The Way I Found Her, We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves and Eeny Meeny

I have very mixed feelings about The Way I Found Her by Rose Tremain. At times it compared with anything written by this brilliant author and at others it became rambling and boring. I'm all for the odd description of a dream, but this book overdid this device. The descriptions of Paris were great to begin with, but these also became a little repetitive. The development of the main plot is interesting when thirteen year old Lewis sets himself a quest because of his adolescent adoration for the voluptuous Valentina, with whom he and his mother are staying for one hot Parisian August. But the last hundred pages could have been halved to better effect. There is a fascinating undercurrent about plagiarism and a cute use of this in this novels' narrative. A good story that could have been better.

I'm just a sucker for this type of conversational prose written in the first person, especially when it is done so well. Karen Joy Fowler's writing is so good, it didn't matter about the plot. Our narrator, Rosemary, tells the story of her extraordinary childhood and the effect it has on her time at the University of California, Davis. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, always gripping. On the one hand a light family drama, on the other a highly literate discussion about science and philosophy. An amazing combination.

Gruesome detective fiction that is badly written is just not my sort of book. It seemed like M.J. Arlidge was just preparing a draft for a TV series (where it will actually work a lot better). Give me Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie any day.

The Lost Honour of Christopher Jeffries

Peter Morgan has done it again. His specialism in dramatised documentaries of recent events has made for a brilliant piece of television. I dont mind the creation of fictitious scenes when they are done so well and when they want to encapsulate a piece of the real story. There is a scene late on when Jeffries is in waiting room with Steve Coogan as they await their turn to give evidence at the Leveson Inquiry into press regulation. This never happened. But as well as portraying Jeffries as a eccentric academic when he doesn't know who Coogan is, it makes for a fantastic conversation as the actor is so at ease and bares the faults that the press latched onto. Thereby helping to tell the story of a press out of control which is the essence of the drama. There was also a clever comment on fandom. Jeffries' awesome QC Louis Charalambous played by Paul Polycarpou (if there is an award for best supporting actor, he should get it) comes to collect Jeffries and in meeting Coogan he is for once in his life stumbling over his words. He gets "Night at the Museum" all wrong.

But I cannot go any longer without mentioning Jason Watkins. He was made for the part of Jeffries as well as looking so similar. His performance is a once in a lifetime opportunity and he grabs it with both hands. Awards await. So they do for both Peter Morgan for the superb writing and Roger Michell for direction. It just goes to show that movie director Michell has moved back to TV because of the wonderful script and cast. The drama was shown in two parts and after the first when at the end the real murderer is arrested, and I thought then that the second half might be boring when it was all about suing the papers, it actually turned out to be just as good. Fabulous television.

The Imitation Game, Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 and Paddington

Perhaps I was  looking forward too much to The Imitation Game, and perhaps I knew too much about what happened at Bletchley Park. So the story on the screen was a big disappointment. In hindsight, maybe they had to reconstruct the drama to make a decent story. But most of the changes for dramatic effect did not work well. They had changed the personality of the Bletchley chief Commander Deniston (played by Charles dance) so much that he was unrecognisable. And where was Gordon Welchman? The movie was saved by the superb Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing and Keira Knightly as Joan Clarke. But nil points for direction and screenplay.
Interestingly, Mathew Goode was fine as Hugh Alexander who succeeded Turing as head of Hut 8 in 1941 (it seemed in the film he was the head at the beginning), and in the book The Secret Life of Bletchley Park Alexander testified his admiration for Turing: "There should be no question in anyone's mind that Turing's work was the biggest factor in Hut 8's success. In the early days he was the only cryptographer who thought the problem worth tackling ...... he also shared with Welchman and Keen the chief credit for the invention of the Bombe." But no sign of Welchman and Keen in the movie!

It was good to see that there are no longer any Hunger Games in Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1. This made for a competent enough big budget movie with some decent action sequences. It was just a shame that Jennifer Lawrence in the starring role of Katnis Everdeen looked so bored with it all. Julianne Moore and Philip Seymour Hoffman may have been, but at least they didn't show it.

Paddington was a treat. You always felt the bear was real and the voice provided by Ben Whishaw was completely right. The Brown family were always interesting and although Hugh Bonneville has never been funnier, it was Sally Hawkins who made this film. She lit up the screen whenever she appeared. There were lots of laughs and some subtle choking moments. And an evil Nicole Kidman reprising her role in The Golden Compass. Paul King does an amazing job as director and writer. The only downside was the ending, too contrived and not enough of Paddington. Otherwise superb.

