Spring nearly here !

This seems a very long wet winter … it seems to topic of conversation how wet it has been a day of sunshine is rare so when it happens is rush in the garden and have a tidy up …. I just hope the weather improves … and gets a bit warmer !!! across the rd, the thatch house has a bank of primaulas … It was Dougie’s favourite looking out of the lounge window and seeing the bank of flowers and they are popping up…. it makes me sad ….. seeing them and knowing how much he would to be here to see them xxx oh I miss him so much xxx

Sargent at the Tate Britain

With dear friend costume designer Linda Martin we went to the Tate to see the exhibition of Sargents work…

Known for his paintings of men and women of there day in fashionable clothes , and his unique ay of make the fabrics look so real …. I had only seen his work in books but seeing them in real life was a treat … in the books it looks so neat and carefully painted but in real life the strokes of paint were bold but his accent on the highlights are stunning ….

March Madness GENERATION CLASS

It was crazy fun… they were all mad ! lets not talk of my journey !!!!! i went by train on football chelsea match and m25 closed enough said !

Dearest Sandy xxx

In the beautiful English Martyrs Catholic Church In a lovely casket adorned with the most stunning roses .., the service for dear Sandy was touching and memories of her brought sadness and smiles at the thought of her .. It was full of love for such a special lady …

There were people from all

Walks of life that Sandy had touched paying their respects and lovely to see dancing chums That she worked with over the years she would have been so humbled ….

Lovely to meet her friends from her school days at Conti’s

For everyone who spoke from their hearts and a lovely Eulogy from Bridget Lavery and a heartfelt one from her dear husband Tony

Our thoughts are with her family and Tony

Bless you dearest Sandy xxx

I am so touched and proud of the Generation family …..

we put it out there for people to make a donation for Sandy with the help of Joan Golden we raised over 800 pounds amazing …..

Sandy had requested donations to Battersea Dogs and cats home so we have done .. but we wanted to do something special …

so we have had a theatre seat named after her at the ARTS theatre LONDON with love from Dougie Squires Generation dancers a fitting tribute to lovely Sandy … where she will watch exciting new theatre every night … just perfect for the perfect Sandy … xxx

Jackie Travers

Bless her she has made it at last !

Congratulations!!! Your motto of never giving up. Shines through … you have always been a powerhouse in everything you strive for …. Full of creative ideas. And still loving the business with all your heart ….you were so kind to me when we first worked together which I always hold dear to me … and here we are decades on and your still the same ! All love Antx

love Winchester ...

I am so lucky that i live near Winchester as i really like it there … I go so often lol

The restaurants and coffee places are really lovely.. and lovely to ponder around … can’t believe i have only just discovered the Everyman cinema … this week went to see Wicked little Letters which I enjoyed very much … Colman ‘s last scene was fabulous …. then on sunday went again as sun was shinning and blue skies .. made me smile x

COSTUMES FOR DEBBIE ASTELL

Always lovely to work on a job for long time friends … Debbie Astell and her company Times Two Productions PRODUCED A EVENT FOR THE CELEBRATION OF SPEC SAVE 40 YEARS in Birmingham

Was asked by Debbie to style the costumes .. which was fun to do … here is pic of the fitting lol !

WHEN I GET OLDER !

I have just reached the Beatles track age ! it hysterical that I am this age … when I act like a child lol

So very touched by the cards and messages stunning flowers etc totally spoilt ! Dougie would say I replied then i am worth it it … haha

no seriously i am so honoured by the beautiful messages .. means so much …..

the Generation family are amazing … AND SO ARE MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ..

Had ad the most lovely card full of sentiment from Reece Danny and Molly … bless

It was a few weekends ago I was given a lovely surprise at our Generation Dance class , After class It brought such sweetness to us all ,after we had dedicated the class to dear Sandy Hamilton Bentes. (she would of loved it ) to toast my Birthday

The Generation family as we call it .... Is so very special,

through Dougie and all the different decades of dancers which is Generations, we are now in the 8th year of coming together once a month to a dance , It is so incredible , and a honour to be with all these wonderful friends ....

It has created new friendships and brought old ones back together and all because we have a passion DANCE

Over the years even people who hadn't danced with Dougie or myself have joined in the fun, everyone has been welcomed

During lock down we danced every weekend on zoom , I know it helped a lot of the group who were on their own which brought us all even more together

As a group of people it has been so beautiful the support that everyone gives each other and looks out for one another is incredible .....

the support they have given me over the past months has been heartfelt.

We owe all this to Dougie who brought the best out in all of us .

His spirit lives on in the classes xx

THE LAKES

For the first time in a long while i went up north by TRAIN !! was invited to go to the lakes with my dear friends Reece Danny and Molly the Beagle …Meeting them in Blackpool on the Thursday to go to the Lakes for the weekend ….

