It must be almost a year now since I first heard about Applestroodle. I've been trying to remember where I heard about it but I can't, it must have been an advert somewhere local.
When I say Applestroodle I'm not talking about food here, I'm talking about an adult improvisation workshop which takes place near where I live every fortnight.
It is organised by a local theatre company Appletree and led by a young local actor - Mighty M.
I've always really enjoyed acting, I was involved in school productions and also was a member of a local amateur dramatics group outside of school. However life takes over and of course when I was at sea it was difficult to be a member of any group or club.
When Applestroodle first started, there was only about 5 or 6 of us but this term our group has doubled in size with the attendance of several youngsters from a local college. We have such fun together and laugh, we laugh a lot!
We meet during term time and although we are having a laugh, it is structured so we are learning stuff but without really realising.
At the moment one of my favourite activities that we do is 'party quirks'. One person acts as hosts and we are given a quirk to act out. Sometimes they are very easy but sometimes they are very bizarre and hard to guess.
Last night at Applestroodle we did competitive party quirks. We were split into groups of 4 and had to write out 3 party quirks for another team. When it came to our turn my quirk was fairly easy, I was Austin Powers, so i just goofed my teeth and kept saying 'hey baby'' groovy baby'.
Another game on a similar theme is taxi driver. Once again we are all given a particular 'quirk' and one of us is a taxi driver. The taxi driver has a quirk of their own but when they pick up the first passenger they have to work out and then also take on the quirk of that passenger, Then another passenger gets in the car and they exisiting occupants have to take on that passengers quirk and so on until there are 4 passengers in the taxi. Then it happens all over again in reverse order as one by one each passenger gets out of the taxi! It is so funny and last night one of the funniest moments was one lady who was playing the taxi driver who's quirk was that she was slowly inflating!!
My quirk was that I was a Siamese Twin!!
At the end of the night we had some photos taken to be used on the website to help advertise Stroodle a bit more. We had some odd props to use as well which was funny and did little group shots finishing with a photos of us all piled on top of each other. I'm sorry to the person at the bottom of the pile - it must have been painful!
Take a look at the Appletree Theatre website! and keep an eye out for the mad Applestroodle photos!
Thursday 29 March 2012
Sunday 25 March 2012
Sewing & knitting update
Mum and I are getting on well with our quilting project! We had another sewing day last weekend and although I hadn't quite completed my 'homework' we have successfully finished the border.
We went off back to the material shop to look for material for our centre squares and came away with some lovely designs and colours. We were in there for ages because its very much like being in a sweet shop, so much variety and colour.
So we designed our centre squares which will include two main designs. Mum agreed to do one deisgn and my next task is to do 12 9" squares in a different design.
So I set to this weekend and have completed my first square.
I also finished another knitting project last week and am very happy with this.
We went off back to the material shop to look for material for our centre squares and came away with some lovely designs and colours. We were in there for ages because its very much like being in a sweet shop, so much variety and colour.
So we designed our centre squares which will include two main designs. Mum agreed to do one deisgn and my next task is to do 12 9" squares in a different design.
So I set to this weekend and have completed my first square.
 |
| 1 done....only 11 left to do! |
I also finished another knitting project last week and am very happy with this.
Wednesday 21 March 2012
...I froze...
I'm continuing the story from my last 100WCGU entry
I froze as the flickering light from the television acted as a spotlight, highlighting the scene before me.
The red box lay in the middle of the floor, its battered corners exposing its age, its lid was flung open, spewing its contents onto the carpet. The clasp had been forced open and hung forlornly by a lingering screw.
I tiptoed quietly into the room feeling the telltale signs beneath my feet.
All around me, lay discarded, half opened packets of oreos,chocolate hobnobs, ginger snaps as I stepped over them towards the mysterious noises emanating from beyond the kitchen door.....
Sunday 18 March 2012
Loving where I live
My dog Maisie and I went for a bike ride today. About 5-6 miles. It wasn't a hot sunny day and in a way that was good. There's a hill near us which hubby likes to cycle over and we went up that way. Halfway up the lane there is a farm where 3 sheepdogs (Border Collies) live. One of them, Pudsey, is really friendly and everytime hubby goes past Pudsey always comes out to say hello. Maisie(also a Border Collie)isn't too sure about this friendly dog and sometimes goes to snap off poor Pudseys nose. However they get used to each other and after a few minutes of fuss we set off again off up the hill.
