A Season of Tea Parties

So while I have been at home I have been hosting a couple of tea parties for my fellow out of work/resting actor chums.

I made a selection of carrot cake cupcakes with a cream cheese frosting and choc chip and mixed nut cookies.

They have been going down a treat! And it was a nice way to spend the day, baking for friends and then enjoying their company. I was given a fantastic book by a lovely friend for Christmas which I am really looking forward to delving into, the first Vintage tea party will of course have to wait until he's available to be the guest of honour.

It has recipes for every palate, decoration ideas, patterns for fascinators and aprons and even tips on how to style your hair and make up for your tea party extravaganza!

"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."

 ~Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady

Excuses, Excuses!

Where has the time gone!? 3 weeks since my last post!! Have you missed me? - Of course you have!!

Well the show has finished, it all went very well and I've made several good-time chums during the whole experience, all of which I hope to work with again one day.

So now I'm back on the auditioning/temping circuit til my next job. I've a telly coming up (Christmas Day TV!) so that takes the pressure off - if you're not working then at least you're being seen!

I have been knitting like a complete maniac! My lovely friend, Lady of the Sea, turned the big 30 and I wanted to knit her something special to celebrate. My pics aren't great as they were taken in a rush to get it sent off to her but it was a large comfy (New Wool/Alpaca/Silk mix) circular scarf that can be wrapped twice, worn as a hood and scarf....you get the idea! She was DeLiGhTed with it so that was fabs-a-lot!

I've also been knitting a small collection of, deep breath, 'colour block - bobble - beanie hats' that I'm going to try and sell through some online markets. And I've been cross stitching some classic hollywood pieces to hopefully sell through cafes and boutiques...I shall keep you posted!

I'm back on the temping circuit now having lost my ongoing temp job due to being too darn busy as an actor. I am really enjoying it, I've been in various creative companies over the last 2-3 weeks mainly covering reception. It's kept me busy, kept my brain learning new things and I've been meeting new people in very different environments then those I've been used to. Also you get to dress up, wear pretty heels and paint your nails for each assignment! Which is an utter girly joy having been in rehearsal clothes for months!

The Big One and I are off to a cosy eco cottage in Cornwall tomorrow to snuggle in and chill out. Walks on the beach, pub lunches, cream teas, lots of reading, knitting and cooking for each other - LuSh!! We'll be back on Friday evening and I intend to have lots of great pics to share with you all.

Now, enough about me! What have you been up to???

"A charming woman is a busy woman."

- Loretta Young

It Sure Was One to Remember

So my birthday has been and gone and it was s-u-p-e-r-b!

I was so spoilt that I need a new word for spoilt!

It started with The Big One's arrival on Friday, the best present I could wish for to have him here. 

I woke up Saturday morning to cards from Patch &  Tache and My Lovely Dad. Then I had a pressie to open from The Big One - the lovely Liberty Feather print notebook I had featured on here with another pale blue Liberty notebook!

Then the card - I knew we were going for dinner and staying in a hotel but I didn't know I was going to be given a wodge of spending money for a shopping trip! 

So gasps and hugs later we had breakfast at the lovely Cafe Renoir with a friend and fellow actor, I shall blogname him...The Mac. It was lovely to see him before he heads off to Serbia and weeks of filming exciting new things plus breakfast was pretty de-lish!

Then I had a matinee show but not before a wander and a perusal in the Oxfam bookshop where I found a biography of Esther Williams. Wandering a bit more we headed into Maggie Mays for a birthday Oreo milkshake - I have never seen a bigger milkshake!

 

Matinee over I headed back with The Big One to hang out in my onesie and eat the chocolate covered pretzels he'd brought over with him.

Evening show and once it was over I met The Big One and Spaghetti Arms in the bar for a quick drink with some other actors we know and then we headed to Barking Dog for a lovely dinner with HawkandFallow! The night was long, loud and lovely and at about 2am The Big One and I fell into bed.

Sunday: Lazy morning, Sunday show then met The Big One at the theatre to head to the lovely Malmaison hotel! It was gorgeous! Bit of a nap later we headed out for yet another birthday dinner, this time at Made in Belfast.

