Just to let you all know I'm back in good old Holland. I have not been able to update at all in the last couple of months, they've been hectic and at the end very very sad. I'll be missing Liverpool and all its people more than life itself. Hope to be back in England one day; we'll see where it leads.
Thanks for keeping up with me! It's been a pleasure to write. Hopefully I will be able to see loads of you soon to tell stories in person (which will undoubtedly be much less articulate; I'm a writer, not a talker).
Ta ta for now!
03 July 2008
26 March 2008
The Wind in the Willows
Now, at ten to twelve on a regular Wednesday night, a quick update on how the play went. I've been in a constant state of 'writiness' ever since the last night, for I've had to finish my uni work, work-work and catch up on emails and the like. Hence, I've grown pretty tired of touching my keyboard every day.
Anyway, first of all the play went very very well. At least, the last two nights that is. The first night was on Tuesday, and it was the first actual dress rehearsal we'd had at all. We couldn't get into the theatre because "The Picture of Dorian Gray" was on the week before. So on Tuesday, 7.40 I hopped on stage as my first minutes of Rabbit commenced. (There was a Weasel, a Man and a Fieldmouse to follow) Considering I had the second line of the whole play I wasn't surprised I was experiencing some nervousness resulting in a slight case of leg jitters. But I quickly found the fun in being on stage and forgot about the audience altogether. There were a couple of mistakes and slight screw ups during the rest of the night, but not as bad as some of the rehearsals used to turn out. Luckily none of the awkward moments were caused by me (though there were plenty of scenes that made me feel awkward, but that was wholly due to the fact that I can't sing--the Christmas carolling fieldmice scene-- and I can't pull off a cockney accent--the weasels in court scene--) On Thursday and Friday, which was the last night (and incidentally our best night) some of my best friends were in the audience and even though that was pretty frightening they were all clapping and laughing. Again I realise how much I like being on stage! I might not be a very good actor, but just being part of an acting troupe and putting something entertaining together is pretty cool.
The whole Wind in the Willows cast; Mole, Rat, Badger, Toad, Horse, the Otters, Rabbits, Weasels, Humans and Hedgehogs
Don't I look masculine?
and here 3 of the 4 main characters, Toad, Moley and Ratty. (all girls by the way, although the play mainly consists of male animals, there were only 2 men in the cast! and all my characters were boys too.) Too bad the performance dates of the play were just before the Easter Break, some people (including a few friends) couldn't attend (to their and my disappointment) but those who did come to see it loved it.
The after party was a great success as well, but we all felt quite sad it was over. And I do admit, I really miss having to go to rehearsal every day, even though I used to complain about it all the time! This flopsy will definitely take the stage again some day.
10 March 2008
A Close encounter with the Dutch Kind
Due to many a factor - one of which is my long-term flu and cough-ness induced inclination to lie down on the couch and watch telly after a long day of uni and rehearsing - I have neglected a new blog entry for quite some time. (It is staring to become suspiciously clear that all my updates start with a flimsy excuse like that nowadays) However, I have been away from the computer altogether for the weekend so that added a few days to the waiting. The reason I was away was one of the best one can come up with, I was in Scotland's beautiful capital Edinburgh, student-leading a clan of International Students around town plus surroundings. The story behind me becoming a chieftain of our own little band of explorers is a long one, but it boils down to this; Trip needed 2 people to help Richard the groupleader out on a Uni organised trip. Instead of the 75 pounds that it would cost, we received a much welcomed discount and we were off on a 5 hour coach journey to the North. My friend Julia being the other helper-outer, the drive up there in a slightly too-cramped- for-my-long-Calvé-peanutbutter-(daar wordt je groot van)inspired-legs bus was very fun nonetheless and we and the driver had some interesting conversation about the whereabouts of the world's bunny rabbit population.The Youth Hostel where we arrived at 11ish at night was what you can expect from a city centre based hostel; I won't go in to many details but the noise at night was very very audible and it smelled of catfood wherever you went. But the murals were very pretty and the staff very nice. The pooltable in the common room became an unexpected friend when I found out that I wasn't half bad at playing the game and almost beat Felix.
The two days we then had in Edinburgh consisted of a tour around town and the impressive Edinburgh Castle. Julia and I had to keep the wandering student-tourists in check (who knew it'd be so hard to keep a 40 odd group together on a 15 min walk to a castle on the top of a hill) until we reached the various destinations. The castle was wonderful, the view over the city stunning but it sadly 5 minutes after our group had stormed the gates it began to rain and we scuttled inside into the various exhibitions for shelter. After an hour luckily it cleared up and we were again able to enjoy the architecture and panoramas over the Firth of Forth.
Continuing our tour to the Hilltop of which I have forgotten the name, but which did bear a nice tower and Roman Arch (why it did we're still unsure, I was under the impression the Romans never dared to venture past Hadrian's Wall, so why a Roman structure would be sitting overlooking the buildings beneath it is a mystery. It was pretty though) And later the Scottish Museum which was very enjoyable even though in the mean time we'd gotten pretty soaked with the Scottish Rain that beat down on us just minutes after we left the hill.
