2,062 posts
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Post by Marwood on Jul 7, 2017 19:13:30 GMT
Just come out of seeing One Voice in the Old Vic rehearsal rooms with Katherine Parkinson, Niamh Cusack and Neil Pearson performing monologues (the walk up those stairs in this heat combined with the crappy train service getting here had made me think I might have been better off just lounging on the grass across the road) - quite a pleasant evening, I decided to go into Penny's Bar for a post show discounted beer, only to have Neil Pearson and his lady friend sit at the table next to me - I would go and ask for an autograph if a) I had a pen on me and b) he didn't look like the sort of person who tells people to bugger off (the fact I don't know what the hell he has been in since Drop The Dead Donkey would definitely not help)
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4,030 posts
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Post by Dawnstar on Jul 7, 2017 20:46:52 GMT
Oh yes, the two most beautiful words in the English language are "tax rebate." In a total reverse, I had "open wallet surgery" this week, when they took my tax out. I think it was unnecessary, too, as I think they owe me as well. You can't have paid that much tax if it all fitted in your wallet. Are you sure it wasn't "open bank account surgery"?! As a temp I'm used to tax rebates. Every time I start a new job, if there's been a gap of more than a couple of weeks from my previous job, I get some tax paid back. As I finished my last job a month ago and, due to forthcoming holiday, won't be working again till August at the earliest, I should get a nice sum at some point in the future. |
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4,156 posts
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Post by kathryn on Jul 8, 2017 5:03:09 GMT
Today we had a team-bonding day out of the office, doing a treasure hunt around the city of London. Good fun, but rather hot and sweaty. Now on a train which is being severely delayed, and when I get home I still have to nip to the supermarket and then pack for a 2-week work trip to California.
If you're in LA get in touch - I'll be there.
Just arrived in LA tonight! I'm here downtown for the weekend, Monday morning I head up to the office in Thousand Oaks. |
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1,103 posts
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Post by mallardo on Jul 8, 2017 6:37:23 GMT
If you're in LA get in touch - I'll be there.
Just arrived in LA tonight! I'm here downtown for the weekend, Monday morning I head up to the office in Thousand Oaks.
Ah, I thought your trip was in the near future. We don't get there until next Friday, the 14th. If you're still in the area let me know. I'm in West Hollywood.
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736 posts
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Post by dippy on Jul 8, 2017 9:07:06 GMT
Every time I start a new job, if there's been a gap of more than a couple of weeks from my previous job, I get some tax paid back. As I finished my last job a month ago and, due to forthcoming holiday, won't be working again till August at the earliest, I should get a nice sum at some point in the future. I recently had a payslip with negative tax on it, that was a first! There was a six week hiatus and during it I did a single day of work for them which obviously confused all calculations. I'm nearly always in the situation that I get money back after I've done my taxes because I do a combination of mainly paye and a little bit of self employed work. Even with the paye work HMRC aren't able to work out how much I'll actually earn in a year since my jobs can be any length between a day and about 6 months so of course they over estimate. |
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4,030 posts
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Post by Dawnstar on Jul 8, 2017 9:48:50 GMT
^ At least mine is all PAYE. I don't think I could cope with having to fill out tax returns.
Not impressed with the Met office. Forecast: cloud. Reality: sun. En route to London wearing Factor 30 sun lotion & 2 different types of deoderant. And of course, as is inevitably the case in hot weather, I get landed with one of the 40 year old trains with no air conditioning. I opened every available window in this section for the carriage as soon as I got on.
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4,030 posts
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Post by Dawnstar on Jul 8, 2017 12:25:54 GMT
You can't have paid that much tax if it all fitted in your wallet. Are you sure it wasn't "open bank account surgery"?! Wallet, account, cheque book, what's the difference, the loot is gone!!!!! All gone!!!!! Are you sure you didn't go to TCAABR & let the cast get a bit too close? |
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Post by d'James on Jul 8, 2017 16:36:38 GMT
Just back from a Champagne Seafood Festival. Feel very sleepy and full!
