"Reaching the First Mile-Stone!

WEIGH-IN WEDNESDAY

I've finally done it - with another 2lbs Weight Loss this week

I've finally reached my First Mile Stone:

FIFTY POUNDS  (50lbs) WEIGHT LOSS SINCE JANUARY 8TH

So Maisie, my Darling, I need my Certificate and for the rest of you,

I'm off to MacDonalds for a Quarter Pounder with Cheese and some 

Super Size French Fries for a Celebration!!

"ENJOY!!"

"RELATIVE VALUES"

Last Wednesday I went to see "RELATIVE VALUES" by Harold Pinter at the theatre

bearing his name in Panton St.

This was a "relatively" unknown Pinter play that had Patricia Hodge and Caroline Quentin

in the Female Leads and a surprising Rory Bremner playing the part of the butler.

The real reason I went along was to have a reunion with some of the cast and crew of a play I

had done a while ago - "THE KINGS SPEECH". This had been organised by the

Wardobe Master Rod Bicknell and because we weren't going to eat until 10:30pm as

he was working on "Relative Values" - he suggested I came to watch the show first.

All well and good. Saw the play which I enjoyed - the second half more than the first -

and off we tottered to an old Theatrical Haunt of mine - the restaurant JOE ALLENS.

There were two tables booked for us with approx 15-20 people on each. Unfortunately it

soon became apparent by the lack of familiar faces joining the party - that it was 

more a Rod Get-together - than any acquaintances of mine!!

In the end - apart from Rod - there were two other people from "The Kings Speech",

both understudies - Adam and David. When I quizzed Rod over this he replied rather sheepishly "Well I told everybody you were going to come" - which really made me feel great. Still the evening wasn't entirely a bust - I had a rather delicious rotisserie chicken!

"THE KINGS SPEECH REUNION"

"THE FOUR MUSKETEERS"

Adam, Rod, David, and......

This Weekend saw a return to the dizzy heights of my SCI FI CONVENTIONS. This Saturday

and Sunday saw me signing autographs at the London Comic Con - whose venue was, a massive barn of a place - THE EXCELL CENTRE in London's Docklands. This was a really big 

Convention with probably thousands turning up - mostly in costume of one sort or another.

(I will be displaying some of the more bizarre outfits in a moment!) Quite a bit of a palaver to get to -

from Brentford I took the overground to Waterloo - then the Jubilee line to Canning Town

where I changed for the DLR to Custom House. By the end of the journey one finds one self

surrounded by Super Heroes and Monsters a like. At least you know you're heading in the

right direction when the Tube is throbbing with a ghoulish gathering carrying every conceivable

homemade weapon of Mass Destruction. Sitting next to me on the Saturday was a familiar face,

Nina Wadia, better known as Zainab Masood from EastEnders.

Nina Wadia

In fact there were a couple more there from my favourite soap, 

Cheeky Chappie, Alfie Moon (Shane Richie)

And Bad Boy Nick (John Altman) 

Sitting across from me on the Sunday was an American TV Legend,

Henry Winkler, The Fonz from "Happy Day" Henry was there to promote 

another of his Children's Book on Dyslexia.

THE COSTUME GALLERY

"Alrightee Then! - Ace Ventura"

Nice Hair!

The Joker

My New Best Friend!

Not sure about this one!

Pretty Good Superman.

"Breaking Bad" including the Blue Chrystal-Meth.

From behind he was just in his boxers like the original Walter White 

It's got to be hot in there!

Cool Iron Man in his Wheel Chair.

Yes, that is a fella on the right!

Alien Creature!

"COCKY'S GIRLS"

I have been asked if I would do a Rehearsed Reading of a Play written by

Steve Gooch called "Cocky's Girls" - it is about Alfred Hitchcock, and all 

the women in his life - his wife, his daughter, his PA, and his actress's. You 

normally do a Reading like this if the playwright wants to get feedback from

Industry People or Theatrical Producers with a view of mounting the Production

in the future. The Reading will take place at The Club for Act & Actors in

Bedford St, Covent Garden on Tuesday the 10th of June at 3:30pm. We will

use the morning to rehearse. Steve has asked me to read the Great Man

himself and I've already checked out Hitchcock's voice on

You Tube to try and get a handle on it.

