26th September 2013

Well the last few weeks have flown by.  We are now fully back into the swing of work, and it's all going rather well.  The Advertising campaign has started, and though we have not been turning anyone away, it all seems to have started rather well!

Both myself and eldest have now got an iPhone 5s each, and now that we have had a day or two to get used to them, I thought I'd give my impressions so far..

They are much lighter than our 4S models, and as a result, I have taken a little time to get used to mine.  It actually feels a little more like my Samsung Galaxy, and not quite as substantial.  This is seen as a selling point in other areas, but I am yet to be convinced.  The fingerprint technology has worked well, but I forget to use it, and just enter a passcode instead.  Interestingly, the one time I tried to demonstrate it, the system failed, and I had to enter the passcode.  Much of the benefit of the new phone is easy to get confused with IOS7, which I am rather taken with.  It killed my old phone's battery life, but I suspect that was less to do with the Operating system and more to do with the hammering that the battery has been given anyway.  IOS7 on the iPad 2 makes it a different machine, but I digress.  The camera on the new phone is excellent, and I am delighted with the results.  They have also sneaked in a Slo mo setting on the camera, which is excellent for drama sessions!  The phone runs very smoothly, and overall, is the best iPhone yet.

I now have lots of plays to write!  I shall be back soon 

Tuesday 10th September 2013

Well it's full steam ahead on the work express now.  This has been the least stressful start to a working year ever in many ways.  We worked very hard over the summer, so the shock to the system was perhaps less.  We are looking at venues for sessions and shows at the moment, and about to launch our advertising campaign.  I hope that it works, as we will be in an excellent position.  Whilst there might be a little competition in the local area we remain confident that we are the best!

I realise now that we are at the Tuesday, that my weekend seemed a little empty....the lack of Premiership football is always a disappointment so soon after the season has started.  It wasn't like this in the old days, and my shoot magazine league ladders would have been in full use by now.  I just cannot get excited by England games...the tactics and style just seem to be so archaic as to not even warranting nostalgia.  

Today I shall be stationery shopping with eldest, and then preparing for a session, and then a committee meeting.  

I am currently organising our nude charity calendar!  The very thought of some of the months is enough to curdle the very soul!  I expect to sell many!  I'm sure that anyone attending the production will be eager to purchase one!

Today also sees the latest Apple keynote.  I live in a house of four iPhones and three iPads, so I expect that the announcements will cause much excitement....I am due an upgrade, and have been for a while, so I shall be watching with even more anticipation.

--
Keith Badham
Principal Director
Up-Stage Theatre Company

Tel: 01525 630868
Mob: 07595 053251

keith@up-stage.co.uk

www.up-stage.co.uk

5th September

So that was that...another Summer ticked off, another season passed as we wend our merry way towards the grave....That was a depressingly poetic way to start the new term.  I was looking forward to sitting at the computer this morning and enjoying the wide and varied nonsense on facebook, happy in the knowledge that most young people have now returned to school and left facebook to the adults again...apart from the odd "I'm tired/I'm depressed" messages, that proved to be the case....however...we were also treated to 101 photographs of "Little Jimmy's First day at big school" photos, in which 101 varied children grin through gritted teeth as Mum or Dad preserve that hateful first day feeling forever.  In the old days, it used to be a case that those photos were preserved for special moments like bringing a girlfriend or boyfriend home for the first time, but now the poor little mites have them posted for all the world to see...their slightly oversized blazers, the perfect creases in their trousers, and ties that within a few weeks will no longer resemble the tie as you and I know it.  Oh I understand the need to record everything for posterity, and I am sure I have done it myself....but I do wonder if we are so busy recording everything that we forget about what's important sometimes.  

Today, I have been left to my own devices again, as youngest is off to school, Mrs Plug is off doing Horse based things, and eldest rises at lunchtime as any proper young lady should.  I rather like September.  The sunshine always seems a little more gentle, and there are autumnal hints starting to creep in.  It has been good to start September without the usual money concerns, as we have managed to top of the coffers enough to get by this summer.  We have a busy few weeks ahead, getting back up and running and making sure that all the new people know what is happening and that advertising is sorted out and that new sessions are started properly. 

Rehearsals for Calendar Girls continue, and there appears to be much excitement for this one.  I hope it lives up to expectations.  It is a beautifully written script, and I hope we do it justice!

