Jan McNulty

I used to have to tell people that when I worked in the MOD (even though it was an accounts branch)!

Cabriole, I can't comment on the situation at ENB but the news about Jose Martin was, rightly or wrongly, plastered all over twitter last week so it is in the public domain.

I've seen Kermesse once and would kill to see it again! What a fabulous prospect that would be......

Arky, thanks for posting. Welcome to the forum.

Hi Jacqueline, thanks for your posting. Welcome to the forum.

Kwame Kwei-Armah OBE, actor, playwright, director and patron of Ballet Black Kate Winslet CBE More names I managed to miss

Here's a couple more names I recognised: Michael Boyd and Kenneth Brannagh have been knighted. Jenny Aggutter, Gary Barlow, Gareth Malone and Jean Marsh have been awarded the OB. Congratulations to everybody who has been awarded an honour.

The Independent has published the full list: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/birthday-honours-2012--full-list-7854545.html Congratulations to Alastair Spalding CBE, Michael Nunn OBE and Billy Trevitt OBE Those are the three dance related names I noticed but there may be others.

BRB have posted the casting for The Grand Tour and The Dream @ Birmingham 27-30 June 2012. No casting yet for Faster. Great casting all round for The Dream. William Bracewell is performing Oberon with Natsha Oughtred - I'm looking forward to that! 27 June 2012 7:30 pm The Grand Tour American Lady: Victoria Marr Chief Steward: Jamie Bond Gertrude Lawrence: Elisha Willis Noël Coward: Matthew Lawrence Mary Pickford: Carol-Anne Millar Douglas Fairbanks: Joseph Caley Theda Bara: Samara Downs George Bernard Shaw: Jonathan Payn Gertrude Stein: Rory Mackay Alice B. Toklas: Jade Heusen The Dream Titania: Nao Sakuma Oberon: Chi Cao Bottom: Jonathan Caguioa Puck: Mathias Dingman Helena: Carol-Anne Millar Hermia: Samara Downs Demetrius: Matthew Lawrence Lysander: Steven Monteith Conductor: Paul Murphy 28 June 2012 2:00 pm The Grand Tour American Lady: Jade Heusen Chief Steward: Steven Monteith Gertrude Lawrence: Samara Downs Noël Coward: Jamie Bond Mary Pickford: Arancha Baselga Douglas Fairbanks: Iain Mackay Theda Bara: Callie Roberts George Bernard Shaw: Tom Rogers Gertrude Stein: Jonathan Payn Alice B. Toklas: Kristen McGarrity The Dream Titania: Elisha Willis Oberon: Joseph Caley Bottom: Kit Holder Puck: James Barton Helena: Victoria Marr Hermia: Delia Mathews Demetrius: Jamie Bond Lysander: Tom Rogers Conductor: Paul Murphy 28 June 2012 7:30 pm The Grand Tour American Lady: Victoria Marr Chief Steward: Jamie Bond Gertrude Lawrence: Elisha Willis Noël Coward: Matthew Lawrence Mary Pickford: Laura Purkiss Douglas Fairbanks: Joseph Caley Theda Bara: Samara Downs George Bernard Shaw: Jonathan Payn Gertrude Stein: Rory Mackay Alice B. Toklas: Arancha Baselga The Dream Titania: Natasha Oughtred Oberon: William Bracewell Bottom: Feargus Campbell Puck: Tzu-Chao Chou Helena: Victoria Marr Hermia: Delia Mathews Demetrius: Jamie Bond Lysander: Tom Rogers Conductor: Paul Murphy 29 June 2012 7:30 pm The Grand Tour American Lady: Jade Heusen Chief Steward: Steven Monteith Gertrude Lawrence: Samara Downs Noël Coward: Jamie Bond Mary Pickford: Laura Purkiss Douglas Fairbanks: Joseph Caley Theda Bara: Callie Roberts George Bernard Shaw: Tom Rogers Gertrude Stein: Jonathan Payn Alice B. Toklas: Kristen McGarrity The Dream Titania: Nao Sakuma Oberon: Chi Cao Bottom: Jonathan Caguioa Puck: Mathias Dingman Helena: Carol-Anne Millar Hermia: Samara Downs Demetrius: Matthew Lawrence Lysander: Steven Monteith Conductor: Paul Murphy 30 June 2012 2:30 pm The Grand Tour American Lady: Jade Heusen Chief Steward: Tom Rogers Gertrude Lawrence: Samara Downs Noël Coward: Matthew Lawrence Mary Pickford: Arancha Baselga Douglas Fairbanks: Iain Mackay Theda Bara: Callie Roberts George Bernard Shaw: Jonathan Payn Gertrude Stein: Rory Mackay Alice B. Toklas: Kristen McGarrity The Dream Titania: Natasha Oughtred Oberon: William Bracewell Bottom: Feargus Campbell Puck: Tzu-Chao Chou Helena: Carol-Anne Millar Hermia: Samara Downs Demetrius: Matthew Lawrence Lysander: Steven Monteith Conductor: Dominic Grier 30 June 2012 7:30 pm The Grand Tour American Lady: Victoria Marr Chief Steward: Jamie Bond Gertrude Lawrence: Elisha Willis Noël Coward: Matthew Lawrence Mary Pickford: Carol-Anne Millar Douglas Fairbanks: Iain Mackay Theda Bara: Samara Downs George Bernard Shaw: Jonathan Payn Gertrude Stein: Rory Mackay Alice B. Toklas: Jade Heusen The Dream Titania: Elisha Willis Oberon: Joseph Caley Bottom: Kit Holder Puck: James Barton Helena: Victoria Marr Hermia: Delia Mathews Demetrius: Jamie Bond Lysander: Tom Rogers Conductor: Paul Murphy http://brb.org.uk/masque/index.htm?act=WhatsOn&urn=22026&tsk=fullcast

