JohnS

A Buttermere walk yesterday and enjoyed a private performance from two red squirrels, mainly a 10 minute solo but also an energetic PDD, and a surprise PD3. Burtness Wood, Buttermere Very entertained for 10 minutes There was a second squirrel but I couldn’t photo both at the same time. But with the squirrel on the left of the tree on the right and on the ground there’s a nuthatch and great tit.

Oh well - will look forward to lots of posts ... And hopefully curtain call photos?

Well done Royal Ballet for making the most of the one opportunity to perform in November. Must be lots of last minute decisions and as always I’m sure everything will be fabulous on the night. Looking forward to reading posts and I still hope there may be some filming for a future relay.

Thank you MJW. Is this for a specific recovery campaign or all donations - for example there’s normally a Christmas pointe show appeal which would be operating well before 15 December?

Good news and makes for a very welcome change. Perhaps you’ll give an update later in the week?

Just saw this. Must be very difficult deciding what preparations to make for possible December performances when there may be very little notice of any extension to lockdown - my sympathies with those having to take the decision and all those affected.

Might Nutcracker bookings 9 to 11 November rekindle the excitement?

And I’m not even trying to book - do hope people get the tickets they want and still hoping there might be some live streaming or recording for later transmission.

I think Dances at a Gathering eventually disappeared at some point yesterday late afternoon. I’d begun to wonderif there was another final evening’s viewing. I’ve been delighted to see it so often and it’s been such a welcome escape from Covid etc. A fabulous ballet and a wonderful performance from the Royal Ballet and so good that a DVD is to be released with The Cellist. All the dances have much to say and offer such a range of emotions but I think I’ve been most taken with the two of the Opus 34 waltzes Robbins uses: the A minor with Hayward, Kaneko and Nuñez, and Bracewell joining Hayward for the PDD; and the A flat major with Hayward, Kaneko, Naghdi, Bonelli, Bracewell and Zucchetti. The intimate friendship evoked by the three women (sisters?) in the A minor is beautifully created. I take it that Hayward remembers or imagines Bracewell as Kaneko and Nunez are oblivious to his presence. And Hayward’s longing when Bracewell leaves is so telling, as is her gaze to where she last saw him just before the end and the three women exit. The A flat major is such a celebration of joie de vivre, danced with great elan, and Zucchetti an assured catcher, rock steady. Utterly joyous, unbridled frivolity and exuberance, bringing back memories of pre Covid times and no restrictions. I do hope it won’t be too long before we can all once again enjoy such performances in a full theatre.

Apologies - I‘d assumed 25th was Friday! [Odd as for me every day’s a Saturday.]

Last day tomorrow (Friday) for Dances at a Gathering - it’s been fabulous having it available over the last few weeks and I’m sure I’ll see it one last time before getting the DVD.

Agreed - always brings a cheer to the day.

I’ve grown to like the occasional use of ‘And’ or ‘But’ at the start of a sentence as they can provide emphasis. The problem for me is where it becomes excessive and I’m afraid one or two journalist seem to start at least every other sentence with a conjunction, Laura Kuenssberg being a particularly enthusiastic user.

I keep making the point to the ROH and others that a number of people are not able to attend in person because of health risks and that streaming is undoubtedly the next best thing. I thought I’d read that the one of each of the two November performances would be streamed and I do hope the Nutcracker will be steamed. There’s a real magic in seeing live performances - even if we find later the actual relay is delayed.

Many thanks taxi4ballet. Not as intimidating when seen in profile (and on one leg) - at least to me if not for the song birds. Caught a fascinating description on Radio 4 of a kingfisher successfully evading a sparrowhawk.

Sparrowhawk - yesterday’s visitor. Seemed content to sit on the fence for some time. Needless to say the smaller birds disappeared.

That explains comments about audience members finding themselves caught up in the 10:00 exit from pubs and packed tube trains on their way home when I’d assumed the performance ended at 10:30.

I know you said not to ask but I’m intrigued. Does the curtain fall with Aurora still asleep? No happy ending? Or does the Prince find someone else? Very pleased to hear how well the remote orchestra worked.

I quite agree Jan. It’s great that screening allows us to delight in performance and feel a part of an extended audience. I know screening is not the same as attending but it certainly feels like the next best thing. Many would be audience members are wary of the risks of travel, overnight stays, and attending the theatre, given Covid and perhaps underlying health conditions. So I’m certainly looking forward to further screenings. And wasn’t it just fabulous to see live ballet, that edge of seat excitement/trepidation, with an audience in the theatre, and performances to match the occasion.

Fabulous bouquets - do hope it’s ok to post this:

It’s always good to see the squirrels at the feeders but there’s something very special when seeing a red in the wild. I was very fortunate this afternoon in Jonny Wood, Borrowdale:

Always a pleasure Fiz. I spent 15 minutes watching the one red. Must have been preening for 10 minutes and then decided it was time for a snack. Probably thought I could have done with a wash and brush up.

As it’s red squirrel awareness week ending today, I thought I should share a couple of photos from this afternoon:

Still struggling sometimes with photo size so here’s the stag with five deer. And a more familiar local on the fells. But very sad to hear of the fall in numbers of herdwick sheep, proper Lake District sheep. Fleeces are sometimes used for footpath repairs work in wet areas as a foundation although I doubt it provides much cash.

Rather taken with this stag on Sunday’s walk: I’d seen a stag in the morning high above Thirlmere but then managed this photo in the afternoon just below Low Saddle (rather apt), on the way from Ullscarf to Dock Tarn. I then saw he was minding at least five deer. A first for me seeing red deer in this part of the Lake District.