Hatching, Matching and Dispatching

On Saturday it was my grandfather's memorial service, at which I was doing a reading - the description of the cricket match in chapter 7 of The Pickwick Papers. When he was imprisoned by the Japanese in WWII he kept a diary, written around the edges of a book in tiny, tiny writing. In this diary, he listed some of the books he really enjoyed reading and Pickwick Papers was one of them. He was also a very good cricketer, so the reading seemed apt. It certainly went down well with the assembled family and friends - the quantities of whom never ceases to amaze me. They all know exactly who I am, but I haven't a clue who they are. Ah well - 'twas ever so with families.

As a thanksgiving service, it wasn't an overtly sad occasion, although it was moving and my granny was, understandably, upset. She was very pleased with the service though - it really was lovely and I hope, wherever he was watching from, that he approved.

Following the service I headed straight off to my best friend's hen weekend in Suffolk. I had thought I wouldn't be able to make it, due to the difficulties of getting from Dorset to Suffolk via public transport, however my second cousin Will (well, I did say I have a ridiculously large extended family!) fortuitously turns out to live about 10 miles away from Ali, so I hitched a lift with him. It was good to spend some time with him - I haven't seen much of him for probably the last 15 years, so there was plenty to catch up on!

When I arrived at Ali's house for the hen, everyone was WAY too sober. They'd been punting in Cambridge during the day but there had definitely not been enough alcohol consumed. Kim had an excuse, due to being pregnant, but the rest of them were just being lax. I soon put an end to that situation by mixing cocktails (well, chucking most of the contents of the alcohol cabinet into a jug with a bit of fruit juice) and initiating some party games, in which we discovered some fascinating titbits of information. I could tell you - but then I'd have to kill you; and, of course, what goes on the hen stays on the hen. I just hope Ali manages to keep Nick away from her digital camera. I think he'd be so excited by those particular photos that he might explode *ahem*.

A poker game was started at about 2.30am. Luckily we weren't playing for money, as I'd be broke as well as knackered if we had been. Gossip was the major currency of the game - and it kept the hardcore few going until 5am. Sarah disappeared at one point and never reappeared - when she came down for breakfast the next morning still wearing her party dress we discovered that she'd gone upstairs for a cardigan and just passed out. Good girl!

When Ali and I finally retired (the boys were very excited to find out the next day that we'd shared a bed) we then carried on talking until probably 6am. I haven't had a night like that in way too long - in fact I think the last one was probably Liz's hen night 2 years ago. When did we all get so grown up?

 

Mood: Nostalgic
Currently playing: 'I Wish I Could Go Back to College' from Avenue Q

17.7.06 16:02


Quick Question

I've come across a very annoying problem when typing into an internet form (ie comments boxes): when I type either an apostrophe or a forward slash it prompts a spellcheck toolbar at the bottom of the page and won't allow me to use said symbols.  It doesn't happen every time, but when it decides it's going to happen it usually means that I have to log out and reload the page to stop the interference.  Has anyone else come across this problem and, more importantly, does anyone know how to fix it?  I'm fed up of typing 'do not' or 'cannot' and also annoyed at not being able to type my blog address - I have to pimp myself, dahlings, otherwise what's the point in being here?
20.7.06 21:38


RIP Jennifer

Jennifer Paterson on Beef Wellington: 'Cook it for about x minutes if you want it rare.  If you don't want it rare I wouldn't bother to cook it at all.'

I love that woman. 
20.7.06 21:47


Saucy Friday

Once upon a time there was a girl who liked to write a blog. Sometimes, however, she ran short of things to write. Luckily, she spent lots of time talking to a Handsome Prince, and he would whisper sweet nothings to her, occasionally suggesting blog subjects. On this particular day he suggested a return of Saucy Friday. The girl was a bit nervous about this, having always left this kind of blog to the experts before - the girls who elevate sauce to a whole new level - however, she decided to give it a try. Where to start, however? The girl knew that the Handsome Prince was very partial to a bit of chocolate, so she thought that this would be appropriate.

 

Unfortunately the chocolate all melted in the heat, but the girl thought that was probably not a bad thing.

What to write about next, though? The Prince's ideas of what was saucy were probably quite different to the girl's. She therefore decided to try to please everyone - always a dangerous game, she knew, but she was feeling reckless. She therefore went to the great god google images and found some lovely pictures, like this one:

and this one:

 

Hopefully that had covered most bases.

The girl looked back on her post and was pleased - now to see if the Handsome Prince would approve...

