HEE HEE, HA HA

Have you ever laughed so much your tummy aches, and tears run down your face? I have just been browsing through some of the blogs I like to visit, and I have been sat here in the study creased up. I'm sure that anyone passing would wonder what was wrong with me, or think I'm crazy.
I just feel so much better now after having a good old chuckle at some of the jokes my fellow bloggers leave on their posts.
Humour, you can't beat it. It distracts your thoughts away from any other problems you may be having that day.
My friend and fellow blogger akelamalus partner, can reel jokes off about almost any subject your discussing. I will make a mental note of his little witticism's, to recall at a later date, in the hope of appearing quick witted and humorous.
Alas, when the chance comes to slip in that joke or smart remark, my mind go's completely blank. Even worse, I can tell the joke right up to the punch line (which may have taken a good 10 or 15minutes) then wham! Its gone, forgotten, lost in the clouds of my mind.
I look at every ones face's, staring at me, willing me on that I will remember (my goodness they have just wasted 10 to 15 minutes listening to me dribble on, what was that blasted punch line). They are a nice lot my friends, patting my arm and saying things like, "don't worry it will come to you later" (what good is that, two hours later when your solving the worlds problems, after your second bottle of wine).
I guess to become a comedian is not my destiny. This isn't really a problem to me, only Math and my son are gifted in the same way. Its so irritating when the pair of them can just instantly come out with some smart or funny comment at the drop of a hat.
I'm half way home or tucked up in bed when FLASH, it comes to me, I should have said, such and such. It has been known for me to wake Math up and replay my humorous reply to him, and then felt most annoyed at his lack of laughter (that man has a lot to put up with).

Laughter and good humour can lighten our load. I may never make a comedian, but at least I can always share a smile, or try and pass on a joke. Oh yes I remember, have you heard the one about...........................................

Try this site - the only guaranteed smiles you will see all day!

http://selfesteemgames.mcgill.ca/games/sematrix.htm

SLEEPING BEAUTY

Sometime last September, Math rang me to say the Northern Ballet Theatre, were performing Sleeping Beauty at the Nottingham Theatre. We have been to many of their shows, and enjoy them immensely. Their artistic director David Nixon, is full of surprises. Some of his productions about fairytales are performed in the classical style we were told as children, an example Beauty and the Beast that we saw last year, wonderfully done and performed as I remember it as a child.
I had read some information about this performance of Sleeping Beauty on the flyer that arrived with the tickets. Great emphasis was made about the costumes and set, which were by French designer Jerome Kaplan. Other than that I remained ignorant to his interpretation of the tale

We arrived early at the theatre, as I said we had booked our seats in September, when my mobility wasn't so restricted. Now that I have to use the crutches to walk and low seating is abit of a problem, booking dress circle seats didn't seem such a good idea!!!
It was a full house so swapping seats wasn't possible, luckily our seats were only two in from the end so we thought once I was in there, as long as mother nature didn't call, things would be fine .
So apart from there being no lift to the dress circle, (did feel slightly embarrassed making my way up there and also, shall I be polite, fatigued) and only drinking a small glass of wine to hold back mother nature, we handled it well.

We had chance for a quick glance through our programme.

Two worlds collide, love is unfilled, corruption is unleashed and aggression devours beauty.

BLUE PLANET
A world based on respect and the pursuit of wisdom. Blessed with water and lush gardens, it is paradise.

RED PLANET
A world dominated by an aggressive war culture. The planet is close to barren having abused its resources and destroyed much through war.

MENCHAK
Ruler of the red planet, he has recognised the folly of his world's policies and seeks a peaceful solution to bring back fertility and health.

KASAK
The powerful Red Wizard who has been instrumental in Menchak's aggressive policy. His power is fuelled by hatred and he longs to posses all.

ANDOR
Wise ruler of the Blue Planet, will do anything to avoid the premonition of destruction and save his world.

SEARA
The wise and loving wife of Andor and mother of Aurora

CHILDBIRTH
In this time and place childbirth is a thing of the past and all children are born healthy and on the brink of adulthood having been incubated in magical spheres.

EVOLVED BEINGS
Former human beings of a forgotten time and world not often visible to humans. These beings have evolved to a spiritual state and are at one with the elements in which they live. Possessing strange powers they will not force mankind in any one direction but try to lead when all else fails.

ATOMICS
A form of nuclear bomb, which destroys with devastating powers but with a more advanced poison, that allows life to grow back after a much shorter time than old time nuclear bombs. It causes mutations and creates a winter without moisture.

Suddenly the lights went down, Tchaikovsky's music filled the theatre, up went the curtains.
Now how is best to describe the set????
There, up in the sky, was a large Red crater Planet, with a few small planets scattered about. Then (try to imagine this) were three large silver hoops, with an Evolved Being hooked up to each of them (they are all in white with big pointed bald heads). I do hope your picturing this.
On the ground, down each side of the stage are several large steel cages. In the middle is a pedestal with a transparent sphere, have you got the scene?

