Andrew's Musings

Snow

2009-12-17T17:37:22Z

Yay!
M'cr can haz snow

Snow White - Saturday

2009-12-06T11:39:04Z

Matinee: A full house and a good audience. Very lively with lots of kids with no volume control. It was a good performance.

Afterwards we all got Chinese from the Chinese Chippy next door so we din't have to go hoem and come back. It was good when it arrived. But you'd think having ordered 2 hours in advance that it would have been ready when we went to collect it - not half an hour later.

Evening performance went really well. It can sometimes drop because people are tired from doing the Matinee but we actually kep the energy up and did a show that was just as good.

Ganked from time_freak

2009-12-05T11:16:00Z

Who needs a khitomer when a khitomer can be broken?

Which song was this lyric from?

Its beginning to feel a lot like Christmas

2009-12-04T16:29:00Z

We're doing the panto.
Today i bought Christ,as cards
I've put my decorations up
The tree is decorated and lit.
The living room looks brilliant!

Tis the season to be plugging

2009-11-30T16:16:40Z

This week it is my drama group's annual Pantomime.

Barton Theatre Company present
Snow White

Thurs 3rd December to Saturday 5th December 2009 at 7:30pm

Matineés on Saturday and Sunday 5th and 6th December 2009 at 2:30pm

Salford Arts Theatre
Kemsing Walk, Off Liverpool Street
Salford
M5 4BS

£7.00 (waged) and £5.50 concessions

Box Office Telephone
0161-707 5941 or 0161 925 0111 (Theatre)

Fireworks photos

2009-11-07T18:48:01Z

I went out to the fireworks display in the park last night. The camera has a special fireworks setting that. according to the manual, "lets you take shots of fireworks in vivid colours" so it was the perfect opportunity to try it out.

I think it shoots using a long exposure as once you press the shutter the display shows a hand crossed out, which I took to mean not to move the camera. If I did the resulting picture had trails of light instead of a sharp image of the firework. Took me about 4 or 5 shots to work that out but when I did... Well, I'm rather pleased with the results.

www.facebook.com/album.php

Bad Day at Work

2009-11-03T17:32:05Z

Nothing went right today

Am frustrated, tired and pissed off

Came home and had a shot of JD. Felt slightly better. And I ahev last night episode of Burn Notice on VHs and the season finale of Chuck is on at 9.

But I have still ahve to do the ironing

khitomer @ 2009-11-01T14:15:00

2009-11-01T14:42:42Z

I had a brilliant Halloween last night

I had volunteered to help out with a NSPCC event in Sunnyhurst woods in Darwen.

They were doing a Halloween spooky walk. Groups of children (with adults supervising) go for a walk around darkened woods and at intervals encounter characters in costume who tell them scary stories.

I dressed up as skeleton and together with a friend dressed as witch (because NO-ONE was going to stand in a dark wood on their own) we told a story of witch who tricked the Trick or Treaters, luring them into her cottage with sweets, before eating them and spitting out the bones (which we inferred was why I was a skeleton)

It went really well. We got more than a few screams especially when I stepped out of my hiding palce and the kids saw a skeleton walking towards them and again when we offered the sweeties. Some point blank refused to take a sweet. For some reason the kids thought they might get eaten.

Afterwards there was chilli, cups of tea, biscuits and treacle toffee.

What I loved most was the delicious irony of a Children's charity encouraging people, with some enthusiasm I might add, to scare children - well just for one night .

Pic at www.facebook.com/photo.php

I have the Power!

2009-10-24T13:44:17Z

Just commented on someone's post saying they lokk they look like they're trying to make a Death Ray come out their eyes.

It got me wondering. If you had a superpower/magical ability what would you have?

I think I would have Teleportation

A perfect moment

2009-10-22T17:14:22Z

I just happend to glance out the window of my flat and I saw a glorious rainbow. Really bright and clear, every color visible

I grabbed the camera, ran outside, and got these shots

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=797328&l=bbe38160c2&id=1191235286
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=797329&l=2b756c7fca&id=1191235286
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=797330&l=8a77f45769&id=1191235286

In Night Watch, Pratchett describes a perfect moment where everything seems to be clear and good and right. Standing in the drizzzle, looking at that rainbow, getting those pictures. That was a perfect moment

Amazon still fail?

2009-10-17T18:43:33Z

I really want the Coraline DVD.

Amazon have it for about £3 less than anywhere else I've seen.

Have they fixed the fail so that I can, in good conscience, patronise them?

(Double meaning left in for your pleasure and edification.)

