Jan Leeming - The Official Website

CARMINA BURANA

24th January 2009

CARMINA BURANA

Ooops!  Very nearly missed the performance at the O2.  Stupidly I hadn't looked at the tickets for the performance time assuming that it would be around 7.00.  Then when I reached my son's flat at 3.00 pm, we looked at the tickets and to our horror saw that the performance commenced at 4.00 pm.  Although it was my fault for not checking, the booking clerk didn't even mention this abnormally early performance time.  There was no way we could get from Ealing Broadway to the O2 in time.  Then Jonathan checked on the Internet (God Bless it) and saw that there was a Verdi Concert first, then an interval and Carmina actually started at 5.10 pm - so we did manage to get there in time but sadly I haven't got a programme and after the show, they were sold out so I can't give any name credits to anyone.

The opening was incredibly dramatic with a Drum beat coming from the back of the Auditorium, then gradually we saw shadowy figures process down the aisles.  They were dressed in a kind of mediaeval costume and were  carrying flaming torches and I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that this procession of the Chorus took over 5 minutes with the Drum beat getting louder and louder.

It's very difficult to explain Carmina Burana so I would suggest that you look it up on the Internet.  Basically the songs vary widely in style and subject matter.  They include themes on religion, political satire, drinking songs and both serious and bawdy love songs.

It was a spectacle and I'm glad that I saw it but I'm not sure it was worth the ticket money.  To me, Carmina Burana is basically about the music so I'd probably be just as happy sitting at home and listening to it. 

It's one of the few things that I admired about the Russians - in the old days the Arts were for all and ticket prices were kept reasonable.  How often have I been to the Theatre, Ballet, Opera and seen the Corporate boxes predominantly full of folk who are there for the hospitality and not for the Oeuvre.  The theatre is expensive enough but the tickets for Ballet and Opera go off the Richter scale if you want a decent seat.

Enough - must rush.  Am going back to my beloved Capetown and already my friend Doreen has booked tickets for five different shows - all at a fraction of the cost that one would pay in the UK  and with standards second to none.

Take care.  A Bientot - Jan

CAPRICORNIAN BIRTHDAY

13th January 2009

CAPRICORNIAN BIRTHDAY

I apologize for daring to share with you my Birthday Celebration but, bless you, many of you appear to tune in every week and there's not a lot about which to tell you at the moment.

The skies are grey,  the economy has had it, and there's very little about which to be cheerful so I hope you will indulge me.

It's not much fun having a birthday so early in the year - 5^th January (it could be worse I suppose if you share your naissance with the Christ Child).  As a child I used to get a combined present and as an adult my birthday is often forgotten because it's so close to the Christmas and New Year Celebrations.

Anyway, my son insisted that I go up to London so that he could take me out.  I wasn't too happy at having to make the journey.  I don't like public transport at the best of times and avoid it whenever feasible.  However, Jonathan insisted that I didn't drive because of weather conditions and being able to have a drink or two.  As a woman, I wouldn't take a train in the evening because of safety - what is the world coming to!

Jonathan and his work colleagues have a favourite watering hole - a cosy little French Bistro called the Beaujolais very near the top end of Shaftesbury Avenue.  He met me off the train and we walked (well I was almost running as my son is 6'3” and strides like a giant) to the Beauj ........ where to my great delight we met Jonathan's best friend from school, Stuart, the very clever young man who owns his own business and set up my Website for me.  I've always been very fond of Stuart.  And also Jonathan's ex girlfriend - lovely Felicity.  It must run in the family this staying in touch with old amours.

Stuart treated us to a Bottle of Pink Champagne - my all time favourite drink and then the Manager - Marc treated us to another (just as well I didn't drive).  Then I was presented with the most fantastic Birthday cake I've ever had.  Mind you, I don't think I've had more than six cakes in my life.  As a child we didn't have the money for parties and as an adult, the celebration was too close to the remainder of the festive season.  Jonathan order this apparition from a French Patisserie - the Patisserie Valerie.  I can only describe it as a sort-of large Bavarois with three inches of fresh fruit atop it - redcurrants, blackcurrants, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and Cape gooseberries (physallis) and Marc had stuck into it something that resembled a Firework which lit up the whole restaurant.  It was such fun.  I'm not even remotely tempted when I pass an English 'cake shop' with it's donuts, Chelsea buns, iced buns and  rock cakes - all looking like lumps of baked dough.  They all look so unappetising but you have to blindfold me to pass the Patisseries in France and the Cake Shops in Belgium.

