For my birthday treat, Emily decided to take to see Ghost the Musical. We met at Balans at 615, just in time to grab a bite to eat. Our server Tomas was delish, so we started with the Pinot Noir and greek sharer plate. Yummy. Tomas bought our drinks and we sat and talked and caught up on Australia. Australia! Wow. Emily went to Australia. One day....Anyway, we ordered our apetitzers and caught up with old times.
With the clock a ticking, we had to head west to the theatre and oh my gosh, lucky bitches, we were upgraded to the Royal Circle. Thats the trick in the west end, buy the cheapest seat, on an off night and you know you'll get an upgrade :-)
We took to our seats, Row E, Royal Circle. Oh my god, my stomach, it can't be kicking off now, can it? it is? Pray, Pray it goes away. Brrrrrrppppp clearly, my stomach was not keeping up with me. Now there is a moment in your life, do you, fake it? Pretend nothings wrong? Grimace, head up, and carry on!. Oh my god, I really need to go to the bathroom. Paar paar paar Boom. The musical was starting and here I was with the jitters. What to do? My bag, reach for the bag, there is some Imodium in the bag. Shoot, Phew, thank goodness.
Gurgle Gurlge Gurle....
OMG... what do I do?
deep breaths......breath in, breath out, breath in, breath out. Shit.... Emily, sorry. I have a funny tummy, I have to go.
Running up the stairs, the Usher tells me I can leave but will not be allowed to readmit till a suitable time.... screw that, I gotta go!
Why does the door to a theatre have to Bang? You would think they would put silencers on them woulnt you?
Its amazing how much you can see standing at the back of the auditorium!
I did of course get back to my seat and my darling Emily. I didn't miss the show but boy did I feel locked out for a moment or two.
And times, go by, so slowly and time can do so much,are you still mine? I need your love, I neeed your love, God speed your love to me!The
It was frigging amazing. I loved the musical score and the way they hung on to the orgininal storyline and the special effects amazing, well, what else can I say but thank you , Emily. It was amazeballs....don't belive me? Go see it yourself!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Madame JoJo's
This iconic venue is one I have often heard about and never been, so it was nice when Steph said they would be going there for Alex's Birthday.
Walking up to the door is a bit like entering the Forbidden Forest, you want to go in there, but do you dare? It's located in the heat of Soho in the former Red Light District and years gone by would definitively been the vice quarter.
I asked Steph to go ahead as she had booked the table and we were greeted, stamped our hands and our Stepford Wive's drag queen swished and swayed down the stairs to escort us in. She had this mesmerizing part about her, like when the Girls School visit in Harry Potter and their swish can almost entrance you. She (I wish I remembered her name, but for now lets call her Miss Teek!) So Misteek lead us down the stairs, swishing all the way. The Cloakroom is here, the bathrooms there, if you so need them and your table is here. Er Hello Ladies, Miss Teek said, but you appear to be sitting in my guests table. "We were just sitting here till it was needed", the lady pleaded. Miss Teek replied "well that moment is now, up up, chop chop, she said!
We sat down, about 30 Feet from the stage. Some tables scattered around us, more down the steps towards the stage. Again, think Moulin Rouge / Fat Sam's grand slam. A tealight candled burned on every table and the stage sparkled with its curtain of lights in the background. It was like stepping back in time to a Cabaret bar, but without all of the smoke.
The Compere came on, just after 8;00 and I am sure this one was actually a woman. A Burlesque version of Liza Minnelli, with an opening number and interaction with the Audience. The second act, was definitely a man, who had been fitted with a boob job and had an amazing voice. The entertainment was a mixture of Caberet, Burlesque, and titillation, but all in good taste.
The second half of the show really had the crowd going with classics that you just had to sing along to. Holding out for a Hero, Bohemian Rhapsody. There was Belly Dancing, Magicians and all the things you would expect of the underworld.
All in all it was fabulous, the finale had us all singing along and it was then time to sadly leave Fab night though! xxx
Walking up to the door is a bit like entering the Forbidden Forest, you want to go in there, but do you dare? It's located in the heat of Soho in the former Red Light District and years gone by would definitively been the vice quarter.
