Ocean's 13

Not very good. And isn't Brad Pitt looking old?

Anyway, One Man Star Wars Trilogy on Thursday which should be fun. Gym tonight (with or without Denise who may or may not have a gammy leg). After a delicious bowl of my home made red pepper and chilli soup that is (which is delicious and red - once I'd worked out that you need red peppers for it rather than green...) J x

Thinking Of You Bill (and thinking of you jane)

For those of you who know Jane's husband, Bill -

I spoke to Jane last night and Bill came through the operation well. The cancer had spread a little farther than the doctors had initially thought but they got it all during the operation. The thinking is that he will now have chemotherapy (I told her that if he's offered it he should take it because no matter how shit it makes you feel at the time you get over it and its better than the alternative). The doctors also don't think that he'll need a colostomy which is good news. Yay. J x

Not So Impressed

Rigoletto was a little ho hum. Not sure if it was the opera or the cast that were at fault though. One imagines that Verdi could write an OK tune (there's the "elephant's ear" song in Act III for example). But there didn't seem to be any others in this opera. But then I found the sopranos rather shrill. Acts II & III were definitely better than Act I though. Perhaps I should go and see it performed by a better company than Opera North. I'm sure it'd be fairly impressive at the ROH. I'll keep my eyes peeled. I've always wanted to go there anyway. Can one have too much culture (Miss Fig)? I don't think so. High brow, low brow, no brow. Bring it on I say.

Anyway it was fantastic to see Mrs T (even though she didn't like my new shirt...). And dropped her off in Bolton this morning ready for her 21st birthday barbecue tonight (not her 21st obviously!). Have had the call (from DD natch) and am off shopping this afternoon. There's a whole world of sales out there for us to explore... J x

Just A Quickie

Thank you Linda for the card and the clipping about Caroline. It was a lovely piece. And please do keep me up to date about the "get together" of the old Crawleys. If I can make it I will.

The Tempest last night was superb. A brilliant staging and Pete Postlethwaite was fantastic. A very talented man. Ariel in his tight white pants was not bad either. And don't even get me started on Ferdinand. Just imagine a younger prettier version of Ben Fogle with a superb body and you're half way there...

Anyway, back to the cleaning now, 24 hours until Mrs T arrives and there just aren't enough hours in the day. Thank God today is longer than any other! J x

It Just Never Stops

Just back from the Flute with DD. It was fantastic. The Queen of the Night (you'll be glad to hear) hit all her top notes. And what spectacular notes they were. Pamina was the real star though. To The Tempest tomorrow with Nanny and assorted others (not sure who but I'm sure they're all very nice). Jane has already seen it and says its fab. Thursday night off (cleaning for the arrival of La T). And then Friday is Rigoletto. Which I don't know so should be quite interesting.

Oh and almost forgot, attended the scar clinic this afternoon. I had an appointment for 1440 but after an hour and a half of waiting (and given there were still 3 in front of me) I left. Its only a follow up appointment anyway so I'll just write them a letter of complaint. There were about 4 nurses standing round just gossiping the whole time I was there. And then when I enquired how much longer one might have to wait I was given a filthy look and told "we have got 2 doctors on you know". Yes dear, but they're seeing patients together so there's no f***ing point (I didn't actually say this bit - I might just put it in the letter).

Little Babes, it would be fabtastic (that's a typo, I'd meant to type "fantastic" but I think fabtastic sounds so much better that I'm going to leave it as it is)to meet up next time I'm in London or whenever its convenient. Lets synchronise our diaries next time a London trip is in the offing. J x

Reporting In

So, to a conference (the first National Direct Tax Confeerence)at the British Library on Wednesday. Went down on Tuesday afternoon and stayed with Sarah Tuesday night. We got stuck on the Victoria Line when there were signalling problems which was quite unpleasant in the heat but not too bad as Brixton (where she lives) is the last stop on the line so we didn't have to fight our way through crowds to get off. Incidentally, if you buy an Oyster card all the fares on the tube are a lot cheaper (its £4 from Euston to Brixton without one!) so its worth investing I think next time I go down. The conference was interesting for the most part - apart from the message that we're becoming friendlier and more customer focussed so we all have to hug a taxpayer from now on...

I had an hour to kill after the conference so I went into the Library itself (which I've never visited before) and went to their Treasures room. And what a mind-blowing experience that was. I saw the Magna Carta - yes, the actual Magna Carta. In fact, I saw 2 of them (there were 4 originally apparently). And if that wasn't enough I saw pages from the notebook of Leonardo da Vinci, the first ever Shakespeare publication, a letter from Queen Elizabet I. Amazing stuff. In fact I was so distracted that once I'd got on the train (and turfed the interloper out of my reserved seat - he had some choice words to say on the subject I can tell you)I poured my coffee all over the woman who sat next to me. She wasn't very happy. But she just sulked for the rest of the journey.

Wento to see Pirates of the Carribean on Friday night. It is very long but not too long I don't think. I enjoyed it. Saturday morning was the gym - the first time in about 2 months but since I'm now over 12 stone and looking a little chunkier it was about time. Saturday evening was Kiss of the Spiderwoman at The Lowry which was brilliant. I'd never seen the film (or the musical, or read the book) so it was all new to me. Not terribly sure if it had a point to make but it was interesting with some unexpected twists and turns.

Sunday afternoon round the shops with DD. Ostensibly to buy her a rug, a coffee table and a curtain pole. Needless to say she didn't buy any of these things but I bought a suit! 2 operas this week - The Magic Flute with DD and then Rigoletto with Mrs T on Friday. What fun! J x

Catch Up

Well what a busy week it's been. Angels in America Parts I and II on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. Both 4 hours long! Part I was really good and had 2 intervals whereas Part II was pretty incomprehensible and had only one interval - meaning it was too long as well as being incomprehensible. Altogether the plays were OK though but since they were written in the 1980s there were large chunks of the text taken up with "explaining AIDs".

Aged Ps arrived Thursday afternoon (and the apartment was looking pretty clean if I say so myself). Didn't do anything Thursday evening but went to the Trafford Centre on Friday. Mother bought clothes and the rest of us didn't so she was happy. Friday evening back to The Lowry for Office Suite. This was Patricia Routledge in 2 Alan Bennet plays from the 70s. And didn't it show. These were the days before computers in offices and a lot of the humour seemed to centre around the numbers given to forms. It was all pretty dated (but OK if you took it in that spirit) and Pat wasn't quite as forceful a presence on the stage as one might have hoped.

Saturday (lovely day) was off to Crosby to see Another Place - the Anthony Gormley exhibition on the beach which is pretty special. And the tide was right out (unlike the first time I went when you couldn't see any bugger coz they were all under the waves). Ma and Pa both really enjoyed this excursion and we didn't get lost once. Hurrah.

Sunday was lunch with Denise (who was, as ever, good value for money). Followed by mother staying in watching the tennis while Dad and I went to the newly reopened Rylands library. And very impressive it is too. The new bit is stunning and the old bit is just as stunning as ever. And the space where old meets new is just fantastic. And apparently Roger Federer lost.

And that's about it. Have reported about Dr Who in an earlier post. Busy week next week - tax conferencve in the British Library on Wednesday so going down Tuesday evening and staying with Sarah. Who is also always good value for money! J x

Fantastic

Best Dr Who yet by a long way... J x

The Twins Must Die

yes, I'm watching Big Brother... (in between all the cleaning - Aged Ps arrive on Thursday, just 5 days to go, how will I ever fit it all in?). J x