Laurel and Hardy!

........The Watermill Theatre, Newbury is a fantastic venue!

Imagine one of those lovely summer evenings we had last week.  Think of a clear Hampshire river, ducks dabbling, roses and lavender, delicious fresh food waiting to be selected from the buffet.  Add to that, a delightful, funny, entertaining, nostalgic and moving play performed in the old mill now turned into a very intimate theatre and you have all the ingredients for a delightful evening.

The play, 'Laurel and Hardy' wasn't a variety show of their best comic sequences or a biographical drama.  Cleverly blending both, we followed the characters from their beginnings, through success and ultimately, to their deaths.

They performed 'By the Light of the Silvery Moon' which had our section of the audience joining in quietly with the words and attempting a seated soft shoe shuffle!  They  incorporated classic moments like the chandelier scene and looking after a baby.

But, by the end, the closeness of their relationship, their different talents - I hadn't realised that Laurel actually wrote and directed a lot of their films as well as acting  - the ups and downs of their lives had  resonated with the audience leaving a fond regret that their  style of comedy is no longer relevant .

This was a brilliant production, inventive, clever, amusing and performed by two superb actors and a pianist!

We came out singing into a perfect summer's night - warm and starlit.

A great night out.  Do visit the theatre there if you have a chance.

Chris Froome, my hero!

....back home now and the camper van returned UNDAMAGED to the depot in Geneva!  Some exciting moments getting used to driving something that large through busy streets ( distracted by the window displays in the designer boutiques which line the couture quartier!)  and then up into the mountains!

Luckily the gendarmerie did a fantastic job guiding the convoy of vans up the Alpine roads and into position  though it as first come first get the best places to park.  We were settled into a car park a little way from the top of Alpe d'Huez but had the excitement of seeing them hurtling towards us at what seemed impossibly high speeds.

Chris Froome was easy to identify in yellow and I kept my eyes open to see 59, Thomas Voeckler go by unscathed by barbed wire or team Saxotintoff!   And my new man of the moment, Ritchie Porte, who should be very impressive in next year's Tour.  (We've already booked hotels for the start in Yorkshire and are sending out local friends to find the best viewing points!)

After this stage, as soon as the roads were passable again, we headed off with the fanatic convoy to Annecy. (More retail opportunities!). The weather had changed to damp and humid and we were relieved that there were very few accidents.

By this time, Gabrielle was totally obsessed with the atmosphere of the Tour and, dressed from head to toe in yellow, insisted on climbing onto the roof of the van to perform a sort of dance of victory as the peleton swept by! Despite assistance from  'the men', I didn't manage to join her- we all collapsed in hysterical  laughter as they heaved and shoved to no avail!  So, screaming 'Allez, allez, allez', I joined the others on the roadside - wearing a large and totally unsuitable (for the weather)  straw hat trimmed with the most enormous red and white spotted ribbon!  Gabrielle, naturally, had managed to get hold of one of the sponsor's yellow caps so she was very happy.

At the end of the day, when it was obvious that nothing, bar an horrendous accident or mechanical breakdown, would prevent Chris from winning, we made hasty phone calls to Parisian friends, and drove through the night towards Paris.

By the time we got there, central Paris from Versailles to the  Arc du Triomphe was in shut down and we were directed to a large campsite where we left the van.  Then by metro to the Marais district and our friends and all the excitement of the final stage!

What a triumph, what excitement as the riders flowed through the city.  What a fabulous moment when all the Team Sky riders rode abreast to the finish with Chris in the middle and Ritchie, literally, his right hand man!  Loved the Lumiere on the Arc- so inventive and so beautiful.  Shed a tear or two over Chris' ' speech......and then to party till the morning!  Champagne and happiness all around!

An Evening with Deborah Dalton Millinery

Graciously  hosted by Eleanor Allen, the evening began with Pimms on her patio overlooking her beautiful, secluded garden.  Before the talk began, we were able to wander through the bowers of roses, clematis, honeysuckle and sweet peas - an ideal setting to find out more about the delightful hats designed and handcrafted by Deborah Dalton.

She's an entertaining and quirky individual who described her transition from the world of educational drama and theatre to her new career as milliner.

The  audience found the explanation and demonstration of the skills used in the creation of a  piece of bespoke millinery very interesting.  Those who had professed to not liking hats or never being able to find one to fit, realised with some relief, that the industry standard sizing of twenty two and a half inches was part of the problem.

She related some amusing anecdotes about the people she meets when sourcing materials - the almost medieval workshop of Boon and Lane in Luton where she came across beard blocks for the  film 'Lord  of the Rings', the milliner who made the little pink fascinator worn by the Queen when she 'jumped' out of the helicopter to open the Olympics, the film costumes made from fabrics purchased for The Berwick Street Cloth Shop.