I've already worked with Steve Gooch on a Musical he wrote about the Women Pirates

Ann Bonney and Mary Read back in the eighties at the RSC's home then - The Aldwych

Theatre in the Strand. The First Night did not go well - at one point a canon was fired from

the deck of the boat on Stage into the audience - "We give up!!" some one yelled back,

another person cried "You've shot Milton Schulman" (The Drama Critic of the Evening

Standard). I'd never heard boos at the Curtain Call, but we heard them that night! They

took the show off by the end of the week.

A young Charlie Dance was in the cast along with Charlotte Cornwall and Diana

Quick. It was a shame it wasn't a success as I loved playing my Pirate!

Steve Gooch

This Tuesday I met up with Steve again at a meeting to discuss the Reading.

Jules Melvin who will direct the piece was also there along with Steve's partner,

Christine who will play Hitchcock's wife Alma. The meeting was held - at my

suggestion - at an old haunt of mine -  Patisserie Valerie in Old Compton Street.

It took me all my will power not to order one of everything you see in this 

photograph:

Mille Feuille is a particular Fave-Rave!

Unfortunately it was just coffee for me - may be one day........

ANOTHER WEEK.....

Well there it is another week,  another Blog - thanks so much for reading it and

thanks as ever - for all your comments...

"Coming Home AGAIN!"

WEIGH-IN WEDNESDAY

Not quite the heady heights of last weeks 5lbs Weight loss - still,  I am able to

report a modest, but respectable 2lbs OFF this week. Which brings my Total

Weight Loss to 48lbs - So Maisie - I think it's time you got that "Rolf Harris 

Painting Set for Beginners" out of the draw and design me a "Blog 50lbs Weight

Loss Certificate" Here is the old Weight Watchers Certificate for reference, but

I'm sure yours will be more Cutting Edge!

MY APOLOGIES

For a Late Entry

Happy Birthday Oakley

HANG ON A MINUTE!

I've just received a message from Maisie to say "This is a bit premature! 

Even his Family were fooled!" Apparently Oakley's Birthday is not until

the 31st of July!! - Which of course I should have know. It looks like his

FACEBOOK page has been "Fraked" and his personal data has been altered

so Facebook has been sending out notifications saying it was Oakley's

Birthday today - if you see his Facebook Page you will see "Birthday Wishes"

galore - including mine! Well the egg's on me this time!

LYMPHEDEMA CLINIC

Meadow House - Ealing Hospital

Meadow House

Last Thursday morning I went to the Lymphedema Clinic in Ealing Hospital

to have my new support stocking fitted. I have venous insufficiency in both

my legs and these compression stockings help pump the blood up from my

ankles to my heart. Every six months Nurse Karen has to fit me for a new set

of stockings:

Nurse Karen Crowley-Jenns.

She mentioned that she thought I'd lost weight since the last time we'd met and then

she started to measure me for my new stocking:

Having measured my waist she suddenly shrieked "Goodness me, you've lost 

Ten Inches off your waist since last time!!"

"NOW THAT'S A RESULT - I'M THINKING!"

BIRTHDAY LUNCH AT THE DEPOT

Went back to the lovely Restaurant - THE DEPOT - in Barnes this week to

celebrate Elliot Newton's Birthday Lunch. Elliot works as Developement

Executive for City Innovations - the Company run by my friend Robert Dickson.

Olivia, Elliot, Robert and Moi!

Elliot Newton - Birthday Boy

Before the Lunch I'd sent a Text to Olivia which asked:

"Rob said he may want me to drop by for Elliot's birthday tomorrow - 

any update? What interests has Elliot got re: a Prezzie? Xx"

Olivia's Reply was:

"Interests would include architecture, Chelsea and small dogs wearing clothes...I'd say the first two would be easier to cater for! Very sweet of you to think about it though! See you tomorrow! xx"

"Small dogs wearing clothes!!"

This is what I came up for Elliot's Dog - Cute Neck Scarf.

(Pretty close to the ones I wear myself!)