Sometimes at the top of the hill we take a short cut over the top of the hill, through pasture land with sheep and horses. We didn't do that today but when we were up there the other day I took these photos. The views were stunning and it always makes me feel happy, smug almost that I live in such a wonderful and beautiful place. I love standing at the top looking all around me, watching how the sun changes the view so quickly. Its spotlight moving around, highlighting different areas.
Free wheeling down the other side of the hill gives my legs a rest and gives Maisie a chance to really stretch her legs and we often race each other down. Theres a stream at the bottom where she can have drink. Then I strap her back in the basket on the back of my bike to complete our journey home along the main road.
Theres a pub at the bottom of the hill too which we sometimes go into. Maisie likes going in there because they know her in there now and she always gets a free biscuit or two. Pity they don't give away free drinks to the dog owner! That would be nice.
Sometimes at the top of the hill we take a short cut over the top of the hill, through pasture land with sheep and horses. We didn't do that today but when we were up there the other day I took these photos. The views were stunning and it always makes me feel happy, smug almost that I live in such a wonderful and beautiful place. I love standing at the top looking all around me, watching how the sun changes the view so quickly. Its spotlight moving around, highlighting different areas.
Free wheeling down the other side of the hill gives my legs a rest and gives Maisie a chance to really stretch her legs and we often race each other down. Theres a stream at the bottom where she can have drink. Then I strap her back in the basket on the back of my bike to complete our journey home along the main road.
Theres a pub at the bottom of the hill too which we sometimes go into. Maisie likes going in there because they know her in there now and she always gets a free biscuit or two. Pity they don't give away free drinks to the dog owner! That would be nice.
Friday 16 March 2012
Opening the curtains and leaving the room
Grief........like a room with dark curtains,
the handle won't work so you are trapped inside
Sometimes there is a small chink in the curtains where a little light peeks through
A world is waiting out there
Waiting for you to come back and rejoin it but somehow the dark, quiet, room is calling you back.
I want to fling open that door and dance in the sunshine but all the time the room, that dark room, is somehow comforting me with memories of good times.
My body yearns to be active, to get up and get on
But somehow it just can't
Frustration is kicking in as Lethargy calls me
Back into the dark room
How long will I be here in this room?
Tears come and go and everytime I wipe my eyes the curtains open a little wider
This post was written as part of Poetry Jam
the handle won't work so you are trapped inside
Sometimes there is a small chink in the curtains where a little light peeks through
A world is waiting out there
Waiting for you to come back and rejoin it but somehow the dark, quiet, room is calling you back.
I want to fling open that door and dance in the sunshine but all the time the room, that dark room, is somehow comforting me with memories of good times.
My body yearns to be active, to get up and get on
But somehow it just can't
Frustration is kicking in as Lethargy calls me
Back into the dark room
How long will I be here in this room?
Tears come and go and everytime I wipe my eyes the curtains open a little wider
This post was written as part of Poetry Jam
Tuesday 13 March 2012
...but I turned it off
This is my first attempt at the 100 word challenge for Grown Ups from Julias PlaceThe word prompt was.....but I turned it off....
The stairs creaked as I descended.
My unslippered feet feeling for the edge of each step, as I sank slowly and warily into the dark with only the faint light of the moon through a small window for company.
What had woken me from my deep dream-ridden slumber?
A sudden bang? Low murmuring voices?
The sitting room door was still closed but under the threshold came the flickering light of the TV........but i turned it off............I'm sure I had.
I took a deep breath, placed my hand around the cold door knob, gently eased the door open and froze.
Sunday 11 March 2012
The First Day......
Today was the first day we have had lunch out in the garden this year. I would never have thought it would be possible in March but there again the weather today has not felt much like March.
We have been working out in the garden for the last few days,making the most of the sunshine, doing the jobs that we probably should have done before winter set in.
We're not keen, knowledgeable gardeners but we do like a few pretty flowers around about and for the past 3or 4 years I have become a vegetable gardener. I pick up tips from a very lovely neighbour Mrs M down the road, her garden is always immaculate. Last year hubby told her that our hanging baskets would be far better than hers and then turned round to me and told me to order some nice plants to put in hanging baskets so they were better than Mrs M's. Well needless to say I rose to the challenge and although I thought our baskets were very colourful, no independent adjudicator was available to decide who won the battle of the flowers!
Many of foot patients grow their own veg, I have often been the lucky recipient of excess crops. They are a good source of information too, I often ask, 'so what are you planting now?' and then dash home and start planting mine too.