At the end of the evening, we were invited to try on her samples.  What a great dressing up session!  Everyone was choosing and advising, posing for photos, exclaiming their surprise and pleasure and enjoyment!  Gabrielle, who never misses an opportunity to be prepared for any occasion, took advantage of the sample sale to purchase the divine 'Left Bank Lipstick'.  (Deborah had told us that when she is designing, she thinks  of where her client  may wear her pieces  and makes up little stories about them! This lovely little hat had quite a saucy story - reflects Gabrielle's youth VERY well!)

There'll be not pretty little hats where we're going next!  It's off to Geneva and the mountain stages of the Tour de France  next week.  Our men have admitted their plan and we shall have company in the camper van!

Till my next post.....allez, allez, allez!

Kew the Music - Blondie in the Grdens

.....well, I'm having a quiet morning after getting home late last night after a fantastic show.

As you know, Gabrielle and I had planned an evening of fizz, food, music and dancing and the evening was everthing we could hoped for.

Thank goodness summer has arrived at last as the evening was (as a boyfriend a very long time  described me though probably with different spelling) soft, warm and balmy!  We found a prime spot   in the picnic area  in front of the stage and set up our encampment.  Opened the pink fizz and began with delicious charcuterie (what would one do without Waitrose!)

After the warm up act and a little break for Mediterranean tart and salad, Hugh Cornwell, front man for The Stranglers was on stage.  Great music; great to see him in person.

The sun was setting as the stage lights picked out the features in the Temperate House which formed the backdrop for the stage and Blondie made her entrance.  What a vibrant performer, such rapport with the audience, wonderful to hear her improvising on the songs so familiar from the CDs.

I was thrilled to hear variations on my favourite 'The Tide is High' ( loved the way they used it in 'Muriel's Wedding') as it featured solos by some of her band- that drummer is amazing!

Gabrielle had her (nearly) 30 seconds of fame when she was shown on the big screens giving her all to 'Atomic'!

After a hour of play and four encores, the fireworks shot up from behind the building neatly bringing the show to an end and preventing, what surely would have been, countless calls for even more encores!

Gabrielle and I stayed where we were with coffee and her delicious home made pistachio macaroons whilst the crowd thinned out.


Then I saw it, and you  must forgive my little rant.  LITTER!  How could so many 'John Lewis' type people leave SO much rubbish behind on the grass?  I couldn't believe anyone would wish to spoil the beautiful  gardens or be so inconsiderate, so arragant as to leave their detritus behind - especially as the paths to the exits were lined with bottle banks and big skips for litter.  Bring back the Wombles, perhaps!

Anyway, tonight I'm off to 'An Evening with Deborah Dalton' - my favourite milliner.  I'm looking forward to hearing about her ideas for Autumn/Winter and, perhaps, if she's having a sample sale, may be able to pick up another pretty little piece to wear to a wedding in France next month.

....talk to you soon, my dears.  Have a happy sunny day.

www.deborahdaltonmilliner.co.uk
www.kew.org/visit-kew-gardens

Blondie at Kew

.... Blondie is playing tonight at Kew!  And there'll be fireworks at the end!  What more could one want?

Well, the picnic , definitely!  I'm taking Mediterranean tart, raspberries and cream ...and pink fizz, naturelement!

And the weather!  It's going to be perfect and how wonderful that summer has come in time for an evening outside.  Better pack the mosquito repellant - not a good look, big red blotches  especially as they might clash with the shocking pink silk top I'm wearing with my cigarette pants!

Gabrielle is making her own macaroons- clever girl!

So, it'll be night of fun, dancing, bubbles and laughter.

I'll tell you all about it tomorrow!!

Le Tour and my friend Gabrielle

....after a busy few weeks, Gabrielle and I finally managed to catch up for lunch and finalise our plans for watching the Tour de France!  The mountain stages are always the most exciting so we've hired a camper van  for  a few days - essential for the essentials of life; chilling the champagne,  cups of herbal tea, hair straighteners - and fly into Geneva for the closing stages in the Alps.

Although I'd planned to support Chris Froome who probably should have won a stage last year if he hadn't been helping Wiggo but ever since  Thomas Voeckler had the collision, two years ago, with a press car and was catapaulted into a barbed wire fence, he's been my man!  However, family connections with Belgium mean that I shall keep a close  eye on Jan Bakelants.

Gabrielle and I are still arguing about who's going to be doing  the driving; our men insist they won't come with us as too many years travelling to holiday villas behind convoys of caravans have left dark memories.......I've  noticed, though, that they are very interested on the details of our 'Tour' and I shaln't be surprised if, when the day comes, they won't have made their own secret plans to surprise us on the flight!

Mediterranean tart, watercress and rocket salad, strawberries, blueberries and creme fraiche for lunch!