LAST WEEKS RIVER BLOG

Last week I made a special dedication to my friend PETER MISHCON knowing

that he would particularly enjoy my section of the Blog featuring THE RIVER. Here

is his "Comment" - it's so good I've saved it for this week:

As you guessed, I really loved reading about Princess Freda, the historic Dunkirk Little Ship, now plying a passage from Kew to Westminster.  Did you know that her owners sailed her back to Dunkirk in May 2005 for the remembrance celebrations?

Last week I went to a funeral of an old stalwart of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships (I say 'went' because I arrived an hour late as everyone else was leaving - but that's another story...).  He was in the middle of restoring an old RNLI lifeboat, Caresana (previously Charles Cooper Henderson) on the Thames at Shepperton, under the auspices of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships:

My favourite Dunkirk Little Ship is 'Bluebird of Chelsea'.  She is moored at Cadogan Pier in Chelsea and is kept by her owner, Martin Summers, in immaculate condition.

http://www.adls.org.uk/t1/content/bluebird-chelsea-previously-blue-bird

When I kept my boat on Cadogan Pier in the 1990's, she was in the most beautifully restored condition....and still is.

When I was a wee lad, my dad had a boat that we kept at Tough Brothers yard at Teddington Lock. My dad had not the faintest idea about boats, but just loved being on the water, so my brother and I would ferry him up and down the river often up to Kew and often down to the Pool of London passing Westminster.   Here's a pic of Penny on the boat taken at a spot you would have passed ( my sister, Jane, is on the left) taken about 1964!  So your blog stirred up very many memories indeed......

As I mentioned, my Dad had not the faintest idea of the front end or the back end of a boat.  He used to sit on deck in a deckchair reading either The Times or The Economist for the entire day that we were ferrying him up and down the Thames, through locks….wherever.  

On our return to her mooring at Tough Brothers yard one summer's evening, we passed, as usual, through Teddington Lock.  Seeing my father in his usual inactive position reading, while his young teenage sons threw ropes, tied up around bollards and desperately tried to avoid ramming other boats, the lock-keeper called to my Dad. 

'Yes', answered my Dad (his tone suggested the addition of '…my man')

'You couldn't push a fucking pram, could you?'

I think from my father's stunned expression it had to be the first time he had heard the word outside of his army service. 

The perfect end to my brother's and my day…..

Thank you very much Peter - Great Comment!

"COMING HOME AGAIN!"

Last week I mentioned - having arrived at the gates of Hampton Court Palace -

I felt like I had "Come Home" - having played Cardinal Wolsey. 

(Spelling ok this time - oh Evil One??) 

This Sunday I made a delightful trip to CHARTWELL - the Country House of

Sir Winston Churchill. A role I've had the honour of playing not once,

but three times:

"Never So Good" at the National Theatre

2008

"Victory of the Daleks" Doctor Who for the BBC.
2010

"The Kings Speech" - Wyndhams Theatre - The West End

2012

I'd always wanted to visit Chartwell and this Sunday proved a perfect day for an

outing. As I left Brentford for Kent - there was not a cloud in the sky and with the

top down on the mini and wearing a Winnie-esque Straw Titfer - I made good time

arriving in time for coffee at 11:00am.

Chartwell: It's a beautiful house.

Set in amazing grounds with water features, ponds,

swimming pool and a lake.

When you first arrive and buy your entry ticket you are given a specific time

to go around the main house. As I perused some of Churchill's paintings in

what was known as Lady Churchill's Sitting Room I heard the words:

"Bumble. is that you?" Now "Bumble" was a nick name from my youth,

(along with "Scrumpy" and a whole host of other silly monikers!) I'd not been

called this since I was in my late teens. The culprit who uttered

these words turned out to be a National Trust Guide called Chris who had

married "Diddles" the sister of a good friend of mine called Micky Davis.

Micky had a speed boat and taught me to water-ski on the calm waters

of Bantham Estuary in Devon. Chris reminded me of a Water Ski-ing Stunt

I used to try and achieve:  to be dragged out of the water wearing a bobble

hat and smoking a cigarette - both of which had to be kept dry! Ah - such is youth!

