How was your day? (Random off topic chat)

Lovely day. Celebrated not-being-35-yet by taking the day off the diet, going to lunch with a bunch of old friends and catching up on gossip, then having a little wander around the National Gallery (introducing a particular friend who hadn't been before to the joys of 'that's a pretty dress'-level art appreciation 😉), then heading to a vegan/free-from ice cream parlour in Soho.

That's about the level of my art appreciation!

I spent part of my time between shows trying to buy a congratulations card for my oldest friend whose first baby is due imminently. Is one not supposed to be organised & do this in advance? I ask because almost every baby card in Peter Jones was gender-specific, which makes it very difficult when the baby has yet to be born & the parents didn't want to know in advance. I ended up with a card with penguins on because it was 1 of only 2 non-gender-specific options. Also, cards congratulating new grandparents? Really?

Eurovision had competition for the weirdest 'entertainment' last night. Now my choir get invited to some random things to perform. Last night we were asked by a charity to sing at their event, so far so usual. They rented out a space that usually belongs to one of those hip-new-age Churches (so basically a warehouse with a stage and lighting rig) it's huge. The concert starts at 6.30. By 6.25 there are 5 people there who aren't performers/organisers. By 7ish there's probably 20.

The first act is a violin player and pianist. Who sing some dreary folk songs. Who are then accompanied by 'Interprative dance'. After which we're told 'we just decided to put that in today' yeah it showed....

The 'headline act' I can only describe as 'Think's she's Cardiff's answer to Bollywood Beyonce'. After the first song she stopped and said 'I didn't see a flash going off, I was expecting photographs' the poor event photographer then had to make a big show of taking her picture. The set list ranged from classical Indian music to Boney M to Bollywood musicals to Adele (I wish I was making this up) and the dreaded audience participation played in when she insisted everyone a) learn a Bollywood routine b) dance to all her numbers. In the end it was less embarassing to dance.

After that Eurovision frankly looked a bit tame...

The sun is out in bonnie Edinburgh, and a street food market is around the corner. This mean lunch is sorted!

I discovered at Showstopper tonight that I've met martello736 in person at several shows without knowing he was on here. Small world.

It is a small world! I hope you enjoyed the show last night, sorry for not being all that great at being sociable, I've always been the quiet reserved one who only manages to be witty online because they've more time to think of it Are you seeing all of the remaining Showstopper shows?

Even a 1-person business has to get audited? Yikes! The department I'm currently temping in had an audit on Monday but one of the benefits of being a temp is you don't get involved with that sort of thing.

I've had a day where I can't stop listening to Bellowhead's London Town, as it is joyous a/f. And my neighbour had a brick thrown through their window at 5:30am, which was not. 

Great day catching up on culture (well, in my rather lowbrow terms) after spending last week in Yorkshire. It was a lovely holiday but I really craved a visit to the cinema or theatre, just to tide me over until I could get back home. Frustrating, too, to be near some theatres which usually have a varied programme but were dark. So today I caught Mindhorn at last, which was just the right light-hearted fare for a wet day and really resonated with me as the subject was someone past his best looking back on his glory days. Then the matinee of Stepping Out - more tremendous fun - and lastly another film, Miss Sloane, which was one of the best I've seen so far this year.

American Theatreboard members may need to look away now...

Elder Mini Tibs needed a visa for a summer course in NYC.  Was told that she needed to be interviewed and the only place offering a slot in time (a month away) was Belfast.  Was also told to hang around for a couple of days in case there were problems, so she booked her return flight for Saturday.  She was nervous.  Seemed a lot of fuss for a music student.

She's just come out of the interview.  Here's the text she's sent me:

So I'd already given some of my documents and done fingerprints. This was the "interview" bit:
"So you're doing a summer school then."
"Yes."
"Are you looking forward to it?"
"Yes, lots."
"Great, here's your documents back, enjoy New York."

She's now got 2 more nights in a Belfast Premier Inn with nothing to do apart from playing hopscotch on giant stepping stones........

My colleague just uttered the words "You really like your theatre don't you?"

Award for understatement of the year goes to...(this was in response to my going to Harry Potter this weekend, of all things)

I hadn't seen your previous history with immigration. Always try to aim for positivity.