Though I’m not one to usually seek out and attend a comedy – I did find myself earlier last week contemplating, than last Wednesday (14 March) actually recommending and purchasing a ticket to attend this particular production.  Why the change of heart?  Well, it started with Grannie’s high praise for it (for she’d seen at the National Theatre) and then I’d discovered the Queen had been to see it, so I guess it was only a matter of time.

I shan’t fill you in on the plot, as that would just spoil things, though I could talk all day about the cast…or I could say it in three words – They were fabulous!

All of them and I may as well admit it, I did come away with a soft spot for Alan, though I feel that was inevitable, as you may discover.

Briefly, it’s set in the early 1960s in Brighton and from the 1st Act you come to rapidly appreciate the jokes aren’t hard to find.  Then by interval, you have shrieked with joy more often than not, watched a certain scene with disbelief and found yourself desperate to find out what happens next.

Well, the second half in no way lets you down.  For the comedy gauge hits scorching and Mr Owain Arthur (as Francis) continues in his epic performance.

Thank you to the cast, Mr Richard Bean, Nina for saying ‘Yes. Let’s do it!’ and the Director – I had a super theatre experience.

Comedy is definitely back on the menu!

Hands up, I was distracted.

Saturday, 10 March 2012

We were able to pick up from where we missed off last week and managed to make it to an open/presentation day as part of the Oxford Science Festival 2012.  And I’m so pleased with the achievement.  This time we headed to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History (OUMNH), to marvel and be engaged by some really into their subject volunteers.  It was so great.  Compromising of a selection of stalls, scattered around the permanent exhibits – with these providing a whole spectrum of fun/learning/hands on experience.  Though, we couldn’t take it all on –what we did -was really diverse and so good. We managed to learn a little tomography, make slime, play with custard balls, communicate in Morse code, see ice being made from liquid nitrogen, chat about ammonites, undertake some brain trick games (small chap’s definition) and be distracted – very much so -by top drawer.

Top Drawer was everywhere – in the Pitt Rivers (PRM), not the OUMNH. (PRM =The museum which is separate, though connected to the OUMNH)

A little confused?  What’s Top Drawer? Just return now and take a re-look at the above image.  Basically, the kind of stuff you find at the bottom of your backpack or handbag, that you purchased (because ‘it was unusual’ and you liked it on some level); or bartered for; or even created yourself, whilst waiting (really waiting) for a bus, ferry, train or friend. Once home, you aren’t ready to position it on the Mantle-piece, though by no means could you part with it, so you forward it to Top Drawer.  I have a couple, for they can easily exist in the plural. As the ‘recycling’ display cases on level two of the Pitt Rivers Museum (PRM) clearly testify.

Further too, my top drawers tend to be overstuffed and I know that I’m guilty of occasionally supplementing them with a few additional and non-essential items, such as broken CD covers, keys that don’t have locks anymore and ribbons. I think that’s OK though, for I don’t have the heart to chuck them and I have a tendency to squirrel.

Good Morning

Thought I’d pop in very quickly just incase you were wondering why I’d been super quiet since January. 

I promise I haven’t though, for I’ve been working in the background, on the pages that connect to the menu options – such as Great Loves and Top Shelf Destinations. So, please feel free to venture off and have a wander around these.

Welcome to a pretty impressive first stop on the musing express.  Oxford, a place I first visited fresh out of Australia, some 14 years ago.  I lasted approximately six hours – I’d paid my backpacker’s accommodation, had a brief walk around town, but found myself miserable and lonely so headed back on the next National Express to Victoria. Hindsight, gladly informs me now, the mistake I made.  This city isn’t a place you should be leaving in a quarter of day; rather,  embracing for as long as your time frame permits.

Thankfully, after confessing to my husband a couple of years later that I’d never really seen or enjoyed the place, he brought me back for a wonderful Easter weekend in 2003 – packed full of excellent accommodation (The Old Parsonage Hotel: a big spurge and something that wasn’t ordinary, in my life at least, rather a great treat and one that was so appreciated), delightful dining (Quod Brassiere), and a walk around Christ Church College and Merton Meadow. By end of day one, my opinion had shaken hands with its Nemesis and I was in love.

So, here we are today.  I’m now very proudly, one whom finds themselves living in and loving this city.  As an aside, if you see someone smiling a little bit too much and greeting people in the streets (yes, I’ve just spent almost nine years living in rural Herefordshire, where everyone says Hello), that will be me. Loving, not only the fact that now I’m one of the oldest people in Oxford, but I’m surrounded by others whom aren’t from here and have come to bask in the pleasure of the place.

Therefore, allow me please to provide you with my top picks from a city jammed filled with energy, optimism and bicycles.

Just head either to the toolbar at the top of the page – and click on Great Loves, scroll down to travelling or alternatively head straight to Top Shelf Destinations on the same menu bar, and then Oxford.

It is with nervousness, though immense enthusiasm, I commence.

Hello, I’m Agentcatfish and I’ve been around for a while, though not in such an obvious form.

I’ve been toying with doing this for a number of years and have always managed to come up with some pretty half rate excuses for not, however found myself approximately five days ago, thinking yes, yes I must.

So, welcome to another perspective….