What a super day my sister Pat and I enjoyed yesterday in London.
Last Christmas Pat’s son Mark, (my nephew) gave us tickets for the ‘Dreamboats and Petticoats’ show in the Playhouse Theatre. So Pat and I arranged to meet under the clock at Waterloo Station around midday yesterday. When I arrived I was tear filled remembering the many times that I had been welcomed at that spot by my brothers Tim and Des RIP. However, the fact that the upstairs café restaurant is closed as part of the refurbishment of Waterloo Station helped me to look forward while still cherishing those memories. As I wiped tears away an old friend from Kerry tapped me on my shoulder. Don Buckley has worked on this station for forty years or since he left his native place. Semi retired he now assists passengers who require extra help to get to their destination. How lovely it is for someone to genuinely share moments of grief at the same time as regaling with humour and all in a Kerry accent! Small wonder that ‘Kerry’ is christened ‘The Kingdom’!
Our Pat arrived looking very smart all ready to knock spots out of our day in London. We caught the tube to the Embankment to locate the Playhouse theatre. No easy task in the delving rain.
I’ll have to admit here that my method of finding places is to abandon the maps I have researched in place of approaching anyone who I decide might know the way.
Pat and I splashed our way up towards Charing Cross Station to the Strand so that we could use our Pizza Hut meal vouchers. £5 a pizza and a free salad! We could then afford coffee in Fortnum and Mason’s and that is what we did.
When we arrived back in Piccadilly Circus the Olympic torch was there! Yes one of the authentic torches. I couldn’t resist having my photo taken by folk promoting the games as I stood holding that torch at the bottom of the steps leading up to Eros. Then to our surprise my picture was immediately was visible for all to see on the Samsung backdrop above the whole circus. Whow!
When we arrived back at the Embankment the sun shone on the Thames as we viewed the Wheel from the other side. We walked, mingled with tourists and behaved at one with them posing and photographing each other against the London skyline.
Then time for ‘Dreamboats and Petticoats’….the raison d’être of our day!
No matter how high our expectations they were soon surpassed. First our Pat was so proud of her generous son Mark when she led me to the best seats in the house: Four rows from the front and in the middle just near enough to have a wonderful view.
The programme read:
Set in 1961 Dreamboats and Petticoats featuring 52 hits from Rock ‘n’ Roll legends including Elvis, Chuck Berry, Roy Orbison, Cliff Richard and the Shadows, Adam Faith, Paul Anka and many others, the Dreamboats and Petticoats series is fast becoming the of the Rock ‘n’ Roll generation show
Our emotions ran high as we wished that shy but talented pianist, Laura, would succeed in proving that she loved Bobby. Time speed as our enjoyment of the show progressed. We clapped, sang and eventually danced through hits including Let’s Dance, To Know Him Is To Love Him, Shaking All Over, Let It Be Me, Great Pretender, Bobby’s Girl, Three Steps To Heaven, Only Sixteen, Runaround Sue, Happy Birthday Sweet 16, Little Town Flirt, C’mon Everybody, Let’s Twist Again and many more hits from music’s golden era!
This show proved to be a story of love, excitement, and plenty of music to keep everyone engaged. It seemed to me that my sister Pat recalled happy memories but while I thoroughly enjoyed myself I also regretted having spent those years in the convent.
Sunday, 17 July 2011
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Society of Authors Three Counties Writers' Lunch
As you will be able to see from Novelist Catherine King's website: www.catherineking.info, members of the Society of Authors Three Counties Group enjoyed a splendid time yesterday. We were invited to a social lunch by Marney and John de Carle in Lowicks house near Farnham.
When my SATNAV took me off the main road through a long narrow lane arched by pine trees, it felt as though I was being transported into a Harry Potter set. Then jagged lettered LOWICKS HOUSE sign came up on my left and I hoped I would manage to catch sight of the house before an owl swooped me up. Instead half way up the drive I was nearly driven off the winding path by a post van. What was I to do? Reversing back wasn't an option for me. Not on such a narrow, winding path. Fortunately the lady driver, realising my predicament, guided me to a spot where she managed to manoeuvre around me. But all was worth while when the imposing white house and the huge lake came into view. Canadian geese cackled and ducks quacked to greet me once my car was parked. Our host, John de Carle held a glass of champagne out to me and another author who joined me, Josephine (Phine) Chia, as we neared the entrance to his home. We were awe struck by the magnificent scene as we emerged from the other side of his home to meet our hostess Marney and guests on the lawn overlooking the lake. Who would not be inspired there? There was a bridge, a walled garden with a hidden door and a tea house which is as big as my home. The trees, the fowl, the undulating lawn and the welcome. Out there we were ravishingly dined and wined and entertained by actress Marney followed by our leader and organiser, Diana. Even I dared to recite a poem. Reluctant to leave some of us took up the invitation to walk the mile around the lake. I was delighted that Catherine King asked if I would join her. I must secure a copy of her latest novel when it comes to next month. She is really a gifted writer. She does her research and has a natural flare. If only I was able to attach photographs to my blog too.
