Dear Reader –
Everybody needs a break. Climb a mountain or jump in a lake. A few stories from our holidays in this week’s letter…
**All hyperlinks in bold.
The Big Thing
As you may know, the theme for the upcoming Theme Night #30 is musicals. So it was with interest that I noted on a stroll past the Victoria Palace Theatre in London last Friday that there was a sign outside saying ‘Tickets Available’.
Hamilton was showing, and I had heard that these tickets are among the most sought-after in the West End, so I was expecting prices north of £200, but we said we’d go in and at least enquire.
We were told there were a few tickets left for twelve fifty, and I presumed that these were the last few and were selling at the premium price of £1250.
But no, in fact we had come across some unused cast family and friends tickets and although we had to stand at the back of the theatre, they cost £12.50. Yes twelve pounds fifty pence. We couldn’t believe our luck and even snuck into some (strangely) empty seats with an amazing view after a few minutes of the show.
And despite one close friend (and musicals fan) telling me the tickets were wasted on me (!), I actually really enjoyed it. Hats off to all, especially composer and lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Where else but Sligo?
I’m not in Sligo this week, so this story will have to do…
We flew from London to somewhere hot, and it’s great!
The first afternoon we were here, Sinéad and I went for a cycle. Nothing hectic, the idea being that we would take our time, see a bit of the local countryside, and stop for a drink or an ice-cream in a village hallway along the route.
Approx 2km short of the village, grey clouds started to gather overhead. Thunder began to sound in the distance, and soon some of the biggest raindrops we ever saw were pelting down. Real rain! We took shelter by a wall on the side of the road and were happy enough to wait it out.
Soon afterwards a group passed us on the way back to where we are staying. They were skidding down the hill in front of us, there was no sign of the rain stopping and so the guides made the call to abandon the ride. They would shelter under a tree down the road and wait for a car from the resort to bring them back. They told us to join them.
So we did. At this stage however the rain was getting heavier. The thunder was louder and spectacular lightning was intermittently filling the sky. So now the tree was out of bounds, and there was only one option. With no shelter. Resigned to getting absolutely drenched, out we went onto the road.
With perfect timing however, the front door of a large house just off the road opened. Three kind residents gestured to us to open their gate and take shelter in the patio/barbecue area beside their house. What’s more, they brought out figs, towels, a hair-dryer and finally a bottle of raki, a clear and potent local digestif. They stayed with us for the hour or so it took to ferry four loads of us back home and despite the language barrier the craic was good.
The man of the house was 70-ish. His name was Pedros – and he had taught maths and physics in a local university. His son, Kostas, was around my age, had decent English and acted as a translator as best he could.
I asked him how he learnt his English and he told me it was partly in school and partly by working in a bar full of tourists and being immersed in the language all day.
His dad then told the story of how despite going out with an English Theology student in his university days, he learned no English. “How come?”, I asked.
He needed no translation to get his answer across.
“We no talk much”, he said, while making the universal kissing and hugging action.
What’s New?
SLIGO SUMMERFEST: Just before I left, I got the great news that this will be going ahead, and we will be a part of it once again. Can’t wait. More details to come soon.
SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL (COOLERA-STRANDHILL STYLE): It was lovely to be asked to contribute a piece of music to my local club’s #OneGoodClub Youth Mental Health Awareness campaign. Well done to all who took part, especially Aisling Browne and Susan Harte who put this video together.
THE APEX SINGERS: Niamh Feeney was among the first crew of Teenage Theme Nighters back in 2014/15. She went on to study music in Manchester and is currently part of some amazing vocal groups. One of them, the Apex Singers, performs in the Yeats Society in Sligo on Sat July 2nd. Click here for beautiful track of theirs.
Finally…
The opening track from Hamilton - will give you a real taste of what it’s all about - thematically and musically.
Till next time - Kieran.
