How was your day? (Random off topic chat)

Having a look back of my London week as I make my way back home today and back in work on Monday (boo! ), it’s been a great week of theatre with lots packed in and lots of memories (and theatre programmes) to take back with me. There have been some real highs (the Sondheim concert and Sunset) over the holiday and the opportunity to see a lot of great people on stage. For me, it was finally getting to see the likes of Bernadette and Lea, people who I’d thought I’d never get the opportunity to see which have made this week special. Though seeing Bradley Jaden in that costume was certainly something that I’d thought I would never see.

It’s been a real pleasure being in the city ( the great weather has helped a lot with all the walking I’ve done). Thanks to all the theatre staff and casts at the different venues I’ve dealt with over the week. You have all been absolute stars and without the work you folk do each day, I wouldn’t be able to enjoy weeks like this. See you in November!

Welcome to the board and look forward to your contributions and views on the shows you will see.

Just spotted this. For anybody who is interested, our very own BurlyBeaR will be making his Sheffield theatrical debut next year in a one off performance - 



TallPaul - I assume you will be booking a front row seat for this one?

It’s a return…

O dear. Miserable. Escaped so far but pals tell me it isn’t fun. It never was. Wish you better. 

We went out at 7pm last night (Sunday) and came back at 8pm with over £90 at original prices of fresh food including meat and fish, salads, fruit and veg, bread and sandwiches, cakes, milk and a few ready meals, for a total spend of just over £22. Some immediately frozen, most refrigerated and will largely feed us 4 adults till at least Wednesday. I occasionally hear people say there's no point buying something because the freezer is full and it goes out of date at midnight so can't be eaten after that which makes me smile inwardly as I pick up what they put down. 

Getting almost all our food at final reduction time indirectly funds my theatre going. We don't shop Sunday afternoons when there are always plenty of people chasing the bargains in the bigger supermarkets, but we never see anyone else on a Sunday evening when only the smaller supermarkets and garage stores are open. Also not everything unsold is collected by charities and staff aren't usually allowed to take it so some is still just thrown away. I find it satisfying to save so much on fresh food in just an hour or so of stress free shopping on a 10 mile circular route.

Co-op stores, ASDA garage shops and Morrison Daily are generally best for evening bargains. Tonight's saving covers two of this week's show tickets.

Any employment law specialists able to help me out please?
I've recently started line managing a new starter who was redeployed to our department due to a restructure in their team. They've been downgraded to a role below their previous role however their pay is protected (frozen) for 2 years.

The issue is I'm now line managing someone who's being paid more than me. To add to this they have no experience of the team's specific remit, is less qualified than me and arguably didn't meet all the essential critieria for the role.

I find this really disempowering especially after working in the team for 5 years and covering multiple gaps in the team with no acting up pay.

They're also of the opposite sex so I'm wondering if a gender pay discrimination claim is valid? The problem is the protected pay policy could be seen as a reasonable justification.

Thanks in advance for any help.

It's interesting what passes for Hallowe'en these days. 🎃

A pirate? I'm not convinced.

A man in a pig onesie? I'm even less convinced. 🐖

I rather like the excuse of the young man joining his friends in the pub earlier this evening. "Sorry I didn't dress up. I'm going to the gym later."

I’ve just been to have a look around the Disney100 exhibition in ExCel centre. Overall, I thought it was an excellent exhibition and got a good 3 hours having a look around. A nice mix of exhibits from Disney’s beginnings right up to present day. It covers the films (including Star Wars and MARVEL) music, cartoons and theme parks. With plenty of original artwork, photos, musical score sheets, props and costumes from the archives on display, I’d say it was worth the trip out and there was enough for both adults and kids. 

There is some stuff from the film such as one of the carousel horses that DVD sat on. 

Got to the Menier at 6.45 tonight to find out that Close Up was cancelled. Was hoping to grab a last minute ticket for Sunset Boulevard instead as we are staying nearby, but with the awful traffic we got to the Savoy at 7.32 so no joy.