I spoke!!! Aaaaah!!!! I actually got to speak.......

So sorry this is so late but I have been doing twelve hour days on  ITV's Foyles War.  A TV drama set in the 1940's in England.  I left home in the dark and arrived back in the dark and I am beyond tired!!!

The location was in Nantwich Cheshire, at a rather lovely Jacobean Manor House built in 1616, an absolutely fabulous house.

The house is privately owned by the family and they were there whilst filming was going on. The Lady of the house was very nice and loved sharing with us all the historical facts and talking about her family.  The house had been used for quite a few productions previously, like Sherlock Holmes.  It really did have a lived in family feel, with Tolly the Retriever wandering around wanting to be stroked and patted by all the crew and cast.

I was the Housekeeper!!!! Well I was immediately out of my comfort zone arriving with only a small amount of make-up on, for me, and having that removed.  Then the hair, well as you know the 40's was all sweeps and curls.  I wasn't really prepared for my forehead being on display it hasn't seen the light of day for years, if ever, I am really not a fan of it!!!  One has to just grin and bear it for the sake of one's art and I even posed for a couple of photos eek!!!!  What I did think was how much time did they spend in those days curling and fixing their hair?

There were other extras on the set who all looked very authentic and you immediately get taken back to another time.  A rather glamorous time considering WW2 was happening!  Both men and women wore hats and there were shoulder pads and waists giving generally a much more stylish look.

Being a background artist you very rarely get to speak, however, this time I got to say "thank you sir". Only three small words, but in this business that is 'something'.  Ok I am not booking my flight to Hollywood any day soon, but for someone who has come to this late I am rather excited.  Of course, by the time the production makes it to our screens there is a very good chance it will have been cut, but for now I am basking in the experience of imagining what it is like to be an actress.  During filming I had to nod my head at one point to an actor and it is amazing how a simple instruction becomes a big deal, I kept repeating it after to see if I had done it right!!! I know, mad!!!

It was a lovely experience and the actors and crew were very nice, all in all a good time was had by all. We just have to wait for the series to start again on our screens, which I think will be in about six months.  Now I have to brace myself for that!!!

TTFN!!!

Coronation Street

Spent a pleasant few hours at Coronatiion Street.  I was in the Bistro fleetingly having a chat and drinking fake wine!!  

Coronation Street has moved to Media City now and it is very impressive all very modern!! It reminds me of Canary Wharf in London.

We finished early so it will be nice to go home and chill tonight and watch the eviction in Celebrity Big Brother!!!

TTFN

Costume Fitting eek!!!!

So today I am rather excited as I am off to Croxteth Hall in Liverpool for a costume fitting for a programme they are filming next week.  Crazy as it may seem, but as I have got older I rather like dressing up as somebody else.  Maybe it is an attempt at running away from the real ME!!!  

Here is me as a Nurse on the Hollyoaks set

The era is 1940's Wartime Britain!!!! My imagination is running wild thinking maybe - Land girl, Wren, Nurse or just a lady in the street!!!!  What on earth is going to happen to my hair??? Which is wild at the moment, let's hope a hat is on the agenda!

What was going to be an ordinary week next week is now going to be filming for four days.  It will be so interesting to work on something new.  Hope there are lots of tea making facilities to keep me going, as I love my tea.

Later in the day......

I am going to be a housekeeper!!  I rather like my dress and the shoes well what can I say very sensible!!! I couldn't take pictures but I have found a picture of the nearest to the look of my costume I could find.

I am thinking of doing my extra work in the style of the housekeeper out of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca.

More about this next week so keep watching!!

TTFN

My thoughts are turning to Spring...

Today is a sunny day and I am looking forward to Spring!!! In my opinion, one of the nicest times of the year. I love seeing the flowers appearing in my garden.  My garden is one of my hobbies, I have so many plans for it, but just maintaining it is hard work.

I have tried to do different areas like rooms. I absolutely love arches and climbing plants so they feature quite a bit in my garden!

This is quite an old picture and we have since planted hedging to cover the fence.

We have a swimming pool which in the good times looked lovely.

Hopefully we will get to see it like this again.  I love seeing the first blossom tree bloom in February it usually signals Spring is not far away.

Last year I turned my attention to my front garden.  Over the next week I will publish some photos of that.  Oooh!!! A cliffhanger - keep watching folks!!!

TTFN

Making the best out of situations ....

I have come to Didsbury village this morning to do a couple of jobs.  Found a new coffee shop Didsbury Lounge nipped in for a cup of tea. 

Nice to find a new place to sit and have a read whilst waiting for an appointment.  Did I say there is also the draw of a lovely wood burning stove!!!!  Nice wallpaper too!!!!

Might be here a while!!!

TTFN

Cup of Tea in the Country

Decided to go out for a cup of tea today with Mr.F ended up at one of our favourite stomping grounds The Dog in Over Peover, just outside Knutsford.  Lovely log fires, tartan carpet and dare I say the inspiration behind my kitchen walls!!!

Love that cosy feeling you get when you walk into a pub and think the dark walls, pictures, memorabilia and log fires are the essential elements!

I am a complete fan of Farrow and Ball paint and my intention was to use it in my kitchen, but they just didn't have the colour I had in my head, so I had it made up by Dulux.  The result was just what I wanted.

Home now getting ready for a nice glass of wine and to chill out this evening!!!!  Just remembered I'm doing dry January, maybe a Tonic without the Gin!!!!

TTFN!!!

NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNINGS

 9th January 2014

New Years Resolution:   Start my blog in earnest.

My life has changed a lot since I started in 2008.  So much water has gone under the bridge.  I was living the high life when I look back.  Restoring our house and holidaying about three times a year to France.

We have gone through various financial difficulties and are still clinging on to our house for grim death. My son is an adult now and he is at University doing Finance and Economics.   Last year I worked for the first time in 20 years.   I tried my hand at helping in a Tea Shop at a Stately Home in the area, which was something I had always wanted to do.   I then became self employed being an agent for a holiday let in the area.  Finally, I became a TV extra or in the theatrical world I would be called a Supporting Artist!!!!!   I have had my finger in many pies and the one pie I have thoroughly enjoyed is the world of TV.   Who would have thought this person who hates having her photo taken has been knocking back drinks in the Rovers Return on Coronation Street.

It has been an eventful year to say the least and at times desperate, but I have managed to keep my head above water trying a variety of things.

I hope to bring to this blog my energy for being busy and to try and share with you my love of house decoration, fashion, France, my family, dogs and eating.  I will try and make it as interesting as possible and hope to give you ideas for your houses, keep you up to date with the latest fashions and just generally anything that takes us away from the humdrum of everyday living, but at the same time keep an eye out for the pennies!!!!!   I will also keep you all up to date with my other life in the world of TV.