Romeo and Juliet

Last night my friend and I went to see gb theatrecompany perform Romeo and Juliet at the Peace Gardens in Sheffield. It was the first time a play had been performed there and with the back drop of the town hall it was quite beautiful.

It's been twenty years since I saw the play and I had managed to forget big sections of it which was a pleasant surprise. Plus the actors were excellent. There seemed to be real electricity between Gabriel Thomson and Lucy Wray as the lead characters and the experienced hand of David Davies was clear as Friar Laurence. We were particularly impressed with the sword fighting of Phillip Scott-Wallace (Tibbult) and the comic timing of Joel Sams (Mercutio) even though the jokes were pretty terrible but you have to blame Shakespeare for that.

The only problem really was the venue. Being in the city centre makes it accessible for everyone, but accessibility means buses and buses are flipping noisy. And car alarms are. And drunk people who wolf whistle and swear. Accessible also means people can wander behind the fence at the back and take photographs. Which was a little off putting. As were the teenagers having a chat in the row behind and the lady who briefly completely obscured my view with her umbrella (but I guess you could have had that anywhere).

And of course there was the rain itself which started in the second half. The play involved heavy dresses and a fair amount of lying on the floor which I imagine was cold, wet and pretty uncomfortable.

None of this seemed to affect the actors though. They carried on regardless and were pretty amazing.

Tomorrow is the same actors performing Twelfth Night and I imagine it will be excellent, but I'm a bit worried about it both for the actors and the audience. I'm not sure how relaxed I would have been if the drunken shouting had been ramped up. I think the idea of plays in the Peace Gardens is a good one in some ways, but ideally they needed more screening, a bigger audience and the odd security guard. Maybe it could be much more of a festival one day as David Davies suggested at the beginning.

So if you are looking for a night out please go tonight or tomorrow and support the theatre company. But be prepared to ignore the annoying sounds of Sheffield at night.

Tramlines

Well Tramlines didn't entirely go to plan. We were taking it in turns to go out in the evening and planned to spend loads of time in the day in town and Endcliffe Park listening to music with the kids. That was until Tilly was sick in her dinner, on the top deck of a bus, and subsequently every half an hour for twelve hours. Poor little thing.

That said it still warrants a significant mention. We had a lovely time with the girls in the day on Saturday, and Paul and I did both manage to go out, have a drink and listen to music. Just a shame it wasn't together.

Paul spent most of his evening on Friday in the Frog and Parrot with friends, notably watching Lewis Floyd Henry who he said was staggering. He also managed to see Heaven 17 singing "Temptation" and was in before 3am. He only managed to lose his friends during that last hour so not bad going. He thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

Before the sickness on Saturday we managed to enjoy the family friendly bits of the festival too. We came away with two masks with ribbony bits and two crowns. Once I placated the girls with Hello Kitty sticker books we even managed to sit and listen to some music in the peace gardens. We also took them into the Amococo Luminarium at the cathedral which they thought was like being in a space ship, minus the aliens. It was very popular. The circus skills workshops were down well too, but despite professional assistance Paul still can't juggle.

I met a good friend in the evening and saw Sarah Mac at the Library Theatre. It was a lot calmer start than standing at the main stage would have been and a beautiful one. She is a great pianist with a lovely voice and I was in awe of her songwriting. Brilliant start. Plus we had the added bonus of wine in paper cups.

We then watched most of Shooglenifty on the main stage. They still had the same energy despite being 15 years older than when I last saw them. I wonder if he still drinks Newcastle Brown.

After that we went to the cathedral which weirdly didn't have a queue and did have a bar. We were a bit surprised by this and as a reaction bought a pint glass of wine each. I must admit I thought the venue a bit odd, and uncomfortable, but that's churches for you. But David J Roch was outstanding. Lyrically haunting with a rich beautiful voice. After he had finished we tried to leave with our pints of wine but weren't allowed to leave. It was a hardship we managed to cope with.

We went via chips, a brief view of the Guillemots on the main stage and avoidance of an exploding portaloo, to The Harley where we were transported back to being eighteen...for five minutes and one gin and tonic before we left with a headache. It was the music not the gin. I'm sure they were excellent. The head-banging twenty year old girl seemed to think so.

Obviously I wish we could have ended the festival as we'd planned - the family chilling in Endcliffe on Sunday and then Paul and I out together with friends in the evening. And more importantly I wish Tilly hadn't been so poorly, bless her. But that said it really wasn't a bad way to finish the festival even if it was a bit premature. A great night, a good friend, excellent new music and no queuing!

We spent the next day providing lots of cuddles and tidying the shed. Back to being middle aged.

End of Term

Well that's it for six weeks then. Thank goodness for that, we are all shattered. Although the wants list for the holidays is currently reaching three pages so I can't see it being a relaxing time. If we manage to do everything including learning to spell Mississippi, growing an "Enormous Turnip" and visiting everywhere my children have ever heard of I'll be more than surprised.

Before the mayhem begins is an ideal time to reflect on the last two terms I think. These are the key points:

1. Tilly loves school, has lovely friends and is learning a lot of good stuff. Apart from all the twinkly star brain stuff which was gibberish. She can read, write and add up though and how they get 30 kids doing that I will never know. She is also very good with pritt stick and a variety of food cartons although she doesn't always know what she's made.

2. School reading books are, in general, dire. Apart from the one about the Rabbit Milkman. Can't they all be by Julia Donaldson?