I looked at Math, he looked at me, we hooked hands, I could feel his apprehension as I'm sure he could mine.

REVIEW
After my initial shock, this performance just got better and better. The costumes which were incredible had an Egyptian, Arabian Nights look about them, with a little bit of the Chinese Emperor thrown in for good measure.
The scenery was imaginatively created, instead of the usual forbidden woods with mystery and magical happenings, our fairytale is set in the 21st century, the unknown other dimensions of space. Rather than fairies we had the Evolved Beings.
The futuristic birth scenario, Aurora is 'born' from an egg as a fully grown woman, reminds me of a passage from George Bernard Shaw's Back to Methusela .
Unlike a fairytale though, a peace ultimately betrayed, leading to devastation- a very real worry for the 21st century world. If you do get chance to see this performance, I personally would recommend it. Just sit back and expect the unexpected, not only that, anything that includes pain free childbirth is a winner in my eyes.

COLWICK HALL

Soooo... much to post
1) Ballet, Saturday night..... fantastic.
2) Colwick Hall, Sunday night.... incredible.
3) Malicious people.... pain in the backside.

Being the middle child, I will post about no2 first, then the ballet tomorrow. Hopefully by then no3 will seem so unimportant, that I won't waste my very valuable time posting about them...








COLWICK HALL.

Math and I had never been nor heard of Colwick Hall. My son who had booked us a meal there, had given his father brief directions of its location. Driving through the industrial estates of Nottingham, I did wonder for a moment has my son set us up for some sort of joke (he is inclined to inflict his sense of humour upon us sometimes). Are we going to end up at some 'Jacks Fatty Snacks' road side cafe.....I could see it all in my mind eye....

Me sat by the roadside, on a grubby white plastic chair with matching table, dressed in my best (had even persuaded Math to wear his velvet jacket). Eating a bacon butty (not that there is any thing wrong with a bacon butty, but this was the wrong time wrong place), splashing tomato sauce down my new East suit....

Well I don't mind admitting my heart had started to race a little. Then we saw the signs for Nottingham Racecourse (Nat had mentioned the Hall overlooked this), then two magnificent ornate metal gates appeared in front of us attached to an even more impressive decorative brick enclosure. As we drove through the gates there it was 'Colwick Hall', a magnificent Palladian style Georgian country mansion.....

Colwick Hall, was everything my son had said, an historic building dating back to Saxon times and once the ancestral home of Lord Byron (I live extremely close to Newstead Abby, also a home of his). Colwick Hall was passed by charter to Reginald de Cilwyck in 1225. Then through marriage, it moved to the Byron family in 1362. After using Colwick as their principal residence for 300yrs, it was sold to Sir John Musters an eminent London merchant.

Whilst some parts of the building can be dated back to the 12th C, the majority of the building was rebuilt by John Carr, a pre eminent architect of that period... History lesson over.

What grieves me the most is that I was absent my camera...
There again many would have found me intrusive to be snapping the surroundings, whilst they dined. Fear-not I will return in the daylight hours with my trusty camera in tow. So for now all I have to show are some pictures from the brochure. Unfortunately these do not boast the wonderful moulded architraves, ionic columns, porticos, the grand staircases, Spanish mahogany doors and original fire places.

There is so much to talk about, I could ramble on for hours, how the reception features the original diamond cut slate flooring with circular black marble sections.
Then there is the Champagne Lounge, originally the Library, it still houses the bookcases with mesh cabinet doors, built in the chinoiserie style of that period. What once held safe the words of many an author, now displays champagne and its various vessels.

Not forgetting the incredible display of huge venetian mirrors displayed throughout the building (the ladies restroom Woh!!! unbelievable). Did I mention the chandeliers????

I think by now you will have gathered , the building had a big impact on me. And I haven't mentioned the lake and the 60 acres of parkland surrounding it.

However the food unfortunately did not inspire me with such emotion.
The manager did explain to me that lunchtime had been extremely busy, the reason why he kept us waiting.
He did ply me with free gin&tonics, and an abundance of apologies ( which helped), and on the brighter side, I had longer to explore my surroundings.
Don't misunderstand me, the food was presented exquisitely, and was very palatable, the service very attentive. The tables were beautifully dressed with fresh flowers, and this theme of exotic flower was continued (in huge gorgeous art nouveau vases) throughout the whole building.
I was just so overwhelmed by my surroundings, that nothing less than a suckling pig roasting, would have captured my attention....Now I did mention that incredible ladies restroom, didn't I???????
To see more http://www.colwick-hall.co.uk/