New Car

Someone wanted to see a picture of my new car. A pre-reg (September 30th) Toyota Auris Icon 1.6 V-Matic with 8 miles on the clock. Alison dropped me off at Welwyn Garden City station where I caught the train to Cambridge where I changed for the train to Kings Lynn. I was picked up at the station and taken to Marshall Toyota where we completed the sale. Quite a long journey home but well worth it. Got a great deal for cash. So far so good.

Daniel Day Lewis in "Shoestring"

On the 2nd November 1980, the BBC showed episode five of the second series of Shoestring called "The Farmer Had A Wife". In a tiny role, Daniel Day Lewis played a DJ. Here he is in the background on the right with the black hair,  sharing a studio with Trevor Eve on the left. Well, everyone has to start somewhere. If you don't believe me, have look on YouTube.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFpc7inRDRI

I heard this mentioned on Steve Wright in the Afternoon on Radio 2, coming home in the new car from Kings Lynn.

The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

Aylesbury Choral Society joined with Aylesbury Festival Choir for concert at a sold out Aylesbury Waterside Theatre on Saturday 29th November in remembrance of the start of the First World War. They were accompanied by the sixty piece Oxford Festival Orchestra in performing Dona Nobis Pacem by Ralph Vaughan Williams and The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace by Karl Jenkins.

The choirs had been rehearsing very hard and Alison had been to rehearse with both choirs, it was that important. All the hard work paid off as we were treated to an excellent performance, both with the singing and the orchestra. The big surprise of the evening were the two pieces performed by Aylesbury Youth Orchestra, William Walton's Crown Imperial and Edward Elgar's Nimrod from his Enigma Variations. The orchestra was far better than I had imagined from a local youth orchestra. A very successful evening.

Scott and Bailey - Season 4 - The Finale

The Finale of Season 4 of Scott and Bailey was a double episode that was quite brilliant. We have loved the whole four seasons, but these two episodes seen together were fantastic. Amelia Bullmore was the writer as well as playing the departing DCI Gill Murray. Such an interesting character as a top police chief put into a job actually below her awesome capabilities.

Well supported as ever (well I guess they are the stars) by Lesley Sharp as  DC Janet Scott and Suranne Jones as the newly promoted DS Rachel Bailey. But it was the structure of the plot and the fabulous writing that transported the drama to another level. Roll on Series 5.

Tring Book Club - "When I Lived In Modern Times" by Linda Grant

Given that this was my recommendation for my book club, I was quite disappointed. I had been really impressed by Linda Grant's latest two novels "The Clothes On Their Backs" and "We Had It So Good" but this earlier book was not nearly so well written, even though it won the Orange Prize. It didn't help that our narrator, the 20 year old Evelyn Sert, is so bogged down with an identity crisis about her Jewish background, having been brought up in London, that there is a complete lack of humour and wit. The mood of her experiences in the Palestine of 1946 is sombre and lacking in emotion. It doesn't help that it is hard to feel any sympathy for Evelyn. She is naïve, attractive, totally self centred and thinks like a racist (being anti Christian with what she calls "their second rate God").

But I guess this is all meant to describe the complexities of the characters involved with the emerging new state of Israel. A lot of the people Evelyn comes into contact with are actually quite nice compared to her. Except (and crucially) for Johnny. The author has certainly done her research and I was very interested in her descriptions of these dangerous times. There are a lot of philosophical questions raised about national identity and I guess that we who are so lucky to have one find it hard to understand those who have not. Not an easy read, but one that is worthy and necessary.

P.S. I think everyone else at Book Club enjoyed it more than me, which was a relief. There was a lot of discussion about Jewishness and the formation of Israel. So I guess that is what Book Club should be.

A Career in Construction - Part 21

When the Wiltshier Group set up our new company Wiltshier Construction Management, I'm sure the management of all the other companies in the Group thought we would be purely a consultancy type organisation working just for a fee. The Group MD and Mike must have had other ideas, more in line of a Management Contracting company employing trade contractors where their payments went through our books. And so it proved to be with our first contract.

