Oh yes, I iz an expertz nao!
Monthly Archives: February 2011
Today’s best shots
Back at work from tomorrow with my two weeks time off over for another month. Made the most of my last day, by dragging my lazy butt out of bed to head out with the camera to the Rococo Gardens at Painswick. Over a hundred shots in a couple of hours has given me lots of stuff to procrastinate over working with, and a huge decision on my best pics, but for now these were the two best shots I think I took.
Out and about (again)
Having a fab time at the mo, being able to get out and about visiting some of the nearby attractions, and practising with the new camera.
Today was the turn of Prinknash Abbey Bird and Deer Park, and this was my favourite picture, of the seventy or so I took.
“Let’s Go, Jo!”
In another attempt to get some practice in with the new camera I headed out for a trip to the zoo, thinking I could probably get some great shots of the animals. However, the company of an over enthusiastic toddler, with his own little camera to play with meant more pictures of him, and less of the animals than I would have liked.
It also meant that because he ‘liked reading maps,’ he decided to take charge in directing us round the zoo.
Subsequently I now have ridiculously aching legs, especially since his most repeated phrases of the day were, ‘Let’s Go, Jo!’, ‘Come on, Jo’ and ‘March!’
I think I shall have to refrain from going out for a while…
Cardiff Capers
February is the month in which Boo and I make our annual trip to Cardiff. It’s a small celebration of our first whole night together, when we first came here in 2009. It was also the first time I got to take my new camera out to play. So for a change we decided to take in the castle, as well as do the some shopping, and enjoying a meal at our favourite restaurant before heading home…
Teaching toddlers
how to use a digital camera….
Once you get them to hold it the right way round of course 
That’s better! 
A Tempestuous Night
When I was younger I was a fan of science fiction B movies. One of my favourites starred Robbie the Robot along with that dark haired serious ‘actor’ that was Leslie Nielson. That film was the 1956 movie The Forbidden Planet. I loved the theory of alien technology bringing to life the monsters of the id, in order to frighten off the visiting ship.
I loved the idea of space travel, and was fascinated by the ideas of colonisation of abandoned alien worlds. I thought the direction was stylish, and the plot simple to follow and understand. But you know what? I was wrong.
As a teen, I discovered the stage show ‘Return To The Forbidden Planet’ and I watched it as many times as I could when it was on nearby, being thankful for student discounts on already reduced tickets, if there were any available 15 minutes before the show began.
I shrieked the songs out at the top of my lungs with everyone else. I enjoyed the audience participation. It was almost like a Rocky Horror, only without the dressing up. Unless off course you counted the faded, fan tour t-shirts of fans that turned up in their hundreds.
It was at the same time that I discovered that both the film and the stage show were based on the Shakespeare play The Tempest. In an effort to learn more, and thanks to a parental unit with good friends at the Royal Shakespeare Company, I managed to go see the play performed in Shakespeare’s home town of Stratford. Typical of such a company it was a huge, well oiled production with the great names of theatre at the time (not that I remember any of them).
The strange thing is, it wasn’t until two days ago, when I watched a different production of The Tempest, that I *understood* everything. The film, the musical and the stage show play. You may find this strange, you may not, but as I sat transfixed and watched, I felt a wry grin spread across my face, and the rusted cogs of my cognitive synapses begin to grind against each other slowly as I drip fed them with fresh oil.
Two days ago I went to the Everyman Studio (part of the Everyman Theatre) in Cheltenham.
The Everyman Studio is brilliant, because it is just that, a studio. It’s tiny. There are three raked rows, each of 14 seats, lined up against the length of one wall, and that’s it. The rest of the floor space is the stage.
I went to see the Dreamshed Theatre Company’s adaptation, and as I said I was transfixed. The enclosed performance area, made you feel like you were watching live theatre in you living room, gave the whole show an almost personal feel.
I am sadly at the moment lacking the lyrical dexterity with which to purvey the amazing job done by each and every one of those actors, that night, but suffice is to say, that I haven’t as yet shut up about telling people how fab it was.
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*Apparently, it appears, Forbidden Planet is in development for a remake to air in 2013. I shall await, although knowing how much I despise cover versions and remakes I shall leave the eagerness in check until I know more…
