tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56397128030122865902024-03-01T17:07:38.438-08:00The Online Journal of Christine LucasChristine Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741591476959147101noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5639712803012286590.post-16282555274737792512013-10-30T14:16:00.000-07:002013-10-30T14:16:49.692-07:00'My life stands in the level of your dreams...'<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Is my favorite line spoken from William Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale.' Spoken by Hermione in <span style="line-height: 115%;">Act 3, scene 2.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">What follows is a recount of my visit to Sheffield's Crucible Theatre three weeks ago!! </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Journey:</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://redpanda08.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/dsc07030.jpg" style="line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="DSC07030" class="aligncenter wp-image-2477" height="180" src="http://redpanda08.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/dsc07030.jpg?w=240&h=180" style="border: 5px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); clear: both; display: block; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 520px;" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Looking at the picture of Jonathan Firth and I, who I accosted outside of the stage door of the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. I have to admit that the resemblance to myself doesn’t seem real. Indeed the whole day had the essence of ‘fantasy’ to it and I think someone must have taken over my body as I was transported from my life in Liverpool to over the Pennines to Sheffield.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The day started like any other, David went to work while I had taken the day off so I could go to Sheffield, to the matinee and see Jonathan in William Shakespeare’s <em style="line-height: inherit;">The Winter’s Tale</em>. It is not my favourite play. Indeed I would like to see Jonathan play <em style="line-height: inherit;">Macbeth</em>, but that is my own fantasy.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">David kissed me goodbye unbeknown what plans I had for the day. Last year we both went to Edinburgh, well David had to go as I demanded it! To see Jonathan play in <em style="line-height: inherit;">Good Grief</em>, but it was a disaster waiting to happen. I was so embarrassed to be watching the man I fantasied over while sitting with the man I shared my life with that I could not approach Jonathan at the Stage Door afterwards.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">However, this time I vowed to myself that I would go. It was a second chance that I just had to take. I also had another reason to go too. I had to deliver all the lovely letters and messages of support to Jonathan from his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JonathanFirthFans" style="line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Facebook fan page</a>. I really couldn’t believe that I was the one playing ‘Hermes’, the messenger this time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I managed to leave the house around 9.15am, all made up! I walked unsteadily on my four inch high heeled shoes; I wore them because I knew Jonathan was tall. Much taller than I! I said goodbye to my mum who said ‘I hope you get to see him!’ and made my way to the bus stop! Then I waited ages!! Well it seemed like ages. While I stood at the bus stop, the cold autumnal wind blew my hair about like medusa’s snakes; I dithered while holding the letters for Jonathan. Then the number 14 bus arrived (followed by many more as is always the case) and I dived on to it. It took me to Lime Street station. I had no time to get lunch so I bounded onto the on time, East Midland’s train to Norwich, which would take me to Sheffield and to Jonathan!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The sun in the North West of England was gleaming. It was a most beautiful autumn day. The wind was gusty but my spirits were lifted by the sun, azure sky and the lovely support from the other Jonathan Firth fans! My nerves struck around Manchester, but I swallowed my stress and just went with the flow!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Scenery flashed passed as the train made its way across country. City scape then the green vista of the Peak District opened up, beautiful countryside, herds of cows and lines upon lines of dry stone walls! The train’s conductor seemed a character!! He was on the PA system after Manchester saying ‘don’t squash your heavy items in the overhead lockers, or they can fall out and hit you on the head!’ He had me chuckling!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sheffield:</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://redpanda08.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/20131010_114848.jpg" style="line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="20131010_114848" class="aligncenter wp-image-2474" height="180" src="http://redpanda08.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/20131010_114848.jpg?w=240&h=180" style="border: 5px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); clear: both; display: block; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 520px;" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Before long I had arrived in Sheffield. I disembarked the train and then tried to find my bearings. I managed to get lunch of a Tuscan vege wrap and I ordered a café latte to go. I really needed the toilet, nerves and all but they were closed! So I had to just cross my legs and bear it. I followed my new Samsung Galaxy S3 sat nav, but I found that it was taking me away from the Crucible! Time was of the essence and I didn’t want to get lost and start panicking! So I had to rely on good old fashioned ‘asking’ people. I asked one guy but I didn’t think he was from Sheffield, so I asked a woman, who thought I was going for an interview. Did I look that severe? I found that her name was Margaret and she worked at Sheffield’s Radio Station. She was so kind and helpful that I have to mention her. She not only told me the way to the Crucible, she actually took me there! I am so blessed to have met her, and I thank her. I do hope she gets this message as I am most indebted to her. I was quite adrift when she met me. I was in a city I did not know, had technology that did not work and yet she welcomed me and guided me to my ‘rightful’ place. I thank you!</span></div>