January 1988 started as the end of the previous year had finished, with no contract on the horizon. But Steve and Neil joined us on the 4th and that day the Group MD (who had connections with Ladbrokes who at that time owned Hilton Hotels) had asked if they could attend a meeting the following day with Ladbrokes who may require a small refurbishment of the hotel on Park Lane. When Steve and Neil returned, it seemed there might be work of around a few hundred thousand pound for us and that we needed to start right away. It seemed like a very small job. How wrong could you be.

The next day (Wednesday 6th January) we got the full story. Mike and I joined Steve and Neil for a meeting with Ladbrokes and Hilton's top brass at Park Lane. It was explained to us that the lease for the hotel was up on 31st March and one of the conditions of the lease was that the hotel must be returned on that date in an as new condition. So the whole hotel had to be brought into a perfect state. There was only one problem. The hotel had to keep operating as all the bookings taken for the next three months had to be fulfilled. This sounded to be quite impossible but we would have to give it a try. Especially when the Ladbrokes MD asked why we hadn't yet started! But we hadn't got a contract? This took two days to sort out with our lawyers and we actually started on SUNDAY 10th January.

In the meantime we were finding out what had to be done, when we could go into bedrooms and function rooms, how we would tackle back of house areas and renew the heating and electrical systems. This meant we had to co-ordinate everything with the hotel management, something that was not easy, given they understandably didn't want us there in the first place. The planning became a huge exercise and involved 24 hour working. We started interviewing trade contractors.

Looking back, I always wondered why we were picked for such a hugely important project, especially that, as a company, we were working out of a portacabin. I can only think that the Wiltshier Group MD told Ladbrokes that we were immediately available, the group had a history of hotel work  and that we would be given the assistance of managers from other Wiltshier companies. And we were. They came from all over, including Scotland. And we employed Wiltshier Interiors as a trade contractor.

The next few weeks were the most intense of my whole career. There are so many memories. We supplemented Wiltshier staff with some from agencies. We worked incredibly long hours with many meetings that started in the evening. It was commonplace to double book meetings and rush between the two. We occasionally stayed at the hotel overnight and toured the night shift crew. Eventually there were a huge number of men working all hours day and night. There were massive technical problems from clearing asbestos from the heating systems to repairing or renewing bedroom entrance doors in the time allowed.

Then suddenly on 29th February Ladbrokes signed a new lease for the hotel. They wanted us out as soon as possible, but it was as hard to instantly wind down operations as it had been to start up. We started with cancelling the night shift. This left a large number of disgruntles operatives almost causing a riot in the locality that evening. Gradually we emptied the building and agreed what we would finish and what we would leave. We had completed £11 Million Pounds of work in just 11 weeks from a standing start. Something that is pretty unprecedented in my experience. But more important, it set up our company for the future.

Nightcrawler, Mr Turner and Interstellar

David Cronenberg would have been proud of making Nightcrawler. But it is the screenwriter Dan Gilroy that is the first time director here. And what a great movie he has made. Jake Gyllenhaal has given us the most deliciously obnoxious hero I can remember. Surprisingly, Rene Russo (who happens to be married to the director) is not far behind. Jake as Lou Bloom finds his vocation trawling the nighttime streets of LA with his gullible assistant, a police radio, a GPS and a camera to find the most gruesome crimes or crashes that the TV station will broadcast. The movie has pace, is always gripping and assaults your brain and your heart. Excellent, except for the awful trailer that included important moments from the last half hour.

It must be awards season as the movies have just got a whole lot longer. Mr Turner is a fine film but half an hour too long. Apart from the magnificent award winning performance from Timothy Spall, I liked the way that so many shots were framed like a beautiful painting. Mike Leigh and his regular cinematographer Dick Pope (could he win an Oscar?) have created something colourfully special. There is an absolutely huge cast among whom there are stand out contributions from Dorothy Atkinson as his housekeeper, Marion Bailey as Mrs Booth and a real cameo from David Horovitch as Dr Price.

Baffling, complicated, sciencefreaky, provoking, impossible, silly, flawed, awesome. Christopher Nolan has this time stretched our credulity to the limit and beyond. If you just go with the flow  Interstellar works superbly well as a huge science fiction blockbuster. But there are so many unanswered questions that it does try your patience. I thought the performances from Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway were quite strange as if they were not sure who they were. But the action sequences were well done and there were times when the film was gripping. Although there were also times that it was too reminiscent of the too recent Gravity. and it was even more too long. Finally, never ask me to explain the ending.

