Z

Next on:
Wednesday, 09:15 on BBC One
SynopsisWe’ve reached the 1964-65 in the BBC’s celebration of the decade when Britain began to swing. Joining Lulu in the Rewind the 60s studio is fashion designer Zandra Rhodes, to chat about what it was like to be young, free and single during that exciting time.

By the mid-1960s the black and white of 50s Britain had given way to a world of colour. There was a fashion revolution going on, and Zandra tells Lulu what it was like starting out as a young designer in the mid-60s. While London was the style capital, dedicated followers of fashion could be found all around the country. We hear from Yvonne, then a teenager in Newcastle, who talks us through the experience of being a fashion-obsessive on Tyneside, and how you just couldn’t get away with some of the looks that were popular down south. People were quick to judge, and so hemlines were kept below the knee. If a girl wore a miniskirt, “ all the neighbours would be out. And saying look - its above the knee. She would be classed as someone who was quite risqué”.

We meet an ex-mod and an ex-rocker, who give us the inside story of the decade’s most notorious gang rivalry. As John, a mod, admits, “it didn’t bother us being labelled as hooligans. Because that’s what we were.” Nevertheless, he tells us about witnessing the infamous tussles between mods and rockers on Brighton Beach, and describes how he feels the media blew it out of all proportion. Also in today’s episode, Charlie Ross discovers how the mods achieved ‘Lambrettability’ with that most groovy of fashion accessories – the scooter. But why was it the mods favourite mode of transport? Apparently it was just perfect if you wanted to avoid getting oil on your bottle-green mohair suit.

The sixties was a great time to be young, and with the launch of Top of The Pops even the stuffy old BBC were taking teenagers seriously. In 1964, one young man suddenly found himself in the heart of the establishment. Robin Wilson recalls how, as a student at Oxford, he watched the results of the 1964 general election with the growing realisation that his father Harold was going to be the next prime minister. Robin tells us what it was like living in a flat at the top of 10 Downing Street, meeting pop stars and celebrities at swanky receptions, and having the PM pop upstairs to join the family for lunch, as he took a quick break from running the country.

.

Tom Taylor

2010-11-08T19:00:00.006Z

Check out the Retro Sweet Shop on Fenham Hall Drive. Mint humbugs, freshly made popcorn and all of the sweets you can remember from your childhood. You can sit down and enjoy a cake and giant cup of tea. Tom is also a performer, Freddie Mercury and Norman Wisdom tribute acts and events specialist.

Books on Tyne

2010-11-08T16:29:00.003Z

Took advantage of the free sessions at Central Library this weekend. Saturday, Peter Mortimer held a playwriting workshop. He listened as we took turns in speaking about our works in progress and gave advice. We all wrote something and received a critique. We made enquiries with library staff to see if Peter could take a day workshop. Sunday, Tom Kelly, poet and playwright gave excellent readings from his forthcoming book and recounted his memories from when he lived at Hope Street, Jarrow. A Greggs corned beef pastie later, I went to see Geoff Laws, cartoonist. He gave a great presentation of his work with tips and funny stories.

Watched Abigail`s Party for the umpteenth time on BBC 4 last night. Alison Steadman was also interviewed before the play started and I hadn`t realised that she was the eco friendly woolly hatted actress in Nuts in May, which I also loved.

To prevent D watching one of those programmes where people tell the world all their seedy secrets on live tv, I put Blue Peter on. A team of explorers went into a cave which over the years had amassed a floor of shit which had dropped from the entrance above. The occasional unlucky bat got caught in the pile to be eaten alive by the swarming masses of cockroaches. The floor actually looked as if it was moving. One lad moved a rock and the most disgusting creature the length of his forearm scuttled out, a scutigera. It`s a kind of centipede with the longest spindliest legs I`ve ever seen. As he was holding the rock with one of these buggers sitting on it, another ran out over his leg. Then, we saw one of them running along with a cockroach in it`s nashers. How people do these jobs!! Hearts of lions.