We ended the guided tour there, and Julia and me went on a little expedition of our own, trying to find a place to fill our hungry bellies. We ran into the 'Birthplace of Harry Potter', which is the café in which Joanne K. Rowling wrote her famous septology (is that a word?) but didn't go in. (We decided we were not that kind of fans, it was too crowded anyway) After a very long walk in which we basically circled the whole city back to where we started we settled on a Burger King meal. Imagine that, two fully convinced vegetarians in the Burger King, I suppose there is a first for everything (and the veggieburger was quite nice to be honest)
That night a club night was planned to an 'establishment' called Po Na Na. Julia funnily remarked that Po means bum in German. After the free champagne we quickly fought our way through the queue standing outside and fled to a pub. Places that charge 3 pound for a shooter or 6 pound for a vodka lime our not our cuppa.
After another night in the Hostel (in which we cleverly avoided getting no sleep again by drinking a smartly calculated amount of Budweisers) the last day was a free day. Julia and I decided to walk down the Royal Mile to the Holyrood palace and Abbey, where the Scottish Parliament is now at. It required a 8 pound entrance fee though so we decided to skip the tour and climb the famous hill behind it instead. Arthur's Seat has been a famous subject in Edinburgh's and Scotland's history for ages and although we didn't quite make the top, an impressive view of the city and the Palace presented itself to us after a short hike.
Now, if that wasn't impressive enough a strange thing happened to me on the way back to the hostel where we were bound to leave at 3. We were sturdily walking along the Mile when I spied someone standing in front of a bookshop that reminded me of a Dutch TV presenter Henk Spaan. I didn't think much of it because I don't know the man very well and only have a vague recollection what he looks like. It could have been any random dude. However, about a minute later a man comes walking down that I very much recognised instantaneously; it just happened to be that Matthijs van Nieuwkerk, famous and notorious TV person back home was ambling along the Royal Mile as well. The most random thing I've had happening to me to date. I didn't say anything or stare or take a sneaky photo. I just nudged Julia and told her who was just walking behind us. We ended up walking up the road in front of him and the people that he was with (whether it was really Spaan I don't know) for quite a while but lost them in the end. But I have to say, it was quite funny to be waiting for the traffic light to turn green with a Dutch celebrity standing next to you on the corner of an Edinburgh cobblestone street.
The drive home was long and partly in the dark. But the views when the sun was still shining down on us was very nice. Although the area around Edinburgh isn't quite the Highlands, there is a lot of cool hills to career through and enjoy. We were absolutely shattered when we arrived back at the Guild in Liverpool. I slept for a very long time, and now, today is the premiere of our play; The Wind in the Willows. I'm very very nervous, not for what I'm going to have to do on stage (I've been more 'exposed in Sticky Floor where the pressure is on Improv rather than rehearsed lines) but for what the play is going to be like. We have no real set to speak of, the dress rehearsal was messy and chaotic and we're still missing at least a third of the props that we'll need tonight....What will be will be I suppose, but I'll be glad when the opening night is done!
Continuing our tour to the Hilltop of which I have forgotten the name, but which did bear a nice tower and Roman Arch (why it did we're still unsure, I was under the impression the Romans never dared to venture past Hadrian's Wall, so why a Roman structure would be sitting overlooking the buildings beneath it is a mystery. It was pretty though) And later the Scottish Museum which was very enjoyable even though in the mean time we'd gotten pretty soaked with the Scottish Rain that beat down on us just minutes after we left the hill.
We ended the guided tour there, and Julia and me went on a little expedition of our own, trying to find a place to fill our hungry bellies. We ran into the 'Birthplace of Harry Potter', which is the café in which Joanne K. Rowling wrote her famous septology (is that a word?) but didn't go in. (We decided we were not that kind of fans, it was too crowded anyway) After a very long walk in which we basically circled the whole city back to where we started we settled on a Burger King meal. Imagine that, two fully convinced vegetarians in the Burger King, I suppose there is a first for everything (and the veggieburger was quite nice to be honest)
That night a club night was planned to an 'establishment' called Po Na Na. Julia funnily remarked that Po means bum in German. After the free champagne we quickly fought our way through the queue standing outside and fled to a pub. Places that charge 3 pound for a shooter or 6 pound for a vodka lime our not our cuppa.
After another night in the Hostel (in which we cleverly avoided getting no sleep again by drinking a smartly calculated amount of Budweisers) the last day was a free day. Julia and I decided to walk down the Royal Mile to the Holyrood palace and Abbey, where the Scottish Parliament is now at. It required a 8 pound entrance fee though so we decided to skip the tour and climb the famous hill behind it instead. Arthur's Seat has been a famous subject in Edinburgh's and Scotland's history for ages and although we didn't quite make the top, an impressive view of the city and the Palace presented itself to us after a short hike.
