JULY 4TH CELEBRATION IN MY HOMETOWN, PLAINFIELD, NJ

Some memories of the 4th of July in my hometown of Plainfield, NJ.🇺🇸

1948 is the first 4th I remember well . I had just turned six and had gotten a red 24" red Schwin two wheel bike for my birthday. My friends Teddy Wolff,  Dickie Greenleaf and I decorated our bikes with red, white and blue crepe paper streamers woven through the spokes and off the handlebars and American flags .  We really felt patriotic riding up and down the street yelling Happy 4th of July !  I can't imagine kids today doing that those were the days! 

My hometown was know for having one of the largest 4th of July Parades in the US ! The parade and fireworks were always the highlight of the summer! I remember as a kid some parades being as long as 2 1/2 to 3 hours long . As a little kid in the 1940's I remember tanks, troop carriers, and thousands of soldiers marching from all branches of the service, normally led by their respective bands. 

 Camp Kilmer was but 15 minutes from Plainfield.  It was the largest military staging facility in the country that sent all soldiers overseas to WWII.  At any given time then, there were tens of thousands soldiers there being processed to leave NYC for the war.  During the war it processed over 2,500,000 men!  So needless to say after the war they came back to Camp Kilmer and were always present marching in our parades.  

The Mummers from Philadelphia were an ever present marching group with all their glitter, feathers and banjos!  In the early to mid '50's Plainfield held the National Drum and Bugle Corp Competition with the finals always on July 3rd at the Plainfield High School Field just two blocks from my home.  If I remember correctly there were usually about ten finalist corps competing !  What a wonderful sound that still echoes in my memory of those incredible groups.  All ten would also appear in the parade the next day. Plainfield was the hub of commerce, retail and industry for many adjacent towns with a total population of almost 250,000. So all those towns would participate with floats, marching groups and bands. No wonder the parade was so long !  I remember hearing that over 150,000 people would line the streets to cheer on their favorites and applaud the service men! 

The fireworks were always a fitting conclusion to a great two to three day event in Plainfield !  Thousands of people would flood into Greeenbrook Park in North Plainfield to witness this spectacular event .  We would always take something to sit on cold drinks and, back then, plenty of camphophique to help keep the mosquitoes away!  Back then there was NO mosquito repellent ! My parents had a friend that lived right at the entrance of the park so we never had a problem parking.  After the fireworks we all meet on her front porch and sit and have lemonade and wait the thirty to forty five minutes  crowds and traffic to leave.  The end of a perfect 4th of July Celebration.  

1964 I was out of college, living at home and was working as PR Director for the Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce,   My neighbor , Wink Diana, a local attorney was, at that time President of the Jaycees in Plainfield .  Wink and his wife were having an cookout with my folks early in June that year ,and the topic of the parade came up . He said the Jaycees wanted to enter a float in the parade and were looking for someone to design the float.  Well, I had just designed two for my fraternity for homecoming parades. I made a couple sketches for him and he took me to the meeting that next night  , I was inducted as a member and then presented my ideas and sketches.  

It turns out that the Jaycees tried to make a float the year before and failed. They even purchased an old car, cut the top off it and had welded I beam supports to the car to have it be a self contained unit driven within the float. My design was very simple a three step float self contained in red, white and blue . The first step red with children dressed in costumes of different countries representing our welcoming shores, the second step, white with an empty black rocking chair with the initials in gold, JFK, themPresident had been assonated  the the November before.   The top step blue with a live person dressed as the Statue of Liberty. Speakers were to be built into the sides of the float and the song, "Give Me Your Tired Your Poor!"  playing the entire length of the parade.  We set out the next evening to build the float!  Two members had to walk in front of the float guiding the driver who was totally concealed under the structure . As the float passed by the thousands of people watching it got a standing ovation the entire length of the parade.  That evening at the fireworks, now held at the North Plainfield High School Field our float won three First Place trophies,  Best Overall, Most Patriotic & Most Beautiful !!!  While a small group of us centered our attention. On the float the rest of the guys in the Jaycees manned the soda sale the entire length of the parade.  For years past and at least until I moved from Plainfield the Jaycees were the only ones allowed to sell drinks on the parade route.  Each year that soda sale funded the chapter for the entire year!  The worst year I remember was one that rained and we netted $9, best being a hot sunny day and we netted over $17,000.  This provided us the opportunity to truly serve the city of Plainfield and its residents! 

As the years passed and I moved from Plainfield in 1979, the 4th celebrations have slowed down and never hit the heights that I knew in my beautiful hometown  of Plainfield!  

In 1990 I went to Europe for a month and happened to be in the incredible city off Prague on July 4th.  I woke up that morning, remembering all the spectacular 4ths I had celebrated in Plainfield .  It was kind of a downer to be out of the country and not celebrating our Independence Day.  I was walking down a beautiful street with my large video camera on my shoulder recording the beauty of Prague ! I remember making a comment how I missed the celebrations in my hometown of Plainfield .  Just at that moment I heard a lot of noise approaching me !  It kinda alarmed me and I ducked into a doorway still with my camcorder going.  As the sounds got closer I could hear horns honking and voices but could not tell what they were yelling. A few seconds later  I heard IT !  I stepped out of the doorway and videoed four US Army Jeeps full of soldiers all holding  large American Flags. And yelling HAPPY 4TH OF JULY !!!   I YELLED BACK TO THEM!   Now, really, what could make for a better 4th of July 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸‼️‼️‼️‼️👏

Now, it is the summer of 75 !  No, not 1975, but the summer of my 75th year ‼️. Who knows how many 4th of Julys I have ahead of me, but one thing is for sure,  I will always remember and treasure the ones I had in my hometown of Plainfield, NJ ‼️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

             OKLAHOMA IN ENGLAND

 

Thirty of us met at the Lake Worth Playhouse about 4:30 on July 15, 1987, to prepare to take the bus to Miami International Airport for a 9:40 flight on British Airways to London and three weeks of touring and performing in our show OKLAHOMA.

We had just finished three weeks of performances at the Playhouse to help pay for our trip.  All we had to pay was $598. for our round trip airfare, the rest, everything, was paid for by the Playhouse. Our ground transportation, in  our own private coach, all rooms, food, all side tours and other incidentals were totally covered.  All we had to worry about was having a wonderful time and not forget our lines.  For many of us it was the first time to Europe.  We were truly fortunate that our director, Angus MacPherson, was an Angelophile and had lead many tours to Great Britian. 

The bus was packed with luggage for 30 people, instruments, costumes, makeup and small set pieces. Ok , I've just laid  very short bit of ground work.  Now here is my my journal that I wrote every night during the trip. I  will write exactly what I wrote.  Sometimes sober and lucid other times tired and not so sober.  In certain places I will leave out names to protect the guilty. But what you will read are my observations of each day  of our trip.

                          THE TRIP

July 15, 1987.  Left this afternoon at 4:30 in heavy rain.  Got to the airport about 5;30. We all enjoyed a drink of champagne from the bottles, Mike, my neighbor gave me to celebrate with everyone on the bus ride. Checked in our luggage.  We were all allowed one suitcase, so you can imagine how big they all were; three weeks - one suitcase !

Bob, John, Leslie, Snow, Andrew and I ate at a cafeteria then all sat around for a couple hours and waited and waited. I call Susan, Snow, because she looked just like Snow White in her costume.   None of us that ate together went to the bar. But poor Aunt Eller looked wasted when we boarded the plane at 9:20 .  The flight was great.  Sat on the right side of the plane on the aisle next to a chap from Birmingham, Eng.  He transports yachts all over the world. Boy did he have to put up with a lot from us, but he was a great sport !  

The first couple hours we were all on our best behavior.   A couple of us started to hum, then it broke into singing with a few then it went to all of us doing all the songs from the entire show, much to the delight of all the rest of the passengers, then dinner was served. I had Filets of Beef, Pork and Lamb others had chicken, I dont know why tho. The filets were wonderful. Sang some more and ran some scenes, napped.  

