To lose or not to lose that is the question??

As regular readers will know I have been dieting since October and have been quite successful consistently losing weight (except in Christmas week). Today I reached my 3 stone award and am really pleased. 

However this means I am now only 1 1/2 pounds off my overall target weight. This should be manageable to lose by next Monday at the next 'weigh in', this 'weigh in' is also the last week paid for and the last space on my weight chart! So this would tie everything up nicely and I could leave Slimming World at target weight, save money and have  a totally full page of steady weight loss to look at and be proud of.

When I set my weight target it sounded so distant I could not picture what I would look like at that weight and could not think what I would be like or feel like at that size.

Now that I am there, well almost, I am sure I can lose lots more, many women have joined Slimming World weighing less than me and this makes you think...

I have never thought I could be a slim person or even a normal sized person I had always thought I would be a big person, who ate lots and wore big clothes, but now I think I could be an average size person who eats lots of good food and wears medium clothes. Last week I went shopping for the first time since loosing weight and I now wear medium clothes! 

I think people are more like breeds of dogs than we think - some big, some small. There is no chance that I will ever be a size zero or even a size 10 but I could just maybe fit in to a size 12 some day.... 

But do I want to...? 

Moonfleece at Central

On Thursday afternoon we took the train down to London to see ex-Stage2 member Adrian in his 3rd year production of Moonfleece by Philip Ridley. Although we do love to support friends and ex-members in their shows, a BIG reason for traveling the distance to see this show was because Lucy will be directing this show in the summer, along with two other Philip Ridley plays to become Towerblock Trio... (a very exciting project which we have been emailing the playwright himself about... tell you more about it soon!) 
 
After a lovely walk through Regent's Park (and a the decision to avoid walking to the top of Primrose Hill!) we arrived at Central School of Speech and Drama, which, as it's right in the centre of London really lives up to it's name! With the Hamstead theatre just next door, and two plays being performed at the school that night, we really felt the atmosphere of the London Theatre scene. 

After the sightseers-route walk from Marylbone Station to Swiss Cottage our tummies were rumbling so we grabbed a bite to eat at Me Love Sushi Japanese Restaurant. Being central is convenient but, of course, expensive! What we thought were mains, were as small as sides! But is was really tasty and we thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere.

So, the show. We were really proud of Adrian. Having not seen him act since before he went to drama school, his commitment to learning and developing was so apparent in this role that was so active throughout the whole play. 

Seeing the play performed the whole way though and the pace and emotional involvement needed from each of the actors was hugely beneficial for us at this stage of planning. It's not often you watch a professional standard show that you have been working on yourself so intensely - we knew every line coming up but we still saw lots of new things in its delivery, and particularly the different character relationships.

It was great to talk to Adrian after the show about the rehearsal process, his progress and our upcoming production.

Finding Joy

Well hello there! Long time no speaky.

So we've had an interesting week. We love the theatre and after a barren period, we saw 4 shows this week!

On Wednesday we met up with Lucy's family and drove down to Ombersley in Worcestershire to watch Vamos Theatre's latest production, Finding Joy.

We first saw Vamos two years ago with Nursing Lives, then again with Much Ado About Wenlock. 


They are a fantastic company who design brilliantly expressive and characterful masks to represent each character they play. In a cast of 4 there could be 20 characters as they switch round roles dependent on the combination of characters and scenes. This means they have to portray the character through recognisable physicality, as there are no words spoken at all! This could be a cameo of the patronising doctor, only seen once but instantly familiar - or the recurring character of the mother rushed off her feet worried about her ageing mum and tearaway son.

The story focused on Danny, a teenage boy who is usually found hanging out with his pants-showing-mates, and how he finds his vocation caring for his Nan who is suffering from dementia. The play shows how her memories are of her youth, playing with her dog, or when she first met her husband as a young seamstress. The actresses playing young and old Joy, mirroring each other's movement as we drift in and out of her perceptions of what's happening around her.

We love this company because of the skill they show in representing these characters with such warmth and humour through their physicality. These actors truly are masters of their craft. Each character is rich even if they are in the play for less than 30 seconds. They devise pieces that are relevant, moving and entertaining, so we will defiantly see the next show they do! They tour the country so do try and catch them if you can!

The venue was a village hall - suitable for the occasion even if they people behind us had to stand up to see - and we were treated to complimentary canapes on arrival!