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2,051 posts
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Post by infofreako on Jul 8, 2017 16:49:34 GMT
Stressful, but tomorrow i get to throw eggs and fireworks at people
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1,351 posts
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Post by CG on the loose on Jul 8, 2017 17:15:57 GMT
Lovely day in London... treated myself to a nice hotel last night rather than legging it home and back so watched the rugby first thing, headed to High St Ken for some light shopping (total failure, we'll gloss over that), then down to Borough Market. Great to see it absolutely heaving with all nationalities (though slightly less busy than usual according to the stall holders I talked to) and various yumminess consumed.
A slow walk (it's hot out there!) down the road took me to Southwark Playhouse for the matinee of Working (though I dropped into that foodie place opposite for a time-killing glass of wine first) - I should have seen it a couple of weeks ago but was ill, so very glad to catch it before it closes tonight. Great score and WHAT a cast!
Now more food (I'm on holiday, this could become a theme!) and off to catch The Girls before it too closes next week, then home. And sleep.
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4,030 posts
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Post by Dawnstar on Jul 8, 2017 17:34:53 GMT
Can I sue the Met Office for false information? Last night they said London would be cloudy & 23. It's sunny & boiling! Sheltering in Foyles' air con before I have to melt my way to Drury Lane.
I don't usually get starstruck when stagedooring but I may have done this afternoon when after the ROH's Turandot I thanked Roberto Alagna (Calaf) & praised his performance & he kissed my hand (he's French!) & hugged me!
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1,103 posts
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Post by mallardo on Jul 8, 2017 20:36:25 GMT
Can I sue the Met Office for false information? Last night they said London would be cloudy & 23. It's sunny & boiling! Sheltering in Foyles' air con before I have to melt my way to Drury Lane. I don't usually get starstruck when stagedooring but I may have done this afternoon when after the ROH's Turandot I thanked Roberto Alagna (Calaf) & praised his performance & he kissed my hand (he's French!) & hugged me!
Did Alagna hit the high C in the 2nd act on "ardente d'amore" or did he dodge it and take the low option?
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3,580 posts
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Post by showgirl on Jul 8, 2017 21:30:31 GMT
London is a real ordeal at this time of year with the crowds, and at present the heat, too; I really wish any other town (or better still, several) nearby could offer a little more to do in a day so as to make an alternative destination, but there's really nowhere else in the south-east where you can count on seeing two plays in a day, let alone a film or exhibition too. At this rate I shall have to take my chance with whatever's on in Eastbourne or Worthing or the like, just for a day at the seaside instead.
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4,030 posts
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Post by Dawnstar on Jul 8, 2017 22:41:33 GMT
Did Alagna hit the high C in the 2nd act on "ardente d'amore" or did he dodge it and take the low option? I think he hit it, though I don't have perfect pitch to know a high C just from hearing. He hit the note I was expecting to hear from recordings, at any rate. The performance this coming Friday 14th is going to be web streamed so you can listen for yourself if you want to. I'll be watching it to see all the stuff I missed from my side stalls circle seat! showgirl I quite agree. If you want to do a 2-show day it almost always has to be London. Horribly crowded today. I'm now on an equally horribly crowded train home. Apparently the previous one was cancelled with the result that its sardine-esque standing room only for all 8 coaches. And there's a group of loud, slightly drunk young men just down from me. The only thing to be thankful for is that the air con is (so far) working. |
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Post by dippy on Jul 9, 2017 0:34:36 GMT
And dirty! I know it was Pride today but can't people either take their rubbish with them or find a bin? Ok the bins were probably over flowing but can they not have additional bins for events? Other than London being dirty and crowded I had a lovely day, did a craft project this morning and then did the hour and a half walk into central London which was nice followed by 42nd Street. |
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Post by Marwood on Jul 9, 2017 1:09:21 GMT
Went to see U2 at Twickenham tonight, not the coolest band I know, but they do know how to put on a stadium show, thats for sure. Just a shame they had to choose a night when every other Tom, Dick & Harry decided to put on a show in London too, ensuring the Saturday night trains were even more packed with pea brains than usual...
