Not too much to report today.....a long busy shift looking after a seriously ill patient that actually looked like Father Christmas! made the whole day feel ever-so-slightly surreal!
Now I am curled up on my couch with Meg and Maddie.........Strictly Come Dancing final in on the tv, the Christmas lights are on and Chris is frantically dialling for Chris Hollings to win!
Christmas has been made just that little bit better, as work has allowed me to start work at 10pm rather than at 7.30pm.....it means I can now have an unrushed dinner with the family instead of darting off..... happy days !!!!!!!!!!!
Panto
We have started to realise that Christmas has its own traditions here in Wales
, and one tradition that has kind of sneaked up on us is the annual trip to see the Theatre Clwyd Pantomime.
Unlike the more common versions in say Rhyl and Llandudno. The production at Mold, is more a "musical" in nature, and seems to have all the best bits of panto added on for good measure!
So in tonight's performance of Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood, the small ensemble cast belted out musical numbers from the likes of Meatloaf, Springstein, Clapton and even Michael Jackson in between the usual camp-as-Christmas semi dirty double entendre and panto dame with comedy breasts running amok amid a packed audience.
Theatre Clwyd's productions are always talent filled. The cast not only act, sing and dance, but they play a whole orchestra of instruments and literally fill the auditorium with energy and noise.
I must in any other season of the year, I suspect I would not really enjoy this brash, well tried formula of musical theatre, but in December, it all seems great fun"
Thanks to my sister Ann for organising it all
, and one tradition that has kind of sneaked up on us is the annual trip to see the Theatre Clwyd Pantomime.Unlike the more common versions in say Rhyl and Llandudno. The production at Mold, is more a "musical" in nature, and seems to have all the best bits of panto added on for good measure!
So in tonight's performance of Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood, the small ensemble cast belted out musical numbers from the likes of Meatloaf, Springstein, Clapton and even Michael Jackson in between the usual camp-as-Christmas semi dirty double entendre and panto dame with comedy breasts running amok amid a packed audience.
Theatre Clwyd's productions are always talent filled. The cast not only act, sing and dance, but they play a whole orchestra of instruments and literally fill the auditorium with energy and noise.
I must in any other season of the year, I suspect I would not really enjoy this brash, well tried formula of musical theatre, but in December, it all seems great fun"
Thanks to my sister Ann for organising it all
Poorly hens and a scratching dog
I have so much to do today. I am working all day tomorrow, and today I need to clear out most of the mud soaked coops today as well as doing some last minute Christmas postal shopping for Chris, which needs to be posted today.The ice is thick on the ground this morning ( at last!!!) so the pigs can actually walk across their enclosure ON TOP of the mud! which must feel wonderful after months of cold deep mud!
One of my oldest hens (The last member of the 4 Andrews sisters) looks droopy and ill today. I have tried feeding her up over the last week, but her appetite has tailed off drastically. So I will try and catch her today to give the old girl some TLC.....however, I think that it may be her time
William has another vets appointment next week. He has some sort of allergy which means that he is constantly itching and biting at his fur and although being on very expensive hypoallergenic dry food, he remains irritated, which is awful to see.
The poor chap has had three courses of steroids which have helped, but I want to find out exactly what the allergy is ( apparently dust can be a trigger! which is a bummer in this house with all the coal dust flying around)
anyhow, I have almost finished my breakfast coffee. My wellies are standing ready by the back door and a hundredweight of poultry poo awaits!!!Sexy People
Sometimes you come across some gems on the net..... Sexy People is just one of those blogs that is fascinating in a car crash type of way.
Concentrating on "professionally" posed family portraits, this site is as funny as it is an important social and historical document
check it out at http://www.sexypeople-blog.com/
Above is Glen and his, not-to-be-crossed mafia Mom
As for home, not a great deal has happened today. The weather is icy cold tonight, the baby turkeys have been given extra straw for insulation and I have spent a challenging afternoon teasing out a mass of irritations and problems by an ex patient.
