Coughs, Quizzes and the New Year

Since Christmas Day I have been bedridden and unconscious with an awful, cruel holiday bug.

As such, I have failed, Dear Reader, to share with you the highs and lows of this festive season, so very special in Barford. Though I promise in due course to re-cap soon the past year, a year that was and wasn’t in so many ways.

When the clock strikes 12 tonight I will shed a few tears in this year’s passing. Sad one and happy ones: the loss of Lucy, the gaining of my life-giving monthly column…and, etc.

I am looking hopefully forward to the coming year, a double-digit year, that the Chinese believe will be exceedingly lucky for us all.

Tonight should be amazing, I shall be living out one of my fantasies, and spinning the tunes at a massive New Year’s gathering. Finally, I am the DJ.

I'm also the Quiz Mistress for Tonight’s Big Party Quiz. So, dreams do come true!

Highs and lows, for me as ever: I shall be DJ-ing tonight, strung out on cough syrup and antibiotics. I have no voice at all, but have thankfully re-gained my will to live.

Happy New Year, one and all!

A funny old day...

In bed, feeling rotten.

We had a barnstorming first weekend at the Music Hall. No surprise that Sunday morning tidy up found most of the cast exhausted, coughing and sneezing.

The old wive's tale is true, once you stop moving that's when the sniffles catch you!

I, too, have finally succumbed to the dreaded 'Dressing Room Lurgie (cold)'.

Sore throat, mild cough, achy, etc...

I've kept myself tucked up in bed all day, hoping to feel better for the busy week ahead.

Tomorrow is the big Press Preview day of the new theatre at the Royal Shakespeare Company. (Another 'Big pearls and cashmere' day, at long last!) I'm delighted to have been invited along to have a nose round the new theatre. I just want to feel better, brighter, etc.

So, my plan was to take it easy today. I cancelled a coffee meeting I had (re)scheduled for this afternoon, and didn't make it to the gym for Aquafit. :(

A bit of surprise then, when the phone rang this afternoon and it was a producer from BBC Radio Coventry & Warwickshire wanting me to come and "talk Shakespeare" on the Mark Powlett show. At first, I thought it was a prank, but then, couldn't think who would do such a thing...

As a lead-up to the opening of the new theatre this week, Mark Powlett wanted to talk about Shakespeare's language and what Shakespeare means today. In a hazy of cough syrup and Ibuprofen, I gathered my thoughts about Shakespeare and prepped for our chat.

It turned out to be a really super conversation. Mark Powlett is a very clever and witty guy. And, I really enjoyed myself. Not least because I was able to do it sat in bed in my pyjamas! It really brightened my day, and lifted my spirits.

The DEB is bringing home a Chinese take away for dinner, so that neither of us will have to cook tonight. We both need a bit of comfort food and sleep.

And, I received a lovely message from the radio show's producer:

"How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world." - Merchant of Venice

Thank you very much for your time Alycia - it was a really enjoyablepiece of radio. Hope you get back to top health quickly! Kindest regards.

I hope so, too!

Brief update and holiday notice

Rough week.

In bed with nasty cold for seven, long, hard, weary days.

Finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

Much to tell, promise to do so soon.

Leaving today for MUCH, MUCH needed holiday. 

Away to the Welsh coast with the beloved D.E.B.,  and beloved pup and cat.

Back in a week....