We had been talking to our steward Roy who was really funny and very hot ! Later in the flight, about 5am, Roy, took Chris, Laura and Me up to the flight deck. ( you could do that then. )  We sat there over an hour, saw the big dipper, Northern Lights and the sunrise, it was gorgeous. The sunrise, up that high, had all the colors of the spectrum, ROY G BIV. Richard Of York Gains Battles In Victory.  The English way.  The Capt and First mate Nigle  and the Engineer explained everything to us and answered all our questions.. They were most patient. I even got to sit in the Engineer's seat when Nigel took a break.

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We arrived in London without any sleep. On our way into London from Heathrow, Angus said," Wow, there goes a member of the Royal Family!  See the small Black Crown on the Rolls over the windshield, that's a Royal Car. " We all looked but could not see who was in it.  About 10 seconds later he said, "here comes another one,"-- it was led by 4 motorcycles.  It was a huge black Rolls with very large windows....and who was sitting in the back seat...THE QUEEN herself !!! She was in a yellow dress.  I snapped a picture as she went by.  Everyone said we will know what that yellow streak is.   The Queen...What a Thrill.... And we had just arrived !

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   Our rooms were not ready so Bob, Chris R, the twins Matt and Mark, John, Andrew, Jim, Les and I went to get our transit pass and went to Victoria Station then to Burger King.  All the way to England for a Whopper. The people are gorgeous !  Tonight at 5 Angus is throwing a party for us. At 6:30 , Barbara, Michael, Bob, Snow, Marian, Rick,Kathy, Robin, Vince, Pam,Linda, Laura and  me , lead by Linda Locke, left the Dolphn Square and went to Pimlico Station on the tubes then on to Green Park, had to get off the tubes because they were flooded.  Then took a double decker bus  to Piccadilly Circus.  On the way we past the Wellington Monument, Hard Rock Cafe, the back of the Palace then walked about a mile to the Circus to see the Eros Statue.  Thought we were at Trafalgar Sq and the Nelson Monument but it wasn't , we ended up in Saint James Park where we saw a black swan.  From there we could see Big Ben to our left and to the right we could see the Palace.  The Park was beautiful. White wooden and canvas lawn chairs out on the grass just waiting to be sat in and no one in them.  The girls went to the loo and we watched the  ducks and swans. We looked up and saw the Concord taking off from Heathrow. We leisurely strolled the mile down to the Palace .  We got there and took some pictures and walked over to the far right gate then we saw 4 motorcycle guards line up inside the gates. I went up to one of the guards to see if someone was expected. One very handsome guard said without moving his lips, " The Queen, Sir ! "  We all ran across the street, we were the first ones behind the barricade.  The Bobbies moved on their cycles to the street and stopped traffic. Out pulled that huge Rolls we saw earlier in the day , with her Majesty sitting in the back seat. She had on a white gown or coat, long white gloves and a diamond tiara !   I got about 5 pictures of her as she pulled past us.  She turned and waved, acknowledging our waves, then the limo pulled off down the street.    Then all hell broke loose.  We jumped up and sown and yelled and screamed like a bunch of little kids hugging each other. They were yelling, " Dick you got it,you got the picture , Then they all hugged me.  People on the other side of the street must have thought we were nuts. But seeing the Queen twice in one day when some Londoners have only seen her a couple times in their life was amazing ! You have to remember we had been there less than 12 hours and hadn't slept in almost two days.  

We calmed down by walking a couple miles to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.  On the way we heard Big Ben strike 8.  Took pictures of Big Ben and Parliament, Churchill Statue and a bum on the street. Then we walked across the street to Westminster Abbey which was closed. There was a statue between Parliament and the Abbey that was a a man leaning forward in a strange pose so everyone stood like he was and I took a picture.  Looked for a pub and found one just a half a block to the right of the Abbey.  Barbara, Bob and Pam collapsed on a bench out front, picture of that.  we talked to 5 Londoners, one of whom was in Tampa the first three weeks of June visiting her boyfriend's parents. We went inside and I had a Schwepps Ginger Ale. Most of the others had a pint.  Heard Big Ben strike 10. Left to go back to the hotel.  Michael saw a little gift shop, we went in and I bought up a storm  3 large Royal Dalton mugs and the Balloon Man. God, it took 30 minutes to wrap . Then we schlepped back to the room. Bob, Mike and I sat and ate some sandwiches. Then Rick and Kathy stopped in before going to bed. I fell asleep in the chair writing  and Mike got me to bed.  

July 17 - Well, it is Friday at 8:30am and a new day has begun.  Bob and I have unwrapped my Dalton and set it out in our suite. Will have breakfast and off on tours.  Today it is cloudy and cool - raining now.  10am.  Our room started to get busy, it seems to be the meeting place. By 10:15 it was full and we all decided to head out to see the changing of the guard at the Palace: Bob, Mike,Vince, Kathy, Rick, Roger, Julie, Linda, Marian, Snow, John, Robin, Lewis, Matt and Mark, Baran, Chris, Chris, Jim and me. As we waited at the Palace The Royal Band marched down the street, we all waited and suddenly the guards marched in from the right side street. Spotted Baran's head above all the others.  Since it was drizzling they had on grey capes over their red coats which you could see as they walked.  When they got inside the gates they took their capes off. We all crowded around  the gates and took pictures.  Poor Vince had Julie on his shoulders the entire time. We were passing our cameras to Julie to take pictures.  We then left for our long walk up to the Abbey. Chris W. and I were walking along together rating bums from the cast.  We both agreed the twins won.  The twins were just ahead of us, I told Chris to get up there with them and I'd take a picture of the three of their bums, he did and we decided to use it as the last slide, titled " The End." 

When we got to the Abbey we didn't take a tour,  we went on our own and listened in to the other guides and saved a bunch of money.  Linda Locke remembered a lot from her time there before and past the info on to us. Chris, Mike, Bob, Linda, Laura and I stuck together and we were all totally enthralled. More famous people were buried there than anywhere else. Disraeli, Gladstone, B. Britian, Handel, William Pitt, Dylan Thomas, T.S. Elliot, Dickens, Samuel Johnson, This place is 900 years old !  Kings Henry III, Edward I & II, Richard II, founder of the Abbey Edward (1042-1066), Mary Queen of Scots and more are also buried here.  We saw the Coronation Throne from 1296. It was the most incredible building I have ever seen.  God sure had his hand over this city during the War. A lot of it was destroyed but those that were spared were a miracle.  All the windows in the Abbey were taken out and stored during the War and this saved them.  We stood on the spot where all the Kings and Queens were crowned. Chris R and i had the goose bumps and many of us had tears in our eyes.  So much history and so much happened I'll never be able to remember or communicate it all in one sitting.  Boy were my legs and hips hurting.  

Then off to the Tower of London- took the tubes.  Decided to look for a place to eat lunch. We walked and walked and walked, finally went to a sandwich shop near the Tower. Marian and I shared a large sub, cokes, cookies and Danish. Then all of us to the Tower.  Our guide was a Beefeater and a real character. Saw the Armour Room then Michael, Bob, Matt, Mark, Marian, Mike and I went to see the Crown Jewels. Just incredible, a 130ct diamond, a 530 ct diamond.  not to be believed . Robin, Bob and I ," the three old ones," could hardly make it up and down the hundreds of narrow stone winding stairs. We were a first class comedy routine ! We saw the dungeons, the upper floors where the Kings and Queens lived.  We, all 20 of us were exhausted. Got a funny picture of the entire group in the courtyard looking and pointing is every direction. Actually, they were looking for the ravens.

