amum/Cathy

I wondered how Dave had managed to get permission for his gorgeous DQ pictures. So pleased something was sorted out

Thank you very much for the gorgeous photos DaveM. And for the comments from those at the rehearsals. I shall be spending the day online waiting for reviews on here and elsewhere, I know! I'm getting so excited about my trip to see Acosta/Nunez with my son.

Sadly no. We saw Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty earlier this year, and have seen the RB Sleeping Beauty. Much as I love BRB just couldn't justify the expense. Ds and I off to see Carlos Acosta in DQ 1/2 term week which is really setting us back. Should be brilliant though! Ds has done his Intermediate and his friend her Advanced Foundation....

Ds going to the Lowry as well - another balletco member is kindly taking him with her dd - they will be in the 2.15 class

Thanks.

Sorry meant to say So Pleased to hear she enjoyed it and met up with old friends!

Had they asked heights on the application forms then? The boy from our dance school is quite small. Were there many boys? When will you hear?!

How did she find it C4D?

Found out yesterday that a boy from ds's school and dance school also going Saturday. He was in the Newcastle EYB Swan Lake - one of the nephews. Sadly ds too old for this. Good Luck to your dd C4D, hope she enjoys being back on the frontline, as it were

Well today's Guardian is talking about the arrival of Dunkin Donuts now. http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2013/sep/15/us-doughnuts-battle-for-british It has become a bit of a tradition over the years that I buy ds a Krispy Kreme doughnut (or 2) to eat following long dance workshop days. He has gone off the jam filled ones and prefers the original glazed, which, I must say, do just melt in your mouth. Thought I would compare the sugar content of these with the Dunkin Donuts version. Krispy Kreme version has 200 calories with 10g sugar, and the Dunkin Donuts version has 260 calories with 12g sugar. Fat content is slightly more confusing to compare - Krispy Kreme has 12g, of which 3g is saturated fat and 4g trans fat. Dunkin Donuts has 14g fat, of which 6g is saturated fat, but there are no trans fats. Nutritional content https://www.dunkindonuts.com/content/dunkindonuts/en/menu/food/bakery/donuts/donuts.html?DRP_FLAVOR=Glazed Donut http://calorielab.com/restaurants/krispy-kreme-ca/original-glazed/3005/19000 This family has been embarrassingly happy at the sudden proliferation of Krispy Kreme stands in Tescos and motorway service stations anyway!

Theodore your account actually brought tears to my eyes. Well done to your son, you must be so proud of him

Dd not on pointe yet but I have my 35 year old ball of crochet thread still in my sewing basket waiting! My Mum never touched a pointe shoe in her life, I did every single one. Have just checked my 30 years old last pair of pointe shoes and it was double thread chain stitch on the end spiralling around and blanket stitch (single thread I think but shoes so battered there I can't be sure) on the sole section (forgotten what that part is called). Is it a record to pass an original 35 year old ball of crochet thread on? It doesn't look perished!

Thank you for posting the castings Janet. Personally hoping we get Liam Mower as the Prince - very pleased anyway to see his progress in the company!

Sending you lots of sympathy, if no suggestions. I did wonder about the thread Janet posted below - titled are you a wee mouse, or something like that? But it maybe needs weekday evening commitments? I didn't investigate too closely.

Ooops, only meant to post the link there. Sorry!

I think most exam boards have set the rules as standard pink tights, and leotard colour appropriate to the grade being taken and wouldn't expect a difference for other race youngsters Katymac. Having said that, it is an interesting point. What do you think of this You Tube clip of Carlos Acosta (who is wearing white tights and white shoes) and Lauren Anderson (who is wearing brown tights and brown point shoes)? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ludEbKilJuc

Bump! I bought Thursday's Child from Waterstone's where I found it in the 9-12 years section. I thought I would read it before passing it on to ds (15) or dd (12). It was an fascinating read, but totally unsuitable for the 9-12 age group. The protagonist is ostensibly the boy, whose story would be suitable for 9-12 years, but actually the account of his sister's experiences at their vocational school are more suitable for mid teen girls. She has all sorts of teen girl crises including a near miss with a Baryshnikov type character. I won't be passing it on to dd yet, and I wouldn't recommend it for younger boys either. Just wondering whether to comment to Waterstones. Does anyone else have an opinion? I'm still happy to have added it to my collection. Would like to get Listen to the Nightingale next.

LinMM we are camping in a friend's field tonight and having a BBQ to celebrate their son's birthday. In all this dry weather I have visions of us setting the field on fire but another friend coming is part of the local part time fire brigade so hoping he will keep an eye on things! Janet you can't beat the Lakes in this weather - but this is the best summer we have had for 15 years. As you say Julie, the winters are dire!

Well Pups_mum and I met up for a lovely pub lunch near Loweswater today. It was too hot to be outside to eat though, the pub was packed and the garden empty. Our dog is finding it hot but his regular walk takes in a lovely beck 15 minutes from our house where he has a paddle and tries to find some fish (there aren't any but after 8 years of looking he still hasn't given up trying )

Thanks Janet. It would be good value for adults I imagine, but as soon as children are involved then not . We have booked for Glasgow now where we actually got a discount for under 16s for a matinee performance I love those seats at the Lowry so will be sad if they persist in making them Premium/VIP for other productions. Please do post when you hear about casting for this tour.

I was reading through dd's report yesterday and the history teacher had written " xxx is a quiet and self-contained pupil who rarely contributes to class discussions and debates. " I thought, that really is not my daughter... but then ds piped up, "Mum that's what he wrote in my report last year!" And it is - the same first sentence, word for word!

Thanks patsomerset, yes it is OK. The box office sent it after I telephoned to check. I was mighty relieved as this was to be my big treat of the year!

Finally got through and seats are there so they have sent me the email now. So much for promise that I would get the confirmatory email 1hr and 21 minutes later (from a 10.07 booking!).

Has everyone had their final confirmation email? Just trying to get through to the box office as I haven't had mine for Nunez/Acosta DQ and all those performances are showing sold out now. Panicking!

Well I made it. Taking ds to see Carlos Acosta in DQ in autumn half term