2nd September 2013

Well dear reader, it has been to long...How have you been?  You're looking well etc etc.  I shall spend much of this blog talking about how much work I have been doing, and how I haven't had a minute, and it is all true I tell you, all true!  Much of my summer has been taken up with three productions, and three summer schools, with the occasional workshop and variety show thrown in.  I have now got six plays published, and hopefully some more on the way, as well as a commission for a full length play as well!  

The business continues to expand, and we are moving forward to the new year with excitement, and a slight sense of dread, in terms of how much we are going to need to do!  I have no doubt that we will manage to do a great job though, and I am sure we will move into our 8th year with our heads held high as usual.

We managed a holiday to Centerparcs, which was a lot of fun, and rather expensive.  I think I have now managed to overcome my fear of water and would really like to aim to actually learn to swim at some point.  I don't know who I am anymore!  We Swam, played golf, Tennis and badminton, cycled, ate and drank a lot, and did falconry!  It was a fun packed week, but I never felt properly relaxed as I knew we had two Summer Schools to go.  We are hoping for a short weekend break at some point soon.

I really want to try and write more on this, but as I have said so often, work tends to take over.  I might well be coming back here in two months moaning about how I never get the chance to write anymore!  I hope not...I do enjoy it when I have the time!

4th June 2013

I sit here, resplendent in shorts, enjoying the glorious sunshine pouring in through the office window.  I have a quiet morning ahead of me, and what better way of putting off doing some actual work, than updating my army of readers on what has been happening in the wonderful world of Mr Plug?

We went to an auction house last weekend.  I have never been to one before, and found it quite the most fascinating place.  There were rooms full of a wide range of "stuff" ranging from very good and collectable, to complete crap.  Friends of ours showed us around, and we had fun searching through it all.  In the end, I put in a paper bid on a guitar, and we left it at that, and went and ate and drank and attempted merriment.  During the course of the evening, my friend advised that I could watch the auction online!  Well this was it for me.  Live Ebay!  Instantly I knew this would be a dangerous path to tread, but tread it I did, and the next morning I found myself glued to the laptop, watching as lot after lot was auctioned off via paper bids, Actual real life bids, and online bids.  I of course registered an account immediately and joined in the fun.  I lost out on the guitar, which was no surprise, it was a rather good one!  Instead I managed to "Win" a camera for youngest, and an Ipod (One of the old classics).  As with all such auctions, no guarantees are given, and we found out when we got home the reason for this lack of guarantee.  There was a slight fault with the zoom on the camera, which whilst slightly annoying, does not render it useless.  The iPod however, appeared totally dead.  It had what I have now found out to be a "Sad iPod" logo.  It should be a happy iPod logo, because when you look it up, you find that this means you need to take it to Apple to get it serviced at an impressive fee.  I of course, like a challenge.  The iPod in question only cost £12, so I thought I would experiment.  After an hour of google based fun, I managed to find out a few hints and tricks.  I opened it up, found out about the inner workings, and tried again.  All to no avail.  Eventually, I happened upon a website that advised me to hit it quite hard on a pile of paper several times.  I tried this.  It didn't work.  I then found another website that explained that the inner workings of the hard drive sometimes get a bit stuck, and the best thing to do is to throw it to the floor.  I did this, and hey presto, I now have a working iPod.  Now I am no electronics expert, but I think I could set up a business of throwing peoples electronic goods to the floor, and charge a lot less than Apple!  I already had an iPod (Or three) already of course, but this one is purely for work, and eldest loves an item of retro (Which apparently this is being more than eleven minutes old).  I am not trying the same method with the camera.  Apparently, youngest daughter will "Hurt me" if I do.

Moving on from this, I make an appearance in a drama festival tomorrow.  I am the surprise character that doesn't get listed anywhere, so it all feel a little surreal at the moment.  Much as I have enjoyed it, I shall be glad when it is all finished, and new projects can be started.

I received a message from a "theatre chap" on Facebook this week, saying that he had read my latest play and that it was "Bloody brilliant".  I was quite taken aback.  Whilst I am not one to argue with the obvious, it is still extremely heartening to read such praise.  The play cover the subject of Autism and Aspergers, and this chap works with young men with severe autism.  He said that it rang many bells with him.  I have a feeling his group may well be doing a performance, which makes me very happy indeed..  It was a much needed boost.

