“What's that, child?
Monday is an inset day? Yes, of course I read the school
newsletter...”
Discovering that it was
the tail end of the Stratford Fringe Festival and the free 3-month
Art Passes we got with the Daily Telegraph would get us into all of
Shakespeare's houses for free (– and expire in July), I booked a
hotel using my Avios, printed directions from Google and after my
Saturday classes, Mini-Me and I set off on our latest adventure:
Stratford-upon-Avon. It is remarkably easy and very pleasurable now
to go on impromptu trips with Mini-Me, being that the small grumpy
person who needs to be fed often and taken to the loo regularly is
now me. A road trip as single mother of an only child means no
bickering siblings and no arguing adults. Picture it: peace,
happiness, nectarines, home-made chicken wraps, rolling hills, golden
fields and Dermot O'Leary on Radio Two in the background. Ah...
bliss.
After being informed by
several different parties that no, it was definitely in no way
suitable for children of 11, I gave up trying to convince Mini-Me
that she would be fine on the Adult Candle Lit Ghost Tour. So we
found an earlier, family-friendly version and John our (spirit) guide
led us around the dimly lit Tudor World Museum which was now shut for
the day, and therefore even more atmospheric. It had already been the
setting for an episode of Most Haunted which thrilled me no end. He
pointed out paving stones upon which Shakespeare would have actually
trodden, since he used to drink there when it was a pub; explained
the difference between ghosts and spirits; and highlighted sightings
of tragic child figures who lived their lives and met their ends in
ways that shouldn't really be written about in a family magazine. We
were creeped out when we were told to edge away carefully from the
doorway of a particular room where the evil ghost of murderous man
who dislikes dark haired women is said to parade through, freaking
people out. Shakespetrified? A bit. Fun? You bet!
It was 7pm when we
found ourselves at the box office. It turned out we had actually
missed most of the Stratford Fringe Festival and all that was
available and kid friendly was the last night of a production of A
midsummer Night's Dream at the Shakespeare Institute. Now, I freely
admit that I feared this might be deadly boring, especially on an
empty stomach at 7.30 in the evening (I like my dinner substantial
and on time) but in actual fact, we had entirely by chance wandered
into the best Shakespeare production I have ever seen. And yes, I
have actually seen a few, highly acclaimed ones. This teeny tiny
production however, was truly magical, even for Mini-Me whose
shoulders could be seen bobbing about in genuine hilarity while
Bottom delivered his over-the-top soliloquy directly at her. I fully
expect to see him and the actress playing Puck becoming household
names at some point in the future, they were THAT good. By the time
the tears of laughter had dried from Mini-Me's eyes it was nearly 10
and it seemed nowhere was serving food. We went from restaurant to
restaurant until finally we found one that would serve me and my poor
hungry little girl. The waitress pointed to the programme that Tia
was examining and asked "Is that what you have just seen? My
boyfriend is in that! He plays Thisbe!" That's the kind of place
Stratford-upon-Avon is...
A perfectly acceptable
way to while away 40 minutes in the evening sunshine before an al
fresco riverside supper of fish and chips is to hop on a boat and
sail up part of the River Avon, staring longingly at the beautiful
private houses and gardens that back on to moorings on the river,
waving at people trying to relax on their private balconies, and
shooing swarms of flies away from your daughter while she sits there
with her hands clamped over her mouth hyperventilating through her
nose. So peaceful...
For MORE on this trip
including Shakespeare's Houses and a freaky deaky little Wizarding
shop and museum that sells real wands (for when you are totally
Shakespeared out – it WILL happen) visit:
mynotesfromtheedge.blogspot.com.
Angelina runs Sing and
Sign award-winning baby signing classes in Harrow, Bushey and
Rickmansworth. More info at www.singandsign.com.
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