Now, if that wasn't impressive enough a strange thing happened to me on the way back to the hostel where we were bound to leave at 3. We were sturdily walking along the Mile when I spied someone standing in front of a bookshop that reminded me of a Dutch TV presenter Henk Spaan. I didn't think much of it because I don't know the man very well and only have a vague recollection what he looks like. It could have been any random dude. However, about a minute later a man comes walking down that I very much recognised instantaneously; it just happened to be that Matthijs van Nieuwkerk, famous and notorious TV person back home was ambling along the Royal Mile as well. The most random thing I've had happening to me to date. I didn't say anything or stare or take a sneaky photo. I just nudged Julia and told her who was just walking behind us. We ended up walking up the road in front of him and the people that he was with (whether it was really Spaan I don't know) for quite a while but lost them in the end. But I have to say, it was quite funny to be waiting for the traffic light to turn green with a Dutch celebrity standing next to you on the corner of an Edinburgh cobblestone street.
The drive home was long and partly in the dark. But the views when the sun was still shining down on us was very nice. Although the area around Edinburgh isn't quite the Highlands, there is a lot of cool hills to career through and enjoy. We were absolutely shattered when we arrived back at the Guild in Liverpool. I slept for a very long time, and now, today is the premiere of our play; The Wind in the Willows. I'm very very nervous, not for what I'm going to have to do on stage (I've been more 'exposed in Sticky Floor where the pressure is on Improv rather than rehearsed lines) but for what the play is going to be like. We have no real set to speak of, the dress rehearsal was messy and chaotic and we're still missing at least a third of the props that we'll need tonight....What will be will be I suppose, but I'll be glad when the opening night is done!
23 February 2008
As the days fly by
As promised an update on what happened in York. Like the other International Society trips to various destinations, we were all sardined into a coach again. Departing at 8.00 from Liverpool Guild of Students and arriving in the beautiful Roman city of York at 11.00 ish. It was a very nice clear day, the sky was a gorgeous light blue but it was absolutely freezing. While we were walking the old Roman wall that surrounds the inner city we were told that on this day a Viking vs. Saxon battle re-enactment would be taking place just outside the city centre and not surprisingly, the city was overrun with people dressed up as 9-11th Century Norsemen clad in spear and shield. It was immensely busy with people, but that didn't deter us from enjoying the city sights. The York Minster is a world (or at least national) famous cathedral in the city centre. Although they charge you an insane amount of money to enter (without concessions about 8 quid) it turned out to be one of the nicest churches I've ever had the pleasure to visit. Unfortunatly, it is so big that it is impossible to get the whole thing on a photo, you'll always end up with only part of the façade or side.
We also visited 'The Shambles' an overrated little street, overcrowded with eager tourists queuing up for some overpriced fudge. Next we walked around the city a little bit to end up at the National Railway museum at the edge of town. However, a picture says more than a thousand words so here goes:
The Monday after, me and my friend Julia decided to go on a little trip of our own. The small towns and villages that surround Liverpool in the Wirral area are easily reached by train, the Merseyrail system is a cheap way to get around in Merseyside. New Brighton was our destination, a deserted beach resort kind of town with nothing much to offer but a nice sea view, an unused war fort and a pretty lighthouse. Although it was obvious that it didn't look anything like Brighton or any other southern beach place, it was a very nice outing. We walked along the promenade and had a pleasant amble on the beach. We then thought we could make a little stop at Birkenhead Park, the first public park in the whole world situated just below New Brighton in Birkenhead. This is a very large and very attractive park, much like the Vondelpark in Amsterdam. As soon as we entered through the gates we were virtually attacked by a horde of grey squirrels that seem to have made their home there. They got absurdly close to the visitors, but we figured that generations of squirrel feeding might have made them a little tame. Closing off the day with a blueberry muffin overlooking the goose pond in the middle of the park was very delightful indeed.
On the Sticky Floor Improv show side of things, we had an eventful week. This Wednesday we hosted our second shownight in the Mandela Bar in the Guild. We didn't make as much money as last time (40 quid) but it was again a very succesful evening that we will be repeating every other Wednesday from now on. As a special treat, we were invited by the Guild of Student's President to preform during the Culture Fusion event on Friday. This is a big internally hosted party where loads of different acts took the stage in the gigantic Mountford hall and display different cultures and arts. We were sort of there to represent English culture. We got a 15 to 20 minute slot at the end of the night, and it was a huge success. We had the crowd roaring with laughter at some point, one bloke even fell off his chair. Everybody was hugely positive and I can definitely say this has been my/our largest audience to date. From now on we might be taking the Troupe into town to preform at various venues that support amateur stand-up/comedy. Really exciting if you ask me.
(this is the Poster that is going up all around Campus next week; the faces are (clockwise from the left) Camilla, Richie, Mark, Hari, Me, Matt, Jack, Owen, Paddy, Jonny, Will and Laura.)