  Got back to the Hotel, changed, then Bob and I were off to the Theater to see An Inspector Calls.  I was in the show in summer stock,  and wrote to the theater before we left the States and told them that and that we were here to do Oklahoma at the Minack.  Said  I would like 2 tickets for that night.  We got to the theater and I went to pick up our tickets and was told they were complimentary and that the cast would like to meet us after the show.  So much happened that night. Umbrella, Backstage, Simon, dinner, Marco Island.   At intermission we got back to our seats and our umbrellas were gone.  The people next to us got up and changed seats and took our umbrellas.  We tracked them down after the show and got them back. We went backstage after the show and met Simon Shephard , he was wonderful. Adam Godby, who played the role Eric, the part I had was an extremely handsome and a very talented man.  We talked for quite a while. Simon knew of the Minack  and wished us well. Extremely nice guy.  We left the theater and then Bob and I decided to stop for a very late dinner.  Oh before I forget it, today was the first time Julie had ever been in a revolving door. Don't know why I just thought of that. 

The people sitting next to us at dinner were from Chicago and just came from The Starlight Express. But what amazed me, they knew my cousin Taber, who is a photographer and lives in Chicago.  Both of them were very active in their community theater group, she had played Golda in Fiddler and he in Mousetrap.They have a winter home on Marco Island and their name is Marco.  Got their name and address and will send them a program from the Minack and LWPH Got back to the hotel and collapsed.  Michael came in and we talked till 2:45. Heard Vince got in at 5:30. 

July 18, Saturday --Up this morning at 9. Most everyone left early for Portabello Rd Flea Market. Bob, Matt and I went to Harrods for lunch and then to see Les Miserables.  What a wonderful show!  Bought  the Tape, a T-shirt and one for Matt too, a book and other trinkets.  Before the show, the three of us  went for a walk through Chelsea, what a beautiful area. Reminded us all of Mary Poppins.  After the show it was pouring, so we found a nearby Italian restaurant and had dinner, Matt a pizza, Bob, fish and chips and me spaghetti.It was a very small and inexpensive place.  First time I have seen an all white Italian restaurant. It was filled with characters. A male couple walked in, both in leather pants, one long and one short pants, boots, and one had  on a leather vest. The other had no shirt but a 2' wide leather dog collar and a pad lock. Matt looked at them and said , " My daddy used to spank me, he's gone so would you like to do it now?" Now as you all know Matt is a very handsome 19 year old bodybuilder.  HAHAHA !  We all got a good laugh out of that one.  

After dinner, Bob left to try and  get a ticket for Star Light Express .  Matt and I walked around SoHo for a while just to enjoy the area and all the characters there. Went in and out of a lot of different kind of shops and got back to the hotel about 8pm.  Met Angus and Mark ,who was feeling better and Pam, John and Kim in the lobby.  Sunday Kim is going to Wales to go  horseback riding. I am the only one in the group who is not going to a show tonight. It feels nice to just sit and relax for a while, I'm really tired. However, we are all going to a bar called Heaven tonight. Hope we can all meet up ok.  Today was Robin's Birthday.  Got a card for her at Heaven.  It said, " I sent you some flowers for your Birthday" open it up and there was a naked guy laying on his stomach with a rose in his butt, saying, " I'm sorry the vase is cracked."  Took it up to her about 1am and what a laugh.  Linda rolled over on the floor in laughter. Got to bed about  2.

July 19 - Sunday- Linda, Bob, Marian, Rick, Kathy, Robin and I went to Pettycoat Lane Flea Market , got a couple t-shirts, Linda  said we were headed the wrong direction to leave, oops. We stopped and listened to an old man and a young girl playing accordions . They were both dressed in patchwork clothing but were very talented.  We came back and left for Mde. Teusseaud Wax Museum.  The line was a one hour wait, so I left and went to Victoria and Albert Museum.

The Museum was amazing.  They had an entire section dedicated to fabulous fakes.  Saw copies of Italian sculptures of David, Sampson Slaying the Philistines, Moses, The Pieta and many others. Took lots of pictures. Later went to the Gardens with Vince, Chris W, Lewis, and Chris R., it used to be Regines, London !

It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, 2 bars, beautiful, exquisite dining room, a disco dining room and the most fabulous outdoor patio I have ever seen. It had Palm trees, gardens, fountains, ponds with coi, waterfalls, fountains, bridges, and yes LIVE flamingoes ! And this was all on the 6th floor in the middle of London ! There were more beautiful people here that I have ever seen in one place ! and all of this for a low entrance fee of  8.5 pounds. I met and talked to a really nice guy that was from Georgia who is Musical Director for the touring company of Singin' In The Rain and will be Musical Director for Can Can at the Royal Poinciana Playhouse in Palm Beach in February. Gave him my card and he will call me when he gets into town. Met another guy, Vince O'Boyle from Ireland really wants to come to the states and Florida in particular. He plans to come in March and will write  me.  He said some very nice things to me and it made me feel very good.   (he actually did come and spent a couple days with me , such a nice man.)   

July 20 -- Monday.  Bob and I went out on our own today. We went to the Westminster Abbey and the  Book Shop, the bank and  Tower Bridge. At the Abbey, we went to the Cloisters.  You could do a brass rubbing on the tombs. you paid for black or white paper, masking tape and white , black or gold crayons.  Bob and I both did one. The only instructions we were given were to make sure the paper was very tight and to make sure we only rubbed the crayon in one direction.  I chose the tomb of John and Lettys Terry from 1524.  I chose black paper and a gold crayon. It took 2 hours to do and turned out beautiful. Then we walked over to the Tower Bridge.  Went to the top of the bridge and the walk way across the top and saw London from mid air, then bought some gifts at the gift shop the to Trafalgar Square, and St Martin's in the Field Church.  Saw a couple people from Heaven and chatted with them. Oh I have to go back with a note about the Abbey...  When we went to the Abbey we joined up with a tour and heard the most amazing thing. The guide pointed to a balcony at the transept of the Abbey.  It was a small seating area at the intersection of the main aisle and the cross aisle.  The guide said that is where Geoffrey Chaucer  sat and prayed. Now, Chaucer wrote the Canterbury Tails  in the late 1300's. Is that not just amazing?

We walked by Heaven  then grabbed a double decker bus to St Paul's Cathedral.  My first thought was to take a picture of Bob sitting on the steps. Actually there were a couple pigeons near him..  It reminded me so much of Feed the Birds from Mary Poppins. We took a tour of this magnificent Cathedral and took lots of pictures. Then we climbed the 235 stairs to the top of the Dome.  OMG ! Were we pooped ! but what an incredible view of this mind blowing church, in many ways more beautiful than the Abbey, but not as historic. When we were up in the dome a service started with the boy's choir and organ.   We  tubed home-- no dinner tonight, did laundry , changed clothes then off to " 42nd Street !"  What an incredible show.  What was amazing was they were all Brits and all had an American accent, New York and mid-west. Michael, Bob, Karen,  Jim, John, Roger, Rick, Cathy, Chris and Chris, Lewis and me, a big group of us, went to see this great show ! Someone used my camera and took a picture of Karen and me, hope it turns out !  When we left the theater we met the young lady that had the lead role.  She had a thick accent, a cross between British and Cockney !  On stage she was an American !  We all walked back to the hotel, then Karen, Snow, Robin, Matt, Michael and I went to Maxwells for another one of their incredible hamburgers. Then back to the room to pack.  We have been in London 5 days , saw the Queen twice, saw three shows , been to at least 5 pubs and three clubs. Bob and I, the two old ones are staying in tonight and packing to leave tomorrow for our trip to The Minack Theater.  But Leslie and and Linda went to see Phantom of the Opera and Vince and Marian went to see  Chess.. I will go see Phantom  when we get back and I spend another few in London after everyone goes home. 

