Last Thursday I came home to find the Sister up the alley with six burly firefighters.\u00a0 As I said “Old habits die hard!”.\u00a0 But this wasn’t just another excuse for her to get a cheap thrill; far from it.\u00a0 The Sister was being a good citizen because she’d seen that the neighbour whose garden backs onto ours had left a bonfire unattended and it had caught one of the trees.\u00a0 Now, I’m not criticizing, but you’d think the neighbours would have learned from such a close shave, wouldn’t you?\u00a0 Well, no they haven’t!\u00a0 Because anyone else’s enjoyment of sitting in their garden on this fine evening has been knocked into a cocked hat.\u00a0 Take in the wonderful scents of the flowers?\u00a0\u00a0 No\u00a0chance!\u00a0 They’re at it again, although at least this time the fire isn’t unattended.\u00a0 The smell of burning rubbish and the billowing smoke are overwhelming.\u00a0 Relax in the peace and quiet?\u00a0 You’re joking!\u00a0\u00a0They must have ten children in the garden (surely a health and safety issue if there’s a bonfire going like the\u00a0clappers?) all shouting and making a racket.\u00a0 Oh\u00a0dear!\u00a0<\/p>\n
And why is it that when the temperature goes up everyone is overcome with the urge to expose their bodies to the world?\u00a0\u00a0Yes, it’s warm, but whatever happened to decorum?\u00a0 Walking through\u00a0Central London\u00a0on Friday and Saturday all I could think was “The things you see when you haven’t got a gun!”\u00a0 Not a pretty sight!<\/p>\n
And there’s much to be said for the laws\u00a0in countries like Spain and Greece, which forbid people\u00a0from travelling on public transport without a shirt.\u00a0 I saw several men in string vests, exposing dirty, hairy, sweaty bodies sit on the tube.\u00a0 I pitied anyone who\u00a0sat in the seat after them.\u00a0 And as for supermarkets that allow\u00a0men with no shirts inside – don’t get me started!<\/p>\n
On stage it’s been very hot.\u00a0 As you\u00a0all know, Mother Nature wasn’t very kind to me when she gave out hair – mine is wavy.\u00a0 Not curly, like beautiful corkscrew curls, nor straight.\u00a0 Wavy.\u00a0 And having to pin it up under the wig means that I look like something from Mars when I take it off and the pins out.\u00a0 People are leaping out of my path all the way back down the Strand.\u00a0 Mind you, I don’t know how the men in the\u00a0cast bear it – they wear jackets and overcoats and hats!\u00a0 But, I suppose, that’s showbusiness!<\/p>\n
I’ve had some lovely catch ups lately; lunch with my old friend J A (who tells me I have to let go of the Old Trout!\u00a0 Hmm!) and\u00a0fab actors I haven’t\u00a0 seen for a while and then my lovely Leisure and Tourism students.\u00a0 I can’t believe it’s so long since they were in my class – but they’ve all matured into such lovely people and have all done something with their lives.\u00a0 As their ex-tacher I’m so proud of them and as a friend I’m also proud to know them.<\/p>\n
This week we’re going to see Cirque du Soleil, with the Daughter, who I haven’t seen for a couple of weeks and although we talk daily – sometimes twice or three times! – I still miss actually seeing her.\u00a0 It’s a Mother’s lament; I’m full of pride that she’s such a fabulous, independent woman, but I miss having my little girl around……<\/p>\n
Great to see JF and her handsome sons all the way from LA.\u00a0 She’s been the Sister’s penfriend since they were 8 years old!\u00a0 We met up in Covent Garden, which was absolutely heaving with people.\u00a0 Later on we went to Hyde Park – shame Elton was ill! – and then as it was too hot, left and went and had afternoon tea in Selfridges.\u00a0 Very civilised!\u00a0 I love afternoon tea.<\/p>\n
And the keyboard has almost caught fire this week as we work hard scripting Singles’ Holiday for the stage.\u00a0 I am so excited about that!\u00a0 it’s one of the things making this summer worthwhile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And please – no more complaints about the heat.\u00a0 It’s summer!\u00a0 A few weeks ago we were all complaining because it was the wettest Spring since I don’t know when.\u00a0 Let’s enjoy the sunshine – but keep our bodies and sweat and bonfires to ourselves.\u00a0 Please.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Last Thursday I came home to find the Sister up the alley with six burly firefighters.\u00a0 As I said “Old habits die hard!”.\u00a0 But this wasn’t just another excuse for her to get a cheap thrill; far from it.\u00a0 The … Continue reading