Tanzania ....

How hard can this be?  A restaurant touching the beach, fish caught every morning, red snapper or grouper grilled with a crisp, fresh salad, a warm breeze (between the monsoon rains), papaya, mango and pineapple sliced each morning.  A dish of lobster, prawns and avocado on a bed of lettuce (particularly yummy).

The view from the hotel restaurant is across the ocean. There's a small island opposite which is apparently uninhabited.  The sea is a silver/grey most of the time and rather calm.  Each morning I eat breakfast and watch the fishermen pull in the day's catch.  At night there are usually egrets (or some similar bird) wading along the shoreline pecking at food.  In the glow from the restaurant you can see crabs scuttling along the pale, sandy beach.

Palm tree in the grounds of the hotel

Tree along the route to work each morning.

For Roger - another thin chicken!  This is the nearest to an Easter chicken that I've seen .....  I have seen a rather fat hen - but need to take a better photo!

I'm not sure what this one is - but as long as I'm not eating him, it will be fine ....

Happy Easter!

Mx

Snow and pancakes and the missing letter "h"

February 2013 - the snow is here and I'm reminded that I spent the past two winters in sunnier places - and that, whilst I like snow to look at and appreciate, I do not like shuffling to work in it.

These are the views on the way to work one snowy morning - despite the rather blue hue, this was about 9am.

    

                        

February 12th was Pancake Day and an appropriate excuse to eat pancakes.  Now Vivi has never made them before (despite having eaten them) and so we agreed to have a Flat 103 pancake evening.  Vivi made them with ingredients (not from packets, jars or containers) and then it came to the tossing.  There is video - but I haven't managed to work out how to upload them - but a shot of Vivi just before she commits.  I had fruit with mine and Vivi has pretty much anything sweet she could find in the cupboard including half a tin of boiled condensed milk (which is like gloop).

Saturday 16th February 2013 and I made a language breakthrough.  I was at the University of London for a day of lectures and presentations relating to Jane Austen.  Now it's been a while since I've sat in something lecture-like and here's what I learned.  

Apparently I look like a nurse.  This is what the woman who sat beside me at tea said - she thought I was a nurse.  

And, in my part of the world, we don't have much use for the letter "h" (we're not good with vowels either).  But the day at the UofL I made a discovery.  I know where all of those missing aitches have gone.  They've attached themselves to the vocabulary belonging to the Chairwomen of the Jane Austen Society...

Mx

Who is Annabelle Harmony?

Okay, so it's my blog and therefore it's all about me!

You may remember that around this time last year I was working on a feature film for Darin - "Common People".

Today it was awarded the Independent Spirit Award at the Sedona International Film Festival 2013.
As Ben said - "whoop, whoop!".

But, as you would expect, it isn't as simple as that .....

I could go all the way back to the beginning but that will take too long - so let's start with the filming.  Darin couldn't find a script supervisor (continuity) for the shoot and so it seems it was my turn to step up.  It is the job I dislike most in production - I have the wrong sort of brain and threshold of boredom.  So, sacrifice for your friend!  

You may recall that this was the shoot with the weather - lots of weather.  Screening in December and then off we go.

Over the summer Darin talked about credits and I said that I didn't want a script supervisor credit as it upsets my imdb (International Movie Database) entry.  So he made up a name.

Now I'm not sure why he thinks I should have a porn name - perhaps I need to be looking at my self-image again - but this was it.  Annabelle Harmony.

So - flash that forward to now - and Common People has won its first award - and I don't have a screen credit - my alter-ego has one.

But all the mud was worth it.

Mx

Happy New Year - 2013

Happy New Year ....

And so it begins.  As we've done in the past - it starts with a word.  Except the rules are about to be broken.  Several Americans have decided to set up websites dedicated to choosing their New Year Word so we need to reinvent ourselves.  Hmmm.

So this year we've expanded a little - as there were two words (which will look like 4 words really) and they are

                             inpsire/inspiration                and                  celebrate/celebration.

I mentioned this to Gina at the weekend and it seems appropriate - she was in the middle of writing her essay about mentors and inspiring people.

And then there is the celebration.  I've decided that it's not possible to ignore it any longer and need to embrace and enjoy the fact that this year I will be FIFTY.  I realise that it's only a number but it's beginning to feel like an o.l.d.e.r number ...

So I've been making plans for things relating to the number 50.  And I have a list for 2013.

I will read 50 books this year.  This is getting off to a decent start as I'm back doing some reading for Waterstone's.  This time they have two panels of 3 readers who are reading and reviewing two books every two weeks.  So last Friday we discussed "Quiet" by Susan Cain and "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn.  Waterstone's are voice-recording our words of wisdom (!) and plan to add them to their blog.  It would appear that I need to talk in shorter sentences so that I edit into the blog ....  (The same reason that I don't use Twitter - can't make the point in so few words!).  I thought that initially I might try to read one book from each letter of the alphabet, but decided that it would be better to read something from a new country - which tied in nicely with Vivi's Christmas present where she bought me two Brazilian books (in English, obviously).