23rd May 2013

I have been a busy little Bee as I am sure Arthur Askey once sang, and thereby revealing my age, and possibly appalling taste.  We have managed to secure quite a bit of holiday work, and this pleases me, as it means we can look forward to the Summer Holidays with at least a small semblance of security.  I am also waiting on a HUGE contract possibility for 2014, which if we manage to get it, will take us to an altogether different level.
We have also been struggling for the last few days with a really difficult matter which has led me to feel slightly let down by someone.  I hope we can resolve it all without too much animosity.  I suspect not.

Yesterday saw the awful murder of the poor soldier in Woolwich.  I still cannot bring myself to understand how anyone could do such a thing.  On a much smaller scale, I was disgusted to read some of the reactions to the murder, and the racial hatred and tension that will be stirred up as a result of it.  I have found myself with my finger hovering over the delete friend/Unfollow button on social media more than once today.

We look forward to a relaxing half term, although Mrs Plug has a craft fayre, and as a result will be abandoning us for the weekend!  I shall be bereft.  Not as a result of her absence, but the football season is now over.  I plan to do quite a bit of writing over the next week, and get everything up to date script wise.  I am currently working on three scripts for shows in production, and have several other in the pipeline as well as two books.  This sounds a lot grander than it actually is, and I suspect will create some small degree of stress in the next month or so!

16th May 2013

I've had an interesting couple of days work wise, in that I have been doing a lot of research on an area of theatre that we would like to move into.  In the process of doing this, I have come across a fairly local "rival" who seems to be quite intent on criticising the kind of operation that we run.  This is interesting on several levels.  We are, by comparison, quite a small outfit and profess to not wanting to compete in their particular field, and yet, there are some fairly clear indications that they feel a little threatened by us.  So much of what we have brought in over the last two years has been picked up by other companies, and whilst that can be a little annoying, it's a free world, and we should take it as a complement.  Ultimately, it;s up to us to continue to grow, and try new things, and be good at what we do.  If we are doing it right, then others will of course try to copy.

We should be making some announcements over the next few weeks with regard to some significant developments, which is all rather exciting!

I look forward to this weekend's football with the usual dread and fear.  The traditional "Grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory" celebration is about to ensue at White Hart Lane, but still, there is a part of me that believes we might just do it, and pip Arsenal to the post.  Why am I so gullible?

I have been reading up on Center Parcs a lot, and looking into all the "Activities" that we might enjoy.  My favourites all seem to involve laying around with next to nothing on.  I wonder what that says about me.  Talking of having nothing on, it would appear that I am about to embark on directing Calendar Girls.  Part of the plan for this, will be for the group to produce it's own calendar, with an Amdram theme!  My more loyal readers might recall that I have not been backward in posing semi clad before.  I wonder what I should do this time?

13th May 2013

Well hello dear reader, and welcome to the next exciting installment of "My life".  It's been a good week, with a lot of good news on the work front, as we seem to have got ourselves some big summer work, which should, in theory, lead on to other things as well.  As a result, I have been busying myself with tidying, and planning and all sorts of other delights, that whilst create a small degree of personal satisfaction, are quite dull to write about.  I await news of my proposed column on a National Website, and suspect that the answer will be a resounding "No".  Never mind though...things are going well without such fripperies.  I went to the Hygenist last week, which was a deeply unpleasant experience, but for the lovely nurse.  I would prefer to have a filling than go through that again!

6th may 2013

I find myself at the tail end of a rather interesting weekend.  It started with a lot of well deserved sleep, and then I found myself in the company of a group of people who I had only really known on the Internet.  Yes, i attended a tweet-up as they are known!  This one was not particularly well publicised, and for all the right reasons.  I cannot go into too much detail as to the reasons for the meeting either, but needless to say, some of it will hit the headlines at some point soon.  It was good to meet some like minded people, and chew the fat as it were.  It also depressed me to hear quite how much power can corrupt, and quite how far people are willing to go to protect that power.  Much as I would love to become involved more in this "Project", I also have to realise that this is "Playing with the big boys" and as such, comes with inherent dangers.  I sat and listened to some horrible stories of broken lives as a result of some well known people's behaviour, and it made me realise how careful you have to be.  For my part, I shall be an active, but cautious, protester.  Yesterday we met our friends from Oop North for a quick cup of tea and a catch up.  They also brought their granddaughter, which was so very lovely.  We hope to see them all again very soon.  The weather seems to have taken a turn for the better, and I intend on spending at least some f what is left of the bank holiday in the garden.