ON THE ROAD TO THE MINACK THEATER

July 21, Tuesday -- Left London this morning at 8:30 on our great coach. Our coach driver is John Clark a really nice and funny guy.  We named him John 31 since he was the 31st person in our group. Heading to Leeds Castle. It was raining pretty hard and the Castle was closed when we pulled up to it, so we went on to Canterbury and the Cathedral.  It is the oldest church in England. Angus was our tour guide and the stories he told were amazing.  The Church is the home of the Church of England and is where the Archbishop of Canterbury is  located.  Angus gave us a tour of the outside then the complete history inside. The church was founded in 597 and rebuilt from 1070 to 1077 . Thomas Becket was the Archbishop in 1170 and was killed in the Cathedral by Knights of Henry II..  The inside of the Cathedral was magnificent and the stainned glass windows  were amazing.    We were there about an hour and a half and it was raining when we left.  Bob, Matt, Mark, Robin and I  hit some gift shops and I bought some British flag socks and a sweatshirt. Bob and Robin bought stuff too.  I bought the twins a T- shirt each. We grabbed some lunch and then back on the road.

Our next destination was the Dover Castle which was used in the 14th and 15th Century by the Norman Kings.  We saw the beautiful White Cliffs of Dover.  Hythe--- the smallest working railroad in England. All in minature. This area is along the coast, there are five towns set up along here to protect England from attack by the French.  We saw large round towers along the Channel for protection called Martelo Towers built in the 12th and 13th Century.  These towns were all from the 11th, 12th, and 13th Centuries.  Past through   the town of Rye with an original windmill.  Saw St. Thomas Church from 1290 in the town of Wenchelsea.. This town had very narrow roads and tough for John 31 to maneuver the coach. Through a forest where  The Battle of Hastings was fought on Oct. 14, 1066  We crossed over the bridge from where the Norman King commanded his troops. Then drove through the fields where the battle took place. Then saw the cathedral built by the Benedictine Monks under orders of William to commemorate the battle. Then past the Greenwich Observatory ( Greenwich Mean Time. )   Then the first church built by the Normans in 1080 St Mary of the Virgin.

Now to Eastbourne and the beautiful Cavendish Hotel. This was a grand old very large white hotel fronting on the English Channel. Checked into this Grand Old Lady.  Got settled in the room with Bob then we went for a walk to see an RAF exhibit on the beach.  There were two or three jets parked on the beach with Service members on hand to answer any and all questions.  We talked to a really nice young woman who was a pilot of one of the planes on display.  I was telling her the story of my name Richard A Flitz RAF, and why my parents named me with those initials.  A friend of their's was a member of the Canadian Royal Air Force and was killed during the war. Relayed the story that his widow sent mom and dad a pair of RAF wings which she had for years and was going to give me since my initials were RAF.  Somehow she lost the wings and I never got them. She was really interested in the story and asked me how long we would be here.  Told her we planned to leave about 9:45 in the morning.  She asked me if I could see her before she left.  I  said sure.  Then we met up with Kim and the three of us walked along the beach to the Band Stand then on the very famous Pier !  At then end of this incredible pier was a beautiful casino. Bob, Kim and I made some wagers and i lost a couple pounds. Walking back to the Grand Parade, the name of the road the hotel was on, we passed the most beautiful dog and his owner. He was an English German Shepherd , twice the size of ones we know and with very long hair.  He was such a sweet dog, just loved all over the three of us.  Bob decided to go back to the hotel , Kim an I took a walk on the beach and put our hands in the English Channel, damn , that water was cold. The beach has no sand it is made up of stones : black, white, brown, red and orange .  They varied in size from 1/2" to over 4". I picked up a few to bring home.   I was so cold when I got back to the room I took a hot shower. Later we all met in the dinning room for a great dinner.  The room was beautiful. Roger, Julie, Kim, Bob, the twins Matt and Mark and I sat a one table and had a great time.   Our menu for the night was a chilled Melon Boat, Saute of Beef Bourgeoise cooked with onions carrots and red wine or Escalope of Pork with Marsala wine sauce or Glazed Seafood Pancakes, Braised Celery, Buttered Broccoli and Saute and Parsley Minted New Potatoes. Dessert was Apricot Bavarois and Ice Cream with English and Continental Cheeseboard with Celery.  Then we went to the theater to see the British farce A Bed Full Of Strangers. Laughed the entire show.  Back to the hotel by 11:30 .

July 22 -- Had a great breakfast with Matt, Mark and Bob--Manderine Oranges, cereal, Eggs, bacon and toast.  Made a quick trip to the beach to see the pilot while Bob made sure my bag got on the coach.  When I got to the beach the young lady said she was glad I came back.  She took my hand and shook it and something was in her hand that she was placing in my hand. She said she was so glad I told her my story, she said now go to your coach and please don't open you hand till you get there then please don't say anything.  What I just did could get me in trouble.  I knew what she put in my hand, tears started to come to my eyes, I gave her a kiss on the cheek and walked to the coach.  Everyone was on board and waiting for me.  Bob told them what he thought was happening, I opened my hand and showed them my wings  as we were pulling out to our next location.  Tears came to my eyes and to many others in the cast , they all applauded and past around my "RAF Wings !" 

 We are now headed to Brighton and the Prince Regent Pavillion.  It was raining as we got to Brighton but lightened up when we got to the Pavillion. We We couldn't see much of the outside because it was going through a total exterior renovation and was covered in scaffolding then in turn canvas to protect the building and workers from the elements. However; what we could see looked just incredible .  We could see onion domes and spires rising above the protective shield. This was the summer home of George III. The exterior was very Indian and the interior a fantasy of Oriental, Indian and elegance. It is so difficult to describe or put into words this interior I will have to let the pictures describe it.  I will try to describe the chandelier in the dining room.  Picture a pointed domed ceiling covered with very large palm leaves probably 20' each, coming out of those leaves a enormous winged sterling silver dragon probably 15-20' long with a long forked red tongue, in his claws he is holding a very large gold ring, maybe 6' round and a foot thick, from that hangs the MOST over the top crystal chandelier you could imagine. Probably 10-12 feet long with 6 arms which were also silver dragons supporting large lotus blossoms and that's just the beginning. There must have been more than 10,000 crystals on it. Our guide, Hannie was from Luxembbourg and was excellent with a fantastic sense of humor. Thank God, because the 311 of us were in rare form this morning. What an amazing, amazing place! 

 After that we went shopping at the Brighton Lanes. These were really interesting little streets or alleys about 10' wide some smaller, full of all kinds of interesting shops. Went into a perfumer perfumery called Pecksniffs and got some cologne for Mike, my neighbor, and me, then a group of us wandered in and out of these shops for 2 hours. Bob, Kim, Matt, Mark, Robin and I stopped in a jewelry and silver antique shop called D. H. Edmonds, and I bought a beautiful Sterling Silver creamer  made in 1880 .  It has 4 hallmarks, first is the maker, second Queen Victoria,, the third an anchor, for made in Brighton and the fourth a code for 1880. It cost me 130 pounds.  Back on the bus to Chichester, past Lansing University and stopped at Arundel Castle, then on to Chichester and the cathedral. We would all stay up so late at night that we used the time in the coach to catch up on sleep. Sometimes there would be two people asleep in seats next to each other with someone  across them alseep.. The aisle in the center of the coach served as a bed too, many times with either a jacket or sweater as a pillow. If you wanted to go to the front or back of the coach you would have to climb over as many as three people.

