GENERATION CLASS APRIL

THE GENERATION DANCERS were all in top form yesterday ! you did your own London marathon, learning a 4min15 sec routine ... just like the old days !

Dougie would have been so proud ... and it was good to return to a Generation classic ....

Here I am thinking how special you all are , thank you for your kindness that you have shown with supportive comments re the BAG SAGA .... it was very unfortunate .... how lucky I was to get my laptop back and my notebook amazing .. thanks to Bar man and Martine chasing after the man .... and returning with the bag .I was just stunned at the time .... it leaves you a little unsettled ... one thing i have learnt dont take all your cards out leave one at least at home ...

There have been suggestions that you want to donate ... its a very sweet and kind and heartfelt thought but its okay ...

these things happen ... one of life unpleasant things's but we pick ourselves up and dust are ourselves off and start over again... so please don't i would be so embarassed..

A AFTERNOON OF FUN WITH MISS SU POLLARD

MEETING WITH SU FOR THE UP AND COMING ROYAL WINDSOR HORSE SHOW MAY 2ND TO TO 5TH

SU WILL BE APPEARING ON THE 4TH AND 5TH AT THE NEW HUB

 

New for this year at the Royal Horse show,  Live Entertainment   situated in heart of the park  on your busy day  at the Horse Show  make sure you  pop in to see  the

Star  studded  venue for sheer Entertainment

LECKFORD GARDENS

A LOVLEY SUNDAY WALK AROUND THE WATER GARDENS AT LECKFORD

I LOVE IT THERE … ITS ONLY 4 MINS AWAY FROM MY COTTAGE X

A little bit of home

Just being at home seeing spring appear has become a joy as the winter seemed so harsh and wet !

awaiting Dougie’s slate to finish off his rest bed ….

church flowers for EASTER

I was asked to do the flowers at short notice for Easter at ST PETER AND THE HOLY CROSS IN WHERWELL

it has taken ages for the buds on the lilies to bloom xxx

Easter !

It started years ago to amuse Dougie that I did decs of Easter …. well this year was no exception …. I think I did more to amuse me in happy thoughts of Dougie …. to put a smile on his spirit…

it was lovely that the sun appeared .. just being able to go into the garden and potter was sheer happiness , it has felt such a very wet windy winter …. I was asked to do at last minute the church flowers for Easter … beautiful lilies etc but not in bloom so will check them today …

I spent most of EASTER at home , had a lovely lunch with Lady Emma on Good Friday at the Mayfly with her family , then on Easter Sunday went to my sisters for lunch which was fun …. with my dear Mum and Bro Paul

I received lovely cards and chocolate eggs which i LOVE and some lovely plants …. KEEP STARING AT THEM !!! happy Easter x

I

BUSY WEEK!

Last week had me rushing all over the place .trips to London now I have discovered Trains lol

A couple of trips to London, had a lovely lunch with Joan Lynda and Donna at Imperial Garden in Soho excellent then we went to the arts theatre to see Sandy Hamiltons Bentes seat at the Arts theatre … A fitting tribute …. A lovely walk around London and then at home had a chance to get in the garden , Its been touching as the bank across from our cottage was Dougies favourite seeing the wild primulas ( all the work i did on our garden and he loved across the rd lol) but hey are looking so beautiful knowing how much he would of loved them xxxx, then work on the up and coming horse show all exciting stuff .. Reece has been marvellous in sorting out Windsor with me such a great support … xx nearly EASTER !!!!

Spring nearly here !