When my SATNAV took me off the main road through a long narrow lane arched by pine trees, it felt as though I was being transported into a Harry Potter set. Then jagged lettered LOWICKS HOUSE sign came up on my left and I hoped I would manage to catch sight of the house before an owl swooped me up. Instead half way up the drive I was nearly driven off the winding path by a post van. What was I to do? Reversing back wasn't an option for me. Not on such a narrow, winding path. Fortunately the lady driver, realising my predicament, guided me to a spot where she managed to manoeuvre around me. But all was worth while when the imposing white house and the huge lake came into view. Canadian geese cackled and ducks quacked to greet me once my car was parked. Our host, John de Carle held a glass of champagne out to me and another author who joined me, Josephine (Phine) Chia, as we neared the entrance to his home. We were awe struck by the magnificent scene as we emerged from the other side of his home to meet our hostess Marney and guests on the lawn overlooking the lake. Who would not be inspired there? There was a bridge, a walled garden with a hidden door and a tea house which is as big as my home. The trees, the fowl, the undulating lawn and the welcome. Out there we were ravishingly dined and wined and entertained by actress Marney followed by our leader and organiser, Diana. Even I dared to recite a poem. Reluctant to leave some of us took up the invitation to walk the mile around the lake. I was delighted that Catherine King asked if I would join her. I must secure a copy of her latest novel when it comes to next month. She is really a gifted writer. She does her research and has a natural flare. If only I was able to attach photographs to my blog too.
Sunday, 10 July 2011
Literary agent
I really hope that Judith Murdoch will find the manuscript of my novel acceptable.I was delighted when she suggested that I post my work to her and would consider myself very fortunate to have such a distinguished Literary Agent.
There are great opportunities to be availed of at the Winchester Writers' Conference each year. Barbara Large certainly knows how to welcome persons of calibre to encourage us in our pursuit of writing. What foresight she showed in getting Barry Cunningham OBE just as the last of Harry Potter films is being released. When he passed me on the steps up to the dining room he said: 'How are you' to which I replied: 'Waiting to be discovered!' If only.....
Although I often became frustrated last week when I was seated for most of each day in front of my computer editing and struggling to format the manuscript of my novel I also experienced the sheer joy of returning to the writing. In fact, I am now determined to continue writing the other novel I began based on my 100 mile trek to Santiago Compostela. From now on I am going to write each day.I realise that in order to do this I will have to forfeit initiating the fundraising activities that I have been engaged in for the last number of years but I can do this and still support others from time to time.
There are great opportunities to be availed of at the Winchester Writers' Conference each year. Barbara Large certainly knows how to welcome persons of calibre to encourage us in our pursuit of writing. What foresight she showed in getting Barry Cunningham OBE just as the last of Harry Potter films is being released. When he passed me on the steps up to the dining room he said: 'How are you' to which I replied: 'Waiting to be discovered!' If only.....
Although I often became frustrated last week when I was seated for most of each day in front of my computer editing and struggling to format the manuscript of my novel I also experienced the sheer joy of returning to the writing. In fact, I am now determined to continue writing the other novel I began based on my 100 mile trek to Santiago Compostela. From now on I am going to write each day.I realise that in order to do this I will have to forfeit initiating the fundraising activities that I have been engaged in for the last number of years but I can do this and still support others from time to time.
Friday, 10 June 2011
Complaing to SW trains.
South West Trains Customer Service Centre
Overline House
Southampton
SO15 1GW
Customer Service! What?
What an awful journey I had from Clapham Junction to Farnborough last night!
I renewed my Senior Rail card for £28 and purchased a £15 return ticket at Farnborough Main
I went to visit my 85 year old uncle in Brighton travelling via Woking and Clapham Junction. The journey there was fine BUT on the return journey:
Once I got off the 18.40 train from Brighton to Clapham Junction to catch a connection to Farnborough Main I was advised to catch the 19.40 train to Exeter and was advised to change at Woking the trouble began:
The train stopped abruptly. We could barely hear the guard announcing that there was a problem. Something about cables??
There was no real information no care and no emergency or crisis management. The PA system was awful too. A man opposite is getting married today! My neighbour has two young children…..all of us had our needs. My nephew was stuck at Waterloo only getting home at midnight having to make the return journey at 7am today. He too has a family.
