Jacqueline

Many thanks for that Sim. The management appears to have read your complaint and responded to it thoughtfully and thoroughly, not least because your approach was concise in its detail, making it clear what you experienced that evening was unacceptable and something needed to be done to prevent a recurrence. I think management at the ROH could learn from this example of how to respond to a perfectly reasonable customer complaint. As I have said, when I made a complaint, I received the most cursory of replies. As I recall, I mentioned it on here at the time as it was so peculiar. My message to them appeared on their website comments. Then it disappeared. I came on here to ask what you have to do to get a response. Then I noticed my complaint had reappeared on the ROH site, with the one line reply about passing it on to the relevant people. After that, nothing. It was suggested on here that the reason for its reappearance might be due to my mentioning it on here. I wonder if Sim's mentioning of the public forum encouraged the Coli people to give a proper response to a customer complaint. I never received that courtesy and although I still attend performances, it is nowhere near as often as it used to be. I was irritated by this experience and it coloured my opinion of the ROH. Nothing to do with the dance, just the quality of customer service. As was also said here, if everything is fine and dandy, happy days. They don't seem to be able to deal with negative feedback, however politely it is expressed, so in my case at least, it appears they ignored it.

There is an article online from The Daily Telegraph 3rd May 2005, which may be of interest, regarding the Kensington property when it was for sale in that year and its links to Nureyev. Assuming it is accurate, the article is worth reading. I am sorry I cannot give a link but it is easy to find if you look up Nigel and Maude Gosling.

I agree that significance of the building in the life of the commemorated person is important but I have seen a number of blue plaques where the link between person and actual residence seems quite tenuous. Somebody may have lived there, written a book/music or whatever at a certain address. We may not know whether the person had any particular attachment to the property, unless it is documented. It may just have been a roof over their head. In Nureyev's case, it has been said that he had a particular attachment to the Kensington property, considering it a refuge both at the time of his defection and afterwards. I suggest that the story of his defection and early career in London is quite well known to people who may not necessarily be ballet fans. Such people might notice a blue plaque and think oh yes, I know that name. Much as I have done with various plaques I have seen that jog the memory, but are not really of great or specific interest. As English Heritage appears to allocate plaques according to public vote, perhaps the East Sheen des res just didn't get as many as Kensington, or the current owners didn't want a plaque. I doubt they would be obliged. Anyway, we'll probably never know. It is a bit like travel programmes that go to a location you know, but then, disappointingly, don't cover any of the places you expect or want them to. Why this one and not that one? The best plaque* I saw was some years ago, which said something like Nobody of interest has ever lived in this house, nor has anything of significance occured. Edited to say it wasn't an English Heritage plaque*. Just on a particularly attractive house in a lovely old village, where apparently the owners were sick of tourists trying to peer through the windows!

Oh dear, poor Blackie. Our cat used to get into terrible scraps. The yowling and hissing were awful and sometimes injuries if they really got stuck in. Do you have a water pistol? A glass of water handy and aimed at the invader would do if your cats go out. They don't like it up 'em, as Corporal Jones used to say.

The 'Old Farm' residence is showing as last being on the market in 2013, until removed from the listings, either due to sale or some other reason. It is certainly an attractive property, apparently the most prominent in Fife Road, East Sheen. My ST has gone for recycling - I assume - but as I recall, English Heritage which runs the Blue Plaque scheme, takes its lead for siting the plaques from public nominations. From what I can tell of the online picture of the Kensington property, also up for sale a few years ago, perhaps it was thought a plaque might also be more visible there than East Sheen?

We went on what may have been classed a mini cruise some years ago. An evening departure from Hull, overnight sailing and early morning arrival in Rotterdam. Then on a coach to spend a few hours in Amsterdam, then back again. It was a newspaper offer as I recall, something like a tenner each. You could upgrade but for us the purpose was going to Amsterdam for next to nothing, not being on a ship. Our cabin was the size of a postage stamp and to be found down endless identical corridors. All very claustrophobic. If I were travelling for longer, I would have to have more space and definitely a balcony and access to fresh air. I remember there were various dining options and entertainments but it was not much different to a souped up cross channel ferry. As for the sailing part, when we lived in Sussex we used to go on the ferry to Dieppe. One time while in Dieppe, the weather took a turn for the worse during the day. When it was time to sail back to Newhaven, the sea had turned into a dark, roiling, angry cauldron. I began to feel ill almost straight away as did a lot of others. There were some still eating and joking about the waves, but they succumbed in the end. It was so rough, all deck doors were closed so there was no way of getting any fresh air. When we were about half an hour from Newhaven and salvation, the captain announced that it was too rough to get into the harbour and we would be at sea for at least another two hours. People started to cry. I know I did. When we finally docked, I have never been so thankful to get back on dry land.

