I Heart Janice

And I hope she wins...

Did my first listening in last night. Not a single bloody call! Still had the lovely Paul and the lovely David to pass the time. Off to the World Aids Day vigil tomorrow and then off out with Mark afterwards. And then Cranford on Sunday! Yippee. Aged Ps are back from Portugal - they had gorgeous sunny weather the whole time they were there. The buggers. Heard from Mrs T. She is fine but currently unemployed. Spoke to Figgy this week too. Panto-fest may be in doubt as he's used all his holidays. Still, will see him on the 15th as we're off to see Lord of the Rings (the musical). That's all. J x

What a Lovely Surprise

Linda sweetie, thanks for the lovely card and note. It brought a smile to my face (in a good, nostalgic kind of way). I too am sorry that I had to miss the "Death of Crawley" party but I'm definitely up for a get together in the New Year. And I'd love to see both you and Sue P at some point even if there isn't an official get together. I'd meant to write to Sue to thank her for the lovely cards she sent me while I was ill but she hadn't included her address. I badgered Karen for the address and when she sent it to me I promptly deleted the text! I didn't have the nerve to tell her I'd done it and so never got to write to Sue. When you see her/talk to her next tell her I'm sorry and that I'l apologise in person when I see her. And also thank her for the cards for me because they really meant a lot.

Did Andrew George make it to the party? Any change? And Ms Johnson, given that you've mentioned how successful she is I'm guessing there's been no change there...! Talk soon honey. J x

Noise and Disease and the Irish!

Honestly its enough to make you have a headache of phenomenal proportions. Or even the Quincy. On both sides! Cranford is as delightful as ever. That's all. (But rest assured that Kylie was recorded). J x

Back from Brum

Well, isn't the plot of Il Trovatore just too depressing and ludicrous for words? And the staging didn't help either. All very dour and dark and unimaginative (to my mind). And poor old Dennis O'Neill. Fantastic voice (even when he's singing off-stage as he has to lot in this play) but 4 foot high and 5 foot around does not the figure of a romantic troubadour make! Still Cinderella was brilliant. No fairy godmother (something to do with the Pope's attitude to witches when Rossini wrote the thing apparently) but a couple of really comic ugly sisters and a fantastic father. The prince had a lovely voice as did his tutor (a central character essentially replacing the fairy godmother). The costumes were also great as was the imaginative staging. The rats got on my nerves a bit though. Apart from that lots of shopping (didn't buy a great deal though, 2 pairs of cufflinks and a Xmas present and that was it) and a couple of drinks on the scene. Their Harvey Nicks is tiny although their Selfridges is bigger than ours - and housed in that fantastic building too. Hotel was warm and comfortable with lots of hot water so all in all a very nice weekend. That's all. J x

Solihull and Beyond

Well, I'm back safe and sound. And aren't we all in line for a shake-up? And that's even before we get a new chairman/woman who wants to do everything differently anyway. Off to Birmingham tomorrow for 2 days of opera (Fig we need to speak of John Barrowman). Back on Sunday. That's al. J x

Unbelievable

Politicians and the media running around like headless chickens. The discs have fallen down the back of someone's desk and will turn up in due course. And I really don't understand why the chairman had to resign. We had guidelines in place and they weren't followed by a member of staff. Its the member of staff who should have gone. That's all. J x P.S. Off to Solihull tomorrow for 2 days to discuss important matters such as, no doubt, how to seal envelopes and correctly address them...

Cranford

And a camp classic is born. How will we ever forget Julia Mackenzie saying "that cow is like a daughter to me"? And the expression on her face as the purgative she has fed the cat gets to work... Just fabulous. That's all. J x

Saturday

Fun day. Garden centre in morning with DD. She bought a holly, pansies, Xmas decorations, compost and a bird feeder and I bought... nothing! That's right readers, I went shopping and didn't buy anything. The local papers have been informed. Flat cleaning in afternoon (that wasn't a fun bit) and then playing on the computer whilst texting Mark and discussing IACGMOOH in the evening. Biggins is a good addition we decided. And not a vodka martini to be seen... That's all. J x

Stardust

Went to see it last night with Gill and Ricky. What a fun film. Robert de Niro as the drag captain of a pirate ship was superb. And Charlie Cox. Phwoar! Then out for a vodka martini or 3 tonight with Ms D. Off to a garden centre with her tomorrow morning and then a well earned rest for the rest of the weekend - its been a hectic week (at least that's the plan so far!). That's all. J x

IACGMOOH

Its car crash telly. I don't want to watch. Honest I don't. I can't stop though. J x

It Was 2 VMs

And why not? Negotiations about NYE took place. I can't quite remember what we decided though...