So today I was digging over our raised veg patches, designing in my mind where to put the next crop of veg. I noticed hubby had disappeared inside and wondered what he was up to. As I continued digging I noticed him emerge into the garden and start moving the table and chairs from under our covered patio area to the open patio in the sunshine. Mm I thought, he is definitely up to something. Eventually I got the call and wandered from the veg garden out to the patio.
What a sight to behold. Lunch was served on a table, with a tablecloth and wine!! What decadence!
It was delicious and a lovely excuse to have a break from digging and relax in the sun. My neighbours have gone off in search of sun abroad, they needn't have bothered today!
We have been working out in the garden for the last few days,making the most of the sunshine, doing the jobs that we probably should have done before winter set in.
We're not keen, knowledgeable gardeners but we do like a few pretty flowers around about and for the past 3or 4 years I have become a vegetable gardener. I pick up tips from a very lovely neighbour Mrs M down the road, her garden is always immaculate. Last year hubby told her that our hanging baskets would be far better than hers and then turned round to me and told me to order some nice plants to put in hanging baskets so they were better than Mrs M's. Well needless to say I rose to the challenge and although I thought our baskets were very colourful, no independent adjudicator was available to decide who won the battle of the flowers!
Many of foot patients grow their own veg, I have often been the lucky recipient of excess crops. They are a good source of information too, I often ask, 'so what are you planting now?' and then dash home and start planting mine too.
So today I was digging over our raised veg patches, designing in my mind where to put the next crop of veg. I noticed hubby had disappeared inside and wondered what he was up to. As I continued digging I noticed him emerge into the garden and start moving the table and chairs from under our covered patio area to the open patio in the sunshine. Mm I thought, he is definitely up to something. Eventually I got the call and wandered from the veg garden out to the patio.
What a sight to behold. Lunch was served on a table, with a tablecloth and wine!! What decadence!
It was delicious and a lovely excuse to have a break from digging and relax in the sun. My neighbours have gone off in search of sun abroad, they needn't have bothered today!
Friday 9 March 2012
A waste of a day or nice to relax?
Its been a while since I posted on here, mainly because hubby has been home from sea and although he hasn't prevented me from going on the computer, there are always other things to do instead.
Blogging is quite a solitary thing to do, you can't do it sat side by side with someone whilst having a chat or watching TV. I find I need a bit of peace and quiet to gather my thoughts, perhaps make notes and collect photos.
Whilst hubby is home I try to schedule my work to a minimum so we can spend time together doing other things. We don't however sit round doing nothing, even sitting watching TV doesn't happen too often.
We go out with the dog, either walking or on the bikes. We quite like geocaching, treasure hunting with a GPS, and we do this if we go out to a place or on a walk that we haven't been to before. We have entertained family too this leave.
The last few days we have spent time out in the garden, well, hubby more than me really. I did a few hours digging and then had to stop so I could go knit and nattering. Last night I went out to a meeting leaving hubby in the garden again, it was almost dark and he was out pressure washing the patio.
My step daughter and granddaughter have been over to visit this week too and for anyone with a small baby, you will know what time wasters they can be. In a lovely way though.
So today we had big plans - finish off in the garden.
This morning however we both had appointments to keep and so began a different type of day.
I have recently been recommended, by one of my patients, a lovely woman who does aromatherapy massages. I have been going to her once a fortnight for the last six weeks to see if she can help ease pain in my neck, shoulders and back. She has certainly done the trick and although my back and neck still crack at times they don't feel so knotted up. I enjoy spending the hour and a half, almost asleep, being pummelled and massaged and come out feeling like a different person.
Hubby mentioned he would also like a massage session as he suffers with a painful shoulder and back too so last time he came too. He went in first whilst I walked around the town, a place I haven't often visited. It was nice to explore somewhere new. When I went in afterwards I thought my therapist looked a bit tired and when I mentioned it, she revealed that my hubby had spent the entire time talking to her whilst she was massaging him. I couldn't believe it and felt quite embarrassed as when he is in full flow it can often feel like you are being interrogated and not actually in a conversation. Needless to say I had a few words with him and so today he was under strict instructions to keep his chatter to a minimum!
So off he went inside whilst I took pooch for a walk and then came back and sat reading in the car.
When it was my turn I gave him the car keys and went up to have my massage. Luckily it would seem that hubby had sort of kept to his word and not spoken for at least half an hour!! Oh well.