 We arrived in Chischester and went to the Chichester Cathedral. It was built in 1075 and is in the process of being restored now.  Many of the exterior stones are warn away and the church was partially destroyed by fire in the 12th Century and was rebuilt.  This Cathedral has the most beautiful stained glass windows I have ever seen !  Now, when they do something in the Cathedral the members vote whether to make it look old or modern like the Archangel Window and the modern tapestry at the Alter. When we were there the organist was practicing and it was magnificent. I met a lady there from England who now lives in Dallas. She told me to catch a bus and go to Fishbourne and see the Roman Palace . Left the Cathedral and went to the tourist bureau and got information, then took a 410 bus to the Roman ruins. I saw the roman tile floors from 19 rooms of the palace and partial columns built in the 1st and 2nd Century. Took the bus back and the driver let me out right in front of the Dolphin and Anchor Hotel.  Shower, shave and then dinner at the hotel, Leg of Lamb, buttered new potatoes, carrots and fresh spinach, dessert was a strawberry sherry trifle. After dinner we all went to the theater to see A Man For All Seasons. It was a good show but very long. We all enjoyed it but I think everyone of us nodded off occasionally. We got to bed about 11:00 . Bob got a phone call about 3:15 am and I called Mike at 6:15, he said he got one post card and has written to us all at the Minack. 

July 23rd Thursday--  Happy Birthday in Heaven Dad !  We had a big day ahead of us so we had breakfast at 7am. I had 4 bowls of cereal, now they were small bowls , eggs and bacon.  On our way to Salsburg Cathedral then on to Stonehenge.  Angus had us run a rehearsal on the coach this morning.  Stonehenge is a pile of rocks in the middle of a huge field on a mound.  The remarkable thing is that they were put  there by the Druids in 3100 BC. that's 5,000 years ago! And, they were from more than a hundred miles away! awayThy were from a couple hundrehey tell the time and other astrological information.  Truly remarkable and mystifying. Chris Ruble was doing back flips in front of the rocks and I snapped a picture, hope it comes out. Might look like he is suspended in the air!  It was amazing to be able to walk up to these rocks, touch them and realize that they have been there almost 5,000 years.  How did they do that ?  Back in the coach and headed to Glastonbury Abbey.  We finished the 2nd Act by 10:30, then re-sang People Will Say We're In Love.  We just past a large building with a date on it 1542.  Arrived at the Abbey and Angus gave us a history lesson  as we started to walk towards the ruins. The Abbey was  established in 712 and enlarged in the 10th Century then destroyed by a fire in 1184 and rebuilt and enlarged in the 14th Century. Angus told us it was the richest and largest Monastery in England other  than Westminster Abby. The Abbey was dissolved in 1539 and then it began to fall into ruins, stones and lead were taken to build other buildings.  The ruins were enormous . I couldn't believe how huge they were. King Arthur's grave is supposed to be where the high alter once stood.  Michael came up to me and told me  a guide told him to put both his hands of the 3' ruin of one of the columns. He said that you could feel the energy flow out of it and into you through your hands. Only one person at a time could have their hands on it.  He went first and he said he actually did feel something going into his body! Chris W. joined us and I went next, and yes I actually did feel energy passing into my body, so much so that I felt refreshed .  This truly was an amazing place ! 

Back on the coach to Lyton.  What a ride that was. WILD !  The roads were extremely narrow and loaded with many hairpin turns with inclines and declines of more than 25% .. One, John 31 had to put the coach in reverse to be able to adjust it to make the turns.  We had incredible views of forests, the ocean and cliffs all in one spot.  There were stone walls around many properties that were maybe 6-8' high.  These walls marked a persons property line.  If we were in a car we would have seen nothing, but our coach was very high, so we could see over all of them and the views were just beautiful. 

Lynton is a charming little seacoast town on the Bristol Channel.  We arrived about 3:30 got our bags to the room then a group of us walked the town. I think I have never seen so many flowers in one place. We went in and out of all the shops in town.  People in town knew we coming and we were treated like celebrities.  I bought post cards, a cane and some tooth paste. We had a fast dinner tonight because we were doing a performance at the hotel. We were going to do it in the lobby with no scenery. The lobby was small with a lot of iron columns. The hotel was built in the 1800's and looked very Victorian inside and out. We had to do a lot of reblocking as we went along. When Matt, Mark,John and Andrew carried Judd off stage there was no off stage, they just stood facing the wall with their backs to the room and the audience. It made us all laugh, it looked like the five of them were taking a pee. The audience was made up of hotel guests and town's people, most were over 70. They loved the show and we had 3 curtain calls then they all wanted to meet and talk to us....  Ended up going to the bar with Bob, Robin, and a few others for a couple drinks then to bed.  About midnight there was a knock on our door, it was Chris R he needed to borrow some shampoo. We sat and talked for a few minutes and he left forgetting to take the shampoo. Finally got in bed about 1. Bob was still awake, we kept hearing this rhythmic  type pounding or thumping on the ceiling of our room, like the bed in the room above us was hitting the wall or someone was doing "something" on floor in the room above us.  WWe got up checked the room listing to see who was in that room.  It was Mark and Matt ! What the hell were they doing and with who ?  It kept up for a couple minutes then stopped .  We would have to find out what and who they were doing at breakfast.

July 24 -- Friday -- Breakfast at 8.  Bob and I made sure we  sat with the twins. We had to find out !  I didn't beat around the  bush I just blurted it out. Ok guys, what the hell or who the hell were you doing last night about 1, why they asked, "Well, we kept hearing a thumping on our ceiling last night, sounded like someone was doing it and we were wondering who was in your room last night." They looked at each  other and started to laugh. "we were dong slap pushups." We all got a good laugh out of that one.  Breakfast was the usual, a couple bowls of cereal, eggs and bacon with toast. Then back to the room to throw the last things in the suitcase and get it downstairs to load the coach.  Today to Clovelly then ON TO THE MINACK !!!  Clovelly is a beautiful old town nestled on the side of a cliff on the Bristol Channel..The channel separates England and Wales. Clovelly is a very little town, narrow walks and streets, small Tudor homes and buildings. High St. goes from the top of the cliff to the sea.  The street was no wider than 8-10 feet and was 400' long and steep that donkeys were used to carry things up the lane from the harbor to the top of the street. The walk down was steps and ramps most of cobblestone.. The little homes and businesses that line the lane are miniature tudor type buildings covered with flowers. Once we got to the bottom, the harbor was as beautiful as the buildings.  Rowboats and dinghes were attached to the cobblestone wall with large chains.  The boats were all colors, red, yellow, blue ,green and white. The small harbor was beautiful.  Angus told us that the tide changes so much that at low tide they sit on sand and during high tide the water can be 4-5' deep !  The walk up the 400' steep lane just about did me in. I needed to ride a donkey up. But it was worth it, such a beautiful little town.


                      AT THE MINICK


                          A                    
Back on the coach to the Minack. 30 minutes into the trip I took a picture of 18 people sleeping.  A quick stop for something to eat and we headed toward our home for the next week, the Vineries and the Minack !! !! We got to the Vineries about 3  . Bob and I were the only ones to have a suite other than Angus and John 31. We had a small bedroom, living room, dining room and kitchen combo and a FULL bath. I say FULL because  we had a tub and shower !  It was primitive but it was our home for the next week.  We had a TV but no phone.  To make a phone call Angus told us we had to go to the street turn right and down the street was a red phone booth. We were all so anxious to see the theater. We had a snack then headed to the theater..  What a magnificent place !  The views are just incredible. The Minack is built like a Roman Amphiitheater  sitting on the side of a cliff in Porthcurno, England, with the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop.  TonightTonight  wwe saw The Comedy Club of London do She Stoops to Conquer. It was a cold and rainy night. I was sitting next to Jim and we shared his poncho and huddled up.  I had on a T-shirt, a thermal sweatshirt, a flannel shirt, jacket, scarf and hat and was still cold. Enjoyed the show but was really tired.  Robin fell asleep in the front row and Linda put her sunglasses on her.  She looked funny with her head propped up, eyes closed behind the sunglasses. After the show we met and talked to the cast.  We got home late and went right to bed since we have a big day tomorrow.  

