London v Hereford (From Hereford Times)

London v Hereford

7:25am Monday 8th January 2007

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I am a small town girl. Yes, I’ve lived in Orlando, Florida where the metropolitan area population is about 2 million and growing daily; but in my heart of hearts, I love small town living. However, every once in a while I like to sample the big city life and nothing can compare to London.

Since I moved here four years ago, I’ve had lots of opportunities to visit the city. My husband worked for a branch of the government in Cardiff and often had meetings in London. When it was an over night stay, I often tagged along when I could get the dog into kennel. It gave us a chance to go to the theatre a few times, I would have to say I am now a bit addicted to live theatre.

On Friday we had some business to take care of in London. I should say Hubby had business and I was left at odds waiting for him so off I went to Oxford Street to shop my way up the street. And shop I did, but I didn’t spend any money. While you might be spoilt for choice in London, the discounted prices of the winter sales didn’t seem like much of a discount to me at all. Thank you, no, I will spend my clothing allowance in Hereford or online with the multitude of catalogues that are available for my plus sized frame. Couldn’t justify spending more just because it was London.

Friday night we had purchased tickets to see Rik Mayall in “The New Statesman”. We arrived at the theatre early and went to the bar for a drink. While sitting there sipping my glass of wine I thought I recognized an actor from “Dead Ringers”. I kept telling hubby I was sure it was this actor and he kept saying that he didn’t think that it was this gentleman and “don’t go up there”. Determine as I was, I eventually got up the courage, either that or the wine kicked in to go up and speak with the man. He was indeed Jon Culshaw of Dead Ringers. I just walked up and said “excuse me, aren’t you that guy from ‘Dead Ringers’ “? When he replied to the affirmative, I said that I didn’t even know his name. . .silly me, that wasn’t much of a compliment was it!! He introduced himself and the man he was with who happens to be one of the brilliant writers from the show. I did tell him that I thought his impression of George Bush was right on target and told him I very much enjoyed the program he is on and left him to his drink in peace. I was so excited though, being the small town girl that I am, to have met a real celebrity that I phoned my children and my stepchildren and mother (all of who except for my stepchildren live in the states). Okay, so I was a little star struck. The play by the way was funny and so very typical of Rik Mayall, lots of innuendo and play on words and heavy on political satire.

Saturday it rained the entire day but we had indoor plans as it was the next to the last day to see the Holbein exhibit at the Tate Britain. The museum was teeming with people and it was difficult to see all the work but what we saw was amazing. To think that the most common picture in the world of Henry VIII was done by this artist. We really enjoyed the exhibit.

That said, it was nice to come home on Saturday night to our warm, cosy, dry home in our little Hereford.

And if I had a chance to talk to Jon Culshaw again, I’d just like to say that meeting him was the highlight of my weekend. I think too often we think of celebrities and up there on a pedestal, at least we do in the states and it was ever so nice to have a conversation with someone who was so talented and yet very down to earth and kind enough to take the time from his evening to speak to a fan.