We also visited 'The Shambles' an overrated little street, overcrowded with eager tourists queuing up for some overpriced fudge. Next we walked around the city a little bit to end up at the National Railway museum at the edge of town. However, a picture says more than a thousand words so here goes:
The Monday after, me and my friend Julia decided to go on a little trip of our own. The small towns and villages that surround Liverpool in the Wirral area are easily reached by train, the Merseyrail system is a cheap way to get around in Merseyside. New Brighton was our destination, a deserted beach resort kind of town with nothing much to offer but a nice sea view, an unused war fort and a pretty lighthouse. Although it was obvious that it didn't look anything like Brighton or any other southern beach place, it was a very nice outing. We walked along the promenade and had a pleasant amble on the beach. We then thought we could make a little stop at Birkenhead Park, the first public park in the whole world situated just below New Brighton in Birkenhead. This is a very large and very attractive park, much like the Vondelpark in Amsterdam. As soon as we entered through the gates we were virtually attacked by a horde of grey squirrels that seem to have made their home there. They got absurdly close to the visitors, but we figured that generations of squirrel feeding might have made them a little tame. Closing off the day with a blueberry muffin overlooking the goose pond in the middle of the park was very delightful indeed.
On the Sticky Floor Improv show side of things, we had an eventful week. This Wednesday we hosted our second shownight in the Mandela Bar in the Guild. We didn't make as much money as last time (40 quid) but it was again a very succesful evening that we will be repeating every other Wednesday from now on. As a special treat, we were invited by the Guild of Student's President to preform during the Culture Fusion event on Friday. This is a big internally hosted party where loads of different acts took the stage in the gigantic Mountford hall and display different cultures and arts. We were sort of there to represent English culture. We got a 15 to 20 minute slot at the end of the night, and it was a huge success. We had the crowd roaring with laughter at some point, one bloke even fell off his chair. Everybody was hugely positive and I can definitely say this has been my/our largest audience to date. From now on we might be taking the Troupe into town to preform at various venues that support amateur stand-up/comedy. Really exciting if you ask me.
(this is the Poster that is going up all around Campus next week; the faces are (clockwise from the left) Camilla, Richie, Mark, Hari, Me, Matt, Jack, Owen, Paddy, Jonny, Will and Laura.)
11 February 2008
Some pictures that were due and some blah blah that was due too
Three of the Fab Four:
Finally I managed to get the photos that were taken during our Cavern Club outing off Maria; to prove that we were really there!
And a cool little clip of a live performance by the Beatles, as you can deduct, it's Penny Lane, the back up vocals were provided by Maria and me, not the best singers in the world I'm afraid and rather off key.
Because the Beatles are cool, you have to gesture coolly into the camera of course.....
And yesterday we went to see the Chinese New Year Parade/Festivities in Liverpool's Chinatown, which incidentally is the oldest in the UK and also has the biggest Chinese Arch outside of China. Chinatown itself is actually rather small, Manchester's version is much nicer and more fun at night, but it's the cutest thing anyway. We saw the Chinese Dragons roam the street and there were a lot of fireworks banging around.
Last Wednesday provided the date and time for another exciting event, our first official Improved Sticky Floor improv show. We are now 10 funny fellows (7 boys and three girls) who will preform every other Wednesday in an advertised-all-over-the-studentguild improvisation show. The first performance was last Wed, and against all odds (we had some organisation issues) loads of people turned up and we made over 40 Pounds! I'm getting more excited about improv every week, and the dynamic is slowly forming and hopefully we'll turn out a finely tuned bunch. We all have our own polo-shirts now in different colours with Sticky Floor sewn on them, it's well cool to walk around the Guild in them as the official Student Comedy Troupe :). In other Drama news, rehearsals are going alright I suppose, although we are all still a hugely disorganised bunch of actors there seems to be method in the madness.
Next weekend the International bunch is going on a trip to York, one of the oldest cities in the UK. That will be cool. So further updates when I'm back!
Finally I managed to get the photos that were taken during our Cavern Club outing off Maria; to prove that we were really there!
And a cool little clip of a live performance by the Beatles, as you can deduct, it's Penny Lane, the back up vocals were provided by Maria and me, not the best singers in the world I'm afraid and rather off key.
Because the Beatles are cool, you have to gesture coolly into the camera of course.....
And yesterday we went to see the Chinese New Year Parade/Festivities in Liverpool's Chinatown, which incidentally is the oldest in the UK and also has the biggest Chinese Arch outside of China. Chinatown itself is actually rather small, Manchester's version is much nicer and more fun at night, but it's the cutest thing anyway. We saw the Chinese Dragons roam the street and there were a lot of fireworks banging around.
Last Wednesday provided the date and time for another exciting event, our first official Improved Sticky Floor improv show. We are now 10 funny fellows (7 boys and three girls) who will preform every other Wednesday in an advertised-all-over-the-studentguild improvisation show. The first performance was last Wed, and against all odds (we had some organisation issues) loads of people turned up and we made over 40 Pounds! I'm getting more excited about improv every week, and the dynamic is slowly forming and hopefully we'll turn out a finely tuned bunch. We all have our own polo-shirts now in different colours with Sticky Floor sewn on them, it's well cool to walk around the Guild in them as the official Student Comedy Troupe :). In other Drama news, rehearsals are going alright I suppose, although we are all still a hugely disorganised bunch of actors there seems to be method in the madness.
Next weekend the International bunch is going on a trip to York, one of the oldest cities in the UK. That will be cool. So further updates when I'm back!
