Jacqueline

Watched last night's programme -BBC2 7pm, no doubt on iplayer now -about Hull's culture year. I have rather a soft spot for the city. It does have a interesting history and has been so unfairly ignored and/or maligned by people who have never even been there. At last it is getting some well deserved recognition. I did enjoy hearing some of the stories and recollections by residents, some now famous. A friend of mine was at the university towards the end of Philip Larkin's tenure. I also liked the gentle fun poked at the very distinctive accent I remember well. The comedienne who presented the programme, Lucy Beaumont, was shown giving the audience at one of her shows a demo of the Hull sound and getting them to repeat after her - mama mia! In Hull this is actually - mam, I'm 'ere! I liked the art installation at the blocks of flats. Just a piece of coloured cellophane or similar placed in each balcony or landing light, colour chosen by the residents. At night this lights up the building in blues, reds, pinks etc. Simple but incredibly effective way to brighten an otherwise dreary tower block. A lot of imagination but not having to cost a fortune. There is a double page piece in today's ST which is also positive about Hull. It is clearly a city with a long way to go, but it is a unique place and well worth a visit.

I like it when you get to the end of a particularly long example of a mansplaining, the man says patronisingly - Have you got that love? - and you can stifle a yawn and reply - I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention.

From what I can gather, they have several cats "free" to wander round the cafe as they please. Presumably they are not allowed on the counter but who knows. It all sounds wrong to me, like something thought up as a gimmick by someone who knows nothing about cats or really cares about their welfare. Anyway, I work in the same building as our local rag and have mentioned it to their reporter who said he hadn't heard about the cafe opening - if they could find a pulse I'm sure they'd have their finger on it - but would look into it. I will hold him to that!

Our 'village' has just acquired something called a Cat Café. Apparently such places are very popular, although I have never visited one or heard of them until recently. The premises had been empty, bordering on derelict for about ten years and situated next to a busy road. It seems there is some sort of double door entry system, whereby customers can get in and out but the cats cannot. I passed by earlier and saw a cat sitting on the windowsill, looking up at the small but open window. Apart from the hygiene aspect, I am concerned for the safety and welfare of these cats given how fleet of foot they can be! I don't know if they are taken somewhere else at night, or locked in cages. No one seems to know. It just seems to me to be an inappropriate way to keep cats, which from my experience like their privacy and the outdoors. The owners have said the cats are chosen from rescue shelters, particularly for calm temperaments and ability to live in groups! How are they fixed for damages/insurance if the cat decides it isn't a team player after all and somebody gets bitten or whatever. There are no obvious signs saying you enter at your peril. I would be interested to know if anyone has visited such a café and if so, what they thought of it. The speed with which the local one has been set up leads me to think it won't be there long, for a variety of reasons.

A murmuration of starlings, as featured on the news this morning. I saw such a sight years ago over Eastbourne Pier. Stunning nature in action. If anyone gets the chance to see them, don't miss it!

Yes, I remember the outrage over that production in about 1980? There was a photo of one of the naked actors on the front page of the Evening Standard and a Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells style outcry. Tickets were like gold dust after that!

I've been seen by creatives to be not clapping, as I usually sit in the front rows. I have also been present where reception was very muted, little more than some polite applause. That was at Sadler's Wells as I recall. I was just wondering if there has ever been even less than that! Booing doesn't seem to have much effect on creatives, from responses I have read. They just blame the audience for not understanding their creation.

I couldn't agree more. Silence speaks volumes. I have kept my hands still a few times, sometimes getting strange looks and others, far from alone in my displeasure.With regards to reactions, has anyone ever experienced a silent audience, possibly as a result of stunned disbelief?

This ends now, this ends tonight, this is where this ends, this is where it ends and variations thereof. Watched a film at the weekend, where this expression was used so many times I wanted to put my foot through the screen to make it happen. It was an action film although not a particularly brainless one. There is just something about "This ends now" that really gets on my nerves, overuse perhaps. That and people whistling while they browse round shops, as if to say hey, look at me.

I have been reading this thread again from when taxi4ballet started it off back in October 2012! Great mix of diversity and similarity in our dislikes, recurring suggestions etc. Shows how some things don't improve and remain as annoying as ever. Very entertaining and interesting to review!