As I said before, a lot of my liking of this ballet had to do with the presence of Lopatkina and I would certainly concede that Ratmansky's Anna Karenina is several carriages short of a masterpiece. For me its main fault was too much time given to clever staging at the expense of character development, in a ballet only about an hour and a half in length anyway. I have sat through many ballets considered to be masterpieces of great drama, tragedy, death and so on. Yet sometimes found myself unexpectedly amused, bored and/or left completely cold, particularly at the more overwrought spectacles. It is indeed, all a matter of taste. I don't know if AK has undergone any reworking since its last showing at the ROH. Like many other works, it would probably benefit from some tweaking. But it did as I recall, contain many strikingly beautiful images and is,in my opinion, worth seeing.

I agree about the dressing up. Smart/casual is pretty meaningless and so open to interpretation. I think sometimes a little precision would be helpful as to what may and may not be acceptable dress code. I am sure the ROH used to offer some sort of advice but now you can "feel free to dress up or down" and given some of the er, outfits I have seen there, even a clean t shirt and change of socks would be a stretch! Those who do dress up seem very much in the minority. There is a time and place and it can be fun to get dolled up sometimes. I tend to feel a bit uncomfortable though, probably because I am used to casual and comfortable clothing. On cruises of old, wasn't it considered de rigeur to be invited to sit at the Captain's table, perhaps it still is. Presumably you don't do that dressed in a tatty old top, even if it is clean. Depends who you are maybe!

Today's ST reports that the house in Victoria Road Kensington, where Rudolf Nureyev sought refuge after his 1961 defection, is to get a blue plaque. The house was owned by his friends, the dance critics Nigel Gosling and Maude Lloyd. The article is accompanied by a lovely photo of Nureyev dancing with Rosella Hightower in 1962.

Many thanks for the info. I have looked at the Thompson Celebration cruises. The St Petersburg one looks interesting, also stopping at Stockholm and Gothenburg amongst other places and the boat size looks about right, not too big or too small. They say you dock at such and such time and have so many hours in each place. I think I would go on a morning tour and then have the rest of the time free to find my way round. I've been on some tours while on holiday and on the whole found them worthwhile, probably seeing places that would otherwise have been difficult to get to and where some advice on local customs is useful, particularly when we went to Tunisia many years ago. I like the sound of not having to join in the on board activities. I could stay in cabin or find a quiet spot to read or admire the views. My husband is much more outgoing than I, so he could do the social rounds if he wanted to. Even if he didn't!! I can't find a 7 day cruise of the type I am interested in, but I suppose if you take into account all the places they go and the time it must take, 7 days would be nowhere near enough to relax and take it all in. A bit like that old film about a coach tour of Europe called something like If it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium? As 2dancersmum says, I also need to look carefully at the small print, don't want any unpleasant surprises!

This year will be the first time we have been abroad on holiday for about 12 years. I fancy one of those river cruises where you visit cities. I am particularly interested in the Baltic cruise which includes St Petersburg. Anyway, I have never been on a cruise before and don't know if it would be my kind of thing. You take your chances with weather and huge numbers of people using the same plumbing on a floating palace, but I am not interested in the massive cruise ships. It all looks pleasant enough on the ads, as it would, meandering along and looking at passing sights, stopping at some of them. But what is the social etiquette, is one expected to mingle - I'm not terribly sociable! Or can one stay in one's cabin like a grumpy troll? I'm attracted by the prospect of guided, comfortable and hassle free travel. On the other hand, if I don't like it, I am trapped on a smallish boat for the duration, although I wouldn't book for longer than a week. There is also the possibility of a train journey type holiday but the same problems might apply, just on land. Plus they seem quite expensive, although I'm rather out of touch with the cost of foreign travel. I would be glad of some advice from anyone who has been on such cruises/holidays. I've heard you either love them or hate them! If the latter, it's an expensive mistake.

Yes, there has been much speculation as to the contents of that gift box. People have been dispatched to Tiffany's to see what they can find that would fit - two possibilities are a silver photo frame or tray. Dull but quite likely. I wonder if they were engraved! I can't imagine Melania herself actually traipsing round looking for a suitable gift. Perhaps she just had an empty Tiffany box and bunged something in it on her way out the door that day. There seem to be more than enough high class artifacts in the Tower to choose from.

I wonder what Melania Trump will make of the Bakewell tarts. Apparently, the Donald is getting a ceremonial Scottish drinking cup. Lots of love from Theresa. It must be difficult to know what to give people who have everything. They will already have attics full of unwanted gifts. It has been intriguing over the years, to see who gets what, whether it is a genuinely thoughtful gift, one making a political point or the first bit of old tat they could find without having to make an effort. Those last two are very often the same thing!

