Having had time to think about it, I’m going to have another go at keeping a blog-type website. Just seems the right time having retired.

Retired at the end of May 2026. Spent most of the summer trying to get the garden in shape now my husband is no longer alive. The garden was his domain so I’m winging it. There is a lot more colour now (he was colour blind and obviously couldn’t see the huge amount of ivy and holly that overpowered all the flower beds. The ground space is about 20% larger now!

It still is a work in progress but we have had lovely family meals in the garden in the last 2 months. Having bought an electric pizza oven, we are a bit restricted to pizzas but they are really easy as everyone likes pizza and we can accommodate all the various toppings (Spicy Salami, Tomato and Banana – from the Swedish side of the family!) and as the pizzas cook within about 3 mins, it’s been easy to keep everyone eating at the same time! My sons have taken control over the pizzas so that’s even better.

The new garden furniture has been a blessing. I still have one metal table and chairs to dispose of. The broken wooden table and chairs have been sitting in a bag and need to go to recycling.

The neighbours are having a 3m kitchen extension and although the brickwork is now done, the scaffolding is still in place. Their nextdoor neighbours are having an identical extension so I need to wait until theirs is finished before the sagging fence can be taken down and replaced with something more robust – and without ivy climbing all over it.

Two robins visit the garden – think one more than the other who happily hops around when I’m gardening to remind me he has a nest in one of the holly trees so I can’t have it cut down. Currently it is covered in green holly berries. These will turn red, the pigeons will have a great time trying to consume them all but will knock plenty off into the soil and I’ll be cutting back lots and lots and lots of mini holly trees. I’m not sure why it isn’t a Christmas Garden!

Concentrating on the garden was my way of making an outdoor room and stopping me from facing the enormous amount of decluttering that needs to be done indoors. I’ve cleared a few shelves and taken loads to the charity shop but there is still a vast amount to go. The whole place needs a refresh in decor and carpet. I need Stacy Solomon because it all seems overwhelming even I’m trying to do something each day. That is, in between bowls matches. It’s been good playing and not having to take a fleece, waterproof, changes of clothing unlike the first week in June when it was freezing cold and very very wet!

Besides the decluttering, I’ve joined BBC Maestro and signed up for a vocal singing course. Completed 3 sessions, so far. I’ve also signed up for Richmond Theatre’s Acting Course for Over 50’s which starts in a couple of weeks. The last production in which I performed was just before lockdown in February 2020. Since then, both the Director and his wife have died and the company came to a natural close. I’m looking forward to learning lines again and maybe we’ll do some sort of play. I like dressing up and hope to use some of my 20 wigs looking rather sad in a plastic crate.

The best ever play (with music) was Glorious about Florence Foster Jenkins where I was cast as Florence. It was a fantastic part but it was hard learning to sing out of tune! My hockey friend from about 40 years ago played every night so it didn’t matter how I chose to sing badly! Her keyboard was wired to a dummy mini grand piano on stage and the part of Cosmo was played by my son’s partner. He was brilliant!

Apart from that, I was given character parts e.g. Sherlock Holmes mother, a Yorkshire farmer in Improbable Fiction and a posh chicken in Honk! And a chef-mistaken-for-a-lover in Don’t Dress for Dinner amidst other assorted characters.

I spent 14+ years with the London Philharmonic Choir before the children came along – now in their late 30’s – but maybe joining another choir is on the cards. Evening don’t work well with so many bowls leagues/competitions to fit in. It’s difficult.

A bowls holiday to South Africa is booked for February but I need to get away somewhere else this year. Having had to say goodbye to one of our 16 year old cats in August, I still have to find a cat feeder. The boys and my neighbour can usually fill in with enough notice. The boys themselves are busy with working and sports and my granddaughter is just over one, so, understably, she takes up a lot of her father’s non-work/non-golf time. Her father has written two books especially for her where she spends time with her grandfather. He did get to meet her before he died but he would have loved her very much and, no doubt, introduced her to the V&A, Lords, Natural History and various other Museums!

Tempus fugit. Admin and decluttering need attendance.

