Jacqueline

Was just wondering if you have been paid yet?

I see the casting for the Brandstrup & co. matinee is up now. Good news for me, a number of my favourites in there. Still lots of unsold seats. I wonder when we can expect the discounts/special offers to commence. As for the performance, can anyone advise as to the running time. I would guess it will be three 'shorts' and two intervals. I am glad it at least starts at a reasonable 2pm but when does it finish? It would be helpful to know with regards to booking transport. Thanks in advance.

What are you going to do?

Would that be the 'ordinary' hard working family to which you refer? It is right that they are soooo on a journey waiting for somebody to, like, deliver.

I once took a builder to the small claim court. He was doing some work on my property and through his negligence, my car was badly damaged. He tried every trick in the book to avoid responsibility, including bullying and threats. I got a solicitor to deal with it for me and as soon as it went to court, the builder paid up like the 'reasonable man' he considered himself to be. When I was a driving instructor, I had problems with a client/pupil who failed to cancel lessons in the time honoured tradition of having the courtesy to give me some notice. This meant she had to pay for missed lessons. She then became mysteriously uncontactable. I had a franchise at the time and the so called back up was a waste of time. So I had to pay to have the bailiff - I think - send her a letter telling her she had until a certain date to pay up. Of course she didn't reply, so another letter was sent. She didn't reply to that either. This was costing me more money than she owed me and I decided it was pointless trying to take it any further. I was advised that some people just don't honour their obligations, have no fear of official letters and they cannot be forced to comply. What is the law for then? When I became an independent instructor, matters were very different. I wrote up my own terms and conditions and made sure pupils read, understood and signed them, parents as well if necessary. All lessons were paid for in advance and all cancellations within less than 48 hours were paid for, unless there were provable extenuating circumstances. It sounds tough but I was sick of being messed around. People, if they think at all, seem to assume that you get paid whether they turn up or not, but being self - employed doesn't work like that.

Indeed,so am I!! It's not just dancers either. The 'journey' is so over used now in so many ways, it is extremely tiresome.

I have been following the progress of a massive spider that took up residence in my hazel shrub. It wove the most intricate and beautiful webs all over the twiggy bits and could stay still for ages, then move like lightning. I don't know what sort it was but it had lovely markings. This morning it has gone, leaving no trace. Maybe it has been eaten by something higher up the food chain. Or maybe it just got sick of me watching it and decided to move somewhere more private.

What of those who break off a banana from a bunch and then walk round eating it? Bananas are the first fruit on display in my local supermarket and I have seen this happen. Also people picking out an apple or eating a bunch of grapes. Isn't it theft to eat stuff like this, presumably with no intention of paying for it. What will they do, present the skin/pips/core at the till? Why don't staff intervene? Perhaps they don't want to receive a barrage of abuse. Can't blame them for that. Yesterday I saw a little darling poking her finger through the plastic wrapping on the cherry tomatoes. I suggested to the mother that she might like to stop her child ruining the produce. I was told to mind my own f'ing business! I don't know if no treats on display at the till makes much difference either, with the number of people I see letting kids open bags of whatever they fancy anytime they fancy it. I feel really old sometimes and wonder what happened to good manners.

In Bruges, you should remember to look in all the nooks and crannies and if the ticket man tells you the Tower is closed, don't argue with him! If you haven't seen the film 'In Bruges', you will now be scratching your head! It is a very violent and dark film,but also very funny and makes great use of the most attractive place that is Bruges.

I made the mistake of watching Eastenders the other night - there was 'nothing' else on. I lost touch with the show some time ago, when it became relentlessly depressing and shouty, everyone plotting and trying to kill each other. This episode had Sharon - done up for her latest wedding in the style of a fancy toilet roll holder and Phil - the groom arguing about her syphoning off all his money and him having her beaten up. Which came first I am not sure. Might it be a bad idea to get wed or could they possibly live happily ever after? I think we left them deciding to give it a go innit. Then a gun fell out of her bag and into the hands of the Shirlster character. It seems nothing has changed since the show began in 1904.

