At what point do we stop needing actors/actresses?

I knew that at some point soon that they were releasing the film version of Cats on the public. No, I had no great plans to go and see it, even if it is a musical, and I admit the stage version might have been fun to see, even if as an amateur actress, I might have found the focus on the make up, over the performance might have got to me in places. But to be fair, I knew that the movie version would not only have far too much use of make up, I knew that all the CGI that would be used would only annoy me even more. Dont get me wrong, we did use stage stand make up in performances, though not to the extent they do in major productions, and I never did anything as dramatic as Cats, so maybe I would have gone along with it, but anyway…

There is also the point, that due to my age, I grew up with performers like Elaine Paige, and Paul Nicholas in the main parts, so, regardless of how talented they are (and 1 (Taylor Swift?) seems to have impressed, I must say), modern stars probably arent going to work in the roles for me, just on my age thing.

As mentioned, I only have the few reports filed by those who have seen the previews to go by, and I know how ‘reliable’ critics can be, from personal experience! Though mine were more local sources than the one’s for this movie, lol.

But fine, I know CGI, and the like is the norm now, but this does sound like a case of so much emphasis on spectacular effects, and less on performance, though I’d love to hear otherwise, I guess? But sadly, it just leaves me wondering just how much nowadays depends on the performers in movies like this, and how much is simply down to what the special effect people can do? And indeed, how much longer will movies like this actually need real performers?

OK, old actress grumble over, lets get to the video. Simple version, Elaine Paige, no stage make up, just performing what is probably the most famous song from Cats

 

 

A space girl goes travelling

Well, if you believe someone at least, I’m a space girl, though he refers to it more as an alien, but in truth, in either sense, I only wish it was true, but anyway… This probably is my favourite Christmas song of all time, despite so many 70’s classics, so…

Yesterday, and given I’ve got this far today without any mishaps, I’m assuming again today I’m going to get through without the afternoon nap routine. I’m not saying I’m fine again. Far from it, but I seem to be getting there at least. Tomorrow, I might not take any chances though, as I’m going out for a meal, and I’d rather avoid sleep issues given all that fuss it could cause if I needed it while out. Got an even longer trip on Saturday to London, but given that most of the time I will just have to sit in a car, I’m sure I will survive.

No, sadly, I havent received any offers of spending Christmas in some far off, tropical universe, but there are still a few days, but not holding out big hopes, lol. Thoughts have turned to where I might visit next year, but as I have pointed out to myself, I have to get myself into a state of health where I could enjoy such events first. Well…

One extra expense I can already see for the New Year is a new laptop. Indeed, it might need to be done before next year, but anyway… The battery is clearly worn out, as it is showing as plugged in, but not charging, and currently on 90% only, so obviously on its last (or dying) legs, but at least I can afford it now. I admit it, I got a cheap, low capacity one last time, but now I can afford something with more life to it, and indeed probably need that with the travel I hope to do in 2020, and with having a bit more money behind me too. I’m not going to get into vlogging (or whatever they call it?) like a few lovely friends, but a laptop that has a ‘bit’ more capacity might be wise! Wonder if there is a sale on? Better have a look on the Alpha Centauri discount code pages, as well as Earth ones, lol?

Right, video time. 2 for price of 1. Firstly, the seemingly official live version

Secondly, a more recent live performance. Its for German TV, so all the comments are in German, but other than that…

Bouncing back with update

So fine, lets catch up on news at last, as promised. I know, been a while, but believe me, you dont want to find out just how hard the aftermath of radiotherapy is, as your body, and in my case, the brain finds the change from all of that, to none of that is quite an experience. But yes, generally, things are slowly beginning to come back on line, hence this. Some of the things that are coming back on line are not for posting in blogs, mind, lol.

So, 6th December marked the last session of radiotherapy of the 6 week session, and my next planned trip to Leeds is not until 6th January, which is already booked for the afternoon for my follow up visit. Believe me, if I see Leeds again before then, it will be too soon, lol. My friend, Angie did come across for the last day of treatment bell ringing, and at some point I will save, and post the picture of that, promise. The funny thing was the fact I had to wait for her, as I was picked up early by hospital taxi transport, there was a gap, so I got treated early, but having had a lot of late ones recently, that was a nice bonus.