My 2009 Top Ten Films
It has been an interesting year for films...my favourite ones have been:-
1. I've Loved you so long (Il y a longtemps que je t'aime)
Kristin Scott Thomas (above) is absolutely wonderful as the woman carrying a dreaded secret who is reunited with her younger sister in this French drama
2. Australia.
Camp as Christmas Epic with everything but the kitchen sink thrown at it in a war torn Darwin. And despite the bad reviews I kind of liked Nicole Kidman's performance
3.Frozen River
A strangely moving and taut thriller about a trailer trash mom and her struggle to survive life's troubles. Melissa Leo is top notch in the lead role
4. Hunger
The cinematography in this study of the hunger striker Bobby Sands' last few weeks in prison is stunning. Cold, harrowing and hypnotic.
5. Red Cliff (Chi Bi)
A Chinese historical epic that takes the breath away
6. Fish Tank
This story of inner city family dysfunction is not an easy watch but the debut by 17 year old Katie Jarvis as the world weary Mia is a revelation.
7. Looking for Eric
The feel good movie of the year with Ken Loach at his warmest and most affectionate. Eric Cantona is wonderfully funny as an arrogant hallucination!
8 Star Trek
Yes, I am not too snobby when it comes to films! this energetic, exciting and clever re working of the tried and tested franchise was the flash, bang wallop film of the year....and boy did Zachary Quinto make a sexy Mr Spock
9 Broken Embraces (Los abrazos rotos)
Not one of Almodóvar's best movies but satisfying and intriguing.....and Penelope Cruz couldn't be better
10. Mid August Lunch (Prenzo di ferragosto )
An gentle Italian comedy of old age and respect
The others that didn't quite reach the top ten are, State of Play, Doubt,Milk, The Young Victoria,Frost/Nixon, Gran Torino,The Class (Entre les murs),Let the right one in(Låt den rätte komma in) and Anything for her (Pour Elle)
1. I've Loved you so long (Il y a longtemps que je t'aime)
Kristin Scott Thomas (above) is absolutely wonderful as the woman carrying a dreaded secret who is reunited with her younger sister in this French drama
2. Australia.
Camp as Christmas Epic with everything but the kitchen sink thrown at it in a war torn Darwin. And despite the bad reviews I kind of liked Nicole Kidman's performance
3.Frozen River
A strangely moving and taut thriller about a trailer trash mom and her struggle to survive life's troubles. Melissa Leo is top notch in the lead role
4. Hunger
The cinematography in this study of the hunger striker Bobby Sands' last few weeks in prison is stunning. Cold, harrowing and hypnotic.
5. Red Cliff (Chi Bi)
A Chinese historical epic that takes the breath away
6. Fish Tank
This story of inner city family dysfunction is not an easy watch but the debut by 17 year old Katie Jarvis as the world weary Mia is a revelation.
7. Looking for Eric
The feel good movie of the year with Ken Loach at his warmest and most affectionate. Eric Cantona is wonderfully funny as an arrogant hallucination!
8 Star Trek
Yes, I am not too snobby when it comes to films! this energetic, exciting and clever re working of the tried and tested franchise was the flash, bang wallop film of the year....and boy did Zachary Quinto make a sexy Mr Spock
9 Broken Embraces (Los abrazos rotos)
Not one of Almodóvar's best movies but satisfying and intriguing.....and Penelope Cruz couldn't be better
10. Mid August Lunch (Prenzo di ferragosto )
An gentle Italian comedy of old age and respect
The others that didn't quite reach the top ten are, State of Play, Doubt,Milk, The Young Victoria,Frost/Nixon, Gran Torino,The Class (Entre les murs),Let the right one in(Låt den rätte komma in) and Anything for her (Pour Elle)
Pranzo di ferragosto (2008)
Well, 2009 is almost over and we have just seen one of the movies that will obviously make this year's final top 10 best films. Pranzo di ferragosto (Mid-August Lunch) is a meandering and ever-so-patient study of a farcical situation in the life of middle aged Giovanni (Gianni Di Gregorio) who lives in a tiny apartment in Rome with his decrepit mother (Valeria De Franciscis). Through a series of events, three other elderly matrons (Marina Cacciotti,Maria Calì and Grazia Cesarini Sforza) join them for a claustrophobic couple of days, and through the benign, alcohol infused and respectful behaviour of Giovanni, the initial bad feeling between the women develop into a joyful friendship.This is director Di Gregorio's first feature, and in a sweet (but never sentimental ) way, he subtly has a great deal to say about old age, respect, friendship and coping, but does so without the usual foray into patronising stereotypes and exploiting the elderly. I loved it.
