Very lucky, ballet, panto and concert.

What a brilliant Christmas and New Year. Until I sort out my phone almost no photos, but have had a lovely time in Wales, London, Weardale and Essex. During the pandemic one of my concerns for Brecon was that it would not survive with its theatre, cinema and lovely shops in tact. I am pleased to say my fears were unfounded, the cafes are brimming, the shops are charming and this year their community ballet a semi professional production was back, with my brother in tow The main dancers are professionals, the corp de ballet, I think from the local ballet school or semi professional and the people filling in excellently in the party scenes locals like my brother. It was a great production as even far back we could see everything and J was singing in the choir and the whole family came along. The result was a full scale production and very good value. We had a deconstructed Christmas dinner in tapas form (I know who knew that was a thing) and everyone had a lovely evening, even those are not great ballet fans. As a ballet fan I was in heaven.

After a very brief stop over in London to catch up with friends, I got one of the last pre strike trains to Durham, had a lovely relaxing Christmas with the family, no work done at all, and even a party with CB,then to cap it all we went to the panto together to see a very updated version of Sleeping Beauty. Half the cast were off sick, but as the stand ins did a great job, it did not matter and we were lucky to be ont he same level as the musicians so that added an element of pleasure. I think J and I really enjoyed shouting and booing and the song at the end.

From this photo take out the princess, and swop the prince into the king and then wack some dancers into their roles and you get the picture. Normally I stay on till new year in the Durham area but this year, I spent a special NYE with RmG and we managed to watch a version of Hamilton on film, and it is brilliant, can see why it won all the plaudits, but prior to that we managed to pop into Chelsmford Musuem which turns out to have a lovely cafe attached to it. Then on New Year's Day we discovered a lovely pub in Bradwell upon Sea, but only after a invigorating short walk when we discovered the Othona community by accident. I had heard of it as a friend of a friend had stayed there, but I had no idea of where it was till we came across the Cedd Chapel which has stood on this barren site since the 6 hundreds and prior to that amazingly the Romans had a fort here, yet now it is a wild and muddy place. But tucked in next to it, is the community. Then to top off a lovely weekend, we went to Saffron Hall, which is relatively close to where I live for that New Year music event, presented by BBC concert orchestra. We were in the front row and I loved our view of the clarinetist and the orchestra. I look forward to hearing it all over again when it is on Radio 3 later this month.