tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149494612024-03-13T07:08:48.864+00:00nearly time for a little somethingsallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.comBlogger537125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-12887791631861572272009-01-30T22:38:00.002+00:002009-01-30T22:52:28.573+00:00Where have all the hours gone....<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Mmmm</span>.where has that small puppy gone!! She has outgrown her bed now! Only five months old and as big as Sophie was...she is so <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">lvoely</span>, such fun, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">lvoe</span> her to bits, and I get to walk her at weekends.....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBRPgmURSxKngwXtUP4PoUHK9h7IfX-WDOtjRRnBVl_-eU1w0RCJZNa-6cH491BR137vmafAZBHYk_KjM9yLErBYTepiEhuSiRcZeHMCAFpTIJV2VSo0Erf0pxJG-czOptNjfJ/s1600-h/jan+too+big+for+bed+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297220498905817810" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 252px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBRPgmURSxKngwXtUP4PoUHK9h7IfX-WDOtjRRnBVl_-eU1w0RCJZNa-6cH491BR137vmafAZBHYk_KjM9yLErBYTepiEhuSiRcZeHMCAFpTIJV2VSo0Erf0pxJG-czOptNjfJ/s320/jan+too+big+for+bed+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I can't remember being so busy, but it's been good.... I've got more than enough work during the day but am also running a Parenting Programme on Tuesday evenings and running my first evening volunteer's training on Wednesday evenings..we've got 14 volunteers in training which is the biggest course ever! The first one was this Wednesday and it was a brilliant evening, it went really well..the group consists of 13 women and 1 man, but you can tell he is going to get on well and really join in.</div><div> </div><div>I've also started a teaching qualification which is run locally but awarded by the Uni of Central <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Lancashire</span>! Apparently I will get a proper student card which means <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">discounts</span> when shopping! Top Shop here I come! The downside is I have an essay to finish this weekend and a lesson plan to write. But I'm doing more training for the national organisation (went to a lovely residential in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Cheltenham</span> in Jan, and will be back there in March...) so it's all good.</div><div> </div><div>I have more good days than bad days, tho yesterday was a low point..but I am dealing with stuff and getting there, I think...been swimming this evening so feel better, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">altho</span> I am depressed about my weight..but only I can do something about that!</div><div> </div><div>I know, I know, I said I would write more regularly this year, but it hasn't happened.... still, it's good to be busy and focused, keeps me out of mischief!</div><div> </div><div>Time for bed. Saturday tomorrow! Places to go, people to see! All I need is to find something to wear that fits........</div>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-72717482840522094142009-01-16T23:12:00.002+00:002009-01-16T23:19:20.171+00:00Happy New-ish Year....Well, it's January 16<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span>. My New Year resolutions were, roughly, eat less, exercise more, be happy, be creative, write more, return to regular blog writing....<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">mmm</span>.. not sure if I have been successful with any!!!<br /><br />I am much better, after some very difficult months. Sleeping better, more in control and, yes, happier, but then that's not difficult! Seriously, there is a return to the old me, or something like it. I still have good and bad days, but more good than bad. Have I ever said how lucky I am to have such good friends?<br /><br />I actually did start writing a blog entry back in November. I went to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">SF's</span> (camp, funny, you know...) birthday/firework party, drove there on my own, determined to be sociable and have a good evening. On the way I listened to radio 2, and heard a programme all about the song 'Hallelujah.' Not only did it have quite an effect on me, soon Merlin had mentioned it on his blog, and then blow me down, if it didn't feature on X factor.... I think I saved the blog entry as a draft, if I have, I'll download it now.... Happy New Year.sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-56306175490429241702008-10-30T21:13:00.001+00:002008-11-05T21:25:07.185+00:00Millie continued...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSM9lXJ8ek6df8m4kcZGByUym1xKHaUwm-HvcLXglA3xEVT9DmNnmEauAPaRTa2UlPR8RDWKjSUUbSL5pxH6YXdh8pg_xldR9vTXr9Tr5ZVj4ji63TbtNy-1eP2lWrYlhPoDZ/s1600-h/millie+in+the+snow+playing+with+an+apple.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265286707645633618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 247px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSM9lXJ8ek6df8m4kcZGByUym1xKHaUwm-HvcLXglA3xEVT9DmNnmEauAPaRTa2UlPR8RDWKjSUUbSL5pxH6YXdh8pg_xldR9vTXr9Tr5ZVj4ji63TbtNy-1eP2lWrYlhPoDZ/s320/millie+in+the+snow+playing+with+an+apple.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLZ2VtwZ-Uy6nTgzPfzAmbiAmCapmAFhpHs9U0lWqa6T_Vr1onp1p4s-9QCBJiuMMf_RYDYlo6KY3ToW_4IgFwlSaBUb9Z7YeH7FcQ1rL3FEwKG9VfLfqk7ODOz-3EmM9IQfM/s1600-h/millie+in+the+snow+8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265286698837729026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLZ2VtwZ-Uy6nTgzPfzAmbiAmCapmAFhpHs9U0lWqa6T_Vr1onp1p4s-9QCBJiuMMf_RYDYlo6KY3ToW_4IgFwlSaBUb9Z7YeH7FcQ1rL3FEwKG9VfLfqk7ODOz-3EmM9IQfM/s320/millie+in+the+snow+8.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div>Puppies are hard work. As bad as having a small baby! Eating, sleeping, chewing, pooing, weeing, biting...constant attention and training... we got her on Thursday evening, then on Sunday C went away on business for a few days, leaving me in charge, doing the day and night duties. I was exhausted! I went to work for three hours in the middle of the day, but apart from that was on duty.. very, very tiring.</div><div> </div><div>However, there was fun too, playing, and visitors coming to see the new arrival, and I took the time to do some training. In two days I had her recognising her name, coming when called, and sitting, her reward being a little biscuit treat. I was very pleased with the progress!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_Ey-YwDA2O_d-w11hPB43ts-VAkHFoQjtIYAyo4lVzk6IQfyNVukp14RvXxV1FvUzUOTObhC_E5mKIa6DDlEMIslpLTaWCTDB9UrquXGMm9exGKNhQeJi2NCSp7ULT0HlecA/s1600-h/millie+cute+sitting+in+snow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265286695285044546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 252px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_Ey-YwDA2O_d-w11hPB43ts-VAkHFoQjtIYAyo4lVzk6IQfyNVukp14RvXxV1FvUzUOTObhC_E5mKIa6DDlEMIslpLTaWCTDB9UrquXGMm9exGKNhQeJi2NCSp7ULT0HlecA/s320/millie+cute+sitting+in+snow.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>By Wednesday Millie was enjoying another new experience..snow! I was also enjoying the space, having the house to myself, a few days just for Millie and me, I pottered about and relaxed in between cleaning up puppy duty. A good few days....</div><div> </div><div>Sadly, by the end of the week she had come down with kennel cough, which she caught from the kennels, and so we had our first trip to the vet. She is on anti-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">biotics</span> and is making a good recovery..a bundle of energy with extremely sharp teeth and a liking for my toes...ouch ouch....</div></div></div>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-62992017114679004952008-10-24T21:49:00.000+01:002008-10-26T22:05:31.412+00:00Introducing Millie....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxe_92jhGJRLbOBbPxFD-FCOHoUaRR9xPddtpoVLcal0Vl72YlI9iC7xa4RiksQFxXKmXecQqt8dXZjhULI60oHT7n1tMcdryzJkYXjEnYMhNO_scIagdC4PjqOS70CRomga8z/s1600-h/millie+in+the+garden.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261586284609210162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 310px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxe_92jhGJRLbOBbPxFD-FCOHoUaRR9xPddtpoVLcal0Vl72YlI9iC7xa4RiksQFxXKmXecQqt8dXZjhULI60oHT7n1tMcdryzJkYXjEnYMhNO_scIagdC4PjqOS70CRomga8z/s320/millie+in+the+garden.jpg" border="0" /></a> A visit to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">RSPCA</span> soon after we lost Sophie, to show them pictures of the rescue dog we gave a home to 15 years ago, a very happy 15 years, led the girls there telling me about 2 year old lady dog that had just come in to the rescue home with a litter of 8 puppies. She was a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">lvoely</span> dog, similar to Sophie, and she would need <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">rehoming</span> once the puppies were gone. We agreed to come in and see her the next week.