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<a href="http://redpanda08.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/dsc07028.jpg" style="line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="DSC07028" class="aligncenter wp-image-2475" height="180" src="http://redpanda08.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/dsc07028.jpg?w=240&h=180" style="border: 5px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); clear: both; display: block; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 520px;" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I got to the theatre at 12 noon and before I headed to the Stage Door, I queued up at the Box Office for a programme as I thought, ‘if I am waiting at the Stage Door I may get other actors’ autographs too!’ The queue was long and it seemed to take ages for my turn. I was getting a bit impatient thinking, ‘I’m going to miss him at this rate!’ I paid my £3.50 for the programme and headed around the side of the theatre to the dreaded Stage Door!!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had been in correspondence with the theatre for the past week. Ruth seemed particularly helpful and another person I should mention. She answered my query about how long the play was so I could plan my train journey accordingly. Then she sought out and gave me information on how to approach the Stage Door and enquiring about actors’ availability. Then if that wasn’t enough help, she updated me that production shots of Jonathan had been uploaded onto their website!!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Stage Door:</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://redpanda08.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/dsc07029.jpg" style="line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="DSC07029" class="aligncenter wp-image-2476" height="240" src="http://redpanda08.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/dsc07029.jpg?w=180&h=240" style="border: 5px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); clear: both; display: block; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 520px;" width="180" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have never actually been to a Stage Door. I have been past them, but never hung around nor entered them. I felt rather silly. I just do not do things like this! However in I went and met with a rather abrupt older woman who said to my request about Jonathan. ‘He’s not arrived yet. I don’t know his availability. You’ll just have to wait outside and see him when he arrives.’</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">‘Okay,’ I thought, ‘I was just doing what I was told,’ being a novice and all! So back out into the chilling wind I went. I could have left the letters for Jonathan at the desk but I thought it would be better me giving them to him personally, at least that way I’d know he got them. I waited just over half an hour, but with raging nerves and feeling oh so foolish, standing there being all fan like! It seemed much longer!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My plan of getting other actors’ autographs didn’t play out. A few just walked past me without a second glance. Though to be fair I was not one to shout up and wave my pen and programme under their noses. I saw Daniel Lapaine arrive, then go back out and then come back again with lunch. Barbara Marten walked in quietly. One actor arrived via bike; I think it was Keir Charles. He just looked at me distrustfully and Gareth Williams smiled at me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jonathan:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I half worried whether I would recognise Jonathan, or would he sneak past while I wasn’t looking? I had my head buried in my phone texting when I looked up and there he was standing (alone) across the road from me waiting for traffic to pass. I thought, ‘here we go, put your brain into gear Christine.’ I didn’t know how best to attract his attention, so I just stood there waving at him (he probably thought I was insane!) and then I approached him as he crossed the road. I said, ‘I’m Christine, from the Facebook fan site,’ but I don’t think he heard me so I had to repeat myself. I don’t even know if he caught my name? ‘I have some letters for you,’ I said and I gave him the envelope with the little booklet I made. I hope he enjoyed reading all the lovely words of encouragement we offered him?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">‘Thank you,’ he said and then I discovered he was still eating his lunch! Ops! I apologised profusely while he took a bite of what looked like a muffin or a flap jack. Sorry Jonathan!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was quite surprised at myself. I actually spoke to Jonathan without my heart beating fast, clammy palms syndrome or my mouth drying up leaving me with a stammer. I remained cool and collected and asked questions easily. I hope I came across that way to Jonathan? Maybe his account of our meeting would be different? Possibly I was an annoying fan who asked too many awkward questions while he wanted to hurry into the theatre to get ready for the performance? But for me it was ultimately a most pleasant experience. I had envisaged a ‘train wreck’ of a meeting, where I would be so star struck that all I could do would be to look down at the floor and not face him! Thankfully that was not the case and Jonathan did not carry the conversation, it was well balanced, and dare I say it seemed quite relaxed?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jonathan asked me was I going to see the play. I said I was, the matinee as I had to go back home later that day. He asked me where I was sitting; I couldn’t remember the number and then I felt a bit silly for saying, ‘in the front row.’</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He seemed interested in his fan based Facebook page, said we were ‘doing a good job’ and looks at it from time to time!! I informed him membership had doubled in a year and he laughed with me when I said I had been promoted to co-administrator! I mentioned he met Florence (the other admin) last year in Edinburgh and he said he ‘remembered.’</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I asked Jonathan how he liked Sheffield and he said he was ‘living in a nice part of the city.’</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">‘In an apartment?’ I asked.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">‘Yes, we (the actors) get a list of digs,’ he replied.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">‘That’s good.’ I said, knowing nothing whatsoever about the workings of a theatre company.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It came about that I had travelled from Liverpool to see the play. ‘Liverpool?!’ Jonathan exclaimed. ‘Had I come by car?’</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">‘No train.’</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">‘How long did it take?’</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">‘One and a half hours, so not bad.’</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">‘Direct?’</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">‘Yes.’</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">‘Did I come on my own?’</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">‘Yes,’ and then I told Jonathan that I had gone to Edinburgh last year to see him but that my fiancé was with me and it was all ‘rather embarrassing.’ Jonathan didn’t say anything to that, he just looked at me! Possibly the conversation could have died there and then!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I knew I was keeping him from going about his work, but I just kept asking questions! So many questions to ask and so little time! I think I must have gone into ‘reporter’ mode. ‘What made you do Shakespeare again?’ I asked and that triggered Jonathan into talking about his career doing Shakespeare, <em style="line-height: inherit;">Henry 6<sup style="line-height: inherit;">th</sup></em> and TV/radio work. I probably should have said I ‘loved’ him in <em style="line-height: inherit;">Henry 4<sup style="line-height: inherit;">th</sup></em>, but I just stood smiling and listening to him. He seemed happy to be working at the Crucible, said the theatre had won accolades.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He asked me if I had seen ‘<em style="line-height: inherit;">The Winter’s Tale</em>,’ before.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">‘I’ve read it,’ I said. Jonathan then went on to say it’s a long play, but that he gets to have fun in the fourth act. He was proud of what the director Paul Miller said about the cast.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">‘The company was the best he’d worked with in 20 years.’ That is some acclaim!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I managed to get Jonathan’s autograph. I felt a little silly asking for it, but Jonathan was gracious. Luckily I already had the programme and he kindly signed the front. I didn’t read what he had written until after we had parted. He signed: ‘<i style="line-height: inherit;">All the best. Thanks for coming</i>.’ Which I thought was a nice touch. Thanks Jonathan!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He said the theatre hadn’t given the cast any programmes and that he was interested in what was inside. So I leafed through a few of the pages for him and then he laughed at his cast picture, saying it had been taken for <em style="line-height: inherit;">Victoria and Albert</em>. I looked up at him smiling and said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">‘I think you should get a new picture.’ He smiled in agreement. I think that was the best moment for me, it seemed light hearted and fun and Jonathan was very close to me! Maybe a bit too close!!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A little before that I had asked Jonathan if I could have my picture taken with him, which he kindly agreed too, though he seemed a bit worried that he hadn’t shaved! I hadn’t noticed actually! Of course at the time of asking, there was no one about! Then David Mallinson (in a nice hat), who plays Antigonus in the play (and meets an untimely demise at the jaws/claws of a bear!), approached the Stage Door. I just looked at him and Jonathan asked him if he could take our picture, which he kindly did! That was when I glimpsed the director in Jonathan. Not content with a lamp post in the picture he repositioned us to the middle of the pavement. I just followed and stood beside him and smiled as David took the picture. Jonathan said it was a nice picture and it is, at least we are both sporting toothy smiles, but I seem so small standing next to him, even with four inch heels, Jonathan seems rather larger than life!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think I must have been talking to Jonathan for 10-15 minutes. I felt awful for taking up his time. I thanked him and we both spoke over our farewells as Jonathan rushed into the theatre and I to take stock of the encounter!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Play:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Crucible’s performance of <em style="line-height: inherit;">The Winter’s Tale</em> is over three hours long! However to me the time just flew!! Like every other Twitter comment and press review that came before, I must reiterate that the acting from all the cast was top notch and the delivery of the language was just perfect. The play rattled along at such a pace that I will probably be thinking about it for some time to come. When you see Shakespeare done well, you really feel it!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The stage design was simple yet effective and I must confess that I did covet some of the lovely dresses the female characters wore, especially Perdita’s gorgeous white dress in the final act, oh I want, I want!!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><em style="line-height: inherit;">The Winter’s Tale</em>, is a ‘strange play’, (borrowing Jonathan’s words there). With it’s fantastical ending, it’s like a fairy-tale, rather like my meeting with Jonathan seems to me now. It’s like two plays stitched together. To me it resembles a Gustav Mahler symphony. The tragedy of the first two acts is starkly contrasted by the light hearted humour in the fourth. Jonathan did look like he was having fun on stage as the ensemble danced and joked about during the sheep shearing festival. At one stage Jonathan, in breaches and red nosed disguise skipped past me, I didn’t know where to look!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Crucible itself looks a small performance area. From my seat I was trying to picture the snooker championship that goes on there and wondered how they accommodate two full sized tables! I was well placed in the ‘front row’ and due to liking end seats, I was right next to one of the entrances the actors used, in fact at one point Jonathan ran past me as he made his way onto the stage!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I visited the first matinee, the auditorium was half empty, or half full depending on your viewpoint. I presume the evening performances are better attended? I do hope so!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The slow menacing entrance of the ‘bear’ raised a small titter from the audience. I was expecting a brown bear as Bohemia is suggested to be in Europe, hence a European Brown bear, but what the costume department went for was more of a Black bear, or to me it even looked like a Spectacled bear! Either way, it was a cute addition!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It’s very hard to pick a standout performance as all the actors were fabulous! I particularly enjoyed Patrick Walshe McBride’s comic take on the young shepherd as a country bumpkin, especially his pronunciation of ‘see you these clothes?’ But you have to go and see the play to appreciate it. I shared a few uncomfortable glances with Keir Charles’ Autolycus as he stood right before me stuffing his purses down his pants. Again I didn’t know which way to turn! And Jonathan was just Jonathan, his command of the Shakespearean language I have always admired!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Journey Home:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I felt quite saddened when the play ended. I was having such a good time being entertained by the cast. As the actors came out on stage for their ‘curtain call’, I wiped out my camera to film it. I got the slightest impression that Jonathan wasn’t best chuffed to see a camera being waved about in my hand. Though in my defence I want to capture every moment, especially once in a lifetime moments like this!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As the lights brightened and the audience began to mill out, I checked my phone and saw the time was 5.15pm! If I was quick I may have time to catch the 5.40pm train home! Otherwise it would mean hanging around another hour! Could I do it? Find my way back to the train station this time without getting lost? As I left the Crucible I noticed it had been raining, the floor was wet, but thankfully the rain had stopped. I was reluctant to leave Jonathan but as I left the theatre I said a solemn farewell, almost like a prayer. I thank him for being perfectly wonderful to me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rushing in high heeled shoes is not conducive to looking good, so I waddled like a penguin back the way Margaret had shown me almost five hours previously. And did I reach the station in time? Yes! Did I get the right train? Yes! Though at first I thought I had not as I sat there for half an hour as the train carried me forwards in a bubble of silence. There was no PA system saying the next station would be Stockport until we were in Stockport! Then I relaxed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had imagined I would come home all tearful after visiting Sheffield and meeting with Jonathan, but on the contrary I did not. I felt quite blessed to have had the experience. I had met with some kind and helpful people in Sheffield and Jonathan had been lovely! I was proud of myself for doing something so out of my comfort zone! It showed me that I can do anything I put my mind to!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I now smile to myself as I remember reading my diary written when I was just 19 and in my first flush of ‘desire’ for Jonathan. My young, innocent self had scrawled ‘I wish I could meet him.’ I can now safely say I did, ‘but only 18 years later!’</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Christine Lucas 2013.</span></div>
Christine Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741591476959147101noreply@blogger.com0Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK53.381128999999987 -1.4700850000000453.078144999999985 -2.11553200000004 53.684112999999989 -0.82463800000004006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5639712803012286590.post-23073268477901345402013-08-20T10:48:00.000-07:002013-08-20T10:48:28.818-07:00Oh No!<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px;">
Today, with only working four hours I was home relatively early in the afternoon. The bird feeders again were full of the usual suspects, Goldfinches, House Sparrows, Starlings and Pigeons. However on closer inspection of the feeding station I noticed a little parcel on one of the mesh feeders. Wondering what it was I took a closer look and was horrified at what I saw!!</div>
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A Magpie must have been raiding a nest nearby and the package must have been dropped in my yard! (I can't think of how else it could have got there!) What I saw was a cracked egg! I first thought that it must have been laid by a visiting Pigeon but on closer inspection, inside the shell was the ready formed body of a bird. My stomach lurched! I have never witnessed anything like this at the bird feeders!</div>
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Then later, I got nostalgic and started rooting amongst the videos on my Sony pocket camera. I came across a video I took when the <a data-mce-href="http://www.thebigegghunt.co.uk/this-is-the-day" href="http://www.thebigegghunt.co.uk/this-is-the-day" style="color: #3c2bb6;" target="_blank">Lindt Big Egg Hunt </a>was in Liverpool. The egg was designed by artist Mikey Georgeson and I share the video with you. I particularly liked the small poem painted on it.</div>
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My gift to you then is an egg,<br />Not mine to give nor yourself to beg<br />If you want it then it's yours<br />Hold it gently till it soars.</div>
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Christine Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741591476959147101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5639712803012286590.post-69963952274691353022013-08-17T08:33:00.002-07:002013-08-17T08:33:58.969-07:00Baking for the Birds.<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px;">
Saturday after a long morning of endless shopping. David went into the new house to fiddle with the bathroom floorboards while I cooked up a mess in the kitchen!</div>
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I melted down a block of lard in the microwave and then added chopped peanuts, dried fruit, mixed bird seed, oats and flour. I then popped the mixture into three small plastic cups with string drawn through the bottom (for hanging on branches) and waited for the fat to solidify again.</div>
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This morning I was watching with glee as 10 House Sparrows, yes 10! Were in the garden eating the fat balls. No wonder I am having to buy a box load each week!! The Sparrows really did have a bumper brood this year!!</div>
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For this evening the family have planned to order a nice Saffron curry. I can't wait!! :D</div>
Christine Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741591476959147101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5639712803012286590.post-52993908803980368192013-08-16T11:44:00.000-07:002013-08-16T11:44:09.178-07:00Mourning the Loss of Summer…<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px;">
Is it just me or has this week been extra long....??</div>
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On the great British subject of the weather, it has been rather changeable this week.</div>
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My day off last Friday was a blur, as I was rather incapacitated with a migraine. Whether it was through hormones or alcohol who knows?</div>
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I have done a full 30 hour week at work this week and with this Friday being my day off (as I only work four days) I accompanied my mum to my brother's house to visit his family. I loved playing with my two nephews Nathan and Aaron. I conversed with them as they played on the computer and for lunch I shared my tomato soup with Aaron who in turn shared his strawberry yoghurt with me. It was fun! :D</div>
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I have been going through 50 fat balls a week recently as lots of Starling families have been visiting. There were at one count 15 Goldfinches. I am wondering whether this winter we will break the record of 20 Goldfinches visiting the feeders??</div>