A wedding in July 2024. Lovely. It’s THE wedding of 2024. Our youngest son is getting married to his Swedish fiance in Stockholm.
When we got married, over 40 years ago, our parents had a BIG say in the date, the event, the guest list, the cost.
Things seem to have changed somewhat. The couple are doing all the organisation. We have not seen a guest list but we have been invited. Phew, that’s a relief!
Difficulties: –
1. What happens at a Swedish wedding that doesn’t happen in the UK? It’s at the end of July, so should be warm(ish).
2. The venue seems to be on the edge of decking over the archipelago. One false move and you’re in! Bit of a nightmare if it rains!
3. It’s non religious. Do we get to do any singing at all? My brother (a retired cleric) would need to” say what he would normally and would definitely want to say “… in th sight of God …”
4. There are a small number of rooms at the venue so only a handful of guests will be staying there the night before and night after the wedding. I think nearly everyone speaks English so that’s a help. I don’t think my poor language skills will allow me to learn helpful Swedish phrases in 3 months.
5. Packing. I am not not a good packer, especially without a car. Going to another country by plane means you can’t just throw something in the suitcase (just in case I need it). The Swedes seem to dress pretty casually but jeans will be a no-no.
6. Solution – hopefully. I’ve booked myself in for a colour, style and make-up consultation. My colour choices since attending a Colour Me Beautiful class in 1983 has meant my “clear and bright” choices for a “Spring” has stood me in pretty good stead. Style. Hopeless. I gave up wearing suits, then dresses for work years ago. I like some of the dresses I still own (some 15 years old and have worn well) but what to wear on one’s feet usually sends me back to trousers and Skechers. Dress length also plays a part. Having legs the shape of those on a grand piano means they are nice and curvy but anything more than a couple of inches below the knee, make look as if I’ve been hammered into the ground. That’s the problem when you’re short and curvy not tall and slim.
Also, at nearing 70, I look like my mother – without the cigarette in its holder – and not as stooped. I would like to look like the groom’s mother, not his grandmother!

7. My future daughter-in-law has kindly asked me to go with her when she tries on wedding dresses in London – her mother is in Sweden.  I’m hoping my own style consultation will allow me some insight into what would be good for her.  She’s not tall, but she’s very slim.    Actually, she’ll probably look good in anything and my son adores her, so he’ll love her whatever she is wearing.  (I just hope white trainers are not what brides are wearing with wedding dresses this year!)

When I was considerably younger, there was a fashion shop down the road from my parents’ pharmacy. There were less chain stores in the early 70’s.  One shop assistant, who I assume was very good at her job, used to let the customers know in no uncertain terms if the dress they were trying on was good for them or not!  Hilarious, when you think of it but maybe that’s what we all need. Someone being honest – maybe in not such a brutal way as the assistant but diplomatically.  I’m hoping my style guru will be like that.  I’m looking forward to ditching some of the wardrobe disasters (or just not good).  I shall update this post following the session.

Having chatted to a few members of the bowls club, there is a wealth of history that may be lost for ever. Dad didn’t talk about his part in the D-Day Landings until a couple of years before he died and although we learned quite a bit, the rest is lost.

With the demographic age of the bowls club members, they have a lot of history to share. One was a top class speed skater. Hard to believe when you see him now at 91 but it was a passion. It led him to meet his wife at Richmond Ice Rink where she was an accomplished dancer. Ice dancing wasn’t for him but his wife was until she died. The lady he met at the bowls club was a ballroom dancer but she sadly passed away in 2019. He is quite lonely, especially as the bowls club is shut during yet another lockdown.

Another couple of ladies met working in Boots over 40 years ago. The friendship is so strong and, you know what, they laugh a lot. If I want to know more about these ladies and others, I am sure I am not the only one and the best way to share is to create short podcasts.

Next task, do a bit of research. Ask my husband to write a piece of music to play on his trumpet which I can use for an opener.

Off to work now, so will have to investigate later. Microphone arriving today, so will have to find some audio software and practise talking into a microphone and listening back. If my voice sounds grating, podcasting would not be good!

I’ve had this WordPress site for the last few years.  I only remember to write something just before and just after the subscription payment!  Should I renew or should I not?  My head tells me I don’t use it, so don’t renew, but I also know I like playing with words so I ought to put something down.