This seems a very long wet winter … it seems to topic of conversation how wet it has been a day of sunshine is rare so when it happens is rush in the garden and have a tidy up …. I just hope the weather improves … and gets a bit warmer !!! across the rd, the thatch house has a bank of primaulas … It was Dougie’s favourite looking out of the lounge window and seeing the bank of flowers and they are popping up…. it makes me sad ….. seeing them and knowing how much he would to be here to see them xxx oh I miss him so much xxx

Sargent at the Tate Britain

With dear friend costume designer Linda Martin we went to the Tate to see the exhibition of Sargents work…

Known for his paintings of men and women of there day in fashionable clothes , and his unique ay of make the fabrics look so real …. I had only seen his work in books but seeing them in real life was a treat … in the books it looks so neat and carefully painted but in real life the strokes of paint were bold but his accent on the highlights are stunning ….

March Madness GENERATION CLASS

It was crazy fun… they were all mad ! lets not talk of my journey !!!!! i went by train on football chelsea match and m25 closed enough said !

Dearest Sandy xxx

In the beautiful English Martyrs Catholic Church In a lovely casket adorned with the most stunning roses .., the service for dear Sandy was touching and memories of her brought sadness and smiles at the thought of her .. It was full of love for such a special lady …

There were people from all

Walks of life that Sandy had touched paying their respects and lovely to see dancing chums That she worked with over the years she would have been so humbled ….

Lovely to meet her friends from her school days at Conti’s

For everyone who spoke from their hearts and a lovely Eulogy from Bridget Lavery and a heartfelt one from her dear husband Tony

Our thoughts are with her family and Tony

Bless you dearest Sandy xxx

I am so touched and proud of the Generation family …..

we put it out there for people to make a donation for Sandy with the help of Joan Golden we raised over 800 pounds amazing …..

Sandy had requested donations to Battersea Dogs and cats home so we have done .. but we wanted to do something special …

so we have had a theatre seat named after her at the ARTS theatre LONDON with love from Dougie Squires Generation dancers a fitting tribute to lovely Sandy … where she will watch exciting new theatre every night … just perfect for the perfect Sandy … xxx

Jackie Travers

Bless her she has made it at last !

Congratulations!!! Your motto of never giving up. Shines through … you have always been a powerhouse in everything you strive for …. Full of creative ideas. And still loving the business with all your heart ….you were so kind to me when we first worked together which I always hold dear to me … and here we are decades on and your still the same ! All love Antx

love Winchester ...

I am so lucky that i live near Winchester as i really like it there … I go so often lol

The restaurants and coffee places are really lovely.. and lovely to ponder around … can’t believe i have only just discovered the Everyman cinema … this week went to see Wicked little Letters which I enjoyed very much … Colman ‘s last scene was fabulous …. then on sunday went again as sun was shinning and blue skies .. made me smile x

COSTUMES FOR DEBBIE ASTELL

Always lovely to work on a job for long time friends … Debbie Astell and her company Times Two Productions PRODUCED A EVENT FOR THE CELEBRATION OF SPEC SAVE 40 YEARS in Birmingham

Was asked by Debbie to style the costumes .. which was fun to do … here is pic of the fitting lol !

WHEN I GET OLDER !

I have just reached the Beatles track age ! it hysterical that I am this age … when I act like a child lol

So very touched by the cards and messages stunning flowers etc totally spoilt ! Dougie would say I replied then i am worth it it … haha

no seriously i am so honoured by the beautiful messages .. means so much …..

the Generation family are amazing … AND SO ARE MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ..

Had ad the most lovely card full of sentiment from Reece Danny and Molly … bless

It was a few weekends ago I was given a lovely surprise at our Generation Dance class , After class It brought such sweetness to us all ,after we had dedicated the class to dear Sandy Hamilton Bentes. (she would of loved it ) to toast my Birthday

The Generation family as we call it .... Is so very special,

through Dougie and all the different decades of dancers which is Generations, we are now in the 8th year of coming together once a month to a dance , It is so incredible , and a honour to be with all these wonderful friends ....

It has created new friendships and brought old ones back together and all because we have a passion DANCE

Over the years even people who hadn't danced with Dougie or myself have joined in the fun, everyone has been welcomed

During lock down we danced every weekend on zoom , I know it helped a lot of the group who were on their own which brought us all even more together

As a group of people it has been so beautiful the support that everyone gives each other and looks out for one another is incredible .....

the support they have given me over the past months has been heartfelt.

