"Does my Arse look big in this?" PART TWO

WEIGH-IN FRIDAY

Well, I tried to lose those pesky 2 lbs by Emily's Wedding but with one thing and 

another - children arriving from foreign parts, re-union meals, and so on and so

frigging on - I've plateaued once again - NO LOSS/NO GAIN - still the same!

"No Excuses You FAT F..K!!" I can hear the EVIL ONE yell from the top of the

Hollywood Sign - and of course he's right - but hey, there's always next week - 

but with the Hog Roast at Emily's Wedding - I don't hold out much hope

 - I know, I know, "NO EXCUSES MRS!!"

ROBIN WILLIAMS

When I was in LA I had the good fortune of working with Robin Williams. The movie

version of DON QUIXHOTE that the director FRED SCHEPISI was due to make ran

into severe financial troubles. John Cleese was to play the title role and Williams was

to play SANCHO PANZA. On a Sunday a cast that included Williams, Cleese, Sigourney

Weaver, Stockard Channing, Alfred Molina and Robert Leonard was assembled in a 

posh hotel to read the script in front of an invited audience of Studio Heads in the hope

of securing investors to aid the stricken movie. I'd worked with Fred on the movie:

THE RUSSIA HOUSE - which is why I was invited to complete the cast for the

reading. Sadly, in spite of all that talent no one invested in the movie and it was never

made - but I had been able to witness first hand a masterclass in improvised genius from

a comedy legend.

1951-2014

For your enjoyment here is a brilliant clip from "The Birdgage"

Birdcage/Robin Williams

Click on the above

"SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE"

At the start of the week I went to see my friend Anna Carteret play Queen Elizabeth in 

the stage version of "Shakespeare in Love" which was terrific - really enjoyable. Judi 

Dench won an Oscar for playing the same role in the Screen Version and very kindly

sent Anna a good luck card on her First Night.

Anna as Queen Elizabeth.

An American friend called Jane who Cindy and I worked with on ACE VENTURA 

joined us for the evening. She's spending the best part of a year travelling all over

the world visiting numerous countries - lucky thing!

AIRPORT ARRIVALS

I seem to be living at Heathrow at the moment - what with the Pick Ups of

Travers, Jenny and Angus - all arriving for Emily's Wedding on different 

days.

Jenny's arrival from San Francisco

THE TEA WAITING FOR JENNY

Raspberry Surprise Cakes

Lemon & Thyme Cake

Duck Egg & Salmon Trout & Cucumber Sandwiches

Angus arrival from Chile - with beard!

MAISIE'S EXHIBITION IN DUBLIN

Maisie's Piece in the Exhibition is below:

MAISIE:

"That peice is from a project I am currently working on. A lot of which will be inspired by my recent trip to South America which will help develop my current practice. 

That peice in particular is a Moth I spotted in the Amazon Jungle in Bolivia they was larger than the size of my hand." 

Block T Annual Members Exhibition 

One of the other Exhibits.

The Artist: Maisie Alice McNeice

Maisie talking to a guest about her piece:

"Yes, I think it is one of my better pieces, I think the depth of shadowing

I've managed to capture and the almost photographic detail I've successfully

achieved is tantamount to an award-winning entry - lets hope!"

A WEDDING IN THE FRENCH ALPS

Just as Travers and Jenny arrived in the UK they flew off again - this time to village

in the French Alps called Annecy which overlooked a beautiful lake. They were there

to attend a the Wedding of Calla and John Guillot.

The Bride, Calla - a friend of theirs from UCSB Santa Barbara was marrying

a french man called John Guillot and the reception took place in a restaurant called

L'Amandier owned by the God Father of the groom. Travers said he'd never had

food like it - it was extraordinary - he's obviously never tasted any of my dishes'

from the Hairy Biker's Cook Book!!

Now, Travers, that's definitely my kind of Pool Party!

WATERMELON

Thanks to Emily I've been experiencing the delights of Watermelon again.

Delicious, refreshing and easy on the calories!

100 grams of Watermelon = 30 Calories

GO FOR IT!

RETURN TO HAMPTON COURT

This time with Travers & Jenny. Jenny is an absolute sponge for English Royal

History and Hampton Court is a brilliant place to take her to.

This time I managed to have a look around the incredible gardens which 

I missed before - stunning.

Caught chatting to my Agent on the Phone:

"What do you mean they don't want me, I could have sworn my name was

all over that frigging job!"

SYON PARK

To round off their stay with me I took Travers & Jenny for a stroll around my

"other dwelling" - SYON PARK. They loved it from feeding the Swans, Ducks, and 

Canadian Geese....

.....to exploring the hidden gardens and gasping in awe at the architecture of

the Great Conservatory they had a lovely time.

See if you can spot the plane - clever shot, eh?

Me & My Daughter-in-Law

MY PRESENT

Sitting down at breakfast before we went to Hampton Court Travers told me they had

bought me a present but unfortunately he had forgot to give the correct address so

the gift wouldn't arrive before they left San Fran for London. Jenny had come to the 

rescue and said not to worry she had got them to re-direct the package to my address

here in Brentford. At that very moment there was a knock on the door - and guess what -

it could not have been timed any better - there was my present:

A FITBIT

Get fit. Sleep better. All in the One™

THE ONE™ WIRELESS ACTIVITY AND SLEEP TRACKER

If you want to turn fitness into a lifestyle, the One™ is for you. For starters, it never rests. During the day, it tracks your steps, distance, calories burned, and stairs climbed. Come nightfall, it measures your sleep quality, helps you learn how to sleep better, and wakes you in the morning. The One™ motivates you to reach your goals by bringing greater fitness into your life – seamlessly, socially, 24 hours a day.

Well - just look at my "STATS" for my very first day of wearing my Fitbit!

So my day at Hampton Court included: 7,930 steps, 3.5 miles and a burning off of

2,701 calories - for which I'm called a "champ". I went on the tube recently wearing 

my Fitbit and when I returned home I received this email:

Well, that's what you get for climbing all those stairs in the Tube and NO I'm

not referring to the escalators!!

Here is my last nights Sleep Pattern.

THANKS TRAV & JENNY 

I THINK I'M GOING TO HAVE FUN WITH MY 

NEW GADGET!!

EMILY and JIMMY'S WEDDING

is finally upon us and today, Friday we head off down south towards

Littlehampton and the surrounding areas for a weekend of family

celebrations.

Invitation hand printed by Maisie

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR MAJOR WEDDING BLOG NEXT WEEK!!

As always please leave your comments - they will be much appreciated