Get the joy.. or else!
Enjoy joy when it comes along - which I hope it does for everyone.
I know a few friends who have had very hard times in the last six months and tackled what came along with bravery and as positive an attitude as they could.
Their experience reminded me to be grateful for everything lovely which turns up and as a result I’ve really appreciated different things that have come my way in the last month.
They are wide and varied so buckle up!
I love the band Ghost and after seeing them in Glasgow went to see them play again in Amsterdam which was brilliant. We made friends with a Dutch heavy metal addict beforehand who apologised for swearing and was astounded we were fans as everyone else was dressed like ghouls.
The trip also gave me the chance to eat the most delicious biscuit. You buy them warm with white chocolate nicely melting in the middle.
One of the best moments in May was a friend’s wedding disco where I had the pleasure of being in the company of another friend’s little girl for the evening. Her chat and happiness was brilliant. She confided in me that sometimes she got a bit down in the dumps when she had a loud cough at nursery. My heart melted.
Here we are, thanks to my other half for having a tiny chick on his head to make everyone look the right way.
The other evening which bought me joy was a friends Murder Mystery Play at Bardon Mill village hall with the plot based around a senior school. It had so many laughs, great performances and a lovely buffet in the interval which I think the region’s major theatres could take a lesson from. Worked a treat. Who knew my mate could do such a good Vera impression. Top marks all round.
Being from Sunderland I must mention the big football news from the weekend which had given so many people in the city a big surge of happiness and a bad head. I find it a gobsmacking statistic that the last goal which puts the team back in the Premiership could bring in around £200m in time.
While all that was going on I was a ‘Dayfever’ disco run by actress Vicky McLure’s husband, for the first time. My friends and I got our face painted by Kerry Jackson who did mine in April, which really added to the fun.
Last week I had the pleasure of reviewing the stage show of Boys from the Blackstuff which I remember being an outstanding TV series in the ‘80s. It still had the power to shock with the poverty and hardship endured by men looking for work and the families impacted by the tough times.
I’m currently researching more about allotments and plants for my work in progress, Halloween Lanterns. I had a fascinating trip to the plots beside my house in East Boldon. The allotments had a lovely feeling which was odd for open land – it gave me a sense of joy, hence the heading of this newsletter. It was almost like when you go to a cathedral.
Not only did I get this pleasure I was also given a huge bunch of rhubarb. A Delia Smith crumble with ginger in it then followed. Recommended.
I also visited Alnwick Garden’s Poison Garden a few days ago. Now I realise my garden is full of so much deadly potential it’s quite frightening. Hellebores, aquilegia, and foxgloves, to name a few. Definitely food for thought (as opposed to eating).
I’m still promoting The Stand Up Mam when I get asked to talk about it and really enjoyed talking to a local WI group in Cleadon village and to people at the Word in South Shields.
A few people who have heard me speak say they would like to do stand up and I love that and hope they do take the plunge. There will never be anything so scary to tackle I’m sure.
One side note, I saw Roger Daltry a couple of weeks ago and I’m gobsmacked to say he has obviously never heard of Greggs. He asked for audience questions and someone said ‘What is your favourite Greggs?’ His answer was ‘Who is Greg, I don’t know him?’
Reading and watching
I’ve just finished a brilliant book The Second
Chance Book Club. Full disclosure I’m slightly biased as it’s by Stephanie Butland who mentors me with my writing but it was a perfect read with characters who have goodness at their heart.
There will be a great event on 9 July when my friend Vic Watson has arranged for the best-seller thriller writer Lisa Jewell to come to The Exchange 1856 North Tyneside. Here’s the link.
The Piano is always a hit with me and it was great to see the final filmed in the region at the Glasshouse. Oh my - the person judged to be the performer of the night had me in tears.
Now I’m concentrating on Race Across the World. It is such a great combination of travelogue, back stories and human grit. Love it and it makes me want to see everywhere!
Thanks very much for reading this. It is really appreciated as always.
xx