July 26, Saturday -- Got up at 7, had to be at the theater at  9. Waited all day for the first rehearsal at 2 , we did bits and pieces then a break for about 2 1/2 hours then sandwiches and full rehearsal . Got back to the Vineries about 10:30 and a full dinner at 11:15.  Today was Snow's 17th Wedding Anniversary. Michael had gotten her a Snow White 50th Anniversary poster at Miami Airport and last night all signed it.  Angus and I had made arrangements with Andrew to make a cake, "Happy 17th Anniversary Snow!!" She was really surprised. Oh I forgot, at a luncheon today, given by The Comedy Club I spent a lot of time with Paul King who played the Young Marlowe in their production last night. He is a great guy and his wife is really sweet.  He is manager of Tate Gallery Restaurant in London. He invited me for lunch on Monday when we return to the city. I returned the invitation to him to come to Palm Beach. (he actually did come and spent a week with me.) I will definitely will go when we return.

July 27 Sunday  -- Lazy day- up at 9, that's the latest I've slept !  Breakfast at 9:15. Louis, Matt, Mark , Jim , Les and John 31 and I left to do laundry. We had to leave early to be back by 11:50 to go to a tea given by the Board of the Minack .  Got back home at 11:45 . The fastest shower I've ever taken, changed and was on the in 5 minutes !   The tea was very British and very nice. Sandwiches, coffee, tea and champagne and coke.  Talked to Steven and Chris friends of Michael and Andrew's.They brought me a drink and  sat and talked for about 30 minutes until we had to leave to leave to come back to the Vineries. Sat and relaxed all afternoon.  Dried my laundry in front of the electric fireplace and in the oven. LOL !  Left for the theater on the 1st of two bus at 5:45 have to iron my shirts and do makeup and be out front to talk to the audience at 7:30. This afternoon a group of us Matt, Mark, Robin, Cathy, Les, Jim and a few others  went out to pick wild flowers.  Dress rehearsal tonight with an audience. We got to the theater about 6:00 and put my bag downstairs and claimed my space at the makeup mirrors. Went upstairs and had dinner, turkey sandwich, tomato soup and scones with raspberry jam and Cornish Clotted Cream.  What an incredible dessert.  Everything served by Christopher and Stephen.  They are both beautiful men. Very Welsh looking, dark hair, moustache and very fair skin with sharp features. Andrew from the theater told Leslie a joke about a man going to the doctor, saying I have a peter stuck in my throat. Doctor said can you prove it, he said yes ! Then Andrew started jerking his Adams Apple up and down and then spit clotted cream out at Leslie, getting it all over her sweatshirt and in her hair and some on her face. It was kinda gross but she doubled over with laughter and then so did all of us. --- 

Warm up,  I got the cube out and Kathy put Moo down. At 7:35 we all went out and greeted the audience stood and talked with them until 7:50.  The show went quite well except for the auction scene which was very slow. But the audience really loved it.  After the show we went back out and talked to them. Many asked for our autographs and pictures. Back to the Vineries, had dinner with Bob, Matt and Mark at 11 we sat and talked till about 1..  Wrote post cards then to bed.

July 28, Monday --Up at 8 and left for Penzance at 9 to do laundry with the group and go shopping. I didn't take any laundry with me since I did mine yesterday.That gave Bob and Andrew and me time to go antiquing and we had a lot of fun. Bought a Penzance and Cornwall T-shirt and some post cards. But most importantly and black and white photograph taken of an American sailing ship wrecked on the rocks in front of where the theater now stands.  The photo was taken from the spot where the box office is now.  It was taken in 1895 ! We found an antiques set of Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs, 50 years old, debated whether we should buy it for Snow.  It was 35 pounds.  As it was we waited to talk to everyone to see if they would chip in. It looks pretty good. I'll go get it tomorrow 1st thing if I get reimbursed ok, if not ok too. I will need to get a card, one for John 31 and one for the next cast. John 31 picked up us shoppers and washers at 12:15 and we came back home and had lunch. After lunch some went for a walk others a 4 mile hike out to the point.  Matt, Kim and I walked to the  beach but the water was too cold to go in. Later, Bob, Matt and Karen went to Fritz's and I stayed home and wrote post cards and went to mail them then came back and went to Vince, Chris W and Mike's room. Leslie and Laura were  there and we listened to Phantom Of The Opera  for which I should have a ticket when we get back to London. Hung up some laundry that did not dry and watched some TV.  Took a nap, got up about 5 and went to the bathroom.  Chris R was sitting in the tub just relaxing and soaking. (Bob and I were the only ones to have a tub and shower. The other rooms had just a very small shower.) I grabbed my shampoo and excused myself. He was a beautiful man.  I thought as I walked out, maybe someday some handsome man will find me attractive and interesting.  Enough of that. haha  Well on to the theater.  Arrived there about 6;15 after a light dinner of sandwiches and soup.  Warm up at 6:30 .

It was OPENING NIGHT !  IT WAS A SMASH ! Before the opening we went out to talk to the audience, Bob and I spoke to a man and his wife. He was directing a production of South Pacific in Plymouth and this was his first visit to the Minack. Come to find out he was one of the best known directors in Great Britian also did a lot of work in NYC and California. The show went wonderful and the audience would clap midway thru songs and would sing with us at times.  After the lights went out at the end and we were brought back out, the audience just roared and sang OKLAHOMA  with us.  The theater seats 500 and there were 849 at the performance, a record ! Many said it was the very best show  they had seen there.  Back for dinner at the Vineries.  Usually the meat, whatever it was was the same color,  gray !  We had a veggie or two and at least 2-3 kinds of potatoes. It was always a bet on the coach the way home as to how many and what kind of potatoes we would have.

July 29, Tuesday --Up at 8 breakfast at 9. We left for Penzance at 10:30 to hand out posters.  Went in our shirts and hats and boots. We handed out about 2,500 hand bills on the main shopping street and ended up in front of Lloyds Bank and about 18 of us sang OKLAHOMA right in the middle of the town, much to the delight of the towns folks and tourists. We then talked to many people who said they saw the show and loved it or had tickets and couldn't wait to see it.  One man told me they waited in line last night and were turned away but were going to try again tonight or tomorrow night.  16 of us went to lunch down at the docks and by the time our food came had 5 minutes to eat before we went to catch the boat that Angus had chartered to take us down the coast to see the Minack from the sea. It was a trip itself watching Barbara go down the steps at the warf and then watching the 2 men trying to help her cross over one boat into the next. We were all laughing, especially Barbara. All aboard we took off down the coast and saw Penznace, Newland and a couple other towns along the way. The rocks of the cliffs with the farm land in the background was beautiful.  Along the way we saw a stone quary from which all the facing stones of the Tower Bridge and the embankment was taken. Many caves were pointed out along the way by Nicky our Captain. He was a very handsome man with dirty blond hair from Cornwall. Both Vince and Michael had their eyes on him and it got to the point where everyone was watching them trying to put the make on Nicky, in fact Jim  got a picture of Vince.  It looked like they were two male peacocks trying to strut their plumage, it was really funny.  I remember Nicky pointing out a large cave near Mousehole that he said was where famous pirates hung out and it was rumored some of their booty was still hidden in there.  About an hour after we left we came to the cove where the Minack was located.  What a thrill to see it from the water, looking up .  Nicky circled slowly and cut the engines so we could take pictures.  IT WAS A VERY EXCITING MOMENT !  ALL OF US SUDDENLY BURST INTO SONG, SINGING OKLAHOMA!  The sound echoed back off the rocks and cliff and the theater.  What a thrill!  There must have been about 50 at the theater on a tour.  They all waved,  when they realized what we were singing they just stood still and listened and when we were finished they burst into applause.  They were waiving and shouting to us.  I think it must have been as big a thril for them as it was for us...We all looked at each other and had tears in our eyes ! On the way back Vince and Michael's routines got even broader and I think Nicky was playing right into their hands; for a seagul came down and took a French Fry from Chris R's hand and then Kim held one up and it would not take it from her Chris held up another one and it took it.  Nicky said I'm sorry he will not take it from girls, he is a gay bird, and he looked in the direction of Mike and Vince when he said that. We all laughed so hard. 

