under another sun

Less nervy today, although naturally nerves started at around 5pm. A taxi with James and Lorraine to The Marlborough, which was packed and had people conducting some kind of a Christmas Gift auction downstairs. More people tonight, and the room felt very full.  Catherine and Tanya and Steve Cartwright, Rosie and Innis were all there. A big day for Beth as Gary was there with Sophie, having been unable to see her during the Festival.  Emily and Eliza, two of her university besties came too. John came tonight too. The show went excellently. Less nervy than yesterday, and always fascinating to see how different audiences react to the same play. They really tuned into the dark side for the final section of A Glass of Nothing . Beth really on point tonight. Spectacular. Very proud of her and Dylan, Kitty and James. I couldn't have asked more of them, and they consistently did better than I imagined they could. Sad that we were done after just two nights. I have to get my thinki...

Sam and Beth both graduating today. We were up in Leeds to be with Sam as everyone, including Beth thought this was fairer, as Beth's performances have been well supported by family over the last few years - and the noble pursuit of philosophy is not usually a spectator sport. Lorraine and up and breakfasting this morning in the hotel. Then a short zoom about Leeds because, inexplicably, I decided I needed a white shirt and a tie for Sam’s graduation. A sweltering day, and Lorraine raging at her hair as she was trying to straighten it. However we caught a taxi to the university, where we met a suave looking Sam and Jade, and Gary and Sophie – Sam’s dad and his fiancée. We wandered into a tent and all had a couple of glasses of fizz before shuffling into a large hall in the University where all the philosophy and related subjects graduands metamorphosed into cloaked and flapping graduates. I found myself clapping everyone with gusto, and trying not to think about Harry Potter. Swe...

Up early and my baby drove me off to the station again. Needed to be on time this morning, for a 9:30 meeting. However an empty train broke down just outside the station, just as we were about to leave, and after much delay our train was rerouted via scenic Lewes. Mood not improved by getting to work almost an hour late, followed rapidly by an infuriating and frankly insulting meeting after which I had to take a walk around the block to calm down, and after a chat with Pat I decided not simply to pack up and leave. In a foul mood for the rest of the day. In the middle of this Claudia called to ask for our address as she was trying to get herself seen by a doctor, as her foot had swollen up. She trained up to where Lorraine met her, and took her to a medical centre in Teddington where they looked at it, and because she has allergies against the usual antibiotics they drew a line on her leg, and said if the infection reaches here she needs special antibiotics. After work I went off t...