Inheritance (Live Theatre)

2010-11-03T09:01:00.005Z

Everyone should go to see this brilliant play. The acting is superb. I loved every minute of the performance, what a cast!! I felt as if I`d been hit by a steamroller, it brought back feelings I thought were buried, made me laugh and cry in equal measure. I was at the dress rehearsal last night and will be there again tonight.

I love Melanie Hill`s acting having seen her feisty Aveline in Bread, that`s the way she should be played in a family of wide boys, she would have had to stand her ground. She was great in Auf Weidersehen and Joe Maddison`s War. David Hargreaves - first time I`ve seen him, but what an actor, I must look for films he`s been in!! Martina Laird, portrays a businesswoman who is upwardly mobile superbly. Matthew Wait gets the laughs and Steven Hillman is hilarious and shows the tensions of sibling rivalry and brotherly love to perfection.

This will be with me for a long time to come. Well done everyone concerned!!!

What a priviledge to have seen this.

Westenders book launch 30th October

2010-11-01T17:37:00.003Z

What a day on 30th October! We set up the St James Heritage Centre Hall ready for the launch of Westenders. Around 70 turned up and we sold 52 books. There was a great atmosphere, people eating scones and drinking tea, looking through the photographs from the collection. Stephen Watson set up his drawings which are excellent, he`s now working at Beamish Museum getting togged up in period clothing.

We then went on to the Slug and Lettuce for a coffee. Then straight to the West Denton Fire station where I had booked the room for the Benwell Reunion. I set out the tablecloths,white with black lace ones on top and Poundland spooky paper plates, when all the guests came they put out food they`d brought, the table was groaning. I set up a raffle and lots of great prizes were donated. Around 100 turned up, so I`ve easily raised the money to book the hall again for next year. Sold another 40 books.

Travelling back from town today a young lass boarded the bus with a huge pram which had a little seat and two wheels which attached to the back of the pram to accommodate a toddler. It took up all of the space on one side of the bus. A little old lady sat with a small shopping trolley on the other side. Then, another mother got on with her buggy. This was a big bugger too, so she struggled around the alleyway to fit it in. Then the first mother shouted across "It`s these shopping trolley`s that are the problem!" She`d be the same one who will complain about prams when she`s a pensioner. How does she think old people manage to go for shopping, hauling heavy goods with arthritic arms. Put your kid in a foldy up push chair for goodness sake. I suppose if a wheelchair user had got on she would have had something to say. Why don`t we all stay at home so that she can swan around with her armoured vehicle? Well, that`s my post menopause rant over, ahhhhh, that`s better. Now where`s my notepad, I`m just in the mood to send a letter to the council!!

The Dead That Never Lived

2010-10-29T00:07:00.000+01:00

The Dead That Never Lived
Enter a circus of words where the dead converge, a funeral chapel
playing host to mourners for famous fictional characters; Scrooge
McDuck, Darth Vader, Cathy from Wuthering Heights and The Milk Tray
Man among them. We pay tribute to the many who have meant so much
through theatre, spoken word and dark comedy.

Death himself puts in an appearance.....{A recent sell out at Arc, Stockton}

A funeral service dedicated to the characters that warmed our hearts,
chilled our bones and shaped our lives in wonderful ways.

Funeral attire and hankies encouraged.

Featuring emerging national talent Ross Sutherland
****The Times 'Top Ten Up and Coming Literary Stars', 2008****
and Monkfish WordTank Collective (www.bit.ly/WordTank) of Viv Wiggins,
Si Hymers, Robbie Lee Hurst, James Fisher and Mike Edwards, (Produced
by Claire Morgan)

****The Late Shows 2010 - sell out show****

****Monkfish Productions - "....highlight of the Late Shows 2009"
Journal Culture Magazine****

Late Night Halloween Special
Sun 31st October 11pm - Midnight
The Mining Institute
Westgate Road
Newcastle
Tickets £5
Pre-book via:- simonbrooks@mininginstitute.org.uk

Westenders

2010-10-22T17:41:00.002+01:00

At last my new book is ready to go. After Benwell Remembered I had intended to write a second on Elswick and a third on Scotswood, but this book includes all three and a little of Arthur`s Hill. I can now concentrate on creative writing but I`m still interested in recording memories and local history.

