Growing old is inevitable...Growing up is optional!

Saturday 4 October 2008

An Audience with Jeni Barnett

I promise I will get back to all the blogs I haven't done, but I had to write this one first.

Last night I was lucky enough to see An Audience with Jeni Barnett. It was absolutely brilliant.

For me the day had started out as a bit of a disaster, my friend couldn't make it so I had to go on my own, I drove almost 200 miles from Wales to Catford where the B&B I had booked had no record of my booking and was full, so of course the lovely outfit I had brought to change in to was still in the case in the back of the car! I almost had heart failure from driving across London....how do people do it? by the time I had found somewhere to park (which was in a red zone....and being from outside London I had no idea what it meant so I kept my fingers crossed all night I wouldn't be towed or clamped) and got to the Theatre my knees were shaking.

At the Theatre I met up with the lovely Wayne Eagles and his partner Allan I had met them both at the Elaine Stritch evening, I will write that one up later. They saw I was on my own so pulled up a chair for me at their table so I didn't look like a saddo. So my very grateful thanks to them both and the lovely people they were sitting with who were all in the business of TV in one form or another.

We took our seats in a very intimate setting which made you feel like you were part of her family, all of whom were in the audience. Jeni came on to the music "I get knocked down but I get up again", and then I almost had heart failure for the second time, when she said "Where's Marmite" I put up my hand thinking she would just say hello, but no she made me go up with her and tell everyone why she calls me Marmite and me in my jeans as my lovely outfit was in the back of the car!

I know I have mentioned the lovely Jeni many times here, and you all know I am a huge fan, but I swear I am not just saying it, the show was bloody brilliant. It was touching, moving, inspiring and very, very funny, by the time I left my cheeks felt like I had been a tour guide at Disney all day they were hurting so much.

After the show The Oosbind, the lovely Jim came over to say hello to me and gave me a big hug,then Jeni came out front so I got another hug, and a chance to tell her how great the show was and I wish it had been longer I could have listened to her all night, I really wish there had been time for me to tell her in person how much she inspires me, how kind she is, how compassionate and how much her support has meant to me over the past year and a half, but there were dozens of other people waiting to see her as well.

I found my car which thankfully had not been clamped, and drove almost 200 miles home, I arrived at 1.15am still smiling. I know she is doing the show again, so drop whatever you are doing to get to see it, I know I will be going again....and again......and again.

Keep smiling
Marmite xx