It’s been an interesting start to the year with taking the lead in Stopgap Theatre’s production of Glorious by Peter Quilter based on the true story of Florence Foster Jenkins, the worst singer in the world.  Who would have guessed how difficult it is to sing out of tune when you’ve spent your whole life ensuring are you hitting the centre of each note!  I had a wonderful time and loved every single rehearsal.  She was such a character that I spent a fair amount of time looking her up on the internet, YouTube, Amazon

and reading and listening to all about her life.  Of course, had Simon Cowell been around, she would not have got past her first audition and would have been ridiculed.  In truth a lot of her audience only went to laugh at her but her charisma, charm and kindness and, dare I say it, her generosity, welcomed all and sundry into her life.  “From what I’ve seen of the real world, it’s over rated.  Living on a cloud is far more enjoyable.”

I took to the part like a duck to water and even went to the expense of getting my hair line dyed so my wig would appear more natural.  Florence suffered from Syphillis for many years, the treatment for which had made her bald so she always wore wigs, so I don’t feel too guilty about making her red-headed rather than grey, even though she was 74 when she died.  (I don’t think Meryl Streep who played Florence in the film looked 74 either!) The photo was a selfie I took when trying on part of the Angel of Inspiration costume.  It’s only missing the halo!  On the final evening, when I emerged from the changing room after the performance, the audience spontaneously stood up and applauded!  That’s something that’s never happened before and is unlikely to happen again and it’s a moment I will cherish for ever.   Anyway, do look Florence up on the internet and listen to her recordings. Oh,and go and see Glorious if it comes on in your local town.  It’s funny, tender and moving.

Whilst pounding the streets every lunchtime with my script, the evenings were spent either rehearsing or bowling.  Being Hon. Sec and Ladies Captain, there’s an awful lot of admin over the 7 month indoor playing period but of course, you need 9 months to start early and finish off at the end.  I’m quite looking forward to the outdoor season when I am told where and when to play and just have to turn up and play my best without worrying about all the admin! The outdoor green at Cambridge Park opens on Monday 23rd April and county trials are in mid May.  No doubt we will be wearing fleeces and waterproofs!

I might even post a blog about lawn bowls!

The play went off without too much of a hitch.  It was complicated for the audience.  We had been battling with it and even after 3 months’ rehearsals, we couldn’t all agree whether it was right or wrong.  It was so emotive and that is what the audience found – challenging, thought provoking, weird!

Being shot at the end of Act One came as a big shock to the audience.  Being slumped as a corpse for 30 minutes wasn’t that easy but, as my friends seemed to spend Act Two checking up on my lifelessness, it seems I achieved what was necessary!  Back up on my feet in Act Three as a ghost and a figment of the main character’s mind was strange.  Strangling her didn’t become any easier despite the rehearsals but hopefully we pulled the scene off.  Apparently my delivery of lines whilst doing the physical damage sounded as creepy as it needed to be.  Maybe I’ll make it as an actress after all?

Now it’s all over, the set is dismantled and packed away for 6 months, the washing is done, it’s back to normal with work and bowls and catching up on club competitions in abundance this week.  The downside of last week and this is that regular meals times go up the spout with it being too early to eat before going out (and not enough time after work to do so) and too late when you get back in then you can’t sleep!

Taboo on BBC1 on Saturday night is not a sleep inducing drama.  Nightmares.  I’ve told my partner, I’ll have my head in a book next Saturday whilst he watches it.  There’s enough violence on the news every night without more on the BBC.  Still, it must be a great programme for the make-up artists – they are doing a fantastic job.

Back to the day job now.  At least there’s no violence, just the occasional drama.

Yet another  year has passed.  Where does the time go?  What occupies my time that prevents me from writing a short simple blog every now and then?

Well, there’s work for a start and when you’re sitting at a computer for most of a working day, you don’t always want to strain your eyesight in the evenings.

Then there’s bowls.  Bowls, bowls, bowls – outdoor in the summer and indoors during the winter months.  This indoor season, which started in October 2016, saw me taking on the Ladies’ Captain’s role and playing quite a strong part in the admin for the indoor section. This includes, typing and putting up sign-up sheets for every match, helping to select teams for every match, liaise with external caterer for large club matches or baking/providing for internal weekend games. This often means a dash to a supermarket or large wholesale warehouse in my precious lunch breaks.  Then at the weekend, setting up, clearing up, manning the bar (all with help – what a great lot of club members we have!), playing and trying to keep everyone motivated.  My partner, who is Men’s Captain, and I couldn’t have achieved what we have without the support of the club members.  We are so lucky.

And now, I’m in the throes of organising a tour to Potters Holiday at the end of November for 30+ bowlers.  I must be totally mad!  As most of the bowlers are over 70, am I responsible for their behaviout?  Is it like taking a school trip away?  Should I do a refresher first aid course?  Of course the answer to the latter is obviously ‘yes’ regardless of whether we go on the trip or not.

