Very Posh Picnic

We were very honoured to be invited to an exclusive night out at the theatre. Yes, our good friend Lady Vivienne invited us to an outdoor rendition of Macbeth. You might have come across it, a play written by William Shakespeare in the day when Canford School was still only for the nobility. They take anyone with money in this day and age, mostly mummy's little darlings who can not and will never cope with normal schooling. 

Back to this occasion. The marketing description was a little vague as to the time the play will start but it was billed as an outdoor theatre and a picnic. All male cast, a little odd as there are 4 female parts if you include the witches. Being true to Shakespeare time, women were not allowed to take part in the entertainment, looking after the children and doing the housework was what they were put on this earth for. If you ever watched the film, Shakespeare in Love, you will understand. Great movie and worth a watch if you have not seen it.

I digress, Macbeth and the picnic. LV was very insistent we do not have to bring anything except Wine, Gin, mayonnaise and a chair. I was not that enamoured with the idea of a picnic, most uncomfortable at the best of times and usually, the food is of no consequence.

This proved to not be the case, picnic cuisine on a par with the Two Hairy Bikers, complete with a folding table and a tree to sit under. Reminds me of Under a Milkwood Tree by Dylan Thomas, but that story is for another day. After a tasty meal of roast chicken, antipasto, salad and a bottle of very drinkable wine, we settled back to watch the evening’s entertainment.

The play is a masterpiece and they did it justice and all too soon we were clapping and hoping there would be no encores. Having enjoyed the evening, we, of older age, were keen to get home and watch the ending of the latest film from movie 24. 

Lady Vivienne, you did well.

When we were kids we were taught to follow our dreams and take risks, when we became adults the world just kicked those beliefs right out of us. You know what, kids have a way of showing us how to believe in hope. I was once asked by Alex, how do reindeers know how to fly? Susan chipped in, ‘Because they believe they can.’

Moving on to another subject close to my heart, Roses, designer roses and the beauty and fragrance they give to our garden. Well, we only have one of those special roses and it does impart a certain class to our otherwise domestic garden. Looking on the bright side we have two varieties of dog rose and they give us flowers all summer long. Being dog roses, they are doing the best they can and we are grateful for their big hearts.

Roses have always been part of my family, my mother grew roses and my grandmother only had roses in her garden. Thinking about it I do remember my mother having a cottage called Rose Cottage somewhere in Africa. My mother also had a farm in Africa, not Robert Redford but a somewhat peculiar fellow called Professor Kuen Juta. Related to the publishing company of the same name. Close enough I say.

All for now my loyal readers, I will be back with a special addition to this blog after I get through the next few days in Cornwall.