Pleasant day today. Lunch with Eve and then a haircut after work. Oh, and Phil D's twins are on the way... That's all. J x

When DD Calls...

...you jump. We're off tuxedo hunting followed, no doubt, by a VM or 2! That's all. J x

Helpline

Yesterday was the last day of the training. Next up are the "live sesions". 3 sessions of just listening in to one of the mentors taking calls and then 6 sesions of being listened into by a mentor. The last training day was as good as ever and we all went to Canal Street afterwards. It ended up with just me Mark & Paul at the end (is this a trend emerging?). Mark has given me a copy of he Ethel Merman Disco Album which I'm looking forwad to listening to enormously. Will probably meet up with Paul for coffee in the week as he works just round the corner from me.

Hectic week ahead as ever but the following week is even more hectic as have 2 days in Solihull (I know) on business and then 2 days in Birmingham for opera - Il Trovatore ad Cinderella. Know nothing about the latter so it should be interesting. And since its WNO you're pretty much guaranteed that it will be good.

That's all. J x

Brrr

My but its gone cold tonight. Went with DD to see plans for a development down the road (800 flats, shops, offices, hotels and a doctor's surgery - probably). The nice young architect who talked us through the plans reckoned that it would raise the value of my apartment so that's OK then! Off to the Hilton afterwoods for a VM. The place was packed to the gunnells with accountants in tuxedos for some annual dinner or other. Thence to Albert Square for the Xmas lights turn on but as hot as Shane Ward looked he couldn't heat up the whole square and we had to come away before the new enormous Father Xmas was illuminated. Saw the fireworks from my apartment though. That's all. J x

The Count

(No, not Dracula - although I understand that Mel Brooks' musical version of Young Frankenstein is due to open on Broadway soon - worth the trip to New York just to see that I expect). But its just over a week since I launched that counter thing on this blog and during that time there have been 186 visits! Obviously some of those are me and some will be repeat viewings by my regulars but I'm fairly chuffed with the number anyway and so you'l be pleased to know that I intend carrying on with the blog. That's all. J x

The Weekend

Helpline training yesterday - excellent as ever. Went for a drink with a couple of the guys afterwards which was fun. Have to get on with the cleaning now as Denise is coming round later to browse my extensive collection of Xmas decorations as she wants to borrow some. Will find out if she's bought our tickets for NYE. Spoke to the Aged Ps this morning and will be trying to book for Hairspray when we go to London to see the Terracotta Army in London in January. God only knows what my father will make of it! Sounds like we will also be making a trip to Venice next year en famille with my Aunt & Uncle. That should be fab. Then making some soup this afternoon I hope followed by watching the recording of Britz I made in the week since the world and his wife is telling me it was fantastic. That's all. J x

Elizabeth

Went tonight to see the above with Sara. I really enjoyed it, Sara less so. I think she was bothered by the whole historical accuracy thing. I, on the other hand, think that Elizabeth probably did have a Joan of Arc outfit in her wardrobe just waiting for the appropriaye occasion (ooh, I don't know, lets say the arrival of the Spanish Armada). She looked dead good in it too. In fact she looked dead good in her all her costumes which were just sumptuous. Need to get a book now to read all about it and what actually happened. Other than that a quiet week (apart from the 13 hours in Bristol). Got helpline training tomorrow which will be fun. Probably go for a drink afterwards. Cleaning and ironing on Sunday - got to make a start as Aged P's visiting mid-December. Also mother wants to go and see Hairspray whilst we're in London to see the Terracotta Army. Michael Ball in a dress? You won't get any arguments from me. That's all. J x