After our champagne and cake, Jonathan took me to a lovely restaurant - Incognico -  and assured me that I wasn't to be phased by the prices as it was a special offer dinner.  The food was extremely good but I wouldn't have enjoyed it half as much if he'd been paying the full price.  Because we'd had the champagne, we opted for a glass of wine each rather than a bottle - heaven knows what a bottle would have cost - a glass was £9.50.  Sadly the staff outnumbered the diners - as there was only one other couple apart from us.  I know it was a Monday but we were almost at the heart of theatreland - so it proved the Recession really is biting.

However, in our small corner of the world, we had an absolutely lovely time and my son couldn't have organised anything more enjoyable.

All good things come to an end and they did the next morning on the return journey.  It took a bus, a tube and a train (for which we waited on a freezing cold station) and the journey time was 4 hours.  I could have done it in two in the warmth and comfort of my car.  Had I driven into London, I would have driven home that night but, as I wouldn't want to be on Public Transport, unaccompanied, I stayed at Jonathan's flat.  It's all well and good trying to get us out of cars and onto Public Transport but our Transport System is creaking at the seams, is very expensive, and for a woman on her own at night - a no-go area.    I don't think twice about using buses and the Metro in Paris - they are clean, efficient and inexpensive.

So, again my apologies for sharing my Birthday with you but there's not a lot else going on.

After the Stevie Wonder Concert, I vowed I'd never go to the O2 again but I'm afraid I've been seduced - I loved Carl Orff's 'Carmina Burana' way back in the late sixties when everyone thought I was nuts to like this odd music.  Well, I've kind of been proven right haven't I?  Anyway, I've got tickets for Jonathan and myself - not the best in the house but at least I've got seats. I'm driving up to his flat and we will go in to O2 on the tube - it's a better option than driving and trying to park a car - even when you have booked parking it's a nightmare.

I absolutely loved the music and was very excited when I discovered Orff had written a sequel - Carmina Catulli.  Sadly it isn't a patch on Burana and that's probably why most of you will never have  heard of it.

Take care and I do hope everything begins to improve for you wherever you are.

 All good wishes,  Jan.

SOS - I had an Email from a friend in Zimbabwe and try as I might, I cannot get in touch.  I know from the analytics on my website that there is a visitor from Zim, so if he reads this Blog - I have tried to make contact but maybe the Broadband is misbehaving.  I know friends in Capetown still haven't received Birthday cards and Email greetings which I sent a month ago.  Nor did they receive my Texts at New Year.

CALYPSO CHRISTMAS

4th January 2009

Calypso Christmas

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL

Just returned from the Calypso Christmas Trip on board the Aurora. 

 We were fortunate that the Bay of Biscay crossing was relatively calm but we encountered a storm on Christmas Eve and that was distinctly unpleasant.

As my son Jonathan couldn't take two weeks leave, I took with me my friend Doreen who  accompanied me last year  back from Capetown to Southampton on the Oriana.

I give my talks on the Sea Days and was very pleased with the attendance.  There's so much going on every day that people have a multitude of choices.  The Entertainment was, as always, extremely good.  The Headliners - resident song and dance Company - were superb as were Tom O'Connor and Stuart Gillies. I worked with Tom years ago on an excellent Quiz Show called 'I've Got a Secret' and Stuart was one of the regular singers we had on Pebble Mill back in the 70's - so it was a rather nostalgic trip.  Tom is brilliant and held the audience for an hour of side-splitting comedy and not one Four letter word in sight!!!!!!

 When we reached the Caribbean, the weather was very disappointing.  It was warm but on all but one day - when we visited Antigua - the skies were grey or we were beset with showers.