A Career in Construction - Part 20

On the 20th March 1987, Mike Ellis left Farrans. He wasn't replaced. So I was pretty much on my own. Obviously, I carried on my own duties as if nothing had happened, but I was looking round to see if there were any opportunities with another company. I had one interview with Wimpey Construction Management but wasn't impressed.

Mike had joined Wiltshier Group as the MD of a brand new company, Wiltshier Construction Management. The only trouble was they had no work and no staff. So Mike was struggling when it came to interviews for new contracts. So in the end he convinced the group directors that he needed some permanent help and this led to me being made a good offer as Commercial Director. I joined on the 1st October 1987. But again, we were directors of nothing.

This new company had been given starting capital of £100,000 and this was going fast. Mike had a small office in the Harmondsworth group head office so we shared a desk. It seemed reckless at the time, but we made offers to more staff. An estimator, a project manager and a services coordinator. We had to put them somewhere and the decision was made to install some temporary accomodation in the grounds of Harmondsworth in the shape of a brand new and spacious portacabin. The new staff were not due to arrive until the start of the new year.

Mike and I did have a number of submissions and interviews for new work during the last months of the year, but come the end of December there was still nothing definite. The week before Christmas was pretty bleak. Things were so quiet Mike took me off to London to tour other contractor's sites so we could remind ourselves what a real job looked like. Yes, it was pretty desperate, but things would take a dramatic turn in the new year.

English National Ballet's Swan Lake at Milton Keynes Theatre

It was seven years ago that we went to see English National Ballet's Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall. But this time we were up close in the sixth row and the performance seemed as fresh as ever. It seems that ENB now visit MK every November, we saw Sleeping Beauty  here two years ago.

Everything about the production was absolutely first class. The superb dancing of the principals was matched by the excellence of the twenty four swans. Their ensemble movement was something to behold. The orchestra was brilliant (well they were only just in front of us. I had a really close view of one clarinetist and the percussion. Add in the terrific sets and lighting, this was an evening to remember.

ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena

After missing last year's event due to illness, we made it on Wednesday to the O2 for a second round singles match between Tomas Berdych and Marin Cilic.

We set off early so we could stop off an Canary Wharf for a tea and cake at a fairly deserted Jubilee Place before rejoining the Jubilee Line for the one stop to North Greenwich. At the O2 there were huge queues to get into the arena which apparently was quite unusual so it was after 12.30 when we took our seats.

But we only missed a few games of the first set of a terrific doubles match where the American pair Bryan and Bryan took on Rojer and Tecau. The Antilles and Romanian won the first set and were looking like winning the second until the Americans got their act together. The third set is the first to ten points and Bryan and Bryan again came out on top after being behind at the start.

The singles match was a bit one sided, Cilic going through a dip in form after winning the USA Open. But under the lights we were so impressed by how hard they actually hit the ball so low over the net. There is a really good atmosphere in the arena and the they do everything to make the sound and lighting work.

We were out just after 3.30, and as we were hungry, we declined the restaurants at the O2 and returned to Jubilee Place which was much quieter and we had a choice of places to eat. We settled on Nando's and demolished a sharing platter. The journey home was a bit fraught as there were huge delays on the eastbound Jubilee line. So we went the other way to West Ham and took the Hammersmith and City line and walked from Baker Street to Marylebone. Quite a tiring day but unforgettable.

The Girl With All The Gifts, Metroland and Stone Cradle

Not my sort of book, so if you are into post apocalyptic zombie thrillers, please ignore my review for The Girl With All The Gifts by M R Carey. If I had known what it was about, I would never have bought it. But it was in the paperback charts for a long time, and the introduction looked quite smart. Indeed, I enjoyed the first hundred pages that are full of promise. But then the story turns into something more predictable. As a thriller, it is probably quite a superior example and deserves more stars than mine. It is certainly a page turner. I'm not sure if I rushed through just to finish it, or that I had to known what happens next. I will have to think about that.

