Sunday. After tea.
Remindur Toastyspur,our assistant director and mentor, is late in arriving every Sunday. It was only five minutes to begin with,but today we were still languishing in the rehearsal rooms at 30 minutes past one o'clock. Pendragon had already kissed me sumptuously on the lips five times and left to pursue his own interests for the afternoon before Remindur appeared ,in cut off hose and a loose blouson, hailing us all with a cheery "hello".
I smiled back but my eyes signalled a little disapproval. I dare say I was not the only one. Anyway we went through a physical warm -up to bring back the mood of theatrical industry,and then worked for a further hour on characterisation. I love this kind of work,so threw myself in to the task we were given. We had a group size of five ,and had to create a scenario,where we had to undertake a task together. Each person had a role to play in completing the task,and we had to have a finishing goal for the task we undertook.
Chicolitto was in my group,so I knew we would have some problems devising our scenario.He tends to go off at a tangent,and although his ideas are full of colour ,they are not always fully possible in the time we have. Jonquil was also in my group,with Jarvus and Klava. We devised an intriguing scenario with a bit of perseverance and effort,and had some fun putting it into practise.Remindur always seems pleased to see my work. He gave us an interesting and full critique,but there were no negative strands to it,so it would be fair to say he liked our piece. Before we finished he reminded us that auditions would happen on Saturday next,to get ouselves prepared,book an appointment,and take our chances.
Well, so be it. I am almost ready with my set piece,and I dare say I will drive Pendragon mad this week with my repetitions of some 24 lines.I am very keen to acquire a speaking role,one to challenge my skills and sharpen my dramatic sensibilities. To this end I have chosen a set piece with lots of light and shade.I intend to surprise Remindur by dressing as the character too when I deliver my lines. Black buttoned up tight cardi, long black ankle length skirt,hair tied tightly back in a strait-laced bun,and tiny heeled sensible slipperettes. I should definitely look the part of the introverted school marm.
Monday. After lunch.
At home I am really enjoying my new washing line,recently set up by our Antipodean handygoblin. It works so well,and there are no more wet vestments hanging around the toadstool. I watch several times per day to see if the passing breeze is catching our fine things ,and go outside to check their dryness several times in the morning. I just love the smell of newly dried washing.
It is amazing how simple things like the gentle whiff of fabric softener can comfort the soul and perk up the day.
Now that my artistic escapades are over for a few days, I can settle down to checking the status of my nearest neighbours. I am so out of touch with their recent ploys,and need to get my information banks back up to full power.
Several matters seem to be afoot.
The Primpoles' four wheeled motor toadstool had its small door flung open when I returned today from the supermercantile. Merry sounds of folk songs were coming from within plus less welcome banging,shifting and rattling sounds. I hung around for a few minutes as I locked my motor carriage door,but no one emerged. They may be just summer cleaning,or planning another break away ,but I shall find out which before too long. We seem to have begun a few days of riotous sunshine, so maybe they are heading for a country exploration. I shall have to keep my eyes peeled to notice what they are packing. At least it will mean a break from the ever-present barking of their wildebeests .
Weedy cut the beech hedge last week while I was tidying in the front gsrden. He passed me a few cheery grunts as he laboured,and every time he grunted I could hear the evil black beast pacing up and down their pathway, growling all the while. He was watching me through the hedge,so I stared hard back at him,daring him to make his attack. Such bravado is only a measure of the huge beech hedge between. If I pass their gateway, I shall no doubt move at my usual top speed,not giving him time to notice he has missed out on another victim. Let us hope the Primpoles' holiday is long and takes them very far away.
I saw Ariadne Dagwort out this afternoon too,worrying something by their "newly fixed" fence. She seemed to be examining the hanging lilac branches behind the fence. For ten minutes she pulled and dragged them forward till there was only hanging lilac where the "hole " used to be. Trying to help her mother Mimsey no doubt, help her cover her tracks after the sudden "fixing" of the fence. Sticking together,whatever the weather,is what it's called in white witch territory.
This afternoon found me working in a very warm studio at Dingley Dell Community Network. All the windows were flung open to attract some air into our working space. Passers -by were stopping to peer into the studio,or reception area to enjoy the music playing ,or maybe just to satisfy their elven curiosity about radio stations.
I chose lots of summer elven sounds,to remind my listeners of heady summer moments,lost loves and childhood days in summer fields or wild wet woods. My visitor today was Daedalus Cinquefoil ,my art teacher and painter to the rich and wealthy. He had seemed keen when I had invited him during my art tuition week,and indeed today seemed pleased to endure my simplistic questions,and offer his general viewpoint on creative matters. He took the opportunity to advertise his September workshops,and between conversations,I noted he had pulled out his sketch book. It was only after I had thanked him,and signed off my show for another week,that he produced the sketch of myself at the studio desk ,speaking in to the microphone,and looking very happy to be there. I was thrilled ,as Daedalus only evers works on commissions,and expensively at that. This was his way of saying thank you for my giving him air time,and he had signed it too,making it clearly his work,and adding to its intrinsic value.
Pendragon wants to take it with him tomorrow to Metropolis ,to have it framed. Fancy that ! Drawn by Daedalus Cinquefoil, my image forever recorded for posterity.
Tomorrow I go used parchment hunting in Brigantia. I have found some new outlets,and need to explore their possibilities. Hopefully the sun will shine on my endeavours. I also hope to pop in to an art workshop recommended to me by one of my colleagues on my art course.They offer new techniques for etching and print reproduction,and I'd like to add these skills to my repertoire.
I feel the summer days are going in quickly,and that autumn is only around the corner. Apples are forming slowly on my apple tree. Horse chestnuts have been found lying on the path leading to the tram. There are berries flourishing on the Primpoles' rowan tree. And we saw wild cherries on our Sunday evening walk,growing by the roadside.
Be thinking now, my dear and trusted friends, of autumn woolies,and warm winter socks. Just somewhere at the back of your minds,not enough to send you rushing to fish them out. But remember, in September,you won't want to discover a drawer of single socks or a gossamer jumper with holey sleeves. So keep your eyes open for new mercantile shopping trends and bargains from last year.
From Amarantha, Pendragon Willow's girl, and all at number five Lobelia Drive, the fifth toadstool from the left.
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