‘Still Life’ rehearsals steam on with some keen types having books down already.

The play was written in the forties but could be a world away from today with social niceties now having gone by the board by and large and respect for older people vanished altogether. It’s true to say many older people don’t deserve the respect they crave but hey ho there you go…… Anyway I digress. The play is shaping up well and the Noel Coward supporting poetry, prose and song section is also in full rehearsal, what a show it will be, oh yes dear reader, you simply must attend.

Our plans for the oldies weekend away are now finalised with a visit to the theatre in Eastbourne now booked and a full schedule of fun and frolics in place. Eastbourne-you couldn’t make it up could you? Still it’s a pity the social side of the group has taken a dive but times they are a-changing. I will of course be giving a full critique of the hotel and theatre production in a future blog. I am sure you will be looking forward to that. Yeah right.

Now having not been on holiday for four months now I am beginning to suffer withdrawal symptoms. One thing that does put me off is the appalling way passengers are treated on flights these days. It really is an awful way to travel, unless you can afford Club Class of course.

Having been to Tasmania a couple of times, the thought of over twenty four hours of flying to get to Hobart again fill me with horror, and the last day of the holiday is ruined by the thought of the following day’s travel.

So I think that as an amateur actor, an idea would be to audition, cast, rehearse and put on a play on these flights. By the time the production had been knocked together the plane would be approaching Blighty I reckon. Just a small production I’m talking about, few props, no scenery of course that would be silly(!). Great for long flights don’t you think….? I offer this idea to BA as an idea for specialist flights.

Talking about Australia: A drover from a huge cattle station in outback Australia appeared before St. Peter at the Pearly Gates.

"Have you ever done anything of particular merit?" St. Peter asked.

"Well, I can think of one thing," the drover offered. "Once, on a trip to the town of Broken Hill out in the New South Wales outback, I came across a gang of bikers who were threatening a young sheila. I told them to leave her alone, but they wouldn't listen. So I approached the largest and most heavily tattooed bikie and smacked him in his face, kicked his bike over, ripped out his nose ring, and threw it on the ground.I yelled, "Now, back off!! Or I'll sort out the lot of ya!"

St. Peter was impressed, "When did this happen?"

"A couple of minutes ago"