Live Entertainment

Its Easter Sunday here in sunny Yorkshire we're half way through our latest school break. Thoughts understandably turn to crucifixion and the like but our holidays have so far revolved around more sedate live entertainment. As we weren't going abroad this time, we decided to fulfil an outstanding appointment to visit friends in London. We had a few days in the capital and had a brilliant time. Our friends, once stalwarts of that beacon of cutting edge broadcasting; Radio Cumbria, are now enjoying success across the media spectrum. It was great to catch up and to bask, however briefly, in the associated glow of someone who had opened the door for Stephen Fry.

I think what made this trip so much more pleasant was that we decided to walk everywhere rather than using the tube. We were based in Russell Square but used every opportunity to wander the streets of London. As we strolled towards the V&A museum on Wednesday morning, it was lovely to walk through so many different areas of stunning architecture, shops and parkland. The V&A was a surprise too not least because Gill forced us to go to the Kylie exhibition that they had put on there. I lasted almost two minutes. Don't think I am being a snob - it was just rubbish! Gill as usual met up with some old friends although thankfully for once they were inanimate. It was four standard bearing animals called the Dacre beasts which were once housed at a place where she used to work.

Later that evening came my highlight of the trip; a chance to see Spamalot the musical. I'd like to say that I'm not a big fan of musical theatre although many of you know this to be untrue (my penchant for show tunes certainly provided ample fuel for the rumour mills during those awkward adolescent years). However by anyone's standards it was a right laugh. In essence it is Monty Python's Holy Grail with more singing and dancing. I can heartily recommend it.

While we were in London, Alex and Mihal were doing a kind of celebrity holiday swap with us up in the Lake District. By all accounts they certainly put in the miles walking up many of the Lake's most famous peaks and many I'd never heard of. I suppose when you live here you take a lot of that stuff for granted and don't really take advantage. It reminded me of a conversation I once heard at work. One colleague was regaling another about all the fells he had scrambled up and run down over the previous weekend. "Why", replied his workmate, "was the TV broken?"

We met up with Alex and Mihal again on Friday night as we went out for a drink at The Source, one of Carlisle's more original and unique establishments. We happened upon the night when the Experimental Music Collective got together (wouldn't you know, the one night I don't bring the tambourine!!). All very avante garde/boho chic but its always nice to see and do something a bit different.

I had the same thing in mind when we came home this time. Rather than just go out on the sesh we had a look what was on at the local theatres. The Cherry Orchard was on at the Crucible so we got tickets and off we went. It was yet another brilliant night's entertainment and what's more we sat just across from the director, Jonathan Miller (don't worry Stan I didn't pat his backside). So we've had a fun packed and fulfilling week without even leaving the country this time. What's all the better is that it has been glorious weather all week. With this in mind, I thought I'd end this entry with a poem for all our overseas readers;

O, To be in England

Now that April 's there,

And whoever wakes in England

Sees, some morning, unaware,

That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf

Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,

While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough

In England—now!