In fact I’ve been out twice since then, firstly a visit to be pampered at Linda’s workplace, and make me respectable for the second trip out, the following evening for the work dinner. In truth, I had no idea how easy I would find the whole event, but found it relevantly doable, so bonus there. Oh, and had a good evening too.

Yes, I have to say I was warned the first couple of weeks after I stopped treatments, I was warned about the tiredness, and I can confirm that fact, believe me. Still, hopefully it will ease off more in the next week or so, before the trip ‘down south’ for Christmas, but I’ll get through that, I’m sure.

My only comment on the Election is that I was sort of hoping it might all calm down on Social Media after Thursday, but seemingly not. One side gloating, one side refusing to accept the result, and all that. I dread to think how long this will all take to heal, if it ever does, in my lifetime at least. Ah well…

OK, video time. To think, nearly 50 years ago, I was part of a ‘tribute’ group to this act, and in truth, you’re about as likely to find film of me performing live, as of them performing live! Mind, one of those things, you should probably be grateful for

 

 

Its only make believe?

One thing I not so secretly enjoy, that Eric loves are the driver view train journeys of numerous long distance trips. Tonight, I was so enjoying the journey from Brussels to St Pancras that I got him to leave it on when he went upstairs to his room. There is a lot more on the reasons for that on the other blog, for those who know about it, lol.

But thinking things through, wouldnt it be fun for someone more into lines sadly no longer with us, wouldnt it be interesting if it was possibly to make a virtual video of some of the more scenic lines that are no longer with us? I mean, seriously, if someone offered me a video of a journey of the Princetown branch, I’d probably bite their hand off! As for the Shropshire and Montgomery line, or the Bishops Castle one, name your price, seriously! But fine, given the last 2 closed in the 1930’s, not going to happen!

The best I can do, is next week, see the site now of Fenay Bridge and Lepton station, which closed to passengers in 1930, and is now known as Station Court, yes, a housing area. Looking forward to it, but a virtual journey on the Kirkburton branch, wouldnt that be fascinating?

Yes, I know, no health issues, mainly because I will know a lot more about future plans for me after tomorrow, when I have the end of treatment meeting, so keep your eyes open for that information.

OK, video time. Huge hint in the title of the blog, lol. This is the Glen Campbell version, though there are numerous famous ones to choose from

Who me, a pilgrim girl? Dont remember being one, but…?

Let me add that the ‘again’ in the title of the blog is only technical, as I never remember playing a pilgrim girl in any of my acting parts, and refers more to the video tonight than any part I might have played. Doesnt mean I havent (if I remembered every role I’ve played, I’d be stunned), mind.

But what I have done, just once before, is celebrate Thanksgiving Day in America, a few years ago in Albany, New York (well, technically it was that place across the river, beginning with R, but I’d never spell that right, and my hotel was in Albany, so…), though I intend to add to that number now, if possible, now I’m retired.

I dont actually remember when the snow started, so whether it was the Thursday, or the Friday, when I went to a nearby (to my hotel) shopping centre for my first experience of ‘Black Friday’, long before it spread like it has over here in UK. Beyond the fact that even if my second Thanksgiving experience was with the same wonderful host, it wouldnt now be in Albany, as he now works, and lives some way south of there. Any details he wants to give away (including which year it was!), I will let him decide how much to say!

Its fair to say that my second experience is not going to be as a hostess, just saying before anyone suggests it! I know of others who are happy to host me, and previous host will be among them, I’m sure, but we will see who gets the ‘honour’ of that. Only way it will be LA is if Musso & Frank offer to host me for free, lol!!! Not going to happen, I’m certain. Well, I’m open to LA offers, but know of few there who would want me at a family gathering, so…?

But yes, next year, might be that year, or might need to be 2021, as Eric is 80 on 24th next year, and looking at calendar, Thanksgiving will be 26th, so possibly doable, but tricky, and probably pricey, so…? Maybe I need to find that Pilgrim girl outfit, lol?

So to all my American friends celebrating Thanksgiving day today, have a wonderful day. Well, assuming you read it on the right day, lol? If not, I hope you had a good one!