Strange Encounters in Paddington!

.....to Paddington last night - a disused fire station and possibly part of an office block had been transformed by Punchdrunk into the venue for a  promenade performance of 'A Drowned Man'.

Quite extraordinary, quite different from a normal night's theatre going, quite amazing.

Te venue had become 'Temple Studios' - an old film lot laid out over three floors.  Arriving at out specified time- 7.10 to be precise- we were allowed in in groups of 3 or 4 to make out way through a dimly lit labyrinth to the first set - a small town square in old time America.  Given masks to wear and asked not to speak, we were invited to wander through the sets and see what we could see.

The effect of all these silent, white masked people soundlessly inhabiting the locations was quite strange- it felt as if we were background characters  for  a film but uncertain of where to be.  Gradually,   We became braver, examining the artefacts that dresses the sets and sitting down in the rooms and saloon.  Without warning, 'real' characters drifted in and played out a scene in movement and barely audible sound - it was left up to us to interpret the action .

As we were wandering freely without direction, there was no warning when things might happen or where; we, sometimes literally, stumbled upon the moments.  At times, was very moving especially in the house, where our presence as onlookers incapable of helping gave added pathos to the situation.

All in all, a thoroughly creatively satisfying experience ......though my feet ached by the end and I wondered how they had managed to fill the top floor with such a quantity of sand!

Success- and aching feet!

My dear- just back and been soaking in a very long, hot, Jo Malone perfumed bath!  Oh Vanity!  Thy name is Woman!  Those heels!  What can I say....'on doit suffrir pour etre belle' as they say in 'Little Women' - though I don't  think they were referring to Ascot costumes!

However, a great day, lots of fizz, lots of fun and, thanks to 'Mam', finished the day £25 up!

And so, as said by Samuel Pepys, to bed!

Ladies' Day!

Well, my dear, I'm in quite a rush!  We have to leave soon for Ascot, load up the hamper, pack 'The Widow' in ice so she's ready for the off and, of course, make myself stunning for the occasion!

What am I wearing?  One of  Zedra, the Spanish designer's ensemble - pale creamy yellow silk patterned with pale pink roses and a shocking pink little jacket.  I asked Deborah Dalton to make 'Left Bank Lipstick' (such a pretty shape - have you looked at it on her website? ) in the same colour as the dress and trimmed with large roses.  She made the brim a little bit bigger to balance my height - so useful to have something exactly right.  And, with the hair band, I feel pretty sure it won't blow off!

As for the weather- I think Russell will have to take his largest umbrella and be prepared to haul me out should my quite ridiculously high heels sink into the turf!

Fingers crossed for a happy day - I might even back a winner!

Chat soon xxxx

www.deborahdaltonmillinery.co.uk

Wonderful productions at The National Theatre

Well, my dear, have you heard about the fantastic plays on at The National?

I think I will have to watch 'Othello' at the cinema as, understandably, there are no tickets left.

However, we did manage to get in to see 'Strange Interlude' with the amazing Anne-Marie Duff as Nina in this 1928 play by Eugene O'Neil.  She is, in my opinion, one of the best actors of her generation.  ( Her St Joan was one of the highlights of a lifetime of theatre going.)

Many interesting questions to consider- would the love of a simple but devoted man make up for the trauma of losing one's fiancé at the very end of the 1st World War?  Would hereditary insanity still be a closely guarded family secret and a wife urged to take a love in order to conceive a child?  Should duty prevail over love ?  Questions to consider; as valid now as then.

The following night, to 'Amen Corner'  - a new play by James Baldwin.  Very different, obviously, in production style and content but a vibrant and memorable performance.  Marianne Jean-Baptiste in the lead as the hardline leader of a Harlem church.  Again, a woman driven to do what she felt was right, to do her duty whatever it cost her in terms of her happiness and status - even if, in the end, she had lost the most important things in her life. Her downfall was to fall foul of those who decided her way was too rigid  so,  At the curtain, it was an 'interesting' decision to decide whether to applaud enthusiastically the brilliant portrayal of the leader of the conspiracy or to boo for her part in the palace revolution!

It's great to have so much enjoyment and so much to think about.  Theatre has to be the best art form!

Diggin' - the aftermath!

My dear, archaeological digging is so...excellent, exciting, extreme....exhausting!

After two weeks, I'm back in the world of connectivity and can tell you a little about my time at Vindolanda, just a mile from Hadrian's Wall, where four centuries, at least, of garrisons were stationed.  Though not consecutively, I discovered; apparently, as each cohort was moved on, they destroyed everything so there was nothing left that could be used to create a rebel stronghold.

Consequently, we were uncovering a section of the 4th century phase and, when that's been thoroughly researched and documented,  will be dug up to reveal the earlier site!