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There were at least four House Sparrows in the yard the other day and walking to work on Monday I walked down a road and there were about 20 Sparrows all in the road foraging for food...</div>
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I know the seasons have changed as the afternoon sunlight through my bedroom window has changed direction. I just hope we get a breeze of an 'Indian summer' come the end of August just in time for the Liverpool Philharmonic to perform in Sefton Park, next Friday!</div>
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The concert includes:</div>
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Bizet <em>Prelude</em> to <em>Carmen</em><br />John Williams <em>Jurassic Park Theme</em><br />Klaus Badelt <em>Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl</em><br />Wagner <em>The Ride of the Valkyries</em><br />Holst <em>Mars</em> from <em>The Planets</em><br />Verdi <em>Triumphal March</em> from <em>Aida</em><br />Prokofiev <em>Montagues and Capulets</em> from <em>Romeo and Juliet</em><br />Tchaikovsky <em>1812 Overture</em><br />and much more great music…<br /><em></em></div>
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Vasily Petrenko <em>conductor </em><br />Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra<br />Hosted by Jamie Crick, presenter of the weekday afternoon show <em>Classic FM Requests. </em></div>
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I simply can't wait!!</div>
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This weekend I have nothing planned. David will probably want to complete the bathroom floorboards, while I, probably will enjoy a nice Costa coffee from my Tassimo machine :D</div>
Christine Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741591476959147101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5639712803012286590.post-32284425514612759292013-08-06T10:49:00.000-07:002013-08-06T10:49:13.775-07:00Progress in the Garden.<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.488636016845703px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Over the past weekend, David and I worked on finishing one half of the garden. Saturday was a pleasant day and we spent the afternoon putting soil into the designed walled garden and then planting the flowers and herbs.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Sunday was a very different affair. Whereas Saturday was nice and gentle the Sunday was hard work (on David’s part) and long for me. With finding woodworm in the bathroom, David had to take up the infected floorboards and then replace them with brand new ones ready for Rentokil to come out and spray the house. It looks better now!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.488636016845703px;">The beginning of August has seen a flurry of activity at the wild bird feeders. We have been inundated with young and adult Starlings and the Goldfinches have been bringing their hungry fledglings to the sunflower seeds. The video below is of a baby House Sparrow. The Sparrow is one of the many British birds that are in decline yet this year I have seen up to five Sparrows at one time on the feeders. The hot weather must have benefited them. I hope they continue to visit my yard as last year they only passed by on their way to more greener pastures.</span></div>
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Christine Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741591476959147101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5639712803012286590.post-90954918000371035612013-08-02T13:02:00.000-07:002013-08-02T13:02:02.444-07:00Birthday Cheer and Gardening<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px;">
Today was David's 39th birthday!! We celebrated by going to garden centres near Chester with his mum, dad and sister.</div>
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We have purchased lots of wildlife friendly plants for the garden. I am very happy with my small collection of herbs, amongst which I bought, Marjoram, Basil and Oregano. Today I came away from the garden centres with a Jasmine and a passion fruit! David got some plants for his alpine rockery.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px;">Amongst the plants </span><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px;">I photographed a Peacock Butterfly, looking beautiful on a Buddleia and also spotted a Silver Y Moth!</span></div>
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On the way back home we crossed the Runcorn Bridge and I had to get my camera out to film the footage!</div>
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Christine Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741591476959147101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5639712803012286590.post-79324208772620929022013-07-28T12:06:00.000-07:002013-07-28T12:07:28.907-07:00Yet Another Long Weekend!<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px;">
David and I had another three day, long weekend.</div>
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Friday was filled with chores like shopping and going to the dentist. We had <a data-mce-href="http://www.rentokil.co.uk/index.html" href="http://www.rentokil.co.uk/index.html" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Rentokil </a>out first thing in the morning and found that we have woodworm in the new house! The bathroom will have to have new floorboards! I am not best chuffed! At this rate we will never move in!!</div>
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Saturday we went to my favourite garden centre, <a data-mce-href="http://www.klondyke.co.uk/lady-green-garden-centre-ince-blundell-merseyside" href="http://www.klondyke.co.uk/lady-green-garden-centre-ince-blundell-merseyside" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Lady Green</a> and spent £25 on flowers! I got lots of herbs for the new garden. Amongst the flowers I captured a small tortoiseshell butterfly.</div>
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Saturday afternoon, David and I spent 5/6 hours building the garden wall. My wrist aches with mixing sand and cement. I even caught the sun on my chest and shoulders and I was not even in the sun!! The only consolation was that a nice Saffron curry was awaiting the end of the day and we saw a Comma butterfly, though it flew away before I could take a picture! This summer really has been the best for butterflies!</div>
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Sunday was a bit of a wash out! With thunder and torrential downpours, so the garden will have to wait for another sunny day (that's if we have another?)</div>
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The bird feeders have been busy this weekend, with not only Pigeons and Starlings visiting but at one stage there were 15 Goldfinches, five were babies and four, yes four House Sparrows, three male and one female!</div>
