One of the good things about Twitter Is that I can relegate immediate thoughts to it rather than a full blog post. It also means I can blog on the go via my mobile. It also means that I can use those on the go thoughts to structure a post such as this one about the trip to Stratford-upon-Avon to see Hamlet. So, without further delay I wish to present TwitterExpanded...

yay - I'm going south and the rain's going south... wait... not yay!

We went down on the Sunday and were due to have a couple of days down there so we could be tourists as well as cultured theatre attendees. The weather forecast on Sunday Morning had a band of rain traveling down from where I was to the south (where Stratford sort of is). This did not bode well for traveling or being all touristy. More pressing than that though was working out the correct time and preparing a roast dinner (arranging the end of British Summer Time to clash with when I'm trying to do a roast for an early lunch so we could get away is just bad planning on someone's part). I successfully managed a passable pheasant and woodpigeon breast roast dinner though. In future I'll probably just grill/fry the meat with the apples and pears rather than try to roast breasts.

So we set off to that unknown land - The SOUTH (as it's handily signposted on the motorways). Relatively smooth run including a trip on the Midlands Expressway (aka the more mundane sounding "M6 Toll").

About to go to bed in pyjamas for first time in years.

We got to Stratford in plenty of time. We were staying in a Bed and Breakfast (Hampton Lodge) just on the outskirts of the Town Centre. After emptying the car we went on an epic quest into the heartlands of the Bard's own town. Several pubs later we had had our dinner, sampled the local Weatherspoons (comes with it's very own drunk scotsman playing BOGIES with Anny) and made our way back to the B&B. Now, the B&B only had double rooms available so we split on gender grounds. As this was the first time I'd met Richard, I had thought ahead and brought some Pyjamas (bottoms from the set I brought when fancy dressing as Arthur Dent, and top a Tee-Shirt advertising safe sex - G.I. Johnny) with me. I normally sleep naked (there's a thought no-one wanted - oh well) as I get hot at night otherwise and it just feels odd.

Warwick Castle: very pretty, very steep steps and a trebuchet!

Monday morning, after a night of behaving myself, we had decided that Warwick Castle should be the target of our affections. Possibly with a wander round Stratford in the afternoon. This being Halloween season, Warwick Castle had suitabley themed "family fun" events going on - including the not just plague victims but Singing Plague Victims. Nor were these ordinary singing plague victims - these were GROTESQUE Singing Plague Victims. We just knew we had to see them. As we had missed thier earlier showing this meant sticking around for the two thirty showing and finding other sources of entertainment in the meantime. It also meant ditching plans for Stratford.

So we went up to the Ramparts in an effort to see the Grave Diggers and then found we were stuck in a one way system. A one way system with heights and narrow spiral staircases.

And gorgeous views.

I now want to do a changeling game set in a summer fort in the hedge fighting the fae.

Then we had to see the Trebuchet being fired. 'twas mighty impressive, but then it's bigger than owt I've created.

And look round the Summer Court Grand Hall. Sorry, the state rooms and great hall of Warwick Castle (slipped into CtL Storyteller mode there).

Caught in two rain showers - one had hail. 8-)

Then finally it was time for the grotesque singing plague victims. And it rained. And Hailed. But us hardy northerners kept our cool and braved it out and oh boy was it worth it. This was not "family fun" this was dirty. This was sexual. This was damn fun!

[Video of Grotesque Singing Plague Victims]

I've ironed my shirt for tonight and everything! Cute waiter at pub 8-)

Back to the B&B to prepare for the play. Shower, Shave (without cutting myself). Realise I've left my hair styling products at home (oops...). Then out to the recommended pub for a... sub-standard meal. The Lamb was nice, but the mash and veg weren't that great. Anny's duck was hideously tough. Not even the very cute waiter who buggered off as soon as we arrived would make me recommend it to you.

David Tennant has a lovely arse. Laertes (edward bennett) was also very nice...

Of course, the important part of the holiday. Hamlet itself. And that there is my review of it 8-).

What, you want more? OK, errr... the mirror themed set was good. The costumes seemed, well, modern - except the soldiers' uniforms which seemed more 1930s trenchcoats. Just, didn't quite fit. I didn't know the play very well and struggled to follow the shakespearean english. But the various scenes of Hamlet's madness looked so much fun. Ophelia's madness - was she meant to be pretending to be mad - because that's how it came across.

I also want to mention the seats. To make people jealous - front row seats gave a great view of the actors. To qualify it a bit... we were right at the edge (the stage promenades out into the audience and we were at the end - back of the stage almost. Very often my view of main characters was perfectly obstructed by other characters. Or I was blinded by the lights. Or I was fidgeting as I was in the "restricted leg room" seat. Very restricted leg room.

But anyway, David Tennent has a great arse (and a surname which I can't spell consistantly), but Edward Bennett as Laertes was gorgeous.

We did make our way to the stage door and I got to see a bit of DT's fringe and Anny got her programme signed. No Patrick Stewart though 8-(

Another beautiful day. I'll be back this afternoon having spent far too much.

Today woke up to another gorgeous day and had a brief wander round Stratford. On account of having no more money, didn't spend anything on pretty bottles, oils, books...

Damn shops having christmas music this early. I don't want white christmas stuck in my head.

Did get annoyed by Past Times having Christmas music on this fucking early. Decorations, are bad enough but christmas music... no.

Then we headed home through...

SNOW!

which stuck to the ground and everything. But not back home 8-(

Alex
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