I'm afraid my dreams of finding jewellery and shoes came to nothing - two coins and the hilt of a knife though brooches, rings, a  pendant and half a rare glass bangle were unearthed as well as much pottery.

It definitely wasn't a relaxing holiday but if you're inclined to exchange chic little boutiques, elegant galleries and gourmet food, volunteering on a dig provides good company, much intellectual stimulus ....and a work out that no gym could ever offer.  As one of the younger women commented....'Buns like steel!'

From that to Ascot!  I've just been doing some research about the fashion trends for this year.  'Left Bank Lipstick' from Deborah Dalton Millinery is my favourite ...and is a little smaller than one of Philip  Treacey's new designs.

Romans! Digging! Rain!

Well, my dear, have you heard?  I'm in Northumbria, near to Hadrian's  Wall, at Vindolanda ready to begin digging tomorrow morning.

It's raining very hard, the temperature is low, the earth will be very wet and heavy.....but we are expecting to find lots of lovely things...of course, I hope it'll be jewellery, possibly shoes and a classy piece of pottery would be wonderful!

Will definitely need my wooly hat....though I have a very useful and pretty one for when the sun shines!

Will tell you more later on this week.

My dear, have I told you that I may be an alien ....or susceptible to abduction by aliens?  

I found out my blood group was Rhesus negative A some time ago but today, with a few idle moments, I began to search the internet for further information.  Found quite a lot of rather 'odd' stuff - see above- but have begun to research my family tree as all but one of my family are dark haired and eyed.  

Fascinating stuff, though; only 5% of the world's population are my blood group and it's most common in the Basque people.  Now, my favourite 'station de mer' is St Jean de Luz in the French Basque region so, perhaps, there's a subconscious link....apart from the fabulous seafood, beautiful beaches, delightfully chic little town, and so much culture and outdoor activities! 

Apparently, this blood group came about, possibly as a genetic mutation, between 50, 000 and 35,000 years ago.  Very interesting.

So far, my family tree has shown nothing out of the ordinary......but if I don't add anything to this blog for a while- look out for space ships!

( Think  I may have to ask Deborah Dalton Millinery to make me a special 'alien invader repellant hat' - just in case!

The film 'Intouchables'

Just finished writing my essay for my French class.  Must be achieving some success as I've been able to use - correctly- the subjunctive and the conditional AND relative pronouns, my absolute bete noir of grammatical construction!

The topic was the social implications of the film 'Intouchables'.....a great film to watch, funny, edgy at times, and with a tenderness towards the characters.  However, it's been seen as a break through for the physically other abled in France as hitherto they've been rather sidelined.

Undeniably, the rapport between the characters- based on real life- is superb; a real sense of joie de vivre but as the tetraplegic is a very rich and well connected man, he can afford the comforts, practical aids, social and cultural opportunities that make his life a little more tolerable.  That he benefits from the companionship of his carer  ( originally from North Africa ) from the housing projects and enjoys his anti authority attitude and challenge to the status quo is unquestionable  but I can't help feeling that if the roles were reversed, the story would have a greater social impact and ask better questions about integration and assimilation of minority groups.

This week, France under German occupation....lots to read, a documentary to watch and then the research!

A bientot, mes amis.....!

Gardening!

It's all very exciting, having this blog up and running!

I told the incredible Neil Kerber  about my friend Gabrielle and me having a champagne tea in Claridges and he drew this wonderful cartoon . 

We'd booked a little while ago so we could look forward to this treat and spent ages discussing what we'd wear to celebrate such a delightful outing.  I'm wearing my little black dress and 'Mood Indigo' - a perky little hat that I felt suited the occasion.  Gabrielle decided to be more formal in 'Le Touquet'.  We loved having an occasion to wear hats - both from Deborah Dalton Millinery in Hampshire.  Somehow, any special outing seems to deserve dressing up from top to toe!

From  the moment we were greeted at the entrance, the whole visit was perfect.  Such elegance, such delicious little sandwiches and cakes, beautiful flowers everywhere including in the ladies' cloakroom and the most exquisite china.  Oh, and such a choice of tea!  Rose  petal, lavender......we  both decided this is a treat that deserves to be repeated as frequently as possible!

Since then, it's  been back to earth- quite literally!  Following a talk at Hillier's Garden Centre in Winchester about planting summer tubs and containers, I've swopped my elegance for a gabardine apron, wellies and sun hat!  The decision to be made was pastel and toning or bold and contrasting.  I've chosen 'brash and clash' and have had enormous fun choosing vibrant colours and sculptural forms!  After a few days glorious warmth and sun, the weather seems to be going back to cool and damp.......

Looking forward to friends visiting this weekend.  Should be able to get out into the country for a walk and a pub!

Will post photos as soon as I know how!

Just getting started and thinking about what to tell you! Please look again next week.