02 February 2008
Apples and Oranges
I don't want to brag. Well, actually, I DO want to brag, however I don't want it to look like I'm bragging because I want everyone to think I'm a person that doesn't get a kick out of talking about herself all the time.....
Unfortunately for you, I do. So here goes...
In a weird twist of fate, two poetry related things happened this very weekend. Both turned out to be very good for my Poet-Ego (one more of those things on which Freud would be able to write another one of his compelling case studies) We all know (I presume) I've been very involved in writing and general experiencing the art of Poetry during the last couple of months. Well, my friend Emily knew about this and asked me to help her out with something. It just so happened that I was to start my career as a "Wandering Poet" that very night....
Thing was; students of various Societies (with a little help from the Student Guild) hosted a Bohemian Paris themed night on Friday (think Moulin Rouge) various acts and performances were hired and among those was me as a poet on the spot. Fully dressed up as one of the Moulin Rouge's (for lack of a better word) '' showgirls '' with pen and little memo cards in hands I would roam the scene of the party-crime as a Bohemian Poet for hire. (Oh, the poetic irony in that) People would give me a topic and I would write them a poem within minutes. However agonisingly anxious I was to go up to random strangers to ask them if they wanted a poem written about them, it was hugely rewarding with all the compliments and even the occasional hug I received in return. Even though the service was free (the tickets for the party were the fee) I did make 2 pounds too boot. (I realise not the wage a poet, or for that matter a Parisian Dancing Girl, would make much hoohaa about, but still, it's 2 quid ya knoow?)
Well, the second verse and rhyme thing that I was talking about was the email I got earlier that related to me the happy news of the birth of Myrthe Brouwer; Published Poet. Yes, that's correct, I am now in print. It's University funded recycled print, but it's in black and white and all over campus nonetheless. Liverpool Uni's magazine Sphinx have published two of my poems. And even though first of all the editor of the page that I'm published on said the poems fitted nicely with a World Aids day theme they were running because they 'contrast nicely' and sombody spelled my name as MYTHE BROUWER which sort of misses the point of having my name in print completely, still I'm very proud and told everyone I knew the great news. I am of course expecting huge publisher deals, heaps of fanmail and a retirement fund the size of a small country's GNP. Or, if that doesn't come to pass, someone to go 'Hey, nice poems. Wasn't your name spelled with an 'r' though?' which would hugely satisfy my Poet-ego once again.
And if all of these aspirations of poetic grandeur fail, I can always fall back on my acting career. Yes, my acting career; I do now not only appear in a fantastic play, but also in a short film. The film society needed some actors to film a little 20 min film for the Moulin Rouge party. It's a silent black and white in which I wear feather boa's, drink expensive wine (grape juice) and throw flower water in the face of my actor husband who cheats on me in a 1920's restaurant.... It's all good....
(my effort to look like a classy prosti.....I mean, poet, of course...)
Unfortunately for you, I do. So here goes...
In a weird twist of fate, two poetry related things happened this very weekend. Both turned out to be very good for my Poet-Ego (one more of those things on which Freud would be able to write another one of his compelling case studies) We all know (I presume) I've been very involved in writing and general experiencing the art of Poetry during the last couple of months. Well, my friend Emily knew about this and asked me to help her out with something. It just so happened that I was to start my career as a "Wandering Poet" that very night....
Thing was; students of various Societies (with a little help from the Student Guild) hosted a Bohemian Paris themed night on Friday (think Moulin Rouge) various acts and performances were hired and among those was me as a poet on the spot. Fully dressed up as one of the Moulin Rouge's (for lack of a better word) '' showgirls '' with pen and little memo cards in hands I would roam the scene of the party-crime as a Bohemian Poet for hire. (Oh, the poetic irony in that) People would give me a topic and I would write them a poem within minutes. However agonisingly anxious I was to go up to random strangers to ask them if they wanted a poem written about them, it was hugely rewarding with all the compliments and even the occasional hug I received in return. Even though the service was free (the tickets for the party were the fee) I did make 2 pounds too boot. (I realise not the wage a poet, or for that matter a Parisian Dancing Girl, would make much hoohaa about, but still, it's 2 quid ya knoow?)
Well, the second verse and rhyme thing that I was talking about was the email I got earlier that related to me the happy news of the birth of Myrthe Brouwer; Published Poet. Yes, that's correct, I am now in print. It's University funded recycled print, but it's in black and white and all over campus nonetheless. Liverpool Uni's magazine Sphinx have published two of my poems. And even though first of all the editor of the page that I'm published on said the poems fitted nicely with a World Aids day theme they were running because they 'contrast nicely' and sombody spelled my name as MYTHE BROUWER which sort of misses the point of having my name in print completely, still I'm very proud and told everyone I knew the great news. I am of course expecting huge publisher deals, heaps of fanmail and a retirement fund the size of a small country's GNP. Or, if that doesn't come to pass, someone to go 'Hey, nice poems. Wasn't your name spelled with an 'r' though?' which would hugely satisfy my Poet-ego once again.