1st May 2013

Ever have one of those days when everything seems to take five times as long, and even then tends to go wrong? That is today. I have a bug, which is mildly unpleasant, but I think by and large, my failing competence today is caused by a curry hangover in celebration of Mrs Plugs birthday. On the plus side, I have not let the bug beat me, and have managed to attend work, even though I am less than delightful company. I have also received an email requesting an article. I approached a major UK website with a pitch for a column, and they have not thrown it out! They requested a sample column with a view to possible publication and maybe a regular column. Obviously there is a way to go before I can start commanding large sums for my latest missive in the Sunday Times, but hey, it's a start. Not being told to "sod off" is positive in my eyes. I am now in sole charge of the household until Monday night, as Mrs Plug has gone off t work for the weekend. I am hoping to do a little socialising here and there, in particular with some visitors from the frozen north if they are available. We also managed to secure a little extra work today with some workshops in conjunction with the local council. It's is a council we have yet to work with, so we are hoping for a long term relationship with them. I also have to arrange an interview with someone who could possibly be working with us on some future workshop projects. It's a busy time as usual, but it's all good fun, and better than being a dullard for a living!

30th April 2013

Today can always be a bit of a struggle for me....It's Mrs Plug's birthday, and whilst it is always nice to spoil her....at the back of my mind are two other "Family" birthdays for estranged relatives.  They still cast a shadow over me even now, but I do think that the shadow is shortening.  Social Media means that I can at least see what one of them is doing to an extent, and that is all I really need.  

I am trying to throw myself into work at the moment, as I have people relying on me, and as yet, this is not an unwelcome pressure.  I suppose it's part of the job really,  It's fast approaching the seven year mark since I left the rat race, and I do not want to revisit thank you very much.  Tonight, we celebrate by wandering up to the local curry house....I am looking forward to it.

29th April 2013

The more eagle eyed reader may have noticed a distinct lack of "Bloggage" over the last few months.  Well, I have been incredibly busy, so sue me!  I shall refrain from making promises about future writings, which might disappoint a nation, but will try harder.  Our very busy period is just about over, with something like 16 different productions in a fortnight.  It all seemed to go down very well and various cups and awards have been won.  The business continues despite Mr Cameron's delightful treatment of the economy, and whilst things remain tight, we continue going forward and expanding.  I now have five plays published, which is all rather exciting, and I hope that the royalties will come flooding in.  On my list of hopes, this is up there with Spurs winning the Champions League and My knighthood.....I can dream though right?   

We turn our thoughts to Summer now, and look forward to a Summer School and a Holiday amongst other things.  We are going to Center Parcs, the spelling of which is already annoying me.  Robin Hood like I shall be running athletically from tree to tree in Sherwood forest, and looking resplendent in my trunks.  I am not sure that this is my ideal holiday at all, having visited Center Parcs before, but with children getting older, it seemed the sensible family option.  I voted for Rome, but lost.  If nothing else, I suspect I might get some writing and reading done!

I am writing this on a Monday morning having spent large parts of the weekend alone.  Usually when this happens I end up eating junk food, watching rubbish on the television, and drinking too much.  This time however, I actually worked, bringing my accounting system up to date, and upgrading it, tidying up our website and generally being efficient!  I went to bed on Saturday at a reasonable hour, not having watched any television, and not having had a drink.  I then got up at 7.00am and continued!  I don't know who I am anymore.  I recently directed another Oscar Wilde show, and the cast bought me some gifts, which is the tradition in the group.  One of my gifts was a victorian type cake stand, of which I was very proud.  I posted an image of said gift, and received a comment from an old friend who suggested my delight showed that I was indeed getting old,  Perhaps it does, but I am rather  enjoying the process.

