GENERATION CHRISTMAS CLASS !

Dearest. Friends ..

Firstly apologies for being late ! Didn’t think it would take nearly 4 hours to get there !

Secondly the biggest thank you for Keeley Scott for being fabulous stepping in ! Thanks Joan Golden ! It was a fun afternoon and lovely seeing everyone! Maybe we need to

A full day soon as there is never enough time to catch up with everyone !

It’s been quite a year and as I said yesterday. thank you for all your support. Kindness and Love … you are very special and it’s a terrific bond we have together …. All due to Dougie who would be so happy that we are together

He was always so touched by the classes. He loved them and was so proud and happy to see everyone … We will keep on and on even if it becomes a zimmer class …

Thanks again from my heart xxx

All my Love Antx

Ps my travel day got worse !!! I went into a pot hole !!! Wrecked. Two tyres ! Hey hohoho! X

ITS A BUSY TIME !!!

This time of year is always crazy !!! time just flying by so fast !!! getting everything done is a challenge ….

it really this year … Also I have tried to be a little more social … a bit out of my comfort zone but have enjoyed seeing Family and Friends ,Theatre and some restaurants with nice food on its way .. How many trips to London ? and reading the auto biog of STRIESAND ….

After Kathy’s party

Had a lovely lunch with my dear Mum and sis Janet always love a Sunday roast when one doesn’t cook it !

A productive meeting with someone i worked with many moons ago watch this space for January as I am staging some shows for the production company ! New year full of new beginnings !

On the 21st it was 6 months since Dougie danced up into the skies …. I miss him xxxx but he is in my heart ….

Went for lunch with Lady Emma at the Ivy Winchester it was fabulous loved the food the service was so good …

Got out the decs to decorate the cottage oh boy I HAVE FAR TO MANY !!! made a huge mess i was covered in boxes for days until I got down to do it I wasn’t looking forward to doing it … as I always did it for Dougie, for us … will be a strange time no doubt with my first christmas without him… but he is in my heart xxx

the decs will need its own post when i get to photograph it !

been working hard at unit getting costumes ready for the horse and show and some hires and worked really hard on a job for Dubai after spending out and getting it ready It was cancelled ….. not even a sorry letter . I should learn …. but hey ho thats life !

Highlight went to to Joe Allens for early dinner met Dear friends Geoff Pine and Lisa Mulidore still the best burgers in town … then went to see Sunset Blvd …. with Nicole Scherzinger as Norma Desmond well its a innovative production .. turning it upside down and inside out … some very fantastic creative elements and a fab performance for Nicole great secure voice .. gives Barbara a run for holding notes ! haha I so enjoyed the evening , 3 times travelled to london this week oh traffic just lets not go there …

Had a nice time with my bro Paul and Judy which was fun ,I just see my father in him … its like my father being alive again rather sweet and touching .

Picked up costumes for the legend of Pat Farmer for the Horse show so nearly all there !

Went to london again met up with Barbara Ferris, it was such a lovely catch up as I hadn’t seen her since Dougie as she has been unwell but she was in good spirits and looking beautiful as ever … then met up with Linda Martin and Maggie Rose for a fun evening … well nearly .. went to Sheaky’s for dinner then to see Back Stairs Billy (Queen mum and butler Billy ) I dont think I should comment OR MAKE MY REVIEW OF THIS …. i left at interval says it all .. shame as it could of been great such a good subject matter … We did know Billy … but thats another story … it was missed cast for me .. rather old fashioned … not a good book … leave farces to Ray Cooney ….think i will get off the subject …

Then December 1st is upon us … Geoff and Richard’s Christmas party ! Nearly 4 hours to get there … lets not talk about that … but lovely to see every one, old friends that i hadn’t seen in years very sweet … Performers from Birds college entertained which was lovely … the drive home was easier thank the lord …

Then Sunday was upon me and sis Janet and mum came up to cottage to see my decs .. bless my mum she was like a little girl she loved them .. I laid on a Christmas tea which they both enjoyed (I hope )

Then went down to the Church hall for the village fare and then the first candle lighting for advent and carol service at the church .. it was charming … to hear my dear mum sing was so so sweet …

So now onto crazy week !

PIPKINS SURPRISE 6Oth!

I was honoured to be invited to Kathy’s I have always called her PIPKIN from Hartley Hare ! 60th Birthday bash in Botley… Such a lovely evening very special, the love of PIPKIN & Paul and their two sons is just beautiful to witness, unfortunately Paul is not in good health so it was very emotional for everyone … but the love and support shines through ….

lovely to chat and gossip with friends JO Heap and Taffy and incredible to see Sandy Hamilton such a inspiration to us all such a beautiful lady inside and out … xxx

REMEMBRANCE DAY

LEAST WE FORGET … Remembrance day thoughts to all who served our country … and still serving

how sad it is tho after all these years War is still going on … how mankind in billions of years can’t learn to live in harmony with everyone … no one wins …. Love is only the true answer ….

we honour my GrandFather … POPPA

SYNDEY JAMES GAYLOR WHO SERVED HIS COUNTRY his whole career in the Navy

HELLO BLACKPOOL!