I asked Steph to go ahead as she had booked the table and we were greeted, stamped our hands and our Stepford Wive's drag queen swished and swayed down the stairs to escort us in. She had this mesmerizing part about her, like when the Girls School visit in Harry Potter and their swish can almost entrance you. She (I wish I remembered her name, but for now lets call her Miss Teek!) So Misteek lead us down the stairs, swishing all the way. The Cloakroom is here, the bathrooms there, if you so need them and your table is here. Er Hello Ladies, Miss Teek said, but you appear to be sitting in my guests table. "We were just sitting here till it was needed", the lady pleaded. Miss Teek replied "well that moment is now, up up, chop chop, she said!
We sat down, about 30 Feet from the stage. Some tables scattered around us, more down the steps towards the stage. Again, think Moulin Rouge / Fat Sam's grand slam. A tealight candled burned on every table and the stage sparkled with its curtain of lights in the background. It was like stepping back in time to a Cabaret bar, but without all of the smoke.
The Compere came on, just after 8;00 and I am sure this one was actually a woman. A Burlesque version of Liza Minnelli, with an opening number and interaction with the Audience. The second act, was definitely a man, who had been fitted with a boob job and had an amazing voice. The entertainment was a mixture of Caberet, Burlesque, and titillation, but all in good taste.
The second half of the show really had the crowd going with classics that you just had to sing along to. Holding out for a Hero, Bohemian Rhapsody. There was Belly Dancing, Magicians and all the things you would expect of the underworld.
All in all it was fabulous, the finale had us all singing along and it was then time to sadly leave Fab night though! xxx
Birthday Lunch Birthday Dinner
When my cousin Denham invited me to lunch to celebrate his Birthday I already had plans from early evening, but always a nice opportunity to see my cousins. Its nice to see them all on what I consider my turf instead of it always being back at the family home.
So Saturday early afternoon I met cousins Samantha & Denham at Victoria Station at the Weatherspoons, and had a quick drink outside on the open terrace overlooking the platforms. We then jumped on the tube one stop to Sloane Square for our lunch at the Big Easy diner. I had looked up the directions before I left and it was quite a trek down the kings road so we jumped a cab and arrived at 230 as planned.
Denham had a couple of work friends meeting us there and so we all started off with a drink in the bar. Phew, it was hot. Thankfully our table was downstairs where it was air-conditioned. We were taken to our table and shortly after Nicola & Lydsey arrived. Funny how we have talked about meeting up for so long and not got around to doing it, so here we were, in Chelsea celebrating Denham's birthday. Always good to see them all and catch up and hopefully we will do it again soon.
Denham, Samantha and Nicola went off to watch the Rugby at a local bar, while Lynsey and I had plans so headed back to the West End. I nipped into the Gym for a quick Steam and Shower and freshen up before heading on to Balans for Dinner to celebrate Alex's 18th. There were 9 of us in the party and so we wined and dined and then had to be at Madame Jo Jo's for the main event. I was a Madame JoJo's virgin!
As we went into Madame JoJo's a fabulously dressed drag queen took us to our table and I immediately wished I had dragged up for the night. Well if you can't do it at JoJos where can you? As we walked down the stairs it was like walking into a cross between Fat Sams Grand Slam and the Moulin Rouge. Little Tables, with red candles burning brightly, tiered away from the stage to the Bar.
The Show was definitely entertaining and a good time was had by all. The others all went on to an after party somewhere but by then I was burned and ready for home. One Day, Two Birthday, Two celebrtaions and a lot of fun. Can't complain!
We had a fab night of caberet and good company
So Saturday early afternoon I met cousins Samantha & Denham at Victoria Station at the Weatherspoons, and had a quick drink outside on the open terrace overlooking the platforms. We then jumped on the tube one stop to Sloane Square for our lunch at the Big Easy diner. I had looked up the directions before I left and it was quite a trek down the kings road so we jumped a cab and arrived at 230 as planned.
Denham had a couple of work friends meeting us there and so we all started off with a drink in the bar. Phew, it was hot. Thankfully our table was downstairs where it was air-conditioned. We were taken to our table and shortly after Nicola & Lydsey arrived. Funny how we have talked about meeting up for so long and not got around to doing it, so here we were, in Chelsea celebrating Denham's birthday. Always good to see them all and catch up and hopefully we will do it again soon.