It could be a number of things, as you say, she has been used to going out but is now reluctant due to the cold. If she is not used to a litter tray, she may just be getting caught short and stress pooing. Could she get out through a cat flap before or did you always let her out when she asked? Several accidents a day is very trying, but what can you do, they're not doing it on purpose. Without being too graphic, is it solid poo? It could be a side effect of the medication and her generally feeling out of sorts, although you say she seems to be on the mend. My dear old childhood pet cat got to 15 and developed medical problems. She had always been an outdoor for toilet cat and had her own little window kept open for access. When she could no longer manage that, we got her a litter tray for indoors. She got used to it but there were a few accidents. She became an old lady quite quickly although she lived for another 6 years. She also developed what we now recognise as feline dementia, unheard of then in pets, or at least not understood. Her behaviour became quite odd and unlike herself towards the end. She was also deaf. Perhaps you could speak to the vets about this messing indoors. It is very frustrating when the animal has just been outside, only to come back indoors and do its business. There must be some underlying cause and the vet should be able to advise. Good luck. I do understand the love for a pet and distress when they are unwell. You are suddenly acutely aware of age and mortality.

I heard on the news that when our Mrs May meets the President, she is going to be frank. That will confuse the Donald, he is expecting somebody called Theresa!

No, I don't suppose the birthday cake would do actual harm, unless health conscious children decided to throw it at each other instead of eating it. All those smarties flying through the air could be lethal. I think the bouncing off the walls scenario comes from a tendency to blame the food, rather than being a result of excited party behaviour becoming overexcited, tired, tearful and then quite possibly sick. As I recall, a sugar high makes you feel shaky and slightly wired. A peculiar feeling I remember from once eating something that had had too much sugar put in by mistake. I gather children are in more danger of obesity and rotten teeth from consuming too much sugar. Apparently the numbers of young children with rotten teeth as a result of poor diet is at an all time high. The key to a healthy diet is indeed, moderation and balance. It isn't hard to eat healthily and much of the time it is cheaper. It is just a matter of education and ultimately, attitude. In my opinion.

Yes, I remember those shows and that style of character led comedy. They were trend setting, witty, observant and showed it was possible to be funny and smart without resorting to crudeness, cruelty and lazy stereotyping. RIP Mary Tyler Moore.

Given all the publicity about sugar levels in food being more of a danger than fat, I saw a birthday cake on sale in the supermarket this morning called Secret Sweets. It was a vanilla sponge with some sort of jammy, creamy filling. The top was iced and sprinkled with jelly beans and the secret sweets were a stash of smarties inside the cake, as shown in the serving suggestion photo on the box. The ingredient list looked like a recipe from hell. Imagine serving that lot up at a children's party - they'd be bouncing off the walls and barfing all night. I felt ill just looking at it.

I liked the visuals on the news, slices of bread in various stages of toastedness - underdone, done, well done and burnt. For those that may not appreciate the subtle differences.

It was indeed a scramble this morning to book online. I looked on this site first, planning to look at the ROH next. It was Penny's post that alerted me to the booking saga so I went straight there to have a look. I remember the days when you would join an online queue and could be on it for hours, along with all the various things that could and did go wrong with that system. Trying to get through on the phone was next to impossible. Of course there are some who either don't have internet access for whatever reason or don't feel confident using it. If trying to book on the telephone on the day tickets go on sale is anything like it was, I would imagine it is a waste of time. If you can get through,you are lucky if anything is left. I have never booked in person for geographical reasons. I don't know if an instant queue forms or how that system works on the day. I had a good look online in advance at what/who was on and when so I was at least prepped for action, but choosing tickets and parting with my hard earned money should not be such an ultimately stressful experience.

Well, what a peculiar few minutes on the ROH site. As I read on here, next to nothing doing for Mayerling at first, then new seats released at 10am. Tickets available but not responding to being clicked on. 100 seats available showing for Watson that didn't seem to exist and so on. I didn't want to make a dent in my tablet but was getting quite vexed! I finally managed to nab a stalls circle ticket for the 11th May, just in case there is a repeat of this fiasco for the Ashton triple. I do want to see Yanowsky one last time.

Glad it wasn't just me! I thought that scene in the cafe where the new lovers were sharing some carrot cake over small talk should have been seething with sexual tension. As he put his hand on her knee, was she wondering if the cafe had a broom cupboard perhaps? No, their body language had all the suppressed passion of two people just exchanging small talk over cake. More like the end of an affair than the beginning. I don't know if it was the script or the way it was played, both or something else.

That's a nice little vid, unusual and interesting. I'd like to more of these dancers. Do they tour?

I suspect the woman who made the remark about dying from cancer, probably doesn't have cancer. It is a remark designed to shock and make the recipient feel bad. You had asked her, politely and not unreasonably, to stop talking during the performance. She possibly thought this cancer remark would be a clever riposte.Tempting in the heat of the moment to respond with something almost as unpleasant but why bother. She has demonstrated all you need to know about her character and you don't want to engage with her further. I would tell her I won't dignify her remark with a response.Then turn and move away. End of exchange.