General prattling......oh and Big Brother!

How exciting, I got home from work yesterday and found a large envelope, with a lovely picture of Debra Monk inscribed with "Thank you for your kind letter, Best Wishes Debra Monk" on it, I thought that was SO nice, she really is Broadway Royalty.

Went to rehearsal, still going through the One Act to keep it ready for the British Finals, but we were also rehearsing Canterbury Tales, very confusing doing two at once!

Back on the diet we are doing The Importance of being Earnest next and I saw the size of my costume! In fact was making tea this evening(Quorn Sausages) and sat down at the computer to read Jeni Barnett's blog for today, she mentioned that one of the actors in the Globe had walked out just before press night because he had stage fright! I know stage nerves are the worst, but does he know how many of us poor amateurs would have loved the chance to be on that stage! anyway I got into reading it and burned the flamin sausages ....they probably tasted better though! It's not going to last though, I'm off to London for the weekend to visit a friend, so I know there will be fattening food, and copious amounts of pino grigio! I figured if I was good in between indiscretions it wouldn't be as bad as eating and drinking all the time, here's hoping!

Still haven't got around to cutting the grass at the front of the house, blamed the four drops of rain we had on Monday, I'll have to do it soon, it wasn't that bad but next door have cut theirs now so mine looks even worse! Seriously thinking of getting of it covered over in patio slabs or something. With working and rehearsing the only time to do chores is at the weekend, and in my eyes that's playtime.

Tried my best to watch Big Brother as that seems to be the ENTIRE conversation at work right now, and also I was using it for research, as we are making an internal video at the moment about what our job is, so we (the three of us in our team) are doing a Big Brother skit. Like I said I really tried to watch but I really don't get, I don't get how it is entertaining, I don't get how people get addicted to watching it, and I don't get why anyone would give up an hour of their precious lives to watch people arguing over food, and crying over straightening irons. So this is another thing I will remain blissfully ignorant over.

Well I'm off to take Ruby for a walk now before it gets dark, she's such a pansy she won't walk past the graveyard after dark, which is a tad worrying as they do say dogs are really sensitive, she's fine in the day but if it's dark, she digs in her feet and won't move....weird huh?

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Here's to the weekend & the sunshine!

Isn't it lovely to have the nice weather back?, especially when it lasts through the weekend. Last week was a tough one, going back to work and all, but I have had a such nice relaxing weekend. Saturday I got up late, and really did nothing, pottered in the garden, did stick the hoover over and cleaned the bathroom for shames sake, took Ruby for a nice long walk down by the river while listening to Spamalot on my ipod, but that was about it.

My Brother and Sister in Law called over with Cara who was a joy as always, they had been on holiday and had bought Ruby a ball, but Cara wasn't that keen on giving it to Ruby when she arrived so they were chasing each other around the garden. Amanda was telling me about one night while they were away, in the clubhouse on the caravan site they had a game of bingo, the lady was calling out the numbers and said "2 little ducks" so the crowd shouted "quack quack" and Cara sang out "ee i ee i o" (we've been teaching her Old Macdonald)

Diet has been going OK on the food front, but still having trouble giving up the ice cold sauvignon blanc especially in this weather! Drank a bottle last night while watching TV (I think I'm one of the binge drinking statistics!!! although personally 4 glasses over a whole evening ....doesn't seem that much to me!)

Sunday decided to get up early, sun was shining, birds were singing, sheep were bleating (although I have no idea where the sheep bleating was coming from I haven't seen any nearby) No sign of Jeni Barnett popping over so needed to cut my grass myself!!! Went up to visit my folks for the Sunday lunch ritual, now when I mentioned before about having salad when it was hot for Sunday lunch, there were gasps of dismay like I had said something illegal, but Dad called this morning and said "shall we have salad"?? I arrived read the paper, had another rant about what's the world coming to? (note to self STOP reading the papers and remain blissfully ignorant) had another personal sauna doing the cooking in the glass roofed kitchen (even though it was only potatoes and eggs this week). Lunch was fab, we sat outside and had our nice cool salad and caught up.

