I guess this is the definition of “Sod’s Law.” We’ve had friends to visit this weekend and last night we were out at the RSC theatre in Stratford to see the production of Hamnet.
Naturally, when visitors are due, Ms Playchute is anxious to ensure that (a) the house is spotless, (b) all the beds have clean linen and (c) there is an abundance of extraordinarily delicious food. So, inevitably, as we begin our preparations on Wednesday firstly the vacuum cleaner breaks down followed closely soon after by the washing machine. Quelle merde! Thankfully, the interweb provides some possible solutions and on Thursday morning we have a new vacuum cleaner and on Friday morning a new washing machine. Both of which were subjected to immediate and prolonged use! We had just about finished our preparations when the doorbell rang on Friday morning with the first of our weekend guests. Phew!
Hamnet was, we all thought, outstanding. As I’ve said before, we’ve [almost] never had a disappointing evening at the RSC in Stratford and we had been very much looking forward to this production. Penelope and I (and the Moreton Pinkney Reading Group) had recently read the book which was absolutely excellent and this was the first adaptation. Really wonderful.
In particular, the young woman playing Agnes Hathaway, Shakespeare’s wife and the mother of Hamnet and his other two children, was absolutely terrific. She demonstrated a huge range of emotions from the somewhat “wild and wacky” spiritualist who trained falcons, spoke with spirits and developed natural remedies for whatever ails you to the bottomless grief at the loss of her child to the white-hot anger at Shakespeare’s absence at the time of Hamnet’s death. Standing ovation from much of the audience which was well-deserved.
We’re off this week to the Lake District in the campervan. Fingers crossed that the sun shines or, at the very least, the rain mainly stays away.
A very quick YCNMIU this week – after their many public pronouncements of unrivalled support for Ukraine, the Home Office has apparently decided that some members of a Ukrainian orchestra due to play a tour in the UK are not welcome in this country and so refused their visas. Obviously, they are not welcome – they’re foreign.
Finally, Happy Anniversary tomorrow to this young couple on what would have been their 75th anniversary. I am certainly delighted they got together!
Meanwhile, keep happy, keep smiling, be careful, wear a f**king facemask in crowded places and keep your distance. And keep safe. And be gentle to wasps and bees.
Lots of love to you all,
Greg