After filling ourselves to bursting with scrumminess we headed to the cinema to watch Rise of The Planet of The Apes which was brilliant. 

So next was Monday and my birthday shopping trip....

“Last week the candle factory burned down. Everyone just stood around and sang Happy Birthday.”

- Steve Wright

Birthday List

It's my birthday on Saturday, it's funny cos I didn't feel particularly bothered about it even a week ago but now I am officially EXCITED! I get all bubbly and full of jumping beans when I think about it. I don't think it's any coincidence that my excitement coincides with The Big One, who I haven't seen for weeks, is coming over to celebrate it with me.

He arrives on Friday, we are out for dinner with HawkandFallow and Spaghetti Arms after the show on my birthday - what a treat to have 3 of my favourite people in the world to mark this new number with me!

Then on Sunday he has booked us into a lovely hotel, we have a table booked for dinner at Made in Belfast and then on Monday, he tells me we are going on a shopping trip!

What a very lucky and very spoilt gal I am!

So now I am embracing my impending birthday my thoughts have wandered to my ultimate birthday list, thought it'd be fun to make a visual list...who knows maybe I'll strike gold!

Knitter's Necklace - All the Fun of the Fair 

Lambswool Tweed Jacket - Vivienne Westwood

Winter Tartan - Vivienne Westwood

Coloured Skinnies - Kooples

Poem cushion - mybeardedpigeon (Etsy)

Alice in Wonderland Teapot - zinniapea (Etsy)

Feather Print Notebook - Liberty, London

Sterling Silver Anchor Necklace - Love Your Silver

Detachable Peter Pan Collar - luminia (Etsy)

Podengo Pequeno...well you never know!

Lola's cupcakes 

In all honesty though I will have all I could want by being on stage in a play I love and then getting to share my birthday with some very special people.

"Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more."

- Tony Robbins 

A Bel-Feast with HawkandFallow

Last Sunday to celebrate both HawkandFallow and I being here in a full-working-actor capacity we went out for dinner to one of our favourite restaurants, Made in Belfast.

The food is delicious, the decor beautiful and anarchic and the company, well, you couldn't beat the company!

Drinks anyone?

Make mine a French Martini - delish!

Toast Skagen - swedish style prawns

Crayfish and Hazelnut Risotto

We were so StUfFeD we had no room for pud despite the menu being enticing to say the least!

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart, and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words." 

- Donna Roberts

Back in Belfast

Well Belfast, I have arrived, and you are looking gorgeous!

I am back in Belfast to do a beautiful play, I was in the original production here in early 2010.  It was snowing then and freezing cold. I had a great time, made some fantastic friends and so I was delighted to be asked back.

This time it's summer and it's roasting. Belfast looks so lush and green! 

My view as I reach rehearsals

I arrived yesterday morning and went straight to the meet and greet. It was lovely to see so many familiar faces and I'm so excited to be a part of this great production once again.

Last night after unpacking I met up with a great chum of mine, Spaghetti Arms. He was also in the original production but is waaaay busy doing telly and all sorts now. It was so brilliant to see him, we've kept in touch since 2010 and he's now a member of my extended family.

We had a delicious dinner in one of my favourite restaurants here, Barking Dog. It was divine, the company, the food, the vino. Awesome-ness!

So I'm in rehearsals for the next few weeks, hanging out with Spaghetti Arms when he's about and HawkandFallow is coming over in a couple of weeks to rehearse and perform in the same theatre I'm at. 

Big grins all round - best Belfast return ever!

"Never look back unless you are planning to go that way." 

- Henry David Thoreau 

Blognames A Plenty!

This week is due to be my most sociable week here in Manchester! Over the weekend The Big One's parent's arrived, 'Patch' and 'Tache'. They came all the way from France to see me and the show! I met them on Sunday for lunch (another lovely one at Manchester Art Gallery) then despite the perpetual rain we wandered around The Northern Quarter looking at all the vintage shops til tea and cake time at Teacup.

I had my first Manchester Tart (whoopla!) which was pretty amazing. Coconut on top of runny custard on top of jam in a homemade pastry tart.

Later I met them and The Big One's sister 'Pheebles' for dinner and had a fabulous Thai meal at Chaophraya. Lucky ain't I!

