Hannover

So, in the hotel, and preparing for a busy weekend. We have a different conductor tonight, so we´ll all be keeping alert as it´s bound to be a little different. I´m reading The Classical World by Robin Lane Fox. It´s an ideal book for me as it just brings together all the stuff one has picked up about ancient Greece and Rome and fleshes it out and gives it a chronology. I´m just reading now about Cicero and Julius Caeser. It´s quite remarkable how modern some of it feels!
I´m also plugging on with my Czech. It´s so difficult. It just takes an incredibly long time to learn if you´re going to do it properly, but it´s becoming easier. I now have covered all the cases (all SEVEN which seems frankly unnecessary to me!) and past and future, so in theory I should be able to say a lot, however, as all of the vocabulary is so blooming different I still feel as though I can barely say my own name. The worst thing is that the verbs all have two aspects, perfective and imperfective and that you effectively have to learn two completely different verbs for each action and then remember which is which.
I also need to learn 3 arias for an audition on Monday, but have noone to play through them for me.
We´ll be in the Herrenhausen tonight, which has a glorious baroque garden. That has been one of the most delightful things about this whole project, the historical theatres and venues have just been a joy to discover.
Last week at home was lovely, as the winks were on top form. We had a farewell party for one of Spouse´s colleagues, and I got out the homemade rhubarb schnapps, which is always a good sign.
Next week to Wales and can´t wait!

Hannover

Something about this departure lounge at Birmingham... it's where I started this blog. Well here I am again, off to do two more shows in hannover. I'll also pop to Berlin for an audition on Monday, since I'm there!
Next week is the end of term for spouse and so we're off to Wales and then the lovely long summer. I can't wait.
Winks are on great form, and know I'm off again, but only for a quick trip, then I'll be with them lots.
My main preoccupation is how to lose some kilos! I still haven't quite got back to pre Jack, or even pre Effie, and it's really annoying me as I nearly did, and have put some on this year, which is too too stupid, as I now have to start again. I'm trying to decide on a strategy. It's obviously going to take a while.
Hey ho.
More from Deutschland.

Berlin still

All's going well here. I'm trying to make the most of any free time to read my book 'The Classical World' by Robert Lane Fox, which is very interesting. Now would be the best time to look at antiquity sections in museums while the background is fresh in my mind, otherwise it all starts to look just like old bits of pottery when you don't have the historical, political, social context in your head. Also ploughing on with my study of Czech, though I think it's very difficult and I can't imagine I'll ever manage to learn it. Apart from the vocabulary, the really difficult thing is the business of aspective verbs as it seems to double the number of verbs you have to learn. It doesn't help dealing with 7 cases either!
Tomorrow off to Bad Lauschtadt for runs through the show, performances on Saturday and Sunday and assuming travel goes ok then I should be home late on Sunday night.
Can't wait to see the winks!

Berlin again

I've been a bit quiet, but I decided it was time to get back to the diary. Last weekend was Potsdam with Modo Antiquo, and I found myself singing my role and someone else´s after she retired with laryngitis. Only a little stressful as they're all such old friends, and I know the festival too, so it was a lovely time. Lots of long breakfasts with my old mate Paul and some gorgeous walks in the Sanssouci park.
Now I'm back in Berlin for round 2 of King Arthur. Staying in a wee place in Prenzlauerberg. It´s all good, but of course I worry about the kids, especially as everyone at home seems to have a dire stomach bug. Both Petra and Mum are not well and I`m not sure John's on top form either so that's not great.
I'm in the usual quandary over how much work to take on next year. Remembering how tiring last year was, and the guilt of leaving the kids. It's not an easy decision. I do have to carry on though as we do need the dosh!
We had a heavenly time in Wales at half term and I can't wait for the next bout. And it's so soon!
xxx