Christine Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741591476959147101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5639712803012286590.post-65833068623227378202013-07-25T14:19:00.000-07:002013-07-25T14:19:54.461-07:00Sample Chapters of Novel on Authonomy<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px;">
Friends, please find link below for a website where I have put a few sample chapters of my romance novel for you to peruse. I really need to know your feedback whether I continue or not.</div>
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Do please let me know.</div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://authonomy.com/books/54444/after-plato/" href="http://authonomy.com/books/54444/after-plato/">http://authonomy.com/books/54444/after-plato/</a></div>
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Christine x</div>
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Christine Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741591476959147101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5639712803012286590.post-70848644192518323322013-07-24T09:43:00.000-07:002013-07-24T09:43:30.198-07:00Things DO Happen for a Reason!<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px;">
It took a good few weeks for me to mull with the idea about sending my CV to the agency Randstad with regards to an Access to Work booking with the Royal Liverpool Hospital. I decided 'why not!' I was not working at the time and the prospect of going on job seekers allowance was not preferable. That was in June! I have been working there now for three days a week, with the odd fourth since then. Today I learned that my 'boss' at the hospital has had her hours for myself extended to 30, meaning working four days a week permanent!</div>
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From working less than ten hours a week to now working 30 is amazing! What a brilliant stroke of luck! I am pinching myself at the knowledge that after all this time at working at the university I now have a more permanent, almost full time job! Finally! A reason to break open a bottle of white tonight then. :)</div>
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Last Friday was my day off! So I planned to go with David and my Mum to the Festival Gardens. My Dad worked there when it first opened in 1984! It only opened for a couple of months in the 80's, but today it has been reclaimed and given back to the city, something I think is a lovely gesture.</div>
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I had kept two badges that my Dad had given me when I was seven years old from his time at the festival and I thought it was nice for me to take them back to the gardens. I really loved walking the grounds of the new park. It was like walking down memory lane with seeing the old Chinese pagodas. My favourite part was the Moon Wall, we all had fun goofing around that!</div>
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Christine Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741591476959147101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5639712803012286590.post-23666599942951559372013-07-12T13:52:00.001-07:002013-07-12T13:52:26.533-07:00Mmmm Man of Steel and Mexican Cooking..<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px;">
Friday was another of my days off work. This week I have worked a full four days at the hospital! The 'heat wave' has continued to bless us with high temperatures, in the mid 20 degrees (although it was a bit too humid by far!)</div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" style="line-height: 19px;">After the success of last weeks BBQ (these BBQs are costing me a fortune!)</span> another family BBQ is planned for tomorrow!</div>
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For last weeks BBQ I had vegetarian Mediterranean sausages swilled down with sparkling rose wine. This week I have got Quorn peppered steaks and to serve with salad and Pearl potatoes, swilled down with Merlot wine :p</div>
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Christine Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741591476959147101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5639712803012286590.post-88514304047530606722013-07-04T12:57:00.001-07:002013-07-04T12:57:38.434-07:00My Weekend Starts...Here!<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px;">
Phew! What a week! I worked a full three and a half days! Believe me, my body has not been used to doing that for a good many months!</div>
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I worked my three days at the Royal Liverpool Hospital, meeting many company representatives and people who work in the admin side of Supplies and Nursing in the NHS and on Wednesday I 'chief' invigilated my first 'big' room exam! I usually specialise in 'extra time' exams for students with disabilities but this morning from 10am to 1pm I ran and conducted a medical exam for 20 students! To say I was amazed at myself that I could stand, talk and direct more than 20 people is an understatement. I really did not think I had it in me to stand before people and talk aloud! I am more stronger, more confident than I give myself credit for. I am surprising myself more and more as this year progresses. I always thought myself as shy but maybe I am now, finally coming out of my shell to fulfill my potential???</div>
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But today is Thursday and I have Friday and the weekend off! The UK is supposed to see some sunshine and summer like weather again, so I am hoping to spend tomorrow sunbathing before cheering on Andy Murray in his Wimbledon semi-final! On Saturday I hope the sun continues to bask down upon us and my family can enjoy a BBQ. Well that is what I have planned anyway! :)</div>
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Below you will find two videos I have uploaded to my YouTube channel recently. One is of baby Goldfinches I videoed on Tuesday evening around 7pm. They were making a right racket and the rest of the 'charm' were all eagerly gobbling the sunflower seeds on offer in my garden.</div>
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The second video is of my Bengalese (Society) Finches, Chocolate (female) and Romeo (male). This is the first video I have made of Romeo since Caramel passed. (I still miss her.) I think Chocolate is cursing my name as since getting Romeo, he has not left her alone! It is pleasant of a morning to sit listening to him singing. Now, Thursday evening as the sun sets, it is nice to see them finally bonded and sitting on their rope swing together.</div>
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Hope you all enjoy the weekend wherever you are! :D</div>
Christine Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741591476959147101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5639712803012286590.post-76229692904378077592013-07-02T09:56:00.000-07:002013-07-02T10:02:07.584-07:00Jump, jump!Sunday was my nephew Nathan's 4th birthday party. My brother Stephen had organised a bouncy castle for the event and it ended up being a garden party!<br />