Came back from the folks, put up my hammock in the garden, grabbed a book (reading the new Jonathan Kellerman ....very good) and lazed for the rest of the day. Did manage to make my slimming world quiche (well they call it quiche but it has no pastry so I reckon it's a big omelette!) so I have lunch tomorrow. Sunday night for me is TV night where I watch all the second chance things I missed in the week as I am out at rehearsal(why is all good telly on a Thursday night?),and getting stuff ready for work. Didn't win the lottery again, so no piano bar! and OK I never did get around to doing the grass!

Hope you all had wonderful weekends too.
Keep smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Diet Schmiet!!!!

OK I only lasted one day........started it Tuesday, ended Wednesday it evening, but I did have a lovely meal in The Baileys Arms with everyone from Drama, we celebrated our win in style. The owners of the Pub Tina and John gave us three bottles of Champagne, we had fantastic food....oh alright and dessert!!! and told more old tales about the places we’ve acted. The South Korea stories seem to come up most, we were asked to represent Britain in the International Drama Festival in South Korea, we obviously started off in a nice hotel in Seoul, and then got transported to ChunChong for the festival. It was in the middle of the jungle right by the ninth parallel – we were then shown to our accommodation which was an old army barracks with a lino floor and a very thin rolled up mattress, not quite what we were used to, there was no air conditioning despite the 100 degree heat and 100% humidity (you came out of the shower and couldn't dry!), and the only entertainment was an old flip chart we found and we used to play win, loose or draw on! The food certainly took some getting used too (I think someone had told them British people like chips, so we had cold chips for breakfast in the mornings and most other things had eyes!), as did the holes in the floor for toilets. We did have a great time though, and the Korean people were lovely, and it’s not as weird as the time we actually stayed in a convent in Alabama!! One night we brought back a pile of cans of beer and a bottle of tequila, stayed up in the “group room” playing the piano, singing and drinking, we left all the empty cans and bottles in the rubbish bin, only to come downstairs the next morning to find an AA meeting being held in the same room! When we asked if we could stay on the way back from our tour, the reply came back that it was full!!! We had stories of who snored the loudest, who forgot what lines, and just had a really good laugh.

So back on the straight and narrow today...green day! So far so good but I am dreaming of the ice cold Magners I have in the fridge.....how many syns in that I wonder? I knew work and diet all in the same week was a mistake, it's too much for any sane girl.

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Working for a living!

I forgot how hard this working for a living is. OK I know it was my first day back, but I can't believe how busy it already, no breaking me in gently then I said!!! It was great to see everyone though, and I'm sure I'll get use to it again.

Did spend half an hour at the window in the office watching Her Majesty open the Welsh Parliament today, she looked lovely as did Camilla.

Ruby seemed unscathed by me working all day, mind you she does get TWO walks on the days I work, so I should imagine she's glad to see the back of me.

Started the Slimming world stuff......they wonder why people don't eat healthy food, it's because it's twice the flamin price of the fattening stuff!! My shopping bill is usually about £35 a week, I go on diet all of a sudden £59!!!!!

Watching QI while typing this - I love Stephen Fry! The boss gave us tonight off from rehearsing and tomorrow we are doing our celebratory meal, then it's back to the grindstone, whipping us into shape for the British Finals.

Just spent a fortune on Amazon, went on to buy the "Curtains" soundtrack as it has been released and also bought another two CD's and a Barefoot Contessa book, I really shouldn't browse!!!!

Well I'm off for a mini babybel now.

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Well back to work......

Just about got everything ready for my first day back at work for four months! I still get tired really easily, and still a bit sore, but it is time to go back. It's like my first day at school all over again. Caught up with all the ironing, and cleaning and shopping today before getting back into the work thing, also caught up on my taped episodes of Grey's Anatomy....wow already! It will be nice to see everyone in work though, I guess the first week will be catching up and seeing what has changed. Ruby will have to get used to being home alone again, although she sleeps most of the day anyway. To make it harder went back to Slimming World as well, might be a mistake I may need chocolate and wine to get me through the first week! that and we are all going out for a " We won the Welsh Final celebratory meal" on Wednesday. Well that's it for today, off for an early night, got an early start see.

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

WE ONLY BLINKIN WON !!!