 
21.7.06 12:20


Viva Lorca

If anyone is a fan of Lorca and is in London over the next few weeks, then I can recommend this festival:


 

If you come along to Mariana Pineda then you can have fun trying to pick me out in the chorus of (slightly scary) nuns in Act II. Even if you're not interested in playing spot the sister, however, the play is well-worth seeing. We had our first dress and tech rehearsal today and it really is beautiful, in terms of both performance and design. Just spare a thought for us sweltering away in our habits. eh?

 

 
22.7.06 22:32


Intense

I'm going camping this weekend.  I'm not sure this is a good idea.
28.7.06 09:51


Interview by PeterJ

Hi, Katja, can we possibly catch a quick interview now? Before you go on stage again?
Of course, darling. I've got a few minutes and can't think of a better way to spend them than chatting to you.

I know you've probably been asked this, like, a million times, but, did you always know you wanted to be a blogger, or did this passion develop later on in life?
I came late to blogging, although once I discovered it I felt right at home, so I think maybe I always wanted to be a blogger: I just didn't know what to call it. My latent show-off tendencies mean that publishing my witterings for all to read is, and always has been, a very attractive concept.

You have written some fabulous blogs over the years, what most sticks in your memory, from a professional stand point?
Oh, you're very kind *blushes*. There are a few blogs that stand out in my memory, in fact. One of them is the post in which I talked about my first professional tour, in December 2000, and how touched I was by the reaction of a group of small boys in a school for children with difficult home lives. On a similar note, the post in which I wrote about doing a show in a young offenders' institute in Devon last Christmas also sticks in my mind. They are both posts about events that touched me deeply at the time and I hope I put that across in my writing.

As a blogger, what would you aim for as the pinnacle of your blogging career, what is your Everest?
Darling, I won't rest until I win a Bloggie!

As a bright young actress, could you tell us what your speech will be like for the Olivier award, and will you be live-blogging the ceremony? Oh goodness - I'm awful at speeches. I think my main concern will be with not embarrassing myself utterly a la Gwynnie. As to live-blogging - most definitely! Although that might mean staying off the champagne. Hmm - maybe I'll get a ghost-blogger in. Fancy a job?

Is it true that you're a whizz in the kitchen and never eat anything that would not comfortably make its way onto the menus of any restaurant?
Well, I try my best! My mother is cordon-bleu trained so I've picked up a few tips along the way. I also get bored with eating the same old thing, so have to be ever more inventive to keep myself interested. Sometimes it fails spectacularly, but I generally don't tell people about the rubbish stuff.

I have some Asparagus at home, what the heck should I do with it?
Ah, Asparagus. Well, firstly I would suggest inviting an attractive young lady around for supper. One on whom you have designs, shall we say. Then you need to gently steam the asparagus until tender. Cover it in melted butter mixed with sea salt and a little lemon juice, then pick it up in your fingers and feed it to her... *the rest of this answer is cut for reasons of decency*

You're a really friendly person, and don't seem the demanding sort, but between me, you and your readership, do you ever have diva style tantrums?
Erm - I'm taking the fifth on that one...

You love your music, whats your favourite song from a musical, and why?
I'm only allowed to pick one? That's tough. I'm a big fan of Jason Robert Brown's shows, particularly The Last Five Years. It's a musical about a relationship which spans five years, the twist being that the woman starts the show at the end of the relationship and works her way back to the beginning, whereas the man starts at the beginning and works to the end. The only time that they are in the same space and time on stage is in the middle of the show, at their wedding. It's beautifully written and has some wonderful songs in it - I recommend it to everyone. There's one song in it called 'Climbing Uphill' which is about auditioning. It makes me laugh and cry every time, as it's so well-observed - wonderful stuff.

When they make your life story, with you in the lead of course, who would you like directing the movie?
I'm not sure I'd want to play myself, to be honest. I've already done it all once and wouldn't want to repeat it! I think I'd rather have somebody else playing me and be the director instead. Yes, that sounds like a far more satisfactory solution...

Do you ever date dopey young interviewers?
Dopey? No, not generally. Handsome, however...

They say everyone always believes they have a novel in them, what is yours and will you get round to writing it or allow it to live itself out in your imagination?
I think I'll probably leave the novel to somebody else. Maybe Ciggie - he's bound to make a much better job of it than I would. I think I'll stick to showing off in person rather than in print.

It's been a pleasure interviewing you Katja, I'll let you get back to your play now, just remember break a leg, and my phone number is on the back of that napkin.
Darling, the pleasure has been all mine. *mwah mwah*

28.7.06 11:11


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