 We only took a couple of the organized tours as Doreen was suffering from a painful leg and many of the trips encompassed walking over uneven terrain.  I'd not brought my walking boots with me and, as the weather was dodgy, didn't really fancy hiking in the rain.  We did take the 'Under Two Flags' trip on St. Marten where part of the island is under Dutch rule and the other under French.  The port is on the Dutch side and nothing much to write home about and the pretty town is on the French Side with a small but superb Mall and a shop selling the most exquisite French and Italian Clothes.  Just as well I had Doreen to drag me away or I'd have spent a fortune.

 The only perfect day we had - weatherwise - was in Antigua and there I'd booked to go snorkelling with Stingrays.  I'm glad I had the experience but, as always, it was so commercialised as to detract from the joy.  I expected a group of maybe 30 people - only to discover it was more like several hundred.  Felt terribly sorry for the Rays with all the noise and disturbance but I have to admit they came flocking into the enclosure when we arrived - knowing they would be fed juicy bits of squid and octopus.

 They feel like velvet and you feed them from underneath the body with the warning to keep your hand a good four inches away from the feeding hole.  They suck the food in with the strength of a vacuum cleaner - quite an odd sensation as the titbit is whipped from your hand.

 Can't tell you much about the Islands as most of the interesting tours were already booked before we boarded and because of the inclement weather we didn't feel like taking taxis around the islands.  We did venture off the ship in St. Lucia and got talked into taking a taxi to a Beach.  We'd envisaged a cove with maybe a few dozen people - what did we get - Brighton Beach without the pebbles.  You couldn't put a pin between the Sun beds.  Sorry - not my idea of fun.  After that we decided to do our sunbathing - in between the showers - on board the ship.  This was a much nicer option as the Ship was almost empty as was the pool and we virtually had it to ourselves.

Our delightful Captain - Ian Hutley - very kindly invited us on to the Bridge for Sailaway from St. Lucia.  It was an amazing site to see this huge Ship performing a 'Three- Point Turn' in the Harbour - taking sitings to get the manoeuvre correct.  There's very little spare space and the Captain was very pleased that Serenade of the Seas had gone out just before us thus making his job a trifle - but only a trifle - easier.  

 Doreen and I enjoy the Formal evenings as we are both old enough to remember and enjoy the days when much more was made of 'Dressing for an Occasion'.  I'm told that there are Cruise ships where the order of the day is total informality - I don't think I'd enjoy that at all. It was lovely to see the Gents in their DJ's and the Ladies looking Elegant.

 Flying back from Barbados turned into a mini nightmare.  We got to the Airport with four hours to spare before the flight, checked in and sat in a relatively empty Airport lounge and then it started filling up.  There's not a lot to do at Barbados Airport so we were pleased when the time came to board - and more than pleased that it had stopped raining.  The rain was coming down in Stair-rods and was so heavy, we couldn't see the planes parked on the runway. 

 We boarded half an hour late and then sat for another hour and a half before we had clearance to leave.  There was an Air Traffic Controllers' Strike in Trinidad which was affecting everything in the Caribbean.  And then - Nightmare - we had two crying babies - one stopped after a while and the other cried and screamed almost without stopping throughout the night.  I simply don't understand why parents subject tiny babies (in this case they were a few months old) to long flights when, if nothing else, they are likely to experience pain in their ears due to pressurisation.  Personally, I think it's dodgy to take babies into hot climates where they are at risk of dehydration, mosquito bites and heaven knows what else.  I think the one who indulged in non-stop screaming might have been suffering from teething toubles and couldn't understand why the parents didn't give it one of the many preparations which might have quietened the child and given some respite to the rest of us. Suffice to say, along with many other passengers, I got about one hour of sleep in an eight hour journey and arrived home like a Wet rag.  I used to really enjoy flying but not any more.  I dread the queues, the security checking and the interminable waiting.

 However, our Calypso Christmas was yet another in a long line of 'Experiences' and it was pleasant to be waited on.  The staff were delightful and very appreciative of the efforts we made to dress up and look good.  Our table waiter Deepak and wine waiter, Xavier were particularly attentive and made our trip all the more enjoyable.

 Anyway, I wish you all, wherever you are, a Healthy and Happy New Year.

 All my very best wishes,  Jan