Saturday 1 January 2011

The Return of the Magic Blogger

Happy New Year Everybody. What a good boy I am. It's the 1st of January and in keeping with one of my New Years Resolutions list, I am updating the blog. Once again it has been a while since I did this but although I have been working hard, it has mostly been on the same job, so I thought that might be a bit boring for you.

The PHA pantomime group wanted me to create a Flying Carpet effect for them for their Derby show, and that took a bit more time than I thought it would but it is much better, technically, than the others I have seen and I delivered that on time. That reminds me, I must send them an invoice! It's stuff like that I forget, silly me.

I performed on the Max Miller Appreciation Show at the Komedia in Brighton and they seemed to like what I did but most of my time has been spent in rehearsals and performances of Jack and The Beanstalk at the Harlequin Theatre in Redhill. What a great cast to work with. I am King Crumble (no, not Grumble) and Debbie is Fairy Organic, fresh but a bit more expensive. She has a cucumber for a wand... don't ask!

Early on in the run I had to have two nights off to go and appear in the final show of Strictly Come Dancing. What a waste of time. They could easily have put a quick filmed insert in, but oh no, I sat around for hour after hour after hour for what amounted to a 5 second flash on the screen. Grrrrrr.

That's about it really. The Pantomime takes up all my waking hours, especially as we commute to Redhill. The first week we got stuck there because some stuff called snow fell on the roads and the M25 and Reigate Hill were frozen over. I just saw some incredible photographs from Japan where the roads were clear despite REALLY high snow drifts on either side. Why don't our transport agencies ask them what they use and get that stuff over here? Debbie even had to abandon her car at one stage and set off to walk the last couple of miles to the theatre. A nice lady gave her a lift in a 4x4 and I went down the next day with ours and got her back on the road.

Christmas was quiet, but that was OK. I had lunch with my Mam and Debbie went to hers. Father Christmas brought me lots of goodies, especially a Canon 550D camera. I am still playing with that and will for some time to come.

Martin brought Lewis and Camilla down for a flying visit to see the pantomime and as I write he is on the way to join another ship out in the Caribbean. Gary came as well with Annie and Matthew and indeed, G and A will be here for lunch 'cos we have today off!

What else? Nothing much. I seem to have pulled muscles in my back although I can't remember lifting anything heavy... my wallet is very light after the festivities.

Some will moan about the expense but I thought the New Year fireworks on the Thames were the best ever and certainly sent me to bed feeling good about the New Year.

May you all have a very Happy and Peacefull 2011... now what was next on my list?

7 comments:

Masterless Magician said...

Panto truly is a noble act as it gives so many children their first taste of live theatre. However will you be finding time to watch 'The Magicians' over the next few days. I had hopped to see it being filmed but a pile up on the M25 meant we missed our seats (unfortunate, but not as unfortunate as the fate for those in the crash so it would be crass to moan).
I wish you and yours a wonderful new year. I can't help but feel this will be an interesting one for all :)

Ringmaster said...

Happy new year to you Debbie and all your family.

Look forward to seeing & hearing Debbie and you in 2011 in what ever shows and appearances you have planned.

Robert said...

I'm with you on both the fireworks and the useless highways agencies.

You were sensible to retrieve Debbie's car the next day though.

At the height of the snow storm, someone very foolishly parked up a £60,000 BMW coupe on Remenham Hill. [It's very long and very steep, and a major route in the Henley area for those who don't know it]. They were completely daft to think their car might get up the hill in the first place, and then they just left it for three days.

An unknown lorry destroyed it on the third night!

Yes, I know. I shouldn't have laughed when I saw the wreck as I drove by in the morning, but it really was such a classsic case of more money than sense!

Happy New Year to you both!

Robert said...

Robert - previously known as RG9!

mum of two said...

Hi Paul
when and where are you touring in 2011?
Sarah

cazb13 said...

Happy New Year to you and your family. Enjoyed your blog. Must agree the fireworks were the best ever this year.

John said...

Ho Ho you would be a bright spark in a fireworks factory !

Happy new year to you all