<br /><br /><div><div>So in we went, Laura, Clive and I, to see the mummy dog who was lovely. But <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Clive</span> picked up one of the little black puppies..and was smitten. I took him outside for a talk. Do we really want a puppy? They are hard work. It will grow big....I was the sensible, rational one, he was soft and wanting a puppy..the biggest role reversal in the world!!!<br /></div><div>And so it was, on Thursday evening, that Millie came into our lives. And our kitchen.....</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8S3mLREVYXL_zgE6McoyFngtB_erOIH2_iyXGYCsfpcpf4u1BHyM-uVUiG1havBTogh4niNgaA3-Aacl5Qf08-Ueiq7D2EiCrlAqggG8wB-JJvW2oUdKXcLHexiE5uinhOcP/s1600-h/in+the+rspca+office,+sitting.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261586279822072498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 262px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8S3mLREVYXL_zgE6McoyFngtB_erOIH2_iyXGYCsfpcpf4u1BHyM-uVUiG1havBTogh4niNgaA3-Aacl5Qf08-Ueiq7D2EiCrlAqggG8wB-JJvW2oUdKXcLHexiE5uinhOcP/s320/in+the+rspca+office,+sitting.jpg" border="0" /></a>Millie sitting in the office at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">RSPCA</span>, quietly waiting to be collected....</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /> </div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div>Millie asleep in her basket in the kitchen, worn out by the process of coming to her new home....<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">aaaah</span>.....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6B__JcQ9iCrIfUGRHQVsmkz3tCf2n7ZzA5Y5neYnERQZBb1wZnDBT1y9DZlrLBYMvPsBnTh6ohKsx6pItv11hAn_mqHJvreQ9YmNMKi_4P6f8nJ7rXlFagos9aflyE1Obl2jv/s1600-h/millie+asleep+in+basket+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261586282116797954" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 252px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6B__JcQ9iCrIfUGRHQVsmkz3tCf2n7ZzA5Y5neYnERQZBb1wZnDBT1y9DZlrLBYMvPsBnTh6ohKsx6pItv11hAn_mqHJvreQ9YmNMKi_4P6f8nJ7rXlFagos9aflyE1Obl2jv/s320/millie+asleep+in+basket+2.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-52722574282758806402008-10-24T21:07:00.000+01:002008-10-26T21:21:26.052+00:00How to lose 13 years in an hour....I left work early on Wednesday to have a facial. I had seen the special offer in the hairdressers on Friday, and signed up immediately. A special dermatological facial, 75 minutes, for half price..with face, neck and shoulder massage...and the facial was especially for 'mature' skin..all right, old people....just what I needed...<br /><br />I arrived to be greeted by Charlotte, the beauty therapist, young, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">blonde</span> and immaculately made up. I told her I felt my face had suffered recently..stress, lack of sleep, age..I looked saggy and tired and with puffy eyes..she smiled and said I was lovely and she had noticed my lovely dark hair (chocolate, remember..) and that I had very pretty, intense blue eyes. She said I shouldn't he hard on myself..come on, what woman isn't???<br /><br />Anyway, I undressed and lay under my towels, enjoyed the warm dimly lit room, with candles and soothing music, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Charlotte</span> opened jars of cream, cleansers, toners etc. What did I want most from this facial she asked? Oh, I said, just take 10 years off me, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">that'll</span> do...<br /><br />75 minutes later I had relaxed, slept, been cleaned, exfoliated, creamed, massaged and opened my eyes feeling amazing...she said I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">had</span> good skin, still firm, but yes, it looked stressed and I needed more sleep and to drink more water! (Not hard, I hardly drink any!)<br /><br />I drove home, had a shower and washed my hair, put make up on my newly cleaned face and set off to a One World Week service to represent my charity (sorry, can't name it, too risky...) I took my seat on the front row, ready to take part, when in came <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">the</span> Deputy Mayor and was seated next to me, a very nice lady who was pleased to have someone to talk to. We chatted easily, and I noted how relaxed and happy I was feeling, as opposed to stressed and very antisocial. She talked to me about her children, and I asked the usual questions. She then asked how old my children were. Well, James has just turned 32, I said, and she actually jumped! What, she said, 32? Yes. I was very young when I had him, I smiled, trotting out my usual line... yes, but not like, 10, she said. Well, no, obviously not... But seriously, she said, I am 42, I thought you were about the same age as me, really. I laughed. Well, I thought, I must let Charlotte know that she has not just taken 10 years off me, but 13!!!!!!!sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-25827651736586670722008-10-21T20:51:00.000+01:002008-10-26T21:06:39.154+00:00Then it got better...Yes, the weekend was better. A combination of me feeling much, much better by Friday, and the fact that I am driving again, and life is back up to speed, if you will excuse the pun! I got used to not going anywhere if I didn't have to, and having to be driven if I did have to....<br /><br />Saturday morning I got up early and was in town for a 9am luxury manicure, which was relaxing, good for my hands and my nails looked <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lvoely</span>...all part of the 'look after yourself, cos you're worth it,' campaign! I came out into the sunlight, a lovely bright autumn day and walked right into Gary, an old theatre colleague, who immediately invited me for coffee as we haven't really seen each other for over a year. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">cappucino</span> was gorgeous and we chatted and caught up and had a great time.<br /><br />Then I had to go..to get round to my friend Jacky's for my 11am coffee appointment! Her daughter has just moved into her very own flat, so we headed for coffee round there and a good look round... all very sociable, and I drove home in time for lunch, valuing my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">independence</span> and really enjoying driving again....<br /><br />Saturday evening I was driving again..this time it was payback for my business partner for all the driving her has done for me this year, I drove him to a post festival drinks party, organised at last by the committee who employed us to deliver their festival in July....a lifetime ago now!<br /><br />We went to the most wonderful house in a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">lvoely</span> village in Essex..don't know if it was an old vicarage, or squire's house, but it was posh! We had drinks and canapes and hugged each other like old friends and reminisced about the festival..I carefully batted aside questions about future plans and what festival we are working on next....<br /><br />The drinks evening ended relatively early, after lots of talk and laughter and encouraging news about another event planned in two years..which they may want us to be involved in..well, watch this space.<br /><br />We hadn't eaten, and so found a very nice Chinese/Thai on the way home, and ate and talked about our respective children, and work, before driving home (I drove!), both grateful for a pleasant, civilised evening. Who would have thought!!!<br /><br />Sunday was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">lvoely</span> weather too, and I spent the morning running a charity stall at a local farmers' market, selling my Christmas cards and puddings...it was good fun. On going home I discovered James, Laura and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Mec</span> round for the afternoon, and we sat about, ate, played on our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">iphones</span> and laptops, read papers and had a good time. Now that is what Sundays are for....sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-73268329093301670952008-10-17T20:59:00.000+01:002008-10-21T21:14:24.830+01:00Words to describe a week in the life of......Monday... not a good day... forgot my phone... got cross with someone... got upset with someone... too upset to go into an important meeting... tears... shouting... talking... am I being lied to still? What am I supposed to do here? Who am I in all this? A feeling of calm after the storm...<br /><br />Tuesday... busy training volunteers... a good day.. better than the day last week when I felt crap and depressed and tearful and was training on...depression... !! this week values and attitudes, prejudices, class, culture, interesting stuff coming from the group... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">then a</span> business planning meeting all evening, hard work, but we got somewhere..who will write up the business plan? Oh, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">that'll</span> be me then...<br /><br />Wednesday.. heard I have a new training role in the national organisation... doing 6 days a year induction training.. means a three night residential in... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Cheltenham</span>!!! in November... things are looking up... went swimming late on, instead of going in the chilly lane pool as usual, Viv and I went in the casual pool, free of children..it was gloriously warm and relaxing, chilled music was playing, and we swam and relaxed, and watched the men gathering at one end of the pool and going into the steam room together... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">mmmm</span>...<br /><br />Thursday, feeling better, sleeping better, getting through work... went to my counselling..didn't cry! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Yay</span>!<br /><br />Friday, spoke at a lunch on how my bereavement counselling helped me, in support of the charity which provided it. Sat with a Solicitor, a Vicar, a Bishop and a Lady. Asked the Bishop if he had ever been to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Gre</span>*<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">nb</span>*<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">lt</span>! He hadn't... was on good form..think I spoke well, with humour but honesty.. people were moved... touched... I felt brave... then walked back to the office and thought, I could do with a hug...I had a cup of tea and a biscuit instead... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">did</span> some work, then had my hair cut. Went home. Dyed it chocolate brown. It might look crap but it tastes yummy....<br /><br />Feeling ok. Sad, but ok. Life will go on.sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-20968205132365405352008-10-15T23:23:00.004+01:002008-10-15T23:31:49.040+01:00A musical weekend..part twoSunday evening saw me taking my little friend Mandy to my favourite folk club..well, she is a friend's daughter, she is 23 and we get on like a house on fire, and I used to teach her the guitar, I introduced her to folk music. She said she had never been to a folk club so I treated her to an evening<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurzb27dvGkxpeotjLmeqMDPSD-m4JdJudoaj09eItcAGCE5yiORMCurhj4Izi5iFxH0g5-OtG21xEddqc-QYmPqB6qkHzMm1f9lQvqtWQpPqh3ktdl_nhEUIBii1VOwF5QPDl/s1600-h/Togetheralone.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257510004473777634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurzb27dvGkxpeotjLmeqMDPSD-m4JdJudoaj09eItcAGCE5yiORMCurhj4Izi5iFxH0g5-OtG21xEddqc-QYmPqB6qkHzMm1f9lQvqtWQpPqh3ktdl_nhEUIBii1VOwF5QPDl/s320/Togetheralone.jpg" border="0" /></a> with Chris While and Julie Matthews, two of the most talented singer songwriters I have ever heard. They put all of their life experiences into their songs and sing them from the heart..... the chorus of one sing cut me to the quick..<br />'How can I go on? How can I manage? When loving you leaves me like storm damage?' Come on girls, we can all identify with that....<br /><br />I had to buy their new album, Together Alone, and I can play it in the car while I am driving..did I mention I was driving again???? I saw the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lvoely</span> <a href="http://www.therollercoasteroflife.blogspot.com/">Caroline</a> there..a pleasure as always, and it's good to share a hug....sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-25256691411525832862008-10-12T14:00:00.000+01:002008-10-15T23:22:35.396+01:00A musical weekend....part one<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3zboYnq0ojfD6bK31ldhZXO5ABKbXzHxupOjKVAL7ifGy59U7NvMNg4ZSVwEPBf1w9P8-VzMqiRcmaPsWz8verVwBv5Z6tERoIYvDO5MdtfAyUFcck5gkU2ZtHLY0DnWgJmu/s1600-h/Motown5.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257507211936252274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3zboYnq0ojfD6bK31ldhZXO5ABKbXzHxupOjKVAL7ifGy59U7NvMNg4ZSVwEPBf1w9P8-VzMqiRcmaPsWz8verVwBv5Z6tERoIYvDO5MdtfAyUFcck5gkU2ZtHLY0DnWgJmu/s320/Motown5.gif" border="0" /></a> I was shopping in town with Laura when I got the call..was I free to do <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">followspot</span> that night? I hadn't done <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">followspot</span> for about two years, where at one time I was working at the theatre two or three nights a week....I just gradually cut down until I didn't go any more, and they stopped asking me. You must be desperate if you're asking me, was my response! Well, yes.... Oh, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ok</span>, I had nothing else to do with my Saturday night, and for £5.90 an hour..how could I refuse? By the way, what's the show? The Motown show. Oh, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ok</span>, bring it on....<br /><br />So I squeezed into my theatre blacks, and went to work. I forgot how hot and tiring it was standing, concentrating and pointing a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">followspot</span> at various lead singers who move out of range the minute you take your eye off the ball.. or the singer. The music was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ok</span>...I remembered all the songs the first time round in the 1960s and 70s. One side of my face burnt from the heat of the lamp, the other side was pressed against the wall air conditioning unit which was pouring out freezing cold air, and occasionally, when I had the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">followspot</span> at a certain angle, my head was trapped between the two. The show was due to come down at 10pm, but they managed to drag it out until twenty to eleven. Too much talking.<br /><br />The rest of the crew were moaning about the get-out, the amount of equipment there was to pack up, lift off the stage (no lift or ramp) and load into the truck..they would be there until way gone midnight. I used to do all that. Now I thought, bugger it, too tired, I was only asked to do follow spot so I gave my apologies, too old, too tired, too feeble, signed my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">timesheet</span>, and drove home. Did I mention I was driving again? Oh the independence of it.....<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Y83N3FLAd-ZC1HRd3zWMwupDWF8cvbYw02-xkdzLxP4S6YMSaaHIWSNT5LmV_2ARHiZ-qvYRRNZNW66pnjXmXctGpbVrgbn6IxdzSHMK3Zt6AVBiwUtR9uWEHvhKI4RxVRa0/s1600-h/Togetheralone.jpg"></a>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-7280790988943375592008-10-06T22:52:00.000+01:002008-10-15T22:59:57.340+01:00Holiday snaps....A few shots from the holiday in Crete...or should I say on Crete?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHQXXQrxL9oMi1GMBC2jJt77gCVYpV4au2PySbEMQN8vyEB5CvqGyu3BwTZ1ew5u6t9p1zP7hkyfmdHnw0EB-JtpjqxkjmrVsMDsm30k8o7MZ1K2QSHy0nQNdcwB4VH8l9NiN/s1600-h/almirida+beach.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257502739821074082" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHQXXQrxL9oMi1GMBC2jJt77gCVYpV4au2PySbEMQN8vyEB5CvqGyu3BwTZ1ew5u6t9p1zP7hkyfmdHnw0EB-JtpjqxkjmrVsMDsm30k8o7MZ1K2QSHy0nQNdcwB4VH8l9NiN/s320/almirida+beach.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The beach......<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhgMywReOfqVQTvasJ_ywYbc3NzRBH9GLmySIRCrBJPxRbm1MXjLzWsKKAqh7vepSG3imQsJvzryloLXFBLsrftntJuRnB706s760GsojmCok8d2QJ5-j3-P2lrXZjXz2oSpd/s1600-h/cat+at+the+door.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257502748384441538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhgMywReOfqVQTvasJ_ywYbc3NzRBH9GLmySIRCrBJPxRbm1MXjLzWsKKAqh7vepSG3imQsJvzryloLXFBLsrftntJuRnB706s760GsojmCok8d2QJ5-j3-P2lrXZjXz2oSpd/s320/cat+at+the+door.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Our adopted cat waiting for her morning milk...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uPxXWKV8G5FHPGaId8bUviJRgCgBqWdJf5SCdLBtyfmMPjQufWojU0bm4Tei70MmMjDai_qsU2XYuT-60xjzeJKCr5zYaCfh8F8nEGkHIA4HEd1P5Uj75ts-PuOmS3-9KGjo/s1600-h/cat+on+my+lounger+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257502747145661234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uPxXWKV8G5FHPGaId8bUviJRgCgBqWdJf5SCdLBtyfmMPjQufWojU0bm4Tei70MmMjDai_qsU2XYuT-60xjzeJKCr5zYaCfh8F8nEGkHIA4HEd1P5Uj75ts-PuOmS3-9KGjo/s320/cat+on+my+lounger+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Our adopted cat keeping my sun lounger warm for me....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjSKhgmHesKT48PvZy-Zr2rwUbQ6ndCOwV31A0XdMnF6wO-ayp0VI1o1xewwb7Y0-5C_MJhxDsO4ajYgAg4HmCt5GjblE9hs4gH7nQI4VEHf3VdTGE8VXx69jkXYwOEXDCpW6/s1600-h/light+through+the+clouds.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257502752390391762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjSKhgmHesKT48PvZy-Zr2rwUbQ6ndCOwV31A0XdMnF6wO-ayp0VI1o1xewwb7Y0-5C_MJhxDsO4ajYgAg4HmCt5GjblE9hs4gH7nQI4VEHf3VdTGE8VXx69jkXYwOEXDCpW6/s320/light+through+the+clouds.