Backstage and tutus

Two weeks ago I spent my Saturday in a sea of tutus, reliving my younger days as a member of the stage crew. Throughout my time at uni I worked panto season at a local theatre, as well as the occasional other show/event. It's where I met several of my closest friends.

This time it was the end of year production for London Amateur Ballet. A was the official photographer for the day and I had tagged along as assistant photographer (not that he needed one!). It started with company class at The Place studios, after which we all decamped to The Bloomsbury Theatre for technical rehearsals and then the two shows.

It was strange donning stage blacks and hanging out in the corridors and wings of a theatre - after four years of panto season (plus the odd other show), I left that part of me behind over 10 years ago.

I basically had no proper jobs to do. I tried to take some photos, but it was tricky with the low levels of light that you get in the wings. However, I did find a variety of ways of being useful and staying busy:

- "tagging" the tutus to keep the layers together

- dressing chairs with fabric (it was actually skirts!)

- running to find the principles when they were due onstage

- getting water for the dancers

- dresser for a quick change

And many more little jobs to help out.

I'm pleased to say that both shows went very smoothly and A took some fantastic photos. Watching all the ballerinas really made me want to get dancing again. I reckon I should be fit enough for class in a week or two. I hope so!

Exciting plans

As Spring thinks about making an appearance, my calendar is beginning to fill up with all sorts of nice stuff.

It started with a Spa trip with some of my girlie friends last weekend. It seems to be turning into a habit that every year in March/April I plan a relaxing spa trip.

Then at the beginning of April I've booked myself onto a three day intensive ballet course. I'm equal parts excited and scared about this one. I don't think my current average of one ballet class and one gym trip a week is really going to prepare me for this! Need to be in shape.

Also in the diary is Pteraductyls - a sailing group that I'm part of. I haven't been for at least two years so I've no idea if I even still remember how to sail. Be a great opportunity to catch up with friends too.

Also in the mix will hopefully be some skiing practise. This year's sort-of-maybe ski trip didn't happen, but it's definitely still on the list so I need to keep up the practise. Plus I was starting to really enjoy it.

Three firework shows in one night

We had a demo night for clients last week. About a million crew turned up to help (slight exaggeration, but still loads) so it was almost like a firers reunion.

Rather than rigging, I was on Meet and Greet duty. It meant that I spent most of the evening in the warm, and that I got to fully watch and enjoy the shows!

The first was a Halloween-theme. It featured some of our other effects including lasers, smoke machine and flame pots:

Picture from the side, the audience were in front of the large building on the left.

The second was a quiet show to the ever popular "Let it go" from Frozen. It was full of single-shots, almost like a choreographed dance:

The last show was a classic, using a mix of firework types and fired to Protectors of the Earth:

Once our guests had left, I did change into my many-layered rigging gear and help with the clear up. They didn't really need me because half the world was there, but I like to get involved.

All photographs are copyrighted and are used with permission.

Fireworks, royal palace, ballet and brunch

Summer's here! Hurrah! And I've even had the time to make the most of  the weather :)

Last Saturday we rigged a firework show at Hampton Court Palace. We drove through the gardens and set up behind a beautiful fountain, unfortunately ruining many tourists' photos of the gardens. One of the most picturesque locations I've fired.

No pictures of the actual fireworks I'm afraid because I was on fire/crowd watch.

Then on Thursday I was treated to a night at the ballet! English National Ballet at the Royal Albert Hall. I loved every second! We were sat very close to the action (about 5 rows back), and because of the venue (and very large stage) the performance was "in the round" and the cast was huge. Wonderful.

And today has been perfectly lazy - brunch at my favourite cafe with a new friend, a spot of shopping (new earrings! Yay!) and sunshine :)

What's your favourite way of enjoying the nice weather?

Catching up - Christmas

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas. I certainly did, although I caught the traditional Christmas-holidays-cold which rather knocked me for six in the run up to the big day :( But apart from that it was wonderful!

My Christmas tree, featuring this year's new bauble - my sparkly pear:

In the run up to Christmas we took the nieces ice skating outside the Natural History Museum - super fun!

On Christmas eve we had a fish dinner, something that my family have always done and I'm not entirely sure why. Might be linked to my mother having lived in Spain for many years? I made a fantastic fish pie which has to feature in its own post because I took lots of photos!

