One of life’s best little luxuries is waking up naturally, when your body is ready and not being shocked into wakefulness by the shrill clamour of the alarm clock. And today it was especially good to wake up for the first time at almost 9am to the gentle sound of the rain against the window and snuggle under the duvet for another hour or so,
My only venture out was to buy the paper and then to have a really lazy day. But it’s been a very nostalgic day. Yesterday I heard the sad news of the death of yet another friend; someone that I’ve known for many, many years; a kind, gentle man whose death fills me with sadness. Married to another close friend, I first met J in Ibiza in the good old days and thinking about him today opened up a whole trunk of memories that have lain dormant – but not forgotten – for a long time. And it was lovely to allow myself to wallow in nostalgia today. So many good memories of a life well-lived.
I feel a sadness, too, because the end of the run of Ladykillers is only five weeks away now, Boo hoo! But then I’m going to Antigua for a couple of weeks, so I’m happy and grateful that I have something else good to look forward to.
And , as it’s Sunday, well I indulged in my guilty pleasure of Elaine Paige on Sunday on Radio 2. And given my mood, Ms P did not disappoint. She played Somewhere by Richard and Adam (or is it Adam and Richard?) from my all-time favourite musical, West Side Story. I just hear the opening bars and I’m back watching it for the first time and sobbing. I will take the image of George Chakiris in that mauve shirt to my grave!
And then she played song from the Mikado which brought memories of sixth form and playing Katisha in said operetta, followed by Eric Clapton – memories I’m not prepared to share here! – then the Last Night of the World from Miss Saigon, which always causes goose bumps. It was a fab couple of hours and although I was sad about J’s passing, the music very cathartic. I even had my usual giggle at Break a Leg, the part of the show where people who are putting on musicals can advertise them. Oh dear! Some are quite grim; those putting on Annie Get Your Gun or Oklahoma or Seven Brides for Seven Brothers can never seem to resist the temptation of doing it in a ‘western’ accent and ending up with “Yee-haw!” I don’t know how Elaine keeps a straight face, and she’s always so encouraging, too, bless her!
And now, an evening on the sofa watching Strictly and Downton with a cup of Ginger-flavoured hot chocolate. A lovely end to a bitter-sweet day.