Spend, Spend, Spend. Eat Eat Eat

2009-10-17T18:38:39Z

It was pay day on Thursday

This weekend, I've been spending my money

I have bought:

A set of passport photographs as my photo needs renewing on my driving licence
Paid the fee (£20) for a new photo driving licence
Bury Black pudding off the Farmer's Market
Had a new zip fitted into a pair of jeans
Likewise for a pair of formal trousers for work and also dry cleaned
Sent my sister money as we're clubbing together for Dad's Christmas present
A pair of skeleton gloves and a skull mask for a Hallow'een costume
DVDs -WALL-E and Cars
Coffe and Doughnuts at Krispy Kreme
New motorbike gloves (The old ones were worn out and winter is approaching so they needed replacing. They are lovely - Bright red and really well armoured but the fingers themselves are quite thin leather so you still get a good 'feel' through the handlebars)
Thermal inner gloves (Did I mention that your fingers are the first thing to freeze on a bike in winter? As the fingers on the new full gloves are quite thin, I will need them)
Two stroke oil
New pair of trousers for work
New check shirt
New pair of trainers

I noticed a Krispy Kreme on the retail park next door to Asda (where I bought Hallow'een stuff and DVDs) and, stupidly, I hadn't made myself a hot drink since breakfast. As i was being so busy shopping I felt I deserved a break and a treat. I had a Mocha, a Caramel Dreambake (chocolate iced with white and milk chocolate and caramel sprinkles with a caramel filling) and a glazed chocolate iced ring. And yes,they were all as lovely as they sound.

Dinner was also nice. As mentioned I acquired some Bury black pudding so I decided to do a mixed grill for dinner. It was damn near the Full Monty containing

2 rashers of bacon
2 sausages
Mushrooms
Egg (Omelette)
Beans
Slice of the aforementioned Black Pudding

It filled the plate rather nicely and was wonderful. I don't do grills often as I do try to watch the fat intake and eat if not healthily then semi-healthily (Some people look at the 30" waist and say - with some feeling - you don't need to. But I'd like to keep that waist size as long as I can, thank-you-so-very-much!) but I do enjoy one as an occasional treat.

And now having done, the washing up, and checked my email, I think I'll crack open the bottle of Corona, I've got in the fridge, and settle down with WALL-E

An UP-lifting weekend

2009-10-11T18:46:55Z

Saw Up yesterday.

It's a beautiful film.
The opening is wonderful. The first ten minutes are almost wordless. A poignant bittersweet love story.
Then the fim begins proper and is by turns funny, exciting, and touching. There are jokes for the kids and references that are menat for the adults. And a beautiful scene -when Karl looks at the rest of the scrapbook (those who've seen will know what I mean) that had me - and the friend I went with - in tears.
Go and see it.

Am a good way through UA and am enjoying it. I was laughing out loud in the laudrette,Especially at Truth choosing Footwear.

Tired but happy

2009-10-03T18:12:38Z

It's been a bitch of a week. Work hasn't been bad but it's been long and hard.
Times like this are when you start to wish you had your folks around. Then you realise you ain't seen them since May and you're not likely to see 'em before Christmas. And you suddenly miss them and feel homesick.

So on Friday I packed an overnight bag and after work instead of heading home, I headed Home. (the distinguishing capital here marks a world of difference - even though it's only 60 miles away)

It was great to see my parents again. A trip Home is like recharging the batteries. I always feel better for it - even if, like this time, it's just a whistlestop visit.

Stopped off at Asda on the way home for petrol so popped into the store as they're doing Unseen Academicals for £10. Got home about half 5, had a chippy tea, and started to watch Merlin.

And then my Nan called. It was a lovely surprise in an already lovely weekend.

I'm a little tired now. Road trips can take it out of you. So now I shall veg out in front of Come Dancing followed by some Monty Python. And I shall have a Jack Daniels & Coke. And maybe a beer.

Fanboy squee

2009-09-12T12:14:31Z

Following the attempt to sing it at afpcamp, haz downloaded Dr Horrible's Sing-Along-Blog from iTunes. Iz good

Would like the commentary though and apparently the DVD is Region free so when I might get paid I may investigate Amazon

Joanna Lumley: Catwoman

2009-09-06T15:46:22Z

There's an interesting sounding documentary about cats on tonight at 7pm on ITV1. It's the first of 2 parts

I know a lot of people who read my blog are owned by cats or at least like cats and though you might like a heads-up if you hadn'r spotted it in the listings.

This has been a Public Service Announcement. We now return you to your regularly scheduled boredom.

Final Blitz

2009-09-05T11:37:24Z

It went well. The audience were more restrained than last night, quieter ,but we think they enjoyed it..

Goodbye Blitz.. Hello pantomime. This year we're doing Snow White

Landline WIN!

2009-09-05T11:21:03Z

I haz my landline back

Blitz: Thursday Night

2009-09-04T08:55:30Z

It went brilliantly. I didn't realise until I glanced at the TV listings and saw that there was a programme about it that yesterday was the 70th anniversary of the start of World War 2 So that added some poignancy to the night.

