Random Jottings of a Book and Opera Lovertag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-3614542009-12-13T18:57:01+00:00A newly retired, ex-commuting book and opera-aholic personal assistant living in the oldest recorded town in the UK, ColchesterTypePadAlan Bennett - National Treasuretag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451935569e20128764e9131970c2009-12-13T18:57:01+00:002009-12-13T18:59:58+00:00Alan Bennett celebrated his 75th birthday recently and the BBC decided to celebrate this with Alan Bennett week. I feel they may have overdone it a bit, he popped up on BBC1, BBC2 and BBC4 and was trailed extensively to...Elaine Simpson-LongNot so new girl on the coach - updatetag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451935569e20128764635ad970c2009-12-11T16:02:50+00:002009-12-11T16:03:30+00:00You will remember (you do, don't you....?) that I recently started some part time work for Lynette Allen and Meg Reid who, together, form the UK Coaching Partnership. You may also remember that I told you that I had introduced...Elaine Simpson-LongRelaxed Randomtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451935569e20120a73839a6970b2009-12-09T21:04:19+00:002009-12-09T21:04:19+00:00Yes I am relaxed. And the reason? I have been to the dentist and had a filling and it is OVER. I have done it, no more fillings, no more panic and lying there with the dentist looming over you...Elaine Simpson-LongCreme de la Crimetag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451935569e201287623be6a970c2009-12-07T17:23:10+00:002009-12-09T20:34:02+00:00It's that time of the year again when all the papers and mags are full of the Glitterati and Literati telling us what books they think are the best of the year and those you should be buying for Christmas....Elaine Simpson-LongRush rush rushtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451935569e20120a719db33970b2009-12-05T23:23:14+00:002009-12-05T23:23:14+00:00I have been reading some books recently, promise, but not quite sure where the past week has gone and I am out all day tomorrow so thought I had better drop you all a line to say that a book...Elaine Simpson-LongDelia does it againtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451935569e2012876104e6b970c2009-12-04T16:04:00+00:002009-12-04T16:05:30+00:00After my post the other day on Delia Smith I gather that viewing figures were amazing, cranberries and other ingredients featured by this wonderful lady, are selling like crazy and Waitrose and Sainsbury have reported that they have had to...Elaine Simpson-LongThe House of Cards Trilogytag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451935569e201287609a7e1970c2009-12-03T21:37:04+00:002009-12-03T21:37:04+00:00A few weeks ago I read, loved and reviewed Sharon Mail's lovely memoire of Ian Richardson, We Could possibly Comment, and I bewailed the fact that I had never seen this marvellous actor on stage, but only on the television....Elaine Simpson-LongAge cannot wither her......tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451935569e20128760039bd970c2009-12-02T16:21:53+00:002009-12-02T16:21:53+00:00" .............. nor custom stale her infinite variety" No I am not talking about Cleopatra. I am talking about the Blessed Delia, St Delia of Smith who was on the Beeb last night for the first time in years and...Elaine Simpson-LongThe Lost Prince - Frances Hodgson Burnetttag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451935569e20120a6ee83cf970b2009-11-30T13:31:12+00:002009-11-30T13:30:30+00:00"He was a boy of about twelve years old, his name was Marco Loristan and he was the kind of boy people look at a second time when they have looked at him once.......he was thinking of the long, hurried...Elaine Simpson-LongSaturday round uptag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451935569e20120a6e5dd14970b2009-11-28T17:35:36+00:002009-11-28T17:40:54+00:00I was going to leave a comment under my previous post re The Shoulder, but decided to put it in the body of this one instead. You are all so kind and thank you for your good wishes and sympathy....Elaine Simpson-Long