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />the sun breaking through the clouds, making the small village below look biblically chosen...sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-31289028065748983172008-10-03T03:58:00.003+01:002008-10-03T04:12:20.983+01:00And I must share this too...While I am in the sharing mood, (see below first for an entry written before this one!) remember that festival we did in the summer? The one we worked so hard for, over 18 months, then delivered over two weeks in June? Our first big paid gig? The one I said was a professional success but personal disaster? Our business relationship was not working, D was too busy up north with other work, our business was being neglected: I'm not going into detail but I was sick of the stress of things not done, invoices unpaid, e-mails not answered, being told things <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">were done</span> when they weren't, people contacting me all the time to sort the sh*t out, so I decided at the very time we spent two weeks together delivering the festival that I could take no more. This would be our first and last gig.<br /><br />It was successful, and the organisers we worked for were very pleased, said thank you a lot etc. Last week one of the committee wrote us an official letter giving us 'official' feedback that we could use as a reference to get other business, hey, we can put it on our website that is still being built....<br /><br />Here I am in the painful process of winding up the partnership, and I read this letter:<br /><br /><em>Dear S and D,</em><br /><em>Following our review of the festival I write on behalf of the festival Venue group and the whole management committee to thank you most sincerely for your work in helping make r*****h festival such a success.<br />Your experience, knowledge and professional advice and guidance through the planning stage were invaluable and the training of volunteers, licence application, site planning, obtaining quotations and placing orders for the site set up etc were all excellent.<br />The site management throughout the whole festival, including setting up and removal, was really good, your management style and lively personalities created a great atmosphere – ‘under control but enthusiastic and enjoyable for all who worked with you’ – well done.<br />Thank you for everything – we could not have done it without you and will certainly come back to you again.</em><br /><p>Did this make me cry? Of course. Isn't life a bugger?sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-15595186996146327912008-10-03T03:29:00.002+01:002008-10-03T03:54:50.986+01:00Mood swings update....The fact that I am writing this entry at three in the morning should give you some sort of clue..back to the not sleeping. The fact that this got worse during my week's holiday in Crete goes against <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">everyone's</span> advice; 'Relax, enjoy, sleep well..' etc.<br /><br />Yes I has been busy before I went. The summer of festivals was over, I had loads to catch up on in the office, reports to write, meetings to attend, an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">AGM</span> to prepare for, a two day residential conference to attend, late nights, then a mad dash home on the Friday to unpack one bag, pack another and jump in a taxi/onto a train to head to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Gatwick</span> for our flight.<br /><br />So yes, in theory I needed to relax and unwind. But theory is one thing. Sometimes keeping busy is the best medicine. Having nothing to do, no place to go, time to stop and relax means time to think. And more time to think. Lots and lots of 'stuff' coming up in one's head. And no space ( in a small one room apartment serving as lounge/kitchen/bedroom) to be alone. No-one 'appropriate' to talk to. So I read four books in five days. Kept reading to keep the mind occupied. Tried to sleep. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Texted</span> people back home more than was healthy. Couldn't sleep with all that was going round in my head. <br /><br />And so it has continued on my return home. Routine: bed at 11pm. Sleep. Then wake at 1am, 3am, 5am and then give up. Or tonight: bed at 10.30pm (exhausted after little sleep the previous night) sleep, then wake at 12.30am, 2.30am...3am get up and make tea, bring laptop to bed, decide to write instead of tossing and turning.<br /><br />I was doing quite well, considering. Feeling strong. Decided to cut down on the anti depressants I started again in January. Went from one a day to one every other day. Was still doing quite well. Then I didn't take enough on holiday and had one tablet every three days. Considering that I was away from my usual support network (friends!) and still very sad from losing Sophie dog, maybe that didn't help. I was so bad by the time I got back from holiday I went back to one a day for three days, now I am cutting back again to one every other day. Yes I am suffering mood swings again, yes I am very very tearful, but I am also getting too hot - so is it hormonal, menopausal, and so it will just pass?<br /><br />It's a long time since I wrote so personally in my blog: I felt it had got too personal, and too damn depressing! But tonight I wanted to talk. The past 5 months have been tough. Bloody tough. And to be very honest to, I am having counselling again at the moment, to try to help me sort myself out. I had to wait, from getting back from holiday last Saturday, until today, or rather yesterday, Thursday before I could go and let out all the pain in a safe space. I bloody hate paying good money to someone to watch me crying.<br /><br />Some changes are happening. I am resigning from the business, the forms are in the post. I am asking my business partner to change the business name,as I don't want him to carry on with 'our' name. This going to cause him inconvenience but it is better than winding up the business completely. I have been very grown up, I met with our accountant who is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">lvoely</span>, for him to explain all the hard, grown up business/financial implications for me. Instead of partners, we will both become sole traders, independent. Painful, but necessary.<br /><br />Forgive the rambling. Hey, I get my licence back at midnight on Saturday! I am having a celebration/thank you party on Saturday evening to say thank you to all the people who have been driving me about for the past six months. I am making myself do it, and am pleased I am. People been good to me over the past six months, in so many ways. I need to say thank you. Then I can drive again (yes, I know, slow down and stay off the whisky)... independence beckons...<br /><br />If you have been, thank you for listening.sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-4475932190980653742008-09-16T22:45:00.003+01:002008-09-16T22:58:59.470+01:00Let this be a lesson to you....<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3ut5oA5zZUSASY7Yu7ziMzOJfjHAS5t8AtirBrK6y-SBGdas_P1b1RD1QT6A_I2YkLvwLh1OhCJJOIGMQoEagmghtDRejkvNJCcfvBtyweiRGzzwAGL5Crd_JJVhzRljkwrV/s1600-h/mystery+pic+08.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246739012913208130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3ut5oA5zZUSASY7Yu7ziMzOJfjHAS5t8AtirBrK6y-SBGdas_P1b1RD1QT6A_I2YkLvwLh1OhCJJOIGMQoEagmghtDRejkvNJCcfvBtyweiRGzzwAGL5Crd_JJVhzRljkwrV/s320/mystery+pic+08.jpg" border="0" /></a> Yes, look and learn, getting drunk and being silly can damage your health..or someone <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">else's</span>....<br /><div></div><br /><div>This is a picture of a certain part of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">someone's</span> anatomy damaged by a large, flying, yellow builders' bucket. dropped from a great height on the poor unsuspecting victim below. Well, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ok</span>, he had been hitting himself over the head with various objects a few moments earlier, but still...</div><div></div><br /><div>yes, there we were, in the beer tent at the end of the muddy Sugar Hill Festival. They were all drinking alcohol. I was on orange juice. Then.</div><div></div><br /><div>The cause of the injury was not the usual implement, of choice, a metal tea tray. take a look at the cut: this had another cause..after the head in question had been struck by a tray, a large cardboard tube, and other random objects, a fellow reveller delivered the final (almost fatal) blow by climbing up on the beer casks and dropping a large yellow plastic builders bucket from a great height. </div><div></div><br /><div>The resulting trauma and bloodshed had Geoff (for it was he, of 'FROLICKING' fame) drop to his knees, from which position I was able to stem the blood flow with a tissue, and clasp the injured party to my bosom, where he stayed quiet for some time. When the gathered motley crew had stopped laughing, Geoff's silence and lack of movement caused some concern, and so a couple were moved to ask if he was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ok</span>. After a short pause, a muffled voice from my bosom replied, 'No! I'm suffocating,' after which I released him and restored him to his feet.