Well just a short post I Walk The Wild Wood with 14 trusty souls. They vanished into story, saw golden birds and bear cats, met old women that had swallowed flies and found many remarkable things. I have discovered toothache and am currently stuck looking like a hamster so not waxing so lyrical as many of the course participents. That will improve as the drugs take over. And after major root canal work I will be back to my old annoying self:-)

Have just spent two days with Dom and Sammie upgrading the website (I have the tec ability of a small house plant)They did most of the work while I dropped in what I hoped were artistic and helpful comments from the sidelines while trying to look busy (which is not easy when drinking coffee and juggling toast)
Please Please if you get a chance look at the new Parkwood Springs pages and add anything or speak to your rellys and ask them if they have any memories . Oh and if your on facebook join the Beacons Festival group and see all the wonderful photos taken by Sarah Cole and amazing artistic and very modest women. I would recommend her she is not only talented by very very easy to work with ... something that goes a long way when dealing with tight budgets and even tighter deadlines.

Watercliffe Meadows School and St Catherines were involved in Beacons this year and did really well on such short deadlines . We are hoping to put some of there work up on the site but the thing that really made it was when a Parent from Watercliffe said she would do some artwork for the forest walk. She told me it would not be very good as she was out of practice. I went to pick up her clocks on Saturday and they were BEAUTIFUL.... see photos on website...
Well heres to next year Beacons 2010 ..

Now where did I put that toast!

5th May 2009 :Lost In Translation!! and Other Journeys.

It seems that I never actually unpack these days just transfer underpants from one place to the next! Belgium festival was wonderful and I met some old friends and made new ones. Pete developed a new dance move some strange twiddly thing with his fingers that has been re-named "confused snail" Just got back from Shropshire and introduced Izz to "Chicken Tennis" not as cruel as it sounds... but for one glorious moment as they are thrown back to safety over the garden wall they believe they can fly.

So one days grace and repacking the pants to travel to London to do Lost In Translation !! again (obviously that is me doing the show not an independant pair of sentient pants that would be ... well just strange)I love this show, I love the characters and the way it moves from anger to friendship and all points inbetween. I can honestly say working with Pete Chand has been wonderful, doesnt really feel like work and often at the end of rehearsals im tinged with guilt because I dont feel like I have gone through enough angst

Am due to start building a story cabinet with Bob for a new project based near Halifax . So this summer my hands will be cut to ribbons again but as there is little feeling there its more a question of making sure I dont botch the sculpture!

Am also looking forward to going to see Simon Heywoods new piece "Darkest England" at the Fat Cat next Thursday (14th May) and the other highlight will be doing a voice workshop in Derby next weekend with Frankie Armstrong! I have so little confidence with my singing voice so Im hoping with will instill a sense of, ... well I'm not sure what yet so will let you know when I find out.

So for now ..the moon is bright over Derbyshire as bright as a wolfs eye. The blackbirds have gone to sleep in the hedges and my Tomato plants are doing well so all is right with the world.

I am knackered ! Sometimes just getting out of the door to work or rehearsal seems a major undertaking or has to be planned like an expedition to the artic. Mama is getting more confused I was away last weekend and she got it into her head I had been abducted by a religious cult .... I spent a long time explaining when I got back Sunday night that the potatoes were for supper and not part of some deprogramming ritual. Still keeps us on our toes.

Off to "The Gathering" in Cumbria this weekend Izz and Charlotte on standby:-) and Pete and I doing a new piece that we have never actually rehearsed in person (although Skype came in quite useful last night!) Im off to listen to the comedy on Radio 7 its the only thing keeping my sanity intact at the moment that and rice cakes but thats another story

I try so hard sometimes and today I thought I had finally cracked it!
Work has been busy and just planning to make sure the family have clean underpants for the week can me a major logistical challenge. A few weeks ago I fell over and managed to sail past the french windows in a manner that my son described as "Kung Fu Panda on a bad hair day".
Then after having the flu I found myself "wafting" around in a beautiful white lace nightgown feeling that I probably looked like a character in a Bronte novel .... only to see my reflection a few moments later and realize that I actually looked like the Marshmellow man out of Ghostbusters.... But TODAY started so very well .... I got up early did the washing, the housework, worked on a new piece Im doing with Pete Chand, got Izz to school went to the gym and played Badmington with Charlotte all before noon.... then thinking "This is it Im finally one of those women that have their life under control" I danced off ponytailed and happy to do the recycling..... then it happened... I was once again reminded of my place within the cosmic scheme of things as I got my arm caught in the rubber recycling skip. I pulled I smiled I wrested I gave up and screamed for help and when none arrived I spent 20 mins easing my arm out of the contraption in a manner that resembled a vet doing an enama on a cow!!!

I am not cool. I will never be cool. I am a storyteller who is accident prone and I will one day learn that fact . But until then
I shall fashion a dress from the curtains, sweep majestically into the garden to peg out the washing and declare that "Tomorrow is another day"
PS:- I think the spelling is getting better but dyslexia still rules ko:-)