Crazy for...2

The real reason to be back in the UK though was to help on the crew of Crazy For You, the CMTC Spring production. What a great week it turned out to be, not only being back, backstage in the UK, but catching up and meeting up with so many people, some of whom I had not seen going on for two or more years!

The show itself was superb and a real testament to the hard work that everyone had put into the production both on stage, in the pit and behind the scenes.

It was great to work with Andy on the lighting again, and we both seemed to fit back into those roles well - neither of us knowing what was going on but managing to come up with a convincing show look somehow!
We had the usual fun and amusement that I have certainly missed these last couple of years in a theatrical environment. It was great to see such a large new contingent of people both in the cast and crew, and also refreshing to have tea made for us by a couple of cast members - thank you Lauren and Richard, George may have been involved but the rumour remains unconfirmed...

I had some great lunches too - especially good old English sausage, mash and onion gravy at Andy's along with Rachel and Nicola, I think this was a real highlight as it is the first time in a long time I have been invited into a girls bedroom - of her own free will...

Umpteen other parties and lunches over the week were all great although it does make you realise what you have been missing out on - the whole show experience - although the French Panto is doing a good job of filling that gap at least once a year.

I guess I cannot pass the week by without mentioning the unfortunate LoriBeth on the Friday night, the dreaded Tea Tray Tap claimed a victim, after falling backwards and landing on one arm she suffered a significant fracture, George should be commended on the way he looked after her immediately afterwards, and kept her calm and talking about anything but the excruciating pain she was in hopefully with the banter of George, Sally and Myself we managed to keep a few laughs coming, although this improved once the gas was administered! Although Lorraine seemed very reluctant to share it...
luckily (in context) it was the end of the first act, the incident delayed the start of act 2 significantly - in fact so delayed that even though we finished before 11pm the Theatre had closed the bar!! The one night drinks were definitely in order!
The good news was that Lorraine was taken to Stoke Mandeville (well done Sally - she didn't drive the ambulance but was there...) and on Saturday had surgery to repair the damage.
I am looking forward to comparing scars as I had a similar incident when I crashed off a mountain bike and had to have a plate fitted to my right wrist! - oh and don't believe the Urban Myth about it happening at the end of a beer crawl (ride) on bike (avoiding numerous canal incidents) and not wanting to leave a "fallen" (broken chain) comrade behind...

Sunday I managed to get over to the PEPPER set build - observing not building - and say hello to the good folk over there, and Sunday afternoon a few drinks and a nice meal in a pub.
Anyway all in all a pretty successful week (for me not Lorraine of course!) and it was great to catch up with so many friends. Looking forward to doing it all again!

Crazy for...

Well will see if my memory is good enough to do this update, so much happened it is hard to keep it all in order as well!

I got back to the UK on Friday the 8th, unfortunately my hosts were going to be very busy on the Saturday and Sunday, so left to my own devices on Saturday and having not been able to arrange any meets for the day, I took off early from Amersham to spend the day in London town - no plan, just me, a camera and an idea that going to Greenwich might be nice at some point.
Luckily caught the Chiltern line to Marylebone as the Met line was shut - nothing changed since I lived here then!.

Arriving at the station, I decided to head towards the Embankment, so a couple of tubes later - and oh the joy of a still functioning Oyster card! - I arrived and took a wander up towards the London Eye across the river, first thing I found was the amazing Battle of Britain memorial, a superb piece of art and the start of a project for the day... all the photos are here

On reaching the London Eye it seems as if they have installed an "Extreme Pod" I guess for all those bungee jumping extreme sport type tourists...

During the day I came across some wonderful architectural displays, and some amazing "hidden" artworks, so what started as a stroll along the embankment turned into a hike all the way to Surrey Quays, then a tube to Greenwich Peninsular and the Dome, then another hike up to Greenwich Observatory.

Some selected images from the day here, more at the album