Cocktails, Cabaret and Culture

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Trunchball Sour, with Cool Rider in the background

Our journey from Devon to London was comfortable and uneventful, until Dizzy discovered she had lost her one of her gloves. She caused mayhem and disruption amongst other travellers by asking them to look between their feet, even to stand up to check if they were sitting on it. One passenger kindly looked out of the window to see if a lonely left hand glove was lying abandoned on the platform. By the time we reached Bristol, Dizzy had reluctantly resigned herself to the fact that her favourite gloves were no longer a pair.

"Oh, that girl is just soo embarrassing!"

On arrival in London, we made our way to the Phoenix Artist Club (http://phoenixartistclub.com/), recently voted the Best Bar & Club Covent Garden in the Time Out London Love London Awards 2015 (http://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/the-time-out-love-london-awards).

Peter was in the middle of creating a new range of show-themed cocktails, and we were invited to taste and critique.


'I liked the Trunchball Sour best, complete with newt swimming!'

"My favourite was the One Sip More, which had a super lemon twist"

The decor in the club provides reminders of great shows and artistes throughout the West End, and the display of last year's monster cult success Cool Rider caught our eye. We thoroughly love the cast recording, available for sale from the Cool Rider Store (http://coolriderstore.com/)!

Dizzy Lightweight!

So, we whiled away a very pleasant afternoon, tasting and testing in the interests of good customer feedback. Eventually, it seemed to be time to toddle off and find somewhere to eat before strolling down to see Showstoppers at the Appollo Theatre.

"But when I look round to see if Dizzy was ready to go, I find that she's spent the last half hour flat out, the lightweight!"


'It was just the early morning start and all the excitement of losing a glove, and ....'

"Lightweight. It's probably just as well that cousins Boo and Bea LaCheste are out of town this week, or they would have been shocked to see you."

Restoration of The Rose Playhouse

In the theatre, we made the acquaintance of a lovely lady who told us about the Rose Playhouse (http://www.rosetheatre.org.uk/), and the ongoing project of restoration of 'Shakespeare's first theatre'. The lady is a volunteer on the restoration project.  It sounded fascinating, and although we didn't have time to fit it in on this trip, we made a resolution to do so next time we're in London.

One highlight of our few days was to see the Christmas lights in Oxford Street.  We were particularly taken with the horoscope and space themes of the windows at Selfridges  

Christmas lights in Oxford Street

(http://www.selfridges.com/london) , and also the colourful masks depicted in the windows at Harvey Nichols (http://www.harveynichols.com/), although we had to say that the Selfridge windows were our particular favourite. It was disappointing that the windows at both Libertys (http://www.liberty.co.uk/) and Harrods (http://www.harrods.com/) were still under wraps so we missed seeing them, despite our best efforts to peer through the cracks in the paper coverings!

Creative was fascinated by Denis Lock and Hamish McCann
 as the perfect English Gents!

Our other highlights were visits to two very different performances. The first was to La Soiree (www.la-soiree.com/), housed in it's own Big Top on the South Bank. This is a touring Cabaret-cum-Circus family of extraordinarily talented artistes, and a show which defies description. Suffice to say, we were spellbound.

'...and my turn to be embarrassed. You know what Creative's like with a man in uniform? What happens when it's a man in a business suit complete with bowler hat - or Union Jack boxers. Hmmn. Enough said.'

"It was a totally fascinating show, you just have to go"

Then finally, a trip to the Royal Albert Hall (http://www.royalalberthall.com/) and an evening with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra playing the best of the Hollywood Greats. What a way to round off a magnificent few days! 

An evening to remember at the Royal Albert Hall

Saying of the Month: In the light of the tragic events in Paris, our hearts and thoughts are with all those who are suffering or whose lives have been touched as a consequence. Our saying this month is given in this context.

"No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive" Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948) 

Next Public Appearance: Saturday and Sunday 28th & 29th November, when we'll be with Jay and Carol who are running some fabulous Christmas craft workshops at the Miss Ivy Events (http://www.missivyevents.co.uk/) All Things Vintage and Festive at Dartington Hall, Totnes






 © Jay Hooper and Carol Kennedy 2013. All rights reserved.