If anyone likes crumble - try this and you will never want pastry crumble again! This is for rhubarb but the crumble mix goes with any fruit filling. My friend has reduced the amount of sugar to the lowest possible so it's healthier too.... Rhubarb Oaty Crumble Serves 3-4 450-600g Rhubarb in ½” pieces 1 tbsp sweetener [or syrup, if allowed] 1/8th tsp cinnamon 1 tsp ginger Cook in a large casserole for 5 minutes in the microwave and transfer to a smaller dish Crumble: - 30g melted butter/flora 15g/1tbsp flour 55g/2x60mls porridge oats 2tbsp sunflower seeds 1tsp sweetener [or 1 tbsp muscovado sugar] 1tsp coriander Mix well together and sprinkle over the rhubarb. Press down gently to firm it up a bit. Bake at 180°C for 20minutes or for an hour if the rhubarb is not precooked.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

I've just received an email from Motionhouse with details of the outdoor spectacle they will be performing in Birmingham next weekend. It sounds as though it should be really exciting. Here is the link to the page: http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=195c8674dd277ae900800e2b2&id=94294e47b4&e=a00485b1e5

Great review Ian. The company are coming "up North" in the Autumn (although sadly not to the North West) and I am finally getting to see them in Leeds - yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

This production has now arrived at its home theatre - The Globe - and this is what the Arts Desk thinks: http://www.theartsdesk.com/theatre/globe-globe-henry-v-shakespeares-globe Go see it if you get the chance!

I think this repulsive picture has been taken to cause controversy (and it has!) and probably doesn't reflect what you would actually see when she is dancing. Anyone can be made to look ugly by the camera!

Well I'll never think of Subway sandwiches (subs) in the same way again!

I think it looks horrible and it wouldn't entice me to watch ballet!

Hi Norman, nice to see you posting on the BalletcoForum.

Hello Patricia, welcome to the BalletcoForum. Thanks for posting!

I saw quite a large flock of oystercatchers on Crosby Beach this morning and, last week, a kestrel hovering over the dunes. That might not sound too exciting but it was only about 8 feet above me and a few yards away so I had a wonderful view! We saw four resident spoonbills and lots of baby avocets at Cley in Norfolk when we were enjoying ourselves seeing NBin Norwich.

One of my alerts has just highlighted this interview being shown at various times today and tomorrow: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/hardtalk/9728241.stm

Here's my friend's recipe for a sugar free cheesecake. She describes it with almonds on the top but any topping is ok (and she's tried several out on me!) Sugar free Almond Cheesecake For a 9 inch cheesecake 150g Flour 75g Butter 1 tbsp ground almonds 1egg yolk 1 tbsp water Rub in flour and butter to fine crumb.Add almonds, egg and water stir to bind together. Or use ready made pastry. Bake blind:- Line with foil weighted with ceramic beans at 180 C for 15 mins. Remove foil and beans and cook another 10 mins. 50g Flaked Almonds,toasted in oven or under grill until lightly browned. Watch carefully does not take long ! 340g Curd Cheese ( Or any low fat soft cheese eg Philadelphia light) 140mls Sour Cream (Or low fat fromage frais or creme fraiche) 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp gelatine, sprinkled on 80mls hot water 1 or 2 tbsp Canderel or splendida Mix all cheesecake ingredients together adding dissolved gelatine last. Pour into cooled pastry case, sprinkle with almonds and refridgerate until set. (The mix is slightly more gloopy than a standard cheesecake mix)

One of my very good friends has modified a carrot cake recipe and has come up with this cake that is probably as healthy as a cake gets and is absolutely delicious. I thought I would share the recipe with you as it might be a nice and less naughty treat! Banana and Carrot Cake For 2 cakes 6 Eggs 540 4 Ripe Bananas (400g flesh approx.) 380 250mls Walnut Oil 2020 2 tsp Vanilla Extract Dry ingredients:- 350g grated carrot 122 175g Walnuts, chopped 1200 175g Sunflower seeds 1050 200g Ground Almonds 1290 200g Fine Oatmeal 712 4tsp. Baking powder, sift 2tsp. Bicarbonate of Soda, sift 200g Light Muscovado Sugar 800 Mix bananas and eggs until mashed. Mix all dry ingredients well in a separate bowl before adding to the bananas with the vanilla and oil. Put in 2 8 inch round, deep dishes and microwave on medium (600w) for12-13 minutes or 170 °C for 1 ½ + hours. If doing in the microwave the top may be slightly damp in the centre. This will continue cooking if left in for a few minutes to rest. The figures on the right hand side are estimated calories. This is enough to make 2 cakes so halve the ingredients for one. 2 cakes will provide 24 good portions

Hello, Delph, I can't answer your question but hopefully someone else will be able to. Welcome to the forum and happy posting!

I just buy clothes that don't need ironing! We do have an iron, should the need arise, but I have a friend who does not own one and always looks very smart and freshly pressed. I wish I knew her secret...