I found myself channel-surfing last night while I was waiting for Casualty to start when I came across Elvis, Black Leather being shown on Channel Five, not a channel I usually watch.  But last night, watch I did!

Oh boy!  To see such a legend close up and gorgeous, singing for an hour, accompanying himself on guitar for some of it, with no ear-pieces in or any of the vertigo-inducing camerawork that accompanies so many modern day concerts.  It was just Elvis.  His voice never wavered, didn’t miss a note.  Watching him, in his black-leather suit, every inch the rockstar, … Read the rest »

Today I had plans.  I was going to leap out of bed at an early hour, have some quick breakfast and then get on with one of the three writing projects I’ve got on the go at the moment.  Well, we all know what sometimes happens to the best-laid plans, don’t we?

It’s almost noon.  I have had a leisurely breakfast, caught the last part of Wanted Down Under and most of Homes Under the Hammer, answered a couple of e-mails, ordered a CD for the Daughter, spent half an hour – at least! – on Facebook, arranged lunch for … Read the rest »

I am enjoying my second Duvet Day in as many weeks!  And it’s bloody marvellous!  The panto is OVER.  Yesterday I drove a one-hundred and sixty mile round-trip to Suffolk to take the costumes back to the wonderful Jemma at Costume Closet.  It had been my intention to go at 9am but I woke up to thick ice and frost and by the time I considered it safe it was half past eleven. Consequently, by the time I got home – 4.30pm, having stopped in Tesco on the junction of A12/A14 – it was dark and the day was over.  … Read the rest »

So, Christmas is almost upon us and I am indulging in what has become an Elaine Christmas Tradition:  a cold!  Every year I go down with something coldish or fluish just in the run up to the Big Day.  So, today I am having a Duvet Day.  Until five o’clock when I have to wend my way to the Brookside for Cinderella.  The feedback from our audiences has been really fab; they are all really enjoying it, as are the cast who boo, hiss, aahh, joke, sing, dance and act their way through two hours of great fun.  The only … Read the rest »

Earlier in the year I went to the reading of a new play.  While I wasn’t exactly bowled over by the play itself, the leading actress, Josephine Liptrott, gave a real, honest, believable performance.  I quickly popped backstage to congratulate her; we befriended each other on Facebook, had a couple of long phone calls and then I read an article she’d written, which could have been written by me.  I agreed with every single word of it.  You can read it here:

The Man, The Beeb & The 100 Women List

Before I share her entertaining, intelligent and thought-provoking answers … Read the rest »