19,787 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 19, 2020 13:24:50 GMT
One of the things that has helped me mentally during the crisis and one I would recommend (in your own areas) has been joining my local neighbourhood forum online.Such a supportive group of people.It has really been a blessing to see so many acts of kindness and positivity in the local community such as the local Indian restaurant making meals for the hospital staff,people sharing their pics of VE Day street parties,people recommending shops and suppliers etc. It has restored my faith in human beings in many ways tbh in the midst of all the bad news. Lucky you - my local Covid support Facebook group has basically just degenerated into people slagging each other off for being in the park... |
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5,159 posts
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Post by TallPaul on May 19, 2020 14:03:42 GMT
I live at number 10! To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, there's only one thing worse than being talked about by the neighbours...
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5,707 posts
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Post by lynette on May 19, 2020 16:14:59 GMT
Love this. And it isn’t far from the best advice. Cut your coat according to your cloth. I would love to see some ‘out of London’ theatre in open air places, quality stuff, to continue the interest and tradition. When the plague hit London in Willie’s time, he scuttled off to write his sonnets we are told. I bet some of them went to the big houses to show what the London crowd were liking and even to the inns for a few of the tapster’s pals. I’m not asking Judi Dench to hove up to the market place in Stratford but someone could. If they say it would attract crowds, then arrange the space to avoid that, not impossible. |
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4,988 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on May 20, 2020 13:21:22 GMT
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Post by clair on May 27, 2020 9:15:08 GMT
Just treated myself to a ticket for Belinda Carlisle - October 2021. Couldn't really afford it but worth it to finally get that feeling of having booked something, fingers crossed concerts will be happening again by then.
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4,988 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on May 27, 2020 9:38:26 GMT
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2,411 posts
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Post by theatreian on May 27, 2020 13:08:40 GMT
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Post by clair on Jun 5, 2020 12:38:24 GMT
Received a lovely letter from a friend, an email from another that I'd not heard from since March and an extremely kind and talented friend has made me some face masks as she knows my creative powers are less than zero - I might be missing theatre but I am truly blessed with my friends
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Post by Forrest on Jun 5, 2020 17:14:09 GMT
To be completely honest, nothing in particular happened today, and it was a crazy stressful day at work (and mind you, my job is not usually stressful at all, which is what made today really stand out!). OK, I did get a package delivered, but it was nothing of great value, a skirt and a plain black T-shirt I ordered, both heavily discounted, which I still cannot wait to wear.
But, as I was exchanging an email with a wonderful colleague - who is hierarchically high above me, but always makes the effort of treating me as an equal (although we both know I'm not nearly as smart as he is, with no false modesty there) - and WhatsApping with another colleague about Ronnie O'Sullivan's terrible moustache, it hit me how lucky I am, despite this whole COVID-19 madness.
I live in the city I love the most and have always wanted to live in. I work at an institution I genuinely love with wonderful people who support me (and while it is admittedly not an ideal arrangement, financially, I do have a feeling like we are doing something worthwhile and I get to be a part of it). And, although I don't have a big network of friends here just yet (and might never have, because I am a slightly awkward introvert), the few that I do have are definitely keepers.
Also, it's Friday. What's there not to like?!
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Post by xanady on Jun 11, 2020 16:43:37 GMT
Why couldn’t the man lift his bottle of French mineral water?
Because it was an Evian (heavy ‘un)
I’ll get me coat!
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Post by xanady on Jun 12, 2020 14:52:27 GMT
Guy rings B&Q during lockdown as he needs some paint.
He is worried about the 2m distance and doesn’t want to be near a lot of people for too long.
‘Hi,is that Customer Services?’
‘Yes’
‘I’ve got a question for you....how big is the queue?’
(Pause...then) ‘Sir,It's the same size as the B.....’
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Post by clair on Jun 12, 2020 15:17:15 GMT
Having very sensitive skin right now is really unhelpful with all the handwashing and the lack of the one I know doesn't react against my skin in the shops has been annoying to say the least. Knock at the door earlier and one of my friends thrust two bottles of it at me before running back through the rain to her car. It truly is the little things that make me smile.
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2,389 posts
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Post by peggs on Jun 12, 2020 18:38:38 GMT
After a heavy work call yesterday I needed a break so rang my sister to talk to my nephew and nieces, it was quite exciting. When I rang they were on the balcony of their outside wendy house (I know and there's me not able to afford to buy a shed to live in!) being encouraged to not do anything daft like fall off. So they took me, on the phone, I went down the slide, on a hunt for a snail, for a ride on their electric gator round the garden and then into the cage where the quail chicks were. The kids are toddler age and don't do a whole lot of talking and haven't quite worked out about directing the camera on the phone at things but knew what they thought it was important that I saw and frankly it was the most exciting five minutes of my day. I'd have liked to have done it in person, well I wouldn't have fitted in the cage clearly or on the toy gator for that matter, but I'll take virtually if that is what is on offer.
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5,707 posts
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Post by lynette on Jun 12, 2020 19:21:12 GMT
Peggs, that’s great. I wonder if the little ones just think we have shrunk to being inside a flat little box or if they ‘get’ the tech.
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2,389 posts
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Post by peggs on Jun 12, 2020 20:05:27 GMT
Good question, my nephew who is getting on for 3 understands enough that people will appear and that they can see things and think he takes in his stride as just something that is, his little sister who is 1 is more suspicious, she will stare at the phone like she's not convinced you're there or that it's someone she knows who she should honour with communication, though in fairness she has been known to respond to me like that in person.