Denham, Samantha and Nicola went off to watch the Rugby at a local bar, while Lynsey and I had plans so headed back to the West End. I nipped into the Gym for a quick Steam and Shower and freshen up before heading on to Balans for Dinner to celebrate Alex's 18th. There were 9 of us in the party and so we wined and dined and then had to be at Madame Jo Jo's for the main event. I was a Madame JoJo's virgin!
As we went into Madame JoJo's a fabulously dressed drag queen took us to our table and I immediately wished I had dragged up for the night. Well if you can't do it at JoJos where can you? As we walked down the stairs it was like walking into a cross between Fat Sams Grand Slam and the Moulin Rouge. Little Tables, with red candles burning brightly, tiered away from the stage to the Bar.
The Show was definitely entertaining and a good time was had by all. The others all went on to an after party somewhere but by then I was burned and ready for home. One Day, Two Birthday, Two celebrtaions and a lot of fun. Can't complain!
We had a fab night of caberet and good company
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Flashback from a song
It still amazes me how a single song can bring back so many memories about a time you had forgotten not that long ago. Tonight I was walking down the highstreet, from my train, homeward bound, when Thriller started on my Ipod. I found it near impossible not to tilt my head, Zombie style as the beats continued and then I was thinking of my first ever concert. Michael Jackson, Wembley Stadium 1984.
Fond memories of the first time you see a Mega Celebrity, let alone, aged Eleven head off to an 80,000 seater stadium to see the King of Pop. An experience I will never forget. Of course I repeated this with several MJ and Madonna concerts (lucky bitches) in the coming years and those memories of the Bad Tour, the Blond Ambition Tour, all come flooding back every time I return to Wembley, the most recent times being both for Take That’s the Circus & Patience Tours. Who would have thought that Take That would return and be just as big, the second time around.
This had always left me somewhat agonised at the loss of my other favourite group, Steps. It somehow felt tragic that they split when they did and how I missed their cheesy style and their poptastic tunes. So you can imagine my elation when I heard the news they were reforming and tour dates were announced. So excited for the new tour which we managed to get tickets for (lucky bitches), and even more keen that Madonna will be back in the UK in the summer as part of the Olympic Seasons Concert programme.
La Isla Bonita reminds me of being in Miami, much like George Michaels ‘Careless Whisper’, reminds me of taking off in a 747 (from the days when you could listen to a walkman during take off). Anything by the Carpenters reminds me of road trips my family would take as would Rock & Roll.
Songs such as “Hands Up” and “Superman” remind me of Christmas at my Aunt & Uncles and the slightest hint of a bell ring and I am thinking of Coca Cola and the Holidays are coming advert. (Adverts could turn into a whole new genre of their own). Bugsy Malone soundtrack reminds me of being in the scouts and Yogi Bear of Juco Camp. They keep us sane and happy. S club Seven remind me of Cindy and Simon and Kylie, Rue Paul, Gail Tuesday, Bucks Fizz, Brotherhood of Man, Katrina and the Waves and the Weather Girls all of nights at G-A-Y and Sandstorm and Circles in the sand of Heaven.
They are all different songs, all with different meaning and different associations and yet they are all one thing to me. A trigger song. So my question to you is, what’s your trigger song and why?
Fond memories of the first time you see a Mega Celebrity, let alone, aged Eleven head off to an 80,000 seater stadium to see the King of Pop. An experience I will never forget. Of course I repeated this with several MJ and Madonna concerts (lucky bitches) in the coming years and those memories of the Bad Tour, the Blond Ambition Tour, all come flooding back every time I return to Wembley, the most recent times being both for Take That’s the Circus & Patience Tours. Who would have thought that Take That would return and be just as big, the second time around.
This had always left me somewhat agonised at the loss of my other favourite group, Steps. It somehow felt tragic that they split when they did and how I missed their cheesy style and their poptastic tunes. So you can imagine my elation when I heard the news they were reforming and tour dates were announced. So excited for the new tour which we managed to get tickets for (lucky bitches), and even more keen that Madonna will be back in the UK in the summer as part of the Olympic Seasons Concert programme.
La Isla Bonita reminds me of being in Miami, much like George Michaels ‘Careless Whisper’, reminds me of taking off in a 747 (from the days when you could listen to a walkman during take off). Anything by the Carpenters reminds me of road trips my family would take as would Rock & Roll.
