Gawd Blimey O’Riley….

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I know it’s a disgrace. For some reason my rhythm has gone. This blog will appear again on Monday April 20th. I dare not promise just in case THE WAR HORSE is so good I cant bring myself to write anything about it. It has been one Gawd Blimey of a week. From Easter to … Read more

Hot stones

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Have you ever had a hot stone massage? One of my birthday gifts was a session with a massoose down in Hersmonceaux. I lay on my back on a bed of hot stones while other hot stones were rubbed into other parts of my aching body. Then I turned over and put my head through … Read more

The Tooth will out

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And so Friday arrived…
I drove gingerly to the dentist.
My little red car slotted into the parking space by the letter box.
I was punctual and ready.
Rome had been and gone.
My holiday had been and gone.
My birthday party had been and gone.
This was the moment of tooth.

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The moment of Tooth part one.

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Croydon marked the end of an era.
I had handed over my fifties to those that know and I entered my 60’s in style.
Well not that Croydon is Manhattan but the man who showed us where the stage door was had terrible teeth but a heart of gold.
I was 60 and 2 days old. My darling Steve, ex producer, came with a CD of music from 1949, a big grin and a rucksack full of ideas. Lozzie my makeup artist arrived, Rob the agent, Jim the husband and B the daughter all managed to get themselves safely to Sarf-East Lundun. The audience, though small, was friendly and on my side.
The old git, the daughter and various very old friends filled out the theatre as best they could.
It will be the last time I ever do anything without a huge publicity machine behind me – and I’ve said it in print so I mean it- when I am next in an 800 seater there will be 800 seats with bums on.
I must admit that one or two of those bums gave me critism that I could have well done without but that’s the nature of the beast. If you are gong to stand up and be counted don’t shoot the abbacus.
So March 24th came and went. March 26th came and went.
And Friday 27th was dealing with my ailing tooth, getting my FREEDOM PASS HURRAH FOR FREE TRAVEL, collecting boxes of gifts from the Post Office and preparing for the party of all parties.

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Oldie Times

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I was so excited yesterday, not so much because I was 60 but because it was my birthday.
I have to admit that the day before, on the 23rd, the realisation that I was turning old hit me like a demolition ball.
I don’t know what it means to be sixty only that it felt like it had to be honoured.

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Wild Garlic on mothers day

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Today I walked the orchard.
Through the apple and pear trees.
Over the style and I swear I could feel Jackson. I sat on the wooden cross bar and hung my head. The tears behind my eyelids were ready to burst like the buds.
Down the hill, round the stream, and there was the wild garlic I had gone looking for.
Tender green leaves, my fingers still smell from picking a handful by the waters edge. I am about to eat them in a salad.
Back to the cottage and I mowed the lawn. Every daisy went the way of the rest of the cuttings. The lawn looked neat and shapely.

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thursday I think

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23.29. Alan Carr is on the television. I have eaten a bowl of greens and recovered from MONKEY at the Young Vic. Jim and I have jigsawed our days so that cars have gone into the garage, articles written and Vat paid. I am about to try and finish Lucy Beresfords book. SOMEONE I’M NOT. … Read more

Another way home

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From the Houses of Commons to MI6. From Towpath Walk to Battersea Dogs Home. From Battersea Park Road to The Living Room. I left at 4.30, it’s now 18.55. I am so tired I could eat a mattress. I am over emotional and need my armchair. I shall watch Sean Bean being mean, do some … Read more

a box from marmite

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off to walk. Marmites box arrived and all the cards are piling up. Thank you all for your good wishes. The sun is shining, I have managed to meditate and I’ve got a face pack on so it’s hard to move my mouth. Good some would say……