A tale of four cities (well three and a village)

Having enjoyed a quieter day with Kitty on Sunday, Monday morning I headed south to Dorset. It was Frank's birthday on Tuesday, so the bank holiday fitted in nicely as I was able to take him out for lunch and enjoy his company, very close to his birthday for a change. Our film this time was 'Move Over, Darling', one that I very much enjoyed, and I realise the first film of Doris Day's career that I've seen (she's very good isn't she). Having left Cardiff in the wet (and wind) Dorset was the complete opposite so it made for a lovely day down there. 

For me it felt as though the bank holiday continued into Tuesday as I wasn't in studios. Instead I headed down to London early and enjoyed a relaxed afternoon with Anthony Gardner in his beautiful home, putting the world to rights. I then headed back to the South bank, via Stockwell to catch-up briefly with Martin and Joaquin, having not seen them for what feels like ages (it properly has been a while). Having had a busy and relaxed day I finally did what I was there for, but I can't talk about that, but I can say it became a very late drive back. 

Even by my standards it has been a busy week, as I was out on Friday night, across at Bristol. Martin, Gary and I headed across to the Old Vic to see 'Wind in the Willows'. Now if I'm honest this was to see and hopefully meet Clive Rowe. When it began, I think we were all a little surprised to find it was a dance, rap, hip-hop show. Having said that it was brilliant! It was funny, emotional and brilliantly done, and yes dear reader, we did manage to meet Clive Rowe after in the bar who was nothing but charming and funny (worth the trip certainly!).

Having seen one show this week I found myself heading back to London Saturday to join Mum at a new theatre for us both, the Theatre Royal, Stratford East (not the RSC), to see ‘King Hedley II’. I was very excited to go to the threat, having studied Joan Littlewood’s work in the early days of the theatre, so that in itself was exciting (and I don’t think the venue had changed a great deal since then). Before hand we bumped into Lennie Henry who was charming, although did warn us it was a ‘long slog, but stick with it’. He was right, as it was a good three and half hours, but brilliantly acted and staged, so it didn’t feel like it at all. It was a very thought-provoking play, about a 20 something man trying to make an identify for himself and dealing with the past. Having enjoyed a relaxed meal before we headed our separate ways, feeling very cultured.

Having had a busier than normal week, I was very much in need of a lie-in and a quieter day on Sunday.