Quietly working, or not

Spinning got the go-by yesterday, in favour of working on my the book. So much happening this week that work time has been suffering, and that deadline is starting to look truly ugly.

Tuesday night was excellent – Mr L chauffeured SpinningGill and myself to a meal at the Backaskaill Vegetarian Restaurant. We had tortilla wraps and salad. I had the World’s Largest, Creamiest Meringue for my dessert. I had to share it with Gill (chocolate brownie). Mr L (pancakes with ice cream and maple syrup) stayed with us to eat, then dropped us off at the School for Essential Scottish Opera.

Four talented, young singers and a pianist are touring Scotland this January, bringing opera highlights to a venue near you.

Essential Scottish Opera gives you the chance to experience live opera close up during a relaxed and informal evening. With a line up of excerpts from well known operas combined with some surprises from lesser known works this is an entertaining evening you won’t want to miss. The show features a mixture of operatic styles from favourite operas like Cosi fan tutte, The Barber of Seville and Manon as well as music by Mozart, Handel and Gilbert & Sullivan.

This year’s cast are Scottish born Soprano Joanne Boag, who graduated with distinction from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, mezzo-soprano Chloe De Backer who has given recitals in Paris, London and Berlin, tenor Joshua Ellicott, winner of four top prizes at the 2006 International Vocal Competition and bass-baritone Samuel Evans, who graduated with distinction from the Royal Academy of Music.

Essential Scottish Opera contains all the ingredients for a wonderful night out. Book now to enjoy a truly memorable experience, easily the best way to banish the winter blues.

Musical Director/Pianist – Philip Voldman Director – Ashley Dean

Running Time 2 hours approximately (including one 20 minute interval)

‘A box of miniature operatic delights designed to fit into the neatest space in the furthest flung parts of the country and to suit every taste’
The Scotsman

‘If you think you don’t like opera, go and see this show and I promise you will be converted. This was one of the most spellbinding ‘operatic’ performances I have seen in years’.
ESO tour audience member 2008

They weren’t wrong, it was most enjoyable.  The event was well attended – there must have been around 120 people in the hall. We were really very lucky to get this show here and were the only Orkney island to receive a visit.  They are in Strathpeffer on Friday and Boat of Garten on Saturday, then the tour is finished. Catch ’em if you can!

Last night was a Development Trust Board meeting. I’ve done two WordPress sessions this week as well. Apart from that, just image editing and DTP-ing. No knitting news to offer at all. Certainly no h**s*w*rk done!

The good news that I have to impart is that my Red RAK package has reached it’s recipient and was very well received indeed. That allowed me to put up the FO post on the red scarf that I had knitted. I am now planning the March package, which is to be yellow. I sent out 4 parcels this week, another RAK was also received with delight. Still waiting to hear on the third, and a stash swap.

What else? I bathed Nell yesterday. She really didn’t like it. Oh, and I fell off the stash wagon last night, at The Yarn Yard, which was stupid of me. It was extravagant, pointless, and most enjoyable 🙂 There’s a Laminaria in the offing, I think – or maybe a Muir. I might let you choose for me, when I show you the yarn. Whichever it is, I am targeting the 100g class at the show, as well as PS4 North  so we need a perfect pattern:yarn match project.

The bead vendor hasn’t got back to me on my enquiry regarding a 100g purchase of the desired bead mix for the Heather Undulating Scarf. I might have to chase it up, it’s almost March already.