roaring forties!

I'm sure all women approaching 40 (and men too probably, actually they're probably worse!) think "Oh my god, I still haven't climbed Everest, swum the channel, learned a foreign language or to play an instrument..." etc etc.

It's 'bucket list' time for most people I think and while there really aren't a great deal of things I wish I'd done, or done differently, I've always fancied having a scooter!

I saw an advert on TV recently of a girl zipping along on a pink retro style scooter, wearing a pink helmet and I thought, hmmmm!

However...seems, unlike other European countries, one must actually have something called 'compulsory basic training' before one is allowed out on 2 wheels on a public road in this country. So I signed us both up for the training, which cost over £100 each! The web site infers that you can take the course in a day but we had to go back 3 times. Ian passed on our 2nd visit but I had to go back for a 3rd time.

I found the damn thing very heavy and difficult to manoeuvre, they don't look heavy on TV!!!! I never really felt in control and on my 3rd attempt I fell off during a U turn, which I took more in the style of a V turn. I turned too tightly and me and the bike simultaneously fell over sideways, the full weight of the thing landing on my leg!

I am currently very sore, very bruised and very disappointed... but at least I gave it a shot!

Meanwhile, Ian is zipping around on 'our' brand new retro style scooter!

I've a good mind to make him wear a pink helmet!!!! Hurrumph! :0(

Pilgrim's progress....

Just got back from a poetry performance night at the Pilgrim pub in Liverpool. I had intended to go just to watch but was persuaded to get up and do a few of mine!

Had to quickly grab pen and paper and try to remember some lines! Also had to quickly grab a double Jack and coke to settle my nerves!

I told the audience that I was very nervous so I was going to picture them all naked, which I said I hoped would make them more nervous than me!!!

It was pure poetry after that! ;0)

Never mind the why and wherefore...

Went to see the Mid-Cheshire Amateur Operatic Society perform excerpts from 'Trial by Jury' and 'HMS Pinafore'.

My friend played the role of 'Little Buttercup' in HMS Pinafore and her husband was the usher in 'Trial by Jury'.

We saw them previously in October last year, when they performed 'Fiddler on the Roof'. The girl who played Hodel is now one of the remaining contestants on the TV prog 'Over the Rainbow' for the West End role of Dorothy, in The Wizard of Oz, Danielle Hope. We knew at the time we saw her that she was destined for bigger things!

I think G&S is a bit like Marmite, you either love it or hate it and I've never been a big G&S fan to be honest, I don't find it as humerous as it is obviously intended to be and I don't particuarly find the songs, on the whole, to be that lyrical. However, I enjoyed the way it was performed and there was the odd phrase that had me chuckling. So maybe I can learn to appreciate it!

But...I'm glad their next performance is going to be 'Annie' ;0)