''Coming Home"

WEIGH-IN WEDNESDAY

Oh mighty "Evil One" - aka - Christopher Monger - LA Screenwriter to the Stars,
Not happy with our "Tragic Weight Loss of One Pound" last week- were we?  How about a
"Staggering Weight Loss of 5lbs for this week!" Yes, oh Yes - milestones obliterated all over
the place - a total weight loss of 46lbs since January the 8th (Just 4lbs shy of a
Weight-Watchers "Certificate of Achievement" for 50lbs Loss!) And Yes! we've finally hit a
Weight Loss of 3 Stone! So put that in your Hollywood Crack Pipe Baby and smoke them onions!!

Eurovision 2014: 

Conchita Wurst wins for Austria with 'Rise Like a Phoenix'

For those of you who missed this:

The Winner this year was an Austrian bearded Drag Artist called Conchita Wurst. The

The singer received praise for her James Bond-esque ballad “Rise Like A Phoenix”, which she sang in a golden dress surrounded by dry ice. The voting was paused before the end of the contest to announce that Wurst had become the outright winner with so many points she could not be caught by runners up, The Netherlands.

On accepting the trophy, she said: "This is for all those who believe in the future of peace and freedom – you know who you are. You are unity and you are unstoppable.”

Wurst, real name Tom Neuwirth, had received negative comments from a minority of eastern Europeans calling for the Austrian entry to be withdrawn from Eurovision.

Russian politician Vitaly Milonov, one of the architects of the country’s gay propaganda law, called Wurst a “pervert” and labelled the competition a “hotbed of sodomy”.

Sadly the UK entry from Molly Smitten Downes, which I thought had a good chance of wining,

came a disappointing 17th place.

For those of you that missed this fabulous evening, never fear,  to watch & hear their performances, Cut & Paste to your hearts content! 

For Conchita Wurst:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnqyNXJFkQU

For Molly Smitten Downes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIM5P3UNxnI

Thank God for the Eurovision Song Contest - it just gets
more bizarre by the minute.....

MY SUNDAY OUTING
(This section is dedicated to Peter Mishcon)

Something that I've been meaning to do for a while is to take a river trip along the

Thames from Kew Bridge Pier to Hampton Court Palace. The Weather looked

dodgy on Sunday, but I was determined to set forth. I took a couple of buses to Kew Green and

then walked back towards the river. I arrived nice an early - the boat left at 12:30

so I turned up with half an hour to go. As I bought my Senior Ticket (serious

reduction!) the woman behind the counter squealed with delight - "It's Bert from

Doc Martin!" As ever - I signed a postcard "Bert Photo" for her & as I had a little

time to wait in the cold I cheekily asked for a cup of tea. 

Janice was only too happy to oblige. If you look very carefully you will see my

breakfast in the picture - a piece of crisp bread with marmite (19 Calories) which

I'd brought with me!

Kew Pier

Route Map to Hampton Court Palace from Kew Pier

(Via Brentford Marina, Syon House, Richmond Park, Marble Hill House,

Ham House, Teddington Lock and finally Hampton Court Pier)

Length of Journey: One hour and a half.

When my Boat turned up it was THE PRINCESS FREDA built on the Isle of

Wight in 1927. The following info is specifically for my friend Peter Mishcon

who is a total Boat Fanatic and will welcome these details:

Boat Name: 

 Princess Freda

Boat Type: 

 Thames Passenger Vessel

Boat Length: 

 63ft

Boat Beam: 

 13ft

Boat Draft: 

 3ft 9ins

Boat Displacement: 

 38 tons

Boat Engine: 

 Leyland/Thornycroft 402

Boat Construction: 

 Steel

Boat Builder: 

 Letchers, Cowes, IoW

Boat Year: 

 1926

When I got on board I found this plinth:

It turned out that the Princess Freda was one of the little ships that operated

off the Dunkirk beaches and the harbour between the 28th May and the 4th June 1940,

no less than 338,000 British and French troops were evacuated. Approximately

one third of these were taken off the beaches, and within this number, around 

100,000 Frenchmen returned from England to fight again. This made my

voyage on her this Sunday Morning even more special.

The Wheelhouse

The Engine

The Bar!

When we got to Richmond Pier we came across the "MV Spirit of Chartwell"

which was the Royal Barge that the Queen had used for her Diamond

Jubilee Pageant held on the Thames on the 3rd of June 2012. When a

flotilla of 670 boats escorted her up the River (or is it down!!). Help me Peter?

We went through the Lock at Teddington.

This is the End of the tidal reach of the River Thames stretch.

