Watching Iain Duncan Smith outline his rationale for quitting the government front benches on the Andrew Marr show, it was a little disturbing to discover a creeping respect developing for the man so beloved by the left as a poster boy for all that was wrong with this government and its demonisation of the poor – this was after all a man whose policies had been denounced and ridiculed by the left leaning commentators and writers with whom it’s my natural inclination, in the broadest sense, to agree.
redandwhiterag
Kelly + Victor at the Riverside
Exceptionally, out on a Sunday evening last night (13th March) to the Riverside in Woodbridge to see a screening of Kelly + Victor, followed by a Q&A with the film’s director Kieran Evans. These “Riverside nights” have been put together and curated by Neil McGlone, who is friend and was a work colleague of Denise’s, but who is also a local film advisor and researcher. A nice innovation, I hope they’re a success.
Memoirs, Colchester (5th March, 2016)
Finally got to try Memoirs in Colchester with friends after a couple of previous attempts were cancelled through illness. Stunning building, previously the Old Library and part of the Town Hall, it’s now a lovely looking restaurant and cocktail bar – superb vaulted ceilings, period architecture and ornate artwork. Excellent food and lovely atmosphere, slightly let down by staff who were clearly still learning the finer …
Hangmen at the Wyndham’s (via the Riverside)
As Martin McDonagh’s Hangmen is about to finish its run at the Wyndham’s Theatre on Saturday and we weren’t going to make it to London, last night we took the opportunity to do the next best thing and catch a live streaming of the play at the Riverside Theatre in Woodbridge. No substitute for the real thing but a worthy alternative, nonetheless.
James Hunter (5th February 2016)
A rare foray (for me) to the Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich last night to see the James Hunter Six. Nearly a year since I was last at the Wolsey and a mere twenty years since we saw James Hunter at the now defunct Lion’s Den shortly after we moved down to Ipswich from the North East. This one was a somewhat less sweaty, more genteel environment but still an excellent gig nonetheless.
Sean Lock at the Apex (2nd February 2016)
Another visit to the Apex in Bury St. Edmunds last night, this time to see Sean Lock’s latest stand up routine. Maybe best known for ‘messing about’ on panel shows (as his wife would have it), this was nonetheless a very funny return to stand up, a mixture of observations and ruminations on everyday life and growing older, coupled with occasional flights of surrealism. The silly …
Aldeburgh Long Weekend
Just back from a three night stay at the Wentworth Hotel in Aldeburgh for Denise’s birthday. This is something we did last year and we enjoyed it so much we decided to repeat it. Another excellent stay, lovely food and comfortable country house feel. Managed to get in a couple of reasonable walks as the weather was a little better than 2015, which made us …
Oysters 3 – 2lst January, 2016
The first of quite a few shows we’ve got lined up at the Apex in Bury St. Edmunds, Oysters 3 is an offshoot of the Oysterband and consists of John Jones, Ian Telfer and Alan Prosser. All founder members of the group, this was billed as a chance to hear some of the best known material in a stripped back, acoustic environment.
A Rambling We Shall Go – 2016
After a disappointing “attendance record” in 2015, I hope to make much more of an effort this year and get to far more Ramblers hikes than I did last year. Having said that, I’ve started off badly by missing the one yesterday in the Iken area. Denise did manage to get along and was rewarded with an appearance on Anglia TV – much to her …
A Monday Relaxation
Our second visit to Clarice House on Monday for a spa day, courtesy of Scott and Ginnette. On this occasion, had the full body massage, a facial and both a manicure and pedicure – new man or what! In fairness would probably skip the ‘cures’ in future and squeeze in a few more lengths in the pool. Notice however that I wouldn’t say no to …
Sunderland Christmas 2015
Another kind invite from Scott and Ginnette saw us spend Christmas in Sunderland. Lovely surprise to see two new additions to the family, two lovely rescue kittens called Billy and Bob – look as though they will be a handful but seem to absolutely love being around people. As usual, plenty of food, drink, games and, this year, no Boxing Day home game for the …
Antipodean Holiday (December 2015)
After a couple of abortive attempts to organise a trip “Down Under” we finally managed to get there for the last week or so in November, arriving back in the uk on the 20th December. Originally, we were going to tour, but after our indifferent experiences in Japan we decided to spend a significant period of time in one city and then cruise to various other points of interest.