And if all of these aspirations of poetic grandeur fail, I can always fall back on my acting career. Yes, my acting career; I do now not only appear in a fantastic play, but also in a short film. The film society needed some actors to film a little 20 min film for the Moulin Rouge party. It's a silent black and white in which I wear feather boa's, drink expensive wine (grape juice) and throw flower water in the face of my actor husband who cheats on me in a 1920's restaurant.... It's all good....
(my effort to look like a classy prosti.....I mean, poet, of course...)
29 January 2008
Flopsy takes the stage
I've been telling everyone that I wouldn't audition for a play this semester, I ended up sort of auditioning while I wasn't aware I was actually doing so, and as a result ended up with a role! The play is called Wind In The Willows. (click the title for more info) Idea behind me approaching the director was to offer to help out backstage and maybe have a silent part as a tree or something. I have way too much to do this semester and no time for plays of any sort. He then thrust a bit of script in my hands and asked me to read Ratty, one of the major characters. That was followed a callback and finally the first rehearsal yesterday evening. I am now cast as Robert the Rabbit and also Rupert (the Human). In total not more than 5 minutes of stage time, however, Robert has the second line at the start of the play, right after Mole (one of the four main character). So there I'll be, two ears, fluffy tail and a dim look in my eyes trying to play a rabbit. By Jove, that'll be a hoot.
Anyway, all this auditioning and rehearsing took place this weekend, which unfortunately was the weekend that Suzanne was here too (the unfortunate bit being that I had to spend lots of hours at the Student Guild and not at home larking about with Suus and the homies) But we had a blast riding up and down Liverpool and the Wirral visiting the best museums that the region has to offer and also eating lots of chocolate fingers bought for 20p a pop which could arguably have been the highlight of the weekend.
Besides the Drama malarkey and my Dutchie visitor (conversations in Dutch again managed to raise a few eyebrows during dinner, I guess it'll always remain strange language to my English flatmate's ears) nothing much happened except the Improv auditions we held last week (some other witty minds joined our 'Sticky Floor' team) and the general start of Uni. I can now honestly say that Irish is a very difficult language, but that it strangely reminds me of Dutch sometimes (how the Dutch will always pronounce RED as RET and ROB as ROP) because final devoicing is common and the throaty 'g' sound isn't a stranger to them either. (To those more phonetically inclined, lots of devoiced d's and g's and I suppose glottalisation + velarisation in places too). My other classes are pretty much allright too, not as cool as last semester, and I'll probably spend more time worrying about the play and my BA thesis that I still have to write than what to read for the next Lit. Tutorial, but interesting nonetheless.
Oh, I did manage to screw up my bank debit card, I now have to wait for a new PIN number to be able to withdraw and pay money again. (I still can't figure out what my old PIN was, I must have jumbled up the numbers) and my Dutch bank thought I'd withdrawn double the amount I had taken out in actual fact and I had to call them to set them straight. Which happily I could do by way of Skype, which very fortunately is now installed and ready on my own laptop after the decision to at long last hook up my own internet connection. I am typing this blog in the luxury of my own flat and semi comfortable desk chair. You never realise how much you need to have internet in your own home until you don't (A little bit like never realising how much you miss Dutch Stamppot until your mum comes over for New Year's and makes it).
(Ratty and Moley)
Anyway, all this auditioning and rehearsing took place this weekend, which unfortunately was the weekend that Suzanne was here too (the unfortunate bit being that I had to spend lots of hours at the Student Guild and not at home larking about with Suus and the homies) But we had a blast riding up and down Liverpool and the Wirral visiting the best museums that the region has to offer and also eating lots of chocolate fingers bought for 20p a pop which could arguably have been the highlight of the weekend.
Besides the Drama malarkey and my Dutchie visitor (conversations in Dutch again managed to raise a few eyebrows during dinner, I guess it'll always remain strange language to my English flatmate's ears) nothing much happened except the Improv auditions we held last week (some other witty minds joined our 'Sticky Floor' team) and the general start of Uni. I can now honestly say that Irish is a very difficult language, but that it strangely reminds me of Dutch sometimes (how the Dutch will always pronounce RED as RET and ROB as ROP) because final devoicing is common and the throaty 'g' sound isn't a stranger to them either. (To those more phonetically inclined, lots of devoiced d's and g's and I suppose glottalisation + velarisation in places too). My other classes are pretty much allright too, not as cool as last semester, and I'll probably spend more time worrying about the play and my BA thesis that I still have to write than what to read for the next Lit. Tutorial, but interesting nonetheless.
Oh, I did manage to screw up my bank debit card, I now have to wait for a new PIN number to be able to withdraw and pay money again. (I still can't figure out what my old PIN was, I must have jumbled up the numbers) and my Dutch bank thought I'd withdrawn double the amount I had taken out in actual fact and I had to call them to set them straight. Which happily I could do by way of Skype, which very fortunately is now installed and ready on my own laptop after the decision to at long last hook up my own internet connection. I am typing this blog in the luxury of my own flat and semi comfortable desk chair. You never realise how much you need to have internet in your own home until you don't (A little bit like never realising how much you miss Dutch Stamppot until your mum comes over for New Year's and makes it).
