Outdoor Theatre at Shaw's Corner

In the small village of Ayot St.Lawrence one can step back in time, visiting the country retreat that was the home of the playwright George Bernard Shaw. Born in 1856 he was one of the most famous men of his time. Known to be a political activist and social reformer, he was also a prolific author and playwright. The National Trust took over the property upon his death and it was at Shaw's Corner on Saturday evening where they put on his best known comedy Pygmalion, a story of confrontations between Eliza Doolittle who wanted to "speak like a lady in a flower shop" and Henry Higgins a professor of phonetics, unable to resist a challenge.

The actors played in front of the house to an audience of 400 all enjoying their respective picnics on the lawn on what was to turn out to be a glorious summer's evening. The day had started very cloudy and it was with some trepidation that we made the journey but all was well in the end. The National Trust put these shows on annually, the next play being "In good King Charles' Golden Days" on the 22-24 July. One not to miss.

Summer Solstice

Well, today is the longest day of the year and the first day of summer, a day when people celebrate the Summer Solstice and gather around Stonehenge. It's now 9.50pm and just a hint of daylight remaining. Reminds me of childhood balmy summer evenings when our parents used to natter with the neigbours over the garden fence until all hours, when the gnats were biting and the bats were flying low and the knowledge that we had the whole summer ahead of us...

First post - Hi everyone, just a little ditty to get me going...

"Carp Diem"

Yesterday a planned trip to London to see the Trooping the Colour had to be cancelled as the heavens opened at 7am just before leaving home so we decided against it and have promised ourselves that we'll go to see the Queen's 60th Jubilee celebrations next year come what may. It would have been a double celebration as Prince Phillip recently turned 90. Good news for Brucie too - knighted for his service to the entertainment industry and about time too.