Standawhile

I read it as Frick on Threat.

I thought I recognised it as Plas Newydd! We visited nearly 40 years ago but I was very taken by the idea of a special chamber to apply your wig powder.

Is it a small chamber where you apply the powder to your wig circa 1800?

Foyer of Soho Theatre Walthamstow with two staircases leading to Ziggurat Bar. A glitter ball and neon sign hang from the ceiling.

Anyone else notice the fabulous foyer of Soho Theatre Walthamstow, site of a recent @frankmatchamsoc.bsky.social guided tour, featured on the first episode of this year's Strictly Come Dancing where contestants met their professional dancing partners and sashayed down those glamorous stairs?

The Diaries of Mr Lucas: Life in 1960s Gay London by Hugo Greenhalgh. I'm only 30 pages in but it's fascinating. Real life diaries with explanatory commentary.

Thanks to @musichallsociety.bsky.social for a fab morning yesterday @lambetharchives.bsky.social. We saw wonderful items from the music hall archive. Thanks so much. #MusicHall

Old, fragile sheet music cover for music hall song "I've been out with the wild, wild women" writen and composed by A. J. Mills and Harry Castling, sung by Chas. R. Whittle.

I spent a decorous, though fascinating, couple of hours looking at items from the #BritishMusicHallSociety open day @lambetharchives.bsky.social on Brixton Hill. The sheet music is sooo fragile and requires careful handling. Thanks to #BMHS for sharing with us.

Black and white mosaic in the foyer of the London Coliseum. It says Salve which is Latin for Hail or Greetings.

Mosaic greeting in the foyer of the #LondonColiseum designed by #FrankMatcham on a Roman theme, opened in 1904 as an upmarket Theatre of Varieties. #MosaicMonday

Weird questionnaire from my local health authority. I didn’t open it for ages, reluctant to answer questions about my weight or my level of exercise. There was just one question- did I smoke? No, I don’t, and that was the end of the questionnaire.

Pink peony bloom.

This is the year I finally remembered to put a support around my peony bush before it grew too big and the blooms flopped over face down into the mud. #peony #gardens #flowers

Take a good book to bed with you - books do not snore. - Thea Dorn

Good morning. We are open. 📖☕️

Roman greeting in foyer of Frank Matcham-designed Coliseum, London

Roman-influenced mosaic ceiling in foyer of Frank Matcham-designed Coliseum, London

Carved fabulous winged creature with Edwardian moustache acting as newel post in Frank Matcham-designed Coliseum, London

Roman design elements in auditorium of Coliseum, London

Enjoyed visiting the London Coliseum with @frankmatchamsoc.bsky.social. yesterday. It has a Roman theme from ‘Hail’ in the foyer, lavish use of gold & marble, a fabulous winged beast newel post (with Edwardian moustache) through to a victory figure and leaping lions in the auditorium. #Matcham #ENO

Sourcing plants for my garden, I look for thrift - the interweb offers me charity shops. I try my local garden centre and search for sea pink - they offer me sea salt scented candles, pink flamingo dog toys, and nibbly cat treats. I'll have to go full Armeria maritima, won't I?

Book cover of Whale by Cheon Myeong-Kwan. Illustration shows a small figure of a woman gazing up at a cinema shaped like a whale.

I’m reading Whale by Cheon Myeong-Kwan for my book group. Three quarters of the way through. Some larger than life characters leading an adventurous life through mid-century Korea. Shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2023.

Music hall star and male impersonator, Vesta Tilley, dressed as a curate, offering a tray of tea.

"More tea, vicar?" Vesta Tilley is dressed as a curate, offering tea on a tray following the theme of food and drink for #MusicHallVarietyDay #MHVD2025

Two book covers: Dylan Thomas Collected Poems 1934-1952 and Dylan Thomas, Out of Chaos Comes Bliss, essential poems selected by Cerys Matthews.

"The lips of time leech to the fountain head" on International Dylan Thomas Day. His poetry has been with me all my long life. #InternationalDylanThomasDay

Just one week to go until #MusicHallVarietyDay #MHVD2025 (NOTE - there is no 'AND' or '&' in the hashtag)...theme #FoodandDrink. You can find us this year on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook and Friends of the British Music Hall Society Facebook Group. Join in!

I’ve just raced through Judi Dench’s Shakespeare the Man Who Pays the Rent. Fascinating.

Of course it’s a woman’s woolly- it’s got pockets.

I had a cork notice board in my kitchen in the early 80s that I was rather proud of - so up-to-date and modern. No notice board in the current kitchen - it’s all fliers stuck on the fridge with fancy magnets these days. Fashion!

I saw the chiropractor today for ongoing treatment. She noticed a small bruise on my back. “I think that is one of mine” she said and I swear there was a note of satisfaction in her voice.

Ooh, I remember when cork tiles were fashionable. (I’m old.) Was it the 1970s? 1980s?

But is it a major or a minor emergency? (That should strike a chord with all musicians 🎶😄.)

Fab 3 days with @frankmatchamsoc.bsky.social visiting theatres - Royal Hall Harrogate, Leeds Playhouse, Leeds Grand Theatre & Opera House. Finale was old time music hall Leeds City Varieties with @realbasilbrush.bsky.social. Boom boom. Thanks for great theatre tours. @musichallsoc.bsky.social

Oops!

70. No.

Wot? Not 'vale'?

James Boswell ( 1906–1971 ) 'Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex'

James Boswell ( 1906–1971 ) 'Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex' ❤️ #Britishart #artofthesay #Sussex

I'm trying out a new Roasted Onion Dip recipe from the internet. I like to read the comments underneath. Most people who've tried it think it's great. But there's one dissenting voice: "Not a huge hit... had a strong onion flavour".

Fun fact: if you're buying from a creator on etsy, you can reduce their etsy selling fees from 6.5% to 2.5% by ordering via 'shopname.etsy.com' instead of 'etsy.com/shopname' or searching from the main site. It costs you the same but the creator makes more