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!