One of my favourite sights along the River

Are these charming Boat Houses - I'd love to

live in one of them!

Finally arriving at Hampton Court Pier.

Hampton Court Palace

Built in 1515 by Cardinal Wolesley. For me it felt very much like

"Coming Home" - I played Cardinal Wolesley in "Henry V111"

at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in May 2010

Shakespeare's Globe

Cardinal Wolesley

My favourite Review appeared in the Daily Telegraph:

"Best of all is Ian McNeice’s grotesque Cardinal Wolsey, who hisses out his lines like a poisonous snake and slithers across the stage like a disgustingly plump slug. When he’s on stage, this often inert play comes alive."

(There's nothing like being called a "disgustingly plump Slug" to keep me on my Diet folks!)

Like with all these rather Grand Venues - I think it's best to check out the TEA ROOMS straight away.

Now don't you worry - there was not a Cream Tea or a piece of Victoria Sponge

Cake anywhere on my table - I had packed my own lunch in my Rucksack before 

I set off. This consisted of more Crisp-bread with extra thin M & S Ham Slices, Fruit,

Yogurt and a flask full of a hot Bouillon (14 Calories) The only thing I purchased

from the Tea Rooms was an actual cup of tea! Then it was time to explore:

The first rooms I came upon were The HENRY V111 Kitchens:

The first time I saw the fire in this inglenook fireplace I thought it was a 

very clever gas reproduction but on closer inspection I found out it was a

real log fire and that chap's job in the picture was to keep it going through out the day!

They must get through a ton of logs. This was the fireplace where all the

joints of meat were roasted.

Next up were the Apartments of Henry V111

The Great Hall or Dining Room.

Amazing Original Tapestries on the Walls

The Chapel

It soon became apparent I had only just scratched the surface and 

they were about to close.

I promised myself I would come back - for the 

whole day and have a serious explore - and this time with the head-set

audio guides. 

But for now it was time to catch the Bus back to Brentford!

TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

Angus & Maisie's First London Flat: 17 Buchanan Gardens

During the week I had to go for an Audition for an American Mini-Series.

. I had to go to an address in Kensal Rise - this was the area that Angus and

Maisie shared their first London Flat together. I also know the Mishcon kids have links with

this borough too. I went to a flat owned by one of the Assistants working for Hubbards Casting.

I have a long association with Hubbards Casting not least "Sharpes Rifles"

 which we shot in the Crimea. The show I was now going to be seen for - was going to be produced by the History Channel and was preparing to shoot in Romania.

The History Channel have only recently started making Dramas and had a huge success with a Cowboy Mini Series  called "Hatfield and McCoys" with Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton. 

I loved this show - not least because it had my "Son" - Joe Absolom from "Doc Martin" in it

You can just make him out in this photo - centre at the back!

Along with Bill Paxton and Mare Winningham. He had a great

American Accent and was an excellent Cowboy!  

When I arrived at the flat in Harvist Road, Kensal Rise,  I was ushered into a Summer House

in the back garden. I was told that it had a couple of nick names - first was

"The Chalet of Expectations" and second was "The Chalet of Shattered Dreams"!

I know which I'm hoping for! These Auditions are rather quant affairs - you are given "Sides"

(which are scenes from the production that contain dialogue that the Character you are "up for"

has to say.)

In this case - the Character I was reading for - was Lord North - who was the Prime Minister 

from 1752 until 1790. He led Great Britain through most of the American War of Independence.

And this was what the Mini Series,  called "Son's of Liberty",  was all about - especially the

Boston Tea Party in 1773. My job now, sitting in the Summer House,  was to read the scene

with the Assistant reading the other part - whilst a video camera recorded it for posterity or

until the Director, who was probably scouting Locations in Romania, could get a chance to

view it. Funnily enough, I've just had a "re-call" for this part - where this time,  I actually met the 

Lady Director - called Kari Scogland - Watch this space....

COMPETITION TIME 

This is for all you Budding Artists - a great many of which read my Blog every week. I am

rapidly approaching a serious milestone:  50lbs Weight Loss. When I was attending

Weight-Watchers, in Brentford,  I got this Certificate of Achievement when I reached this goal.

It would be great if some one could come up with a similar certificate for me this time

around - which should hopefully come in a few weeks time!

SPECIAL SHOUT OUT:

For Emily and Jimmy's Son JACK ROBERTS

Who became a Teenager this week!

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK!"

AN ADDENDUM

Well another week - another Blog - Please leave your Comments - I do love

reading them and for those of you who live abroad - it brings us a little closer together.

And remember - if you have problems - just email me the comment and I

will post it for you - it's that simple. xxxx