Just a short one today as I am suffering from a hangover of gigantic proportion. It was the Welsh Finals of the One Act Play Competition this weekend at Theatre Hafren, Newtown. Six of the highest scoring plays from previous local rounds, go to the Welsh Final, three plays a night. We were on the Saturday in the middle sandwiched between two comedies which was good, as ours wasn't a comedy. There were three of us in the cast, Gabe (who also wrote the play) Jon and myself. We started feeling nervous by about 2pm and went on stage at 8pm......at approx 10.30 we heard our adjudication by Sally Noble (GODA) it was amazing she actually said she didn't write much, she put her pen down as she didn't want to miss any of the acting, she applauded our Director Gareth for being a genius, she loved the set, the lighting, the mood, the music, everything. It was about half an hour later Sally announced that we had won. We will be representing Wales in the British Finals at the end of this month. After the awards were presented we went back to the Elephant & Castle for a buffet, and I remember the bar there closed at 1am, our accommodation was 2 doors down in The Black Boy ( I was amazed to find it was called this but apparently it was to do with chimney sweeps!)so we went back where the bar was still open for residents (and a few guests of the residents).....lucky eh? This is where it gets hazy but it did culminate is us getting to bed at 5.30am this morning, after drinking copious amounts and, if I recall, singing a lot, starting with all the old Welsh favourites and ending in requests from the very patient bar staff. We had to check out by 10am, I didn't manage the full cooked breakfast, just dry toast and coffee, and I had to get Gabe to drive my car back from Newtown, it's now 5pm and I am still suffering. So forgive me but I think a banana, lots of water and an early night is called for........it was worth it though, Solihull here we come!

Keep Smiling - I am
Marmite Girl xx

So good they named it twice ......part two AGAIN!!

for those of you who read the blog this morning this may seem a little different - that's because I went to add in a picture of Central Park and accidentally deleted the whole day's blog!!! So lets start again.

Saturday we had arranged to meet my American Family at the Jekyll & Hyde Club at 4pm, so we decided to not do much in the morning. I had seen an advert for a new show called "Curtains" with Debra Monk, now I am a LONG time fan of Debra Monk, she is Broadway Royalty, it was also by Kander & Ebb also a favourite of mine, so Sarah offered to buy me a ticket for my birthday, we walked over to the theatre and ....you guessed it....waited in line, we managed to get the last two tickets for the Sunday show. I was chuffed!!

We did a little window shopping and having learned our lesson about portion sizes called into a deli and got a sandwich between us, they were still huge, think stacking five M & S sandwiches on top of one another only less bread more filling and you've got it!

Next we went into a store (see got the lingo now) called American Girl ...only in America, it was about three stories, on the first were dolls, dolls outfits, children's outfits to match the dolls, each doll had it's own book and DVD, on the second floor was a theatre where they did live shows and you could take your doll, there was also a cafe that had special seats for you, your offspring and the dolls, finally the third floor had a salon so your child and her doll could get their hair done. Now I know this seems a little over the top but if you saw the faces of those little girls clutching their Molly or Nikki or whoever, it was just priceless. I decided Cara was a bit young for these though, they were almost as big as her.

We called into Tiffany's, walked past all the diamonds with no prices, to the elevator, one elevator was an "express" to the third floor, this is where the silver/costume jewellery lived. I guess they thought that's where most people would go and they were right. We both purchased a little something so we could walk around with the little blue bag. I resisted the urge to ask where we could get breakfast and to hum moon river!!!

Next to FAO Schwartz another huge toy store, there you could make your own doll, thanks to Madame Alexander, you could choose the skin colour, eye colour, hair colour and style, while the assistant zapped the parts in a microwave (or Salon as she told the little girls) and put her together. I decided this option was better for Cara as the dolls were much smaller for her little hands. Alas time was against us so I had to save my creation for another day.

We walked over to the Jekyll & Hyde Club and waited in the bar Adam, Steph & Little Jacob arrived and there were hugs & kisses abound, Mom & Dad had gone through the scary entrance but soon arrived to more hugs & kisses. Adam had chosen Jekyll & Hyde's as Mom's favourite time of year is Halloween and it was really fun, there were Mummy's and Monsters everywhere, things jumping out at you, but Jacob being only three was terrified, so in the end we finished our drinks and went to a baseball themed place, it was much lighter, much quieter, and Jacob was much happier, it worked out well as the food was better, and we could all catch up. After dinner we took a walk to Central Park and went on a carriage ride it was lovely, all too soon it was time for them to leave, saying goodbye as hard, but I knew I would see them again soon.