Interesting comments re: American antipathy towards Macmillan. I didn't realise there was such strong feeling against him and to have it stoked by critics makes it all the more extraordinary.There must be more to it, although I can imagine a deeply conservative society finding the grittiness of Manon hard to take. Oh my! Funny really when you consider how many ballets are about women being oppressed in some way and only able to be saved by a man. Best done with lashings of tiaras and tutus of course. I wouldn't say I actually dislike Manon, it just doesn't move me. I prefer Mayerling. I always find Macmillan's choreography at its best when understated. A simple gesture or look, for example, one of the most affecting scenes for me is when the prince is trying to appeal to his mother for help in his distress. As a result of rigid court upbringing, they are both emotionally illiterate and she has nothing to give him. She sort of drops her hand in a gesture of helplessness and he just walks away. I probably haven't described that very well, but on stage it is electrifying. As for casting, I am wondering when we can expect some for the Brandstrup and co. triple bill run. I see there are many unsold tickets for that also. I have a ticket for the matinee but am thinking about swapping it for this Saturday's matinee of Manon with Roberta Marquez. Any thoughts on whether this might be a good idea?

I remember the Lamb/Pennefather performance well. I like Sarah Lamb, she has the most expressive eyes and is able to convey all sorts of emotion with great subtlety, rather than some who tend to 'broadcast'. Some reviews have described her as rather cold and detached but much like Lopatkina, I prefer the understated approach. I have to say Manon is not one of my favourite ballets. I recall sitting in the auditorium, seemingly surrounded by people who were( in the words of Brian Sewell albeit talking about something else ) sobbing and rending their garments - at the unbearable emotion of it all. I found it rather overwrought, particularly towards the end and it left me cold. Probably not helped by the final scene when ghostly figures such as Manon's brother flit through the swamp and somebody sitting behind me said rather loudly, 'I thought he was supposed to be dead.' The fact it didn't move me an inch has nothing to do with the casting in this instance at least. I thought parts of it were visually stunning. I just don't care for it as a ballet.I am probably in a minority. Each to their own as ever.

Just up our road yesterday morning, the roadworks mobile turned up. Signs were duly put out, traffic lights set up, then nothing happened. The hi - viz chaps sat in the van with their sandwiches and flasks. The traffic built up waiting for the lights to change, people could not get in or out of their drives and still nothing happened. About midday, everything was packed away and that was it. Perhaps this was a roadworks flash mob.

Talking of dressing up for tea, I am reminded - again,sorry, - of a scene from Coronation Street some time ago, when the family were taking the rise out of Ken Barlow as he appeared downstairs, dressed up to the nines for a civic do. He explained that dressing correctly is what you do when sitting at 'high table'. The ever reliable Deirdre replied, "What's the height of the table got to do with it?". Also, who could forget that classic from the early days of 'Birds of a Feather', when Sharon ran a caff called 'Stuff 'til You Chuck'. Or did she just want to? It is so long ago now. Anyway, I wonder how much her cream teas were? Deep fried of course!

I am particularly nauseated by the sight of Gordon Brown. I know these events are stage managed but all the hysterical cheering and applauding when he appears, and him doing the 'okay, quieten down, let me speak' hand gestures is extraordinary. When one considers the ruination he brought upon this country and how he became Prime Minister without so much as a public vote, the strange way he seemed to disappear without trace when the jig was up and he was forced out of No.10. Now he is being treated and behaving like some sort of conquering hero. I would put him, Darling and Salmond into Room 101 with a bag of deep fried Mars Bars and hope to never see any of them again.

I agree. Not seen her since 2009!That was a sell out at the Coliseum but also a one night only. As I recall, this time she is doing four shows. I will be interested to see who she 'invites' to dance with her. I would love to see her dance with a truly worthy partner.

Rats evolving in various ways to occupy different niches. With cockroaches for company! Looking at the world today, I think that time has already arrived.

