Back in the Shed + Shedcast 37

 Hi Everyone,

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.

Shedcast 26 - Coalface Productions is a Go!

Hi Everyone,

Great news, Coalface Productions is a Go, we have lift off. The new community theatre company started by Lee Pollard and Paul Athorne, local writers, held its first meeting at the Belmont Club, Hoyland, on Wednesday, July 1st. Watch this space for info on future productions. 

And then a Zoom meeting with the Shortlands Poetry Circle writer's group.

AND WE ARE OFF...

David and I got off to a good start for our July Challenge - 100 miles walk to raise money for Barnsley Hospice. We have clocked up 11.4 miles so far so a way to go, but we are enjoying our walks. And in between we have painted the kitchen, so going good. You will find my donate page here, every little helps and  I only have to raise £150.00 so I am hopeful. David has a page too, click here. Thank you so much.

So, here is this week's shedcast, enjoy:

And more pictures of our week:

A bit of a freshen up.

And David made a lovely garden chair.

We walked to the Farm Shop to buy burgers for our barbecue - yummy!

And of course we watched the football. This is when they won Germany to get into the quarter finals.

And last night England won against Ukraine 4 - 0 and will now go through into the semi-finals on Wednesday. I never thought I would get into football but I've really enjoyed watching England play.

So now we are in the run up to my birthday on Saturday (10th July). The family are coming over for a barbecue (whatever the weather) so I have a week to tart up the garden and get ready for a little party. Yeah! I love birthdays!

And now I have to get ready for the Barnsley Spoken Word Collective event at Jump WMC this afternoon, at 4 p.m. you know, shower, hair to wash, lines to learn, so I'll say ta ta for now and wish you all a happy week ahead. I'll be back (God willing) next week with a full update and pictures of my Birthday Party (among other things). Take care, all.

Keep well, and keep smiling,

Jane and David xx

Shedcast 22 04 06 2021 at 16 09

Hello Everyone,

Finally, days of sunshine! David and I have had a splendid week inside and outside. We ventured out in the evening on two occasions, one for the Cock Inn pub Quiz Night, and one to the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield to enjoy an hour of comedy with Lee Pollard. Both excellent nights out.

Anyway it is all in the shedcast so I'll leave you to listen in. I will post photo's of the week below, they say it all. I have a busy day ahead as I am helping to edit the upcoming Shortlands Poetry Circle Anthology to commemorate their 110 year anniversary. So, it will be an afternoon in the garden, doing what I really enjoy - reading poetry.

Our visit to the theatre - The Crucible in Sheffield. We looked like aliens, but then so did everyone else.

We went for a drive in the new (as yet unnamed) car, and had a little picnic in the countryside.

And, if you haven't seen my phone-art, here are some of the little pictures that I have created with my phone and index finger, on my new phone. I love doing this instant artwork.

I don't appear to have created a Happy Monday, I'll work on it for next week, meantime, I hope you have all had as good a week as we have. David is in the garden this morning, painting his little shed and the sun is shining. 

Have a lovely weekend, keep safe and keep smiling,

See you next week,

Love Jane and David xx

Shedcast 19 - The Magic of a CafeneionTable 14 05 2021 at 17 52

Hello Everyone,

David and I were back in the shed last night (after the Boris coronavirus update) to chat about our week and debate a few issues. We would have popped down to The Cock yesterday afternoon but we just managed to get back home after our walk before the rain set in, and just as we were setting off this lunchtime for a cheeky pint before lunch, it rained again. Roll on a sunny day. So, here is the shedcast from last night, we followed it by watching Van de Valk on the tele - not my cup of tea, but David seemed to enjoy it. 

Hey Ho! We enjoyed our burgers, they were not ruined so we didn't go to bed hungery.

Painting of the week - this was a hard one, I thought I would have a go at painting waves. It's not as easy as you might think. Anyway this is a first attempt so I'll try harder next time.

We had a little shopping trip into Barnsley at the beginning of the week. The town was quite busy so we didn't linger, but we managed to get a few bits from Wilco's and Boots. I did look around Next, but there was nothing took my eye. The bus was busy and, as ever, we were glad to be home.