Foolishly as the night was still young, we walked back to see the lovely Svetlana at the Russian Vodka Room, for a couple more of her lethal Cosmopolitans, this time we managed four, Svetlana then gave us a strawberry infused vodka to finish us off, and finish us off it did..I have NO recollection of how we got back to the Hotel, and poor Sarah spent the night in the bathroom saying goodbye to the Cosmopolitans.

All of a sudden it was Sunday and after a few aspirins and a lot of coffee we decided to walk up to Central Park, we went to Bethesda Fountain, and sat on the edge, it was lovely. One guy had a boom box which I dreaded him turning on, but when he did it played Edith Piaf, which somehow matched the mood and the park. We went back to FAO Schwartz so I could make my creation, pale skin, blue eyes, brown bob, just like Cara. We grabbed lunch took our shopping back to the hotel and went to see "Curtains" now here is where you will have to indulge me a little while I go on about how amazing it was! It was AMAZING, the whole cast were brilliant, as a bonus I saw Karen Ziemba another of my faves also Broadway Royalty, and David Hyde Pierce, fabulous, but Debra Monk was phenomenal, so good in fact it prompted me to write my first ever fan letter at the age of 38, I felt like a teenager when I posted it. It was so good to see an old fashioned, toe tapping, extremely funny, laugh out loud show with fantastic songs, characters and story, so many new musicals are dark and miserable. If there had been an evening show I would have handed over my credit card and watched it again. I hope it comes to London so I can see it again. If you are reading this in USA I urge you to go and see it. After the show we went to The View for a drink, which is a revolving bar/restaurant at the top of the Marriott Marquis, it was lovely, we sat at the window with a cold glass of Sav Blanc and watched the skyline of NYC revolve around us. It was the perfect end to a perfect day.

Monday alas was a bit of a disaster, Sarah had wanted to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art but as it was Memorial day it (and the other museums) were closed. We decided to go Bloomingdale's for a look, personally I hated it, it was a bit like Harrods, it was so big you couldn't find anything, we wandered through floors and floors of stuff, finally got cheesed off and left without buying anything! We took a taxi to Greenwich Village, as everyone had told us how lovely it was, and we arrived at the park which was indeed lovely, but as we walked, maybe in the wrong places, it turned from lovely to seedy. I think maybe you needed to know your way around, we did pay homage to Dylan Thomas in The White Horse, but then swiftly got a taxi up to Little Italy. There was a cheese festival on, so the roads were closed, there were stalls and music and it felt good. We got dinner at Vincents where, judging by all the signed pictures on the wall, so had a lot of famous people. The food was excellent, the banner proudly mentioned they had been in business for 100 years, and I think our waiter was there at the start, as he kept falling asleep at the back, but it only added to the charm, we had a lovely dinner and made our way back to the Hotel. We did call into the "Brewery" couple of doors up for a beer I chose a wheat beer, Sarah said " I would send that back if I were you it's cloudy" I spat beer all over the bar and explained it was supposed to be! We went back to the hotel and began packing ready for the trip home.......hang in there I'm almost done!

Tuesday we grabbed breakfast, finished packing and checked out at 10am our flight wasn't until 9pm so we left our bags and went to check out Grand Central Station, it was beautiful, we would have looked around a little more only both of us needed a restroom, one was out of order and the other had a line that wouldn't have looked out of place in Alton Towers. So we left quickly, and walked very quickly to the Rockefeller Centre where we found relief. It worked out well, where the ice rink is in the winter, they put outdoor dining in the summer, so we sat right by the gold statued fountain, had the most delicious Thai Fish thingy, and, well we had to didn't we a piece of New York Cheesecake. We shopped a little and then stopped in Bryant Park, it was a small park in front of the library, with hundreds of chairs, and in the middle they had newspapers and books you could borrow and sit in the park and read, it was so peaceful, and in the midst of the City. We eventually went back to the Hotel to pick up our bags....and repack all the extra shopping, and made our way home, I know at some point we went to Macy's but I forget when and there are other things I will have forgotten, I am home now exhausted but very happy, it's not the place to go if you want a relaxing time, but I can honestly see why they named it twice, New York really is that good!

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx