Triangles, Squares and the Trafalgar

... oh and other stuff.

Well when I say stuff, I mean, Jacqui & Phil.

What a fab-u-lous pair of hep cats they are. Travelled down to London from...North. Somewhere North. Somewhere in the UK.

Arrived. L-O-N-D-O-N. Sloane. Drink. Trafalgar.

What a place. What a city.

Ate in an Italian. 'Made in Italy'. GO THERE. WHAT A FRIGGIN' AWESOME PLACE. Go there. Now. *

*If you fancy Italian. And getting served at 9:30pm. And being served wine and having very very lovely people pamper you.

Ended the night well. Rather early. Still under the weather I'm afraid travellers. Still under the weather.

But remember I don't work on clock time. I work well...whenever I'm needed (which isn't very often I assure you).

Am 'I' strong? Am I FASTER?

I am an architect

They call me a butcher.

I am a pioneer

They call me primitive

I am purity

They call me perverted

Holding you. But I only miss these things when they

leave.

'I' am stronger than Mensa.

Miller & Mailer.

'I' spat out Plath and Pinter.

'I' am all the things that you regret.

A truth that washes.

A truth that learnt how to spell.

...

"Self disgust is self obsession, Honey". And I do as I please.

Slept like a Snowman

Slept the whole night through. Feel refreshed like a snowman (who doesn't melt).

Last night was a good one. A very good one.

@improbable1 & BAC Christmas fete. GIANT Jenga! I have the photos. I have the movie. It fell. It fell a lot! It will be up soon. Very soon.

Today's a day for doing all those Admin things. Tidy the flat (listen to some t-u-n-e-s) and get some last minute Christmas presents. Shhh - don't tell anyone!

Also catch up on all the X-Mas cards I need to write and dispatch them before Santa does his rounds.

Can I do it. Yes I most certainly can.

Santa Sightings | Whiskey Soaked

A late start today.

Headed back to the old lands; Hook.

Via Clapham. Via Woking.

A brisk dash to the empty Doctors surgery. John chatting beautifully.

Bing. My name's on the board. Into see the Nurse who, with a jovial smile, laid me down.

We chatted merrily about Christmas and the Amazon present her husband had bought her (she'd seen the parcels arrive).

My eyes shut. Wide shut. Deep breaths.

In (1, 2, 3) Out (1, 2, 3).

All over.

Plastered up.

Then -

- off to book another appointment to see 'my' Doctor next week.

On Wednesday.

We wandered through Hook. We eye-spied a Santa dinging a bell outside The W(h)ite Hart pub (It's sign currently missing the letter 'h'. Maybe Santa stole it?). Then a spot of lunch at Wild Herons.

Then back to the smoke.

London. S-w-e-e-t. London.

A detour to the fancy dress shop. John bought a monocle and a comedy mustache for (all) tomorrows part(ies). He's an Edwardian Apothecary.

Then home. The good old 123.

Whiskey.

Moody lighting.

Sea Shanties curtesy of Paz (Andrew Paine) and a book. Tonight's read The Divine Comedy.

"Midway along the journey of our life

I woke to find myself in a dark wood,

for I had wandered off from the straight path".

The Wise. Book it. Charge it.

The wise: Book it. Charge it.

They're cats. They land on their feet.

Always and forever.

Making Honey (A bit of Cockney Rhyming slang)

You've got the talent. You've got the looks.

I've got the plan. The brains. The books.

We can be funny.

So, let's make lots of honey.

Everything / Everyone

You put yourself in stupid places. Yes. It's true.

Places / situations.

You make it easy to look down on you.

You try to be everything to everyone.

You jump through the big hoops.

You work how you play.

You try to be everything to everyone.

Spin / turn

do it again.

Happy & Free; Sunflowers in your room.

I can still see sunflowers in your room.

So happy. So free.

All I want to remember is sunflowers in your room.

I remember you happy. I remember it all.

I remember the sunflowers in your room.

Don't Panic

Ford: Don't panic... don't panic...
Arthur: So this is it. We're gonna die.
Ford: Yeah. We're gonna die.
[pauses]
Ford: No... no! What's this?
[goes over to control panel]

-----------

Trillian: Let's go somewhere.
Arthur: Where did you have in mind?
Trillian: Madagascar.
Arthur: That new club on Dean Street?
Trillian: No, it's a country. Off the coast of Africa.

T-SHIRT IDEA (take one)

A T-Shirt with:

'What would Jim Sweeney do?'

Now who makes T-shirts.

Spag Bol (aka. Melanie Jayne)

Spag Bol
by M. J. Rashbrooke (& a little help from A. A. Milne)

What the matter Melanie Jayne?
She's crying with might
She's crying with pain
She's not eating her dinner - spag bol again.
What's the matter Melanie Jayne?

I've promised her love, fairy lights too
I've promised her toads and a Donkey in a zoo.
You can have the Polar Bear and a man in tights.
But just make sure he doesn't bite.

She's perfectly well? She hasn't any pain.
But, look at her, now she's beginning all over again!

Please now: what's the matter Melanie Jayne?

I've promised her alphabet letters
A ride in a train
I've begged her to stop for a bit and explain

She's well, now?
She hasn't pain?

It's lovely spag bol for dinner again!
What's the matter?

MJ.

Adapted Dillie

PART 1:-

Remember the fair Gran?
The two of us there Gran?
On the merry go round!

I stood there entranced.

The bright horses danced.

To an erie sound -

Round and around.

'Only one quid for pleasure' we're told.
So, I rode on a horse made of green and of gold

Look Gran! No hands. I'm riding the round-a-bout. All by myself!
Look Gran! No hands. I called as I past her. Faster. Faster!

'Hold tight my love' she cried out in fear.

I laughed and pretended.

But I could hear.

-----
How careless we are when we're young

-----

Mum remember the years? All the sulks; all the tears?

Do you recall?

I hated you when you said: 'be home by ten'.

- I thought I knew it all.

You always wanted to know what I'd done

but as far as I knew I was just having fun.

Look Mummy. No hands.

I know how to take good care of myself.

Look Mummy. No hands.

Please don't be a bore.
I know the score.

She tried to warn me. But I won't listen.

-------

How careless we are when we're young
-------

Dad, remember the daughter?
And all that you've taught her
She's grown up at last.

She struggles alone

No-one's at home
As the years all rush past.

But you and Mum are still there to answer her calls

You're not there to catch her when she stumbles and falls

-----------

How careless

----------

Look Lover. No hands. I'm having to do it all by myself.
Look Lover. No hands. I used to dismiss you but now I just miss you.

As my Love grows away. I can feel my heart sinking. I look back. Smile.

Then I find myself thinking...

How careless we are when we're young.

Gold Dust is Precious

Fed up and fancy free?

Maybe. Maybe not.

Summary: Although gold dust is precious, when it gets in your eyes, it obstructs your vision.

Current mood: A little bit woo a little bit way.

Jim Sweeney

I've just had the privilege of seeing The Life & Work of Jim Sweeney (or rather Michael James Dominic Sweeney).

LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA43e6V-J1c

This is the most life affirming, inspiring, incredible film I have seen (for a long time: A VERY LONG TIME). It must get distributed. It must be given air time.

This is a film about a great UK(/worldwide) comic: his work, his friends and estemed colleagues. To name a few (in no particular order / an incredibly random order): Steve Steen, Lee Simpson, Mike McShane, Josie Lawrence, Eddie Izzard, Barbara (Comedy Store Manager), Greg Proops, Andy Smart, Neil Mullarkey...and many more inspiring comics, theatre makers, writers, directors, radio DJs & dreamers besides.

I'd suggest the following - if you'd like to see this film and laugh a lot:

* Go to youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA43e6V-J1c

* Watch the trailer / or don't

* Think? Would I like to laugh, learn be inspired and think gee maybe I could do this (or oh dear: I'd never do that!) then post a comment and / or give it a rating and / or click a thumb. We're all Romans now - bring back Togas I say.

* This will help get this film onto a TV, Cinema Screen, Outing near you.

Do it. Do it now.

...If you'd like to that is.

Bubbles Squeeeeek & Film Screenings

Rise and shine.

After a chilled out Saturday it's now time to get back on it. Today is going to be a good day I can feel it.

Film screening at 3pm this afternoon. Can't wait. A film about Jim Sweeney (a UK Comedian).

Please view the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA43e6V-J1c

So it's been a mad one. A very mad one. My week thus far.

Bedshow rehearsal / PlayDoh sculptures / Night Off / Jiggery Pokery @ BAC in London (WOW. What a show! Check it out if you can) / Curry / A Festive Happening (review below) /

ENO / Post-its / D&D Madness / (again if you can) / Pizza / A few hours of Zzzzzzzzzzz /Off to Jerwood / Pirates Yarr! / Meeting D&D5 / D&D NYC / Fete / Work / Darted to see 1984 @ BAC (Battersea Arts Centre) Go check it out! / Sleep / Work / Play / Home / Sneeze / Sleep /

Saturday...rest.

D&D5 The Count Down Begins

Don't Google Me / A Festive Happening @RVT

HEALTH WARNING: YOU MAY COME AWAY WITH AN IRRATIONAL FEAR OF SANTA CLAUS AND WRAPPING PAPER. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.



Photograph (c) Ellis Scott
[left/right: Scottee, Bourgeois, Maurice, Jonny Woo.]

After a quick Dopiaza and a pint of Kingfisher at The Coriander we headed to the RVT [that's the Royal Vauxhall Tavern for the uninitiated] for some early December festive frivolity with Georgeois & Maurice, Jonny Woo and Scottee.

We got stamped up to give us easy in/out access to the venue. Then we bagged ourselves a good spot [thanks to Alan]. Got some drinks; a mix of JD, Beer and wine (un-mulled - we're not that festive yet) and awaited the entrance of the neo-cabaret quartet who were providing us with: A Festive Happening.

10PM and we're off to a bang. Wow these guys can perform and I'm feeling a bit...festive. Yes, you heard it. Festive. Even if it is in a twisted kind-of-a-way. Think Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas on S-p-e-e-d with glitter, eye lashes (oh the eye lashes!) and fab-U-lous costumes. Darling.

This isn't a show for the faint of heart. There are moments which might make you go: 'Ewww'. Per example when Scottee 'bursts' during his rendition of a Fat Girl in the Corner at the X-Mas Office Party. Brilliant but Ewwwwww! But there's a Santa's sack full of laughs to counter every: 'did they really just do that' moment.

If I had to pick some highlights I'd say Jonny's mime/dance to Beyonce's number one hit Halo...featuring a certain Presidents' face (and not the one you're thinking of, I bet). And of course the ever glamourous and wax-lyical Bourgeois & Maurice. They don't just have really good, funny and relevant lyrics. No. These guys can sing. And they sing good! Real good.

Maurice also jams on keys and holds the songs together with jazzy wailings and bluesy tones. And Bourgeois well he's got the best eyelashes in the whole of London. Well in South London anyway. He's witty, pretty, fierce and (again much like his partner in crime Maurice) sings like a dynamo.

So before I feel the need to entitle this posting to the Hep Cafe with a 'Health Warning' or 'Spoiler Alert' [I have in fact now added one but hey that's the power of the re-edit] I'm going to sign off.

All that's really left to say is that the group I was with and, in fact, everyone in the RVT last night had a blast. It might only be the 3rd Dec (now) but I for one feel far more festive thanks to a little help from B&M, Jonny and Scottee.

Love and eyelashes,

Melanie x

P.S. Omm Pah Pah. Albert Square Knows.

A FESTIVE HAPPENING
@RVT
Doors 8pm / Show Starts 9pm
FOR TICKETS CLICK HERE
(you'll need to book)
ONLY on for two more nights (3rd & 4th).
Your Christmas (depending on your tastes) should start here.