Why 4,998 other folks came to Augusta this weekend with us…..

The hotel was full and noisy this weekend. The visitors were here for a special event happening Sunday morning. David was performing “A Prisoner of Passion” at 10:00am in the centre of town. Had they come to see him?  We had to get to the church early to park as the streets around the church were being closed at 9:30am. As we drove down the tree lined street, handsome Georgian Sheriffs were already manning the traffic lights and directing the gathering crowds.

It was raining so the Sheriffs all wore plastic bags over their Sheriffs hats. Not very macho. I’m glad our British Bobbies aren’t  ever seen wearing plastic bags over their helmets. Their US conterparts  could learn a thing or two from our coppers about the drainage value of a cone-shaped hat as opposed to one with a water collecting hollow in the top and a large rain gathering brim. It is the first rain they have had in the state for ages so they maybe can be excused.

I guess in Georgia the aim is to have a hat to protect from the heat and sun. In England of course this is rarely a problem. Police head gear that deflects rain water and blows from drunken football thugs is the order of the day in our beloved motherland.

Anyway, I digress. The local, national and even international media were covering this event that had drawn so much attention to Augusta this Sunday.  There was a lot of activity outside the church with tables being set up with first aid posts, water bottles, bananas and other intriguing items. Even the major was very involved. Had they all come to see TT perform at church??

Not exactly. Margaret Thatcher was dubbed “The Iron Lady” and “Paul the Apostle” was put in iron chains but these folks were here for “The half Ironman “ . “Which half?” I wondered. This event had attracted more than 3,000 triathletes competing in a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike race and 13.1-mile run.  The run took the contestants right by the church several times as they looped around the down town area.

By the time church was finished the leading runners were already puffing by having done their swim and mike race. A lovely lady and her gorgeous children were in church from Florida. Her husband was competing in the Iron Man and after church she got out her lawn chair and sat on the edge of the road outside the church with her children to cheer on the competitors especially her husband.  Many of us from the church joined them to wave, cheer and generally encourage the weary courageous athletes.They had come armed with cow bells and flags to cheer on the competitors and especially their dad.

A team of helpers was loading “BB”, aka Big Blue, our van. BB was parked across the street from the church. So they had to dodge in and out of the runners. TT, aka David, my husband even got out the video camera to capture some action, which included me running alongside some of the handsome contestants.

We were so tired after all the excitement that we rested all the afternoon and moved out of our hotel at lunch time today just as one of the Iron men was leaving too.

Here he is with Maggie his supporting lady and new bike, as yet un-named.  He beat his record yesterday to do it all in 5hr something. He has also done the Music City Marathon in Nashville.  Our home town and it starts at Vanderbilt Uni. my previous work place. We all had a nice little chat as we were leaving our hotel together.

We are now in the Radison hotel near Raleigh Durham airport on our way back to Virginia for a show tomorrow.

We drove through Charlotte, NC for the 2nd time in 3 days. It was stormy and rainy and they mentioned the “T” word, (as in Tornado) having been spotted. Hey ho you know when you are back in the south when you hear of Funnel cake and Funnel clouds!!

TT is out getting some food at Panera, subway or Food Lion.

We are in such a posh hotel. There is even a remote control that alters the firmness of the mattress. Unfortunately there is no ‘fridge or microwave. I would gladly swap the magic mattress for a microwave to make cups of tea and hot honey and lemon. Yes my cough is back    Not as bad as before. I’m just seeking sympathy. TT and I have had the sniffles as we have obviously succumbed to a USA cold bug.  Atish ooooo.

Love and hugs to all.

Please send cough drops, Kleenex and Vics vapour rub as soon as possible.

RG and TT. xx

Tour is hotting up as we head south. Plus Niagara pics!

In Canada on Tuesday morning it was very cold at dawn. I had 4 layers of clothing on including my PJ bottoms under my jeans and big winter jacket with hood! The temperature rose as we drove south and we are nearly melting in the unusually hot 90F deg heat and have had to dig out our summer clothes again.

Eastern Mennonite University campus has been our home for 2 nights. This 100 acre Uni is in The Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. With The Blue Ridge Mountains as it’s backdrop.

Yesterday TT took the Chapel service, a theatre class and did “An Evening with C.S. Lewis”. They will pod cast the chapel service in a couple of days. I thought he was really good. There were about 400 students in the chapel and they sang acapello in four part harmony. Lovely. I didn’t want them to stop. Here is the link to their Student life events page that should have the pod cast on soon.

On Tuesday, we had a 9 hour journey to get to the Uni. from Niagara Falls, in Ontario Canada. But it was worth the long drive.

On Tuesday morning we went on The Maid of the Mist right up to the Falls. It was FANTASTIC.