Video, well my favourite ‘suitable’ singer recorded a song called ‘I’m Going To Be A Country Girl Again’, hence the twist for the blog title. Just to say for those seeing both, the blogs will be same tonight, with one omission which some might work out. This is the Sesame Street version of the video, which is standard entertainment value for that show. This is edited version of blog, by the way

4 out of 6 ain’t bad

OK, I’m cheating with the video a bit, but the fraction is strictly the same, lol. Yes, its fair to say at this point I’m 2/3rd of the way through the radiotherapy treatments, in other words, 4 weeks down, 2 more weeks to go. Fine, there is a 4 week recovery period after that before I’m allowed to consider much, and in the last few days its caught up to me why they say that, as I was warned the tiredness would be cumulative near the end, and yes, they’re right, I’m needing those afternoon naps more now than I did a couple of weeks ago, so what its going to be like by the time I get closer to the end, dont ask.

Tomorrow I will definitely need a good nap, as I’m out tomorrow evening for someone’s birthday do, and though I wont be the centre of attention, he will be, I know questions are going to be asked about me, so… But yes, it has to be done at some point, and this is as gentle a way to do it as I  can think of, as all know at least. No, I havent come to a decision about how dressed up I want to get yet. Part of me wants to do it properly, part of me is asking whether I’m up to that, so will rank as late call, I’m sure.

The other slight connection to the blog title concerns golf. A lovely guy runs a couple of fantasy golf contests during the season, and yes, my absence from the mens one while everything was going on, means I’m well down the field (aided by some less than brilliant picks), but incredibly the ladies, with 1 tournament to go (currently in 3rd round of 4), despite all that, I’m in 5th place! No, there arent a million entries, but a lot more than 5, lol. The fact the ladies dont play every week has probably helped!

Mind, not for the first time, my player doing the best, is my reserve, who I dont need! If she counted, I’d have 1-2 at present, lol. Ah well… my reserve picking on the ladies has been quite something this season.

OK, video time. A bit of Meatloaf, which I’m sure I wont be eating tomorrow night, lol

Suspicious Mind

OK, I know, I’m old school, and all that, but I managed to amuse my lady contact at the benefits office on the phone yesterday by querying the back payment figure they were offering me for my cancer status, because I thought it was…too high! Yes, I’m not saying its the first time in her work she’s had that query, but I would imagine its fairly unique. But yes, it was right. Cancer diagnosis might only have been in September, but I’ve been off with that issue since March, and providing sick notes, so dated all the way back! Means I can pay back a lovely man who has been helping me since then financially, but beyond that, my financial sanity has gone up amazingly with that news!

Yes, thats all the health news you’re getting, other than all continues fine for now, and hopefully will do so for sometime yet!

The other thing I got suspicious about today, actually relates to railways. Yes, that branch to Kirkburton that closed to passengers in 1930, though it lasted till 1965 for goods. Well, today, after picking me up, my transport driver headed off to Kirkburton for the next pick up! At that end of the route, there were 2 stations that came to my mind, whats left of it, lol. The obvious terminus station, but it was obvious to me that the route was also taking me close to the previous station on route, Fenay Bridge and Lepton.

Sadly, as Google maps proved to me when I got home, and checked, I saw neither, as neither was on the main road that the vehicle was travelling along. Not that as far as I can tell, there is any extant evidence of either station now according to facts I could find online, but anyway…

In fact, I have been closer to Fenay Bridge and Lepton station site in my time, as apparent it was only about 400 yards from Aromatic Beauty, further down the road (Station Road, and Station Court being big giveaways), though I’ve never been beyond Linda’s place when going down that road, up to now. Maybe once I’ve recovered, well… not that I’m going to find anything but street names, it seems?

Kirkburton station is also now seemingly just a housing estate area, but hey, its over 50 years, so all in all… So that suspicious was crushed, lol.

OK, video time. Yes, the obvious song, and yes, the Elvis version, live. Its ironic to think that 50 years ago, women swooned at this behaviour, whereas now it looks horribly sexist. Ah well, the change in times, and attitudes…

Now you’re not hair any more

OK, the title is an awful pun, guilty as charged. And as you will find out shortly, I might be exaggerating the issue some what, but hey, if Prince Andrew can remember (supposedly) a Pizza Express in Woking that he was in 18 years ago, when all the evidence suggests he was somewhere else, anyway…

Currently, given a lot of it has been shorn off, and what is left is generally hidden under a wig, shampooing, and washing my hair once a week is fine at present. But yes, I’ve looked each week for hair loss, and first 2 weeks, hardly any more than the few dead ends that might fall out, but then today… Yes, I noticed it, definitely. To be fair, as stated, it is literally just around the area of treatment, but that fell out heavily today, but such is life.