(Ratty and Moley)20 January 2008
....and a Beatle New Year!
Right. OK. Yes. It is now definitely time to write again. I say I've left off a proper blog entry for so long that in theory I should write a short novel, were it not for the fact that I have scant novel writing skills and rather pursue this less exasperating mode of keeping you all up to date.
So, Like I said, the new year. In this year I have already broken a pretty nice record; I have seen, heard and sang to more Beatles than I ever have in all my life. Let me begin where most stories start, the beginning...
As you might well be aware, my mother came over during the holidays. We had a fabulous time exploring the depths and crevices of Liverpools museums, shops and streets (I discovered a whole load of stuff I didn't know about the Pool) and hung out at churches, galleries and sometimes uninhabitable homes a few minutes down the road from my flat. This all out of sheer interest for Liverpools history and to gawk at how a city can have such magnificent cathedrals besides such decrepit slums.
Of course, we also visited the Beatle's Story; the world famous Beatles museum at the Albert Docks. (Technically, this was one or two days before the new year, but we were already celebrating 2008 in spirit) A short summery of the tour; I now know everything to do with the Beatles and I saw John Lennons tinted glasses. Altough I love the band for all they've done for Rock and Roll, and I am very fond of Jude and the Strawberry fields, 10 pounds was a little steep even for a museum full of famous things. But me and mum had a very good time sitting in the Yellow Sub and staring at the fishes. Unlike the clay figurines and wax dolls, they were real.
After many other things that were very exciting and lots of memorable outings that do not belong is this particular story, it was the New Year. Well, no, it was New Years eve and we were bound for the Anglican Cathedral. A hundred year old and may I say Gigantic and rather Magnificent example of a church. Too bad it wasn't build in Medieval times for that would have been even cooler. For this night, the church had prepared a special evening. And although I wasn't too sweeped away with the 'And on the eight day, God created Liverpool' bit that they'd put into a song and dance routine, the gospel choir did their best to get everyone's hands together. But the best thing came a little later. About half an hour before midnight, the 'boss' (I'm so not sure if in the Anglican faith he's called a dean or a chaplain or very possibly something else) told everyone to go outside. With everyone that was a couple of thousand people who'd slowely filled up the church over the hour. Once outside the real party began, the choir was singing songs and after some mighty ding donging by St George's bell they lit the best fireworks I'd seen since Guy Fawkes day (I'd seen none to be honest but still....) and one minute after midnight the whole street outside the cathedral was full of Hey Jude's 'Na na na na na na na' cus the choir had begun singing the Beatles greatest hits. What a way to begin the new year!
Well, mum left shortly after. And I reunited with friend and housmate who were slowly returning home as well. So, continuing the Beatle tour, on a random Thursday after new year's. I and a host of Germans, Austrians, Swiss and the odd Spaniard (seriously, I'll be fluent in German by the end of this year) finally found time to visit the Cavern, arguably the most famous nightclub in the world. The Beatles did over 30 (I think) gigs here and every Thurs a Beatle tribute band preforms part of their oeuvre to an overexcited audience. I'd never really heard about this before, so was taken by complete suprise when four blokes clad in black and white suits and shoes with heels were shouting well known lyrics in their microphones. Save to say after a couple of overpriced ciders we all agreed all you really need is love and ta ta da da da and so on. It was a hoot.
So, Like I said, the new year. In this year I have already broken a pretty nice record; I have seen, heard and sang to more Beatles than I ever have in all my life. Let me begin where most stories start, the beginning...
As you might well be aware, my mother came over during the holidays. We had a fabulous time exploring the depths and crevices of Liverpools museums, shops and streets (I discovered a whole load of stuff I didn't know about the Pool) and hung out at churches, galleries and sometimes uninhabitable homes a few minutes down the road from my flat. This all out of sheer interest for Liverpools history and to gawk at how a city can have such magnificent cathedrals besides such decrepit slums.
Of course, we also visited the Beatle's Story; the world famous Beatles museum at the Albert Docks. (Technically, this was one or two days before the new year, but we were already celebrating 2008 in spirit) A short summery of the tour; I now know everything to do with the Beatles and I saw John Lennons tinted glasses. Altough I love the band for all they've done for Rock and Roll, and I am very fond of Jude and the Strawberry fields, 10 pounds was a little steep even for a museum full of famous things. But me and mum had a very good time sitting in the Yellow Sub and staring at the fishes. Unlike the clay figurines and wax dolls, they were real.
After many other things that were very exciting and lots of memorable outings that do not belong is this particular story, it was the New Year. Well, no, it was New Years eve and we were bound for the Anglican Cathedral. A hundred year old and may I say Gigantic and rather Magnificent example of a church. Too bad it wasn't build in Medieval times for that would have been even cooler. For this night, the church had prepared a special evening. And although I wasn't too sweeped away with the 'And on the eight day, God created Liverpool' bit that they'd put into a song and dance routine, the gospel choir did their best to get everyone's hands together. But the best thing came a little later. About half an hour before midnight, the 'boss' (I'm so not sure if in the Anglican faith he's called a dean or a chaplain or very possibly something else) told everyone to go outside. With everyone that was a couple of thousand people who'd slowely filled up the church over the hour. Once outside the real party began, the choir was singing songs and after some mighty ding donging by St George's bell they lit the best fireworks I'd seen since Guy Fawkes day (I'd seen none to be honest but still....) and one minute after midnight the whole street outside the cathedral was full of Hey Jude's 'Na na na na na na na' cus the choir had begun singing the Beatles greatest hits. What a way to begin the new year!