I have phoned and twittered and phoned and been promised a phone call back this morning from 7.45 until 10am to complain about the dreadful lack of service between Clapham Junction and Farnborough last night.
So I left Clapham Junction at 19.40 and arrived home at 1am in the morning.
I had parked my car in the parish church car park and I had a 10 min walk which would have been fine in daylight. I had to ask a couple if I could walk part of the way with them.
When I had driven 20mins to Frimley I had to unlock and lock garage in dark and walk to my home. I am 66+
I renewed my Senior Citizen Rail card costing £28 and paid a further £15 for my return to Brighton ticket.
When I phoned now I was left waiting for 15 mins. but eventually a customer relations lady; Claire Haigh listened and advised me to write and email. Why can’t I do claim on line?
In this age of modern technology surely this is possible? I must be able to be traced and verified through Farnborough and my contact information.
I could have driven to Brighton and back at least twice in the time and be less fraught and frightened when walking home through morning hours in the dark.
I read you have given staff management millions of pounds bonus! Was this for Customer relations?
Marion Dante
Overline House
Southampton
SO15 1GW
Customer Service! What?
What an awful journey I had from Clapham Junction to Farnborough last night!
I renewed my Senior Rail card for £28 and purchased a £15 return ticket at Farnborough Main
I went to visit my 85 year old uncle in Brighton travelling via Woking and Clapham Junction. The journey there was fine BUT on the return journey:
Once I got off the 18.40 train from Brighton to Clapham Junction to catch a connection to Farnborough Main I was advised to catch the 19.40 train to Exeter and was advised to change at Woking the trouble began:
The train stopped abruptly. We could barely hear the guard announcing that there was a problem. Something about cables??
There was no real information no care and no emergency or crisis management. The PA system was awful too. A man opposite is getting married today! My neighbour has two young children…..all of us had our needs. My nephew was stuck at Waterloo only getting home at midnight having to make the return journey at 7am today. He too has a family.
I have phoned and twittered and phoned and been promised a phone call back this morning from 7.45 until 10am to complain about the dreadful lack of service between Clapham Junction and Farnborough last night.
So I left Clapham Junction at 19.40 and arrived home at 1am in the morning.
I had parked my car in the parish church car park and I had a 10 min walk which would have been fine in daylight. I had to ask a couple if I could walk part of the way with them.
When I had driven 20mins to Frimley I had to unlock and lock garage in dark and walk to my home. I am 66+
I renewed my Senior Citizen Rail card costing £28 and paid a further £15 for my return to Brighton ticket.
When I phoned now I was left waiting for 15 mins. but eventually a customer relations lady; Claire Haigh listened and advised me to write and email. Why can’t I do claim on line?
In this age of modern technology surely this is possible? I must be able to be traced and verified through Farnborough and my contact information.
I could have driven to Brighton and back at least twice in the time and be less fraught and frightened when walking home through morning hours in the dark.
I read you have given staff management millions of pounds bonus! Was this for Customer relations?
Marion Dante
Thursday, 14 January 2010
One of my favourite poems!
Winter Morning Poem
Ogden Nash
Winter is the king of showmen
Turning tree stumps into snow men
And houses into birthday cakes
And spreading sugar over lakes
Smooth and clean and frosty white
The world looks good enough to bite
That's the season to be young
Catching snowflakes on your tongue
Snow is snowy when it's snowing
I'm sorry it's slushy when it's going
I search and searched to find this poem today. The children I taught loved it. We used to learn it off my heart and do all the actions. It has such lovely images doesn't it? I love the line: 'The world looks good enough to bite.'
Ogden Nash
Winter is the king of showmen
Turning tree stumps into snow men
And houses into birthday cakes
And spreading sugar over lakes
Smooth and clean and frosty white
The world looks good enough to bite
That's the season to be young
Catching snowflakes on your tongue
Snow is snowy when it's snowing
I'm sorry it's slushy when it's going
I search and searched to find this poem today. The children I taught loved it. We used to learn it off my heart and do all the actions. It has such lovely images doesn't it? I love the line: 'The world looks good enough to bite.'
Saturday, 9 January 2010
Snow yet again!
I last ventured out on Tuesday 5th Janurary after listening to the weather forecaster warning that snow was on it's way. Thank goodness I went to Sainsbury's and purchased fresh fruit and vegetables etc.
Since I broke my arm and finger last year I realise how brittle my bones are now so I wont chance walking on ice. After taking Tamoxafin for five years as part of my cancer treatment my calcium levels have been depleted....but hey I'm alive and ordinarily ready to venture forth and take part in all kinds of activity.