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Below is the video I made of us all having fun on the bouncy castle! Much fun was had by all! :D<br />
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<br />Christine Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741591476959147101noreply@blogger.com0Liverpool, Merseyside, UK53.4083714 -2.991572600000040453.2569664 -3.3142961000000404 53.5597764 -2.6688491000000405tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5639712803012286590.post-54075195718701796552013-06-28T12:48:00.000-07:002013-06-28T12:50:13.510-07:00Cake, Competitions and 'Jack' Sparrow!<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My day off work was a bit of a washout! It rained more or less all day, though it brought with it much action on the wild bird feeders!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were many Goldfinch charms visiting and bringing their babies along. I also saw a baby Blue Tit and its rather dishevelled parent but I couldn't get good enough footage of the new guy! I did manage to get some footage of 'Jack' Sparrow, he looks great! I've attached the video I </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">made of the birds today. Hope you like?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dYd9O0rxRA" target="_blank">Baby Goldfinches and Jack Sparrow!</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the post today my new exercise bike was delivered along with my prize from Arriva, who all week on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/northwestarriva?fref=ts" target="_blank">Facebook</a> had been holding a competition for a free weekly bus ticket. I was Wednesday's winner and I am 'made up' as I don't have to pay for a ticket this week!!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Me and my voucher for free bus travel!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As planned I made my <b>Strawberry Mousse Cake with Morello Cherry Drizzle</b> today. It has three different types of cream in it!! Very fattening!</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2300/summer-berry-mousse-cake" target="_blank"><b>The recipe!</b></a></span></u></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333;">400g strawberries<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333;">284ml carton double cream<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #59a399; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the sauce<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333;">250g Morello cherries<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333;">3 tbsp orange juice<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333;">2 tbsp golden caster sugar<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #59a399; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To decorate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333;">mixture of strawberries (some halved), cherries.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333;">icing sugar, for dusting<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Method</b></span></div>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Put the biscuits in a plastic food bag and crush using a rolling pin. Melt the butter in a medium pan, then stir in the biscuits. Tip this mixture into a loose-bottomed 24cm round cake tin, about 5cm deep and press down evenly. Chill.</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">M</span></span></b><span style="color: #333333; text-indent: -18pt;">ake the mousse: submerge the gelatine leaves in a large bowl of cold water and leave to soak for 5 minutes. Heat the single cream in a small pan until it just comes to the boil. Take off the heat. Lift the gelatine leaves out of the water and give them a good squeeze to get rid of the water. Stir into the hot cream one by one – they will dissolve immediately. Leave to cool slightly</span><b style="color: #333333; text-indent: -18pt;">. </b><span style="color: #333333; text-indent: -18pt;">I warmed up the single cream and then added a 10g </span><span style="color: #333333; text-indent: -18pt;">sachet</span><span style="color: #333333; text-indent: -18pt;"> of vegetarian gel.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; text-indent: -18pt;">Beat together the fromage frais, sugar, orange zest and juice with a whisk or wooden spoon. Stir in the cooled cream and </span><span style="color: #333333; text-indent: -18pt;">gelatin</span><span style="color: #333333; text-indent: -18pt;"> mixture and the cut strawberries. Crush just a few of the strawberries against the sides of the bowl and stir again to ripple through, leaving most whole.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whip the double cream lightly to soft peaks, then fold it into the strawberry mixture. Pour into the cake tin and leave to chill for at least 3 hours, or overnight, until set.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To make the sauce, blitz all the ingredients in a food processor or blender. Chill until ready to serve. (The sauce and the mousse can be made up to a day ahead).</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; text-indent: -18pt;">To serve, run a knife between the mousse and the tin, lift it out of the tin and take it off its base. </span><span style="color: #333333; text-indent: -18pt;">Put on a serving plate and pile a mixture of fruits on top to decorate. Dust with icing sugar and </span><span style="color: #333333; text-indent: -18pt;">serve with the sauc</span><span style="color: #333333; text-indent: -18pt;">e.</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Result:</b></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An utter disaster! David, mum and myself all had a portion. The cream mousse didn't seem to have set very much. It didn't taste of anything really and then when putting the cake back into the fridge. It slipped off the plate and I tried to catch it with my hand.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCyHSl6xPKKPSo9PR3LHMSKiPRRadPcHljtFeSeADn3VRICcLP8wDDkb76ifAIxZv0nwGldSf3ha1ZY-7cfhWjUXrXOb5Iwu24RyEZMlwwd1a7bHLIQD4Pq7y0-wCqSqyjvLTEywaU7c/s1600/DSC06304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCyHSl6xPKKPSo9PR3LHMSKiPRRadPcHljtFeSeADn3VRICcLP8wDDkb76ifAIxZv0nwGldSf3ha1ZY-7cfhWjUXrXOb5Iwu24RyEZMlwwd1a7bHLIQD4Pq7y0-wCqSqyjvLTEywaU7c/s1600/DSC06304.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Oh no!!!</span></td></tr>