9/10
Spinal days
I have always said I am an average Intensive care nurse. I am a safe practitioner, of that I am certain but it has to be said that the technical side of the job (the myriad of machinery, gadgets,drugs, fluid pumps and the snow deep amount of paper work that accompanies it all), does leave me a little cold.
I am, and I guess always will be a client centred rehabilitation nurse. This is where my skills lie and this is where I feel the most comfortable. Now of course I can transfer the skills I developed in my "spinal Injury days" to the forum of intensive care, and looking after distressed and grieving families perhaps is an example of this, but I still sometimes miss the very specialised area of spinal injury nursing.
Tomorrow I have the opportunity to help an ex patient of ours who sustained a spinal injury some months ago, and who has requested some specific help On a selfish level, I know I will get a bit of a buzz about knowing that I will be able to help him (whereas no one locally would possess my knowledge and experience)
Perhaps I am just a little conceited or is it just a case of feeling happy I am, in someway needed and useful?........
. On a menagerie level, Albert has outdone himself this morning and has brought in 4 mice in the space of just under an hour! The final corpse was paraded in front of the dogs with true big headed style and in a flourish, he spat the mouse out at Maddie's feet, who promptly ate it.
. On a menagerie level, Albert has outdone himself this morning and has brought in 4 mice in the space of just under an hour! The final corpse was paraded in front of the dogs with true big headed style and in a flourish, he spat the mouse out at Maddie's feet, who promptly ate it. I know I am a little over protective with Albert, but the curfew I have imposed on him ( he is housebound from 4pm to 8am!) has protected his leg from nocturnal accidents, and he is now walking almost normally. Mind you, when I was chasing the guinea fowl around the churchyard yesterday, he was merrily abseiling up and down the 7 foot Church wall withour pause or thought.
I have a nasty scratch over my nose and up into my right eye from an "attack" from one of the baby guinea fowl yesterday. They are dreadfully nervous, and have the nasty habit of bursting into flight directly into your face when upset......next time I will clean out their cage with a pair of industrial style goggles on!
Thought for the day
Friendship
"A friendship can weather most things and thrive in thin soil; but it needs a little mulch of letters and phone calls and small, silly presents every so often - just to save it from drying out completely." ~ Pam Brown
"A friendship can weather most things and thrive in thin soil; but it needs a little mulch of letters and phone calls and small, silly presents every so often - just to save it from drying out completely." ~ Pam Brown
Sharing crisps
I have spent most of the morning delivering the village Christmas Cards. The weather has been muggy yet dry and I have spied a score of like minded people in coats, scarves and a selection of woolly hats, all clutching small bundles of cards, crisscrossing back and forth , letterbox to letterbox.This afternoon with William in tow I dropped cards to the more "outlying" houses and farms and then treated myself ( and Boris above) to a packet of smokey bacon crisps from the garage shop,which we shared conspiratorially when I got home.
After complaining to this blog last week about my lack of social nights out before Christmas, I seem to be surprisingly busy! Tonight I am calling round to my friend Geoff's for a wine and chat, tomorrow Hazel and I are off to see an Italian film Pranzo di ferragosto (2008) - which has had some fabulous reviews. Friday we are off with the family for a meal and then the pantomime and next week Chris is treating me to the ballet!
I shouldn't have complained....
Memories
I mentioned that my friend John was instrumental in my decision to finally dispense with an abusive past partner in my previous post The Darker side of ChristmasAfter reading my words, he rang me today to wish me all the best for Christmas and to reminisce a little about what I had written.