Yes, at least in that area now, the wig will fit better, so swings and roundabouts. But there are mornings when I’m getting ready to go to treatment where it stubbornly refuses to fit over the rest of the hair, so now, do I just carry on as before, or do I get the lot taken off? The latter would solve the wig issue, I think its fair to say, but do I really want to remove the lot? I know, the whole robot look I love is bald (a la Metropolis) but its still a big thing to do. Mind, if someone wants to provide me with the rest of a Metropolis robot bodysuit in a nice, or suitable material, deal, hair all gone!

Well, I dont know if its still ‘Forever Autumn’ as it felt more like Winter when I had to go out the back earlier today, but anyway…

It kills the depression, honey

Musicals did help to kill the depression for some at least, and kept a certain Oklahoma lady in work too. And besides, if I did have any depression, the goodies, and the money news this weekend would have killed it anyway.

This week, as mentioned a couple of blogs back, the golf contest I do generously ran the Fantasy side of the contest as a benefit for some old cancer patient (me, for those not reading), and that, combined with a couple of generous donations on top, enabled me to treat myself a bit. Who me, chocolate, as if I would, lol?

So on Thursday, after the money had arrived, I spent some on that lovely treat. To keep delivery costs down, I took the 3-5 day delivery option, the cheapest available. So fine, delivery was made this morning, less than 2 literal days after order was placed (Thursday afternoon to Saturday morning), ooh! No, I’ve been good, none yet, though tomorrow might be a different matter.

The other thing that helped my mood today (if it needed it), beyond a genuine lay-in in bed this morning, was a letter and online message from various benefit people. Both were formalities, but had to be done, so…Personal Independence (Disability) payments agreed, and back payments seemingly went in bank account yesterday, a nice bonus. Well, it will be when the cash machine is working again at the hospital, but anyway…

The other was disability acceptance, so I can get unemployment pay, without job searching, for the obvious reason I’m incapable of working now, especially in call centres, voice is busted!

Now, if I can only find a way to turn that white, plastic, non full face mask (nose opening, other tiny holes) into a full face silver metal one, lol…? Ideally with matching body suit, but anyway…

OK, video time. For those in the know, yes, its the same video for both blogs. I was going to use a different take for this, but its harder to see Clara Johnson in the other one, to put it mildly. Whereas, in here… Yes, Ginger was in both, no shock.

Fade to silver

Before we get to the amusing part of tonight’s blog, a brief piece with other health news for me. Yes, all is going positively with me so far, you might be glad to hear. So much so that as from my new stock tomorrow, my daily steroid count is being cut from 2 mg daily, to 1.5 mg, with the plan being, that if I have no issues with that, then to cut to 1 mg daily as from end of next week. I have been told if I do have issues, to immediately up it again, but if the nurse was expecting that, she wouldnt be cutting me in first place. Hard to believe, not so long ago, it was 16 mg daily!

Tomorrow is the halfway treatment, by the way, 15 down, 15 to go, quite a landmark.

Today, at the end of my treatment, I was asked if I was planning on taking my face mask home with me, when all treatments had been completed. Yes, of course I am, lol, might be the closest I ever get to a robot mask in my life, lets face it! I know, its plastic, its white, and though its hard to turn it into metal, I dont know if giving it a silver paint job would be so hard? Of course I would lack the fixing things that are on the machine, but wearing it on my face, all the same would have to be fun, especially if painted silver. Its also not quite full face (they let me breathe), but pretty good, all the same. So yes, I might be looking to see if it can be painted, and if so, to get someone to do it for me, because my hands certainly couldnt before, let alone now! Any offers? Something fitted so that it stayed around my head too?

Yes, my excuse was that I write science fiction, but lets face it, the real reason…

OK, the video. If you want a version of Steve Strange singing this, they arent hard to find. But finding Midge Ure (part writer/producer) providing a live version, well…