Theatricalities

I saw Anna Popplewell at A Streetcar Named Desire this week. It was a great production, Rachel Weisz was terrific.

There were other luvvies there but I could not recognise them.

Other highlights were the production of Samson by Handel at the Royal Albert Hall. My Proms attendance is continuing apace. Had much hilarity checking out the Promenaders. I hate to say it but gosh, what a large contingent of weirdos. Politer thing to say would be people marching to the beat of their own drums. Lots of beards, people reading books, having a snooze, chatting to each other. Endless entertainment. And the music was fantastic!!!

Finally, I went to the first day of the Fifth Test at the Oval. It was great fun but tragedy, of course, has since struck and we have lost the Ashes.

Garden!

I have to share this picture - D has done a magnificent job on my garden. We will meet again in October so I can choose my plants in time for spring.

Next stop is carpentry and painting and decorating. It all kicks off tomorrow. I am hoping to move in the week of October 17 (give or take). Fingers crossed.

Oh Man...

We've lost the Ashes.

It is a black day. No 3BTs are even possible.

Mad Men

1. After everyone else in the universe has seen it, at long last I have discovered Mad Men. Great TV show, waiting impatiently now for Season 2 via Love film.

2. Spaghetti and tomato sauce for lunch - simple but delicious.

3. No rain today. It has been torrential this week in London - so nice just to wear a t-shirt, 3/4 length jeans and my pink birkenstocks. Mum and Dad arrive soon.

I OWN A HOUSE!!!

I am freaking out but - hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Must I leave? Yes, cruel girl...

I went to see the Royal Danish Opera's production of Partenope at the Royal Albert Hall last night. It starred my favourite opera singer, Andreas Scholl. He sang an aria Ch'io parta? that was so beautiful I was in tears when he finished. You could have heard a pin drop in the hall while he sang, it was so still. When he finished, there were cheers and shouts of Bravo! It was amazing. Four standing ovations as well at the end. Wonderful stuff - I will always remember it.

I found this clip on YouTube of Andreas Scholl singing this aria. I will be buying the DVD when it comes out in September.

Another Naked Actress goes down in my estimation

Why does this so-called serious actress feel the need to pose semi-naked in a magazine? Sad.

Because I Can

Culcha Vulture 2

Over the last few weeks that I have not been posting I have been to a fair few theatre things and concerts. Quite liked Beyonce (to my surprise). Saw some good stuff at the National too. The Doll's House at the Donmar was a highlight, Toby Stephens, Gillian Anderson and Christopher Ecceleston were excellent. Thanks to R for the tickets!!

The theatre pinnacle, of course, was Jude Law as Hamlet. We had waited over a year to see this and I was ready to rip him to shreds since last year's handbag incident. I have to admit, it was a good production and Jude was pretty good. It surprises me to say so but 'tis true.

One last star spot before I sign off... L and I saw Elaine Paige this week at Nicole Farhi's while having lunch. We were celebrating our fifth anniversary of joining the mothership.

It has been a while!!!

Gosh, I really must keep this blog up to date. I have been so busy over the last few months. No excuse, but there I have it. So what are my 3 BTs for the last few months?

1. I am completing on my new house next Friday. I will officially become a property magnate! As usual, I am procrastinating. At this rate I shall be moving in September.

2. I have been to St Lucia on holiday and saw Amy Winehouse twice. Best of the star spots was in the gym when it was just me and her. Amy looked good

3. I went to see The Killers at the Albert Hall who were PHENOMENAL. Love, love, love them.

I am going to try to keep up with this blog. I will do my best.

Recent Star Spots

Peter Stringfellow ambling on his bicycle up Davies Street, grinning like a loon.

Too Long since I have posted but here goes...

1. Trip to Abu Dhabi - fascinating and great fun. Especially the Grand Mosque (Sheik Zayed Mosque) which was wonderfully spectacular - I know that the Taj Mahal looked like that when it was first built.

2. Visiting Archie yesterday. So cute! Not enough to make me feel wistful about any kids I might have had but so sweet when he just sits on my lap.

3. Went to IKEA today - time to start planning the Big Move!!

Off to the UAE!

Leaving for Abu Dhabi in the morning. Right now I should be packing... instead I am mucking around on my computer. Oh well. Hope I have fun - and go Australia in Friday's match!!

The Marathon

1. The fantastic achievement of Mark and Mark in the London Marathon. It was so much fun being there to support them.

2. All the people dressed in costumes for the race; too many to mention but there were all outstanding.

3. The 62 year old woman who ran it in 4hrs 22 mins. Unbelieveable. Inspiring for me - I must get out there and get running!

William Hurt

On Wednesday Mum and I went to see Madame de Sade starring Judi Dench, Rosamunde Pike and Frances Barber. Excellent Play - did not deserve the bad reviews.

Anyway, we had great seats in the fifth row of the stalls right in front of the centre of the stage. Sitting to my left was William Hurt. He was there on his own.

Mum and I could not speak properly from the sheer weirdness of a Hollywood superstar sitting right next to us.

The seats were narrow, Mr Hurt got up to take his jacket off, in the process elbowing me. "I'm sorry," he said, as he reached down and touched my shoulder. "That's ok," I muttered back.

We then proceeded to have a conversation about how narrow the seats were in this theatre compared to others in London. He then asked me if I had seen the play before. I said no. He said he had. I replied that this production had had some really bad reviews but that friends of mine had seen it and enjoyed it.

"In my experience, " said William Hurt as he looked me dead in the eye, "most critics are old farts".

I laughed, because he said it dead pan and it was funny. Then the play started. And that was it - the end of my conversation with William Hurt. This means I have a Bacon number of 3. Very cool it was. I had a crush on William Hurt once upon a time. You know, if Mum had not been with me.... ah sigh, another of the roads not taken.