We were all exhausted when we got back but had to shower, change and eat and leave for the theater by 5:15.  The lines were so long last night they had to open the doors an hour early tonight. Again we had 846. We all talked to the audience before the curtain from 7:30 to 7:50 and they all seemed to get a big thrill out of it. The show was not real good tonight .Ado fell and Michael had to catch her. Bob forgot the words to Farmer and The Cowman, the auction scene got screwed up and Robin's voice went.  Curley and Laurie messed up as well and so did Michael.  It was just one of those nights.  But the audience probaby never knew it and loved the show..  Got back to the Vineries and had Rubbermaid roast beef for dinner and 3 kinds of potatoes, two veggies and ice cream for dessert.  Oh, lest I forget,  a Member of the cast came to our room tonight to take a shower , seems like our shower is used by most of the male cast and a few of the gals. Well, tomorrow is another very busy day.  Two performances, a matinee at 2 and then the evening performance.  We have to leave here at 11:15 so it will mean 12 hours at the theater and its now 12:45.  Should get to bed. Oh I lost a roll of film today. Can't find it anywhere. Roll 18 which has the dress rehearsal and Snow Anniversary party on it.  I sure hope it shows up, or maybe I miss numbered somehow. Well, that's all for today, I think !  Good Night !  

July 30, Wednesday -- Matinee audience 874
                                  Evening audience 837


Up at 9 and to the theater on the 2nd bus at 10:30 . A real long day. Another 12 hour theater day !  The Matinee was wonderful and had a record setting audience of 874 !  The largest EVER at a Matinee ! They loved it !!  A standing ovation for over 5 minutes.  It was really difficult during the second act because the sun was right in our eyes.  Really rough !  Laura, Bob and I went for a walk between shows climbed the mountain and then down the cliff to the beach, what a trek. We walked the beach and I put my foot in the water and it was cold, someone said it was 58 and there WERE people in swimming. It was really amazing the number of people in the water, little kids,dogs and older people, I couldn't believe it. Some of the people had seen the show and came up and talked to us. We were true celebrities in all the county. Oh I cant forget to mention, after the show many people, old and young came up to us and asked for our autographs and could they take a picture of us or have their picture taken with us.  Of course we said yes.  The climb up the cliff was a killer and poor Bob forgot to take his boots off so he had to do the entire hike in his cowboy boots. Andrew( from the Minack) cooked dinner for all of us. HOT chili with rice and cheese. Needless to say, I did not partake.  I had the vegetarian  meal which was tomato sauce, onions squash and peppers. Then slept for a while in the sun, then makeup and out to greet the audience. tonight we mingled with them up in the seats. Tonight the show was very broad.  Lester took many liberties trying to  steal many scenes. It seemed Vince reached his boiling point and let him know it right on stage.  But the audience loved it at 837 strong tonight.  We were brought out twice and had to sing the finally three times. Standing ovation right to the top of the theater.  What a thrill. Tonight the audience sang all of the numbers with us.  WE COULD DO NO WRONG AGAIN TONIGHT ! Cleaned up our messes at the theater before leaving to go home for dinner at 11:30.  Pork again tonight, I think, cause it was gray, we had two veggies and three kinds of potatoes,  again.  We  would always try and guess, on the bus ride home what kind of potatoes we would have. They have more ways of fixing potatoes than any of us could ever think of.  Angus held a very serious discussion for over an hour tonight about scene stealing, embellishing ones part and adlibbing etc.  We all said  we hope Lester got the message.  It is now 1:40. Mark and Matt left from their showers.  Bob now has a cold, I sure hope I don't get it.   We are all stuffy with tender throats. Kathy is beginning to lose her voice and so are a couple others.  I guess us Floridians aren't used to the cold Atlantic mist hitting our backs at nights while our fronts are warm from all the lights. We call it the Cornish cough.  Just took my pill,  talk about being tired.  I think I'll hit the sack. Oh , Angus said we are doing sooo good at the box office they can afford to give us each $100. So tonight Linda wrote out 30 $100 American Express Travelers Checks. A very nice surprise.  It is now 2 and i'm going to bed !

July 29, Thursday -- Breakfast early and left for St Ives at 10:15.  It took about one hour and it was a beautiful drive in our coach. Most of the drive was along the cliffs and the ocean. It was beautiful. I have to add here that we kept a large jar up front in the  coach. It was our cuss jar and bus jar.  I say bus, because every time we said bus instead of coach we had to put money in it, same for cussing. They money, and believe me there was a lot in !It is all going to John31 for his tip.   OK, back to  St Ives, what a neat town on the side of a cliff. A beach resort with narrow winding streets and loaded with all kinds of gift shops. Bought a pin, a great wool sweater and a Waterford ash tray for Mike. Had lunch at the Union Pub at 1 with Arthur South and David Allman from the London Comedy Club.  They live on the outskirts of London and invited me to spend Monday  or Tuesday at their home.  Will call them when I get back to London. 

Got back to the hotel about 3, fussed around for a while then John came down to take a shower. Following shortly behind was Jim with his camera and Andrew, John's roomie. Andrew put Jim up to coming down and taking a picture of John in the shower. So Jim and I set to work. He focused and I opened the shower curtain.  Ah ha---Blackmail with the gals!!! John took it in good spirits!!!!  He's an ok guy !  Had soup and sandwiches for lunch and left for the theater about 5:45 . Nothing truly eventful happened until we went out to visit the audience.  We usually scoped people out to go to talk to and then zeroed in. 3rd row center aisle, sat two of the most handsome men I think I have ever seen, one dark and mustached  and the other very well built blonde caught my eye and I think visa versa. They both smiled as I approached them, they stood up and introduced themselves, Klaus and Ollie.  We talked for a few minutes then I had to go say hello to Myrna and Nancy and give them each a big hug and kiss !  They had just flown in from Lake Worth to see the show.  Roger's parents also sat in the Royal Box.  They flew in this morning from Mass and drove all the way from London and got here just in time for the show tonight. During the show Klaus and Ollie ( they were from Germany) kept looking at me and Jim and smiling. During the curtain call Klaus, the dark haired one was looking right at me and smiling, I'd smile back, I'd wave and he'd wave. After the last curtain call Jim and I went out to talk to them.  Told us they were staying at a nearby camp ground, said they were going back to Germany tomorrow but enjoyed the show so much  they are going to stay and see it again tomorrow. We told them to try and come to the  matinee and we would have a couple hours off between shows and we could all go to the beach. Said they will try to make it and bring beach towels. Back to the hotel and had a fish dinner with 3 potatoes and beans.  Did some early packing..

Well here it is 1:30 am again and I am just trying to keep up with this so my writing doesn't get like the other two nights when I fell asleep writing.  8:45 will come early so i'm going to sign off.