On top of this, there are club competitions, national competitions, county matches and friendly matches to fit in all year round.  I’m not complaining.  I love it!  It’s just the responsibility that sometimes gets overwhelming.  Stay positive in public – scream at home!

On top of all the bowls and keeping the Facebook page current, there’s the amdram.  two productions a year with a three month rehearsal period for both with Stopgap Theatre Company in Isleworth, West London.  Last February, I had a cracking part in a French Farce ‘Don’t Dress for Dinner’ .  It was such fun even though there were a mountain of words to learn as well as a dignified stripping in re-dressing on stage without any member of cast or audience seeing any more than they ought to!

In the summer production, John Mortimer’s ‘A Voyage Around My Father’, I had a selection of characters to play – great as i got to wear a variety of wigs and change face, so to speak as well as accents.  It was also great fun being in the same production as my eldest son – he’s very good on stage.  Much more naturally gifted than his mother.  He’s also got the lead in Gloc Musical Theatre’s production of ‘Urinetown’ in May 2017.  I’m very proud of him.

In 3 week’s time, I shall be the victim as well as the perpetrator of a crime in the black comedy-cum-psychothriller.  It’s not my favourite part, to be honest.  I do not like physical violence and I’m finding it difficult to be the character doing the dirty work and disassociating it from my normal self.  If only they let me wear a wig then I’d know I wasn’t me!

Needless to say, for the time being, any baking has gone by the board.  My new relationship is blossoming and it’s lovely to have someone to talk things over with most evenings, share meals and not feel trapped and lonely.  There are other benefits too – lovely!

I’m quite technically savvy but websites are another ball game!

It’s good that there are experts out there who are able to do the job.  Another of their necessary skills is patience and Bowls Central who re-vamped the Cambridge park Bowls Club website has the patience of a saint!  One month later, he re-vamped our site and transferred on the necessary bits and bobs from the old site.  Now I just have to update as and when and can add photos where I want them not where the previous host forced me into placing them.  Hooray.

Apart from updating the site, I think I’ll stick to playing bowls and baking.  Just made a batch of James Morton’s Hazlenut Shortbread. It’s scrummy!

It started just after 6.00 am when I woke up.  I was checking my emails and there was one offering me the job I had interviewed for and which I really wanted.  What a great start to the day!

I made some Coronation Chicken Pies to celebrate and a batch of Orange Brandy Brownies, courtest of John Whaite’s book to take to bowls this afternoon.

Had a surprising win in the first round of National Mixed Pairs.  I’d already been grinning from ear to ear before the match started, so it’s not difficult to imagine what I looked like afterwards.  There was a lot of laughter!

No doubt I’ll come back down to earth with a bang tomorrow.  C’est la vie1

Someone suggested I ought to write a baking blog.  It’s an interesting thought.

Since being off work, I have had time to bake but didn’t want to do too much as the outlets were fewer!   However, I did manage to do the catering at the bowls’ club finals weekend.  After I’d volunteered, I did wonder what on earth I’d done.  I don’t do bulk catering! However, I as able to use my organisational skills to get the kitchen up and running and did the cake baking in the evenings.  I actually enjoyed it but could never do it full time.  My hands just couldn’t cope with the constant washing up.  I wonder what professional bakers do – they can’t all have washer-uppers.

On Bank Holiday weekend, I organised two informal roll ups with the lure of tea and cake afterwards.  This combines the love of playing bowls with the love of baking and nurturing, except with so many people having to watch their sugar/cholesterol/fat intake, it’s difficult to find new recipes to cater for all. John Whaites’ “My Bakewell Tarts” is a stunning recipe and I  haven’t found anyone who doesn’t like them.

I took to James Morton’s Brilliant Bread book as well.  The Focaccia is excellent and the Cholesterol-Cutting Bread was a real success yesterday. 

The good old-fashioned Victoria Sponge is still a firm favourite as are scones.  The diabetes website is a good source of recipes as are the branded half-sugar or natural-sugar product websites.  I’m hoping that a combination of relatively healthy and naughty but nice cakes and bakes will keep everyone relatively happy.

Tomorrow, I might make Beetroot Brownies.  Surely these must be a healthier option with one of your seven vegetables a day in them?!