That Friday feeling

I've had a gentle start back to work. Not all my yoga classes are running yet for various reasons: and I turned up to teach yesterday to be greeted by a bemused host who wasn't expecting me. That gave me a couple of hours to fill, so I went to Sainsbury's (because that's how we roll in the Shire).

I had a voucher that meant if I spent £60 I'd save a small fortune on petrol, so I tried hard, even though this is a lot more than I'd usually spend in one go. I carefully added up my costs as I went around, putting  things in my trolley that I didn't actually need yet but that would come in eventually - washing powder, kitchen roll, that kind of thing. However, I must have miscalculated, because the bill came to a massive £75. Bugger!

Other endeavours have been more successful. With a lot of help from number two son, I now have a Facebook page for me as author here. It would be great if you could pop over and give it a 'like'. Thanks to Sally Jenkins for prompting me to get on with this - and please 'like' her page, too.

Off to the theatre tonight to see The Play That Went Wrong. Laughs galore are expected.

Have a lovely weekend, folks.

If you would like to join this bloghop, send your details to laura.6eg@gmail.com  and she will do the necessary.

Another year on planet earth

I'm delighted that this year the clock's have fallen back on my birthday, so I have an extra hour to spend celebrating. Mr Thorley is cooking me homemade pizza and lemon drizzle cake, and this evening we are going to the Royal Theatre in Northampton for a ghost walk. Spooky!

Every birthday is an opportunity to reflect, as well as look forward. Here are five things I thought I'd be able to do by now:

• Slice bread without creating a triangular loaf
• Choose wine by its label, not its price
• Check my car's tyre pressure
• Walk down stairs in high heels
• Peel an orange using just my fingernails without getting juice all the way up to armpits.

I am still a work in progress.

Onwards!

Programme from yesterday's show

It's all been said elsewhere: 2016 was rubbish, but 2017 will be better, so let's get started.

We've taken down the Christmas tree today and it feels as though the house has heaved a sigh of relief that everything is back in the right place. We're still on holiday, though, for another couple of days and there's Baileys and shortbread that need our attention.

I have mentioned before that I don't do New Year resolutions, but I do like to pick a word to bear in mind - a sankalpa, or intention, as we call it in yoga. This year I'm going with kindness, following on from the advent calendar I had on this theme. I think it did me good and I'm planning to keep it up, if I can. You can join in here.

In other news, there was excitement at the Royal Theatre in Northampton yesterday when in true 42 Street style one of the lead actors had been taken ill in the morning and a local actor (Jamal something, I think) was roped in at the 11th hour to take his place. He did the show script in hand, but made an excellent job and I think the book was more of a security blanket than a necessity. He got a huge round of applause at the end.

Finally, I wonder if Prince Charles is polishing his orb and sceptre. Get well soon, ma'am.

Where did the week go?

Can it really be time to Celebrate the Small Things again? I had such plans for this week and haven't achieved as much as I was hoping to. I blame the weather; I don't like this dreary stuff.

To business:
Went to the Royal Theatre in Northampton on Monday to see The Woman in Black. I've seen the film, but this was quite different. I've had to put the book on my Christmas list, so that I can compare and contrast.

I've managed to write and submit an article in which an editor had expressed an interest. It was one of those jobs where I spent far too much time researching because it was just so damn fascinating. Don't you just love the internet?

I'm playing with my ukulele group tonight at a fundraiser in a village nearby. We're promised refreshments!

Following on from Stuart Maconie last weekend (another signed book for the collection), I'm sticking with the radio presenter theme tomorrow as I'm going to see Mitch Benn, which I'm really looking forward to. I've just read his novel Terra, which is lovely.

Have a great weekend, folks.

'Celebrate the small things' is a bloghop instigated by VikLit on her blog Scribblings of an Aspiring Author and co-hosted by Diana Wilder, LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge, Cyborg Mom (Katie) and CaffeMaggieato @ mscoffeehouse. Details are here. 

On with the show

1. Celebrating age. I'm wondering whether to cycle to the care home for this morning's yoga class or to wimp out and take the car. Although the weather forecast says dry, the sky indicates serious rain. Either way, let's celebrate that there is a group of 80-somethings waiting for me to put them through their paces.
2. Celebrating youth. Last night I went to one of our local senior schools to see its production of Our House, which is based on the songs of Madness. My ukulele teacher is the show's musical director. It was fabulous. I can only image how proud the parents of the cast must have felt.
3. Celebrating wisdom. I'm off to see Antigone this evening at the Royal Theatre, Northampton, in which my friend Will is performing. Nothing like a bit of Greek tragedy to get the weekend off to a good start
4. Celebrating talent. Son Joe and his band are playing at a local festival tomorrow and I'm allowed to watch, as long as I behave. Go, Ivory Yardsale!

 

Have a good weekend, folks.

'Celebrate the small things' is a bloghop instigated by VikLit on her blog Scribblings of an Aspiring Author and co-hosted by Diana Wilder, LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge, Cyborg Mom (Katie) and CaffeMaggieato @ mscoffeehouse. Details are here. 

Nearly celebrating

Having been on the long and then the short list of a flash fiction competition recently, I suppose I should be celebrating coming in the top five. The top three were awarded prizes and the judge named the fourth and fifth-placed stories, one of which was mine. Close, but no cigar. I shall console myself with the fact that I had some nice feedback from fellow students on a recent assignment on my FutureLearn course. Swings and roundabouts.

Other good stuff this week:

• Seeing The Play That Went Wrong at the Royal Theatre in Northampton. One of the best things I've ever seen.
• Lunch with number one son, and discovering that the American diner in town is really nice.
• Hilarious ukulele rehearsal last night, when we started playing in one key and singing in another.
• Lovely yoga with my guys and gals, and the prospect of a Dru class tomorrow.
• Seeing singer Rachel Ries tonight and looking forward, too, to seeing comedian and writer Richard Tyrone Jones tomorrow.

Have you got something to celebrate? 'Celebrate the small things' is a bloghop instigated by VikLit on her blog 'Scribblings of an Aspiring Author'. Details are here.

Let's paint the town red

Lots happening this weekend. Last night I went to Leicester to see the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, which was great fun. I went with a fellow uke player and we decided that we've either got to set fire to our instruments or practise MUCH harder.

Tonight I'm off to the theatre in Northampton to see A Tale of Two Cities. My friend Will is in it, which is very exciting.

Tomorrow, we have tickets for Kettering Arts Centre, which is hosting the Reduced Shakespeare Company's The Bible, which you might have seen mentioned in the press as being a bit controversial. There have been accusations of blasphemy. Since our arts centre is run by the vicar and his wife, I'm not expecting to be offended.

On to the celebrations. This week, we have been celebrating my son's birthday, which we managed to stretch out over several days.

Also, a BIG celebration that the £600 I was owed by a client for work done in December has been paid today.

Celebrate the Small Things is a bloghop. Join in the celebrations via VikLit's blog 'Scribblings of an Aspiring Author' here.

Have a lovely weekend, folks.