Julian Barnes' first novel Metroland has to be semi biographical. His account of male adolescence in 1963 resonated with my own experience only a year earlier than the narrator's (and the author's) own time. With one exception. Christopher and his friend Toni are exceedingly bright and attend a much more demanding school than mine ever was. In fact, these two boys are far too intelligent by half. Not only do they appreciate classical music but they listen with blindfolds on and describe and write down what they feel: "('Clear water; Hampton Court Maze?; shoulders wanting to swing; chirpiness - bit as if you've had a blood transfusion. Stuttgart CO. Munch-inger') Bach". And this happens fairly regularly, as does the French they use on a daily basis. So it is no surprise when the book then moves on to Paris in 1968 and finishes back in Metroland in 1977. Our narrator (and author) has grown up and grown away from Toni, and we learn how different they are now. This is wonderful book, not long but it is so well written that I can't wait to read it again.

What could have been a great novel spanning three generations from 1875 to 1949 Stone Cradle turned out to be only so so. The theme seemed to be the relationship between a Romany life and that of a poor Fenland family. When Rose marries the gypsy Elijah, her mother in law tells her she will always be sorry she did. So this was never going to be an uplifting tale. However, the differences between the two women make for an interesting contrast of the two ways of life. There are also some wonderful examples of her best writing. "There are some people who are like threads in a knitted jumper - pull them out, and the whole garment starts to unravel, and you realise too late that you've pulled out the one bit of thread what was holding the whole thing together. Strange, when it looked like all the other bits of thread." The main reason I picked this book was because it starts in the village of Werrington outside Peterborough, and it was here I lived for six years from 1972 to 1978. Obviously much has changed in the last hundred years. There were passages where the story flowed and others where I found it hard going. This is the third book from Louise Doughty that I have read and, for me, her latest two are much better.

A Career in Construction - Part 19

The 1st November 1984 and my first day at Farrans Construction where I spent the next three years. The only reason why I would ever have joined a Northern Ireland company was because Mike Ellis had started there as General Manager for the England operations. I did have an opportunity to join Balfour Beatty who courted me quite hard. But the final interview with the MD put me off.

So I joined Mike as his number two as Commercial Manager, running the QS and financial operations. Farrans were (and still are) based in Dunmurry outside Belfast. They were (and still are) the building and civil engineering division of the massive CRH (Cement Roadstone Holdings). In 1984 their building operations in England were quite extensive. There were three area offices: Watford (where Mike and I were based), Colchester and Cambridge. (The latter now their only base in this country). I must have gone a few times to Dunmurry. It was in the middle of the troubles in Northern Ireland so security was huge. Mike and I were always pleased when we were back on English soil.

We had a variety of contracts but predominantly work for the MOD in East Anglia, much of it on American Airforce bases.  Alconbury, Mildenhall, Lakenheath, Bentwaters and Woodbridge, Some of the work was new and upgrade of residential property, some small civils contracts and later a large Commissary Store. There was the new Crown and County Courts building in Norwich, a huge housing contract for troops in Colchester, a major factory for Bespac in Kings Lynne and contracts at Enfield, Romford and Islington and, yes, a medical facility at RAF Halton.

You can imagine that there was a lot of travelling involved. I especially remember the long open roads through the fens to Kings Lynne. Although I don't think that Mike and I were ever welcome in the Colchester and Cambridge offices. We also had a strange relationship with the bosses in Dunmurry. Most of the time they did leave us alone, but management meetings could be a nightmare. However we did have the use of a driver. Lucky used to ferry us about which was real luxury. So there were compensations.

It is hard to describe what I feel about those days. We didn't have to worry where the next contract was coming from, they arrived thick and fast. Consequently we were always busy. We also had a fair amount of freedom managing the three areas. Everything was fine except we (Mike and I) always had the feeling we were not wanted. There was such a close relationship between the bosses in Dunmurry and the Cambridge and Colchester managers (they went back a long way) and this didn't help. So it was only a matter of time (the middle of 1987) before Mike found a position at another company. And I was to follow him again.

Tring Book Club - All Quiet On The Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

For the hundredth anniversary of the start of WW1, our book club decided to read our own choice of a novel or biography of those days. After my trouble with Birdsong, I wasn't particularly looking forward to this story of the war seen through the eyes and mind of one schoolboy turned soldier. But I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.

Although "All Quiet on the Western Front" is written from the point of view of a young German soldier, it could quite easily have been a portrait of a soldier any nationality. The horrors are all the same. Not only is this book very well written, it has been brilliantly translated by Brian Murdoch. This is the best translation of any novel written in a foreign language that I have come across. It feels as if the book was written in English, not something I have experienced before.

