WEIGH-IN WEDNESDAY
I must say I was nervous as I approached the Scales this morning - Last wednesday I'd
had a late supper at Joe Allens after the theatre. Thursday I'd finished off my Chicken
Casserole I'd cooked previously. Friday was Kate's Birthday and she'd put on a spread that
included cold Roast Beef and Ham (from her award winning local butcher) potato salad,
french cheeses, 3 home-made desserts, what looked like a tall ice-cream birthday cake,
and YES I sampled everything, Saturday had been the Kew fete and I'd given in to
a couple of naughty treats here and there and finally a roast chicken supper on the Sunday.
To say that I stood on the scales this morning with a certain trepidation is an
understatement. However I am happy to report a loss of 4lbs.
No one is more surprised AND pleased than me!!
(A total weight loss of 61lbs)
SHINGLES UPDATE
I must say this has been a particularly nasty little virus to shake off. I've had more
than my fair share of headaches, tiredness, nausea and an excruciating attack of
constipation - but WOAH THERE NEDDY - that's far too much information I
hear you cry - especially for a certain Mr Robert Dickson. Still, I can now see
a glimmer of daylight ahead so hopefully I should be turning
a corner soon - fingers crossed!!
NICO ROSBERG
Nico Rosberg extended his championship lead over Lewis Hamilton to beyond a race
victory for the first time this season after winning a tense, closely-fought Austrian GP.
If you remember in the early days of my Blog I told you I'd been advised by Jimmy,
Emily's fiancé, to put a bet on Nico winning the F1 Championship for 2014. Well
after a string of Hamilton Victory's I thought it was all over - but that is not the case!
Here is an update from Jimmy:
"Hope you're well. Yes, we certainly do still have a chance. The Mercedes is still the best car out there but in Canada they suffered reliability problems. Lewis failed to finish but Nico managed to come second to re-establish himself in the lead of the world championship. It will be fascinating to see if he can extend that lead this afternoon in Austria...There is still a long way to go - about 10 more races I think - so we won't know until November. And there will be more twists and turns to come, I'm sure. But it's a straight fight between the two of them and while Lewis is faster, Nico is the more intelligent and has worked out how to beat him...Keep watching!!!! Lots of love, Jimmy
P.s did you manage to get odds of 20/1? My mother also has £50 but only got 18/1 - still I know a few people who are all crossing fingers for Rosberg!"
So two things to come out of that - Nico did extend his lead and Yes! I did manage to
secure a bet of £50 at 20/1 - so thats a £1000 pay-day if Nico wins!!
GO NICO!! WATCH THIS SPACE!!
MY OTHER SON - JOE ABSOLOM
At the beginning of the week I met up with my "Son" in DOC MARTIN, Joe Absolom.
He has moved his young family down to a village near Port Isaac called Trebarwith Strand.
They have rented their London house and are seeing how they enjoy life on a full time
basis in Cornwall. As Joe hasn't worked much since he moved down there, the "Jury is
still out" on whether they are all comfortable with the move. One thing is certain the
kids love the schools down there - with 7 children to a class - how could they not!
Joe's wife Liz is enjoying working at the MOAT Restaurant as a waitress.
We had a drink at THE WEIR in Brentford and Joe told me he was up to work
on an episode of MIDSOMER MURDERS as well as working on a Low Budget
improvised film for the next 3 days playing an inmate of a prison!
"DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS"
I met up with another Cast Member of DOC MARTIN this week when I went to see
John Marquez (The Policeman) in the West End Musical DIRTY ROTTEN
SCOUNDRELS at the Savoy Theatre.
This is a wonderful Musical with outstanding performances from Robert Lindsay
so suave and debonair and John as his French Policeman Accomplice.
John has a romantic interlude with Samantha Bond which he sings and dances with
such self assurance. This is the third musical I have seen John in and he just gets better
and better. Definite Leading Man material next time. The evening was also a farewell to
my friend - the Artist DAVID HINCHLIFFE who has now safely returned to Australia.
We rounded off the evening with a late night supper at JOE ALLENS.
ANGUS "GARY MEDAL" McNEICE
A little while ago I sent my football crazy Son, Angus, a copy of a Sunday Times Special
Addition of the World Cup which contained a Poster. This was his response:
"Hola mis padres"
"Thank you so much for the Times special edition, the poster and the card from Cardinal Wolsey's casa! The poster will go up on my wall in pride of place, and I've already read two fantastic articles in the magazine. Please find attached a photo of me wearing my favorite Chilean footballer's shirt — Gary Medel. In the grand English tournament-time traditions, I've gone and got a horrible haircut to look just like my hero:"
"Emily would kill me to see this now so don't share! At least I've got just under two months to grow a bit back and not ruin the wedding photos!"
