And the winner is........June giveaway!

Better late than never our Monthly giveaway, won by Tanvi!! Bit paranoid as I look about five months pregnant!! Has anyone any good stomach exercises?? Kat x 

War Horse

So as promised, the War Horse post. I don't go to the theatre very often and have mostly enjoyed going to see lighthearted musicals like Oliver, the Pirates of Penzanze and Chicago. War Horse was a very different and the compelling journey through history was a somehow deeper experience. To begin with the New London Theatre on Drury Lane in London's West End is very minimal with none of the usual OTT, dramatic styling I generally associate with theatres. For the War Horse production there were no permanent props to behold except a very effective strip of 'sky' that hung above the stage and featured many emotive images and drawings of landscape to give the spectator a greater sense of where they were being transported to. I won't dwell too much on the story itself as I think its best seen fresh and without much preparation but I will emphasis its a deeply moving play supported beautifully with elements of dance, music and dialogue. The cast are so professional and awe inspiring but the stars of the show are the 'puppets' created by the internationally renowned Handspring Puppet Company. They really are more 'horse like' than horses if that makes any sense. Even a none horse fanatic can understand the emotions and feeling these majestic creatures convey and tissues are advised at all times.

Kat x

Getto Hen strikes again!

I know it perhaps appears as if Getto Hen is just another obsession but this Hen surprises me all the time. If you don't know her story catch up here and here. Now her original chick has disappeared hopefully to some nearby back yard and she's caring for five new babies. Still living wild and roosting secretly away from the many foxes that grace White House Farm, she cares for her young as we would, protecting and defending them fiercely from any potential threats, what a top bird!, Kat x

A lost weekend

After the recent dramas between Alpha male and I we decided to go and spend some quality time together away from White House Farm. He arranged it all and everything remained a secret until we had delivered our children to my Sister and Mother receptively. Then we headed through London to our Hotel. I have this strange minor obsession when I am out and about our capital city of not looking like a tourist, (which of course I am). I try to achieve this by dressing eclectically and side glancing at tube and bus maps in rather a sly manner so it appears I know my way around. I also charge at great speed through the barriers at tube stations only to have the doors wind me by slamming shut due to my oyster travel card running out. I don't know why I'm bothered but I am! Anyway we had a great first night as Ben had bought tickets for Derrick Carters secret party at a warehouse in Shorditch. Back in my late teens, when I was obsessed with American house music, he was one of my favourite DJ's and he was playing on the night I met Alpha male, eleven years ago. We danced like mad persons for a few hours and then took ourselves back to the hotel. I guess now I'm a bit older I consider the next day as equally important and it happened to be a lovely day of wandering about aimlessly. Highlights included the Tommy Nutter exhibition at the  Zandra Rhodes Museum of Fashion and Textiles, itself a fantastic conversion of a former cash and carry warehouse. Menswear designer Tommy Nutter was one of the pioneers of funky men's tailoring in the 60's and 70's and the museum had loaned some fabulous suits he'd made from the likes of Cilla Black, Twiggy and even Mick Jagger's suit when he married Bianca. That evening we went to go and see War Horse, an epic tale that really deserves a blog all of its own so watch this space. I cried a lot and struggled to walk effectively but that was down to the ridiculous high heels I chose to wear, (farm girl enters city and does extreme glamour awkwardly). It was great to get away and reintroduce each other to our carefree selves. You can live a decade with your partner and know every side of their personality but on a day to day basis when your busy functioning as a team to get things done its easy to forget certain aspects, the fact you simply enjoy being together. Thanks Alpha male for a really special time, I know I'm a lucky girl!! Kat x

The man himself Tommy Nutter, 17 April 1943– 17 August 1992

Twitter saves the day!!

I have been feeling very disillusioned with Twitter lately. The truth is I don't really know how to use it and initially simply enjoyed the process of documenting and shrinking random thoughts into one or two sentences. I was about to close my account down this week when its true value became much clearer. I have had the recent task of organising an open day for the charity I volunteer at. This is indeed a tricky task because our resources are so few but I felt that what the event needed was a 'celebrity' guest to draw local people into our branch. The first person I set my sights on was Tony Christie, the legendary crooner, who lived nearby and was known to most people after his recent comeback. However despite various leads I got on-line it all came to nothing. The date of the open day was creeping nearer and nearer when I discovered there was another local celebrity who was ideal, X-Factor contestant Treyc Cohen. Couldn't find any contact information for her on-line so I turned to Twitter and several tweets between the singer and her agent later I had a celebrity booked, willing to donate an hour of her time for a good cause. I am so pleased and indebted to Twitter and can now acknowledge that it does indeed provide a unique platform of communication between its users. Many thanks to Treyc and Twitter!! Kat x

R.I.P. The Tarotvan

I had the man over to service various caravans the other day. Poor him, he dreads my calls as he knows its always long and complicated with such old vans and this visit was no different. The result was that The Tarotvan was given a verdict of extreme old age ailments which sadly meant I could drag it round Staffordshire spreading the word of the Tarot. Instead its gone to live permanently in the Croft, offering wise words to those who visit and anyone who fancies booking an appointment and taking a journey to our corner of the world. God bless you Tarotvan as I have had such fun within your four fragile walls, hopefully you can continue your service from your final place of rest, Kat x 

http://thetarotvan.co.uk/index.htm 

Old fashion photo shoot

Just had a computer returned that had lost all its pictures when it caught a nasty virus last year. Found these pictures from when I attempted to design yet another website to sell clothes I'd made. Nothing came of the website idea but I really like the left over pictures taken one random summers day, Kat x