Inter Alia

 

What a stimulating and enjoyable afternoon. 

I hadn’t heard of InterAlia ( The follow up legal play follow up to Prima Facie) but the production led by Rosamund Pike was every bit as amazing as the Jodie Comer play. 

The narrative is now centred on judge Jessica Parks ( Pike) and her life juggling act between the bench, sexism in the workplace, a less successful barrister husband and a teenage son who is negotiating his first experiences in an over sexualised world. 

Judge Parks is a woman in constant motion and stress, and Pike hits the stage running with an immensely physical and honest performance which perfectly captures a mother’s love and a professional’s quandary when her son is accused of rape. 

It’s a towering performance with the lead exhausting to watch as she leaps onto the kitchen table and across the stage to give conflicting views about law and sexual abuse, role modelling, influencing and relationships. 

Inter alia is a Latin phrase meaning "among other things." It is used in legal writing to indicate that the instance, point, example, item etc. being mentioned is just one of a larger group.

We had noodle soup at the Chester Market and lots of laughs and chats afterwards.

“ Darling Sunday’s can be a slow day when you are single” Eleanor observed thoughtfully as we drove home. “Today has been lovely”

And I agreed

La boda de Luis Alonso (G. Giménez)

I worked last night, and it’s raining right now which has meant that the cottage is cold and unwelcoming once I dragged myself out of bed. 

One of the twins has peed on my trendy fox cushion 

Leaving a nasty smell, so I’m off to buy food, cleaning materials and a treat

I feel a scotch egg moment coming on

I’m also going to price a few cars up as it’s almost time to replace Bluebell 

The old girl needs replacing after seven years loyal service

But I will be upset when she goes.

I really will 

To add some colour to the drab day I will leave you with the Zaruzala performance by Talia Grupo

No choir just the music and dance

Quite lovely

Tomorrow I’m meeting Chic Eleanor for drinks and theatre “ Darling Pick you up at midday! Let’s be decadent !” Was her message from this morning.

AI

 AI is a way forward 

I’m careful to say here that’s it’s a way not the way forward

This essay is a case in point .

I was discussing with a techno savvy friend the possibilities of getting an AI app to write the next village pantomime. He says that it’s perfectly possible and old doubting Thomas me asked him to give me some sort of example

This AI generated story was written in just a few minutes

Enjoy

John lived quietly in his stone cottage on the rolling hills of Wales. His days were simple—tending his garden, walking the forest paths, and watching the evening mist rise from the valleys. Yet within his heart burned a secret dream: to one day meet King Felipe of Spain, the man he admired not only for his dignity but for the kindness that seemed to shine through his every gesture. For John, the thought of even the briefest touch, a kiss upon the lips, was like imagining heaven itself.

One late afternoon, as the sky blushed with the colors of dusk, John heard a knock at his door. Surprised—since few ever came this far—he opened it to find a tall, distinguished man in a simple coat, his dark hair slightly tousled by the wind.

“I’m terribly sorry to trouble you,” the stranger said in a gentle Spanish accent. “My car has broken down on the road nearby. Might I ask for some help?”

John blinked, his breath catching in his chest. He knew that face—though here it was without crown, without ceremony. It was him. King Felipe, standing on his doorstep as though fate itself had led him there.

Trying to steady his voice, John invited him in. “Of course. Please, come inside, Your—” He stopped himself. The king smiled knowingly.

“Tonight, I am only Felipe,” he said warmly.

They sat by the fire as John made tea, the glow of the flames flickering between them. Conversation flowed easily—Felipe speaking of his travels, John of the quiet beauty of the Welsh countryside. There was laughter, gentle silences, and the unmistakable sense of two souls finding one another in the unlikeliest of places.

When the hour grew late, Felipe rose to leave, but paused by the door. He looked at John, his gaze soft, searching. “You have given me more than shelter tonight,” he said quietly. “You’ve given me peace.”