John was a constant support to me when that relationship finished and it is strange that although I can and do occasionally remember the sad times, my overwhelming memory of that time was John, Ricky Martin and a seedy gay bar!
Sounds good eh? well I will elaborate! One night, when I was at a very low ebb I met John for a drink, and in an effort to cheer me up he took me to a local gay bar (an awful hole of a place called the "Cossack!") a few pints of beer did not lift my spirits, nor did the usual conversations, so John (and remember that this guy is straight) resorted to desperate measures!
When crossing the tiny dance floor, Ricky Martin's "Livin' La Vida Loca" thundered out and without a pause John, in his best linen suit started an impromptu Latin dance routine by himself, much to the surprise of several leather clad bears who were standing nearby .
I was gobsmacked and laughed until I cried....... and John, I am sure, got a hearty round of applause from a cross section of the gay population of Sheffield. grand stuff!!
The Saga of the Christmas gifts
Out of the two of us, Chris is the one that is "typically Blokish" when it comes to buying Christmas pressies. He often finds it hard picking the right thing, and whereas I am not fussy at all in what I receive (he has banned me asking for proper coffee, batteries for my digital radio and wellie socks), he often makes himself jump through the proverbial hoop, to get the right gift which doesn't always work.
This year I asked for a shed for my new piglets....but as I was offered one which was incredibly cheap, he was left "hanging" for the right gift. This is where the digital video camera came in! Throughout the year he has asked me three times if I would like one for Christmas and I have always said no! The reasons I have always given are:-
1. Too expensive
2 More importantly I would probably break it if it was to be used (go on Nige comment!!)
3. I really wouldn't use one
So this year, bless him, as he was working away in Glasgow , he "forgot" my thoughts on the subject and bought me one!.........Now the hints came when he said in the supermarket queue "you will have to care for the gift I got you!" and I easily guessed what he had bought me, He was crestfallen to be reminded that a video camera would not really be used by me!
Tee hee...the upshot of all this is.......that the camera has not been returned and Chris has spent an exciting afternoon yesterday filming everything in sight.,......I am so glad he has finally treated himself to something he will enjoy!
Most of our family and friends' gifts have been bought, I just need to get a couple more and of course I need to get Chris' pressies, but I don't get paid from doing my extra shifts at the hospice until the 21st!
Perhaps I will be the one that will be buying Chris a Christmas jumper or a set of chocs from the 24 hour garage?
Hummm.....I don't think so....I have a few nice ideas up my sleeve
Overload
After a particularly hard 12 hour shift I could not quite face the weekend marathon of cheeky chappie Ollie versus Geordi pudding Joe on the x factor. I have ripped my gusset out of my work pants and have a banging headache, so I am presently lying on the couch looking rather ravaged, as the result programmes drone on and on....and ON.
Last night the dancing hobbit, Chris Hollings won through to the final of strictly Come dancing with the tenacity of a Yorkshire terrier, and tonight I am just wishing that all this reality bollocks would end in favour for a nice old fashioned, uninterrupted (non phone in) 1940's movie......
The Darker Side of Christmas
This week I listened to a harrowing yet fascinating LBC phone in with the very talented Petrie Hosken , it centred around domestic abuse, which seems often to be heightened at Christmas time (see this BBC news article http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8379798.stm)
Petrie is a warm, talented and assertive journalist, yet by her own admission she was subjected to a subtle, consistently controlling and quietly effective set of abusive behaviours by a previous partner that totally changed her life. Petrie's recollections created a tidal wave of personal stories and experiences from the station listeners and I was reminded of a time, long ago, when I was on the receiving end of a partner's abusive tongue.
The thing that you lose when you are with a controlling and angry partner is perspective. You are unable to see the wood for the trees, and over time, every little thing that makes you unhappy suddenly becomes the norm. Even though the "abuse" I experienced was not physical in nature ( although it did come to blows on one occasion I am ashamed to say), I was bullied dreadfully and I only had the courage to leave the control after two friends made their own individual interventions!
