James Brown

Papa's Got a Brand New Bag! Ow! What a voice!

Merry Xmas

Ok, well all these pics are on Facebook but here are a couple of us in Marrakech last week. Had a good time, and it was certainly a different holiday. We've beeen to Thailand before where the stark contrast between the poverty and the developing areas is difficult to rationalise, but Morocco was something else. We stayed in a very nice Riad (hotel) which was bang in the middle of the souks (street markets), where the poverty jumped out at you and the begging was almost constant and certainly uncomfortable. But then we hired a car for a couple of days and drove to the Atlas Mountains, did some walking up there and saw some fantastic scenery, such as waterfalls. I was even able to drive, and that was fun - of course being a French colony until 1956, in Morocco you drive on the right-hand side of the road. But it was still my dad that got pulled over for speeding by the fuzz...Also, Natalie (a friend who worked at the Ormonds) was out there at the same time, so she came along and we met up for dinner a few times - all good. My dad had me worried that as it's an Islamic country (albeit a relatively relaxed one) we wouldn't be able to get booze out there, but luckily they cater for us tourists in the hotels (away from public gaze) so we avoided having a dry holiday! Saw a few snake charmers but didn't get close (dad's a real ophidiophobic) - but anyway I don't think I can describe the break accurately online, ask me about it in person!!

Back home in Tetbury now and my God do I need the break! Was working stupid hours at the very busy hotel in the run up to Xmas, was so drained. Had a few interesting experiences all in one night - drunk weirdos arguing, fire alarm, evacuation, power cuts - certainly spiced it all up! Was glad when the final shift came - was able to hang out with friends for a little bit before heading home. On the Saturday Guy and I went to Star City (for the first time ever!) and saw the Borat movie. Now, we thought the cinema was on Broad Street somewhere so that was the first interesting aspect of the trip - getting to the damn cinema!! Seeing Star City was really fun - a cheap, chavy Vegas which Guy and I fell in love with, naturally! It was certainly weird being in the ethnic minority!! But the movie was absolutely fantastic - very funny, clever and insightful. We were squirming and laughing all the way through, turning to each other and saying "How the hell does he get away with this?!" Love it! We then joined a casino for free, got a free drink and £5 to spend on the machines, at which Guy won 22 quid the lucky git. We gotta go back and play for real sometime, we can be such poker addicts! Some roulette would be cool too. And like I say, I've barely seen him recently so was nice to hang out and do some male bonding.

Ok gonna quickly reel off some other stuff - went and saw Rox's conducting exam (damn good), had a nice house Xmas meal (damn tasty), got some great pressies for Xmas (so i've clearly been a good little boy this year - yea whatever!!) Sam got me the 2 Spiderman films on DVD (think there's a third in the pipeline), and mum and dad got me Peter Kay's autobiography, 24 series 5 on DVD (f***ing amazing) and a Sony MP3 player - don't quite know what I've done to deserve all this but I ain't complaining. Have had a relaxing, family Chirstmas at home - just what the doctor ordered. Need to catch up with home friends too.

Hope you're all well and having a restful time - make the most of it!!
Love, Jxx

Theatrics

Ok so a fair amount of news since the last post - as usual a good number of shifts at the hotel to ensure that the bills get paid and I get to eat...and on Friday night the parents came on up and we saw the latest Guild Musical and Theatre Group's (GMTG) production, Kiss Me, Kate. A very interesting show, with some catchy numbers (e.g. Too Darn Hot). It's always kinda weird going to see these shows when I no longer have anything to do with them, but I gotta say the stage managers and crew did an absolutely AMAZING job - set was excellent, scene changes smooth, and apparently the managers were organised, on-time and professional. I could be conceited and believe that they learnt it all from when I stage managed, but no, these girls worked off their own backs. Went out for a curry after the show at Chamon with the folks, plus Geth, Guy and his parents and friend Heather. Nice seeing parents too.

Saturday afternoon was spent at the Rep Theatre, in my new, second job as an usher. Was fun, and I gotta say there really isn't much to do and it's so simple, ripping tickets, selling ice-creams, pointing people in the right direction etc, but it was nice to be in a theatre environment again. Plus, the others are a good bunch of people and treat you well...some of the ladies have been there for 30-40 years, one since the place opened. And of course, I get to sit in on the performances (at the moment the Rep is hosting a musical version of Alice in Wonderland, a kids' show), and so for instance depending on which door I'm attending, after watching most of a show someone will say I can have a break! As if the job wasn't enough of one. Maybe future shifts will be more challenging. Am working again tonight shadowing another usher, but from then on I'll be solo. Haven't got any more lined up cos am trying to sort out balancing the Burlington with the Rep, but that will just be a matter of time and careful negotiations!

For anyone out there interested in European politics (there aren't many of you I know!), the other week I served champagne for Marta Andreasen. Ok, I admit I didn't know who she was at first, but then looked her up - quite an interesting story. Am earning a fair amount of tips these days actually, I guess people feel more generous this time of the year.

If anyone's looking for a cool song to listen to, check out Fleetwood Mac's Go Your Own Way, Meat Loaf/Cher's Dead Ringer For Love, and anything from the Spiderman 2 Soundtrack (especially Train's Ordinary - one of my favourite songs at the moment).
x