Sorry Gussie - this is just TOO GOOD - I had to SHARE IT - it's just hysterical!
Good luck in growing it back in time for the Wedding! We'll all be looking it for it now!!
KATE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY
Last Friday saw a jolly get-together at Kate's in Brook Green to celebrate her special
Birthday. Lots of familiar faces were there such as Mabel, Angus ex-girlfriend along with
her mother, Tracey Ullman. Also there was the delightful Julie Peasgood. Julie and I had
worked together back in the eighties at the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Julie has now become a Producer/ Presenter for her own TV Show called CRAFTY BEGGARS
on the:
Whilst we were catching up she asked if I would be prepared to appear in a special
Celebrity Christmas Edition of "CRAFTY BEGGARS"- alongside my DOC MARTIN
son - Joe Absolom.
The premiss behind the Show is this: - We start on the beach in Brighton and are given £20 to
go and purchase materials (to make our Crafts) in the town centre and then spend the rest of
the afternoon making our crafts - in our case it would be Christmas Candles! Kate has
promised to teach me how to make them! Then the next day we set up a Stall in the town
centre of Brighton and sell our wares. The programme will contain two Celebrity pairs
and who ever sells the most crafts wins. All proceeds go to Charity. This show will
probably be made in the winter of 2015 to follow the 7th Series of DOC MARTIN.
I must say I rather like going to parties where you walk out at the end with a JOB OFFER!!
COMPETITION TIME
Remember last week I told you about our intrepid reporter DAVID HINCLIFFE reporting
from the London Naked Bike Ride:
Well here are the rules for THE COMPETITION. What follows are a series of photos each
with a numbered caption. All you have to do is come up with a heading for a photo that
takes your fancy and then email me the photo caption number along with your witty heading.
It's as simple as that. Here's my email: ianmcneice@mac.com and here are the photos:
HAVE FUN!
CAPTION ONE
CAPTION TWO
CAPTION THREE
CAPTION FOUR
CAPTION FIVE
CAPTION SIX
CAPTION SEVEN
CAPTION EIGHT
CAPTION NINE
CAPTION TEN
CAPTION ELEVEN
CAPTION TWELVE
CAPTION THIRTEEN
CAPTION FOURTEEN
CAPTION FIFTEEN
CAPTION SIXTEEN
For all of you that enter and take the plunge - the best "Headings" will be rewarded with
Prizes - so what have you got to lose! Can't wait to see what you come up with -
don't be shy now - HAVE A GO!
JENNY McNEICE
Jenny is a GOLD STAR MEMBER of my Blog - she is a faithful contributor to
my Blog on a weekly basis - for which I thank her deeply!
Here's Jenny with her Sister Dani & here's an Email she recently sent me:
"Hi my loves,"
"Wine tasting with my sister this weekend near Guerneville, CA, at a beautiful winery called Porter Creek, a gentleman named Paul from Scotland swiped my credit card and commented, "McNeice, there's a famous Scottish actor by the name Ian McNeice". And of course I had to tell him to shut the front door, that's my father in law! I made him take a picture with me there on the spot. I don't know why he's pointing at my tiny chest but there you go. Another one for the fan list."
Lots of love!
Jenny
This is "Paul from Scotland" with Jenny!
"OH EVIL ONE!"
"Dear Mr Monger just to let you know that when your Stand-Up Appearances
dry up in Los Angeles there is always a spot waiting for you here on OPEN MIC
NIGHT at the SIX BELLS PUB in BRENTFORD
(Yes, you heard right that's BRENTFORD not BRENTWOOD!")
A LITTLE TASTE OF OLDE ENGLAND
For those of you feeling a little homesick for an English Summer:
On Saturday I had a little troll over to KEW GREEN where there was this year's
Summer Fete in all it's glory:
Here are some of the Stalls I encountered:
The Obligatory Dog Show
This charming Weimaraner and it's charming Owner came Third!
I must say the FOOD STALLS caused a serious amount of temptation!
ANOTHER ENGLISH PASTIME.
Across the other part of Kew Green another one of my favourite traditions was
taking place:
VILLAGE CRICKET
THE THAMES PATH
Went for a little stroll today along the THAMES PATH which is by the Canal
in Brentford and came across this family:
As another Blog comes to a close - all that remains - is for me to extend a warm
welcome to one and all for any comments you would care to leave. If you have
trouble posting them - just email me your comment and I will place it of you. As
always many thanks for taking the time to read it..xxx
ianmcneice@mac.com