One friend John, overheard a particularly cruel and upsetting scene one night and the look of pain on his face the next day galvanised my resolve to finish what I had worked so hard to fix and accept. Finally I saw my relationship through his eyes, and it hurt!...and that was the vital steppingstone that helped me so much in letting go.
Nuala, reinforced this decision by stating simply in her own matter-of -fact way "if things are too hard, then why do them?"....and so my perspective returned alongside my self esteem and I moved on.
Last Christmas, 70 people A DAY! rang the Wales Domestic Abuse Helpline and I thought it was prudent for the agency to concentrate this years campaign on early subtle signs of abusive behaviour rather than just to give advice of what to do when this get unbearable. I just hope that the initiative helps!
In the end, Petrie Hoskin mirrored my own words today as I discussed all this with Chris....she said that in retrospect that she couldn't quite believe it had all happened.........she, like me learnt from the experience.....and both of us have never suffered the insidious, negative and damaging effects of an abusive relationship since!
We are the fortunate ones
I Am sooooo interesting....Not!
Randy from Chicken Boys forwarded this questionnaire for me to complete: so here goes
1. Name someone with the same birthday as me. My friend Nigel, Maddie (our Scottish terrier), Alanis Morissette, Morgan Freeman,Marilyn Monroe.......
2. where was your first kiss? in my imagination!
3. Have you ever seriously vandalized someone else's property? I tried to hit some tiling below a window of a bungalow with a stone when I was around 9, and got bollocked by the house owner.
4. Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex? No Never.
5. Have ever sung in front of a large number of people? No but I would love to do a Susan Boyle and do it properly.
6. What's the first thing you notice about your preferred sex? Nice Smile,
7. What really turns you off? arrogance and piercings of any sort
8. What do you order at Starbucks? do we have them in Wales? I just thought we had frothy coffee?
9. What is your biggest mistake? My previous partner!!!! never go out with a closset gay with anger issues!
10. Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose? all the time! I am so ham fisted!!.
11. Say something totally random about yourself. Bossy yet kind.
12. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity? A man recovering from a liver operation once stated I looked like the fat Russian Jeremy Spaight from Airport!
13. Do you still watch kiddie movies or TV shows? no......generally not!
14. Did you have braces? Red ones in 1980(!!!).
15. Are you comfortable with your height? It is a case of having to be.
16. What is the most romantic thing someone of the preferred sex has done for you? Chris took me on impulse to lunch at the Russian Tearooms in New York
17. When do you know it's love? When you pick up fragrant underpants in a morning!
18. Do you speak any other languages? Dog!.
19. Have you ever been to tanning salon? nope
20. Have you ever ridden in a Limo? yes a couple of times in New York from Aiport to the city- all very flash...wouldn't do it now..we just get a cab!.
21. What's something that really annoys you? Mother and baby parking spaces!.
22. What's something you really like? Being outdoors.
23. Can you dance? No, My mother always said that I dance like someone with learning difficulties (that is the polite version)
24. Have you ever been rushed by an ambulance into the emergency ? Yes once I was visiting a patient in the community when I was a psychiatric nurse and he had a heart attack at home, I helped doing CPR in the ambulance...the poor chap died!
25. What is your favorite breakfast food? Eggs Benedict
1. Name someone with the same birthday as me. My friend Nigel, Maddie (our Scottish terrier), Alanis Morissette, Morgan Freeman,Marilyn Monroe.......
2. where was your first kiss? in my imagination!
3. Have you ever seriously vandalized someone else's property? I tried to hit some tiling below a window of a bungalow with a stone when I was around 9, and got bollocked by the house owner.
4. Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex? No Never.
5. Have ever sung in front of a large number of people? No but I would love to do a Susan Boyle and do it properly.
6. What's the first thing you notice about your preferred sex? Nice Smile,
7. What really turns you off? arrogance and piercings of any sort
8. What do you order at Starbucks? do we have them in Wales? I just thought we had frothy coffee?
9. What is your biggest mistake? My previous partner!!!! never go out with a closset gay with anger issues!
10. Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose? all the time! I am so ham fisted!!.
