One Love Lunch

 Thursday 6th August. 5.15 a.m. It seems to be mild and bright, a real relief after the blazing heat of the past few weeks. My infamous digital thermometer currently reads 26ºc. It was so hot at one point, just moving about the flat, I had sweat running down my face and I had to keep using a towel to wipe the sweat off my face. I was driving somewhere the other day when sweat ran down my face and into my eyes, making them sting horribly.

I haven't mentioned One Love Lunch Club. I had never heard of it, until I saw a flyer on the message board near the entrance coming into Dexter House. I didn't have to drive there, as I was collected by minibus and arrived at Wolverton. I wasn't sure exactly what to expect, as people began to arrive, many of whom were coming with me in the minibus. I suppose, once everyone had arrived, about 30 people, many with a range of disabilities, some with autism and many with dementia. There is lunch, which we pay for, £5, which is great value, and games for people to play, music, dance and good conversation.

When they had discovered my background, in theatre, television walk-on, puppetry and even my connection with Shakespeare via his wife, Anne Hathaway, I had to give a sort of impromtu talk, covering all my background. It was an experience, and not something I have ever done before.

So, it looks like I have at last got something to replace Camphill in my diary. I didn't go this week, because there weren't enough people on duty who had the relevant qualifications to be there, such as, holding a D.B.S.certificate, probably because those people were on holiday. (D.B.S. stands for Disclosure and Barring Service. Without this check , you cannot work for a range of client-based occupations, such as those people who are vulnerable, learning  disabilities, elderly, and so on.

Wednesday 12th August. 12.20 p.m. I was going to give support during the Holiday Club, which started yesterday, but I don't have a D.B.S. check, which is a vital piece of paper, which you have to have if you are working with a vulnerable group, which is how the children are described in the Holiday Club, and because my D.B.S. is yet to be applied for, I van't be involved.

So, I have been doing more work on my play-writing, which is going very well.One play is a sort of modernisation of the play-within-A-Play of Piramus and Thisbe, from A Midsummer Night's Dream. I a have re-invented the characters, making them relevant to a 21st century audience. Bottom is now Barry Bottomley, a council worker who is so enthusiastic about his part in the play, he seems to think he can play everyone else's parts.

January Weather

 Saturday, January 24th. 7.20 a.m. I awoke from my slumbers a good deal later than normal. But, what is 'normal' anyway? I think it might be a good idea to put the actual date of the day I write these posts.

Sunday, 25th January. Again, I woke a good deal later than I usually do.

I can't believe that Christmas was one month ago. It all seems like a fleeting memory. I'm glad it is, as it always seems to be so over-commercialised. Everything is overblown. You get the great build-up, Black Friday, which isn't just one day, because it goes on for around two weeks, prices are discounted, but people go stupid just for one day, and then, the next day, you get Boxing Day sales, and stuff which was overpriced before Christmas is reduced in price. I noticed in Sainsbury's the other day that they already had Valentine's Day cards on display. All the Christmas tat (to put it kindly) had gone.

Tuesday, 27th January. 7.55 a.m. It's blustery outside this morning. The digital thermometer currently reads 20ºc. The storm is named Chandra. I have no idea where the name comes from, but I will find out eventually. Why have names for storms? What's the point? There isn't one.

I went to the Shakespeare group in Newport Pagnall yesterday morning. We were looking at Shakespeare's villains. We watched Laurence Olivier's opening speech from 'Richard III.' It is somewhat hammy by modern standards, and I immediately thought of Peter Sellers' version of 'A Hard Day's Night' in the style of Shakespeare and very much inspired by Olivier's style of declamation.

I am continuing my family history research. I have discovered I'm a descendant of Anne Hathaway, William Shakespeare's wife. As a result, I will have to see the new Oscar-nominated film 'Hamnet' because he is very distantly related. Also, Benjamin Franklin, who was a signatory of the Constitution of the newly-independent United States of America. 

2.55 p.m. I have given away most of Alfie's bits and pieces, such as his bed, drinking and eating bowls, and remaining-in-date food. I now have the cage left, which was used to transport Alfie and was put in the back of the car.. Last week I washed the mat which sat inside, making it more comfortable for Alfie to lay on when he was travelling. I took the cage with me this morning, thinking it might be a good idea to try the Willen Hospice furniture store in Kiln Farm. I did some research on Google Maps, so I had a good idea where it was. I drove there, after 9 o'clock this morning. Unfortunately, they wouldn't take it, because, firstly, they don't take anything connected with pets, and, secondly, it's got something to do with our old friend Health and Safety, so I still have it and have yet to think of how to dispose of it.

My Ancestors!

Tuesday. 8.05 a.m. Yet another bright and sunny morning. The digital thermometer is reading a far more comfortable 25ºc.

I have mentioned that I was doing family research on Ancestry. Well, it continues, with over 35,000 people on my tree! I have to admit that it's somewhat addictive. Once you start, you have to keep going. I can get back to well before the Norman Conquest of 1066, which is quite amazing.

My late mother kept on saying that 'we have Dick Whittington as an ancestor.' That is, obviously, on my maternal side. As Whittington had no children, I can't get a direct connection with him. The connection comes through his wife, Alice Witzwaryn. A connection nevertheless. I'm glad I've found it.

My mother also said that we were also supposed to be connected to Lord Nuffield. William Morris, set up and ran the Morris motor car business in Cowley in Oxford. I have done a lot of research and I cannot see any sort of connection, although I will keep on trying. I am glad that I might not be associated with him because I found out he had fascist leanings and helped to support Oswald Mosley in the 1930s.

I have also discovered the Gilkes family, who lived in and around the village of Deddington in Oxfordshire. Thomas Gilkes was a Quaker, as were many others of my ancestors. They weren't allowed, as Quakers, to go to university, or join any of the professions, such as law (and other professions.) As a result, they turned to clock-making. This was during the 18th Century. Some of these clocks are now valuable antiques, and, at auction, can sell for several thousand pounds.

Next on my list of discovered ancestors is  Thomas Early. (1734-1809). His family lived in Witney and were involved in blanket-weaving. Thomas Early was the first person to use the flying shuttle in the weaving process.

As we have just had the Olympic Games in Paris, I'm quite excited to discover that I have an Olympic medal winner in my family tree. His name was Charles Moss (1882-1963) and he won a Silver medal for cycling (Team Trial Race, Men) at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm.

Now, for my most exciting discovery. I have had to check thoroughly that this is correct, and as far as I can find out, it is. I have a connection to William Shakespeare, not actually to him, because his family line died out, several generations after he died. My connection is to his wife, Anne Hathaway. (c1582-1623) Although I'm not DIRECTLY related to Shakespeare, the connection to Anne Hathaway is enough for me!

Now for my paternal side. I have found Mungo Park (1771-1806) who was an explorer, who discovered the source of the River Niger in West Africa and died there. I had heard of him, but never imagined he could be an ancestor.