Floating Away

Help our island is sinking! We have had the worst floods for many, many years. Whole cities are under water. Villages have been evacuated as they are in danger of being engulfed by a wall of water from a dam that is about to give way. Motorways are closed, rail links to the north non-existent. The TV news looks like one of those improbable disaster movies, except it is real!

We have been lucky in this area, the worst damage I have had is to my garden, my roses have been ruined, a minor price to pay. I have had some pretty hairy drives as where I work borders some of the worst hit areas. One member of staff has been unable to get into work as floods have trapped her in her town. The motorways have been like driving down canals I literally aquaplaned home yesterday and it took double the time it usually takes.

Rob has been to the Glastonbury festival (Mudfest! As it became) despite the weather he has had the time of his life. I had jokingly asked him to check out Shirley Bassey while he was there and do you what! He did! He said he was at a loose end as his friend, a reporter for the Asian radio network, had duties to perform backstage, he thought he would go and see our Shirl. He pushed his way to the front and said she was actually the highlight of the weekend! He said the hairs on the back of his neck tingled and that she was fabulous, still a great looking sexy lady for her age! Well I never expected that reaction from our Rob! I reminded him that she was the original showgirl before Kylie and Madonna came on the scene.

Sadly Simon is very poorly having returned from china with a little more than he bargained for, a nasty dose of Campylobactor. He is as fat as a runner bean at the best of times and he has lost a further stone in weight! He is on medication now so I hope he makes a speedy recovery.

We are of on holiday this weekend to Cornwall (if it has not floated away) we are hoping for some sunshine as we hope to walk a lot, Ta-shi is coming along with us as well, so I hope he enjoys lots of walks and games on the beach.
See you soon.

A Ballet Funny Situation

Thinking about ballet, as I have been. I remember a funny situation when I was doing my Gymnastic coaching training many years ago. I was training to coach boy’s gymnastics and part of it was a class to teach us some basic ballet moves to help with grace and form in floor routines. We all duly turned up on the appointed day to find a class of burly men and just us two girls. Well it was the funniest things to see all these chaps in trainers trying to get to grips with demi plies and full plies, arabesques and pirouettes. We stood at the back and tried, really we did to keep a straight face, but tears of mirth rolled down our face and we were nearly expelled from ballet class! Think Morecambe and Wise in tutu’s and you will get the picture!

My son Rob was the most graceful and balletic Gymnast in the region, he easily could of taken up dance if he had the inclination. …And no men dancers are not poncy they are the fittest chaps you will find with finely honed torso’s and strong muscles… and usually very easy on the eye girls, phew better take a cold shower… Byeeee

A Bit of Art and Culture (for a change)

We went a bit Arty Farty at the weekend (well… maybe not the latter!) as we not only went to the ballet but also to Birmingham’s art gallery and museum. We used to be regular ballet attendee’s, we both love it. In recent years we had lapsed for no particular reason really. So… we now have to get to know a whole new bunch of young energetic and very talented dancers with the Birmingham Royal Ballet. We saw a three set programme, The Four Seasons (very clever choreography) Nine Sinatra songs (Ballet meets Ballroom) and Pineapple Poll (exquisitely charming)

I just loved it from beginning to end, I love to be transformed to the fairy tale world, where boy meets girl, loving looks are exchanged and there is usually a ‘happy ever after’. Beauty of physical movement, strength and agility is part of the charm as well.

I can no longer book tickets for Swan lake, my all time favourite as BJ has refused to see that one again as I must of seen various company’s dance this at least ten times. My favourite being Matthew Bourne’s version, with men as swans. (Girls you ain’t seen nothing ‘til you’ve seen a man in feathery pantaloons!!!)

We also visited the Art gallery to see the exhibition ‘How to Save the World’.
Lots of contemporary stuff (which I like) Damien Hirst, Barbara Hepworth, David Hockney and many others. My favourite of the day was a Hockney of two abstract little boys with an arm around each other like best friends. Kind of reminded me of Rob and Paul his very bestest friend at one time when they were about 8 years old.

We finished the day with a very authentic Chinese meal at a place called Wagumama’s! The highlight being the sweet, a pavlova of raspberry tamarind and chilli! Yep… that’s right chilli! It was fabulous and absolutely worked delish, yummy.

Diet started Monday….

Magical Mystery Tour and Oriental Mental Canine!

I am in the midst of organising a ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ for Robin’s Birthday! He has always wanted to do the ‘Beatles’ thing in Liverpool but never got around to it.

So we are taking ‘The long and Winding Road’ to spend his birthday weekend immersing ourselves in sixties memorabilia for me and BJ, history for Rob and Simon!
I have told him that I am doing it because, ‘She loves you’, we had some problems trying to get Hotels booked but Barry said it was Ok ‘We can work it out’ that was fine but I want to go this year not ‘when I’m Sixty Four! All is well now everything’s ‘Getting Better’. I have told Rob he has to be on his best behaviour, as I don’t want a ‘Revolution’ in the wine bar, or I will be talking about ‘That Boy’ for days!

So Rob, here is a present from ‘Me to you’, ‘A Day in the Life’ when the Owen clan will ‘Come Together’ so ‘Let It be’ a wonderful weekend.


Oriental Mental Canine

Simon and his on off girl friend Grace came over for Sunday lunch, along with Chai Chai, Graces cheeky little Shih Tzu. I am hoping that the relationship is back on for a while, as I adore Grace, she is funny, charming and beautiful. We have to wait and see on that one! Grace is Hong Kong/ Chinese and is rather homesick and keeps wondering about moving back to be near her mother. Can’t blame a girl for that!

Chai Chai is a canny little dog and has Grace wrapped around his little paw. He rules the roost and can be rather naughty. He got into a bad mood and tried to bite Barry when he bent down to stroke him, he then proceeded to growl and snap at all comers. Not in My Back Yard! I went down to his level and spoke firmly to him and stroked him, he still grumbled for a while but did not bite me, he eventually stopped growling and my point was made.
When we went out for a walk he walked at my heels all the time signalling he accepted me as leader of this pack! Grace was amazed and has asked for some tips, I don’t think she will carry them out though as the little dog is a bit of a child substitute I think.

I thought I was having an errant knicker incident again in the garden. I heard Grace saying ‘No Chai Chai, no eata pants’ phew! It was Ok, only the ever-errant L from Grace’s vocabulary; the dog was eating a plant!