They saw the show last night which they luckily seemed to have enjoyed, then we had a few drinks before being joined by 'Spaghetti Arms'! He'd arrived in Manchester last night and
 is here on a fleeting visit due to a family event.

Patch and Tache headed off, early start for them this morning. So then Spaghetti Arms, his 3 friends ('Giggles', 'All Business' and 'Crazy Legs') and I continued on chatting, laughing and generally having larks til 4am this morning.

We will hopefully meet again tonight for some dancin'. Tomorrow I meet up with a friend who's based here and come Friday, My Lovely Dad, his wife and my other 'brother from another mother' (I have 3 'brothers' I've adopted from jobs inc. Spaghetti Arms) arrive to all see the show. 

Huzzah!

“I don't know a lot about politics, but I can recognise a good party man when I see one”

-Mae West

P.S See Spaghetti Arms, no mention of yarn this time - I am capable! 

Tea and Cake with Guinness and a Chum.

Finally today I managed to meet up with my lovely friend...I shall blogname her 'Celia' for  a spot of lunch and a catch up. She is also up here doing a show and finally this week our schedules allowed us to see each other!

It was so lovely, she is such great company and she had picked a wonderful chic and unique Cafe in the Northern Quarter for us to sit and munch and natter. It seems the Norther Quarter is full of lovely teashops and today it was Sugar Junction. A lovely little vintage tea room with proper china and amazing homemade cake selections.

It was great to hear all about her rehearsals, her news and the very exciting job she has lined up after this one!

After a Halloumi salad and drink each (Pear and Elderflower for me - oh my), we selected a slice of Chocolate and Guinness Cake and a pot of Wendy Tea to share. Yums all round!


We're meeting again next week and she has decided she'd like me to teach her to knit....we all know how much I am looking forward to taking someone yarn shopping! Whoo Hoooo!

Wendy Tea

A refreshing uplifiting tea that will leave you feeling relaxed.Wendy Tea is a magical faery blend of Rooibos Earl Grey,sweet South African Honeybush, Lavender Flowers, RosePetals, Marigold Petals and Cornflower Petals.

"Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea."

~Henry Fielding

A Holiday within A Holiday

Lisa and Campbell's 30th Birthday present to Rich was a luxury beach holiday hideaway and as I was going to be here I was lucky enough to be included too! Just as my Sydney holiday was getting rather stressful, what with all the sleeping, eating, walking and culture...

Trying to accurately describe this beautiful place, swimming in the stunning and clear blue Pacific Ocean and the incredible food is going to be rather difficile...

 

After a short drive, Lisa, Campbell, Leo, Rich and myself arrived at Kim's Beach Hideaway and we were shown to our gorgeous (and air conditioned) chalet's.

 

The view from our beach front chalet

Our little garden - gate on the left to the 10 second walk to the beach

After settling in we headed up to the restaurant for lunch.

OH MY GIDDY AUNT!

Meal's at Kim's are the most amazing, never ending buffet's of food that you dream of and there's 3 courses! For the dessert course there are about 8 puddings to choose from. Spoilt for choice has honestly taken on a whole new meaning.

Dessert courses were a small buffet in a bowl

At Kim's they make the bread, butter and ice cream and the remaining food is sourced locally which means the fish is bought directly from the local fisherman.

 

 

The Honey selection at breakfast

 

Having stuffed our faces we headed back to our chalet's, got into our swimmer's and after dipping our toes...chilled out. 

 

It was so relaxing, so warm and welcoming. There are so many little touches that made it so special, from flying the flags of all their guests, welcome notes in the chalet and on the tables to delicious canapes served with drinks before dinner. It was superb!

 

It was 3 days of bliss, chatting, laughing, reading...drinking fine wines.

 

Rich and Campbell in the ocean

One jacuzzi, several swim's in the ocean, a fair amount of alcohol a LOT of food and laying about later, we headed back to Sydney where I was to spend my last couple of days before heading home back to the UK and The Big One.

 

 It was a complete treat -  to spend time with Leo (an 8month old charmer), Lisa, Campbell and Rich was just brilliant. I have locked in several memories for when I'm back in London, for when the weather is grey and the tube is rammed. I shall think back to chatting with Lisa in the ocean, listening to Campbell sing in the bar, sitting in the jacuzzi as it filled talking about plays with Rich in our swimmers, laughing, eating, laughing.