Farewell Posterous

I was sad to see that Posterous is biting the dust.  It's been the thing that has powered my blogging over the last few years.  Although I use Wordpress and Blogger, Posterous has been the useful link between them all.  Anyway, in an effort to find a replacement, I have happened upon something called Ifttt.com, which appears to automate pretty much anything online!  I am keeping my fingers crossed that I have actually set it up correctly and that this ends up in the right places

Margaret Thatcher

Well, it's been a while since I blogged, but yesterday's news brought back a lot of memories and emotions, that I have been spending time trying to "process" for want of a better phrase.  I was, I suppose, one of Thatcher's children.  Born in the sixties, I remember her election very clearly, and remember my grandfather's reaction.  He was one of a dying breed of socialists, from whom I received a lot of my principles.  He said she was a "Wrong un" from day one.  I do not intend on an in depth list of reasons why I shall not mourn her passing.  I think her record speaks for itself.  I spent a few minutes last night and raised a glass to me departed grandparents, knowing that both of their deaths were tarnished with the legacy left behind by the sickening ideologies of Margaret Thatcher.  I will not join in with street parties or celebrations.  She was someone's mother, and whatever I thought of her, I didn't know her, or her family.  They should be given some degree of respect.  I only hope that they are able to mark her passing without the deep burning sense of injustice felt by my grandparents as a result of her policies.

My social media timeline remains full of divisive opinions on the woman.  The frothing Daily Mail types will always be the same, and therefore, not worth concerning myself over.  It is interesting to note that many young people seem to have bought into this "Strong Woman" image that Thatcher contrived for herself.  I do not see bullying, as strength.  I do not see narrow mindedness as strength.  I do not see exclusion of women from her cabinet as strength (Or as feminism, which some are bizarrely crediting her with).  Many of the supporting arguments go along the lines of "Well she repaired all of the bad that Labour did".  That is a totally irrelevant argument.  There are ways and means of solving any problem, and her brutal approach still resonates on the words of her party today.

So I shall look back at her time, and look on at her legacy with loathing for what she destroyed, and created in our "Society" (Although that, apparently, did not exist).  I will not sit back quietly, and listen to ridiculous foaming tributes to her without arguing my case.  I shall try to do it with due respect for the death of an old lady, but with less respect for those who hold her up to be our saviour.  She was nothing of the sort.  She was, a manipulative, war-mongering bully.  This is not to say that other have not done the same since, and perhaps worse, but that should not diminish her own crimes and failings.

Finally, I will say that whilst I find the street parties being held to be distasteful, I am reminded of Margaret Thatcher's own words after British forces too South Georgia..."Rejoice".  I will not take her advice in this instance. I shall make it part of my business to encourage young people to look behind the headlines, the images and the soundbites, and look at the real legacy for themselves...to make up their own minds, without fear of being bullied onto having an opinion.  By all means give her due respect, but lets not hide away all that she stood for, and all of her deeds and acts.

Posted via email from Mr Plug's posterous

January 2nd

I have been feeling rather ill today, and it got progressively worse as the day went on.  I have been having a lot of late nights, and drinking regularly.  Not to a degree that should make me feel ill, but nonetheless, I felt really quite rough.  Today ended up as an alcohol free day, and I drifted in and out of sleep for a lot of it, pausing only to read the news, watch a bit of football and a dreadful film.  By the time bedtime arrived I was shaking and shivering, and running a temperature.  Painkillers and sleep were the only option.

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January 1st

Well happy new year an all that jazz.  I awoke from my slumber at a healthy 11 ish.  We had a quiet night in for New Year with no guests (Other than youngest's friend for a sleepover).  I drank a lot of Port, and we watched Hootenanny, which I rather enjoyed.  Today was spent mainly recovering.  Eldest arrived at Lunchtime from her party, and went to bed for the day.  I am not making resolutions this year.  I have found in the past that they tend to lead me, rather than me leading them.  After all....who sets these silly boundaries?  Having said all that, I still get that feeling of making a fresh start at New Year, which I find quite invigorating. Myself and eldest have kind of made a resolution anyway.  We decided over Christmas that we had spent too much time being unsociable, and that we need to make more contact with people in the new year.  We will see how that works out for us in the coming months

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January 1st

Well happy new year an all that jazz.  I awoke from my slumber at a healthy 11 ish.  We had a quiet night in for New Year with no guests (Other than youngest's friend for a sleepover).  I drank a lot of Port, and we watched Hootenanny, which I rather enjoyed.  Today was spent mainly recovering.  Eldest arrived at Lunchtime from her party, and went to bed for the day.  I am not making resolutions this year.  I have found in the past that they tend to lead me, rather than me leading them.  After all....who sets these silly boundaries?  Having said all that, I still get that feeling of making a fresh start at New Year, which I find quite invigorating. Myself and eldest have kind of made a resolution anyway.  We decided over Christmas that we had spent too much time being unsociable, and that we need to make more contact with people in the new year.  We will see how that works out for us in the coming months

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