11. Say something totally random about yourself. Bossy yet kind.
12. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity? A man recovering from a liver operation once stated I looked like the fat Russian Jeremy Spaight from Airport!
13. Do you still watch kiddie movies or TV shows? no......generally not!
14. Did you have braces? Red ones in 1980(!!!).
15. Are you comfortable with your height? It is a case of having to be.
16. What is the most romantic thing someone of the preferred sex has done for you? Chris took me on impulse to lunch at the Russian Tearooms in New York
17. When do you know it's love? When you pick up fragrant underpants in a morning!
18. Do you speak any other languages? Dog!.
19. Have you ever been to tanning salon? nope
20. Have you ever ridden in a Limo? yes a couple of times in New York from Aiport to the city- all very flash...wouldn't do it now..we just get a cab!.
21. What's something that really annoys you? Mother and baby parking spaces!.
22. What's something you really like? Being outdoors.
23. Can you dance? No, My mother always said that I dance like someone with learning difficulties (that is the polite version)
24. Have you ever been rushed by an ambulance into the emergency ? Yes once I was visiting a patient in the community when I was a psychiatric nurse and he had a heart attack at home, I helped doing CPR in the ambulance...the poor chap died!
25. What is your favorite breakfast food? Eggs Benedict
Ghosts of Christmas Past
The cold crisp weather has lifted my spirits and galvanised my Christmas juices. I received some pressies from Nia in Australia and from Nu this morning and the first "plop" of Christmas cards on the mat has meant that I can now start to hang the cards on their strings in the living room.The fairy lights have been set up (much to the surprise of George) and Nige would be proud of my now re decorated pile of gifts (in the Laura Ashley style) sat carefully next to the fire.
The scene is set!
I am very lucky, as I have only experienced one awful Christmas in my 47 years on the planet.That was many years ago and I was working just before and just after Christmas day in Sheffield. I had just split up from a former and rather abusive boyfriend and had to face Christmas day on my own with a Marks & Spencer dinner for one and a great deal of self pity!
The day was more tragic than anything Anton Chekov could pen!
The other Christmas days have been lovely, and I recall that I have paid tribute to my mother on his blog before, for all the great times we experienced as children.
my mother pushed the boat out from December the 20th onwards. Tirelessly, she slaved over home made cakes and sweets, organised gifts, cards (with an almost computer precise special Christmas card "book") and of course over cooked the dinner for the entire family within an inch of its life. (The table was set out in the dining room the DAY before Christmas Eve)
She loved the season and it showed in the care and preparation she gave things, and that legacy has been handed down to me and I am sure to both of my sisters who prepare their houses like photo shoots from Home & Antiques!
Christmas time for some families can be a traumatic and unhappy time. My experiences have only been positive and warm.....
Here Comes The Sun
Finally the sun is here!. OK it has been one of the wintry, watery sunny days, but at least the sky has been blue, and the rain has kept away! The first time it has been fine for what seems like months!
I have spent the whole day outside, fixing up the coops, replacing bedding and tidying up the mess left by the torrential rain, and although the ground remains saturated, the lift in the sun's intensity has been mirrored by a lift in my (and strangely enough) the animals mood and behaviours. I took a few photos in between jobs
The six remaining runners remain skittish and playful by their small pond in the stream,
Mary, my favourite bantam, looking rather serious as she watched me resiting the turkey poults
George Looking wistful
The poor "indoor" guinea fowl..still waiting to go in their outside run (I am still waiting for their shed to be delivered from Helen from the feed shop) I need to sex the babies and after researching the way on the internet, I was faced with the following challenge
I have spent the whole day outside, fixing up the coops, replacing bedding and tidying up the mess left by the torrential rain, and although the ground remains saturated, the lift in the sun's intensity has been mirrored by a lift in my (and strangely enough) the animals mood and behaviours. I took a few photos in between jobs
The six remaining runners remain skittish and playful by their small pond in the stream,Mary, my favourite bantam, looking rather serious as she watched me resiting the turkey poults
George Looking wistful
The poor "indoor" guinea fowl..still waiting to go in their outside run (I am still waiting for their shed to be delivered from Helen from the feed shop) I need to sex the babies and after researching the way on the internet, I was faced with the following challenge"Listen the guinea's call. At 2 months of age and older, a guinea will emit either a one or two syllable call. The female emits a two syllable call, which, according to folklore sounds like "buck-wheat, buck-wheat." A male emits a one syllable call that sounds like "chit chit chit chit."