Fortunately, the story only visits the front line on limited occasions. When it does, the death and injuries to the infantry are vivid but sympathetically described, if there is such a thing. But what is far more acceptable are the times our narrator, Paul Baumer, is in training, back behind the lines, on leave or in hospital. There are even some amusing events. His ruminations on what is to be a soldier plucked from his last year at school are what makes this book special. I felt that the last third of the book flagged slightly but I am glad I made this book my choice.

My 50th Parkrun

My 50th Parkrun coincided with Aylesbury Parkrun's first anniversary. I refused to wear a tutu like the men were supposed to, however nobody recognised me in the wig Alison used for a fancy dress event ages ago. The run went well, my second fastest after the PB of last week when I broke 26 minutes for the first time. Hurrah!

It was a beautiful sunny day which was fortunate as we had a party organised after the run. Lots to eat and MP David Liddington cut the birthday cake. He even ran a decent 5K.

Twelfth Night at Watford Palace Theatre

The last time I saw Twelfth Night was in 1991 at The Playhouse Theatre in London. Doesn't time fly? So it all seemed very fresh to me. English Touring Theatre produce some brilliant stuff, but this wasn't one of them. I felt Jonathon Mumby's production was quite downbeat and sad after the magnificence of Much Ado About Nothing ten days ago at Stratford. Perhaps it's unfair to compare.

The first half felt particularly flat although things do perk up in the second half. The cast is just about OK, but when I say that the stand out performance was from newcomer Rose Reynolds as Viola, you will see what I mean. The "comic" characters of  Sir Toby Belch(David Fielder) and Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Milo Twomey) are passable but not in the same league as the London cast of Dinsdale Landen and Martin Jarvis. Much better was Hugh Ross as Malvolio and he got close to Eric Porter in the London role.

One thing I have to give credit for was the diction and the clarity of the text did shine through. All except Sir Toby when drunk. The mumbling ruined some classic lines. The theatre itself was packed and it was good to see quite a few children there on half term week.  It was quite strange going to a matinee, but who could refuse a ticket price of just £10 for seniors.

Gone Girl, The Rewrite and Love, Rosie

When Gillian Flynn was reported to have said that she had written a new ending for the screenplay of Gone Girl and that Ben Affleck had said it was a whole new third act, I had great hopes that director David Fincher had seen how awful was the ending in the book. That was the only reason I was at all interested in going. But no such luck. So it is still the worst ending in the history of literature (if you can call the book that) and film. The movie itself is a decent piece of work from one of my favourite directors.

Hugh Grant still has the knack of making me laugh. He has that warm screen presence so that you can sit back and enjoy, even though he plays the same character every time. Especially when he works with writer director Marc Lawrence with who this may be their fourth collaboration? The story matters little, instead of a washed up song writer (Music and Lyrics) he is now a washed up script writer. Romantic entanglements follow.

Half term week and it was either a war movie or a romcom. Love, Rosie won but it was no contest really. As a British romcom, this was not at all as bad as some of the reviews. It reminded me of a Richard Curtis script, although this was an adaptation of a Cecilia Ahern novel. Juliette Towhidi's screenplay left a lot to be desired, as did the direction of Christian Ditter. The story was completely absurd, but the young cast didn't care and gave it their all. Lily Collins was actually very good and just about saved the movie. It all ended up to be a fairly charming afternoon.

A Tour of the King's Cross Development

A beautiful sunny morning awaited us as I met Zoe and Hannah at the Kings Cross Visitor Centre. We were escorted on an hour and a half tour of the 67 acre development, one of the largest in Europe.

What impressed me most was the mix of brand new buildings and the twenty historic buildings that are being preserved. The first to open was the Granary Building on Granary Square.

There are great views all around from the Viewing Platform. The next photo shows the old Fish and Coal Offices building (soon to be redeveloped into a restaurant and offices for Jamie Oliver) that overlooks the Regent Canal.

I liked how the Midland Goods Shed and the  East Handyside Canopy (with it's distinctive north lights in the lightweight steel framed roof) are being turned into a Waitrose store, cafe and cookery school.

