In an attempt to broaden my horizons, I’ve bought myself a ticket for the Opera North production of Madame Butterfly, this Tuesday night. Due to my procrastination, there was a paucity of unsold tickets remaining when I applied. Consequently, I had to settle for a seat with a restricted view. I’m unsure at this point…
Tag: entertainment
Pressing Red Buttons
Today would have been Red Buttons 99th birthday. To clarify, I’m referring to the late New York born actor/comedian, not the remote control button you press to acquire BBC iPlayer. Born Aaron Chwatt, he changed his name to Red Buttons due to his agent having a speech impediment*** whereby he pronounced ‘ch’ as ‘t’. Red…
A Christmas Do With The Missus
Yesterday, my lunchtime was spent at an Italian restaurant in the centre of our splendid West Yorkshire metropolis. Here my wife and I feasted on festive fare, prior to being royally entertained by classic sounds from the Motown songbook, while imbibing an agreeable bottle of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. In our hosts glitzy 1920’s art-deco style surroundings, four singers (3 male and 1 female)took us back to the 1960’s, bequeathing…
The Return of the Seven
Later this evening, I’m headed out to watch the alternative rock band Shed Seven, who are performing at the Leeds O2 Academy. Hopefully, it’ll turn out to be as entertaining as last years pre-Christmas performance I witnessed from the York band. A night that led to me journaling the following parody review:- I ventured out to see…
A Christmas Carol (Of Sorts)
Christmas preparations continued apace in chez Strachan today, with my wife Karen provisionally booking a perennial visit by ghosts of Christmas past, present and future on Christmas Eve night. An annual occurrence deemed necessary by my missus for my redemption after a year of being less than chirpy. Hopefully, when the spectres arrive bearing Christmas fear we won’t have a repeat…
Have You Seen My Slippers, Karen?
There’s been a paucity of activity in casa Strachan over the last day or two. Activities such as weekly shopping for provisions, watching the rugby league World Cup final on TV and writing a parody gig review titled Selsey Bill or Bracklesham Bay, Love? , being my sole accomplishments in the last 36 hours or so. I suppose I did make Saturday’s evening…
You Could Have Parked There, Gary!
The overwhelming feelings of anger and frustration I felt between my father’s passing and his funeral thankfully abated last week. I’m unsure what the catalyst was for this new found tranquillity, but it feels like my old man is perched on my shoulder advocating “Calm down, Gary! Anger is a futile emotion…… Oh, and can you put the Irish Lottery…
Scott and the Scot
Treating my recently wax cleared lugs to the R&B anthems of Aberdonian singer Emeli Sande, I had a night out yesterday evening at the first direct arena in Leeds. To clarify, spelling first direct without capitals and in bold text isn’t a misprint, it’s the brand spelling. Knowledge I’m privileged to as one of my personalities worked there…
The Consummate Showman
On this day, in 1835, PT Barnum and his circus embarked on their first ever tour of the United States. The multi-skilled Connecticut born showman’s diverse curriculum vitae included author, publisher, philanthropist, and politician. However, he classed his work entertaining audiences as his real true love. Barnum is accredited by some as being the man…