Midweek Miscellany

A rainy Wednesday seems the ideal time to catch up on many little things with you all…

FIRSTLY BLOG MAINTENANCE

I must apologise to those of you whose readers have been filling up with my old posts from 2010 that I’d reposted here, after they got lost in my web-host transfer.

I’d gaily thought that if I turned off all the ‘Publicize’ settings that they’d just appear back in their original places in the timeline. But now, they still appear as new posts in everyone’s readers and emails are sent to subscribers.  I played with publishing some posts as private, but as soon as you untick the private box and press update – it sends it off to everyone’s readers/emails again.  There appears to be no way of publishing publicly that avoids this.

I have been back over to my old blog and deleted all the posts I’ve moved over – but I’m still left with just over 650. Many of these are not worth moving over, but there must be 500 reviews which I’d hate to lose. I think I’m going to have to combine reviews into fewer posts and quietly drip-feed them back into my timeline here.  If I do the work while I have time this month and keep them private, I can untick them at my leisure and keep all of you happier!

I’ve also added another page to my tabs along the top – ‘Shiny Linkiness’ gathers all my reviews for Shiny New Books into one place. Because these tend to be slightly longer, (even) more considered reviews, I’m rather proud of them.

WHAT ELSE AM I DOING THIS SUMMER?

BRIGHTON  My daughter and I had a couple of days in Brighton the other week, which was hard on the feet, and a bit drizzly a lot of the time.

My highlight was the Brighton and Hove Art Museum which is next to the Royal Pavilion. They have a really good collection of 20th century art and design – Grayson Perry, Eric Ravilious, Salvador Dali (Lips sofa) joined an old Punch & Judy set-up, seaside postcards, Brighton & Hove Albion memorabilia and some wonderful costumes, mods and rockers things – and some great chairs (top right).

We also enjoyed the  pier of course, especially Penny Falls in the Arcade, a great way of wasting time cheaply – see how long you can make a tub of 2 pence pieces last!

The sun came out on our final afternoon though for our trip up the doughnut thing (the BAi360). Although there are not that many landmark buildings other than the Pavilion and the piers to look for, the views are lovely and some Brighton residents have decorated their rooftops which is great.  The ‘flight’ lasts around 25 minutes as the doughnut rises slowly to the top (138m) and waits a bit before descending and of course, you exit via the gift shop. Nice in the sunshine.

SHAKESPEARE

Firstly, next week, I’m going to be brave. I’ve booked my ticket to see the RSC Live broadcast of Titus Andronicus. This production directed by Blanche McIntyre apparently scored highly in the blood and gore stakes. It has David Troughton in, whom I adore, (his Bottom in 1986 was the funniest thing I’ve ever, ever seen!). I’m slightly anxious that on the big screen, it’ll all be too magnified – but it still on the screen, not live on stage.

We week afterwards, we’re off to London to see Andrew Scott in Hamlet. I’m so glad my daughter expressed an interest in this production (she’ll be doing Hamlet for A-Level English), and I managed to get decent seats.

Then, would you believe it, an announcement yesterday that Kenneth Branagh will direct Tom Hiddlestone in a very short run of Hamlet in a very little theatre for a RADA fundraiser this September.  Tickets by ballot.  I’m hoping that Branagh will tease Hiddlestone into showing some proper emotions, not an impersonation.

I’ve entered the ballot! Fingers crossed.

FRIENDSFEST

We’re going to Blenheim the week after that for FRIENDSFEST  – all the sets and props etc from everyone’s favourite 1990s comedy show are on tour. I had to book timed tickets months ago for this.  Ridiculous! No idea what to expect, except that we’ll be fleeced at every turn.

INCOMING

I’ll mention just a few of the new books I’ve acquired recently that I’m really excited about:

• H(A)PPY by Nicola Barker
• History of Wolves by Emily Fridland – Booker longlisted.
• Madame Bovary of the Suburbs by Sophie Divry
• Olt by Kenneth Gangemi – a slim novella, this was mentioned in a comment over on Karen’s blog and my interest was piqued!

Now, I have a big pile of reviews to write… so TTFN.