3. I officially love assemblies. Especially the way children project their voice by hollering at the top of their lungs and speaking really quickly. I have managed not to cry at any assemblies so far which is very good for me.

4. Scooters are both brilliant fun and terrifying. It's not just the kids falling off (which happens most days), but I take my life into my own hands just walking across the playground.

5. Various teachers cannot recognise a goat from a sheep, and don't know that Monet died a rather long time ago. I'm not doubting their knowledge in other areas but Zoology and Art history - not a strong point.

6. Tilly still hates Toy Story 3. Ah the last week of term when so much work is done. She genuinely is the only child who I imagine would have rather been doing sums.

Overall though she is incredibly happy which means I am too. AND it's Tramlines this weekend and if Phoebe manages to stay well we all get to enjoy it. Excellent.

Planning

Ever since we applied for planning permission several months ago we have been receiving unsolicited mail. So far it has all been from builders touting for business. Presumably those who have no other work to do so it hasn't made for the best marketing approach.

Then today we had more post, this time offering us excellent, value for money underfloor heating. Really? Surely we are a long way from ordering underfloor heating. And to think I was still focusing on demolition and where we want doors!

Besides we won't be able to afford underfloor heating. Or a floor probably.

That said it's all a bit exciting. Our first builder is coming out tonight with the architect. Eeek!

Just Walking

Exercise

I am very bad at exercising.

There was a time when I did all sorts of random exercise classes with my best friend. That was in the days when I had time, money and inclination to try stuff out. We used to do pilates regularly, swam and once even went to boxercise (never to be repeated that one though - it was a bit energetic).

For a while we went to speed yoga. Which is exactly what it sounds like, yoga done at great speed. Which is pretty much entirely not the point of yoga.

We also did Tai Chi for a bit which we greatly enjoyed. Although I wouldn't put it in the exercise category. It seemed to be more about learning a very slow dance routine to no music whilst imagining you were holding props.

Come to think of it we rarely chose aerobic exercise classes which probably tells you something about my lack of coordination and general dislike of being out of breath.

We did used to go the gym though. I'll say twice a week, although to be fair it was usually more like once. And sometimes that was really a trip to the sauna followed by coffee and cake in the cafe. But we did pretty regular exercise anyway. I didn't used to be quite as bad as I am now.

I have been a member of almost every gym in Sheffield I think. Esporta (nice but I didn't know anyone else who went), Greens (good although I hated the regular traffic jam to get there), and Virgin (we were enticed by the shiny new facilities and climbing wall, which I then never went up). I'm quite good at joining things, it's the keeping it up where I am spectacularly lacking.

The only thing I have ever done regularly was yoga (not the speedy kind). I continued with it all through my first pregnancy, including shoulder stands (my teacher assured me the baby liked it). Then I had a baby and it was difficult to leave the house. Well that was my excuse.

I started yoga again,and went throughout my pregnancy with Phoebe. Then I had a period at Ladyzone (a gym I had managed to miss first time round). This did work pretty well but in the end I got a bit bored of it.

Last year I had a brief enthusiasm for running and went with my friend. She continued and got pretty good at it, as I gave up and got more and more unfit. Don't ask me why. Laziness I expect. Following that I joined Fitness First which reminded me again why I am awful at cardio in gyms. And why I don't wear lycra.

I have even lost my focus for yoga which I am determined to get back as I would say it's about the only exercise I have ever actually enjoyed.

Anyway the sight of my husband walking up hills, cycling and running in the evenings has finally made me feel guilty. We can't afford for me to join another gym (and anyway surely I'd be recognised) so I put my trainers back on this morning and went for a run. Seven and a half whole minutes of running interspersed with minutes of walking. I was knackered. The running was bad enough but I'd chosen to do it at Graves Park which is far too hilly and full of dogs.

But at least I did something. The internet tells me I should publicly log what I do to spur me on by providing encouragement from my friends and family. Or so I am too embarrassed not to keep going. Either way I'm blogging about it. Whether I actually do anymore exercise this week remains to be seen. But Paul's gone for a jog so I might be guilted into ten minutes on the wii fit.

This week in brief

1. I still haven't done any exercise. Paul went up a hill in the rain. Tomorrow morning I will consider doing some sit ups.

2. Paul has spent money on boots and socks. I have bought car and home insurance. It really doesn't get more exciting than that.

3. I haven't dared step on the scales to ascertain how much weight I have put on. I am frankly embarrassed by my inability to eat healthily for longer than two days. I blame the fact that Paul is now eating Snickers every half an hour.

4. The house is still a tip. I am offering stickers to anyone who will tidy up bits of it. None of my immediate family seem to be incentivised so I'm broadening my offer to include you lot.

5. We have borrowed so many pairs of pants, trousers and dresses for Phoebe I genuinely can't work out where to return them to. I will be offering pants to everyone we see next week. At least she now wears waterproof shoes.

In more positive news:

1. The architect says that no one has complained about the plans for the extension. If only we could actually get on with something. I need to get rid of some more stuff at least. Does anyone need a large number of espresso cups and cocktail glasses?

2. We have officially given up ballet and Tilly is eyeing up the cheerleading course at school for September. I'm all for it as long as we don't have to buy new pom poms on a regular basis.

I think that's about it. Not exactly a scintillating week. This is me giving myself a boot up the backside. Not a £125 hiking boot though. More a flip flop. What's on TV?