I completely relaxed today, to the point that when I was lying on my front I was fast asleep, only waking myself with my own snoring!! I felt so tired when I 'came round' and had a big glass of water, which did help wake me up a bit.
For any of you in the know it is always recommended to drink plenty of water after a massage to help get rid of toxins in your body, so imagine my surprise when hubby met me by the car and announced he had just come from the pub and we were going back for lunch!
This particular pub has its own brewery attached and this is the third time we have visited this establishment this 3 weeks. Each time hubby has enjoyed a pint of the local brew and today was no different. He had already had 2 pints of home brew and when we went back he ordered a third whilst I ordered a soda water and lime. We also ordered food which was a good job really because it was then that hubby found out that the home brew was 5%. No wonder I had had to virtually pour him into the car last time!
Anyway once lunch was over, I managed to stay awake long enough to drive us the 20 minute journey home. By which time it was nearly 3.30pm and so we sat down for a coffee, and within minutes I could hear a familiar sound, hubby snoring on the sofa.
I felt completely zonked out too so sat watching a few things on TV. An hour went past and I thought, this wasn't really what we had planned for today, but does it matter?
Blogging is quite a solitary thing to do, you can't do it sat side by side with someone whilst having a chat or watching TV. I find I need a bit of peace and quiet to gather my thoughts, perhaps make notes and collect photos.
Whilst hubby is home I try to schedule my work to a minimum so we can spend time together doing other things. We don't however sit round doing nothing, even sitting watching TV doesn't happen too often.
We go out with the dog, either walking or on the bikes. We quite like geocaching, treasure hunting with a GPS, and we do this if we go out to a place or on a walk that we haven't been to before. We have entertained family too this leave.
The last few days we have spent time out in the garden, well, hubby more than me really. I did a few hours digging and then had to stop so I could go knit and nattering. Last night I went out to a meeting leaving hubby in the garden again, it was almost dark and he was out pressure washing the patio.
My step daughter and granddaughter have been over to visit this week too and for anyone with a small baby, you will know what time wasters they can be. In a lovely way though.
So today we had big plans - finish off in the garden.
This morning however we both had appointments to keep and so began a different type of day.
I have recently been recommended, by one of my patients, a lovely woman who does aromatherapy massages. I have been going to her once a fortnight for the last six weeks to see if she can help ease pain in my neck, shoulders and back. She has certainly done the trick and although my back and neck still crack at times they don't feel so knotted up. I enjoy spending the hour and a half, almost asleep, being pummelled and massaged and come out feeling like a different person.
Hubby mentioned he would also like a massage session as he suffers with a painful shoulder and back too so last time he came too. He went in first whilst I walked around the town, a place I haven't often visited. It was nice to explore somewhere new. When I went in afterwards I thought my therapist looked a bit tired and when I mentioned it, she revealed that my hubby had spent the entire time talking to her whilst she was massaging him. I couldn't believe it and felt quite embarrassed as when he is in full flow it can often feel like you are being interrogated and not actually in a conversation. Needless to say I had a few words with him and so today he was under strict instructions to keep his chatter to a minimum!
So off he went inside whilst I took pooch for a walk and then came back and sat reading in the car.
When it was my turn I gave him the car keys and went up to have my massage. Luckily it would seem that hubby had sort of kept to his word and not spoken for at least half an hour!! Oh well.
I completely relaxed today, to the point that when I was lying on my front I was fast asleep, only waking myself with my own snoring!! I felt so tired when I 'came round' and had a big glass of water, which did help wake me up a bit.
For any of you in the know it is always recommended to drink plenty of water after a massage to help get rid of toxins in your body, so imagine my surprise when hubby met me by the car and announced he had just come from the pub and we were going back for lunch!
This particular pub has its own brewery attached and this is the third time we have visited this establishment this 3 weeks. Each time hubby has enjoyed a pint of the local brew and today was no different. He had already had 2 pints of home brew and when we went back he ordered a third whilst I ordered a soda water and lime. We also ordered food which was a good job really because it was then that hubby found out that the home brew was 5%. No wonder I had had to virtually pour him into the car last time!
Anyway once lunch was over, I managed to stay awake long enough to drive us the 20 minute journey home. By which time it was nearly 3.30pm and so we sat down for a coffee, and within minutes I could hear a familiar sound, hubby snoring on the sofa.
I felt completely zonked out too so sat watching a few things on TV. An hour went past and I thought, this wasn't really what we had planned for today, but does it matter?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)