My bum is flat, my eyes are square and I thought I was going to have an attack of sciatica, but managed to avert it by performing some emergency Pilates. And all because I have spent all weekend attending the TABI (Tarot Association of the British Isles) Mid-Winter Conference which was, as is the case with such events these days, conducted over the Zoom. The plus side, of course, is that I could provide tea and refreshments to myself that I actually enjoyed (some rather lovely home baked rock cakes, since you ask). Also, during the less than scintillating lectures, there is the advantage of being able to switch off the video camera AND the ability to pretend you are making intense notes just out of camera view when, in fact, you are reading a jolly good book. You can’t get away with that when you are attending a face to face conference.
We had the added excitement of a conference raffle, with ten prizes of different Tarot decks and books.
…ME! I actually won a raffle prize! This is only the third raffle prize win of my entire life, so I was very excited. I was so excited I can’t remember what it was I won - I think it was one of the Tarot decks. I think the win was a reward from the Universe for my tenacity in sitting through a couple of quite challenging-on-the-tedium front lectures and not rolling my eyes. Mind you, I am an ex-teacher, so have been well-trained.
It’s been a very busy four days, social engagement-wise. On Thursday, Heather and I went to see The National Theatre Live’s production of ‘The Crucible.’ It was an engaging, if slightly bizarre, production. The character of Abigail Williams didn’t develop at all, presenting as she did from the get-go as mad as a box of hysterical frogs with Tourette’s. The actor who played John Proctor seemed to take cowboy John Wayne as his inspiration, all wide legged rolling gait and leisurely drawl. There was a school party in the audience, presumably because they were studying the play as a GCSE text. I was disappointed they didn’t all snigger when Abigail delivered the line, ‘and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you’ because it always made MY drama students guffaw, goodness knows why. Anyway, it was entertaining enough, and the half time ice-cream was delish!
Then, on Friday morning, Andy said, ‘Fancy going to see David O’Doherty at the Lyceum in Crewe this evening?’ And because we can occasionally demonstrate acts of spontaneity, we immediately booked tickets and had an evening at the theatre! This is David O’Doherty…
He’s a stand up comedian, and we always laugh when he is on the telly. He was even funnier at the theatre! However, his story about mice did make me feel slightly queasy. But it was funny.
And now, after all the excitement of the last four days, I feel quite tired. I do have one more appointment to attend, which is tomorrow and is a check up at the dentist. Saving the best to last. Not.
Comments
KJ
KJ