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

Big, Blonde and Beautiful..

Well OK, not blonde, and not beautiful, but big......Just been to see Hairspray and have to say it was fabulous. I saw it on Broadway for my birthday a couple of years ago and was amazed,I had never seen the original film, and after seeing the show on Broadway had rushed onto EBay and bought it, and was sorely disappointed as it wasn't a musical, and honestly if I had seen the original film before I got to Broadway I would never have picked that show to go and see, so if you were less than impressed by the original film I urge you to go and see the new one. The casting was brilliant, the songs catchy to say the least and by the time I left the cinema my cheeks hurt from smiling...well that and biting my tongue so I wouldn't sing along to all the songs (well I was under threat of severe and painful death from Sarah and Moyna if I did!)Anyway Big, Blonde and Beautiful has one of my favourite song lyrics of all time....being a little buxom myself....and it is (I may be paraphrasing here) " Who wants a twig when you can have the whole damn tree?"

Other than that just been extremely busy at work, and playing with Sky +, Drama group did get together last night for a end of season meal, and a discussion over what to do next, not sure anything was decided.

My Brother, Sister-in-Law and Cara are down this weekend so I can't wait....The Dora the Explorer quilt has been washed and ironed ready, I have petit filous in the fridge to make her bones grow strongerer, and the fact that I get the sofa to sleep on is a small price to pay for a family weekend.

So just to reiterate, if the weather is getting you down....(I swear I could grow rice in my front lawn now it's under water) then go and see Hairspray, you'll come out smiling I bet ya!

OOOoo and all you Jeni Barnett fans don't forget her new slot on LBC Radio on Saturday six til eight (pm)

Lots of love
Marmite Girl xx

Ok this is how it started....

Not life...the Marmite girl thing.

Seething from the cancellation of Great Food Live, I stumbled across the wonderful website of the fabulous Jeni Barnett anyway after a couple of posts, Jeni mentioned she had a nasty bout of ulcers, I said the best thing for ulcers was Marmite swished around in your mouth (even if you don't like it, which incidentally I don't) hence I have since been affectionately labelled Marmite Girl......now I hope I don't get into trouble for using the Marmite word without permission....other black yeasty type spreads are available, maybe that will help.

Life on the other hand started in a small town in Wales in 1969, and is now in a different small town but still in Wales, just me and one gorgeous Westie called Ruby , who is currently sulking as she has been to the groomer, but doesn't realise she'll be sulking even more tomorrow as she goes to the V.E.T to have her engine out if you know what I mean.

I work in insurance to pay the bills.....but act and sing in my spare time, just waiting for that call from Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Well I'm sure no-one will read this but I kind of find putting all this down cathartic. I have a simple philosophy to enjoy life whatever it throws at you, live every day (and your credit card limit) to the max, keep yourself surrounded by family and friends that love you.

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

p.s. Thanks Jeni for inspiring me to write this twaddle!!!!