A Whirlwind Week and Visitors in the Shed

Hello Everyone,

Well, I've hardly had time to draw breath this week. It has certainly been the busiest and most social week we have had in a long time.

The week started well with a trip to Sheffield on Sunday afternoon where we spent a couple of hours down on the Quays at the Dorothy Pax bar where Ray Hearne and his daughter were performing. The bodhran player, Ciaran Boyle also made a guest appearance, as did the Fagan boys, Hamish and Harry. The whole show was a real treat and our first trip to Sheffield Quays was a total success.

On Monday we had to take the car in to have the breaks sorted out (an essential job) and while Halfords were sorting that out, David and I took a look in the shops, first B&M and then Dunelm. We wanted a few bits and it was good to just mosey around the isles and see what was on offer. We have now discovered that B&M is a good place to go to buy the Greek larger, Mythos. We didn't actually buy any, but we now know where to go should we decide we need some. Anyway we had a snack in the Dunelm coffee shop and that was very pleasant.

On Wednesday I spent the whole afternoon with Valentino (cello). The first time I have touched him in ages, shame on me, but it was a good practice.

Thursday was cleaning the house day ready for visitors on Friday, but we did manage a trip down the road to the 'jam lady' and as we were passing The Cock, we popped in for a cheeky pint.

And that brings us to Friday, Shednight, Yeah! And while we were enjoying life in our back garden we happened to see our new next door but one neighbours. Well, we had a chat and one thing led to another and before we knew it we were sitting in the shed enjoying a bottle of wine with Graham and Glenna - a Shed Afternoon.

The day unfolded perfectly and our evening guest arrived just after 6p.m. John Carter and his partner Karen. We knew John way back in Crete where he was a holiday rep. It's many moons ago and a long time since we last saw him. To cut a long story very short, we are invited to John and Karen's wedding and thought it would be great to get together to talk about their upcoming day. It turned out to be a brilliant evening, ending with toes toasting round our fire pit. So, here is our shedcast with visitors, John and Karen.

Saturday, and 10.30 to Belmont Club at Hoyland for our weekly rehearsal of 'That's the Spirit!' Get your ticket soon if you haven't already got one.

AND SUNDAY we were off partying again. This time it was at the Boatman's Rest at Worsbrough Dale where we had a family gathering for our son's partner's birthday - Tracy, 50 today! It was a great get together with our lovely granddaughters, Star and Jade. Here are a few pics:

AND TODAY, MONDAY as I write we are awaiting the arrival of my sister, Joanna, her hubby, David, and their eldest son, Ben with his bride to be (in January), Hayley. They are on their way from Manchester and we are all going out for lunch at the Strafford Alms, near Birdwell. It's another first for us, so we hope it will be OK. See next week's blog for a full account.

So, as you can imagine, I am slightly busy getting ready to go out. I hope you have all had a good week. For us it has been such whirlwind week, and beautifully sociable one. I think I could get used to having visitors in the shed, give us a ring if you fancy popping round.

Until next week then, keep well and keep smiling, 

Lots of love, Jane and David xx

P.S. And as we have a wedding to go to next Saturday, there will be photo's of that to look forward to.

Open Mic in the Open Air

Hello lovely readers, I hope your week has been as 'funny' as mine. It started on Monday with an interview for The Wombwell Rainbow, a poety blog written by Paul Brookes, (check it out). 

Then on Thursday we went to see Lee Pollard in his one man show, at the No7 pub in Barnsley. What a great venue for a bit of spoken word. In the vaults of the pub is a subterranean bar, called appropriately 'The Cellar' (very cavern like) and the acoustics were very good. Lee was a hoot with his Barnsley anecdotes and very cleverly written poems. And it was all so funny that our cheeks were hurting.

On Saturday, David and I were off again on the 66 bus to Elsecar, where we met up with Ray Hearne and Matt Clegg for a bit of al fresco poetry. I must admit the audience was a bit sparse, but it was all good practice, and get to meet some other poets from the area. Tracy Day Dawson was there with her lovely poetry, and a rendering of Beowulf in old English dialect, it was a treat. The event was held at the Heritage Centre, and the day was fine, so all in all we had a really good few hours of jollity. Next week we will all be in the market place at Doncaster, mid-dayish.

Jane, Matt, Ray and Tracy

Jane and Ray Hearne

And today I'm taking it easy and trying to get my tummy back to normal after delicious fish and chips while we waited for the bus after a pint in Sheffield to round off the evening.

I will be busy preparing for the launch of Higgs Bottom, over the next few days. David has got my new poetry collection up and running on Amazon, and almost completed publication of the same as a paperback. So, Scary Woman will be launched at the same event.