<br /><br />Now let that be an end to it. NO MORE TRAYS. SOMEONE WILL GET KILLED. OR BE HORRIBLY INJURED. AND END UP IN MY BOSOM.<br /><br />As Geoff was heard to say, death by suffocation is highly preferable to death by concussion.....<br /><br />A little later, back in the caravan, after a little more alcohol had been drunk, and I had popped a little JD and brandy in my coffee, and got ever so <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">slightly</span> giggly, Geoff went to sit in the camping chair as I was trying to encourage him and his friend to leave (it was 3am...) 'What part of bugger off do you not understand?' I said, drink loosening my tongue. Hysterical laughter and a feeling of weakness led Geoff to try sitting in this position..... <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS45AmNSzAr4smdAZTw6qDAxbHJI1Jgaaw00sAKTsjOCJ3x6xEMWUl5pLXPnraESRrO5UVS25_1FZEu93I58geOXiUdwBeWFvKhnIF91BxUc6_vLP7dwzuGvp5EvsqfMGS2W81/s1600-h/geoff+in+caravan+08.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246741554530303282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS45AmNSzAr4smdAZTw6qDAxbHJI1Jgaaw00sAKTsjOCJ3x6xEMWUl5pLXPnraESRrO5UVS25_1FZEu93I58geOXiUdwBeWFvKhnIF91BxUc6_vLP7dwzuGvp5EvsqfMGS2W81/s320/geoff+in+caravan+08.jpg" border="0" /></a>either that, or he was trying to put his injured head in the oven.....</div><div> </div><div>and they didn't leave until almost 4.30am....</div></div>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-46102726388380426022008-09-14T18:40:00.002+01:002008-09-14T19:12:05.357+01:00More music....I wrote about going to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Cropredy</span>, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Fairport</span> Convention Annual Festival, with the ever patient Shaun and his little pop-up (and his tent....) and I hinted that I intended to write more about the music....well now seems a good time....<br /><br />I was more than a little excited to discover that a band called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Stackridge</span> was playing... I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">delved</span> into my wardrobe and pulled out my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Stackridge</span> T shirt and looked lovingly at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">LPs</span> I purchased in the 1970s. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Stackridge</span> was a Bristol based band I met through a school friend, and I went to a few gigs with them, even going out couple of times with the drummer, Billy, until drama school in Manchester called, and we lost touch...<br /><br />The band broke up soon after, a mix of intense creative personalities falling out, and also a failure to 'make it' in the music business despite a loyal following: their music was different, couldn't be pigeon holed and didn't have a place in mainstream : I remember their first single, Dora the Female Explorer, (really..) being reviewed by Annie Nightingale on Radio One, and she just made fun of it and dismissed them: I hated her from that moment on.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Stackridge</span> made history: they <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">turned</span> up uninvited at a small music festival near <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Shepton</span> Mallet one year, and were lucky enough to be asked to play: unbeknown to them they opened the very first Glastonbury Festival!!! This year, having reformed, they played again at Glastonbury and went down a storm.<br /><br />So it was that I left my usual place half way up the arena, and dressed in my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Stackridge</span> T shirt, I pressed myself against the pit barrier and felt <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">myself</span> fill with joy and nostalgia as the opening notes of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Lummy</span> Days hit me: I was not alone, there were many joyful <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Stackridge</span> fans in the crowd, and we were all singing along to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Marzo</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Slark</span>: the band were as brilliant as ever, and maybe now their peculiar brand of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">prog</span> rock/folk will find a home on the festival circuit.<br /><br />Billy is no longer with them, or Mike, but four original members are still with the band. I thought, I'd love to say hello, but I was a slip of a girl of 17 when I knew them: I'm now an older fatter 55, and they won't recognise me, sadly.... then they came on stage, and I was shocked by the line up of old men! Long flowing locks of dark hair have been replaced by grey, and gone completely to bald heads..I am not the only one to feel the ravages of time.<br /><br />But the joy of their music speaks for itself: and I hope I see them at more festivals next summer. I did speak to them, and no they didn't remember me, (why should they!) (Billy would of course....) but they were friendly and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">lvoely</span> and pleased to be remembered and back in business.<br /><br />Have a listen. Prepare to be amazed. Let tears fall at the story of Percy the Penguin, or Syracuse the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Elephant</span>....<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9c9GpHeuXdk&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9c9GpHeuXdk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-86175307835160192042008-09-13T00:31:00.004+01:002008-09-13T00:44:33.946+01:00Now listen.....<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Er6du7KEQhA&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Er6du7KEQhA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-77976634029784699122008-09-11T22:26:00.002+01:002008-09-11T22:35:08.678+01:00Last tears...if onlyThese are the last tears I'm gonna cry for you<br />My <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">cryin's</span> through I'm moving on<br />I don't regret and won't forget<br />A single thing that we went through<br />But there are the last tears I'm gonna cry for you<br /><br />You take things so much easier than I do<br />And you could live your life without me if you had to<br />And you believe that in the end it all works out right<br />And I might if not for you<br />And if you ask which one lives just alone for love<br />I do.<br /><br />There was a time when all signs pointed to the warm south<br />The planets all lined up and built a new house<br />And everything we talked about felt like a prophecy<br />And when you looked at me they all came true<br />And if you asked which one wants to go the distance<br />I do.<br /><br />I'm gonna rack my mind one last time until I cannot think<br />I'm gonna dip into your memory and take a good stiff drink<br />And when I'm drunk on the last drop of sadness about how we went wrong<br />I'm gonna play this song<br />Make some coffee black and strong<br />Give thanks for healing time<br />And finally make up my mind....<br /><br />These are the last tears I'm gonna cry for you<br />My <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">cryin's</span> through I'm moving on.<br /><br />I don't regret a single thing??? Oh, but I do. God give me the strength to walk away.sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-91050900139265459902008-09-10T23:11:00.002+01:002008-09-10T23:17:56.280+01:00Mud mud glorious mud....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBg8kzwgeRVh1ErNhDRz7WQD8CiWcs_9zqng1VwAmRJ8xmIoup9yRARWy_sv7wbHwFE-KKRiaHktFsnjPCgPO4eSDRH4h_xtZ1sTUHGIjrkjYsBHdPe1-nHf-dw-_FiO_cm1W/s1600-h/big+top+and+mud+08.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244520310148965906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBg8kzwgeRVh1ErNhDRz7WQD8CiWcs_9zqng1VwAmRJ8xmIoup9yRARWy_sv7wbHwFE-KKRiaHktFsnjPCgPO4eSDRH4h_xtZ1sTUHGIjrkjYsBHdPe1-nHf-dw-_FiO_cm1W/s320/big+top+and+mud+08.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4uwOtbVgHm7D8ct5qsnb5e8aJA-NUg_p_qjcwTEIq6xeGgRpKdLSv8wgaYtl9azXpc19vT1seYdfPn87uxbd6iIjo3ohYLcuE1D4u70_6fxCAWXzf57tnVwOuPvUVFAsesgu/s1600-h/muddy+footprints+08.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244520314727115570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4uwOtbVgHm7D8ct5qsnb5e8aJA-NUg_p_qjcwTEIq6xeGgRpKdLSv8wgaYtl9azXpc19vT1seYdfPn87uxbd6iIjo3ohYLcuE1D4u70_6fxCAWXzf57tnVwOuPvUVFAsesgu/s320/muddy+footprints+08.