Well, mum left shortly after. And I reunited with friend and housmate who were slowly returning home as well. So, continuing the Beatle tour, on a random Thursday after new year's. I and a host of Germans, Austrians, Swiss and the odd Spaniard (seriously, I'll be fluent in German by the end of this year) finally found time to visit the Cavern, arguably the most famous nightclub in the world. The Beatles did over 30 (I think) gigs here and every Thurs a Beatle tribute band preforms part of their oeuvre to an overexcited audience. I'd never really heard about this before, so was taken by complete suprise when four blokes clad in black and white suits and shoes with heels were shouting well known lyrics in their microphones. Save to say after a couple of overpriced ciders we all agreed all you really need is love and ta ta da da da and so on. It was a hoot.
To top all of this 'experience-the-age-you've-totally-missed-cus-you-were-born-in-the-eighties' thing off, on the 12th the People's Opening of Capital of Culture took place on George's Square. The same place that held so many good memories of failing Christmas lights never being switched on and bands preforming I'd never heard of. This time however, the start of the Cap. of Cult. was great. They had fabulous entertainment like dozens of guitarists on every roof around the square, fireworks, the Wombats (the band, not actual furry animals) and the icing on the cake, Ringo Starr on the drums on the roof of St. Georges Hall. He'd changed since I last saw him in the Cavern tho, he'd gotten a little old and all his hair was gone... It was a party nonetheless and everyone had a great, be it cold and windy, time.
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23041807-23109,00.htmlSo, that concludes how I spend almost a month in a sort of Beatle time. Not even including the Beatle photography exhibition at the National Conservation Centre or the Yellow Submarine at John Lennon Airport.
Now uni is starting again tomorrow, auditions for the plays are on, I'm off on new courses (including a foundation unit in the Irish Language (exciting!)) and loads and loads of BA paper writing to do....FUN!
Will be back soon....
06 January 2008
It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life. And I'm feeling good
So, 2008 eh? It feels like we're racing through the first decade of the new Millennium like a hamster in a wheel. Anyway, 2008 is a real important year for Liverpool, it's the year the city sort of gets it's former glory back, it's dignity as a city that matters; to shed the image as the scally wally scousers and the chavs living in 'the worst neighbourhoods in the UK' (Toxteth might ring a bell). Many forget that up until the 1920/30's, Liverpool had been a thriving merchant city, founded 800 years ago by monks and later given a real city title by King John himself. Throughout the middle ages and beyond, it was a city that everyone knew; everyone had been and everyone wanted to live in. During the 18th and 19th Centuries it was described as the London of the North. However, during the first world war and the Wall Street crash with the unemployment that followed, Liverpool went along headfirst into despair, desolation and decay. Not even the Beatles and the Merseybeat could make the city climb back on it's feet. But the last couple of years, with 2008 as it's climax, have been tremendously beneficial for Liverpool. Tourism is growing, employment on a steady rise and buildings being repainted and rebuild to their former glory. Ok, it's not like the Pool can compare to London anymore, not even to Manchester or York, but you have to admit, when you walk the streets and docks, there is a great change going on. I like being in a city that's not great, that's not wonderful or fantastic. I like being in a city that has a clear identity, a purpose and a 'feel'. You really feel part of the progress, part of the revival.
Anyway, Liverpool is a heck of a lot more different than Leiden, even though I love Leiden and definitaly want to come back, there's something about Liverpool that makes you want to stay to see how everything ends up, how it turns out 10 years onwards. No doubt I'll be back though to see what's become of my home. But enough with that New Year's blues, I'm not leaving yet, and will keep on blogging in 2008 to keep everyone in the know. Oh, and next week I hope to be in the presence (or at least catch a glimpse) of one of the two Beatles left alive, Ringo Starr, who's giving a little opening concert to Liverpool '08. Together with a few other big names they're providing a sort of party thing to celebrate Capital of Culture. Should be fun. Will let you know how it went!
(Clickable title)
Anyway, Liverpool is a heck of a lot more different than Leiden, even though I love Leiden and definitaly want to come back, there's something about Liverpool that makes you want to stay to see how everything ends up, how it turns out 10 years onwards. No doubt I'll be back though to see what's become of my home. But enough with that New Year's blues, I'm not leaving yet, and will keep on blogging in 2008 to keep everyone in the know. Oh, and next week I hope to be in the presence (or at least catch a glimpse) of one of the two Beatles left alive, Ringo Starr, who's giving a little opening concert to Liverpool '08. Together with a few other big names they're providing a sort of party thing to celebrate Capital of Culture. Should be fun. Will let you know how it went!
(Clickable title)
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