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4,156 posts
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Post by kathryn on Jul 9, 2017 2:19:59 GMT
Had a nice day in boiling hot LA. Didn't get out till about 11am despite the jetlag waking me up at 6am, due to general faffing, though I did treat myself to a room service breakfast (work are paying!). Thought I'd been thwarted with galleries/tours due to lack of planning - it turns out the new art gallery next to the Disney Concert Hall has a permanent 2 hour queue to get in, if you don't advance book, and the Disney concert hall wasn't doing tours today. Went for a wander instead and discovered that LA isn't really a wandering about on foot town. Made it to Union Station and headed into Starbucks in search of water and wifi, checked the gallery website on the off-chance and discovered I could get an advance book ticket for that afternoon! So managed to get in without waiting for a couple of hours in the heat. Also won the TodayTix lottery for Heisenberg while I was in there and connected to wifi, so that was a stroke of luck.
Have just eaten a nice dinner - the diet is definitely not going to survive this trip!
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1,103 posts
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Post by mallardo on Jul 9, 2017 7:12:47 GMT
Did Alagna hit the high C in the 2nd act on "ardente d'amore" or did he dodge it and take the low option? I think he hit it, though I don't have perfect pitch to know a high C just from hearing. He hit the note I was expecting to hear from recordings, at any rate. The performance this coming Friday 14th is going to be web streamed so you can listen for yourself if you want to. I'll be watching it to see all the stuff I missed from my side stalls circle seat!
Actually your post made me go to YouTube to check out Alagna's Calaf - I had not been aware he was singing the role - and found an amazing performance from him at (I think) the Orange Festival in France. He sang it beautifully and played the character better than I have ever seen it done. And, yes, he did hit the high C. So, thanks!!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2017 9:35:38 GMT
Yesterday I decided to take Mama-Emi for food before going to the theatre 'Yes let's grab a quick bite at Pizza Express' we said that's reliable for a decent pizza and quick....
An hour later no pizza. Now it was Saturday night, but it wasn't THAT busy. What really got my goat (instead of getting me a goat cheese pizza) was that a large party came in 30 minutes after us and were happily tucking into their main course while everyone in my corner had been thrown their dough balls or olives and left to watch longingly at the open plan kitchen.
When I complained to the manager I didn't get even a 'sorry' ...suffice to say there's a strongly worded email headed Pizza Express' way....meanwhile we had a Burrito.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2017 11:49:52 GMT
Went to see U2 at Twickenham tonight, not the coolest band I know, but they do know how to put on a stadium show, thats for sure. Just a shame they had to choose a night when every other Tom, Dick & Harry decided to put on a show in London too, ensuring the Saturday night trains were even more packed with pea brains than usual... Definitely no need to apologise for U2, I'll take a heart on sleeve band above a cynical cool one any day. I hope they do an Achtung Baby tour for that album's anniversary. Those early nineties gigs were pretty incredible. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2017 13:19:53 GMT
My microwave is haunted. Twice today it has beeped and set a cooking time all by itself.
I've switched it off now.
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4,030 posts
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Post by Dawnstar on Jul 9, 2017 16:32:29 GMT
Actually your post made me go to YouTube to check out Alagna's Calaf - I had not been aware he was singing the role - and found an amazing performance from him at (I think) the Orange Festival in France. He sang it beautifully and played the character better than I have ever seen it done. And, yes, he did hit the high C. So, thanks!!
I was impressed with his acting yesterday, especially in Act 3. He managed to make Calaf sympathetic enough that for once I didn't want to slap the character! dippy Yes, the amount of litter around was pretty disgusting. However there were bins with space, because I managed to find one to bin a water bottle, so I think some people just didn't try. I'm feeling shattered today after a long, hot day in London yesterday. Not helped by not being able to get to sleep till after 2am because a car/burglar alarm was going off for about quarter of an hour & then being woken up by thumping pop music at 5.20am! Who the hell plays loud pop music at that hour on a Sunday? Selfish idiot. |
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Post by Tibidabo on Jul 9, 2017 16:52:27 GMT
My microwave is haunted. Twice today it has beeped and set a cooking time all by itself. Can I swap it for Mr Tibidabo? |
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Post by d'James on Jul 9, 2017 16:56:57 GMT
Another day of Champagne Seafood Festivalling!!! Tried cockles for the first time. Also did a cider tasting. Yum yum yum.
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2,051 posts
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Post by infofreako on Jul 9, 2017 17:26:50 GMT
Hands stink of gunpowder. Today is a good day
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