'They Think It's All Over'?

Thursday. 6.50 a.m. I wasn't aware of the euphoria of England getting through to the final of the Euro 2021 football championship last night. I have no interest in football, as you will realize, but even so, it has to be quite an historic achievement, comparable to the 1966 World Cup win (although England hasn't won- yet.) So, the infamous quote by Kenneth Wolstenholme, 'They think it's all over . . . ' seems appropriate, although not . . . quite. Watch this space. I heard no crowds cheering, as I did the other evening, coming from the pub on the corner of Strudwick Drive and Oldbrook Boulevard, 'The Cricketers.' But, it isn't over until the final on Sunday evening . . .

I had to laugh the other day. I was walking back towards the flat with Alfie along Strudwick Drive when a youth shot past on one of those electric scooters, but he was looking at his mobile as he did so. He went to cross the road and as he did so he stopped on the island in the centre of the road and then dropped his mobile. I just thought it was just as well it didn't fall in the path of the next car or lorry which passes by as it would have been flattened. 

I sent the iPhone 7 back to Sky, having removed the apps. But I then got an email saying they couldn't credit my account until iCloud was disconnected. I really had no idea how to do this, but went on the Sky website and managed to click on what I thought was where I was supposed to, but it turned out not to be correct. Having rung Sky, after a lot of searching on the website (why bury this number? It should be in a far more prominent position.), and was told I would need to ring Apple. The same thing happened with this as I had problems finding the phone number, but eventually, I found it and got through.

I spoke to an Apple engineer how managed to talk me through the process of deactivating iCloud from the iPhone 7. Quite amazed that he could 'see' my iPad screen and direct me using the cursor, which made it considerably easier. So, problem solved and I trust that is the end of the matter. Why on earth they can't give you instructions regarding this type of thing that would make life so much easier. You always used to get an instruction manual with most things, but not with mobile phones and computers. I think they expect you to find anything from manuals to resolving issues via the internet.

Friday.7.15 a.m. It's really humid at the moment. I just hope it rains and clears the air. Not the best for me, but never mind.

My car insurance runs out at the beginning of August. I wanted to see if I could get a lower quote, so I went on several comparison websites, Compare The Market, Go Compare, and one other. I've been with Swinton for years. I pay in monthly installments and it was around £52 a month. I didn't get any extras for that, no breakdown cover or the use of a courtesy car. I did a search, putting in all my details, years of no-claims, etc and I have got what I think is a far better deal, at around £32 per month, with breakdown cover and courtesy car. I have paid a deposit and the next payment will be in August. Just seems crazy to pay more for less. Just a question of having a look for a better deal. As I'm not driving much more than a few thousand miles a year, which was taken into consideration when coming up with a quote. But it seems I get more for less, which doesn't make sense, but it's true. 

I have something called Grammarly installed on my MacBook. It isn't the full version, and it's useful to check not just my grammar but also my spelling. But I do object to it insisting I spell words the American way, for example, 'centre' for 'center.' When you've written a passage, it underlines the offending word and a window pops up and you get an alternate spelling. It's doing it now, as I save this section and it's insisting I spell centre as center. I know you don't have to agree with the alternative spelling, but it's still useful. A grammatical error it attempts to change is 'an historic' which is to change to 'a historic.' Which is correct? I wonder what my English teacher would say when I was at school.

Positives Of Lockdown

This pandemic we're currently experiencing, because of the coronavirus pandemic may be extremely difficult for some, having to be isolated from friends and family and other people, but for me it means I can get on with some of my writing. I have done more in recent days than I think I would do in a month or more. I have written several A4 pages in pencil and I'm gradually transferring it onto my MacBook. But now, with the iPad, it's possible to dictate what I've written and not touch the keyboard. It has taken a while for it to accept my voice and come up with the correct word, for example, character names. It is going a good deal faster than if I had used the manual keyboard and because of having iCloud, all the documents can be edited on all devices, which includes my iPhone, an advantage of having all Apple gadgets. Being a writer is, generally, a somewhat lonely occupation. It can't fail to be. You need to be on your own, so that you can concentrate on your writing. I expect there are other creative occupations that require you to be alone, for example, poets, painters and musical composers (of different disciplines, either orchestral, popular or theatrical). If you have other people sapping your concentration then it would be virtually impossible to do any work.