We even had time for a tour of the Skip Garden - their website is      globalgeneration.org.uk/kings-cross-skip-garden

The Visitor Centre had lots of leaflets about the development. The best two can also be found on
http://www.kingscross.co.uk/visit-kings-cross
and
http://www.kingscross.co.uk/the-development

After lunch at Patisserie Valerie, we took the Underground to Tower Hill to look at the poppies.

The display now goes all around the moat of the Tower, the final few were being planted on the last stretch.

I said goodbye to Zoe and Hannah and as I had some time left, I had a wander around St Katherine's Dock.

And found the Queen's Rowing Barge Gloriana moored there.

Loves Labours Won or Much Ado About Nothing at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford

The RSC have paired two plays, Loves Labours Lost and Loves Labours Won or Much Ado About Nothing.  Artistic Director Greg Doran says that Shakespeare wrote a play under the title of Loves Labours Won and questions whether instead of a lost work it is actually another title for Much Ado About Nothing.

This was certainly the most magnificent theatrical production I have ever experienced.  Everything about the production was so perfect. Unusually, lets start with the sets. They were absolutely jaw-dropping. Compared to every other visit to the theatre in memory, they were streets ahead. The basic structure is that of nearby Charlecote Manor with the two towers framing the stage.

But it's what moves between and in front of this framework that is truly astonishing. The first set rolls back behind the towers and doors close. Then from below, for the next scene, up comes a whole new set. When that scene is complete down goes the set to be replaced by a brand new set rolled out from behind the tower doors. An example of this roll out is shown in the wedding scene below. Just compare it with an outdoor scene above.

The designer is Simon Higlett and he has created a masterpiece. He has also designed the costumes which are a total delight.

The director is Christopher Luscombe and he has created something really special. The actors have responded superbly well especially Edward Bennett and Michelle Terry as the sparing lovers Benedict and Beatrice. The whole ensemble are terrific. Then we have the music and songs composed by Nigel Hess that work so well in this 1920's theme. Add to this great sound and fantastic lighting, this is a production that had me spellbound. Wonderful.

Aylesbury Park Run - Age Grades

One of the best things about Parkrun is that the results are published every week. You register on the Parkrun website and print off a bar code. At the finish line you are given a token which shows your position and this is scanned alongside you bar code. So when the results come out (usually the same day) you can not only find your time, but your place according to age category.

Even better (for me especially) is an age grade. This is determined by age and gender. And because of my age, I get a really generous grading. So a week ago I actually came fifth on age grade out of a field of over a hundred runners.. I did run an unofficial PB at 26 minutes 21 seconds, the official PB was in fact on a slightly shorter course. Thank you Parkrun for encouraging us older runners.

Whiteleaf Hill - An Autumn Circular Walk

It was a beautiful autumnal morning when I started out from the car park at the top of Whiteleaf Hill and started the descent down the steep path towards Lower Cadsden. Nick Moon's book of "Chiltern Walks" (where I originally found the route) stays on the level along the inside of The Hangings but I find the more strenuous alternative to be far prettier.

But this means I end up forking right before the bottom of the hill through Giles Wood and then have to climb all the way back up through Ninn Wood to reach the path along the fields. This open stretch has great views of the Chiltern ridge in the distance. 

Once I have crossed the road at Hampden Botton, the path goes up hill past the farm with views back the way I came. 

Then into Widnell Wood and  Hengrove Wood where the path meets the road at Buckmoorend. It then cuts across a field before crossing another road and into a finger of Pond Wood. Here there are views across to Beacon Hill and Chequers.

I found my way through Pond Wood remembering the time when I became temporarily lost. The path tracks gently uphill and eventually comes out at the top of Pulpit Hill with some of the best views in the county over Aylesbury Vale.

And towards Beacon  Hill.

And to Coombe Hill and the monument.

A short descent for part of the way next to Pulpit Wood, the path then joins the Ridgeway and more open views of the route ahead.

With Whiteleaf Hill in the distance.

Just before the the path meets the road, there was a flock of sheep enjoying what was on offer in the shrubbery of The Grangelands and Pulpit Hill Nature Reserve.

The hardest climb is left until last. Past The Plough at Cadsden (famous for the Cameron's leaving their young daughter behind) and straight up the hill to the top. The view from the top of Whiteleaf Hill awaits at the end of the route, probably the prettiest but hardest of all my two hour plus circular walks.