Mole Hills

Blinking mole hills. What can I say, but if you have them then you'll know where I'm coming from. 

Thought I'd party with them. If you can't beat them, join them.

Ellen Dean

Gathering The Pony Poo (Parody Here We Go Gathering Nuts in May)

Here We Go Gathering Pony Poo

Ellen Dean

I'm Singing In The Rain - Wellie Boot Song

Hoping To Cheer People Up While On Lockdown

Ellen Dean

'In The Spotlight' at Darlington Hippodrome

On Saturday 6th October I went along with friends and family to Darlington Hippodrome to watch my three year old great-niece Isabelle perform with The Sandra Welsh School Of Dance in their show 'In The Spotlight'. This show was a real treat, and Isabelle's stage debut. I was so excited.

Every member of the cast from the youngest to the oldest (three to eighteen years respectively) gave outstanding performances. There was a full range of singing and dancing. The little ones came on, with chaperones, to a lots of oohs and aahs from the audience - including mine - then the chaperones disappeared into the wings. Did they get stage fright? Not a bit. They performed their routine like little troopers.

The whole show was very uplifting to say the least. One could be forgiven for thinking they were watching a professional West End Show. It was full of life, love and laughter, absolutely bursting with talent. A real tribute to The Sandra Welsh School Of Dance based in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. 

Photos taken by Paul Anderson ©

(used with permission)

                             

   

                             

                                      
   

                                    

Footnote: Isabelle takes her singing and dancing very seriously. I was shopping in Ripon a few days before the show buying an item of clothing for Isabelle. I rang her mother, to ask which size I should buy. Isabelle then came on the phone and started to sing 'You Are My Sunshine' her show song 🎼  She wanted me to sing with her, so I did, much to the amusement of the other shoppers, and staff 😄

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Swinton Park Hotel - Baby Shark - Ballet and Tap Dancing

Baby Shark, Ballet and Tap Dancing 

at

Swinton Park Hotel

Out for lunch (which was absolutely delicious) with the family at The Swinton Park Hotel, Masham.

Then there was the entertainment. My great-niece Isabelle decided to sing the Baby Shark song, and then when the music played (in the Drawing Room) she went into dance mode. First we were treated to Ballet followed by Tap Dancing. She wasn't at all bothered that other guests were watching, and I have to say they were loving it, and all applauded when she finished. 

Jervaulx Abbey - North Yorkshire

An afternoon of fun at Jervaulx Abbey. It was peaceful until we arrived ;-)

My niece Amy and I tried to make this little video last week, however, it wouldn't save due to my hard drive being full. So, I went along to Curry's in Ripon on Monday and bought a new external hard drive. The staff in there are very helpful and friendly. They helped me pick the right one for my computer. Isn't technology confusing! Thanks guys.

Cherish - Macmillan Charity Fundraiser

Last night I put on my glad rags and headed up north to the Slug and Lettuce in Durham City. They were holding another fundraiser. This time it was for the Macmillan Nurses.

This charity is close to my heart because I know how hard Macmillan nurses work, and how vitally important their work is.

The entertainment for the evening was provided by the fabulous, and fashionable, Miss Kitty Lit-teur. Miss Kitty is very supportive of the Cherish fundraisers. I was delighted that this time you included your brilliant Shirley Bassey routine complete with your dancers fresh back from the cruise liner. Hope they enjoyed life on the ocean waves.

Sat Nav (Gloria) couldn't make it this time ;-( she had to look after Katie (our horse) as there was to be a fireworks display close by, and Katie is scared of fireworks! So she stayed at home with her.

So, my niece came with me, and once inside we met up with Ken (Kitty's son, and my dancing partner) and Rolly (Kitty's partner).

Karaoke is part of this fun night, and there were plenty of singers keen to take the stage. Well done all of you for taking part. It takes guts to get up there and strut your stuff.

Sheila from Brandon - I promised you a mention - sang 'Lipstick On Your Collar'. You were a great sport, and it was good to meet you.

Ken you were right - it was a 'Kind of Magic' and you sang just for me like you promised. Thanks ;-)

It must have been good music because my niece was actually dancing with me. Where's the video camera when you want one?
Usually she says I show her up, and pretends she's not related.
Can you believe that?
No - I thought not ;-)

Abigail it was good to see you again, next time I expect to see you dancing ;-)

Mercury - Queen Tribute Band - Rocks Masham

'We will, we will, Rock You', and you did guys.

You are 'The Champions' my friends.





What a super show Sat Nav and I went to see last night. It was the first time we'd seen this brilliant band . . . but it won't be the last. Even Sat Nav was up on her feet dancing, and that takes some motivation ;-) Ouch!

Mercury absolutely rocked Masham. Fantastic, brilliant, terrific musicality. I could go on and on. Lee you even look like Freddie - an uncanny likeness. Thanks for letting me wear your crown. Gosh! Isn't it heavy!

