Editor's Blog - Tuesday, 14th October
| Author: Ken The Editor | Published: 14th October 2008 16:11 |
The November Gaz is all done and dusted. I had a first draft complete (all bar the item on Sunday's 10K Run - I left a page for that) by the end of Saturday and was feeling pretty chuffed with myself as it had come together a treat and I had just the right amount of material. I knew it was going too well!
On Sunday (cut-off day) morning I headed up to Willett Rec to watch the race and take a few photos for the Gaz. What a great event! It was a lovely sunny day and everything went like clockwork - many congratulations to Race Director Ian Noad and his team.
I got home around 1.00pm to a phone message from Phil (Diary) Webb letting me know that the diary was twice as long as usual and then found three more items for the Gaz in my in-box. So, I had to get the pruning shears out - big time! - in order to get everything in. It took the rest of the afternoon, but I got there in the end and sent the second draft to the proof-readers around 5.30pm. Phew!
Cookery last week was yet another success. We made Ham & Leek Pie (well, I did - the rest made Haddock & Leek Pie, but I can't stand fish). I was very apprehensive as we had to make our own pastry, and the two occasions when I have tried that in the past it has ended up on then lawn for the foxes' tea! But this time the pastry-making went OK and the filling wasn't too bad either, Here's the finished product...
Teacher said it looked good and even She Who Must Be Fed was fairly complimentary when we had some for tea on Friday: "It's not too bad!"
This week is turning out to be a tad hectic - who said this retirement lark was easy?
Last night I went up to the O2. Not the main arena (Queen were on there - one assumes without Freddie Mercury!) but the Indigo bit. Stacey Kent did a charity concert for breast cancer. Now you're probably thinking what She Who Must Be Fed asked "Casey who?" "No dear, Stacey Kent - she's a jazz singer." For those of you not too au fait with the world of jazz, here's a photo...
Now Ms Kent's music is described as "smooth jazz". Unfortunately it has gone from smooth to downright soporific, and I was having problems keeping my eyes open during the first set! So at half-time I nipped out for some fresh air (and a couple of Bensons and a latte) and that woke me up - only to be lulled back to sleep again three numbers into the second set! It's just too slow, Stacey dear; you need to stick in some of the up-beat numbers that you used to do.
The Indigo venue was not really appropriate for this type of thing - for a kick-off it was only about a quarter full. And I like jazz in the right setting - not a big theatre, but a dingy, smokey jazz club. Not that that's going to happen any more - sodding New Labour put the kybosh on that with their silly smoking ban. If they had worried about the economy half as much as they did about stopping us smokers from lighting up then the country wouldn't be going down the pan and my Royal Bank of Scotland shares would still be worth something. What's the point of living longer if your pension's worth cock all? Bring back Maggie!!!
Tomorrow night, I'm off to see Mari Wilson at the Assembly Hall in Tunbridge Wells. Now there's another balls-up! I got a phone call from the box office yesterday morning telling me that the show had been cancelled due to lack of interest. The lady was very apologetic and assured me that I would get a full refund on my credit card. "Bugger it" I thought "I was looking forward to that!"
Then this morning I get another phone call from the same lady: "Sorry, there's been a mistake and the show's back on. Would you like to come along? Pleeeeeease! I can get you front row tickets at £10 each." So, I now have a better seat at less than half price - they must be losing a packet on that show! Have they been taking financial tips from Prudence Brown and darling Alistair?
I'll let you know how the concert goes. And, for anyone who does not know Mari Wilson is, here's a photo (admittedly from a few years back - I wonder of she still has that beehive?)...
Thursday night is cookery again - I can't remember the last time I went out three nights out of four! The recipes are Chocolate Cake and Stuffed Chicken Breasts, and as it's my last lesson before half-term I thought I'd have a go at both of them. That might prove interesting!
Toodle pip.
What do you think?
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