The first half was a collection of short war and period related pieces. I was in a piece set in World War One where the action is set against the contrasting pieces of the "Once more unto the breach" speech and the poem "Dulce Est Decorum Est". It portrays 3 soldiers caught up in a gas attack.

We had prop gas masks that make acting interesting but help with the realism because with them on you can see very little indeed.

I was nervous about the first half as we had very little rehearsal time. We were still blocking our piece at the dress but it went well. A good mix of comedy, serious stuff and a few songs.

After the interval we did Blitz. It went very well indeed. I even managed to cope with a recalcitrant twig (soldiers Christmas tree) which kept falling over and got a laugh out of it. The audience seemed to be one of the most appreciative we've had. It justified the decision to perform the play for the 'home crowd'.

The nicest thing was having two friends who'd come from York to see it. They've tried before to get over to see me in stuff but they hadn't managed it until last night. One of my friends said she wasn't sure she'd enjoy it as it's not usually the sort iof thing she likes but she enjoyed it tremendously. It's great when your show is good enough that you can change someone's mind.

So one more show tonight and then the Blitz will be over. It's been a lovely little show and I'll miss it. But this is at least it's 4th or 5th incarnation. I have no doubt that the writer will bring it back in some other form.

The Opera Ghos tours Europe (sort of)

2009-09-03T12:40:49Z

Some friends of mine , who I know through my drama group, are driving a car that cost them £150 between London and Naples in aid of the Christie. For anyone who dosen't know the e THE specialist Cancer hospital, certainly in Manchester and possibly a lot further afield. They do good works.

You can sponsor them and by doing so get to have a message painetd on the car. I choose "Ahahahahahaha!!!!! Beware!!!!!" So now one of Terry's most quotable lines gets to to be seen across Europe.

I encourage all my friends to do the same. Please give generously of your most quotable lines (and your MONEY) at http://www.justgiving.com/CliveandRobstaplestonaples/

The Spanish Bride by Georgette Heyer

2009-09-02T12:29:09Z

An excellent book. The first chapter was a little slow but it has become lively and enthralling. It's a historical fiction novel about the marriage of Harry Smith and his wife, Juana, who he rescued and almost immeadiately married, following the sack of Badjoz during the Penninsular War. She became Lady Smith - yes the one they named a town after.

Juana is a wonderful character. I love the hot-tempered yet always loving exchanges between her and Harry. She has a demeanour that would make her fit right in with the Pratchett crowd.

Thank you so much to clanwilliam for giving me her spare copy

Continued Landline Fail

2009-09-02T12:17:19Z

Will not have Landline until at least Saturday.
If you need to get in touch with me, use my mobile if you have it. Alternaively there is email

Drama Plug

2009-09-01T15:24:25Z

I should have done this earlier but i've been busy and I forgot

Barton Theatre Company present

Blitz
Written and Directed by Elaine McCann
Best Production (Wilmslow Guild One Act Festival 2009)
Best Indvidual Performance (Hale One Act Festival 2009)
Together with a Collection of Related Works

Salford Arts Theatre
Kemsing Walk
Off Liverpool St
Salford
M5 4BS

Dates and times:
Thurs 3 Sept & Fri 4 Sept 2009 at 7:30 pm

Prices and Booking:
Tickets are priced at £7 (waged) and £5.oo concessions;
Please telephone 0161-707 5941 or the theatre direct on 0161-925 0111

www.bartontheatre.freeuk.com

Annoyed

2009-08-31T18:44:48Z

Am back from AFPcamp.

Have no food in the house so decided to get take-away
So I reached for the phone only to find that my landline has no dial tone. Further investigation reveals that I can receive calls but not make them.
Have powered phone on and off. Have disconnected and reconnected all leads. Still broke
Will buy cheapo phone tomorrow to test line and go from there.

If phone is broken will be especially annoyed. It's a Philips and I bought a supposed reputable brand to ensure I got a reliable phone that would last me a few years. The warranty leaflet tells you to refer to the website. The warranty section of the website has a PDF of the warranty leaflet that tells you to refer to the website ! So I don't know if it's still under guarantee or not! Useless!

Even if it is not, if the the phone has broken, it will be going back to the large catalogue shopping store at which I bought it. I shall express the view that a telephone costing £25 that breaks within 3 years is neither fit for purpose or of merchantable quality.

Oh, I used the mobile to get Chinese but when i finally got it I didn't want it. Still it shoudl reheat so i'll ahve it tomorrow

Internet Fail

2009-08-25T15:53:31Z

The internet at home has been broken since Friday. Engineer is coming round to have a look on Thursday
So if anyone has anything urgent they need to tell me, please text or phone if you have my phone numbers.