And before John could find words, Felipe leaned closer. The kiss was tender, unhurried, a promise sealed in warmth and wonder. For John, it was as though the world stopped, leaving only that perfect, impossible moment.

Weird eh

Is it me ?

 Why am I always attracted to men who have a certain sadness about them? 

Empathy? Rescuer syndrome? Carer? Saver? 

I know where I come from and I understand my motivations 

But sometimes , just sometimes , it would be nice to date a guy, or to even meet a guy who hasn’t got lots of baggage behind the kind eyes and the easy manner.

Who doesn’t spill a psychological problem out at you within hours of conversation 

Is it me? Perhaps it is

For Granted

 

This is the view from my bedroom window. 

My garden with its metal chickens then my old field where the allotments and Ukrainian Village once stood, and the livery fields beyond to the South. 

Pen y Cefn Isa , with its proud Victorian farmhouse faces the cottage and village behind me and at night I find comfort in the lights of its windows and the yard light from Glan Ffyddion where Ralph The Gentleman farmer once lived.

Cwm Road snakes South too, from by its neat hedges towards the hills beyond, and Trelawnyd feels safely encircled by low hills in front and by Gop Hill to its rear.

Today it’s Bun’s job to experience the view

It’s blustery and a tad chilly

And the crows called loudly from their trees on Well Street as Melvin’s homing pigeons flashed by like shoals of gleaming fish. 

I’ve lit the fire and the smell of woodsmoke wafts in through the open window…..

And I sat with her for a while, reminding myself not to take for granted the gentle view of the green hills of this part of North East Wales.

The Instagram age

 

Canadian villager kira has now joined our review committee of two with years of acting training, experience of Show production and an understanding of proper marketing.

She’s been sent to us from heaven 

The velvet voiced Linda and I visably relaxed over our gins and bitter lemon, when she said she’d be happy to join in, especially as she wants to rope in the younger population of the village with TikTok , and Instagram help. 

The first proper meeting of interested parties will be held next Monday at the pub.  

Hey ho

Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars (Glastonbury 2025)

One of my patients played this song today  as I was completing a nursing task at work

Like all songs that evoke memories, 

I was suddenly transported to 2007, and I was driving my very first Welsh terrier to the animal hospital near Chester

I knew Finlay was dying 

And those words 

“ If I lay here

If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?”

Finlay Christmas 2005

Have never left me. They summed up our relationship perfectly

Man and dog

And 18 years later, I still am moved to tears by the words.

What song breaks your heart? 

Answers here please xxxx

Whimsy

What a frock 

Ok there are going to be spoilers!

Downton Abbey - The Grand Finale is a fitting denouement to a well loved whimsical franchise. 

It’s rubbish of course, padded and edited to an inch of its life, but after only two hours we have a happy and neat ending for over twenty characters, almost two dozen people we have got to love ( and hate) over fifteen years

Anna, ( Joanne Froggett, the nicest character on film ever)

Set in 1930, we delight in the fashionable deco age, with Lady Mary looking glorious in red and the family stunning in Ascot fashions. Edith Head would be suitably impressed here, she really would, for the visuals are stunning. Writer Julian Fellows takes the drama into an essay of change. 

Lady Mary is about to take over Downton after divorce , much to the horror of her father. Carson and Mrs Patmore are retiring, lady Merton is running the local agricultural show, Cora’s brother has lost his sister’s inheritance, and Guy Dexter returns with lover Barrow , and Noel Coward in tow…

What fun

You can just see where every arc will go, save for the delightful Lady Edith , who, in the absence of Maggie Smith is suddenly transformed into a wonderfully arch and straight talking foil for the baddie of the piece , she and Penelope Wilton have been gifted all the best lines and it’s a joy to watch both of them .

Get your tissues ready
You will cry real tears for the characters you have come to know so very well over the years…Edith and Mary’s sister scenes, Mrs Patmore with Mini me Daisy ,Anna’s goodbye to Mary oh lord it’s a sob fest)