December 26, 2011
December 19, 2011
Padlock incident
Once upon a time I had a padlock on my suitcase and I left the key inside the luggage... So when I arrived at St Pancras International I was sort of hoping they would search my luggage... They didn't ! I asked them if they could help me. They tried to open the lock with spare keys. I said "what would have happened if you had to search the luggage ?" No answer. I then added : "surely a crook could do it..." "Oh yes" the helpful officer said "you wouldn't have noticed anything" Anyway eventually they said all they could suggest was to call "maintenance" but that it always took ages for them to come.
I caught the Eurostar to Lille. At this station I asked for some help from the staff. They couldn't (or wouldn't ?) help me. At the end I sent a text message to my friend N. in Montpellier. She had one of her student bringing a saw for me.
Now I have a padlock with combination.
I caught the Eurostar to Lille. At this station I asked for some help from the staff. They couldn't (or wouldn't ?) help me. At the end I sent a text message to my friend N. in Montpellier. She had one of her student bringing a saw for me.
Now I have a padlock with combination.
Sunday 11th December
I was at my parents' and we went for lunch at the "Relais de Sologne" (see : http://www.lerelaisdesologne.com/) which is a nice "provincial" restaurant in the pretty village of Minestrau en Villette 20 minutes away from Orléans.
Birmingham
I was invited to a WRVS meeting in Birmingham on the 7th. It was to do with the major restructuring of the charity. Fairly interesting. Afterwards I met my colleagues who are volunteer's partner like me. It was my birthday so I treated myself to a concert at Symphony Hall : Bruckner's 7th. (See : http://www.thsh.co.uk/event/cbso-nelsons-conducts-bruckner-s-seventh/) The 1st piece was by a living composer. Mr Ruders was on stage at the end to be lapped up by the audience. Very good evening.
I enjoyed too going back to Birmingham. My last visit was in the late 80's and it has changed quite a lot since then !
I enjoyed too going back to Birmingham. My last visit was in the late 80's and it has changed quite a lot since then !
December 11, 2011
December 08, 2011
November 27, 2011
My Week with Marilyn
"My Week with Marilyn" is the true story from Colin Clarke's diaries. This ambitious young man spent a week as Sir Laurence Olivier's 3d assistant on "The Prince and the Showgirl". To be honest I went to see this film last night because I saw the trailer and Eddie Redmayne as Colin Clarke is rather cute. So I thought why not ? It turned out to be an awfully good moment of cinema. Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe is absolutely astonishing ! Not to mention Kenneth Branagh as Sir Laurence Olivier. And, yes, Eddie Redmayne is very good as well.
I have never been personally fascinated by Marilyn Monroe. As depicted in this film she was a "poor lost girl who couldn't cope with her fame but couldn't live without it" In the same period in France my film icons are Simone Signoret and Yves Montand. Not only they were outstanding actors - and Yves Montand a great singer, I love his interpretation of the songs drawn from Jacques Prévert's poetry - but they had strong left wing awareness to say the least. When I go to Paris I always try to go to Place Dauphine (see : http://mymelange.net/mymelange/2007/01/the-prettiest-square-in-paris-the-place-dauphine.html) where Simone & Yves used to live in a flat called "la roulotte".
I have never been personally fascinated by Marilyn Monroe. As depicted in this film she was a "poor lost girl who couldn't cope with her fame but couldn't live without it" In the same period in France my film icons are Simone Signoret and Yves Montand. Not only they were outstanding actors - and Yves Montand a great singer, I love his interpretation of the songs drawn from Jacques Prévert's poetry - but they had strong left wing awareness to say the least. When I go to Paris I always try to go to Place Dauphine (see : http://mymelange.net/mymelange/2007/01/the-prettiest-square-in-paris-the-place-dauphine.html) where Simone & Yves used to live in a flat called "la roulotte".
November 25, 2011
November 24, 2011
Week end in Wakefield
I stayed with my friends E & J in Wakefield. Saturday afternoon we went to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. As I mentioned here it's really worth a visit. They have an indoor exhibition and a tea room as well. Sunday morning E & J introduced me to Hepworth Wakefield. It's the largest purposely built museum outside London. Mainly dedicated to Barbara Hepworth who was a sculptor from Wakefield . For more info see : http://www.hepworthwakefield.org/. In the afternoon with E. we had a stroll along Thornes Park in Wakefield. J. was at her choir rehearsal for the performance in the evening of Handel's Messiah in the cathedral. It was very good and the venue was fully packed.
November 20, 2011
Post Horn Gallop at West Bridgeford Drama Society (2)
This time I am involved with the lights. Once I have been shown how to operate the console it hasn't been difficult. On this play there are only 2 settings : black out & full blast. I have already been part of 2 rehearsals and I have 2 more to go to before production week Tuesday a week. The cast is quite good and it is truly a funny play.
For more info see : http://www.wbds.org.uk/productions.asp
For more info see : http://www.wbds.org.uk/productions.asp
November 18, 2011
Touchng Horizons
Last night I went to the Arts Nottingham Theater with J. I had been invited through the drama group to see a dance production by this new company : http://ampersandance.com/index.htm
If you look under "Arts Directors" you see how different are the backgrounds of those 2 artists. As it happens each one had choreographed a piece. Although they had both a definitively contemporary touch, the 1st one - choreographed by Benoit - was more classic.
All in all as I say a very pleasant evening in an old fashioned and cosy theatre.
If you look under "Arts Directors" you see how different are the backgrounds of those 2 artists. As it happens each one had choreographed a piece. Although they had both a definitively contemporary touch, the 1st one - choreographed by Benoit - was more classic.
All in all as I say a very pleasant evening in an old fashioned and cosy theatre.
The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui
Last Saturday I went to the Playhouse with my new friend J. "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" by Bertolt Brecht. It's in fact a parallel story the rise of Adolf Hitler in the 30's in Germany. Very powerful play indeed !
For more info see : http://www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/whats-on/drama/the-resistible-rise-of-arturo-ui/
For more info see : http://www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/whats-on/drama/the-resistible-rise-of-arturo-ui/
November 14, 2011
Nottingham, Old Market Square Occupied (6) : 1st month
Read on : http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2114
November 04, 2011
November 02, 2011
Last week end in Orléans
I did my monthly visit to friends and family. My step-father was away so on Sunday with my mum and a friend we had a day out in Sologne. It's an area a few miles south of Orléans and it hosts mainly private woods and properties. It's quite famous for the hunting parties. Le Château du Lude is one of those hidden gems. Although privately owned and not opened to the public, respectful admirers are welcomed on the grounds.
November 01, 2011
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