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

Teddy Bears Picnic

Surprise

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 😄

Ellen Dean Recommends

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. 

Earthquake 3.6 Rocks North Yorkshire 3rd January 2011

At 9.03pm last night here in Masham, North Yorkshire, we felt the earth move. Was it an extremely heavy lorry going through our village? Was it a mega clap of thunder? Neither. It was an earthquake. And, not just one earthquake, but two.

My niece Amy and friend Brian were rehearsing (singing) in our living room preparing for their performance in Kirkby Malzeard on Thursday night, Sat Nav was counting them in and I was in the kitchen when we heard a huge rumble. Initially, I thought it was thunder. Brian thought it was a helicopter.

About five seconds later there was another rumble. Sat Nav checked the ponies, they were unsettled. I announced the event on facebook and twitter. Within seconds I had replies from all over North Yorkshire saying people had felt the same thing.
Then the news broke that it was in fact an earthquake measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale. The epicentre was Kirkby Malzeard, very close to where I live.

After about half an hour I felt cold so I went to turn the wall heating thermostat up. Now this is bizarre. It was turned off. Nobody had touched/altered it so how it came to be that way is a mystery. In fact we didn't know that it could be turned down so low - we are hot house plants!

Masham Musical Society - Forthcoming Annual Concert 4th December 2010

Masham Musical Society will be performing their annual concert 'A Miscellany of Song' in the Town Hall, Masham, North Yorkshire, on Saturday 4th December 2010 at 7.30pm.
Tickets £5 on the door include a light supper after the performance.

Come along and enjoy music from Rogers & Hammerstein, Mercer & Mancini, Lennon & McCartney. And Christmas Carols that you can join in with.

Amy and Sat Nav sing with the sopranos :-) Not to be missed!

Conductor Jonathan Heitler  

Secretary Liz Whelan, Jonathan, Treasurer Anne Gregg 

Chairman Mr. Jim Heaton

Ellen Dean with Amy Addison

Photos taken at the June 2010 society fundraiser 

MashamMusicSociety

New members always welcome

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.

Butlins Skegness

Hi-de-Hi!
Morning Campers! (Sorry, couldn't resist)

I last visited a Butlins holiday camp when I was three or fours years old. I have black and white photographs to prove it.

Last weekend I returned to Butlins in Skegness, and dragged Gloria, kicking and screaming, along with me. But she was just overtired, once she got there, she was fine.

I didn't know what to expect, and was pleasantly surprised. Although it is geared for children, there's plenty for adults too.



We stayed in a Gold Star apartment, and ate the good food in the Yacht Club Restaurant.
All of the staff, without exception, were absolutely marvellous, nothing was a trouble to them.
Mark and Cliff, you are stars.



The Red Coats entertained everyone.
Wish I had half of their stamina - they are unbelievable!



We enjoyed a 'chill out' visit to The Spa and had a dip in the Hydrotherapy Pool, but declined the offer of a drenching with freezing water from the Cold Bucket Splash. Can't understand how folks can enjoy that kind of thing.

We ventured to the fairground where we watched (notice I say watched) the scary rides whiz past at the speed of light.




The sun shone so we enjoyed a leisurely walk along the beach. I asked Gloria if she wanted a bucket and spade. She settled for a candy floss.
The security was amazing. Even to go onto the beach we had to show our key card to go out of the complex, and again on return. Children had to be accompanied by an adult.



There is something for the whole family at Butlins www.butlins.com
You can be entertained all day, and night. There is a great choice. It's perfect for water babies too. There is an outdoor pool and a great, and very popular, indoor Splash Waterworld.

We spoke to people who returned year after year.
Many regarded it as a safe environment.
Others - including me - loved the entertainment especially the Rock The Country Live Music Show, and Crossfire.

It's Official - I'm Losing The Plot!

I wanted to blog about this last week, but I couldn't, or I would have blown a nice surprise.

I have a lot of cousins!

One of them, Jackie, telephoned with an invitation to her sister Pauline's surprise birthday party. Very nice, I hear you say. We thought so too. I arranged to collect my sister on the way there and we duly arrived at the venue in Frosterley in Weardale.

Nothing wrong with that, is there? Except the place was almost empty. Where were all the friends and relatives?

So, we asked the landlady where everyone was, only to be told . . . we'd got the wrong week - we were a week early!
How embarrassing is that? It was my sister and I who got the surprise, not Pauline.
But all was not lost...we met up with Pauline anyway and enjoyed 'gate-crashing' a 40th birthday party! I think our mistake has been the best kept secret in Weardale over the past week, lol! Hence the blog title - It's official...I'm losing the plot!

So, last Saturday night (the right night) Sat Nav and I drove back up north to Frosterley for The Surprise Birthday Party. Of course, all eyes were on me as we walked through the door.
'You've got the right night then,' said the landlord, grinning widely.

The party was absolutely fantastic, and Pauline enjoyed every minute. There was karaoke. My friend Anita and I belted out a few songs. I'm not sure whether I saw people putting earplugs in, or not!
The DJ played great music, and a good night was had by all. As ever, Sat Nav was handy with her camera.

Happy Birthday Pauline :-)



Anita and Ellen singing!



Ellen and Alison (Pauline's sister) dancing!



Ellen, Pauline (birthday girl) and her sister Jackie.



My sister Judith, Jackie, Pauline and Ellen at the gate crashed party.

Beyonce and her hairy armpits.

I simply couldn't let this one go by without a comment.

Why on earth were people so shocked and horrified because Beyonce hadn't shaved her armpits?

Maybe she hadn't shaved for a reason. There are important lymph glands in the armpit, maybe she had a medical reason for not shaving. And if she didn't, surely it's up to her whether she shaves or not.

What if every woman in the world had hairy armpits, and one celebrity shaved? Would the media then photograph the shaven armpit? No! I don't think so.

Why should a fuzz create such a buzz?