So for ages this morning I was trying to sort out the "chit chits" from the "buck wheats", but gave it up as a bad job..the weather was too nice to spend inside listening to 6 hysterical birds
So for ages this morning I was trying to sort out the "chit chits" from the "buck wheats", but gave it up as a bad job..the weather was too nice to spend inside listening to 6 hysterical birds
Throne of Blood......and the death of Christmas nights out
I always enjoyed Akira Kurosawa's Shichinin no samurai (1954)-The Seven Samurai ,but have never seen his masterpiece re telling of Macbeth, the Hammer house of Horror sounding Throne of Blood! Hazel couldn't go at the last minute, so I went to Theatre Clwyd by myself, and was thoroughly disappointed with two hours of Toshirô Mifune looking angry and shouting a lot. Some of the cinematography was ok and I did enjoy the king's hail of arrows death at the end but that was about it. I am glad I made the effort to see it though 7/10
I caught up with my old friend Mike last night by phone. He is feeling his age a little as the trials and tribulations of a lovely pre school four year old seem to have taken their toll. Both of us had a brief moan about getting older, as, with a tinge of sadness, we realised that out Christmas night out marathons we used to experience back In Sheffield, have long since become extinct
Now, having said all that I have never really enjoyed the" Christmas Ward Night out" , most of them have been all too expensive with crappy food and too much drink, but the whole "trailer trash" feel of them, was in fact part of the enjoyment of the whole event.
Strangely enough, I met Hazel, one of my two close friends from Wales, at a Christmas ward night out, after I heard her loudly stating rather snobbishly that she "didn't do Party hats and certainly wouldn't pull a paper cracker!". Her distaste of the more irritating work do traditions actually cemented our friendship!
Anyhow, I digress.
Mike and I had a reminisce about our past lives....his pre baby...mine, pre menagerie.....and even though we recognise that we have sort of "outgrown" these cheesy nights, both of us do miss having the opportunity to occassionally re live them!
I caught up with my old friend Mike last night by phone. He is feeling his age a little as the trials and tribulations of a lovely pre school four year old seem to have taken their toll. Both of us had a brief moan about getting older, as, with a tinge of sadness, we realised that out Christmas night out marathons we used to experience back In Sheffield, have long since become extinctNow, having said all that I have never really enjoyed the" Christmas Ward Night out" , most of them have been all too expensive with crappy food and too much drink, but the whole "trailer trash" feel of them, was in fact part of the enjoyment of the whole event.
Strangely enough, I met Hazel, one of my two close friends from Wales, at a Christmas ward night out, after I heard her loudly stating rather snobbishly that she "didn't do Party hats and certainly wouldn't pull a paper cracker!". Her distaste of the more irritating work do traditions actually cemented our friendship!
Anyhow, I digress.
Mike and I had a reminisce about our past lives....his pre baby...mine, pre menagerie.....and even though we recognise that we have sort of "outgrown" these cheesy nights, both of us do miss having the opportunity to occassionally re live them!
Julie's Christmas Special - "Carol of the Bells"
Now the build up to Christmas is not complete for me until I have found a new version of "carol of the Bells" on YOU TUBE....this version is interesting on several levels...
1. The male voice choir featured actually Looks like a group of blue collar workers..... miners.....rough through and through!
2. Julie Andrew's dramatic nun-like entry is deliciously camp
3. The singing is first rate!
Enjoy!!!
Off to see Akira Kurosawa's "Kumonosu-jou" aka THRONE OF BLOOD tonight at Theatre Clwyd!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)