It has been a whole week since I last wrote in this blog. Not good enough! I must try to do it more regularly and now that I don't spend 5 hours a day at school there should be plenty of spare time. But somehow there doesn't seem to be. I did spend several hours this week on typing up the SWRI programme for the year, and then a few more hours delivering it and chatting to the various ladies on the way. Nice though!
In 1986, while living in Jakarta I took part in a production of Brigadoon, put on by the Indonesian-American Friendship Society. The Java St Andrew Society was asked to help out with the dancing scenes which we did with pleasure. About a dozen of us helped swell the chorus and perform bits and pieces of dances to add a touch of Scottish authentism to the show. I just watched the American film of Brigadoon last night and how I laughed. There was very little authentic about that. From the accents to the dancing, from the scenery to the 20 inch long heather it was more like a cartoon or a pantomime of what somebody thought was Scottish. Harmless enough, but pretty crap really. However it has given me an idea to write a pantomime based on the idea but set here in Braemar (a real life Brigadoon in some ways). I haven't written a panto for about 10 years so it is time to do so.
I am feeling guilty that I haven't been back to learn some more about guiding in the castle. The problem is that they don't do Wednesdays any more and Saturdays are out of the question as I have been so busy with having the flat to clean as well as B&B guest rooms. I suppose I could go Sundays but this week I have so much to do to get ready for Julie coming, and also preparing for the holiday next week. I shall write to Sheila, the chief guide at the castle, and apologise and make a commitment to go as often as possible in October before they close for the winter.
Sunday, 13 September 2009
Saturday, 5 September 2009
The case of the missing dancers
Well here we are on Games Day 2009. After a very wet week, prayers have been answered and while you couldn't say the sun is shining on the Braemar Gathering at least it isn't raining...not yet anyway, but the day is still young. Richard and I are giving it a miss this year and hibernating at home. We'll go out tonight to the Moorfield Hotel where Castleton dancers are performing, and we are doing our bit by having guests staying in our apartment, and others in the B&B.
But let me tell you an amusing story of earlier in the week. On Wednesday evening we had our usual dance night (16 participants) in Castleton Hall, before 5 of us proceeded to our performance at the Invercauld. Margaret and Josie left the dance hall just ahead of Pat, Susie and I who switched off lights and locked doors etc. Recently in the Invercauld we have been given a bedroom to use as a changing room as the Colonel's Bed which we used previously has been being refurbished. We (Pat, Susie and I)arrived at the hotel and asked the young man on the desk which room we had tonight. 'I will just get you a key for one,' he said. 'Where are the other two dancers?' we asked. 'You are the first to arrive,'he replied handing us the key to room 10. We thought that perhaps they had gone to the toilet but when 10 minutes had past with no sign of them we began to wonder. Just then Sylvia arrived by car and we asked if she had seen any sign of the missing two ladies, but no the streets were deserted she said. Maybe they had forgotten they were dancing? So we phoned Margaret's house and caused her husband quite a panic. 'Can I speak to Margaret?' asked Pat. 'She's dancing at the Invercauld tonight,' said Graham. 'Well she's not here!' said Pat. We sent Bob off to see if the girls had gone to the Fife by mistake, but no. Then we panicked and wondered if we had locked them in Castleton Hall. Sylvia and Pat set off in the car to check the hall, the streets and Josie's house. Meanwhile the time was ticking by and we were supposed to be dancing. Susie and I waited and wondered. Suddenly the door to room 10 opened, and there stood Josie and Margaret, all dressed and ready to go. All four of us said at once, 'Where have you been?'
'We were waiting for you in the Colonels Bed!' said Josie. So the mystery was solved. They had obviously slipped in while the young man on the desk was elsewhere, and finding the Colonel's Bed once more in a habitable state had used that to get ready, all the time wondering why the rest of us were taking so long at Castleton Hall. We all saw the funny side eventually!!!!
But let me tell you an amusing story of earlier in the week. On Wednesday evening we had our usual dance night (16 participants) in Castleton Hall, before 5 of us proceeded to our performance at the Invercauld. Margaret and Josie left the dance hall just ahead of Pat, Susie and I who switched off lights and locked doors etc. Recently in the Invercauld we have been given a bedroom to use as a changing room as the Colonel's Bed which we used previously has been being refurbished. We (Pat, Susie and I)arrived at the hotel and asked the young man on the desk which room we had tonight. 'I will just get you a key for one,' he said. 'Where are the other two dancers?' we asked. 'You are the first to arrive,'he replied handing us the key to room 10. We thought that perhaps they had gone to the toilet but when 10 minutes had past with no sign of them we began to wonder. Just then Sylvia arrived by car and we asked if she had seen any sign of the missing two ladies, but no the streets were deserted she said. Maybe they had forgotten they were dancing? So we phoned Margaret's house and caused her husband quite a panic. 'Can I speak to Margaret?' asked Pat. 'She's dancing at the Invercauld tonight,' said Graham. 'Well she's not here!' said Pat. We sent Bob off to see if the girls had gone to the Fife by mistake, but no. Then we panicked and wondered if we had locked them in Castleton Hall. Sylvia and Pat set off in the car to check the hall, the streets and Josie's house. Meanwhile the time was ticking by and we were supposed to be dancing. Susie and I waited and wondered. Suddenly the door to room 10 opened, and there stood Josie and Margaret, all dressed and ready to go. All four of us said at once, 'Where have you been?'
'We were waiting for you in the Colonels Bed!' said Josie. So the mystery was solved. They had obviously slipped in while the young man on the desk was elsewhere, and finding the Colonel's Bed once more in a habitable state had used that to get ready, all the time wondering why the rest of us were taking so long at Castleton Hall. We all saw the funny side eventually!!!!
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
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