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6gsYgP-Uj27a8nepkoRmB77LSrGsDXlHX2Zw1sdeQzuIFPnDW3RKEtjWIGnL5-TiVKWOScpTd08WtxnDROEMC380jykREq5JDmgO-Y1c58D1EPmFcjgy2kcwoiRgXK1XwjsP/s1600-h/tom+baxter+2+08.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244520318080420226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6gsYgP-Uj27a8nepkoRmB77LSrGsDXlHX2Zw1sdeQzuIFPnDW3RKEtjWIGnL5-TiVKWOScpTd08WtxnDROEMC380jykREq5JDmgO-Y1c58D1EPmFcjgy2kcwoiRgXK1XwjsP/s320/tom+baxter+2+08.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgMpS0m0Ca6veG74XxblZrU5rVb_JRAVy9WB8C14vnwuAM34gs2-b3ZpxeB_A6RvJp1UdxjvwDoXvzUOYWTNT1f4Z8HqzASUFR9_VZfOUS8AWBdtdBK8d9l0bBhDLL0AIIHQz/s1600-h/punters+braving+mud+08.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244520324584635442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgMpS0m0Ca6veG74XxblZrU5rVb_JRAVy9WB8C14vnwuAM34gs2-b3ZpxeB_A6RvJp1UdxjvwDoXvzUOYWTNT1f4Z8HqzASUFR9_VZfOUS8AWBdtdBK8d9l0bBhDLL0AIIHQz/s320/punters+braving+mud+08.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Mmmm</span>.last festival of the season..my hopes for an Indian summer (whatever that is) proved in vain. Cold, wet, muddy...yep that just about sums it up. That, and a lack of punters. many who did brave the mud, cold, wind and rain of Friday and Saturday, just packed up and left on Sunday morning, you can't blame them, but it meant Beth <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Rowley</span> and Tom Baxter played to very few people in the Big Top!! But they were true pros and carried on..Imelda May was also amazing..... will Sugar Hill happen next year? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Mmmm</span>...conversations needed, sums to be done. Watch this space...</div><br /><div></div>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-83894357241318452252008-09-01T19:02:00.005+01:002008-09-01T19:09:33.847+01:00Bye, Sophie dog.....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTEhxJehbX1cb5NgxQr6bNPxTET1w5g2Jpe8DBlzGCD-t5XnzuLb8Dm7b4ostb_9N4xs9BZKI9zPhzO6LJHAr09meUQVs4ZoApJtrcpY8VftcNb8cczMi6rX9G8FvX_cEjZ0N/s1600-h/spring+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241116643680899122" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTEhxJehbX1cb5NgxQr6bNPxTET1w5g2Jpe8DBlzGCD-t5XnzuLb8Dm7b4ostb_9N4xs9BZKI9zPhzO6LJHAr09meUQVs4ZoApJtrcpY8VftcNb8cczMi6rX9G8FvX_cEjZ0N/s320/spring+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qYJMdKl5VYpMLsIyyHHBm9AUQm_5wfptGjdSC5xAaRcjgfjfUEo_YbVkPbw5HYET0IiDVX0CNYqpkP0QtP4Nb0J_fzo0wShuIir2AtJAw_dtX-DC5cSeFtbeusQKlzZK_jnP/s1600-h/sophie+2+0608.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241116126501987746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qYJMdKl5VYpMLsIyyHHBm9AUQm_5wfptGjdSC5xAaRcjgfjfUEo_YbVkPbw5HYET0IiDVX0CNYqpkP0QtP4Nb0J_fzo0wShuIir2AtJAw_dtX-DC5cSeFtbeusQKlzZK_jnP/s320/sophie+2+0608.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIyTlcT61oCBIoWg8UzVXgTf54FvfFzRHBFmE8BwXziFs_b1zyDamIRB2aITnmlEfpBr4yhyphenhyphencmg39bwv2y3p1YM_0yzdiWI14vtUvzUEMbwDvfojVBkoDgq8hSCbr1nuAUBQH/s1600-h/sophie+jan+08.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241116132802059666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIyTlcT61oCBIoWg8UzVXgTf54FvfFzRHBFmE8BwXziFs_b1zyDamIRB2aITnmlEfpBr4yhyphenhyphencmg39bwv2y3p1YM_0yzdiWI14vtUvzUEMbwDvfojVBkoDgq8hSCbr1nuAUBQH/s320/sophie+jan+08.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5M1fxXb7tHsYCXmDdv9tZ-YU932wnYcQ1olUU25OANgM9pcSmJQzaohMRGlGZ8qocsFoAePLD8lAckIi9R_h2gBNr2lhURpmg0zhxLRiD2DrWPeaDUsZqwsODZhw6jkcsYU9/s1600-h/sophie+rolling+0608.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241115684480032386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5M1fxXb7tHsYCXmDdv9tZ-YU932wnYcQ1olUU25OANgM9pcSmJQzaohMRGlGZ8qocsFoAePLD8lAckIi9R_h2gBNr2lhURpmg0zhxLRiD2DrWPeaDUsZqwsODZhw6jkcsYU9/s320/sophie+rolling+0608.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXn8muVHNqoqoIzqXRvRULm9GiSsmm61ovHReYSKoj9nXk4xiR6ZNYNJmQbPAjwsgQpD-ij-p6IFEBHoH3SZ68fgFS_m55cxVedM_DGjDxeZWm_NuDaBVHcqNvljI2c7h9REOb/s1600-h/sophie+0508.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div>Bye little friend. Best friend for over 15 years. We'll miss you.</div></div></div></div>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-62363581628870482522008-08-05T22:39:00.003+01:002008-08-16T23:01:28.590+01:00Another day, another festival....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhJqgInFBi4m8AXXL13O7tOdQFeR9a_ua2AaX3wz9nGclT6MBXjQdz-4c95RjASq-ntEzbaH3ONFOJZSkQBSUwDWZ5WGgfuGcKFmAKKBofJFZmisURTmPCzdFJkBsBsMH8t1t/s1600-h/cropredy+crowd.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235238923932358146" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 179px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 124px" height="163" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhJqgInFBi4m8AXXL13O7tOdQFeR9a_ua2AaX3wz9nGclT6MBXjQdz-4c95RjASq-ntEzbaH3ONFOJZSkQBSUwDWZ5WGgfuGcKFmAKKBofJFZmisURTmPCzdFJkBsBsMH8t1t/s320/cropredy+crowd.jpg" width="233" border="0" /></a> After a few days back at work, facing long days at my desk in the office, as opposed to outside in the fresh air running about on site, I felt the need to go to another festival..this time as a punter..,and with the offer of free tickets and backstage camping pass, it would be churlish to turn it down!<br /><br />But..no-one to go with, and not wishing to be Sally no-mates, or inflict myself on others where I may not be wanted (and I may not want to either!) I got another ticket and pass for a friend...invited him to join me... and the answer was yes! Hooray! Shaun, one of the evil twins had come good, and was going to be my festival buddy!!!!<br /><br />Having made my usual plans, packed my little tent and got ready to go, I remembered I still can't drive (only 2 months to go!) so had to rethink..train? With a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, duvet, pillow, tent, clothes...I think not..so I asked the long suffering other half to take me there, which he did. (Anything to get rid of me for the weekend...) Shaun met us at the site gate and watched in horror as an entire car load of my stuff was transferred to his car..as he pointed out, I had taken more for 2 nights that he does for an entire week at GB... well, I am a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">girly</span>....<br /><br />Actually my tent had come on with an advance party, who had also put it up for me, bless them, it normally takes me an hour or more on my own. I offered to help Shaun put up his tent next to mine. He unzipped a little bag and something flew out and expanded in mid air and landed...a tent. 'There you go,' said Shaun, knocking in a couple of tent pegs, it took all of a minute and a half. Clever sod.<br /><br />It was time to walk round to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">mainstage</span>.. only a minute's walk as we were conveniently camped backstage (friends in all the right places you know....) and Shaun looked on stunned again, as I handed him two chairs (I forgot the rug, damn) and carried a cool box and picnic bag and another carrier bag of food..laden down we headed off, Shaun grumbling at the amount of stuff. 'Stop moaning,' I said, 'People will think we're married....' I know it seemed a bit of a middle-aged way of going to a festival, but he settled himself in a chair, and accepted lunch when the time came... a wonderful picnic.<br /><br />The bands? The music? Now that's another story.sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-59123009032397898112008-08-01T18:51:00.000+01:002008-08-13T21:58:47.670+01:00More festival pics....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNo_lD7plav-ybAQ9Xl1VmPPDoWYEDQ-jv-OYaW_11bgbHXq5fO8vU_02UriAJVBe5p0vfGtj07WQu4nUzaflE5weIpDLsxo1QcAzoz6bLkOFFGHE97xt_td1jYQWkAMH233UD/s1600-h/toughtalk+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234062940777360610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNo_lD7plav-ybAQ9Xl1VmPPDoWYEDQ-jv-OYaW_11bgbHXq5fO8vU_02UriAJVBe5p0vfGtj07WQu4nUzaflE5weIpDLsxo1QcAzoz6bLkOFFGHE97xt_td1jYQWkAMH233UD/s320/toughtalk+1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGesXPf2lE6lvBRsHr3E7zsAjMlTG8jyrW0asL1d_y0cMsfdDGmv6-v27ZX_WiUQigNEAB36mToVqBJd-AwgweAXduWcXxycQ3-SICK6P5gaiqniSY1bi7ImGgYnwuOiyOca9e/s1600-h/henry+olonga+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234062941007158850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGesXPf2lE6lvBRsHr3E7zsAjMlTG8jyrW0asL1d_y0cMsfdDGmv6-v27ZX_WiUQigNEAB36mToVqBJd-AwgweAXduWcXxycQ3-SICK6P5gaiqniSY1bi7ImGgYnwuOiyOca9e/s320/henry+olonga+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxrHESfaQI9SXVuEyoueyAygyDgO1BCninkbbCk4X1zUTVjDwgxvMioci5OFNaM3wFCsHkTnQNyivwjkvOhVY8Z5MFoio2BK74QaqK6P5f4lqcSaRW22GZyI9COa-OAO-7A8l/s1600-h/lcgc+4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234062940335414130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxrHESfaQI9SXVuEyoueyAygyDgO1BCninkbbCk4X1zUTVjDwgxvMioci5OFNaM3wFCsHkTnQNyivwjkvOhVY8Z5MFoio2BK74QaqK6P5f4lqcSaRW22GZyI9COa-OAO-7A8l/s320/lcgc+4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oF6r_A9SnybHdnxUro3pXty1PTrMNFu81Ixhals0FquF4qWbVn1hRTYjfMpnZCpBlZqoe5mUNBUPZ1o896mKhyphenhyphenInkCaDFsJZTvUbc7K4Tmh-Vi6XpOigbT1Bv1EtLLSXC7CL/s1600-h/children's+concert+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234062073884021202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oF6r_A9SnybHdnxUro3pXty1PTrMNFu81Ixhals0FquF4qWbVn1hRTYjfMpnZCpBlZqoe5mUNBUPZ1o896mKhyphenhyphenInkCaDFsJZTvUbc7K4Tmh-Vi6XpOigbT1Bv1EtLLSXC7CL/s320/children's+concert+2.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-97lbrkmkHZPGjSRdFFCeJoXCinMk0lF0FhD2pYFX7R8i2b4Qeasgp0cb0hw7SgvO-r60kWy1UqL_3hcgTVWBVweV_rwX641zrwRBrqo3VZTWC44OAqyLIBvbs0l2YOzhWJeV/s1600-h/godspell+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234062086907080418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-97lbrkmkHZPGjSRdFFCeJoXCinMk0lF0FhD2pYFX7R8i2b4Qeasgp0cb0hw7SgvO-r60kWy1UqL_3hcgTVWBVweV_rwX641zrwRBrqo3VZTWC44OAqyLIBvbs0l2YOzhWJeV/s320/godspell+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJNgqMCWPyji2fikXubY4JvnbKfhz3UxdxuG26wRA1xvxSjsK_eDVrjbgafNa4tkkMXYVXgGZEzCVh_WdlPeylx-P7atbNbyBNmvtEoE38VbAZwYE3oiYBp43THhT8X-7ohwd/s1600-h/get+out+day+2.jpg"></a><br />More pics....audience cafe style, enthralled by Tough Talk: ex-cricketer Henry <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Olonga</span> singing - what a voice! Spot my excellent camera skills, showing him in close up on screen.... London Community Gospel Choir, a sell-out .... the schools' choirs night, with over 300 children taking part!!! And <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Godspell</span>, which was a brilliant performance... took me back to my days as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ASM</span> of the national tour....</div><div> </div><div>The committee report this week highlighted the good things about the festival, and the best was 'having a highly professional event management company produce the festival, without whose hard work and contribution, they couldn't have done it.. and they would use us <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">again</span>.' Oh well. Maybe not! But I am a bit proud of what we achieved.<br /><br /></div><div></div>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-23196525540347891602008-07-25T23:54:00.000+01:002008-08-03T00:06:36.009+01:00So much good...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxr7SrDJz8AAGuI1v33sdm9PqrfU3pY5wriV2rpkBti21yukkoFc1XcRBJJQpQK-MHGJuHZyjzUdMP9eBSg5gtS7C4nWkRiG-xfm08YOLtdfZmpXdTVlYRdpZRe5qVNaaDI69L/s1600-h/book+review+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230060060582439394" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxr7SrDJz8AAGuI1v33sdm9PqrfU3pY5wriV2rpkBti21yukkoFc1XcRBJJQpQK-MHGJuHZyjzUdMP9eBSg5gtS7C4nWkRiG-xfm08YOLtdfZmpXdTVlYRdpZRe5qVNaaDI69L/s320/book+review+1.jpg" border="0" /></a> ..and so much bad at the festival. For me anyway. Professionally, the culmination of 18 months of planning and meetings, organising, decision making, site design, licence issues..so it goes on. But we did it. And we did it bloody well.<br /><div></div><br /><div>What we have worked towards since setting up the business two years ago. So much potential. The first major piece of work for us..and now most likely, the last. Question is, do I simply resign from the business, or do I request that it be dissolved, or disbanded, or whatever it is you do to a business? Cos SAND is Sally and David....and if I am not to be part of it any more, then I think it should cease to exist. But what happens to all the business things, the bank accounts, the assets, the debts.....it is very, very sad.</div><div></div><br /><div>However, some more pics of the festival to end on a high note..apart from the major evening events, there were day time events, and we designed the marquee space so it could be split into two halves, or one half and two quarters, with round tables and bistro chairs, so the coffee bar could have that intimate feel...every day there was a chair aerobics session - I joined in briefly while D took a picture, but then we had to run away cos we weren't taking it very seriously....there was a talk every day, a charity of teh day, a book review and a lunch time concert, as well as tea, coffee and cakes. It was very successful, well attended, and I heard some good stuff here, very moving and very apt.</div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHikbi7_XXfBXyHeetZokAUOp17DBkgjfciOiGi_9dO7O12EFD_FbYb-amqyDVIvbpW3xKahIHvTBkyO0LBOHcSYtZBextxBtEBYtNAdN15F5nmswcFgoXqMQLIcfiCepBtmQ/s1600-h/chair+aerobics+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230060063794552306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHikbi7_XXfBXyHeetZokAUOp17DBkgjfciOiGi_9dO7O12EFD_FbYb-amqyDVIvbpW3xKahIHvTBkyO0LBOHcSYtZBextxBtEBYtNAdN15F5nmswcFgoXqMQLIcfiCepBtmQ/s320/chair+aerobics+2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8XL_GUaefCg1tB98e0PcAgehmivXAxTRHN_t6pRfOHkppp2d-yzjDit2YDVk_7IOM0p_e2oHNTZu_8BCyPeeA5JPFDK9ru2ESAfA9hnQN0DHY45tinS5urBjPhwde4RNQ2Hh/s1600-h/lunch+time+concert+6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230060063878134834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8XL_GUaefCg1tB98e0PcAgehmivXAxTRHN_t6pRfOHkppp2d-yzjDit2YDVk_7IOM0p_e2oHNTZu_8BCyPeeA5JPFDK9ru2ESAfA9hnQN0DHY45tinS5urBjPhwde4RNQ2Hh/s320/lunch+time+concert+6.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>Spot me doing chair aerobics...and the lunchtime concert with the Salvation Army sextet..excellent.....</div>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-72971496522133732252008-07-23T00:11:00.002+01:002008-07-29T19:52:36.160+01:00And so it begins...After three days of site building, three fun days in which it all started to come together, three days of having teams of volunteers arriving and helping out and making friends..two days of which it didn't rain, and we ate outside in the sunshine, retired to the caravan to eat and relax at night, made friends with Andy the scary biker security guy who turned out to be lovely and greeted me each evening with a big hug, and who came into the caravan late at night for cups of tea before guarding us all night...the Big Guy who found me crying one night and just wrapped his arms round me and said, Sally, You're <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lvoely</span>....and he looked out for me every evening and was the only Atheist on site but the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">lovliest</span>. Thank you Andy.<br /><div></div><div><br /></div><div>The sound and lighting guys turned up. Dan and John, what characters, what a laugh we had..they all liked a drink back in the caravan after work....I stuck to cups of tea or coffee (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">except</span> one night, more of that later...)</div><div></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-tYnrHTuiqxUjQLNdlVK733rynBocRy-F4ZRnOyeGhGTpo4VLS78emwuo1RGUt_NZ0neczfthWk2ZxWnyruR9b-B0wX9rgb9XTKrWXww6tgtfD0qE2mkoWXq1gJjRLium9za/s1600-h/yfriday+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227468488086250098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-tYnrHTuiqxUjQLNdlVK733rynBocRy-F4ZRnOyeGhGTpo4VLS78emwuo1RGUt_NZ0neczfthWk2ZxWnyruR9b-B0wX9rgb9XTKrWXww6tgtfD0qE2mkoWXq1gJjRLium9za/s320/yfriday+1.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div><div></div><div>Then it began, the first Saturday night, the Youth gig, with the live bands, and my teams of volunteers turned up, I briefed them, kitted them out with radios and looked after them through their first shift. They had a whale of a time, for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">most</span> of them, their first <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">experience</span> of any kind of festival, or of stewarding in a yellow vest. Radios were foreign objects, and teaching them how to use the volume control, channel knob, ear pieces and mikes was hysterical. But we laughed and they loved it. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Doggit</span> and Maria came and briefed the Pit Crew and stayed and helped with the gig.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCptMKC6p8R5TS4cDhtoN2zFbUhlq7tu8t0GOyypZOz96_3MboyEFVXZGcKD6ieKoYHXXk1Rd4nkvGrJjePTAojhhMwwMtlTSIAYIlHqpUQMq5OepbjHds7pFEZ5xSxIUUCv3m/s1600-h/yfriday+4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227468490929485954" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCptMKC6p8R5TS4cDhtoN2zFbUhlq7tu8t0GOyypZOz96_3MboyEFVXZGcKD6ieKoYHXXk1Rd4nkvGrJjePTAojhhMwwMtlTSIAYIlHqpUQMq5OepbjHds7pFEZ5xSxIUUCv3m/s320/yfriday+4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-tYnrHTuiqxUjQLNdlVK733rynBocRy-F4ZRnOyeGhGTpo4VLS78emwuo1RGUt_NZ0neczfthWk2ZxWnyruR9b-B0wX9rgb9XTKrWXww6tgtfD0qE2mkoWXq1gJjRLium9za/s1600-h/yfriday+1.jpg"></a></div><div>They stayed the night in the caravan, and the whisky came out....