Arden

Lou and I have escaped to The Forest of Arden. Shakespeare would have us believe that it is a bucolic paradise, where the exiled Duke and his court find their true selves, happiness, love, purpose. Go away to come back…

Now, my co-mates and brothers in exile,
Hath not old custom made this life more sweet
Than that of painted pomp? Are not these woods
More free from peril than the envious court?
Here feel we not the penalty of Adam,
The seasons’ difference; as the icy fang
And churlish chiding of the winter’s wind,
Which when it bites and blows upon my body,
Even till I shrink with cold, I smile and say
‘This is no flattery; these are counsellors
That feelingly persuade me what I am.’
Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head;
And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in everything.
I would not change it.

There are a few things I’d change about this forest of Arden. It’s a golf club outside Birmingham. There are two weddings on. We had top scran but we had it early – we are half board here, so dinner and breakfast. The restaurant was full of howling blue collar males on the sauce. Not a woman to be seen but Lou. Most of the guys I saw probably weigh as much as the pair of us.

It’s an escape though. And a welcome one. Despite the fact it is shitting rain outside. Tomorrow morning we’ll be up early to make use of the facilities. This is the most middle aged weekend I’ve booked for ages but we are combining it with a visit to Lou’s parents in Pelsall. There won’t be much chance of that as rehearsals take hold.

Monday’s call is in and I want to be off book comfortably if I can be. That’ll take a spot of work beforehand, but today I do having down time, taking the weight off, sinking into the Arden vibes. This is better than London. Tomorrow we will go to find the tongues in trees and books in the running brooks.

I’ve only got one eye open right now, lying in this gargantuan bed in a peaceful annex of the hotel. I think I’ll close the other one.