To go back one more day and start our Falls adventure at the beginning. It was on Monday that we drove 1.5 hrs from Rochester New York to The Crown Plaza hotel right by The Falls. On arrival I sat in Big Blue the van while  TT disappeared inside the hotel. He was gone for ages. He then appeared and escorted me up to the 11th floor. The room overlooked the falls and had a balcony. This was the view!

TT updates our travelog on film!

I kept jumping up and down, screaming and shrieking, “I don’t believe this. This is amazing, incredible. etc etc”.

The weather was perfect and we had some left over salad in our mobile cold box.  We had a great picnic outside with this amazing view.

A room with a view and left over salad from Pennsylvanian church

After lunch we had a walk along the river to Table Rock.

Roadie Gran in great excitement mode.

Pennsylvania, BB and TT triumph and bridesmaids wilt

Rest stop at the PA welcome centre. 2nd time in 36hrs

Sunday September 19th 1:30am

Just arrived back from another 7.5hr round trip to PA. This performance in Christ Wesleyan Church. They have about 1100 to their Sunday services, but only about 200 turned out tonight. Anyway they were a great audience. THe Pastor said, “I wish I had seen the DVD before hand. If I had know it was so good I would have known how to get more people here. Hey ho. C’est la vie. We enjoyed our day as it was lovely weather and we stopped to admire the views and take photos of interesting things including some dear little goats and a horse.

Saw some more interesting things on our return to the hotel just now. A bevy of tired bridesmaids were outside the hotel. Their flowers were wilting a bit as were some of them. Poor dears. I didn’t think I should take a photo as their male companions seemed a bit strange. Some were looking a little the worse for wear. One sported a Sombrero. “Go to bed dear ones” I felt like saying. Then realized I’m not everyone’s Grandma or mother even.

TT did another sterling job driving although I drove some miles myself while he  filmed  the beautiful PA countryside. I quite enjoyed it. Not much on the wide roads and BB behaved beautifully.

We have an early a.m. call for 7:30. Tt is doing Prisoner of Passion in the 10:00am service tomorrow a.m. in Rochester. Our 6th performance in 5 days concludes with “An Evening with C.S. Lewis” at the same church tomorrow night.

Thanks for your prayers. Keep them coming. A nice lady has offered to give me a free massage tomorrow. Can’t wait.

Night night all.

TLC day for TT

BB has some TLC

Puncture, Performance,Pat’s log house

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It’s been an eventful full day. Drove about 6 hrs from Maine to Fitchburg Mass. Fantastic coastal run with lovely towns and views of the Atlantic. We had just turned into the town of Fitchburg, when we had a puncture. AAA came within the hour as did Pastors George and Eric from Calvary Chapel Fitchburg. Thankfully we had the puncture within 1 mile of our destination having traveled 300miles. What a blessing!

Great performance by TT tonight again. Now staying with our new friend Pat in her lovely log cabin in the woods in Westminster MA. She has made us chocolate chilli.  Not sure it has choc in it but it is veggie along with organic salad from her garden.

Coughed a lot again today and felt a bit rough when we got to the church. Had some honey and lemon and ibuprofen and fell asleep on the sofa in the “green room” while TT was doing his stuff on the stage.  Feel much better now although still not right. The lovely lady we are staying with is a retired physician and has a garden full of medicinal herbs. There are also chickens and baby ones outside our bedroom window in a warm room.

Off to bed now

Love hugs and prayers

TT and Rodie Gran.

Police escort Big Blue into Ellsworth Maine USA……..

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After 7.5hrs driving from New York state to Maine, we arrived at the coastal town of Ellsworth after dark just now.  TT saw a flashing blue light in his rear view mirror. What was he doing wrong?  Not speeding or drinking. Maybe they were sent to welcome visiting actors into town. This proved NOT to be the case. We turned into a car park/parking lot and were immediately surrounded by 2 police cars and a state trouper car complete with barking dog! All armed these fierce looking cops and a sheriff shone their torches into our windows. O no were they going to confiscate the tea bags to pay us Brits back for the Boston Harbour Tea party debarckle? No. The problem proved to be that someone had reported my dear hubby swerving a bit on the Interstate.  There was hardly any other traffic on the road and he had sometimes asked our  SatNav/GPS “George” about an alternate route by tapping his chest repeatly that might have caused the odd wobble of BB. The officers of the law,  obviously thought TT might be drunk and disorderly, hense the whole of Ellsworth law enforcement seemed surrounding us. They seemed a bit disapointed when all our documents were in order and they had nothing to charge us with. Actually I do them a dis-service, because they cheered up considerably when I got out of the car and explained that I was TT’s roadie, offered them a cough drop and asked to take their picture. I also asked for permission to go to the grocery store  and get some honey and lemons for my bad cough. I had to wait until they had completed running  a check on our vehicle via computer or something. THey asked TT why we were in their town and when he said he was doing a play in the Grand Theatre tomorrow, the big sheriff with THE  HAT said, “is that the one they have been advertising on the radio”. We assured him it was. They declined to have their picture taken but smiled nicely and promised to come and see TT in action.  Even the fierce looking canine had stopped barking and looked quite friendly as they drove off wagging his tail at us.