Friday not always a good to travel on the A34.m42 m6 and it lived up to its reputation..

I used to do the journey all the time sometimes twice a week .. but out of practice i found it harsh ..

but lovely to arrive and see my dear friends …. so a weekend of catching up chatting and eating and seeing my two favourite girls Molly and Bailey was well worth the trip…

I stayed at Franks apartments in Queen street … Run by STAYS BLACKPOOL it was stylish so comfortable in the heart of Blackpool I would love to move in !

GENERATION CHRISTMAS PARTY CLASS

GENERATION CHRISTMAS PARTY DANCE CLASS DEC 10TH AT 1PM TO 3.30PM

THEN TO THE COCK TAVERN … IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE TAVERN GO ON TO THE FACE BOOK PAGE OF PALLIDIUM GENERATION TO CONFIRM … MANY THANKS X

BOOK OF THE YEAR ... MY NAME IS ....

So happy to arrive home from a hard day at the unit for my amazon order to arrive of the long awaited

MY NAME IS BARBRA ….. SO DIDNT TAKE ME LONG TO SET THE SCENE …. FIRE ON …THE ALBUMS PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND.. CANDLES …. A MUG OF COFFEE … think it may take a very long read nearly 1000 pages i believe the audio is 48 hours long …. my social media is all about Barbra … so here I read from the horses mouth as they say …. interesting so far …. HAPPY DAYS !

GEN CLASS NOV

Such a fun afternoon with the as they say Generation family ! class was good it got everyone brains working

Lovely to see friends return … Its so very special …..

Champney's Dance Class Weekend

A weekend in the country !!! very Sondheim… A week end of staying at the lovely Champney’s and giving classes . I was invited by Jackie Travers who has taught there since the 70’s to join her and the lovely Rosmarie Ford for a weekend of classes … we had a lovely time not only with the classes and hopefully everyone enjoyed it but great to catch up on gossip from years past … I first worked with Rosemarie back in 1979 our first Job with Dougie … she was fabulous then and still as fabulous today …. …

apart from the m25 had such a nice time … even felt like i had lost weight … well only a little !!! lol

LONDON lunch & PICK UP MORE COSTUMES !!!

A quick trip to London and a sneaky Lunch with Geoff Pine in Sloane Square which was lovely to catch up on a walk around Sloane st and all the fabulous shops … ah back in the day …. there is a lovely lane of coffee bars and bread shops etc just by peter johns I adore it there ,,,,

COSTUMES READY ! and gone !!!

Been working on costumes for dear friend Steve Bor & Sara Mellows finally done and sent off on the ships !

Steve has done so well these past years .. and his hard work never ceases to amaze me …

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOAN!

The amazing dear Friend Joan Golden celebrated her 73 yes 73 rd birthday !

what a treat Joan and Allan came down on the friday to the FOX in Crawley For a fabulous Lunch treated by Allan … very special to share it with them… Joan and Allan are quite remarkable ….I am in orr of them both it is truly a remarkable story and how they have managed so incredibly brilliant over the years with their fabulous daughter Amy Golden …. its just been a amazing to watch how they all have worked together its so touching and heartfelt .

Back in the Studio GENERATION DANCE CLASS

We were back in the studio this past Sunday … It was so lovely to see all the Generation family of dancers

laughter, fun and dance and this month brain ache !!! With a 3 month break from class its amazing how everyone was much slower at picking up the routine … so now its all guns for November to get all back in the swing of the monthly classes !

OLD FRIENDS SONDHEIM ...

What FABULOUS EVENING IN THE THEATRE !

Went with Lady Emma Parker and enjoyed the evening so much

From cast, production to crew and all backstage what a classy production ! just stunning ….

seeing the one and only Bonnie in full admiration of her talent, she was smashing ….

also loved Joanne Riding and Janie Dee … Lea Slonga to name a few they were all at the top of their game .

DIVA EXHIBITION AT THE V&A

Had a lovely afternoon with fabulous designer and dear Friend Linda Martin seeing Diva at the V& A ..

Interesting….. loved seeing the Bob Mackie costumes designed for Cher and Tina Turner

Thoughts....

Honoured as ever to be asked to help with decs for the harvest festival at the local church in Wherwell ,

I have found it very spiritual a place where I find peace and comfort , I am not religious as I have my own views on religion but respect everyone who does follow the faith , I hope I lead my life with values that I have to my own , I try to be a good person, kind, compassionate, caring, loyal, hard working TO HELP OTHERS , to listen and try and be non judgemental …I strive to be these things to the best way I can ….

I am missing Dougie very much indeed , feeling vey heart broken not a day goes by with out tears for the person I loved very much ….it doesn’t get easier at this stage …. I know I was so lucky to have the life we shared together FEEL A LITTLE GILT … as some people never reach the happiness i had with Dougie ….

what a amazing man …. the best part of me is now not here …. trying so hard to be a full person with the strength of his spirt and Love …. the tears and sadness behind a smile …..