JCJ, you are a true performer did you graduate from the lee strasberg school of METHOD ACTING?? Growing your own donkey hair? such dedication to your art, am well impressed 
! xx
CAST AND CREW - big day tomorrow, first run-through, VID comments at 9.30 pm, glitterberry juice notwithstanding. Well I will need something to get me through this hare-brained experience.
SO SO SO impressed with the Benchland Carols - could we put them into a booklet and go carol singing??? have to select audiences very carefully of course.
Millie is deeply relieved that the other dogs are just using âstage namesâ and sheâs busy selecting her own. I suggested Tootsy-pup (which is what I call her in the park) but she got all embarrassed, so a re-think is called for.
Hope Clunk got the footwaer sorted out - we may need to put in a large order for the whole cast.
Remember - no tippling until AFTER rehearsals⊠this Rule was not always observed at the summer panto!!
See you all there!!
grumpy
JCJ I remember the days when ANY hair was to be valued. It was strange that legs plumage grew faster than the pate.
Grumpy Tootsy Pup will so enjoy being festooned ready for the play. Lots od doggie treats to be provided. I am going to the Queenâs Farm shop tomorrow or rather today!!! So I will get some of their fantastic marrow bones.
All these fantastic CarolsâŠI will try doing one tomorrow but donât expect anything of quality.
I have been practising the carols⊠received some VERY strange looks!!!
Ugh, who spiked my drink? If only! Just started a new drug to try to reduce my flushes and had a MASSIVE adverse reaction⊠so seeing lovely GP this afternoon to get checked over. Thankfully not anaphylactic but not at all pleasant. So now on the âlie-down-in-a-darkesned-roomâ bench feeling very wibbly wobbly for a while.
Silent Day, Silent night
Cat has had quite fright
Shivers spreading from head to toe
Dizzy, groggy, pointed-in-toes!
Sheâs resting now on a bench
The GP will sort her out (t)hence!!!
Am feeling a bit better now, no cause for concern, but still need to see GP.
Oh RevCat,
Hope GP sorts your out quickly and stayl on the Rest bench for the day. Flock can wait until you get better. Hug.
That sounds awful RevCat, rest up as much as you can x
Teeny weeny update: GP confirmed adverse drug reaction; so now HUGE note on file to say never ever prescribe this drug group for me. Should feel better in about 24 hours but have to go back for another check on Monday as BP was sky high (one of the many adverse effects). Sorry Dame Grumpy, you will be one shepherd down for the walk through tonightâŠ
Commiserations RevCat, but glad it was âonlyâ an adverse reaction. Must have been pretty scary though! I hope you are feeling better soon. Put your feet up and recover.
Perhaps Iâll stop whinging about my MILD flushes now and get a grip! They HAVE eased off a liitle bit lately, but then Iâm only a week away from starting the Revlon (no, thatâs wrong - canât think what they are Relon? Raven? Radish? - told you I couldnât âdoâ names!!) ones.
Mini rant among friends who understand: I MAY BE LOOKING REALLY, REALLY WELL, BUT WILL YOU ALL STOP TELLING ME SO, BECAUSE ITâS MAKING ME FEEL A FRAUD. AND ACTUALLY IâM bloody TIRED AND SICK OF HAVING TO STAND BY THE OPEN FIRE DOOR IN THE CLASSROOM, AND FREEZING WHATâS LEFT OF MY T**S OFF JUST TO STOP ME FROM BOILING OVER!! 
There, Iâve done it. Normal service will now be resumed and I wonât have to be rude to my lovely, caring, supportive colleagues, who I know, are only trying to help me make a full ârecoveryâ.
â«Some hay in a mangerâŠâ«
â«Onward Chillow so-o-ldiersâŠâ«
â«Oh the Grand olâd Dame of York, she had 10,000 wimin âŠâ«
etc. Feel better already. 
Oh my rushing in sheets, pins in mouth, sewing kit in hand, muttering my lines, trying to remember all the carols, dancing, going up and down escalators, am I up or am I down, oh golly gosh whereâs that donkey??
Hope you are feeling a âweeâ bit better RevCat, just chillax on the comfy sofa and watch as the fun begins xx
JaneâŠyou made me laugh out loudâŠI was just too lazy to type Revcatâs full name!!!..talking of whomâŠhope youâre feeling better soonâŠadverse reaction to pills is awfulâŠthanks for the offer of the hair but Iâll just stick with the fluffy grey stuff for nowâŠI was going to have it cut but if my hairdresser cuts off the chemo frizzâŠI wonât have any left again and itâs really coldâŠwill just wait for a whileâŠbeloved grandchild still calling me nanna fluffyhead!!!..GrumpyâŠwill be by later for the walkthroughâŠstill glowing gently and next boiling tablet due after my teaâŠ
Wonât be around for rehearsal, too knackered after herceptin, still have to chauffeur daughter around. Is there a free bed in benchland or has everything been moved out of the way for the panto?
RevCat hope you get better soon.
Ribbit from the box.
Plenty of beds/benches/sofas for anyone who needs them. The panto fits around every other need! Literally and virtually!
Is this a dress rehearsal - am I needed for make up? Buggerit it here and ready to play his part. Am I required in the bar afterwards - spider is over there ------------> I made a much smaller one using Buggeritâs unused poo bags - and I am very pleased with the result. This one doesnât have red fangs - but does have a smile.
Crib - check
Straw - check
doll - check
spider - check - yes I know ST providing it but Sidneyâs insisting on coming - thinks heâll see that pin-up spider sprawled across the bonnet of a car (equivalent of the bikini-clad bimbos at the motor show? :))
Camel costumes - check
Donkey hair - check
Songs of words learnt - almost, but not in the right order!!
Soldiers outfit - wearing it, no Iâm not, yes I am, no Iâm not, yesâŠ
Skates on - check
Making ass of self - check
Vast plates of cakes - check
Tea urn - check
Coffee pot - check
Free access to JM - check
Chocolate mountain (yes I DO mean mountain and not fountain!) - check
Right Iâm ready. DG will be soooo impressed. Weâre going to have to work extra hard at this rehearsal to make up for those that canât make it tonight. You know how crabby these director folk can be if half the cast is missing?!
Iâm hereâŠwhat a mad rush, just need to catch my breath.
Right, better now, all ready for the fun and games. Oops sorry Grumpy, I mean the seriousness of our first walkthrough. Please point out all my mistakes gently, as I feel a little fragile tonight.
RevCat - how awful! Hope you feel better soon.
Iâm here too, being practising my âangelicâ singing 
I have some winter Pimms stashed under my robes, give me a shout if anyone wants some
Where has my spider made out of dogpoo bags gone??? It was there one minute and gone the next. I saw Buggerit chasing something into the woods that looked like a spider carrying something - hope it wasnât Sydney dragging off my creation!!!
I need a drink and we havenât started yet!!
Couldnt get 4 matching leg warmers, does it matter? Iâm enjoying playing on the escalators, Iâll try and keep out of the wayâŠ
Supertrouper your spiderâs gone off to star in tonights Iâm a celebrityâŠ
I expect heâll be back but he may be a bit battered!