I’ve gone from an almost hermit like existence to being less of a hermit.  I can’t really say social butterfly because that would really give the wrong impression.  On the other hand compared to normal it could be used…

Anyway – this year I decided to go to things and do things.  The last few weeks have been busy – busy for me that is (I don’t know why i always feel the need to put in qualifier🤷‍♀️). One event a week is busy for me.  It started when I went to see Jenny Eclair on a Friday night – I did agree with her sentiment that an 8pm start really was late but that’s ’cause we ain’t the spring chickens we like to think we are.  On the whole she really was funny – now on occasion one or two of her references didn’t exactly hit the mark (possibly just for me) – referencing a shop in the UK, yes I recognise the name and have a vague notion of the point you’re making but as we’re not in the uk it didn’t have quite the impact it should have – that kind of thing.  To be honest, that didn’t really matter because it was a great night.  This was slightly overshadowed by looking at the phone afterwards to read of a shouting match in the White House between Trump&Co and President Zelenskyy – like WTAF?!?!

The following week on a Thursday, I went to see James Blunt in concert – this time it was indoors and my word there is such a big sound difference and on this occasion I wasn’t dancing in the rain – so that alone was a big thumbs up.   While we were waiting for the concert to start there was a video on the screens to advertise merchandise – completely brilliant – There was King Charles – unnoticed, Trump – booed, Musk – less booed, Putin – tittering, Starmer – unnoticed, a random woman in the house of commons – confusion for me (I now think it might have been Kemi Badenoch but I’m not 100% confident…) then Zelenskyy – massive cheering.  So whoever came up with this really hit the nail on the head – especially after last weeks fiasco/”art of the deal”

Jump another week and it’s a Friday – myself and my Mam went to see Michael Harding.  It was brilliant!  Mams generation in the audience thought it was hilarious as well – I just thought it was funny in places.  On the other hand I could listen to that man read a shopping list and I’d think it was brilliant.  I have to admit that I haven’t read his books but I do read his pieces in the newspapaer  The lesson of the talk was that you don’t have to understand people – you don’t have to work them out, know what makes the tick – you just have to love them.  Accept them as they are and love them.

This week, I flew solo.  I went to a matinee in the theatre – it always astounds me how they remember the words.  It’s an absolute pure feat!  It’s magic!  Anyway – yesterday’s excursion was to see Shakespeare!  King Lear to be precise.  Now it seems that most people I know of varying generations have all done it for their Leaving Cert. – myself included, when I repeated mine.  When you think of the play you did in school, the general feeling (or possibly personal feeling) is that it’s dry – it was lines and quotes remembered for an exam, the story line was only a thin surface.  The novel you study is all about the story – dialogue, descriptions, narration – it’s all wrapped up to convey the story.  The play however is pure dialogue and to read it on a page for an exam – this can be very barren.  Yesterday however, to see it played out – to see facial expressions, to hear intonation and delivery – this made it – this changed it – this was outstanding.  I think that whatever the play that’s being studied for exams – go and see it being performed – whether it’s via the big screen, the little screen, on youtube or live on stage  – see it performed – see what becomes of a script – because essentially that’s what it is – it’s a script for a visual production.   And yesterday’s production delivered on the visuals too!  Gloucesters ordeal took place on stage with the makeup (?) for each infliction being put into place – I don’t go to the theatre much – so this is possibly something many of you were acquainted with, for me it was better than any CGI in the cinema – it was real – it was credible.  The cast was a cast full of luminaries – 4 of whom I recognised immediately and the rest I’ll be watching out for.

I have 2 weeks of nothing ahead of me – I’m looking forward to them!  However after that it gets busy again with another concert and a trip or two.  I’m going to need a long lie down after all of this is done!