As I live on the brow of a hill, that has now become a ski slope for the local youths, it is too risky to go out. Besides, very few others are doing so. Our postman has not been around although the Pizza leaflets have been delivered! However, I don't see how we could actually get these as only 2 or 3 four wheeled vehicles have so far managed to go over the hill....
Being house/snow bound has enticed me into tuning up my guitar and singing very loudly once my neighbours are out. The couple on the right on me work at Heathrow and have decided to go to parents who live in Staines in order to get to the airport each day. The couple who live to my left have had to carry their three year old down to the bottom of the hill where they parked their car each night. Maybe they have also decided to go to relatives until this snowy season has gone. No noise filtering through my very thin walls so far today.
Since I broke my arm and finger last year I realise how brittle my bones are now so I wont chance walking on ice. After taking Tamoxafin for five years as part of my cancer treatment my calcium levels have been depleted....but hey I'm alive and ordinarily ready to venture forth and take part in all kinds of activity.
As I live on the brow of a hill, that has now become a ski slope for the local youths, it is too risky to go out. Besides, very few others are doing so. Our postman has not been around although the Pizza leaflets have been delivered! However, I don't see how we could actually get these as only 2 or 3 four wheeled vehicles have so far managed to go over the hill....
Being house/snow bound has enticed me into tuning up my guitar and singing very loudly once my neighbours are out. The couple on the right on me work at Heathrow and have decided to go to parents who live in Staines in order to get to the airport each day. The couple who live to my left have had to carry their three year old down to the bottom of the hill where they parked their car each night. Maybe they have also decided to go to relatives until this snowy season has gone. No noise filtering through my very thin walls so far today.
Friday, 8 January 2010
Dear Editor
When I submitted my article in response to 'For Heaven's Sake in 2009 Winter edition of 'The Author' the editor advised me that all the articles in this magazine are commisioned so I reduced my response to the following letter:
Dear Editor,
I was surprised that Michael Arditti’s ‘For Heaven’s Sake’ made no reference at all to Dante Alighieri.
Although Dante hails from way back in the 13th century (1265-1322), how can any discussion on heaven omit to acknowledge Parisdiso in the final part of the Divine Comedy? Major Scholars have conducted life-long research into his masterful works of this philosopher, Sommo Poeta (supreme poet) and father of the Italian language. In Dante's vision of heaven he is guided by ideal woman, Beatrice and Paradise is depicted as concentric spheres surrounding the earth, consisting of the Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn the fixed Stars, the Primum Mobile and the Empyrean.
You may wonder if there are further reason why I am so disappointed that Michael Arditti omitted mentioning Dante in his article ‘For Heaven’s sake.
Well yes….. my surname is Dante and…because for the 33 years I spent as a nun, Heaven was my goal! I was motivated to put up with any sacrifice, problem or difficulty here on earth so that I would be rewarded eternally and blissfully happy in paradise. Moreover, as a Salesian nun I was a paid up member of what most have been the greatest insurance policy around! The founder of our Order promised us and we firmly believed that if we persevered in our vocation not only would our place in Heaven be assured but that of our relatives to the third generation.
Marion Dante author of ‘Dropping The Habit’ ISBN:978-184223-297-2
Dear Editor,
I was surprised that Michael Arditti’s ‘For Heaven’s Sake’ made no reference at all to Dante Alighieri.
Although Dante hails from way back in the 13th century (1265-1322), how can any discussion on heaven omit to acknowledge Parisdiso in the final part of the Divine Comedy? Major Scholars have conducted life-long research into his masterful works of this philosopher, Sommo Poeta (supreme poet) and father of the Italian language. In Dante's vision of heaven he is guided by ideal woman, Beatrice and Paradise is depicted as concentric spheres surrounding the earth, consisting of the Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn the fixed Stars, the Primum Mobile and the Empyrean.
You may wonder if there are further reason why I am so disappointed that Michael Arditti omitted mentioning Dante in his article ‘For Heaven’s sake.
Well yes….. my surname is Dante and…because for the 33 years I spent as a nun, Heaven was my goal! I was motivated to put up with any sacrifice, problem or difficulty here on earth so that I would be rewarded eternally and blissfully happy in paradise. Moreover, as a Salesian nun I was a paid up member of what most have been the greatest insurance policy around! The founder of our Order promised us and we firmly believed that if we persevered in our vocation not only would our place in Heaven be assured but that of our relatives to the third generation.
Marion Dante author of ‘Dropping The Habit’ ISBN:978-184223-297-2
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