A few minutes later we were in our lovely comfy hotel room at The Ramada Ellsworth. The welcome here was grand. Troy cheerfully carried our stuff up the stairs to our room. We are on the 1st floor sans elevator/lift. There to greet us on the desk was a lovely bag with “MAINE” written on the front. Inside was fruit drink and other edibles, a welcome gift from the church here.

I HAVE A NEW CAMERA AND AM VERY EXCITED. SOON SOON I WILL POST PICS.

Night night from the Ramada Inn and not the jail house Ellsworth Maine USA.

blesssings. xx

Actually this is where we were….

Here we are.

Big Blue Reunion and Roadie Duties Begin

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I am delighted to report that “Big Blue” our trusty Ford Van was in good shape when we reunited with her yesterday. While The Talent and I had been setting up our U.K. abode in Somerset, Big Blue spent the summer whiling away the hot days in a shady spot under the trees outside the Manse of some friends in Egg Harbor (in American English or “Harbour” in English English – What is a brand new blogger supposed to do about this transatlantic spelling dilemma?)

Anyway, she started first time to show us she didn’t bear any grudge about being abandoned when we fled the country in April 2010. To show our gratitude, we are giving her a full pampering today. This will include an oil change, some fresh air in her tyres and even a trip to the car wash: her favourite/favorite. As I write, The Talent is doing my roadie duties by beginning to unload her contents into our motel room. We have C.S.Lewis’ costume hanging in the bathroom and his props by the sink. Our “on the road” food preparation items are on the bed. So far mugs, proper cutlery/silverware and bowls, ice box, picnic basket, etc. My first job as Roadie, this morning, was to sort out the case of cables. GPS? check. US cell phone chargers? check. Note to self and Roadie Tip No 1. It is helpful to label cables with item to which they pertain. I’ve postponed the task for now.

Well folks, I’m off to have a quick swim and shower and get another yoghurt from the breakfast bar. The Talent has stopped unloading and is cooking his daily bowl of porridge in the microwave.

Absecon Lighthouse, Atlantic City

Our priority is to spend as much time as necessary in prepping and coddling Big Blue, then it’s off to Atlantic City and the board walk. Our shopping list today includes a camera for me so that I can add some photos on here,  a sun hat and bucket and spade for the beach! A” must do for fun” sometime this Labour Day Weekend is to visit the Absecon Lighthouse just down the road. Which frankly seems a bit more attractive than the casinos on the sea front.

I am delighted to report that “Big Blue”our trusty Ford Van was in good shape when we reunited with her yesterday. While hubby actor David and I had been setting up our U.K. abode in Somerset, Big Blue spent the summer whiling away the hot days in a shady spot under the trees outside the Manse of some friends in Egg Harbor(Am/Eng) Harbour (Eng/Eng)
What is brand new blogger supposed to do about this Transatlantic spelling dilemma?
Anyway, she started first time to show us she didn’t bear any grudge about being abandoned when we fled the country in April. To show our gratitude, we are giving her a full pampering today. This will include an oil change, some fresh air in her tyres and even a trip to the car wash: her favourite/favorite. As I write, actor David, is doing my roadie duties by beginning to unload her contents into our motel room. We have C.S.Lewis’s costume hanging in the bathroom and his props by the sink. Our “on the road” food preperation items are on the bed. So far mugs, proper cutlery/silver ware and bowls, ice box, picnic basket, etc. My first job as Roadie, this morning, was to sort out the case of cables. GPS? check. US Cell phone chargers? check. Note to self. It is helpful to label cabels with item to which they pertain. I’ve postponed the task for now.
Well folks, I’m off to have a quick swim and shower and get another yoghurt from the breakfast bar. David has stopped unloading and is cooking his daily bowl of porridge in the microwave.
Our priority is to spend as much time as necessary in prepping and coddling Big Blue, then it’s off to Atlantic City and the board walk. Our shopping list today includes a camera for me so that I can add some photos on here,  a sun hat and bucket and spade for the beach! A must do for fun sometime this Labour Day Weekend is to visit the Absecon Lighthouse just down the road. Which frankly seems a bit more attractive than the casinos on the sea front.