Our walk through the woods last week was swift yet enjoyable. We walked to the Mill and then back through Birdwell woods. It was a tad muddy, but I had my stick and my legs were good to cross the many styles we came across. And when we got back we enjoyed lunch at our own little 'kafenieon' at the bottom of the garden.

This morning I received my complementary copy of the 'Hear My Voice 2020' collection of poems by people of Barnsley including Ian McMillan and Eloise Unerman. I have a poem in there so I'm proper chuffed.

It's not been a bad week, all in all. Now I have to turn my attention towards a little publication which is in the planning stage, by members of the Shortlands Poetry Circle, due for publication by the end of the summer. It's all go.

If you haven't seen my little YouTube videos of recordings of my favourite poems (not mine) from long ago, you know, Edward Lear, Lewis Caroll etc, you might like to take a look at Poetry from the Shed, where every week I choose a famous poem to read out loud.

Wishing you all a lovely week ahead,

Keep safe and keep smiling,

Jane and David xx

Shedcast 17 30 04 2021 at 16 56

Hello Everyone,

We were back in the shed last night for our Shedcast and regular ring-round of our friends. We did intend tripping off into the countryside again, yesterday, but it was so cold we decided a short walk would be best and then our regular Friday night pint in The Art House. So, from the cosiness of our little shed, here is our Shedcast number 17:

Our week started well with a visitation from my sister Joanna, and hubby, David. It was Sunday and the sun shone. We sat in the garden with a glass of prosecco and soaked up the company. It was sooooooooo good to chat, and laugh, and catch up after a year of being apart due to the Covid Laws.

My lovely sister brought me chocolates and flowers and a load of other things, but best of all was the hug that we had both missed for so long. She also brought the good news that her eldest son, Ben, had got engaged at the weekend to Hayley. Congratulations you two!

There was no painting of the week this week, I was too busy writing, but I did tidy up the shed a bit. And speaking of writing, I enjoyed a zoom meeting with members of the Shortlands Poetry Circle, which is always inspiring.

World news is not good as far as the virus is going; India is in a state of emergency, hospitals are overwhelmed, there is a shortage of ventilators and oxygen, and aid is being sent from around the world. My heart goes out to those poor people. And it is not just India, parts of Africa have got it bad and South America. This thing is far from over.

There has been a lot of 'Boris Bashing' in the press, this week, all about who paid for his flat to be decorated - I ask you, do we really care right now when the world is in such a state? Surely there are more important matters to debate in Parliament.

On a brighter note, it's the first of May - hurray! Kalo Mina! to my Greek friends, and Kalo Paska! as this weekend is the Greek Easter. May your lamb be succulent and your spirits high!

And on that note I will wrap up for today and go and get some breakfast, have a good week ahead.

Keep safe, and keep smiling,

Jane and David xx

Shedcast 14 - Rest in Peace Prince Philip on 09 04 2021 at 16 29

Sad news! Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh died yesterday morning at the age of 99 years, may he rest in peace.

Meanwhile, life goes on for the living and the good news is that some of the Corona virus restrictions will end on Monday as the number of people infected continues to drop with deaths now down to below 20 per day. The Barnsley area is still one of the highest infected in the country together with surrounding northern areas. Pubs will be allowed to open on Monday, but only as outside venues, so those without a beer garden will be out of luck. Our beer garden is ready for the onslaught! 

So, here is last night's shedcast:

Poetry and Prosecco - The Zoom event organised by members of the Shortlands Poetry Circle was a lovely event and made for excellent Friday night entertainment. Not being able to get wifi to the shed, we converted a corner of our living room into a shed lookalike for 2 hours of poetry- it was fun!

This is my set which we recorded earlier in the shed:

For the first time in a long time we had visitors last week and we all sat in our garden in the freezing cold, in the hail and snow, in the perfect happiness and joy of being together. Thank goodness for fire pits!

And David and I went for a few walks during the week, at least we can do that:

So, it has been a good week for some, and a not so good week for others. I am looking forward to the week ahead, to more artwork and hopefully to a bit of cello practice, AND a bit warmer weather - please!

Have a good week, everyone, keep safe and keep smiling,

Love from Jane and David xx