Scary or wot?

Scary Woman is a collection you won't want to miss - honestly! 

So, lovely people, it is Sunday evening and I have tea to make before we settle down to the 9 o'clock drama on the BBC, World On Fire, so I'll say ta ta for now. Don't forget, if you will be anywhere near The Tap and Brew in Hoyland on Sunday 27 October, 4pm, pop along and join the fun at my book launch. And if you can't make it, take a look at the book here, it will make a unique Christmas present.

OK! Tea time!
Byeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Talk next week.

Don't Tell Me I'm Too Old to Vote

Hello dear reader, let me start by thanking you for following my blog, the stats are increasing and I know I have some lovely blogfans out there. That is so reassuring because I do spend many hours alone, either in my shed, writing, or playing the cello. Of course that is the path I have chosen and I wouldn't have it any other way, and when I do get to be in company I really enjoy that, too. So, thanks for joining me now and then. 

This week has been particularly quiet because David has been away visiting our daughter. I met him in Sheffield, at Meadowhall, when he arrived back on the Megabus, yesterday morning. He looked like he's been to Katmandu, rucksack and all, but the only souvenir of his trip was his bedsheets which he'd stuffed in the rucksack ready to go into the washing machine. He did take me to 5 Guys for lunch though, where we shared a burger and chips, and while it was a good burger, I thought it overpriced at nearly £11 for a burger, chips and a large paper cup of coke.

Now, the big news is that I have a date for my book launch, Sunday 27 October. It is to be at the Tap and Brew in Hoyland, at 4p.m. David and I have been designing a poster all morning, and this is what we have come up with:

So, pop it in your diary if you are going to be anywhere near the Tap & Brew in Hoyland on Sunday 27 October. The Tap & Brew is a great little pub, with a good selection of real ales, and a fantastic selection of gin drinks.

I'll be reading a short excerpt from Higgs Bottom, and introducing you to Sharpan the Rawskin, Reusable condoms, and a couple of unusual sonnets. It's all clean stuff though!

I'm looking forward to going to see my mate, Lee Pollard on Thursday, 10 Oct, when he has a one-man show in Barnsley. I shall make a full report next week.

And I've also got a slot in Elsecar, next Saturday, 12 Oct,  at the Heritage Centre, somewhere between 11a.m. and 4p.m. That should be a fun event with Ray Hearne leading the show.

What other news? Well, Ihave new boots:

They are very lovely, and keep me steady on my feet. Keeping up the image of Whacky Lady!















And I have kept away from the baking thing since my last disaster, eating bananas, and other such ready delights.

Here is a poem I wrote this week:

Don’t Tell Me I’m Too Old To Vote

Don’t tell me I can’t eat jelly for breakfast,

Don’t tell me what to wear, don’t tell me I’m past

My sell by date and Brexit’s not my affair,

Don’t tell me my brain is spongyfying at a rate of knots,

It’s not, it’s not, and if it is so what?

I’m a person of the planet; I’m not a microchip,

I’ve worked, I’ve procreated; I think I’ve done my bit,

And while there’s breath inside me I’m still a part of it,

So don’t tell me I’m too old to vote, I’m not the walking dead,

I can reason, I’m still in the boat, and you know what Doris said:

Don’t underestimate the silver haired, the ankle biting short,

They can rise to hold positions such as: Judge, Supreme High Court.

So don’t tell me I’m too daft to weigh up all the facts,

I can make a sound decision about parliamentary Acts,

Don’t take away my freedom; don’t take away my pride

Don’t tell me I’m too old when the fact is I’ve survived

Because I’m bloody canny, and I’ve worked to stay alive,

I’ve dodged the bullets, stood my ground, kept faith; I’ve ducked and dived

And I’m not beyond enjoying this extraordinary ride.

Don’t say the old are a burden on today’s society,

You wouldn’t be so scathing of a gnarled and knobbly tree,

You’d say, look how magnificent those ancient branches are.

And you’d prop it up, and hug it, feed it tree-food caviar:

You’d say, there’s wisdom in that tree, think what it must have seen,

You’d respect its age, look after it, sweep away its falling leaves,

You’d make sure as it got older it was safe from harm,

Not look on it as a fruitless has-been, scored and scarred,

Don’t tell me you’re unhappy with the way I rock and roll,

Stick this inside your ballot box - I’m not too bloody old!

So there you have it, another week goes by in the life of Jane Sharp. I hope you will join me next week to see what I've been up to. Oh, I nearly forgot, here is a short excerpt from Higgs Bottom to wet your appetite:

Have a fun week dear reader, love you lots, bye for now,

Jane x