The second 50 list is to achieve/participate in/experience 50 new things.  Polite suggestions welcome ...  Now Vivi has been contributing to this one.  For those of you that don't know - Vivi is the Brazilian flatmate and she is allergic to eating fruits and vegetables or pretty much anything from a good food group ...  So we have a deal that each month this year she will try a new food.  In January she has already had the choice of lychees, physallis and pomegranate and has eaten (and enjoyed) the first one.  Let's see what I can find for February!  I haven't tried a new food yet - but sure that it will happen this month.

And whilst I'm on the subject of celebration - this is also a chance to celebrate others' successes.  For Matt and Carol who both have books published this year (Matt's is called "A Death at the Palace" and still waiting to hear what Carol's is called).

Last Sunday evening was one of my fifty new experiences.  David and I went along to the T S Eliot Poetry competition at the Royal Festival Hall.  Each year the competition makes a short list of ten from the approximately 350 poets who enter and the night before the winner is selected and announced the poets read from their published work.  

This year's shortlist was announced on the 23rd October 2012 and comprised 

• The Death of King Arthur by Simon Armitage
• Bee Journal by Sean Borodale
• Ice by Gillian Clarke
• The World's Two Smallest Humans by Julia Copus
• The Dark Film by Paul Farley
• P L A C E by Jorie Graham
• The Overhaul by Kathleen Jamie
• Stag's Leap by Sharon Olds
• The Havocs by Jacob Polley
• Burying the Wren by Deryn Rees-Jones

I think the last time I listened to someone reading poetry I was at secondary school. This was a fabulous evening - two thousand people breathing quietly whilst each of the poets presented their work.  I'd forgotten how grounding poetry is - there were a range of accents, representations from Scotland and Wales, two American finalists (one, Sharon Olds, was announced the winner the next day, her reading is on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8xaXoK4Mz8) along with all of the readings (youtube and then poetry book soc) and a rather impressive MC (surely there is a better word?) who gave short introductions for each finalist - complete with references to their past works or their writing styles or inspirations.  And then there was the range of material - some personal, some people watching, some abstract, and all captivating and inspiring (there it is - the word).

Mum came to stay last week and we had a couple of nights out on the town.  The first one, the film version of "Les Miserables".  We'd both seen the stage version as one of my friends played Marius for a while.  It surprised me that I've only seen the stage version, don't own the soundtrack but still seemed to know the songs.  It has to have been the noisiest cinema I've been in for a long time (the largest Odeon on Leicester Square) but once the opening began it was quiet - not even the rustle of popcorn and slurping of soft drinks. 

And then Thursday night.  Mum and I went to the première of "House of Cards" - an American adaptation of  Michael Dobbs' work.  Some of you may remember Iain Richardson and his fabulous performance on the BBC mini-series.  Well this time it is Kevin Spacey in the leading role.  The première was the first two episodes followed by a Q&A with the writer, director (David Fincher) and the main three cast members.  It was a first for mum too - as she got to walk in on the red carpet! 

So this weekend is relaxing, catching up on the blog and talking to friends, the next book for Waterstone's and then eating and sleeping, all whilst avoiding going out in the snow!    

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Maryx

THAT summer, and autumn, and winter ....

Which brings me nicely to the summer ....  Apparently there was something sporty on in London over the summer - but I didn't manage to see any live Olympics as I was working.  But before we go there - let's start with the "Ice Bear".

You may notice in the pictures below that there appears to be someone who looks like Ewan McGregor.  This is my cue for a little name-dropping.  Toby (extreme rhs of lhs photo) talked to him about the project ("Ice Bear") and he agreed to be our narrator.  

Mark, Ewan, Ollie, sound recordist, Toby

 

And then there was Philip's exhibition.  Philip and I worked together on "Family Affairs" a long time ago and since then he has been making his career much more photography centred.  His exhibition was at the Mile End Art Pavilion and was called "Sleeping India".  First time I've been to the venue which was rather lovely and great to see a larger exhibition of Philip's work as well as a quick catch up with Philip who I haven't seen for about five years.  Philip would tell you that the catch up was short as I arrived 30 minutes before the exhibition closed on the final day .... He has a website if photography (particularly Indian and black and white) is your thing at http://www.philippinchin.com.

Then Lara came over to London and we managed a few hours to walk around and do the touristy bit.  Lara and I worked together at the beginning of the year on the MMSII project in Dhaka. Whilst we were in Trafalgar Square I "made" her climb the lion.