Songs such as “Hands Up” and “Superman” remind me of Christmas at my Aunt & Uncles and the slightest hint of a bell ring and I am thinking of Coca Cola and the Holidays are coming advert. (Adverts could turn into a whole new genre of their own). Bugsy Malone soundtrack reminds me of being in the scouts and Yogi Bear of Juco Camp. They keep us sane and happy. S club Seven remind me of Cindy and Simon and Kylie, Rue Paul, Gail Tuesday, Bucks Fizz, Brotherhood of Man, Katrina and the Waves and the Weather Girls all of nights at G-A-Y and Sandstorm and Circles in the sand of Heaven.
They are all different songs, all with different meaning and different associations and yet they are all one thing to me. A trigger song. So my question to you is, what’s your trigger song and why?
Monday, February 20, 2012
Finnish Meaty Balls
It feels like I have been meaning to go to Brighton and visit Kaarina for ages. It must have been a year since the last trip, so while Dusan was away this weekend I made the trip down to Brighton Saturday afternoon.
Kaarina has often cooked me the traditional Finnish dish of Meatballs in the past and they knock spots off the shop bought kind, so she had promised that if I come back and stay the night she would teach me how to make them.
I took the train down early afternoon and arrived just after 4PM moments after the heavens opened and the temperature seemed to have dropped about 6 degrees between leaving London and arriving in Brighton. I queued patiently for a Taxi with the queues building and didn't mind at all when an eccentric older lady, (Think Betty White crossed with Hilda Ogden) asked if anyone wasn't in a hurry and would they mind if she jumped the line as she was late for a funeral. For anyone that wears that colour lipstick at that age, how could you resist?
The taxi pulled up to Kaarina's new flat and I spotted both Lisa and Kaarina through the shutters, both waving and eagerly opening the door and greeting me with loving open arms. Kaarina has this wonderful warmth and spirit and you can't help but wanting to spend time with her and funny to think that I met Kaarina almost the same time I met Dusan.
The last time I visited we went to Browns for dinner but this time we would stay in and cook Meatballs, so Lisa and I headed out to buy groceries and then popped into a local pub in Kemp Town for a couple of drinks and a catch up. Kemptown is like stepping back in time to an old town in anywhere England. Local shops galore, an Antique Shop, Green Grocer, Butcher, Coffee shops, Deli's and not one chain store in sight. They say the High Street is Dead. Perhaps this is the future. We are, after all, fed up with the same stores in every town across the land.
The local Pub could have easily have been the Students Bar in Harry Potter, had they had such a thing. Books and Memorabilia dawned every wall and the ceiling and a locals dog sat patiently sniffing at our food bags. The dog reminded me of Sprocket from Fraggle Rock with his scruffy fur and un hostile mannerism.
Back at the flat we made the meatballs and sat down to a lovely candlelit dinner for three catching up and enjoying Finnish Music. (So how we came to sing French Songs I will never know).
We all retired to the sofa for chats and to watch a DVD and I was the last to think that someone of her age would want to sit up so late but it was a late night for us all before we finally retired.
The phone woke me in the morning and Kaarina answered it the second time they called, waking me fully and the two of us sat on the sofa sharing memories, stories and singing along to Abba songs and Television Commercials.
It was fabulous to catch up with them both and I finally boared my taxi to the station 24 hours after I arrived, having laughed non stop and spent a truly wonderful time with two very dear friends and to top it all I can now make Finnish Meaty Balls! Yum Yum!
Kaarina has often cooked me the traditional Finnish dish of Meatballs in the past and they knock spots off the shop bought kind, so she had promised that if I come back and stay the night she would teach me how to make them.
I took the train down early afternoon and arrived just after 4PM moments after the heavens opened and the temperature seemed to have dropped about 6 degrees between leaving London and arriving in Brighton. I queued patiently for a Taxi with the queues building and didn't mind at all when an eccentric older lady, (Think Betty White crossed with Hilda Ogden) asked if anyone wasn't in a hurry and would they mind if she jumped the line as she was late for a funeral. For anyone that wears that colour lipstick at that age, how could you resist?
The taxi pulled up to Kaarina's new flat and I spotted both Lisa and Kaarina through the shutters, both waving and eagerly opening the door and greeting me with loving open arms. Kaarina has this wonderful warmth and spirit and you can't help but wanting to spend time with her and funny to think that I met Kaarina almost the same time I met Dusan.
