Recall for a US tour but typically I’m absolutely committed for the next week to be out town working away from home. I’m still on my laptop, still working remotely, but you need to be in the room with Shakespeare and I can’t be in that room. I dared to hope that there would be another day for recalls, but typically my actual recall time is exactly the time Lou will start her driving test. I’m not gonna make it.
We’re in a motel outside Lincoln tonight. Halfway to Bridlington. Didn’t need to smash it all the way up the coast in one shot so I booked this place to break the journey. Damon’s Hotel. It’s all Rhett Butler and Jack Vettriano. Big lights in the carpark. Big beds in the rooms.
Alongside my burgeoning haulage empire I’ve been trying to adapt Midsummer Night’s Dream for a brief tasteful wedding experience. Nothing too showy, definitely nothing low. I like the client but have been really pissed off with the venue recently. They held back payment and have been trying to squeeze us down down down. I’m supposed to be looking at Cymbeline too, and had to pull out at last minute from Julius Caesar with The Factory to honour a clearance commitment. These are small things but they add up. It’s time to put aside my chagrin with the venue and use the peaceful days I have ahead of me to really make sure this wedding entertainment is as tidy and well prepared as the van load I’m organising remotely will be tomorrow morning.
Planning is important and I’ve spread myself thin, but I’ve got my laptop with me now and we’re about to have a week in a calm cottage where I can throw words about until we are locked in with some lovely wedding stuff. All will be well, and all will be well and all manner of things will be well.
Only a few hours drive to get here but I’m pooped. Lou is already asleep. I think I’m gonna hit dreamland and let my brain sort out all the questions and worries. “How do I include that bit with the flowers and not make it stand out strangely?” “Where and how best to bring in the best man?” “Will that 18 tonner show up on time?” “Are they gonna have to ratchet flight cases onto the stillages?” “How do I tell them best that I can’t recall for Alonso even though I’d love to do it?” “And then stitch in Puck at the end with some Prospero?” “What about the cue Script Henry?” “And the Willow Globe let’s not forget the Willow Globe,” “They better have a spare pump truck in the Newcastle venue” “Maybe Gravesend or Maidstone would be the best place for my warehouse?” “Beatrice and Benedick would go well.” “How much should I quote for that next job?” “Sweet musk roses and with eglantine…” “Is Lou saying something?” “Pallets, pump trucks, iambic, euro crates, agent, payroll, manifest, flowers”
I need to go to sleep…
AlBarclay 