Chris - Husband of "Diddles."

The sad thing was - I had no recollection of Chris what so ever, however I

do remember Diddles quite well - a sporty gal of ample proportions! Here are 

some of the rather "homey" rooms I saw:

The Sitting Room

The Dining Room

The Library

Lady Churchill's Bedroom

His Artist Studio was in another part of the grounds by

the Walled Vegetable Garden

Studio.

The Vegetable Garden

The Famous Wall that Churchill built.

My favourite story about the house was that Lady Churchill -

"Clemmie" - was terrified that they wouldn't be able to keep Chartwell -

the up-keep was so expensive. Indeed they put the house up for sale on more 

than one occasion - only to be rescued by another book sale of Winston.

In 1954 a group of friends - grateful towards Winston for his endeavours -

bought Chartwell - so that they could both end their days there - free of

worries. After their deaths it was bequeathed to the Nation. I've been thinking - 

if any of the Readers of my Blog feel any inclination to do the same for me - please

feel free to discuss it!

On the way out I dropped by the Fish Pool. Once back in London I headed 

for another Blog favourite The Olympic Cinema in Barnes. 

OLYMPIC CINEMA

I'd been invited to watch " The Two Faces of January" a thriller with Kirsten Dunst 

and Viggo Mortensen. The book was written by Patricia Highsmith who also wrote

"The Talented Mister Ripley"

I really enjoyed the film and afterwards had dinner with Alison West and her friend 

 Stephen Clark in the private supper dining room for members. Ali is a friend of

Kate and the mother of the talented Artist Nettie - a pal of Angus and Maisie. 

Stephen and Ali

Stephen is a Playwright who lives in Brighton and is the son of Brian Clark,

the playwright who wrote the play "Whose Life is it Anyway".

This reminded me of a story Kate told me of the funeral she attended, with her

sister Phoebe Nicholls, of their Grandmother. After the burial the priest who was 

a bit of a Theatre Buff asked the sisters if they were both acting then. 

 The girls were a little reticent in replying. Eventually Kate mumbled

she was appearing in the play"The Lady's Not for Burning" and Phoebe followed,

 saying her present role was in  "Whose Life is it Anyway"!

BILLS RESTAURANT

Hammersmith.

On Monday I met up with my friend Rupert Young - we've been friends ever since

we appeared together in the National Theatre Production of "Never So Good" in 2008.

Rupert Young as Sir Leon in ITV's Series of "Merlin".

Rupert ia appearing in a collection of nine short plays written by Noel Coward 

called "Tonight at 8.30". They are performing the plays at the moment at the

Nuffield Theatre in Southampton. The Guardian Theatre Critic Michael

Billington gave it 4 stars and called it "An unexpectedly nourishing Noel Coward

Marathon"

Rupert in Rehearsals.

They are in Southampton until the end of this week. Next week they will be at

the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford. From Wednesday June 11 until Saturday

June 14th they will be at The Richmond Theatre. Rupert has to sing and dance -

so it's positively a "must" to go and see!

(Now Rupie Baby I'm definitely expecting a COMMENT from you this week -

so email me something and I will put it on the Blog.)

EMILY'S HEN WEEK-END.

"The Bride-to-Be Hen Pyjamas"

"Emily arriving for the Weekend!"

Last weekend saw the Girls-get-Together for Emily's Hen Party somewhere

in deepest Oxfordshire. They had rented a swanky house for the festivities that 

included: Brunch with Bucks Fizz on arrival, creation of Burlesque Headdresses,

Learning a Burlesque Routine:

"After the Burlesque Lesson"

Two Therapists provided a whole catalogue of Massages, a Wedding Dress

Rehearsal Dinner, Hot Tub on the Terrace, Walks, talks, watching Girlie

Movies in their very own Cinema.

"Emily and her brilliant Sisters!"

Emily said: "It was the Best Weekend of My Life!!"

FINALLY:

Last week's Blog saw another bumper crop of wonderful Comments! Many, many

thanks and always remember - to make it easy for you - just email your Comments

to me at: ianmcneice@mac.com and I will place them for you..xx