Laboca Annual Winter Exhibition

2010-10-22T16:33:00.004+01:00

The Art Cafe will be hosting another brilliant exhibition.

"I have secured amazing photography from US based photographer Christopher Singleton and stunning illustration artwork from German artist Schirin Khorram. This will be both artists debut in the UK and shouldn`t be missed." Andrew Belshaw.

Opening at 6.30 and singsong afterwards until 8.00 on Thursday November 18th.

Playing at Writing

2010-10-20T13:36:00.003+01:00

Enjoyed Made in Dagenham, not so Going the Distance. The latter stars Drew Barrymore and some bloke. He lives in New York and she lives miles away. A map appears on the screen showing a plane flying from one place to the other, (to enlighten the dim folks who can`t tell the difference.) Does it matter where they are if all they do is shag about in both venues? I`d rather watch my collection of old black and white films - Billy Liar, A Taste of Honey, A Kind of Loving, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning and The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner. Second to that I`ve got back into reading plays, Under Milk Wood made a good re-read.

Just found out that I have been accepted on a playwriting course at Live Theatre. The plays we need ar A Number by Caryl Churchill, Translations by Brian Friel and The Pitman Painters (Which I already have and it`s brilliant) I`m also learning lots at an NCLA course run by the university and held at Hancock Museum. The tasks we are given will help me towards playwriting as we cover characterization and dialogue. The theme is "Ageing" something of which I know a fair bit about!! One of the tutors kindly tries to raise our spirits by saying that everyone is ageing, even the young. But, it doesn`t work. My gammy leg, H coughing her guts out next to me and K struggling to hear add to my squinting to read what`s on the board- dom and feelings of "Am I understanding this?"

It`s been a great couple of weeks. Great art exhibition at La Boca. A good article in the Evening Chronicle advertising my book Westenders which will be launched on Saturday 30th October. Really enjoyed Sheree Mack`s chap book launch Night`s Skin. Before I got there I met the lasses at Tyneside Cinema Bar, then we went for a 2 for 1 meal at Zizzi`s. Carried on to the Lit and Phil. I read three of my poems. Lovely to read first so that I could really concentrate on the work of the other writers who were supporting Sheree.

On the 15th I attended a meeting with Julie Ballands, film maker, who made The Woolly West among other works. She`s putting together a new film which will feature people, photos, film and memories of folks in the West End so I`ve submitted a piece for that. Later that night me and Jess Johnson performed some of our work at The Mixer, upstairs in the Jesmond British Legion Club. We were in support of Gary Kitching of The Suggestibles who was doing his one man show Me and Mr C. The support act couldn`t make it, but it was a good opportunity for us. He was hilarious.

I`ve seen the Suggestibles advertised but it was the first time I`d seen this. There was lots of audience participation. We had to write on two pieces of paper in response to the words Remember When.... and The worst thing you ever said or had said to you. For Remember when....I wrote "When you pissed yourself at school", which he used in his act and "I`ve never heard of a crisp sandwich!!" It`s a great venue and well worth a visit.

Picked up tickets for Live Theatre to see Inheritance on 3rd November, should be good as Melanie Hill is part of the cast, love her acting. She was great in Auf Wiedersehen Pet and more recently in Joe Maddison`s War on tv.

night`s skin by Sheree Mack

2010-09-24T15:08:00.005+01:00

between the floorboards by Degna Stone

2010-09-24T15:01:00.003+01:00

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

2010-09-24T14:44:00.003+01:00

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

2010-09-22T09:48:00.000+01:00

National Poetry Day - Monkfish Productions

2010-09-20T22:09:00.000+01:00

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.

2010-09-09T08:52:00.006+01:00

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!