I loved it!

 

 

 

 

 

"The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever."
- Jacques Yves Cousteau 

Ferry Me Away

Yesterday I took a ferry to Balmain to visit Hilary and Caroline, two of my tutors from drama school. Caroline is visiting her daughter who lives there and Hilary had relocated several years ago with her hubby and adorable daughter Matilda. So I could not visit Sydney without dropping by to say hello.

The ferry ride was brilliant, incredibly refreshing and offered yet more views of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.

It was so nice to see them both, I left drama school approximately 8 years ago and consider myself very lucky to have had a career, let alone the amount of creative enjoyment I have had to date. It was lovely to get the opportunity to in some way thank them for all the skills they taught me along with many other hugely inspirational tutors that I was lucky enough to have in my training.

Once I had returned to Sydney I had just enough time to pop into the Sydney Museum and see the Edwardian Summer exhibition which was charming.

I couldn't take pictures of the photos featured but the main bulk of the collection looks at Australian life between the Victorian era and the First World War through the lens of Sydney lawyer and society figure Arthur Allen. Many of the photos are of his young family enjoying the various forms of leisure activities on offer and exploring the ever developing Sydney.

It struck me how family orientated this man was and how nice it was that he appeared to plan so much around his kids and their friends, he documented almost every adventure they had together.

The exhibition featured typical Edwardian dress, furniture and toys.

A late Edwardian style swimming costume.

Try an Edwardian hat on?

"The Edwardian age saw elegance and opulence that we'll likely never see again."

-Jessica Janus

So You'll Never Guess Where I Am.....

One of my very best and oldest friends, Rich, moved to Sydney, Australia 2 years ago and being realistic I am not anticipating his long term return to London anytime soon.

Rich and I have known each other for about 16 years, he introduced me to Barbara Streisand, many Judy Garland movies and general fabulousness MGM stylee. We did shows at school together, partied and basically grew up together.  He eventually became my gay husband, my constant chum and then he left to go on an adventure and try out living somewhere new and he is loving it.

And today I got to see a glimpse of why.

Rich is celebrating his 30th birthday on Friday and so I flew out on Sunday as a total surprise to be here to celebrate every minute with him.

Needless to say he was a tad shocked and luckily, happy!

I landed here in Sydney at 7:30am, my other lovely friend Lisa picked me up from the airport (she has been my co-conspirator since the plan was hatched in March) took me to her g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s apartment to see her lully hubby Campbell and her simply delicious 7 month son Leo - who I had only met over Skype. I had a much needed shower, got changed then we drove to the cafe near their office. Lisa arranged it that I would bring out their order so I hid in the cafe, shaking with excitement and finally, emerged. I'm not sure who was more shocked to be honest!

I have kept this HUGE secret for so long and it is absolutely amazing to finally be here and see where Lisa and Rich have made their lives.

It is super hot but super gorgeous so far. After a bit of brunch, Rich took me to see the Opera House, we walked through the Botanical Gardens, under stacks of bats in the trees. It's all so much to take in!

Tonight we're having dinner with Lisa and Campbell (who's jetting off to NYC for the next few days so will miss all the birthday fun) then there's already been a million and one things planned - shows, gigs, parties - thank god I packed almost my entire shoe collection!

So for the next 2 weeks I shall be blogging all my adventures here.

Paper-Rock-Scissors is offically 'down under' but on top of the world!

“Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.”

- Tennesse Williams

Thank you and Goodnight

c/o Ashlee Kelly

It's done! Finished! Finito! Over!

Last night at 7:30pm we took our last bow, the curtain came down for the final time and I could not have been happier. I actually felt the weight of unhappiness lift off my shoulders and the tears of relief started. That was one miserable job.

I would like to thank those of you who's constant messaging and calls kept me going because they made all the difference. To have cheer and chirpiness from; The Big One, The Roving Chef, HawkandFallow, Agent Buddy, Red, Irish and My Lovely Dad consistently reminded me I have so much in my life to smile about.  Whenever I felt lost and lonely you guys were there often before I even articulated it and for that and so many things I thank you  - I am one lucky lucky gal.