We owe all this to Dougie who brought the best out in all of us .

His spirit lives on in the classes xx

THE LAKES

For the first time in a long while i went up north by TRAIN !! was invited to go to the lakes with my dear friends Reece Danny and Molly the Beagle …Meeting them in Blackpool on the Thursday to go to the Lakes for the weekend ….

Me trains and luggage dont go…. when in a car you pack the world and out of touch with packing although I only had enough clothes for the days I was away my case was heavy … trip to winchester after a class was fine … thank god there was a lift to the other side platform .. trip to London fine … to the underground me underground the two dont mix well .. up stairs down stairs up stairs down stairs and so it goes …I got to Euston okay and train to Preston was easy and very quick the train was crowded …. me crowed trains …. i was meet by Reece which was lovely, happily gossiped all the way to Blackpool went to Franks Reece’s company Stay Blackpool apartments which are just fabulous … my third stay and i love it there … i am sure i should live in a flat ! THE APARTMENT IS STUNNING …. Reece went back to work and I popped into town to get some bits then chilled before we had a lovely italian around the corner … lovely …. early to bed i was tired ! Friday morning Reece came round and he showed me the new Ted apartments they are creating very nice indeed … then it was pack the car up and go and pick up Danny, lovely Molly and off to see Terry Reece’s mum before we left for the Lakes … lovely to see her as always … weather was a little rainy drizzle but didnt put our spirits down … the drive was easy well actually I wasn’t driving heaven forbid with Reece … he doesn’t like my driving ! well that make two of us … Heading up there brought the memories of when I used to take Dougie up to the lakes when we lived near Garstang…. lovely memories too… We got to Windermere quite quickly and headed for Chesters where i was hoping to get a slate for Dougie it was his birthday and wanted to get it in a special place for us both … Chesters’s was lovely as ever then had to go to the stone engravers which was lovely and easy picked the slate and design lovely for dear Dougie

Then went to the apartment we were staying … it was sweet just perfect for our trip… then a walk into Bowness there was a steep hill … i thought about the return journey hahah … we had a lovely walk around Bowness which is charming … looking at the boats and the beautiful scenery around the lakes is rather magical . a drink looking onto the lake and face the mountain climb to the apartment okay it was a hill …but a killer to me lol

We chilled a bit before going out again down the mountain okay hill to a lovely tapas place that the guys loved on a trip there before .. it was very nice indeed. red wine !!! then to a bar for more drinks … you can imagine …. brandy cokes … was happy which just perfect …. the boys danced hahah it was danny on the dance floor ! he kept his clothes on throughout … then the the thought of the mountain climb … but all didnt seem so bad … BED well needed … up early we showered not together Reece cooked breakfast very nice .. THE WEATHER WAS WET but it didnt stop us .. went for a lovely drive around the lakes tho the slate mine and walks … it was lovely although i look like Vicar of DibbleY awaiting a falling the puddle .. thank god it didnt happen ! Then a pub lunch heading back to Bowness for a nice little nap before heading out for a indian in the evening … again the mountain… haha we had a lovely night and early to bed … Sunday was not so wet so had a another walk around Bowness before we started going back , on my fav route seeing the lakes from high up to the village of Bowlands which i like very much … back to Blackpool for sunday lunch and a chilled afternoon watching Dance time from Australia which was good … must be the air but i was well done in …. so i went back to the apartment for a early night .. for my return journey …. which on monday was apiece of cake .. Even the bag didnt seem to worry me … had such a lovely time thanks to my dearest friends x

Generation class for Sandy

Today we paid tribute to the beautiful Sandy Hamilton-Bentes in our Generation Dance class

It was very touching the love in the room for Sandy was heartfelt …. She touched us all in so many ways …. We will miss her so much xxx