Applestroodling

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!

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.

1 done....only 11 left to do!

I also finished another knitting project last week and am very happy with this.

...I froze...

This post is my entry to this weeks 100 word challenge for Grown ups at Julias Place The word prompt this week is ..the red box...
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.....

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.

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