Oh, how disappointing. I rather liked the hysterical headline - oh my god, we're all gonna die aaaaagh!!! I wondered if I should go and panic buy bread and milk. But as I have till 2880, no rush. This is of course, the type of non story that regularly appears in the summer, when it is assumed there is no real news. I was just rather amused by the suggestion there could be something worse than total annihilation. Plenty of films have been made about surviving disaster, alien invasion etc. As long as the shops stay open it seems okay. Perhaps the end of human life on this beleaguered planet would be the best thing that could happen to it. As an eminent scientist once more or less said, mankind is the greatest scourge on the face of the earth.

I see Kate Bush has politely requested that audience members refrain from recording/photographing her upcoming concerts. She wants to have that connection with the people who have come to see and hear her performance, rather than be faced with a sea of cameras recording events so they can watch them later. I agree with her stance and hope people will respect it. This is not the same as a well known American pop star, who just wants rigid control over her image and to prevent unflattering pics getting about. I remember seeing Kate Bush at the Palladium all those years ago, before the days of mobile phones. She was a theatrical wonder. I really don't understand why people have this obsession with filming/photographing live performance. Discourtesy towards others aside, the number of times I have heard offenders say it is so they can watch it again later. They're watching it there and then through a lens. Why not not just enjoy the performance in the moment and remember it.

The park dwellers are back! Apparently they were told they could return if they come out from amidst the greenery and stay in clear view. They are now on show next to the cricket pavilion and in full flow. There is a lot more action and although I know one shouldn't laugh, it is very entertaining. It does appear to be T'ai Chi now they have got going. They are just not very good at the balance aspect. I don't know if anyone remembers the scene from The Big Lebowski, when the dude goes to see his landlord's one man show, but the movement is very similar. Mercifully they are not wearing white unitards and fig leaves. Just my opinion, but I do think there is a certain element of exhibitionism in public exercising and as such, the person should be in possession of at least a degree of proficiency if they want to avoid the wrong kind of attention.

Glad to hear the patient is back at home. I hope she continues to recover well. You may find the better she feels the more demanding she will get. She probably just feels too flaked out to bother at the moment. Wait till she asks for a notepad and pen!

Scientists at the University of Tennessee have discovered that all human life will be wiped out when Earth is hit by a meteor in the year 2880 or thereabouts. They added that any attempt to get in first and wipe out the meteor will only make things worse. Worse for whom?

Porthesia, if you are referring to The Royal Sussex in Brighton, I visited my mother while she was in there. The parking is indeed a bit of a nightmare. I was advised to drive along to Brighton Marina, park in the multi-storey opposite Asda, which was free. I could then get a bus, can't remember the number but it was going to Churchill Square. This departed from the 'seaside' of the car park, opposite MacDonalds and dropped me off right opposite the main entrance to the hospital. All I had to do then was cross the road which was probably the most dangerous part! Then I just got a bus back to the marina after visiting. All in all, it was very easy, far less stressful and cheaper than the hospital car park, just the bus fare to pay.

I liked the one from a few months ago when it was announced that the more light you let into your bedroom at night, the more weight you will put on. This might be down to light making it easier to locate the biscuits, than if your boudoir is in total darkness.

I could have sculpted a square one for half the price! Nobody seems to know what kind of wheel it will be, except for those who have commissioned it I suppose. There doesn't seem to be any particular relevance, unless it is going to be something to do with mining. But old wheels of that sort are quite common round here. Meadowhall Shopping Center in Sheffield has some very impressive giant sized statues of men at work in the foundries. As this town apparently once made a bit of the channel tunnel and has some history of manufacturing, something along those lines would be more interesting than a wheel.If they wanted something truly representative, they should have gone for an enormously fat person wearing a tracksuit, with a fag in one hand and a pasty from a well known outlet in the other. Anyway, no doubt it will be fabulous and our local council publication will be full of the usual self congratulatory photos and articles. This can be found in the fiction department of the library.