</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>A good night.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCFD31igjwKlDaD3xMNB38dVGiFOcnK34Q8j8Ou3VCAmcVbvqGlEL7Vgcnz3t9MAe61ySwUckTWxeqv04sAufVPYSx_9JYL3F34yAVox13ZcbBJedZp1768-r8EFc9uew7NPs/s1600-h/amplify+3.jpg"></a></div>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-9649650186642514822008-07-22T23:58:00.000+01:002008-07-27T00:11:10.901+01:00And there's more...<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmEXBY_IjPUmjifgKuAOVPWuh4U0nSpsjXztD0kZ18QwS5pD3EbIp_XwcTaRPbP1gt5heDrlyzeYLyZkBlHlmnWGfppeHUwnEpHlO1FmfOiCbAcCV8tI1H4B6QsKDmSlZL79l/s1600-h/portacabin+delivery+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227463657314786818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmEXBY_IjPUmjifgKuAOVPWuh4U0nSpsjXztD0kZ18QwS5pD3EbIp_XwcTaRPbP1gt5heDrlyzeYLyZkBlHlmnWGfppeHUwnEpHlO1FmfOiCbAcCV8tI1H4B6QsKDmSlZL79l/s320/portacabin+delivery+1.jpg" border="0" /></a> It was a city centre, non residential Christian Festival in the city centre park. It lasted 9 days, the longest festival we have worked on, hence the length of time on site. We had problems with suppliers, the stage was late, the chairs and tables were late, I was on the phone getting stroppy with people, being very assertive and getting <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">things</span> done. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Oooh</span>, she's scary when she's angry, said passing volunteers.<br /><div></div><br /><div>I was the only woman in a crew full of blokes..I made lots of cups of tea. I offered. I was also asked to put the kettle on when I was about to help build the stage. I did not like this and threw my work gloves across the marquee and left. DC followed me and asked to help build the stage. He apologised for the poor unfortunate male who suggested it. I threw a cup and broke it. I made the tea. I reminded people that I was working as an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ASM</span> in the theatre when they were all still in nappies, I have lifted stage weights, built scenery, and never, in the 70s...the last century!!!..experienced sexism like this. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Everytime</span> I wheeled a flight case off the van some bloke would say, 'Well done!'</div><br /><div></div><div>The man delivering the generators saw me go into the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">portacabin</span> site office and said, 'Have you got a kettle in there love?' No, I said, but I'll go and make you a cup of tea..... Now Mandy, the girl who drove the 100 ton truck and delivered the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">portacabin</span>, Mandy with the hardhat, face piercings and tattoos, now she was lovely, I climbed up into her cab out of the rain, and showed her where to site the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">portacabin</span> (we painted the marks earlier...) When we got to position, there was DC in his yellow Hi Viz waterproof waving us in...as if I couldn't site a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">portacabin</span> on my own. I sighed. 'Men!' said Mandy, laughing. Men, indeed....<br /></div><div></div></div>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-52350178989410423332008-07-20T23:42:00.001+01:002008-07-26T23:57:46.134+01:00Festival facts1. It was brilliant.<br /><br /><br />2. I was on site for 13 days and nights, only left once for an hour, the rest of the time was working, or eating, or sleeping, or talking, or laughing,....or crying....<br /><br /><br />3. Professionally, it was A Success.<br /><br /><br />4. I had a badge saying 'Event Director.'<br /><br /><br />5. I was in charge (with David).<br /><br /><br />6. SAND stands for Sally an' David.. (get it?....)<br /><br /><br />7. I loved it.<br /><br /><br />8. I could do it full time. For ever.<br /><br /><br />9. It might be the last gig we do as SAND. First and last. Go out with a bang, not a whimper.....<br /><br /><br />10. I promised some pictures:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMjbyXVBePgXwT-M3kamG83iJWAaMLh8JGNQJ41oQytZzgrcdNA9yYMyX_uZZi769fxB1IGeTh3aHuyCemA0DL_uMDPO0huGL-MVzugJSmni1AP6pPBn-GpNuvj6L_r2cOH2z/s1600-h/set+up+day+6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227458052827220258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMjbyXVBePgXwT-M3kamG83iJWAaMLh8JGNQJ41oQytZzgrcdNA9yYMyX_uZZi769fxB1IGeTh3aHuyCemA0DL_uMDPO0huGL-MVzugJSmni1AP6pPBn-GpNuvj6L_r2cOH2z/s320/set+up+day+6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Day one, set up day, poured with rain from morning til night. Our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">caravan</span> and site office, set up til backstage was built. Woken at 7.15am on Day One by Man phoning trying to get on site to deliver toilets (I did remember to order them!) and I had to throw some clothes on and some water proofs and take delivery!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGS33Z3MGVll7D5nHTS_17yYBGtxWC25p7Sh78LQ00y5qkIL83I5CHdb0s1Cqruxj5zWu3Tm3dX6iiko5IBc-Htkicj1bZjo8za9jBOA5PJdtcrih8r97_Qrc-hQUbtAk-C98H/s1600-h/set+up+day+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227458057828557746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGS33Z3MGVll7D5nHTS_17yYBGtxWC25p7Sh78LQ00y5qkIL83I5CHdb0s1Cqruxj5zWu3Tm3dX6iiko5IBc-Htkicj1bZjo8za9jBOA5PJdtcrih8r97_Qrc-hQUbtAk-C98H/s320/set+up+day+3.jpg" border="0" /></a> The marquee going up in the rain...so exciting... the start of it all. David and I <span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">had</span> gone round the park early in the rain, checking our site plan, measuring and marking out with spray paint where everything had to go..I had guessed the position of the toilets earlier and they were a few feet out...didn't think it mattered until Anal Person pointed out the lights would now miss them..... doh...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOX1W4z_RD2bZDSjJKVYuggCw4_IhSWyGIiKPGI0AGKzbUjZknU55GDTXAUcm7TYVGVI_CupFG0bJjX1ZEIdUo09yvDMgE1nOhj97lga0c7kk8RsQ_ogy-CEOGjD3eMfqD9Sl/s1600-h/set+up+day+2+d+and+d.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227458058499882962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOX1W4z_RD2bZDSjJKVYuggCw4_IhSWyGIiKPGI0AGKzbUjZknU55GDTXAUcm7TYVGVI_CupFG0bJjX1ZEIdUo09yvDMgE1nOhj97lga0c7kk8RsQ_ogy-CEOGjD3eMfqD9Sl/s320/set+up+day+2+d+and+d.jpg" border="0" /></a>Building our Outside Safe Store in the rain, with my two beautiful assistants, David and David..(so many Davids on site, whenever I yelled the name, at least four guys came running...never the right one of course.....) I even wielded a sledge hammer to put the stakes in..did I mention how much I enjoyed myself?sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14949461.post-48286499021878847182008-07-06T22:30:00.002+01:002008-07-06T22:41:12.945+01:00What a roller coaster.....Yes, a roller coaster, that describes the last few weeks. Thank you so much for those of you who have been there at the end of the phone when I have needed you. I am truly grateful, and hope you know I am always here to return the favour! I couldn't have got through it without you.<br /><br />Friends....made in God's own image....if I don't say it often enough, you are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lvoely</span>...... thank you all of you for caring, if at a distance, you don't know how much you all mean to me.<br /><br />However, I have survived, and part of surviving the past few weeks has been being very busy writing and delivering 7 training sessions for over 250 volunteers, preparing for the Festival we have been working for, over the last 18 months.<br /><br />Against all odds, the training has been good, more than good, it has been well received, people have thanked us for it, said it was fun, informative and professional and excellent material well delivered. During my lowest moments, it has lifted my self esteem and self belief.<br /><br />Now we are preparing to go to site, all the suppliers and contractors are booked, licence done, park booked, insurance sorted, risk assessments done..all that remains is for David and I to drive (well <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ok</span>, David to drive) our caravan to site, and be ready for the marquee to arrive..and the fencing..and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">portacabin</span>, and the toilets (I did remember to order the toilets, didn't I?) and to put on our waterproofs and get stuck in.<br /><br />I have designed every policy and procedure known to man (or woman) and have got my festival event file ready.<br /><br />I will try and post some photos as we go along...it will be a historic event. Maybe the First and Last major gig for SAND Consulting!!!! After that, who knows...sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14809153759997947879noreply@blogger.com3