Christmas Day was fairly busy with church and two families to visit. Luckily, I still managed a few cuddles with my new nephew!

Then Boxing Day was the start of the real adventure... which deserves a post of its own...

Fireworks and rushing around.

So far, fireworks season has gone really well. I had planned to write a proper post about everything I've been up to, but between fireworks and the day job I'm simply too busy right now. Instead, for now I'll have to content myself with a few pictures that I snapped over the weekend...

Three vans loaded up and ready for the drive to Portsmouth.

Rigging the shell tubes on the barges at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth.

A snapshot of the show on Friday night (two barges in the middle of the harbour).

A few of the shell racks - my vague attempt to document some of the kit we travel with.

Rigging at Kenilworth Castle.

A slightly blurry side view of the show at Kenilworth Castle.

I wasn't firing on Bonfire Night itself (Tuesday) because I was needed at work, but I'll be back out on Saturday on another fabulous fireworks show.

When did you last see fireworks?

To all firers out there - stay safe this season. 

Rigging, morris dancers and paella

Last weekend I helped out at a street party. Our task was rigging sound. The best part about rigging days is that no one cares a jot what I look like. I didn't brush my hair all day! Just tied it back in a crazy ponytail/bun combo so that it was out of my way and got on.

If you think you recognise the building on the left, that's probably because I set fireworks off the roof of it last year as part of the Queen's Jubilee celebrations.

Halfway through the set up, about a million (I am so not exagerating) morris dancers came past us in procession:

Things eventually got underway about midday...

... and the town was full of people.

I treated myself to paella from one of the hundreds of food stalls (again, not exagerating):

Yummy :)

A few of my favourite things

Spring finally arrived. Summer might even be on it's way :) and I've mostly been very busy with work :( So I thought I'd take a break to share with you the things that have been bringing a smile to my face recently.

1) Hello Panda biscuits. I have now found a Japanese food shop that stocks these in about five different flavours. Have been through a few of these packets over the last few weeks...

 2) Summer shoes! Accidentally treated myself to two pairs of wedges whilst trying to organise an outfit for a wedding recently. They are so cute and summery...

3) Hart of Dixie. I don't know if you've ever seen this, but back in Febuary I got my hands on the box set of series one. I watched it almost non-stop in less than two weeks (1144mins on 5 discs!). It is very addictive.  And now series two is on TV so Monday nights are Hart of Dixie nights. So funny...

4) Cinema trips - there have been a lot of good films out recently. I've missed a couple (Great Gatsby and Iron Man 3), but rather enjoyed Man of Steel this weekend. A couple of weeks ago I also got to see the new Star Trek movie with was particularly good.

5) Amazing wedding food. Some friends got married a couple of weeks ago - it was a lovely day, with a back garden tipi reception. And a skiing wedding cake...

And the most amazing cheese cake...

You can check out more information about the cheese construction on the bride's food blog.

6) One of my friends posted this picture on twitter:

 I need to have a go at making these; she even shared the instructions:

I would reference this picture if I knew the original source. Sorry.

Slowing down

Yup, I've been a bit quiet.

Life got busy.

In a not-easy-to-plan-more-than-24hrs-ahead kind of way.

In a balancing-work-and-life kind of way.

Everything is being re-evaluated - what had been relatively small parts of my day are now important and to be savoured: tea and cake in a cafe, making it to a ballet class, reading a book.

So my little blog is a bit quieter than usual...

happy cupcake

happy cheese board

happy feet :)

PS - I did finish the puzzle, but am missing a piece!!! So annoying - will post a picture if we find the piece...

A weekend in pictures

Dodgy iPhone pictures I'm afraid...

Is there anything better than Christmas socks?!

White van girl and blowing up a castle

Saturday started early. Very early.

My first job of the day was van driving! It wasn't anything huge (my licence doesn't cover anything bigger than a long wheel-based transit), but it was still a little bit daunting. I got right into my stride, although I have to admit to not being your typical white-van-girl: tea in the cup holder and radio 4 playing in the background (I'm so old before my years!).

Our convey arrived in rainy Kenilworth and proceded to the site - around the ancient walls of the castle to the front. This was where my new van-driving skills let me down - it was grassy, muddy and wet :( One of the French crew that were working with us had to take over so that my van made it across the slippery surface safely.

This was a big rig: 12 crew working pretty much flat out. Seven firing positions, plus a mini bonfire-lighting show and lights on the wall of the castle to synchonise with the main show.