Me trains and luggage dont go…. when in a car you pack the world and out of touch with packing although I only had enough clothes for the days I was away my case was heavy … trip to winchester after a class was fine … thank god there was a lift to the other side platform .. trip to London fine … to the underground me underground the two dont mix well .. up stairs down stairs up stairs down stairs and so it goes …I got to Euston okay and train to Preston was easy and very quick the train was crowded …. me crowed trains …. i was meet by Reece which was lovely, happily gossiped all the way to Blackpool went to Franks Reece’s company Stay Blackpool apartments which are just fabulous … my third stay and i love it there … i am sure i should live in a flat ! THE APARTMENT IS STUNNING …. Reece went back to work and I popped into town to get some bits then chilled before we had a lovely italian around the corner … lovely …. early to bed i was tired ! Friday morning Reece came round and he showed me the new Ted apartments they are creating very nice indeed … then it was pack the car up and go and pick up Danny, lovely Molly and off to see Terry Reece’s mum before we left for the Lakes … lovely to see her as always … weather was a little rainy drizzle but didnt put our spirits down … the drive was easy well actually I wasn’t driving heaven forbid with Reece … he doesn’t like my driving ! well that make two of us … Heading up there brought the memories of when I used to take Dougie up to the lakes when we lived near Garstang…. lovely memories too… We got to Windermere quite quickly and headed for Chesters where i was hoping to get a slate for Dougie it was his birthday and wanted to get it in a special place for us both … Chesters’s was lovely as ever then had to go to the stone engravers which was lovely and easy picked the slate and design lovely for dear Dougie

Then went to the apartment we were staying … it was sweet just perfect for our trip… then a walk into Bowness there was a steep hill … i thought about the return journey hahah … we had a lovely walk around Bowness which is charming … looking at the boats and the beautiful scenery around the lakes is rather magical . a drink looking onto the lake and face the mountain climb to the apartment okay it was a hill …but a killer to me lol

We chilled a bit before going out again down the mountain okay hill to a lovely tapas place that the guys loved on a trip there before .. it was very nice indeed. red wine !!! then to a bar for more drinks … you can imagine …. brandy cokes … was happy which just perfect …. the boys danced hahah it was danny on the dance floor ! he kept his clothes on throughout … then the the thought of the mountain climb … but all didnt seem so bad … BED well needed … up early we showered not together Reece cooked breakfast very nice .. THE WEATHER WAS WET but it didnt stop us .. went for a lovely drive around the lakes tho the slate mine and walks … it was lovely although i look like Vicar of DibbleY awaiting a falling the puddle .. thank god it didnt happen ! Then a pub lunch heading back to Bowness for a nice little nap before heading out for a indian in the evening … again the mountain… haha we had a lovely night and early to bed … Sunday was not so wet so had a another walk around Bowness before we started going back , on my fav route seeing the lakes from high up to the village of Bowlands which i like very much … back to Blackpool for sunday lunch and a chilled afternoon watching Dance time from Australia which was good … must be the air but i was well done in …. so i went back to the apartment for a early night .. for my return journey …. which on monday was apiece of cake .. Even the bag didnt seem to worry me … had such a lovely time thanks to my dearest friends x

Generation class for Sandy

Today we paid tribute to the beautiful Sandy Hamilton-Bentes in our Generation Dance class

It was very touching the love in the room for Sandy was heartfelt …. She touched us all in so many ways …. We will miss her so much xxx

Dearest SANDY XXX

The saddest of news, our Beautiful Sandy Hamilton-Bentes passed away peacefully last night in her sleep…

Out love and thoughts to her husband Tony. & her family … that she loved so much …

Sandy such a beautiful person inside and out her kindness to all was remarkable… we all loved Sandy, To work with her was joy, and privilege always filled with fun and laughter .what a gifted dancer… One of the few that every choreographer wanted to work with … she had such style and loved to dance ….

She was always there for people … she gave her all to friends …

In later years she battled her illness with such positivity… always humble and never winged , in admiration how she always delt with everything a lesson to us all …

Dearest Sandy. We love you and we will miss you. Always be in our hearts and thoughts …God bless you ….. xxxxxx

Two Broadway Legends

I pay my respects to the sad passing of The Legand of Chita Rivera… the dancer of all dancers ….her style , dynamics performance were truly legendary I was so fortunate to see her perform on Broadway and the West End .

Meeting her was my star struck moment in life

She has inspired myself and countless others throughout our lives with her magnetic dancing singing and acting she was the Queen of Broadway

One of Dougie’s biggest thrills and honours was to choreograph Chita in a tv show in Germany ,a highlight in his career and his heart

We are lucky

There are wonderful clips of her performances on you tube …

My Love and thoughts to her family and friends at this very sad time ….

The lights must be dimmed on Broadway!

Another sad passing, the incredible multi talented Hinton Battle …

I first saw him in “Sophisticated Ladies” on Broadway and he knocked me out ! Talk about triple threat ! He had it all … an incredible tap /jazz dancer but with training at Alvin Alley he had a classical training that gave him one of the best male extensions I had ever seen ….

He then starred in The Tap Dance Kid another fabulous performance ( you can see on you tube clips ) He starred in other big hits on Broadway/ films and Tv. Directed and choreographed winner of three Tony awards …

My thoughts with his family and Friends at this sad time

Dearest Lynda

Hard to believe that our dear sister Lynda passed 10 years ago where does time fly …

always in my heart thoughts and love xxx god bless you dearest Lynda xxx

Champneys !

Another trip to Champneys to give classes over the weekend with Jackie Travers and Rosemarie Ford i think we took over 12 classes between us …. all the ladies seemed to have a good time which is what it is all about !

the bonus of bruv Paul and Judy came , we had such a fun weekend the classes were great and we had many a laugh at dinner …. Jackie needs a stand up routine !

ANNIVERSARY......

18 years ago today we celebrated our civil partnership and 10 years ago today we quietly got married today .. We celebrated 45 years together…. Amazing xxx myself and everyone miss you xxxx

I was knocked and humbled at the response as i posted on FB … IT MEANT SO MUCH ..

that everyone sent messages and likes ….

Dougie is so special .. Not a hour goes by when i dont miss him… At times i find it very difficult … but doing the best i can … at the cottage i feel him here …. it gets so lonely … miss you my dearest Dougie xxx