Short Bursts

 


Ive been lucky enough to see Diana Damrau sing this aria at the Met in New York .To be honest the Opera is complicated and overlong , but this aria is sublime and is a lesson of sometimes the best bits are the briefest
I had brunch with my friend Polly this morning. 
Not a long date but one we both felt the benefit from it.
Heyho

An early Christmas Story



Nineteen years ago, at the beginning of December...I had only one turkey living on the field.
Boris was a mere youngster then...a rather skinny adolescent with a winning nature and an lonely disposition, he spent the short days of winter wandering his enclosure in the vain hope of finding a busty mate.
Unsure of exactly where to get a female turkey from, I put an advertisement up at the post office which read

Wanted
Female TURKEY for sex starved Stag
looks and age immaterial
No time wasters Please


On the 5th of December I received a phone call from a poultry farmer in Hollywell, informing me that he was about to cull his entire flock of English Whites, and if I was quick I could have one female!
I jumped at the chance.
And minutes after the call, I found myself standing in a huge aircraft hanger of a barn, looking at 800, fat, stupid and very loud Christmas turkeys.
"Help yourself" the farmer said and I suddenly found myself with the awesome responsibility of choosing one turkey survivor out of hundreds!
which one should I pick?
Which one looked more nervous?
Which one had the most gentle or needy expression?
I was literally spoilt for choice.....as 1,600 dark soulful eyes watched my every move......
Who would I save?
Which girl would have the opportunity to gallop gaily in a green field with the sun on her beak?

I looked pleadingly at the farmer for inspiration, and without a pause he bent down a picked up a slightly slickly looking female who just had been pecked on the back of her head.....
"Here... have this one" he said..... as he plonked her under my arm
"What should I call her?" I asked, trying to make conversation
He smiled and laughed
"I'd call her fucking lucky....that's what I would call her!"


And that's how Gloria appeared here on the field!........
I told the story to Jason today, when he stopped by when on a dog walk....
"You're a regular turkey Oskar Schindler " he said brightly, when I had finished!



Let The Drama Begin


 The hastily renamed “ drama Group” met tonight in the Crown’s back room to discuss the “ Christmas Review” and things are building nicely thank you very much.
We already have some “ turns” booked,  a young professional singer who lives in village centre, a beautiful Filipino with a self penned recitation, A child’s sweet song, a set of local workers performing a ballet dance, a local actor’s singalong, and even affable despot Jason is poised to do something interesting.
This group is mainly filled with younger village members, which is encouraging and pragmatic for we already have a young female computer boffin on board who has already designed a 🩷 Village logo and “ look” of the social media side, as well as a theatre trained Canadian village newbie who will be our artistic director. 
Me and the velvet voiced Linda were quietly pleased as the ideas kept coming in. 
She winked wryly at me before she left
The new pub owners will be providing the bar
Our next meeting is in The Crown 6 pm on the 6th of October
All welcome

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.