Meet the Lodger
This appeared in Face `Book yesterday forwarded by friend Vinko. Some other remarks are equally alarming including this one – ‘All foreign travel to finish before 2030. All major airports in the UK must close by 2030. Heathrow Manchester and Glasgow by 2050.’
Could this possibly be true? This from an expert:
Holidaymakers are being warned they may have to abandon their summer breaks abroad in order to avoid the ongoing airport chaos. Travellers who have only paid a 10 percent deposit toward their holiday may want to consider cancelling it, aviation expert Julian Bray has said. Lengthy queues and last minute flight cancellations have led to scores of disgruntled passengers across the UK and holiday hotspots in Europe, with airlines blaming staff shortages.
Mr Bray pointed out families could find themselves stuck with no guarantee of an outbound flight or a return flight, or if flights are delayed or cancelled while customers are abroad, they have to fork out for a hotel.
Horrifying thought if it is true. Maybe another conspiracy theory like the news that surfaced on Face Book during last week that Megan was wearing a ‘wire’ during the St. Paul’s service! Certainly even I noticed how she was fiddling with the colour of her jacket and she looked as if she had put on some weight but theorists put this down to her wearing a flak jacket! What ever next?
THE WORLD IS A STAGE
Show Biz is on the up these days, small companies, established theatres, concerts, gigs but where does it all start? One place is a theatre school and we have a few but Centre Stage sounds to me like the place to be next month. For over 35 years Roma Tomelty and her husband Colin Carnegie wrote and performed in plays all over Ireland and the UK but central to their thinking was how to introduce children to the art form which is acting and one of the most popular and successful ways was to bring young people together for a week of theatrical activity. “Performing in all its forms has all the ingredients of giving children a knowledge of how to behave in both the social and business world,” She said. “At our summer school for instance, teenagers from all backgrounds and many parts of Ireland, the UK and Europe come together on a summer weekend and six days later putting on an end of term show. That means team building, getting individual ideas across to other pupils and tutors, developing eye to eye contact, memory skills, learning confidence and enjoying the sheer delight of entertaining an audience. All of this helps a young person develop character and aids them when confronted by bullying, approaching adults and in job interviews in the future.”
BUILDING A LEGACY
Roma died in April 2020 and it was more than difficult keeping the company going during such sad times and with the pandemic making its presence felt but Roma’s belief that the show much go on. So it’s been handed down to her children and daughter Hannah had taken on the responsibility, not only of the company but also of the summer school, which this year will be held on the slopes of Slemish Mountain, a 40 minute drive from Belfast. She recognises that children have had enough hardship over the last couple of years and this is a chance to get out into a world of fun and creativity.
“It’s not a holiday camp, it’s in class for ten o’clock and bed by 11 p.m. Between times they will learn the benefits of theatre, music and dance with professionals taking the 8 to 18 year olds through the disciplines and the challenges but also the joy of theatre life whether professional or amateur. The camaraderie, sharing thoughts, gaining self esteem and the hard work of being one of a stage crew and the magic of stage craft, every day is different whether in the class room situation or out enjoying the countryside.”Pupils will work with dance teacher Jazzmin McClure, James McConnell choir master of St. Peters Cathedral and the acting staff Eoghan Lamb, Mark Claney and Rachael herself. All week there will be the underlying intention of building towards the ‘end of the show show’ when parents and friends can enjoy the fruits of their young peoples happy labours. From Sunday 24th July. More details at www.summerdrama.co.uk or email summerdramacs@gmail.com
THE POWER OF MUSIC
Where does a love of performing begin? As far as singer songwriter Conal Montgomery is concerned, he grew up in a house filled with music and Barry, his older brother, was an Elvis fanatic! “When I was about 12 it was Elvis and rock and roll and then in my early teens I discovered my own sound AC/DC and Metallica. Then I began to appreciate John Lennon as well. That led me onto a career singing with rock bands, I didn’t need an instrument, I was the front man and my voice was my instrument.” Conal has proved that the stage can support an entertainer and now in his 50s he has charted his life in two albums both conceived during lockdown, With Happy Being Free he talks of his struggle against addiction to drugs and alcohol and gently about his daughter’s mental health. In 2016 he conquered his devils and for this he thanks Jodie who had voices in her head. “They were telling her to kill herself, that she shouldn’t be here and I knew I must help her and that was the turning point.” His second album, which will be launched on 16th June, also tells stories of his life now that he is free of addiction and his daughter is more settled.
The Corner Stone tells mostly of his life experiences in his hometown Killyleagh on the shores of Strangford Lough. “Every town has a corner stone that hold the memories of the past to look back with fondness, reminds of people gone but never forgotten. My wife is a chef and she makes a dish called Soupy Stew, some people like soup some people like stew and this album is that sort of mix and I think it works!” Having listened to it so do I. Whereas with the first album lockdown meant no launch or tour so Conal used Face Book as his platform making eight videos a day and requests from fans just came piling in. With Corner Stone there is now the freedom to take this album, recorded and produced by his school friend Gerard Dornan in Hillside Studio in Loughinisland, and bring it to his public.
FAVOURITE FANS!
“I’m a grandfather now to four girls, I’m surrounded by beautiful women! I have reinvented myself In the last few years and I find peace on the shores of Killyleagh, now I walk with my Dad three or four times a week, I passed my driving licence, I write and I sing and at the moment I’m helping Jodie move into her new house, my only struggle is with wallpaper! These are the important things in life.”It’s interesting that Conal is involved in music therapy for children and runs a drum circle proving that the rhythm of life begins at an early age and is a lifelong pleasure.
The Corner Stone Album is available on all major platforms and CDs and can be purchased through Conal Montgomery Music on Facebook or Conal Montgomery Bandcamp.
Much love to Gloria who took a tumble between appearing in the studio during the Jubilee weekend and the vintage bus parade on Sunday. I talked to her yesterday and her injuries sound appalling and I know all her friends and fans send her lots of love for a speedy recovery.
What a lot of rubbish has been written about little Louis who was having the time of his life at the Jubilee celebrations. I didn’t think he was naughty, he was just being an excited boy of four years of age, more than him got fidgety at the long procession down the Mall. I think he’d get on well with Harry. Analysing a child’s behaviour in such a way is unfair, he must be a very entertaining member of the family but making him the focus of the three children is a pity. His sister looks very self composed and a lady who will be in charge of her life, reminds me of Princess `Margaret, and then the oldest boy who, if all goes according to plan, will one day be king. `He needs to be nurtured, he’s just a child and already you can see the weight on his shoulders, literally shadowing his father, wearing the same suit and tie – for goodness sake ruffle his hair and give him a sweatshirt.
