TO KAYAK OR NOT TO KAYAK

I am SUNBURNT! Yes, the sun has finally come to Keswick and my face, the first of many of my body parts to burn, is the colour of a well ripened beetroot. Were I to climb a mountain at night, (and I’m not ruling anything out right now) I would serve for a perfectly good beacon and or camp fire. Whichever was in greatest need at the time.

To celebrate the sun arriving, I decided to pack up my troubles in my old kit bag and go Kayaking. Now, I haven’t stepped into a Kayak since I was a Brownie, circa 1995, and the last time I ventured in, not only did I capsize myself and ruin my Brownie guide sash but I got shat on by a seagull. Or a pigeon. I’m still not sure which… But vengeance shall be mine. (I also got shat on whilst Morris dancing with Brownies. I probably deserved it.)

We kayaked all the way round Derwentwater, rowing INTO the wind. Yes, INTO the wind. I have very little upper body strength at the best of times, let alone when my stringy triceps are forced against a medium to strong wind (breeze). So guess who was lagging at the back? Bringing up the rear, if you will? Yep, me.

I tried loads of distraction techniques, pointing out the mountains, the cormorants, the algae, in the hope that while they were all gazing wistfully at them, old no-guns over here could put the pedal to the metal and catch up! It did not work.

However, it was worth every second of armony (arm agony… it’s a melange) because at the end of the trip we were rewarded with scones the size of South America. Literally, they were HUGE. Nichol End Marine Café, I salute you! http://www.nicholendmarine.co.uk/cafe.php

Keswick is a trap, because in the sun it feels like I am on holiday, surrounded by incredible scenery, a lake to swim in, mountains to climb and scones to eat… It’s very easy to forget you’ve got a job to do! I blame the bank holiday weekend, one extra day and it all goes to pot!

But it is back to work, serious work, An Inspector Calls work. I have finally learnt all my lines and am “off-book” as we say in the biz. *luvviealert*.This is brilliant as I am now able to use my right arm when acting. And I do some GREAT right arm acting.

The set for An Inspector Calls is epic, a raised diamond platform with dining table and chairs set in front of a huge background of industrial cogs which move throughout the play at various pivotal points. The only thing I’m worried about is falling off the diamond. Nothing major then.

I can’t believe I have already been here five weeks and we open Vincent in Brixton in two… GAHHHH! My friends have threatened to come and watch and sit in the front row bedecked in the Dutch football kit. A different sort of beacon to my face. I have threatened blue murder if they follow through... 

I’ll keep you posted.