It's not all me me me!

Whilst in London I caught up on a bit of theatre too. Two new plays, and there aren't many of them in The West End. One I really liked and the other nearly sent me to distraction. Can you guess which from the pictures? Probably not. In one, set in Ireland on Christmas Eve, the devil comes to visit. This was The Seafarer by Conor McPherson. I absolutely loved his first major success The Weir, but this? Perhaps a play full of drunken Irish men at Christmas was a bit too close to home for me. It ended well with a good twist, and all the characters were very distinctive, but for three quarters of it, I felt like I was trapped in a corner by several boring drunk men with no chance of escape, and I've been there a few times believe me. A bit like being the person who's driving home, it might have seemed more interesting if I'd had a good drink with them perhaps.

The other however, Love Song, by a writer I've not heard of and I know it's unforgiveable of me, being a writer that no one's heard of too, but I just can't be arsed to go back onto the internet and check the name. Google it if you want to know. Anyway she's very talented. Basically this play really spoke to me. It's message was something along the lines of: when you start to look at the world differently, that is, in a hopeful rather than a fearful way, then it not only affects your life but those around you as well. You make yourself happier and others happier too. That may sound a bit simplistic and it certainly wasn't flawless, but it was so interesting to have a play about trying to be happy that was deep and thoughtful rather that soppy and unrealistic. Anyway I'd recommend it and say forget the Irish one. Thinking about it, it could well be that the Irish play relates more to my old life and dark times, and the other play more to how I try and live in the world now in my wise middle-age. I just need to remember where I've left my sense of humour and I'll be sorted.
Merry Christmas, or enjoy the holidays however you celebrate them!

A kiss from Ainsley

Oh what a week! I spent most of it in London, kissing Ainsley Harriot!
Well Lucy and I completely wasted our first National TV appearance to publicise our books. Lucy, oh so calm, beforehand was saying stuff like: "Whatever question they ask us always start with the title of your book" I'm like, yeah course I will. Well neither of us mentioned our books. It was a frenzy of activity: researchers in our faces; make-up artists dabbing us; Ainsley kissing us; chefs being nice to us; peeling broad beans (me) throwing away valuable fish stock (Lucy). I can't think what on earth it's going to be like. Lucy red- cheeked and me trying not to swear mostly!

Anyway it's to be aired 22nd Jan (probably) BBC2 4.30pm. I'm not sure I can bear to watch it.
Sophie came from Macmillan so it was good to have her support and we gave away free signed books to the chefs and we got a free signed apron and a hamper, with which we've decided to have a RSC party, cook food in 20 mins for a group of friends wearing nothing but our aprons.

No photos as yet, this is a picture of Veronica by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, which I mention in my new novel, title I'm still not sure about. More over Christmas when I have more time.

Got the call from the RSC

Not The Royal Shakespeare Company, but Ready Steady Cook!
We've manage to blag our way on! Lucy and I have been called for filming in a week or so and should be on your TV screens in January or thereabouts. A pity I can't cook and Lucy has a fear of male chefs with big choppers, but apart from that we should be fine. It's all to publicise our books anyway. The photo is from the summer, when we decided to apply, and we're holding each other's books, looking a bit worse for wear as we were supposed to be writing press releases, but spent most of the time drinking wine. Which is what I'll probably do in the studio too.

The only pity is we can't sell our books to the studio audience, as it's the BBC. We can talk about them but not show them. A shame, as pre Christmas and with, I imagine, a mainly female audience we'd have done quite well. Still, it's all publicity. I must remember not to swear too, when I chop my finger off or spill olive oil on Ainsley.

We are such stuff as dreams are made on....

I always find striking the set at the end of a theatre production unbearably sad, so this Sunday finds me thoughtful as Sundays often do, or is it just me? There should be some photos here, but haven't got any yet of Shed MK's Inclusive theatre production of The Tempest but will probably edit some in later. It went off really well, the kids were amazing, and the director's vision using film, music, drums & dance, worked a treat. I was there as prompt, but was rarely needed, which I was happy about, as it meant they all remembered all their Shakespeare lines, no mean feat.

Maybe I feel sad, as my relationship with that theatre company is really at an end, but also happy in seeing some of the changes that have happened with the kids who have been there with us since the beginning of it all. I hardly recognise some of them as the confident, lively people they've become. Shed MK isn't about star turns, but supporting each other and including anyone and everyone who wants to be part of it, and making quality productions with this ethos in mind.

I wrote their first show, Cloud Cuckoo Land , which was a great experience for me. I was taken on The Tempest production, to help write some additional bits, or modernize some bits, make cuts in others, but in the end it proved very difficult, and I was very confused what the director expected me to do. I mean they already have a writer in Shakespeare don't they? What did they need me for? I also moved to Aldeburgh in the middle of it all, so.... oh well... all part of life's rich tapestry... I wish them well and hope the company continues to flourish.