A positive to all this, well, at least one, is that we're given the chance of seeing much theatre, free, on-line. So much has been broadcast 'live' in cinemas, the National Theatre has done this through 'National Theatre Live' but with the current pandemic, and theatres being closed to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, many of these productions are being streamed on-line through YouTube. I watched 'One Man Two Guvnors,' which jump-started James Corden's acting career. Really brilliant production and really laugh-out-loud stuff. Other productions are to follow, with 'Jane Eyre' and their version of 'Treasure Island' to follow. That looks to me (from seeing clips on YouTube) as if it's going to be worth seeing because it utilises the more or less unique drum revolve in the stage of the Olivier Theatre (too complicated to explain what it is on here.) and the set and general staging looks amazing. This should be worth seeing for me because we're working on a version of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel at Camphill, as part of the drama workshop (currently closed because of the pandemic.) I'm researching pantomime as part of something I'm writing, so it has been useful to find a lot of stuff on YouTube, entire productions of recent pantomimes, performed all around Britain, and a good way to see how different productions vary, the style of acting, performance generally as well as stagings and design, costume and so on. Some very good but some just not up to much. If you were to visit these productions you would need to travel miles around the country, as well as the cost of tickets, so to be able to watch completely free is a real bonus, but, obviously, a recording can't entirely replace the 'live' aspect of a pantomime, which relies very heavily on the audience participation. Live theatre, whether a straight play or an audience-driven pantomime, does need the live aspect otherwise it might just as well just be a film or a video, which can't be the same at all.

When I worked in stage management many moons ago (well, the 1970's) I worked on a number of pantomimes. Really hard work, doing probably 3 performances in a day, usually 10.30, 2.30 and 7.30, extremely exhausting, hauling scenery about, and just generally keeping the thing going, with very little time for a break between performance, probably having to get the actors sandwiches or other food between shows and then, having to re-set the set and props in time for the next performance. I'm not actually a fan of pantomime, because I find most are corny, cliched and just downright awful. I think I prefer something a bit less predictable and I don't really go in for the audience participation stuff. You know, 'it's behind you! Oh yes it is, oh no it isn't,' and all that. But that is part of the pantomime tradition and I suppose it's what audiences expect. I prefer a proper musical. Then they have to cast with television soap stars or 'celebrities' which are cast merely to attract the public who would never otherwise set foot in a theatre. A pity, when there is such a wealth of good theatre out there. Generally a child's first experience of any form of theatre.

(Tuesday) I'm really missing my Tuesdays at Camphill with the drama workshop guys. I know things will get back to some sort of normal once this pandemic is either under control or completely done with, but my time there was a definite focus for my week.

It's been cold when we've been out first thing in the morning. I had started wearing my shorts as it has been relatively warm up until two days ago, but I have gone back to wearing my fleece when I go out with Alfie.

I ordered some meds I have on repeat prescription, by going on line on Sunday when I realised I was running very low. In fact, I ran out that evening so it was vital to have a supply because I'm not going without when I really need them and I'm not keen to find out what happens if I stop taking them for a long period. So, I was rather surprised to get a text message yesterday to say the meds were ready to collect. This morning I somewhat reluctantly went to Sainsbury's to pick them up. I learnt from Friday's foray into Sainsbury when I got there before 7 o'clock, which is when the store is supposed to open, but due to the lockdown, they are allowing N.H.S. staff and other front-line staff to have priority. So I went at a little bit after 8 o'clock and the queue was moving relatively quickly so I got into the store, picked up the repeat prescription and then got some essential items of food and made a quick get-away, even managing to use one of their self-service tills without to much effort.