So that’s it another show put to bed. It’s strange that when rehearsals are practically every night and nerves kick in, amateur actors sit round and wonder why they offer themselves up for such torture. Then as soon as the play is over there is a tremendous feeling of sadness that it’s all over. Very strange though I venture to suggest it is probably the same for many a professional actor dear boy.

Attending the production of Still Life was Tony Drew who not only was one of the founder members of Kingston Bagpuize Drama Group in 1949 but when the group first put on the play in 1953 took the part of Johnnie, one of the soldiers who intimidate Myrtle Bagot, Manageress of the station tea room where all the action of the piece takes place. Good to see Tony looking so well at 86.

My part of Albert Godby I thoroughly enjoyed playing and loved every minute on stage. These parts are few and far between I can tell you, a great character part played in the film ‘Brief Encounter’ by Stanley Holloway. Well that’s it over, gone, as Tony Blair said, The End.

Now I have been known to criticise the crap programmes that the powers that be expect the gullible British public to put up with and then have the nerve to put on more cheap poor quality tosh with their self-congratulating awards programmes.

To add insult to injury there is now Butcher of the Year, Mechanic of the Year, is there no end to it? It’s all very well saying I don’t have to watch it but the small amount of TV I watch I really enjoy and would like to see a bit more. However I cannot drag myself to watch Strictly Come Dancing, I ‘m a friggin’ Celebrity and I haven’t got the X factor at all. I used to think I was the only one on God’s earth not to watch the X factor but I have found many like me recently. It’s all very well ITV telling us a quarter of the population watch it but it disregards the fact that three quarters of the population don’t.

Now for the educational bit, this week - Exercise for the over 50’s. Listen up.

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.

With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.

Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags.

Then try 50-lb potato bags and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I’m at this level--.) After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag.