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The village of Waingroves in Amber Valley will become a whirlwind of activity this weekend.
Among many other attractions and activities there will be live entertainment on the evening of Friday 13 September 2013 (unspecified, though I`ve heard there may be a rock `n` roll element).
On Saturday 14 September 2013 there will be a Horticultural and Craft Show at the Community Centre, an Art Exhibition at the Methodist Church and much else.
Mancunian Steel (as you might imagine, a steel band from Manchester*) will be appearing on Sunday 15 September 2013 and the weekend`s activities will be brought to a close with a Spitfire and Hurricane Flypast.
I personally would like to go and play on the bouncy castle but perhaps I`m a bit too old for that !
Afteer all that, you might think they`d all want to have a little lie down for a bit, but in fact Waingroves Methodist Church will be hosting an evening of barber shop music** on Saturday 28 September 2013.
For more on events in Amber Valley, click here ; http://www.ambervalley.info/events.asp
* http://www.simillerphotography.com/wedding-reception-entertainment-steel-pan-band
** http://grandcentralchorus.com/where-to-see-us-2
Member of Mancunian Steel. I`m grateful to photographer Si Miller for allowing me to use this picture of his. For more about the hugely talented Mr M, visit www.simillerphotography.com .
*
It`s walking festival time again, and `Autumn Footprints ; the Amber Valley and Erewash Walking Festival` begins soon ( www.autumnfootprints.co.uk )..
For details of it`s equivalents elsewhere, try this link ; http://www.walkmag.co.uk/category/news/events .
You may have heard of the book English as She is Spoke, an attempt at a Portugese-English phrase book which, as Wikipedia comments "is regarded as a classic source of unintentional humour."
Mark Twain was a big fan ; "Nobody can add to the absurdity of this book, nobody can imitate it successfully, nobody can hope to produce it`s fellow ; it is perfect."
Stephen Pile was even more enthusiastic ; "Is there anything in conventional English which could equal the vividness of `to craunch a marmoset`?"
While EASIS may never be equalled it does at least have a modern equivalent in an article I found online recently which concerned itself with J B Priestley`s An Inspector Calls ;
http://convincing-essay.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/jb-priestleys-inspector-calls.html
Who could disagree with this essay`s author when he comments that "The tactics at rootage gives the film of a spy thriller and latishr regain words itself as a morals tale."
The occupation ascribed to the character Arthur Birling, "a wealthy military personnelufacturer", was almost believeable, given the ridiculous job titles some companies come up with, and there is a certain zing to the observation that the arrival of Priestley`s inspector "disrupts the casual biz."
What makes this piece of critical analysis especially interesting is the fact that it is only a short extract from a larger work which the reader is invited to order. Presumably this is a service offered to students to help with their education.
I wait with interest to hear if anyone has been unwise enough to make use of it..
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This blog occasionally takes it upon itself to acquaint the world with the activities of author A R Dance.
Bookish types may wish to know that this literary lad will be giving a talk to Bramcote History Group on 16 September 2013 ( http://www.bramcotehistory.org.uk/programme.html ) , and that his latest historical novel The Westbrook Affair will be published in early October ( www.arundelbooks.co.uk ) . Arundel Books promise that it will be "a gripping story of poverty and wealth, betrayal and greed, and ultimately the search for justice."
I presume the Dance man`s back catalogue continues to be available from Arundel. i believe we have a few second-hand copies of some of his titles, including a couple of signed ones ( http://www.abebooks.co.uk/Hoonaloon-Books-Derbyshire/53404521/sf ) .
A new venture being proposed in my neck of the woods is that Heanor Memorial Park could be used as a venue for family-friendly theatre events on Sunday afternoons.
The proposal is supported by Amber Valley Borough Council, Ripley and Heanor News and the Derby Evening Telegraph.
Once again, the ever-dependable Amber Valley Info is on hand to tell us more ;
http://www.ambervalley.info/newsarticle.asp?newsid=1050
Jazz singer Jeanie Barton closed this years` batch of Music in the Square events with an inspiring set of jazz standards, including Fly Me to the Moon, The Sunny Side of the Street and Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps.
Jeanie is not someone intent on combining different influences or particularly putting forward her own interpretation of songs. She lets the songs speak for themselves and the strength of her set lay in her voice and phrasing, her choice of songs, and in the arrangements.
I tend to favour something a bit more eclectic myself, but I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the two sets she played and indeed self and family considered re-arranging our weekend to see her perform in Nottingham the following day.
Sadly, that was not to be, but I gather there will be a number of other opportunities to see her locally in the near future.
Credit for the excellence of the performance has, of course, to be shared with her backing group for the occasion, The BoHop Trio (sometimes known as the BoHop Rhythm Section) who performed splendidly throughout.
If there was one moment that stood out for me, it was the soaring notes at the end of Fly Me to the Moon. It was a surprise to me that anyone can sing like that before 11.00 in the morning !
That will do for now I think, but here are a few links you might like ;
http://jeaniebarton.com
http://beestonjazz.co.uk