                                    

And now back to work.  Newman Street Productions is a new production company within the FremantleMedia empire; an empire that makes "Britain's Got Talent" and "X Factor" along with "Neighbours", "Escape to the Country" and an array of other successful productions.  And NS had been commissioned to make a daytime reality docu-drama for ITV.  And so we have "Crime Stories".  Fast turnaround, boutique budget (!) and 20 hours of daytime ITV drama/doc shot in 34.5 days ....

"Crime Stories" crew and regular cast

And then the wrap party ....

Niall and Helenie

Lisa, Marq, Mary

 

Niall, Hayley, Lisa, Kate, Marq

Started to catch up again with friends once the series has finished filming - not much time for a personal life when you are shooting for six days each week for the six weeks.  A night out at a lovely Thai restaurant (Market Thai) in Portobello Road with Kasia and Ramona, both from my days in Romania.  Kasia had to leave after the meal but Ramona and I went off for a drink.  Now noticed that two photos in a row feature me wearing the same clothes - I do own more than one evening outfit ....

Once the filming had finished mum and I managed a trip to the Paralympics - the last day but better late than never - and the semis and final of the wheelchair basketball.  Great atmosphere, full arena, very full-on games.

We managed to make a weekend of it and went to the British Library to look at the Writing Britain exhibition.  Catharine and I had seen it earlier in the year - and I was very happy to go along again.  The only down side was that, whilst packed with literary goodies, I felt it was a little too much to take in with one visit.  

We topped off the weekend with the theatre visit - which was "Shrek"!  There's something very attractive about talking donkeys and green ogres ....  No photos of ogres but thought you might like one of the sculpture overhanging the walkway on the Southbank instead.

                                                             

Then I had a phone call from my friend Viv who thought it would be a good idea to spend the day in Paris - in fact this almost qualifies as ladies who lunches!  So - internet Eurostar booking and off we went.  We had a trouble-free crossing, over-priced Eurostar tea and coffee, and negotiated the Metro, hit on by a guy from New York who thought he was in with a chance (hmmm).  We'd planned to wander off along the Seine and look at art in the Musee d'Orsay.  And then it was sunny!  And since there were no deadlines and no schedules and we could do whatever we wanted we decided to walk into the St Germain area and eat, drink coffee and wander.  Bliss.

By late afternoon we'd arrived in the Palais du Luxembourg and had a little sit down in the rather luscious gardens.  In the far distance the Eiffel Tower ...

                                           

And within about ten minutes those rather thick clouds became the storm which had been promised.  Actually it was more like a deluge - and it just kept on raining.  So we braved it - made our way back towards the Seine and shelter and somewhere to eat an evening meal before we went back to the train.

                                          

So after rain, minor flooding, squelchy footwear and a chill in the air and rejecting two restaurants (first one smelt of cats' pee and the second didn't seem to have anything on their menu) we ended up at "Au Bourguignon du marais".  A corner table, heating on, drying out and the most mouthwatering food I've experienced for a long time.  Ahhhhh.

  

In the autumn I was called about a short film called "Sea View" which is one of films in the new BFI shorts series.  However, I was still working so I put one of my friends in the frame.  But, as they say, no good deed goes unpunished so 05.30 I wander off to Canvey Island to appear as an extra - and we know how much I enjoy being in front of the camera.  Still, I'd never been to Canvey Island - and there's a photo below.

                                          

By now we are back to December and my first wedding for years.  Jessica and Tom, in Bristol, on a sunny Saturday afternoon.  Thought you might all like to see photos of the cake(s) - particularly as I haven't put up food photos on the blog for ages!

The wedding cake - a rather sumptuous fruit cake
under this rather unusual exterior

And for those that would rather have cupcakes

And then first thing on the Sunday morning I came back for the cast and crew screening of "Common People".

                                             

This was the film that we worked on in April - the one set outdoors on Tooting Common during the bad weather ....  It's already been accepted in the 2013 Sedona Film Festival and has been entered into others - and I guess will be at a cinema at some point in 2013.  If you want to read more about it then go to - http://www.commonpeoplethemovie.com.

In fact December was a bit of a party whirl - Viv and I went to the British Museum's Christmas party - which was exactly where you would expect it to be - the British Museum complete with live jazz and a chance to wander around the exhibits.

I'd also promised Vivi that she could decorate the tree - so this was the weekend to let Vivi and Alice join with Darin to decorate the tree whilst I cooked an early Christmas dinner....  It was Alice's first English Christmas meal complete with crackers and all the trimmings.