The last time I visited we went to Browns for dinner but this time we would stay in and cook Meatballs, so Lisa and I headed out to buy groceries and then popped into a local pub in Kemp Town for a couple of drinks and a catch up. Kemptown is like stepping back in time to an old town in anywhere England. Local shops galore, an Antique Shop, Green Grocer, Butcher, Coffee shops, Deli's and not one chain store in sight. They say the High Street is Dead. Perhaps this is the future. We are, after all, fed up with the same stores in every town across the land.
The local Pub could have easily have been the Students Bar in Harry Potter, had they had such a thing. Books and Memorabilia dawned every wall and the ceiling and a locals dog sat patiently sniffing at our food bags. The dog reminded me of Sprocket from Fraggle Rock with his scruffy fur and un hostile mannerism.
Back at the flat we made the meatballs and sat down to a lovely candlelit dinner for three catching up and enjoying Finnish Music. (So how we came to sing French Songs I will never know).
We all retired to the sofa for chats and to watch a DVD and I was the last to think that someone of her age would want to sit up so late but it was a late night for us all before we finally retired.
The phone woke me in the morning and Kaarina answered it the second time they called, waking me fully and the two of us sat on the sofa sharing memories, stories and singing along to Abba songs and Television Commercials.
It was fabulous to catch up with them both and I finally boared my taxi to the station 24 hours after I arrived, having laughed non stop and spent a truly wonderful time with two very dear friends and to top it all I can now make Finnish Meaty Balls! Yum Yum!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Deep Freeze & Snow
Just when we were beginning to think that we had escaped with a nice mild winter, especially when you consider that it hit a high of 16 degrees on Christmas day, suddenly a Siberian cold front hit last weekend and with it bought the first snow fall of the year.
I was home last Saturday night when the first of the snow started to fall at around 8PM. I stood at the window for a while, watching the flurries fall as I caught sight of them in the ray of light from the street lighting. Somehow there is something hypnotic and mesmerizing about snow fall, that keeps drawing you to it. I couldn't sit in my seat for long without twitching at the window once more, watching it fall and as the landscaped changed from a darkish green to a glistening bed of white. The minute that it started to settle I felt that excitement like you feel as child when you wake to the first fall of snow of the year. As the night went on the snow fell further and by the time I retired, subject to constant checking on the emerging landscape I started to wonder about the folk of Pompei. The flat was creeking, probably from the drop in temperature, but did start to wonder what it was like for the Pompei residents as the Pumice fell and their buildings started to give way.
It was the perfect snow fall, waking in the morning to find a nice blanket of about 4" but unlike previous years where it caused carnage and difficulties it fell on a Saturday night and was actually thawing by morning.
Meanwhile as the snow left us last weekend, the weather has been dropping and my much needed extra time at the gym was lessened by the cold on Monday.
Still at least its nearly Mid February and the spring will soon be on the way. Hard to believe when the nighttime low yesterday was minus 6! Wrap up warm my friends!
I was home last Saturday night when the first of the snow started to fall at around 8PM. I stood at the window for a while, watching the flurries fall as I caught sight of them in the ray of light from the street lighting. Somehow there is something hypnotic and mesmerizing about snow fall, that keeps drawing you to it. I couldn't sit in my seat for long without twitching at the window once more, watching it fall and as the landscaped changed from a darkish green to a glistening bed of white. The minute that it started to settle I felt that excitement like you feel as child when you wake to the first fall of snow of the year. As the night went on the snow fell further and by the time I retired, subject to constant checking on the emerging landscape I started to wonder about the folk of Pompei. The flat was creeking, probably from the drop in temperature, but did start to wonder what it was like for the Pompei residents as the Pumice fell and their buildings started to give way.
It was the perfect snow fall, waking in the morning to find a nice blanket of about 4" but unlike previous years where it caused carnage and difficulties it fell on a Saturday night and was actually thawing by morning.
Meanwhile as the snow left us last weekend, the weather has been dropping and my much needed extra time at the gym was lessened by the cold on Monday.
Still at least its nearly Mid February and the spring will soon be on the way. Hard to believe when the nighttime low yesterday was minus 6! Wrap up warm my friends!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)