 Now there were positives to glean - 

Due to the cardio nature of the show twice a day I have firmer legs and ass - bonus! 

I now know I can sing on stage and my voice got much stronger throughout the run. 

I feel so much more like me, for a long time (waaaay before this job) I have felt I was struggling and somehow a lot of that has gone or is going.

The main positives though I think are the friendships I made, it's very rare to make genuine friends on jobs in this business but I think I may have found three. Together we were the Train Gang and our daily commute became something to truly look forward to. We each laughed, cried and talked and vented (there was a lot of venting). As one commented it was almost like group therapy. I will genuinely miss our journeys.

We made our last journey together last night after the show and we had a train party all the way, the champagne flowed, the cheese and biscuits were shared and we roared with relief and laughter.  It was magic.

 “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end”

-Ursula K LeGuin

A Perfect Day, Fantastic Evening and Lots of Blog Names

c/o Rodrigo Melo

Yesterday was my day off, my one day off after performing 12 shows over 6 days.

Last week I spent my day off on the sofa watching crap TV and refused to get dressed til 5pm. I was absolutely done in.

This week I got up at the leisurely hour of 10am and after a casual potter was ready to leave the house in my fabulous new shoes with The Big One by my side, off we skipped (alright I skipped, he strolled) to meet up with various chums.

my new shoes (h&m) - apologies for blurry pic

First we met my lickle sister 'Red' (who I hadn't seen in aaaages) and her new beau 'Berlin' for a Sushi lunch. She was so happy and it was so nice to see her smiling non stop. He was charming, chilled out and seemed a throughly decent fella, it was great to finally meet him.

After filling ourselves with mountains of dragon and hand rolls we met two of my loveliest friends -  'Irish' and 'Agent Buddy' for a cuppa and an all too quick catch up. I handed over the piece Agent Buddy had commissioned me to knit for a Crimbo pressie and luckily she seemed very happy with it so with a huge sigh of relief I bounded off to have a full body massage.

Amazior! 2 ridiculously lush hours later (!!) I started the hunt for new glasses, The Big One had gone home so via photo messaging he helped me shortlist them. Decision unmade however I headed home to a lovely dinner and a bit of a knit.

Perfick.

Today, after a 6:30am start and 2 shows I headed back to meet My Lovely Dad for dinner but not before we met The Big One at Vision Express who'd come in specially to help me choose the new glasses. I wear contacts almost every day which is fine (and necessary as an actress) but I needed new glasses and wanted them to be ones I would be able to bring myself to wear out of the house. Owing to childhood issues (I was stuck with a large pair of men's NHS frames up til I was 15) I don't trust my judgement on picking glasses so their combined help was much appreciated.

They were both very patient and together we went through the entire range of collections. Not too long later we all agreed on a very chic pair from the Marc Jacobs line. The Big One went to play footie and My Lovely Dad then took me for a curry in Soho for a good natter and catch up. We normally meet for breakfast once a week and since I started this theatre job we haven't been able to meet for weeks so it was great to see him and have a good yarn about everything - we definitely put the world to rights over Thali.

This particular job has often proved a real struggle but days and evenings like these really lift my spirits and re-energise me. Two shows again tomorrow and another 6:30am start but luckily my fun continues afterwards as my great chum B-Cup is in town for one night and we have much to catch up on over great glasses of cider.

Ain't I just the luckiest gal!?

"How can there be so much difference between a day off and an off day?
-Anon

Belated Halloween Feast Post...

We invited our lovely friends and neighbours R&K over on Halloween night for a feast of ghoulish delights in order to celebrate the fact that the pumpkin plant they gifted us had grown a large pumpkin big enough to make into pie.

I served 'A Bloody Mess' -  Beetroot Risotto with sour cream and chopped dill to start (but forgot to take a photo) then 'Tentacles of the Sea' - black spaghetti with prawns and a seafood and herb paste.

Dessert was of course, The Pumpkin Pie! The first time we have grown anything and then eaten it so it tasted extra delicious.

The whole night was a great success and everyone had seconds of everything!

"Where there is no imagination there is no horror."

~Arthur Conan Doyle, Sr.