Something to be proud of...

I made a vow nearly three years ago that I would treat the DEB to a trip to China for our joint birthday in August 2012. It's been a challenge, but I've done it! I have squirreled away all my pounds and random pence for the better part of a year and a half, and I have just today made the final payment on our mega-excursion to the Far East!


It is a wonderful and much-needed sense of achievement. I set my mind to it, and I did it! Despite my constant and ongoing struggle to find consistent work. 


I did it. 


And, it was worth all the blood, sweat and tears to see the DEB's face on New Year's Eve, when he opened his fortune cookie to find that he would be going on a holiday of a lifetime! It's something he's always wanted to do, and I thought, why not, I'm going to make that happen for him!


That's not to say I'm not looking forward to it, too. China has definitely been on my "Must Go To" list, as well, although right now, I must say, I'd love a holiday somewhere hot and sunny, with a beach and a pool!


But, I sure this trip will be unforgettable. It already has been. Sometimes, it's the little victories in life that mean the most.

More on 'Song of Songs'

Timothy West & Prunella Scales

 “I have a good eye, and, I can see a church by daylight.” – Much Ado About Nothing

Recently, whilst leading a party of university students around Westminster Abbey, I was lost for words. A precise word, in fact. Seeking to describe my fondness for churches, I invented a new word: Ecclesiophile. An ecclesiophile is “one who indulges in Ecclesiophilia; a lover of churches, church buildings and architecture”.

Although initially delighted by my own cleverness – surely there’s some sort of prize for contributing positively to the English language? – I assumed  ecclesiophile could hardly have been my own invention. However, after hours of scouring the online pages of the  Oxford English Dictionary, the mother of all dictionaries, I struggled to find this term or any comparable alternative. (Suggestions welcome!) Ironically, while ecclesiophile is not in general usage, its opposite, Ecclesiophobe – one who fears churches and church buildings—is.

Without a doubt, whether it is the correct term or not, Warwickshire is an ecclesiophile’s paradise! There are roughly 300 historic churches in the county, many with great historical importance, all beautiful edifices of faith, history and heritage. 

A recent survey conducted by the Warwickshire and Coventry Historic Churches Trust  revealed that 86% of the British public visited a church in the past 12 months, illustrating the significance of these buildings and, no doubt, the services and the events that take place within them, to British cultural life. The value of an individual church to its locality is of course unique to each community. And now, more than ever, Warwickshire churches need support from their local communities.

Historic church buildings in Britain do not receive government support for maintenance and upkeep, so the responsibility falls to parishioners to think creatively to raise much-needed finances. As a member of the Barford Church PCC, this is an issue I have come to appreciate quite profoundly. I love that “little grey church” across the road, and hope my flair for “show biz” can help the PCC as it pursues imaginative ways of raising funds.

Our wonderful rector, David Jessett, can rest assured that we won’t be following the example of All Saints Church in Nuneaton, who, for a fundraising fête in 2008, placed their fearless vicar, the Reverend John Plant, in the stocks to be pelted by parishioners hurling wet sponges! Rather, there’s talk here of creating a “Friends of Barford Church” society, and plans to continue developing a programme of high profile arts events.

I’ve taken the lead on one such event - a dramatic reading of the biblical book Song of Songs featuring legendary performers Prunella Scales and Timothy West. I daren’t claim that I shall be ‘directing’ this dynamic duo, as they need no direction at all! But, I’m honoured to have this opportunity to collaborate with them, and greatly appreciate their support of our little village church.

As every good Ecclesiophile knows, historic church buildings are timelessly beautiful facets of everyday English landscapes, an integral part of British cultural heritage, and well worth whatever efforts we can make to keep them standing.

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 “Song of Songs”, a dramatic reading starring Prunella Scales & Timothy West, presented at St. Peter’s Church, Barford on 1 July 2012, 8:00 PM. Tickets £15 (inc a glass of wine) available at Presto Classical in Leamington Spa (01926-317025)

One of the 5,000 things I'm working on at the moment...

Anniversary thoughts

As our anniversary falls on a weekday this year, our plans have been a bit sporadic. We started celebrating over the weekend with a day trip to London to see our chum, Lucy Briggs-Owen, in the fantastic West End production of Noises Off.

The show was hilarious, and we were ever so proud of Lucy, who did a superific job in the role of Brooke/Vicki. Here she is outside the theatre, in front of the giant poster of herself!

Lucy Briggs-Owen outside the Novello Theatre

The DEB and I love our days out in London, which inevitable include a stroll and a meal in Covent Garden. To be honest, being anywhere, together is a treat and a celebration in itself!

On today, our special day, we've spent a lovely, leisurely, sunny morning together, with cards and pressies (a beautiful pair of pearl and diamond stud earrings for me; a pair of pewter cufflinks for him!) and a champagne brunch out on our sunny deck. All this before the DEB rushes off for a business meeting in Sweden!

Our celebrations over the coming weekend, which is of course, Jubilee Weekend!
Barford is gearing up for high-spirited festivities, and I am of course doing my part. More on that a bit later!

Three years ago today

No sooner met but they look'd; 

No sooner look'd but they lov'd;  

No sooner lov'd but they sighed;

 No sooner sighed but they ask'd one another the reason; 

No sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy:

And in these degrees have they made a pair of stairs to Marriage.

(As You Like It, V.ii.) 

It was on a bright, beautiful sunny day in May, a day very much like today, that I married my DEB in that little grey church here in Barford.
I can hardly believe it has been three years already! It was truly the happiest day of my life!
There were so many moments to cherish, and one the fondest for me was when my Darling English Boy stood before our families and friends and cited these lines from Shakespeare's As You Like It.
Without a doubt, there is truly nothing more sexy than a man who knows his Shakespeare!