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Christine Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741591476959147101noreply@blogger.com0Liverpool, Merseyside, UK53.4083714 -2.991572600000040453.2569664 -3.3142961000000404 53.5597764 -2.6688491000000405tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5639712803012286590.post-47466250031899072652013-06-27T12:20:00.000-07:002013-06-27T12:20:34.419-07:00First Blogger Post.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have kept a journal since I was 16 years old. Indeed I still have all the old diaries so I can look back at the person I was at a given date.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last January 2012. I started sharing my 'journal' online via WordPress.com. <a href="http://redpanda08.wordpress.com/">http://redpanda08.wordpress.com/</a> I had hoped that it would become a record of the daily avian species that visit my inner city garden, of my holidays to UK zoo's and also accounts of my many days out with fiance David. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However 2012 was not the best year for myself. In March after booking a weeks holiday to Norfolk to visit as many animal parks and zoos in the region. A week or so before I was to leave for the motorways with David, my father sadly became ill with pneumonia (and other complications) and died midweek when I would have been away. Luckily I had cancelled the holiday to be by his bedside. My WordPress blog continued to record the bird visitations to my sunflower seeds, mealworms and fat balls. (It became a bit of a distraction). </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3UPUfcP0o5WnsZPImABcIMi-xuUoO5rT9ADbbVYFDBVHa08A8lTtGZUMQMtoacxjuFFy7MokGN8DG_QZh_lls7pXC4Ee-YyQ0X0qbH8cTxpcAzqWwnSCbwtxi1qkxuOjpwph1TND6Zs/s1472/dad+and+me4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3UPUfcP0o5WnsZPImABcIMi-xuUoO5rT9ADbbVYFDBVHa08A8lTtGZUMQMtoacxjuFFy7MokGN8DG_QZh_lls7pXC4Ee-YyQ0X0qbH8cTxpcAzqWwnSCbwtxi1qkxuOjpwph1TND6Zs/s1472/dad+and+me4.jpg" height="161" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dad (Graham) and I</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In May, David and I 'finally' got the keys to our first house, so the remainder of the year was filled with painting and decorating and demolishing!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNFEcsywUcpiEv92LjEAhKmY4TVyrY_taBGpOD61crzv92d_2jm_Q96VZ9QgoHcoOJ3nY4uvZ3zLex2UcP_5GhwpWLJyLJ0DiMX2L9BBULnYxu5Vz4ZPKj6IZewslIBJIA9-_e4hQKDE/s1600/DSC04280+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNFEcsywUcpiEv92LjEAhKmY4TVyrY_taBGpOD61crzv92d_2jm_Q96VZ9QgoHcoOJ3nY4uvZ3zLex2UcP_5GhwpWLJyLJ0DiMX2L9BBULnYxu5Vz4ZPKj6IZewslIBJIA9-_e4hQKDE/s1600/DSC04280+-+Copy.JPG" height="190" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">David and I with the house keys!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However the final months of 2012 was a bit of a disappointment, with my work at the University of Liverpool drying up as my main student fell ill in October, meaning I had to claim Job Seekers support for three months as I had no other students and no other hours! Cooking and baking became my 'new' distraction.'</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGB04G26JhSK3u7sEpn13V43s1838rD7ZoMeMbVPwlZW_xHJGijh1Dyh63BVeuUofnMw7eN-HsZ2mJp_BWEPRNrAoO5BrPQPDGj2tjLZUteSS-u7rveVzj_HBESn3TH9NbTCVF0m7wgI/s1600/DSC05039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGB04G26JhSK3u7sEpn13V43s1838rD7ZoMeMbVPwlZW_xHJGijh1Dyh63BVeuUofnMw7eN-HsZ2mJp_BWEPRNrAoO5BrPQPDGj2tjLZUteSS-u7rveVzj_HBESn3TH9NbTCVF0m7wgI/s1600/DSC05039.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chocolate roulade.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMs2xTEYVKeh0pnNfwnMvKEvknxkJGNMwbOY1yWvg5C5EoW0Is1i_HU6VuxelABfRg7NnWmyCOgZToFhFRHK3PelswzllnVY0zjOq14TD40qNTneysdNVGVxc-kE2t7F6ZaWSQzGgSYc/s1600/DSC05040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMs2xTEYVKeh0pnNfwnMvKEvknxkJGNMwbOY1yWvg5C5EoW0Is1i_HU6VuxelABfRg7NnWmyCOgZToFhFRHK3PelswzllnVY0zjOq14TD40qNTneysdNVGVxc-kE2t7F6ZaWSQzGgSYc/s1600/DSC05040.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Cherry trifle.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mid 2013. I am in a far better place. We are almost nearing the end of the renovation to the house. David and I have got it 'just so!' </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLG8hpu-iua38GxJRhJcmDq2p8F6wC-gE8ahyPKaBZIDnh__dd7QatPTG3kbvGsnDO-bU1D-3C900ofUw1lDl37pYWe0EgzWJHJ9dU0LeYSxqq28gD7x5dzfS6EU0eLYpyqKSa6EXt3Fk/s1536/dining3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLG8hpu-iua38GxJRhJcmDq2p8F6wC-gE8ahyPKaBZIDnh__dd7QatPTG3kbvGsnDO-bU1D-3C900ofUw1lDl37pYWe0EgzWJHJ9dU0LeYSxqq28gD7x5dzfS6EU0eLYpyqKSa6EXt3Fk/s1536/dining3.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Dining Room.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have also just completed my second week in a new placement at the Royal Liverpool Hospital as a Support Worker for a sight impaired admin officer. So far so good. I am enjoying the work and it could possibly be more permanent than the university work. Alongside this I am also invigilating the odd exam at the university of Liverpool, which I also enjoy! So work wise I have lots going on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Outside of work I am currently nearing the completion of a 'romance' novel I have been writing since January but life seems to be getting in the way of finishing it. I have three dates to look forward too for days out!</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.liverpoolphil.com/?lid=12266" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Summer Classics in the Park</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">: 23rd August. Hopefully the summer will come back and bathe Sefton Park, Liverpool with lovely weather as I want to see the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic perform some well known classics.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.visitsouthport.com/whats-on/southport-air-show-p139433" target="_blank">Southport Airshow</a>: on the 15th September. Hope to go and see the Eurofighter visit once again.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.visitsouthport.com/whats-on/british-musical-fireworks-championship-p169661" target="_blank">British Musical Firework Championship</a> in Southport: 5th October, hope to visit on the Saturday. This has become a regular date on the calendar. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Garden bird visitations</b>: I have several Goldfinch charms visiting my sunflower seed feeders and they are now starting to bring their babies. Just now (7.30pm) I have seen at least three babies all begging for food! What a racket they make!</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/LGMl5BcKBBU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also have a new regular to the fat balls, a male House Sparrow. So with a day off work planned tomorrow. I hope to catch a glimpse of 'Jack' Sparrow and get video footage of him for you. While I also plan on baking a fruit mousse cake for Wimbledon!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But this evening I am kicking back and relaxing, listening to Hans Zimmer's '<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIDOw7bh0_Q" target="_blank">Man of Steel</a>' soundtrack while enjoying a glass or two of Pinot Grigio!</span></div>
Christine Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741591476959147101noreply@blogger.com0Liverpool, Merseyside, UK53.4083714 -2.991572600000040453.4083714 -2.9915726000000404 53.4083714 -2.9915726000000404