Vivi and Alice

Alice and Darin

And now it is Christmas Eve - the tree is decorated, the food is bought, mum has arrived and the presents are under the tree.  Susan had suggested that our Christmas treat should be "Slava's Snow Show" - and so I'd booked tickets.  If you don't like clowns (and I don't) then you could be distracted by the clown-like clothing. It was fabulous - feel-good, fun, primary colours, mime and interactive (several things I might have avoided if I'd read the blurb instead of taking Susan's word and just booking it!). 

And as the year comes to an end there are all the things that I didn't mention - meeting Vera's baby who is not called Hemingway after all, the Magnum photography exhibition, Anna Karenina, Londonee at Rich Mix, the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne, the 2012-2013 Wildlife Photography Exhibition (which was better than the year before), a large amount of babies - Debs, Sara, Thida, Kiri, Vera - three of them in the same week!  

And then there was the email ....

Hi Mary,

A strange and serious problem...particle boards that we used to construct the studio ceiling and floor are emitting 'formaldehyde'. We kept it uncovered till now for weathering and hoped that it will diminish.

Nice to know that I can help!

Merry Christmas -

Maryx

Shakespeare's Globe to Globe Season 2012

May was theatre month and The Globe Theatre was staging each of Shakespeare's 37 plays, each one in a different language.  So I thought I would indulge in a little light Shakespeare!

I started with "Othello" - the hip hop version from the Chicago - the Q Brothers (there were 4 of them) performed a cutdown of the play with minimal props, a soundtrack, Desdemona played in via the sound system and a sell out audience.

Then it was the turn of "The Tempest" in Bangla,performed by the Dhaka Theatre company and featuring many people that I know from working in Bangladesh.

The Tempest - Dhaka Theatre - May 2012

The blurb on the Globe's website said

"From a land constantly troubled by water, enter Shakespeare’s mariners, wet and speaking Bangla. As well as pioneering new Bangladeshi drama, the Dhaka Theatre, Bangladesh’s most prominent theatre group, has staged The Merchant of Venice and Brecht’s The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui. Often called Bengali, Bangla is one of London’s most widely spoken languages.

The production is a unique combination of Manipuri folk dance from Bangladesh along with traditional Bangladeshi folk songs. Starring Shimul Yousuf as Ariel, Shahiduzzaman Selim as Alonso and Kamal Bayzid as Stefano; and introducing Rubol Noor Lodi as Prospero and Esha Yousuf as Miranda. Directed by Dhaka Theatre founder and Ekusheh Padak award recipient, Nasir Uddin Yousuff."

The "Bishaash" team went on the first night - and Liz, Donny and I had front row (circle) seats for the evening.  Waris, Zeeshaan and their family were there along with Rayhan and Nasfim.  Esha said that she could see our faces in the crowd - which was probably very offputting!  The theatre was full and the atmosphere brilliant.  Afterwards we had an emotional reunion with the cast.  I do have a recording of the applause at the end - over 2 minutes of cheering and shouting and a standing ovation.  I'll add this to the blog when I can manage to encode it ....

The second night was the "MMS" team - and Louise and family went along with Michelle and Clem and partied with the team afterwards.  I saw both nights - which was great - watched the confidence as the group enjoyed themselves on the stage.  Again - massive ovation.

I did manage to catch up with Esha and Imogen before Esha went back to Dhaka.  We had a sunny afternoon walking around Covent Garden and looking at the sights accompanied by cups of coffee and drinks on the balcony of the Royal Festival Hall overlooking the Thames. 

And then it was the turn of "Romeo and Juliet" in Brazilian.  This time I was accompanied by Vivi (flatmate) and her friend Alice - who are both Brazilian.  It was a rather surreal performance, a car on stage, the Nurse was a cross between Roy Barraclough and Les Dawson and there was a fabulous atmosphere.  It was definitely more pantomime than I've ever seen before!  

Or as the Globe put it 

"Perhaps the Americas’ most famous production of the most famous play ever, Grupo Galpão’s carnivalesque Romeo and Juliet returns to the Globe with its thrilling mix of circus, music, dance and Brazilian folk culture. The only festival participants to have played at Shakespeare’s Globe before, they bring the promise of a cavalcade of passion."

Afterwards you can wander down to the yard and mingle with the cast and Vivi and Alice had their photos taken.     

Vivi, Brazilian actress, Alice

Brazilian actor with Vivi

And then my Shakespearean viewing was completed with "Coriolanus" in Japanese.  Now this was a little ambitious (!) on my part.  I don't know the play and can speak about 4 words of Japanese (sushi, kiku, kamikaze, hari-kari - running out now).  Their interpretation was minimalist - and there were moments when I was definitely bored and others when I was completely mesmerised.  But it was the point of the season - experience new interpretations of these plays.    

Finally, "Bishaash" transmitted on television in Cambodia - it's second international screening (after the UK).

Yours - very very full of drama -

Maryx