The band played to a full house, and we all got down and dirty. The atmosphere was electric. My feet are still sore, probably due to the fact that I wore heels to dance. Will I never learn?

Sorry you only got one piece of cake Andy, but the band ate it all. It wasn't me - honest. I only had two pieces ;-)

Shaun, you've done it again. You always bring the best tribute bands to Masham.

Murder Mystery, Magical Gardens and Music...

Sunday was Sat Nav's (Gloria's) birthday, and this year she'd decided on something completely different - a Murder Mystery night.
Parts were allocated well beforehand and there was no cheating by us reading the clues/script before the night. Honest!
All party guests really entered into the spirit of the game and thanks to Kathy's Catering (Kathy have you ever come across Davinia's Catering at all? Sat Nav thinks that you and your assistant Judy should set up in the catering business) we ate extremely well.
The scene was set for Casablanca 1942 and it was a hard murder to solve. Only one guest got it right, or was it 2 - can't remember exactly too much champagne!

On Monday we spent an interesting afternoon in a magical garden where we had to solve clues, and riddles and try to avoid the water hazards lol!!! There was a labyrinth of tunnels, chambers, follies and surprises. The temple of the underworld, the eye of the needle, a huge pyramid made of translucent glass, paths and passages that lead nowhere, and extraordinary statues.
I opened a door and a skeleton nearly jumped out ...and I thought there is obviously a staff shortage here if they have to rely on the skeleton staff!
Talking trees, a little boy statue that peed on you, dragons and dungeons. Harry Potter and his friends would love this place.
We were in Forbidden Corner www.theforbiddencorner.co.uk with some of our friends - a great place to go. But we needed a place to meet up beforehand, and what better place than the Brymor Ice Cream Parlour www.brymordairy.co.uk. Ice cream par excellence!
We had to be agile on our feet here, not because the ice cream was cold, but because the wasps wanted some as well.


Last night (Tuesday) we headed up to Darlington Civic Theatre www.darlingtonarts.co.uk to the opening night of Dancing Queen billed as All Singing, All dancing, Biggest 70s Party Ever!
We met up with my sister, my niece and my sister's friend. The show started with Abba hits, and then moved on to The Bee Gees, Village People and more. It had an exciting cast of twenty singers and dancers. It was a full scale dance party, with dazzling costumes, outrageous choreography (how on earth the dancers managed to do some of those leg positions I'll never know) and amazing musical arrangements. We were all encouraged to sing along and dance in the aisles, and yes...I did sing - very loudly lol !!!

'Oh What a Night' - Darlington Civic Theatre

Last night Sat Nav and I went to see Kid Creole (without his coconuts) at Darlington Civic Theatre in a show called 'Oh What A Night!'

We were to meet up with my sister and her friend. We were traveling to the theatre from different directions.... Sat Nav and I heading North while my sister and her friend headed South. We were to meet in the middle, at Darlington.
Sis and friend had decided to have a meal before the show, so when we arrived I phoned her. They were in the Indian restaurant beside the theatre and were told that if they presented their show tickets then they would receive a 10% discount!

I could see the Indian restaurant as we walked towards the ticket office. After collecting our tickets we came out of said Ticket Office and went into the restaurant. Or so we thought!

I looked around and couldn't see my sister anywhere.
A waitress said 'would you like to come this way' I said 'yes, but I'm looking for my sister'. By that time a waiter carrying pizza's walk past us - strange in an Indian restaurant - the penny should have dropped then really. By that time everyone had turned to look at us, probably wondering why we were looking so blank.

I said to the waitress 'is this the Indian restaurant' she said 'no this is the Italian....the Indian Restaurant is next door' lol!!!
How embarrassing is that?

In my defence even though they are next door to each other they do appear to merge into one.. lol!!! That's my excuse anyway...

So we eventually found my sister and her friend enjoying a curry next door in the Indian Restaurant, and they got their 10% off. And the very nice guy in the Indian restaurant brought Sat Nav and I a couple of After Eight mints. How sweet is that ?

On with the show.....The curtain went up at 8pm and the audience were on their feet and dancing in the aisles from then on.

Kid Creole (without his coconuts) but with some great dancers, absolutely rocked. I just love 70s disco music. Now...I know that some may call me sad, but I don't care....you can't beat it.

Here's a taste of the tunes, Celebration, We Are Family, Young Hearts Run Free, Oh What A Night, YMCA and I Will Survive, that we - the audience - took over......bloody marvelous.

The show had a fab finale with terrific audience participation. I doubt if Darlington Civic has rocked so enthusiastically before.....not since The Rocky Horror Show, at least!

That's two nights we've had out on the trot and we are 'in the doghouse' with our lovely dog for leaving him twice!!! Just to make us feel extra guilty he has refused to eat all of his breakfast this morning :-(
He'll have to have lots of special attention today to get us back into his good books. In true doggy fashion he is extremely good at making us feel guilty.....