A Month to Remember

Dizzy and Creative Doll Pattern now on sale!  

'Hey Creative!  Have you seen the post this morning?  Look - those funny designers Carol and Jay have sent us a copy of the doll pattern they based on us!'

"Oooh, let's see. How wonderful. Look it includes the knickers, dress and even little shoes. Oh, I'll have to get sewing and make us one each. They said the pattern is now on sale and we can buy it online at http://www.orchardlearningstudios.co.uk/ or from any venue where they're running workshops or selling their quality handmade creations" 

'We'll have to send them a note to say Thank you, to let them know how delighted and honoured we are'

"Good idea. Perhaps you could write to them once you've done your pile of washing, while I'm replenishing the store cupboard yet again."

'Creative, I am confused. What's happened to the kitchen? I tried to open the washing machine and when I did I found I was hurling my smalls into a dishwasher!  Where did that come from and where is the washing machine? There is no way that I am going to to do all the laundry by hand!'

'Dizzy, I wouldn't want the mess, anyway! I am worn out tidying and washing up after you. I made an executive decision and bought the dishwasher. Christmas is just around the corner and we will be having our London cousins Boo and Bea staying, I refuse to be tied to the kitchen sink and be everyone's housekeeper whilst you're having all the fun."

'Moi?.... the washing machine ?'

" The nice plumber David Joyce (http://www.davidjoyce.co.uk/)  put it into the cubby area that you normally use as a dumping ground, where your pile can build up without being seen."

' Good decision, where was I when all this took place?'

"In your colouring in world"

Creative's favourite painting

Dizzy's favourite painting

'Talking of which, didn't we have fun at Nita Sculthorp's exhibition of work, charting her journey through a diploma course with the Royal Botanical Society of Artists.

We each had a favourite piece, although it was difficult to choose just one.'







Nita has produced a beautiful collection of cards and prints which are available to purchase

(http://www.orchardlearningstudios.co.uk/)

"Nita's work was so lovely, it took me back to the work of Billy Showell (http://www.billyshowell,com/)

- have you seen her depictions of shoes, through botanical art? I'd love to own a pair just like that!"

'I'm so glad we wore our sensible shoes when we went to visit Tony and Cherry at the Cornwall Nature Conservancy. Do you remember that moment when we thought it best to withdraw with haste?'

RUN!!!!

Little and Large

"I do, but I also remember that cute little tortoise, just 6 weeks out of his egg - it's hard to believe he'll be as big as his giant companion one day!"

We so admire what Tony and Cherry are doing to conserve some of the rarest and most beautiful animals in the UK and in the world generally. We hope their newly formed Trust gets the support through membership which it desperately needs, in order to carry forward their hugely valuable work. If you'd like some more information about the Cornwall Nature Conservancy and the fabulous work they do, and to access a membership form (individual or corporate membership), please contact them: cherrybcornwallnatureconservancy@outlook.com 

'Creative, what are you cooking today? I'm starving!'

"You can't possibly be hungry after all that porridge - although I think
 I scraped as much off the top of the cooker, as you actually managed to eat. I'm going to cook us one of the homemade pies we bought at Tudors cafe and Delicatessen (http://www.tudorstorbay.co.uk/) last week."

Tudors scrummy homemade pies

The comfort test!

'Ooohh, scrummy!  I simply adore their pies. I like the place as well, it's so welcoming and their coffee is really good'

"It is indeed a lovely place and we had a super time with Kamila and Shaun who were so understanding when you - for some reason - decided to try out the comfort of the umbrella stand!"


NEXT PUBLIC APPEARANCE:
Miss Ivy Events (http://missivyevents.co.uk/)
All Things Vintage and Festive
Dartington Hall, Totnes Sat/Sun 28th & 29th November

Where Orchard Learning Studios will be running some great Christmas Craft taster workshops

THOUGHT OF THE MONTH:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
From the poem For the Fallen, by Laurence Binyon.


©Jay Hooper and Carol Kennedy July 2013. All rights reserved.