Well what a week it's been, the very sad and unexpected news about the far too premature death of Alan Rickman upon the coat tails of the same news about David Bowie.
Although sad about David Bowie, I really did admire Alan Rickman and always considered him my second in line husband if only we had met :)
The first thing I ever saw him in was Truly, Madly, Deeply which I still LOVE.
In the early 90s we went to Robin Mills in Bradford to see him play the title role of Hamlet. We were only in our early 20s and it was a big, new experience for us. It's funny how some details remain with you for years. I had flu at the time, but insisted we still went (we sat in the second row from the stage) and I sniffled my way through the performance, I'm surprised I wasn't asked to leave. Robin Mills was an amazing space and the seating and stage was accessed up a combination of stairs and scaffolding. This scaffolding was also on the stage and the way Rickman managed to climb up and down it while delivering his lines was simply astounding, it was very physical.
The thing both Mr Twigs and I remembered, while we were chatting about this fantastic night, when we heard the sad news was this. At the end of he performance, the cast took several curtain calls, entering the stage with a deep bow. Alan Rickman strutted on, scanned the crowd and gave a brief nod of the head as though he owned the place. He knew, as we all did, he was quite correct.
Mr Twigs said he'd seen an interview with Laurence Olivier once, when he said that the very finest actors had `IT'. The interviewer asked him what he meant. He replied, without even trying a performer who has `it', is saying, look at me, look at me, look at me and the audience does just that. I suppose some people would call it charisma, but whatever you choose to call it, I think that man definitely had it, in spades.
What a sad loss for all, but obviously most of all for his family and friends, how dignified he, and they have been.
So a little happy news on a personal level. I touched briefly upon the fact that my lovely Mum was very ill last Summer, she was rushed into the hospital with acute pancreatitis and to be honest we were told to expect the worst. It was a tough few weeks for everyone and she as ever, was the trouper she always is. She came out of hospital and slowly but surely built up her strength, not to the same level, but she was strong enough to have her gallbladder operation this week. She is not out of the woods yet but is at home, able to potter about and has her family about her. The best gift ever for us this Christmas was the fact she is still here and will hopefully continue to improve.
She is awesome, such a strong, brave lady who along with my amazing Sisters have taught me yet again, that when the shit hits the fan, my family are amazing.
So there we are, I have had a poorly boy at home for the last two days, but he is on the mend and playing with his Lego now.
Here's to a fantastic 2016 for us all, and the last week has certainly taught me, to live life now as you really don't know what might happen. As it is my birthday next week, this is a rather timely reminder.
I promise to be back with a cheerier blog very soon.
Take care and remember just do it !!
love
Twiggy x