Isn't it an amazing setting?

The Round Table folks were very kind - every hour they came round with tea and coffee, and in some cases sandwiches and biscuits!

At 6:30pm, I cued the bonfire show. It was only 12 cues, but it was my first time giving the GOs on the radio. Exciting...

Fireworks on water

Unfortunately, my regular sailing trip clashed with the busiest fireworks weekend of the year so I was unable to meet up with my boating mates (the Pteraductyls). On the bright side, I did end up very close to them and on a boat (well, a barge) in the middle of Portsmouth harbour.

Friday started innocuously enough - I was at the fireworks yard (Rocket Park), ready to start my third day of loading vans, labelling ADR loads (for those vehicles carrying a large amount of explosives), charging radios and other essential prep tasks for the many crews heading out over the weekend.

Then came a change of plan - the team at Portsmouth were down a crew member. Off I trundled with my kit box, PPE (personal protective equipment) and plenty of warm/dry/waterproof layers of clothing.

The rig was very cool - a small show on the pontoon and then two barges full of fireworks. I had to roll up my sleeves and get stuck in, helping to organise the shells - those are the large fireworks that shoot high into the sky and then burst, usually into a sphere of colour. During the rigging, the barges were moored up to the pontoon which made everything much easier. As did the sunny weather!

The cakes (multi-shot fireworks) being laid out, before being secured.

A shot across the barge (including the crane), showing the famous Spinnaker Tower in the background.

These racks of tubes are secured firmly together for the shells, which are placed individually at the bottom of the tubes.

Sleepy firework girl

I am shattered.

First, there was two days of working in the yard. This mostly consisted of lifting and lugging to prepare all of the vans for the busy weekend.

Then, I ended up unexpectedly working the firework show at Gunwharf Quay, Portsmouth. The fireworks were rigged on a pontoon and two barges which were towed into the middle of the harbour by tug boats...

Apologies for a rubbish photo - I only had my phone with me. Trust me - it was fabulous!

And yesterday was a pretty big show at Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire. It was a pretty intense rig (and we hadn't had much rest time after the previous show), but we got everything done and it was a pretty cool display.

Huge crowd and lots of great fireworks infront of the castle :)

At some point, when I've had more sleep, have washed the black powder and mud out of my clothes and let my tired muscles recover, I'll write a bit more and share some better pictures.

PS - I managed to pack everything I needed for a whole week away, including various different activities! I don't think I've ever before been able to say that I have packed everything I needed :)

Prepping for the "season"

Firework season is upon us! There are a few halloween shows over the next week and then the 5th of November looms large. It is going to be busy!

In preparation, I decided I better sort through my kit box and check that I have everything I need:
    emergency chocolate - check
    rigging gloves (formally sailing gloves) - check
    warm toasty gloves - check
    knife - check
    nips (wire cutters)  - check
    at least two warm hats  - check
    cheap sunglasses - check
    torch - check
    headtorch - erm... better get searching for that... especially as it took three before I found one I liked... finally found!

And I may have treated myself to a trip to Decathlon for some extra warm clothing to help me through the cold (and possibly wet) days ahead. And the best thing was how cheap it all was :)

My haul - a very soft fleecy buff, extra thermal top, fleecy layer and ski socks (long and toasty warm).

Bring on the fireworks :)

Road Trippin'

As you've probably gathered, I went off exploring for a couple of weeks. It was soooooo much fun and I'm a little disappointed to be home (the holiday blues is normal - right?).

The plans for the trip were pretty sparse: the only things that were booked were the ferry crossings and a hotel in one of the cities we were visiting. Everything else was planned and organised as we went (including a bonus trip to an extra country!).

It looks something like this:

With our major stop points being:
Biarritz/Hendaye (beach, a particular favourite restaurant, surfing and dinner with friends who live in the area)
Madrid (for the pandas at Madrid Zoo, and also the non-camping portion of the holiday)
Barcelona area (city exploration, beach, hopefully meeting with friends - unfortunately we didn't manage this meet-up)

On the way home, we also spent a night in Andorra (why visit two countries when you could visit three?!), met with friends who have recently moved to France (somewhere in the region south east of Bordeaux) and managed an afternoon in Paris.

Beautiful and exhausting :)

PS: I promise some better quality photos to follow - these are mostly quick clicks from my phone!