I was at an performance of Swan Lake at the ROH some years ago. During the first interval, two women on my left were talking about what they had just seen along the lines of what on earth was that all about. I realise not everyone knows the stories but most of them are not hard to follow. Amongst other things, they thought Seigfried and Rothbart were the same person! Huh? Expecting them to tell me to mind my business, I asked if they would like me to explain the plot. They were actually very receptive and went into Act 2 feeling much less mystified. Unfortunately, it was spoiled when unrest broke out further along the balcony, over somebody's view being blocked due to a small boy and his mother leaning forward. These people were sitting just where the balcony curves and shaves off the view of the edge of the stage. The boy's mother was asked if she could sit back. She refused and a scene started to develop, angry whispering and insults. The usual form. Eventually it died down after much shushing. Towards the end of the performance - Mariinsky - a stage hand appeared on stage. It took him a few seconds to realise he was visible to the audience, in his shorts and what looked like steel capped boots. Then he was gone. Hilarious. What a great night!

Booked it! The coach will be a fiver each way booked this early, bearable with a night between trips and vastly cheaper than the train! I may do this again for the triple in June, I am hoping to see Yanowsky on the Friday and Ferri in the Sat mat, although that Travelodge single room is showing at £106 advance booking already, so I can imagine how much it will be nearer the time! I will try The Celtic first and then shop round if necessary. Thanks again!

Just noticed Darcey Bussell - Looking For Margot is on again tonight, BBC4 at 9pm

The ST article calls him the world's etc etc! According to the interview, he says it was Placido Domingo who originally labelled him thus, so that's okay then. There is also some old guff about Mr Kaufmann being astonishingly handsome but apart from that and one mention of Justin Bieber, it is worth a read.

Many thanks for this info. I now realise there is a Travel Lodge near Covent Garden, on Drury Lane as I recall. Don't know how I missed it. That may be a goer but I will certainly see about booking into The Celtic, looks nice and more of a personal set up.

The ST mag has a lengthy interview with Jonas Kaufmann - The world's greatest tenor. I would put this in the opera section but hardly seems worth creating a new thread. No offence to the WGT!

Am planning to stay overnight in London after Mayerling in May and considering the Southwark Travelodge. It appears to be within easy reach of Covent Garden and okay price wise. I am wondering if anyone has stayed there - is it easy to get to etc. I will be returning either to Victoria or St Pancras the next morning, depending on other plans not yet decided. Failing that, I just want a decent place to stay, reasonably central and not outrageously expensive. I am something of a novice regards actually staying in London.

I agree, Kolesnikova is a wonderful Giselle. She seems best known for Swan Lake, although that may have something to do with the frequency of performance as well as her being a notable Odette/Odile. I understand her favourite ballet is La Bayadere but for me, she was made to dance Giselle.

Same here. Was thinking about whether to fetch me pitchfork from t'shed.

I had a look at the National Trust cruises as I was interested to see St Kilda up close. I think it would be a good trip but very dependent on decent weather. Same with the northern lights, very disappointing and expensive to go all that way and not see them. But if you are dependent on something outside your control, like weather, it's a chance you take. Plus the lights are sometimes visible from increasingly southern parts of the UK mainland. Not round here as yet but maybe one day. My husband did the Santander trip several times. He worked for a removal firm at the time, taking lorryloads of furniture to Spain. He also brought quite a lot of it back to England via the ferry, when folks decided they wanted to come back. He enjoyed the crossings and remembers seeing whales in the Bay of Biscay? I need to give the whole cruise thing more thought and make the right choice.

Looks interesting, will try and get to see Casanova in Sheffield. Their rehearsal/classroom looks to be at ground level. How tempting to stand outside and gawp through the window in admiration! Until asked to move along. Perhaps the layout is not quite what it seems.

There is a feature on Casanova and other works on BBC Look North in the next few minutes! No doubt it will repeated on this evening's edition from 6.30pm onwards.

Yes, that sort of thing, notes passed under doors, people whispering on corners. Maybe not a broom cupboard if the one featured in Apple Tree Yard is representative. Could be crowded and too noisy to hear what people are saying on the 'phone! I think the job might appeal to a retired traffic warden. They have exceptional patience, observational skills, they are used to unpleasantness, tall stories and they already have their own notebook and pen.

Yanowsky is the main attraction for me. I do like the idea of a shop a tout 'phone line. Perhaps in a broom cupboard with just a small table, a note pad and pen, an ash tray and somebody with a growlly voice to answer phone. Confidentiality almost guaranteed of course!

And me! But I think that would make us good ushers. It would teach obnoxious customers who ignore the rules, that yes, actually there can be consequences so no, you can't just do exactly as you please regardless!Interesting piece in today's links from The Guardian if I remember correctly about ballet/dance works and their titles. It relates, loosely, to audience behaviour so am mentioning it here. Are people put off by seemingly inaccessible and/or meaningless names given to works? They wouldn't put me off seeing something, but then I am already interested in the genre. I just find ambiguous, unpronounceable names pretentious and silly.