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Post by xanady on Jun 13, 2020 9:24:14 GMT
‘Son,why have you been staring at that carton of orange juice for TWO hours’?
‘Because,Mummy...it clearly says concentrate on the box’
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Post by Forrest on Jun 16, 2020 19:12:14 GMT
I haven't really posted much on here lately: the truth is, there hasn't really been all that much to spread around that I thought would contribute to the overall amount of happiness on the Board. But, I think my one and only superpower I ever had is slowly but surely coming back, and that is something to report on. I definitely don't attract money, in any sense of the word - metaphorical or otherwise. However, as a kid, my self-declared superpower was coming across coins everywhere I went. I used to find them all the time! Somehow, that seems to be happening all over again: since the lockdown has started, I've accumulated a small collection of (now disinfected, don't worry!) one penny coins. It started a few months ago, with a penny on the stairs of the Royal Court. I believe it was on one of the evenings when I went to see Glass.Kill... I lost that one on a day in February when something brilliant happened, which is the only reason why I remember losing it. I carried it in my red coat all winter for good luck... Since the lockdown started, I've acquired one for all of my jackets, one for my IKEA ticket/book holder and today one for my jeans pocket as well. It's so silly, but oddly somehow makes me happy too. (Before you wonder/ask: No, I don't believe in superstitions at all, I'm usually pretty rational, but I do indulge in some silliness now and then - lucky pennies and numbers aligning on a digital clock are my favourites.)
And last night I participated in part three of a theatre workshop that never would have been possible without the lockdown. [It probably never would have happened, since the person who runs it would have been swamped by work, travelling between different European countries. Even if it had, the selection would have been brutal and I never would have even had the reason let alone the courage to apply, and never would have gotten in.] So there are some, however small, silver linings to the quarantine too. [This one is *huge* though, to be honest!]
Edit: Just realised I've forgotten to mention the most pre-COVID-19 normal kind of thing that happened today: I woke up to an email from the Royal Court telling me that they are doing an (online) panel about programming, for Court Friends. I had to book my (imaginary, virtual) ticket through their online system. When that Confirmation of booking email came through, a part of me exploded with happiness: it was an instant throwback to the joys of booking to see theatre again!
What has been making you happy lately? |
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Post by dontdreamit on Jun 16, 2020 19:25:08 GMT
Littlest went back to school on Monday after being off for 3 months on Monday- and the look of joy on their face when they got out of school was something I’ll never forget. I’m not worried about the learning as kids catch up, but they needed to see their friends properly and it’s done them the world of good.
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Post by xanady on Jun 16, 2020 19:50:51 GMT
Now reading-
Olivier On Acting and Dan Rosenthals’ Letters Of The National Theatre concurrently.
Recommended!
Done a lot more reading in the last twelve weeks than for years previously.
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Post by xanady on Jun 18, 2020 16:41:56 GMT
Teacher-‘Right,Johnny....Mental Arithmetic....if I had five apples in this hands and four apples in this hand,what would I have?’
Johnny-(long pause, then a lightbulb moment) ‘Big hands,Miss’
Yes,it’s Panto writing season....oh yes,it is😁
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Post by xanady on Jun 21, 2020 9:41:10 GMT
Happy Father’s Day😀
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5,159 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Jun 21, 2020 10:48:25 GMT
Good news for less than half of TB members, but the first lady of musical theatre, Elaine Paige, is back this afternoon with original content, rather than a repeat of one of her themed specials.
Hopefully, they won't be talking to themselves in The Archers for much longer! 🙂
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5,707 posts
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Post by lynette on Jun 25, 2020 16:46:03 GMT
Washing machine working ok for now. So you know, I’m clean.
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2,389 posts
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Post by peggs on Jun 25, 2020 20:16:01 GMT
Washing machine working ok for now. So you know, I’m clean. There's a relief lynette My nephew face timed today to show me his outfit, in spite of the temperature he was in full Gruffalo custom with the head up and beaming as he waved a toy owl at me. He had, my sister informed me, with the help of his sister, said owl, a toy snake and a clip on tail re-inacted the Gruffalo in full. We went through all the bits of the Gruffalo's anatomy that I could remember (black tongue, prickly back) and he obliging spun so I could appreciate every detailed part. He was inclined to then go outside but was persuaded out of the outfit, he lay the phone on the ground and he and his little sister occasionally loomed into view to show me a worm or something they'd found. Easily beat the complaints letter I was reading at the time. |
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Post by Forrest on Jun 28, 2020 18:19:48 GMT
In case someone needs a day/week brightener... It's been a difficult week, and I really needed something easy and sweet and relaxing to take my mind off it, so I watched End of the F***ing World. Both seasons in a few days. (It's 2*8 episodes, cca 20 minutes each, so not that hard, really.) And I cannot recommend it high enough if you haven't seen it! It's kind of the opposite of Normal People, because everything in it is (more than) slightly absurd, including its characters, but it's so genuinely charming and adorable and Alex Lawther and Jessica Barden are both brilliant! As much as I loved Connor and Marianne, I think I have a particular soft spot for misfits and endearing weirdos. :) (Lawther recently made a sort of a guest appearance in a workshop I'm attending, and I was so impressed by him and that led me to the series. I thought he was fantastic in Black Mirror a few years ago too. One more actor I'd love to see on stage when it's safe to do so again.) [Also, while I have mixed feelings about the series soundtrack, now I cannot stop listening to Fleetwood Mac.] |
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