Earthquake in Crete. There has been a big one, six point something, and houses in the Archannes, Arkolohorio areas have been toppled with many injured and at least one dead. It was felt in the Sissi area, and Vrahassi, but so far I have not heard of any damage there.
We had a trip to meet David's Auntie Anne who is over from New Zealand, and his sister's Nan (plus hubby, Lawrence) and Pauline. We all had lunch and a good old natter and then Dave and I hot footed it back to Birdwell just in time for the Theatre Club meeting.
We brought two bottles back from Arran, it is not going to be enough.
Rehearsals at Belmont Working Men's Club, Hoyland
Here is the Shedcast from Friday night:
We managed to get a new Sky television box installed this week because the old one had been on the blink for ages and finally gave up the ghost. And apart from that nothing much exciting has happened all week. My weight has gone up and that is not helping my mood, I hate being hungry but I know there is only one way to get rid of a few pounds. And I have to do that before the weight creeps up any further.
Right, time to boil a couple of eggs.
Love to all, keep safe and keep smiling,
Jane and David xx
P.S. Sorry it's a bit rushed this week, but I'm off out and about. Tell you next week.
Well, I'm going to make this a quick blog, because it is Sunday and the sun is shining and I want to get out there in the fresh air. I also want to spend an hour on my lines for the Fun Night on the 8th Oct. Here are the details if you'd like to see me in action again, funny as ever (I hope).
And this is the new Anthology, 'the rainbow comes and goes' from Shortlands Poetry Circle (please get in touch with me if you would like a copy):
And this is the show that my friend Bev stars in at the Lamproom theatre in Barnsley, if you fancy a night out at the Theatre.
David and I have had another lovely week pottering in the garden in this bonus September sunshine. We popped in to Barnsley yesterday, bought a present and birthday card for our Granddaughter, Jade, who is 19 today, and popped out again. I have to say I am impressed by the new square, and Glassworks shopping arcade. We didn't hang around because Barnsley were playing at home yesterday, and the town was getting very busy. (Barnsley 0 - Blackburn 0)
I was upset in the week when I heard of the death of Gillian Forrester, in Crete. We knew her well when we lived over there, and it came as a shock. She was a lovely lady who was a joy to be around. RIP Gillian, Kalo Taxithi.
And here is the Shedcast we made on Friday, number 37, a friend said to me, 'I don't know how you can be bothered to do that every Friday,' and my reply was, 'because I know you will watch it.' I hope you all watch the shedcast, it is our way of keeping in touch with friends and family we very rarely see.
Our love to everyone, keep safe and keep smiling,
Jane and David xx
P.S. We did pop down to the Cock yesterday and learned that one of our neighbours, John, is in hospital. Get well soon, John, the allotment needs you.
It's not been an easy week, and activities spilled over into the weekend, but I am finally here with an update of last week's events.
It all started a week last Saturday with our journey to Oxenhope where we met up with family and boarded the Worth Valley Railway steam train for and celebratory 50th Wedding extravaganza. David's sister, Nan and her husband, Lawrence were the hosts of a brilliant party aboard the train as it travelled up the valley and back. Here are a few photos:
And at the end of a wonderful afternoon of booze and buffet we tumbled out of the train and began our holiday. First stop Settle, North Yorkshire, where we met up with my second cousin, Carol, in the Golden Lion. We had a lovely meal and later stayed in the holiday flat, which daughter, Jo had rented for the week. (Her holiday). Next morning David and I were away early on our journey to the Isle of Arran, Scotland. We caught the ferry at Ardrossan and were united with our friends, Bob, Barbara and Lorraine, who had travelled up the day before (while we were whooping it up on the train). Our holiday house was the most beautiful, modern, 4 bedroom raised bungalow, with views across Whiting Bay. So, here is a taste of our hols in pics:
Entering the Jaws of the Ferry.
On Deck Leaving Ardrossan
And we are there, Brodick.
Views of Holy Isle
The House at Kildonen
Climbing the Mountain on Holy Isle, Mullock Mor
Basking Seals
And by our last day, the bottle of gin was almost empty
The Ferry Home
Pie and Chips, yummy!
And we were back on the mainland and on our way home. We arrived back in Birdwell at about 8.30 pm after a 270 mile drive down almost empty roads. It was a fantastic week of great food, drink, entertainment and exercise. We had travelled around the Isle of Arran, we had taken a boat to Holy Isle and climbed a mountain, we had visited a distillery, a burial mound with huge standing stones, art workshops, and numerous small craft workshops. And, yes, we did bring home a few souvenirs, some were bought and some were picked up as we beach-combed along the shore. I can't wait to return to Scotland for another such holiday - maybe next year, who knows?
The very next day, Saturday 11th September, was the opening night of 'That's the Spirit' at the Academy Theatre in Birdwell, where we spent the whole afternoon in rehearsals. The show went on to an almost full capacity audience on both nights, and I can't say just how fulfilling the whole experience was. What a great team of people to perform with, what brilliant writers, what a great audience. We had a little party when it was over, in the bar, with a great buffet brought by Bev, one of the cast. And I am going to single out Jade, our prompt, who, I think, had the hardest job of the night, sitting in the wings with the script and a little torch ready to keep everyone on track. Luckily she didn't have to shout at us, but she still had to follow every word. Well done, Jade! And well done, David for swinging on the curtain rope backstage.
So, here are a few pics:
Script writer, Lee Pollard
Script writer (and set erector), Paul Athorne.
,
'Scarred for life, not only mentally...'
Paul, dreaming up his next script
Now we are all fired up waiting for the next play. Over to you, Lee and Paul. Meanwhile we have news of 'That's the Spirit' being performed at Penistone next March as part of their Art Festival.
The Shedcast was a bit of a sorry affair this week, just a short report as we drove down from Scotland. But at least we tried. So here it is:
And that is us for another week. The week ahead looks a little quieter, though I have words to write, paintings to paint and music to practice. On second thoughts it might not be such a quiet week.