July 30, Friday -- Up early because we had 2 shows today.  Got to the  theater on the second bus, about 12. ( Oh, bus was ok because it was not as big as a coach.) Warmups and makeup, then out to warm up the crowd.  It was large again 751, the largest Friday matinee ever, a repeat of our Wednesday matinee .  Had my camera and took pictures of the audience as they were taking pictures of us. We placed ourselves around the audience and yelled to each other teaching them how to YA-HO. We had competitions between  the different sides of the audience and they loved it. The show went really well this afternoon and we had a lot of fun as usual. Klaus and Ollie were not there today, so Jim and I figured that they went back to Germany. After the matinee Jim and I took a hike to the 3rd beach, the natural (nude) beach.   Up the cliff over the top of the mountain and down, down, down dirt and rock paths.  Beautiful sights all along the way.. Met Les and the 3 of us sat on the beach and talked and ate sandwiches and took lots of pictures. It was getting cold and the weather was getting bad. we ended up in a cave at the end of the beach till the storm passed. It cleared up and at 5:55 we packed up and made the inevitable climb up the rock cliffs and back across the mountain. We arrived at the theater at 6:30 .  I wore shorts and got stung by a bush, yes a bush !  Stinging Nettle, on the inside of both legs! Large red welts were beginning to appear and they were burning like hell, wasn't sure I could even get my jeans on it hurt so bad.  Kim had some Bactine which helped a bit . It hurt so bad. It felt like someone had put a cigarette on my legs !  But the show must go on.  So  out to warm up the audience.  Who was on line tonight , Klaus and Ollie.  They did come back again and we had a great visit. Exchanged address and promised to write. I also met the critic that gave us an incredible review. He said he enjoyed it so much he had to come back tonight ! The crowd was wonderful, 866 tonight.  Took pictures of the audience and a few during the show and backstage. They would not let us go tonight. we got called back 3 times. They were all singing and clapping with us .  It was an incredible sound to hear 866 people singing with us and clapping and waving American Flags !!!!! Probably the MOST THRILLING time of my life. That's what an Olympian must feel when they play their National Anthem. We all felt weak kneed, shaky and teary eyed. We would go off stage and stand on the platform stage right and wait for Barbara to bring the lights back up.. The audience was standing and clapping in the dark and singing OKLAHOMA!!  They would not stop!! How can I describe the feeling?  When we came back out the sight of a wall of 866 bodies standing, yelling, screaming,waving flags and singing. This is an experience words can never adequately describe !  This is a feeling that will live in my memory forever !!!!!!!!

It took us an hour and a half to get the theater and dressing rooms cleaned up. Our run was over and it was the most incredible experience!  I got the third bus back to the Vineries. Quick wash up and to dinner. Angus spoke and red some letters we received then Michael Dyer told us that it was THE MOST SUPERB SHOW THAT HAS BEEN PUT ON AT THE MINACK AND THAT WE BROKE ALL ATTENDANCE RECORDS. THE SUPERLATIVES KEPT FLOWING, BUT IT IS THE MEMORIES THAT WILL LAST FOREVER !!!!   After we ate we sat and talked for over 1 1/2 hours, Chris Bissex and Steve Williams, friends of Michael and Andrew's, Bob and I occasionally making side trips to other tables. Went back to the room about 2 and tried to finish packing. There was a rip-roaring party next door at Chris, Lewis, Vince and Michael's.I knew it was just a matter of time before people would get tired of it and step in. Well Michael and Andrew came to our room and we talked for about 30 minutes. Then Chris and Steve came to our room,they are really nice guys. We chatted and exchanged addresses and they said they would come over next year.  Then Kathy came in to talk to me. She said I need to talk to you.  I wondered what she was going to say.  She was a bit tipsy but told me she wanted to thank me for being someone very  special to her on the trip and for teaching her how precious life is and how lucky we are in so many ways ! WOW ! It made me feel so very good for she said it in front of a number of people ! Chris and Steve said their goodbyes and were going down to see Michael at the dorm.  After my shower I walked down and they and they were ready to leave. About 5am Jim came by and we talked for over an hour.  Sent him off about 6:15am and tired to sleep but couldn't.



July 31, Saturday --Got on the coach about 9 and fell asleep on the aisle floor for about 2 hours. We had lunch at the famous Jamaica Inn.  Actually bought the classic book The Jamaica Inn at the Jamaica Inn.  Back on the coach and headed to Bath, arrived in this beautiful city about 4. Bath became a World Heritage Site earlier this year. The Romans built baths and a temple there in 60 AD. Most of the architecture is Georgian and there are many famous buildings here, including the Royal Crescent. We had a choice of two tours, one of the entire town or one of the Roman ruins. I should have taken the ruins tour. The tour of the town was ok but I was disappointed we did not have time to see any ruins at all.  What we did see was the quaint shopping streets and the Royal Crescent  and mainly architecture.  Saw the home Gainsboro lived in when he painted the Blue Boy. The guys who took the ruins tour loved it. This is our last night on the road and are staying at the Bath Hotel, the most modern place we have stayed. Had dinner in their dining room which was all glass;  a really great meal, then off to the theater again. We went to see a play by Agatha Christie, A Murder Announced.  It was at the Theater Royal, a beautiful theater that was built in the very early 1800's.  I sat next to Karen and we laughed most of the time we were awake!  It was a beautiful theater but very hot.  I had a really difficult time staying awake and so did Karen.  Vince and I left during the intermission and went to a bar. Met Michael, Lewis, Laura, Chris and Chris and a few others who also left the show at intermission.  We all stayed till it closed. We walked about a mile back to the hotel and sat with a group and talked for about 20 minutes, then to bed . Up by 6:30 to leave for London. 


August 1 Sunday -- I had made arrangements to stay at The Dolphin Square till August 5th. Angus had made arrangements for me to fly home on PanAm on the 5th with no additional charges.  The rest of the  cast left for home today and I  checked in the hotel and called Art and Daniel and made arrangements to drive to their home on Monday. The hotel made arrangements for a car to be dropped off for me about 3 Monday afternoon.  Later this  afternoon I went out for a walk and ended up at the Westminister Cathedral; I got there when their afternoon service was letting out.  It is the largest Catholic church in England and Wales. And it was large. Booklet I bought says the nave is 270 feet long and the floor area covered 54,000 square feet. The church is Byzantine style and the inside reminds me of pictures of churches in Turkey with all the gold mosaics and three huge domes.

August  2 Monday -- Monday morning  after breakfast I called Paul King at the Tate Gallery.  Paul was in the production before Oklahoma at the Minack. He was really glad I called and asked if I could come over for lunch today. Told him I was going to Art and Dans for dinner tonight and he said he'd go with me. They were all good friends from The Comedy Club of London. I got to the Tate about 10:30 and Paul gave me a grand tour. We had a private lunch in his restaurant.  He had called Susan, his wife, and told her he would not be home for dinner and why.  We took the tube back to my hotel and picked up my car and we took off for Art and Dan's.  I'm so glad Paul came with me, I not only would have gotten lost but probably would have ended up dead, because of driving on the left side.  We had a wonderful visit this afternoon and had a great dinner. We left about 9 and got back to the hotel about 9:45.  Paul came up to my room and we talked for at least 3 hours.  He is such a nice guy and we have so much in common. He called Susan and told her he was going to spend the night in town since it was so late. It was after 1 and we were getting hungry, fortunately room service was still there and brought us up a sandwich and water. We talked some more then hit the sack.

August 3, Tuesday --Today is my last full day in London. We got up about 9, Paul called in to the Tate and said he would not be in today.  We showered and went out for breakfast. During breakfast we talked more about art, theater and family. After breakfast Paul said he would drive us up to Stratford Upon Avon and get me back in plenty of time for me to see Phantom Of The Opera tonight.  We had a great time and enjoyed all the beautiful sights of that remarkable town.  We got back to London and Susan was waiting at the hotel to take Paul home.  We had a short but nice visit and I had to shower, grab a very quick dinner and head to the theater. Michael Crawford was amazing and so was the show, but I think, no, I know I liked Les Miserables better.   Got back to the hotel wrote about these past two days and went to bed.

August 5 Wednesday -- Breakfast, packed and took a cab to Heathrow and flew home.  My friend Mike, and neighbor, in the condo met me at the airport.  Finally home in my own bed !  BUT I WOULD NOT HAVE TRADED A MINUTE OF ALL MY TIME IN GREAT BRITIAN FOR ANYTHING !  IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE !   BUT WHAT MADE IT SO VERY SPECIAL WAS SHARING IT WITH 29 VERY, VERY, VERY SPECIAL AND TALENTED FRIENDS !  PEOPLE  I WILL NEVER EVER FORGET !!!!  THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU, FOR SHARING YOUR LIVES WITH ME !!!