Racing Women

Text: People wanted to play passengers at an airport. Initially this was to be at Heathrow and although I responded to the text, I soon began to regret it as it was to be filmed at Heathrow on the first weekend of the school holidays. I was devising ways of recalling my affirmative response when the venue was suddenly changed to Kempton Racecourse. Much better!

I turned up clutching my pink M&S flight bag early of course, and just in time for breakfast (what can I say, I love my food!)  and just in time for 'Wardrobe' to grab me.

"We're thinking of putting you in uniform to be a check in girl." Fabulous! Always lovely to be given unexpected roles. Another person joined me, Kirsty, also playing a check in girl. (Isn't it funny how it is always a check in girl, never lady or woman!) Kirsty mentioned that most people on a check in desk would usually have their hair up. Kirsty had long hair so no problem but what would they make of my shortish bob?!

We were put to work behind sheets of glass looking every inch like a pair of check in girls . The lovely Olympic athletes were there plus the lovely Noel Clarke and Lenora Crinchlow, whose ticket I had to sort out. Suddenly, I was descended on by the make up man.

"Thank God, somebody that knows  how to do make up! We can use that time to spend on your hair instead!" People actually turned round and stared as he started working on my hair. I was fluffed out, back combed and swept up! He was totally brilliant!

I seemed to have far more hair than I started with and yet it was all mine!

Filming began and we quickly got into our roles.

"Did you pack your bag yourself? Have you left your luggage unattended at any time?

Any liquids, gels, sharp instruments?" as we handed out boarding passes. We smiled, gestured (towards the 'boarding gate) and checked  information on our computers. Actually we didn't have computers so made do with a couple of old screens and merrily tapped on those. Suddenly, the word 'wrap' was mentioned. We were taken in to the side room and peoples names were called out. Were they the people that were staying or going? Everyone gets the same rate of pay which ever way. It was a wrap for me and Kirsty - a very short, very enjoyable day!

Newspaper business

Text: Can you be a business person for a newspaper ad? 

Well, seeing as I seem to spend half my time wearing a suit (I obviously look the office type)

and appearing as an Executive /Business woman, it seemed an easy task. Off I went with my trusty pink back pack with the usual several changes of clothes for the 'just in case they don't like what I'm wearing' scenario. I was very early so I just sat on a nearby wall and waited for the cast and crew. I had only been there a couple of minutes when round the corner came a lovely girl, Jo,  that I had met previously on Lee Nelson.  It always makes the shoot extra special when there is someone you know working on it too. Crew arrived and as nobody really knew where we should go we were ushered in to a nearby coffee place. As we entered, the Director shook our hands, kissed Jo very enthusiastically and greeted her like a long lost friend. I assumed they had met before. We chose our coffees and chocolate croissants and sat down at a table. Jo looked a bit puzzled. It turned out she had no idea who the man was and couldn't remember having worked with him before. We tucked in to our free breakfast, which, it has to be said, we weren't expecting as we had been previously warned that  no food would be available. Suddenly the A.D. (I don't know if he was the second or third A.D) rushed over.

"Don't tell anyone else  that you've been given breakfast!" 

Aha! They thought Jo was the main leading actress! 

Shortly after that we were ushered into a very smart looking restaurant. By the look of it, the restaurant had no idea of the chaos that 30 - 40 extras can create, each with their own bags of yet more stuff.  Having filled the downstairs of the restaurant we were then led outside in to the freezing cold. It was being filmed in a shopping mall but we were outside not  inside. 

"None of you will be seen. You will all be blurred in the background!" Totally the wrong thing for the Director to say.

After we had walked about in front of the camera for a short time we were taken back to the restaurant. No coffee, no food. We all started chatting away to each other when in came the A.D wanting volunteers. People ducked their heads down or wouldn't meet his eye, some people suddenly developed a curious interest in their shoes...Well, who wants to be a volunteer to freeze their butts off outside when they're just going to be a grey blur? Eventually he managed to persuade people to leave the nice warm restaurant but tapping people on the shoulder and telling them to get outside. More walking about, left to right, backwards and forwards. Finally lunch was called. We were each given £10 in an envelope to pay for food - very unusual. Off we went to the nearest place, M&S for their soup & roll deal. Everyone went for the cheapest option possible as the change from lunch could be used for transport home! The day didn't get any better. There was a flight of concrete stairs that we had to walk up and down over and over again. I thought my leg muscles were going to burst at one point! I began to wish I'd had more than soup and a roll for my lunch...still, there's always a positive side and at least I wasn't cold any more!

MI5

Request from an agency - could I play an MI5 officer in a feature film? No problem - I dug out my black suit and dark shirt, black boots. I even had on a black coat with a large black handbag. Well, I couldn't imagine an MI5 Officer in bright red, blue or orange!

Breakfast first and then in to hair and make up. I love having my hair done. I always turn up on set with it styled but I love it when they want to do something else with it so I was more than happy to jump in to the chair and have what can only be called, ringlets put in to my hair! I wasn't too sure about the look but they were paying more than the average shoot so compliance was the answer. Into the mini bus we went with Ben, the 3rd A.D shouting in to his  walkie talkie "S.As are travelling" meaning the Supporting Artists are on their way. We got out of the mini bus and Into an office building  where we were to be for most of the  day.  Now, although being an MI5 Officer sounds exciting, well, I thought it sounded exciting, it amounted to nothing  more than being sat behind a computer screen looking for terrorists.  The screen of course, having been preloaded so the same scenario was running over and over again. 

One  person however, sat opposite me, couldn't quite get the hang of the screen and after it had been reset several times, still managed to have a blank screen even though he was not not to touch it  - Ever. Having made himself known to the Director, you can imagine how we all squirmed when a mobile went off and who was it? You guessed it.

Lunch time came and we headed  back to base to grab lunch. The minibus doors opened and  I stood up and went out of the back. As I held on to the handle ,I some how twisted my arm badly and this searing pain went through my shoulder. I was later to find out that I had torn my ligaments. Not one to cause a scene, I grabbed lunch with my one good arm and crunched down on some painkillers. Back to the office again and more looking at computer screens with the odd walk  about thrown in for good measure. This shoot stays in my mind not only because that's where I wrecked my shoulder but because the leading actress couldn't remember any of her lines.... Dear God, we all knew the lines by the end of the day! But hey, we all have off days....but we could have finished an awful lot earlier.....

Running scared

An ad appeared on Starnow for people to be part of filming for a film that used to be a series starring Dennis Waterman.

I applied. At first they didn't  want to give me the job as they thought  that due to my acting work, I wouldn't enjoy being an extra.... job secured  I was asked to go into Central London in a business suit and with my car as they would be filming me driving.....

I was a bit  worried about that - I mean, it's fine driving when nobody notices you but we all know what parking is like when someone is standing there gawping as you valiantly try parallel parking...

After breakfast (it's a wonder I'm not the size of a house with all this eating) I was  told that  my driving services wouldn't be required - phew! The Mall had been closed off due to a Foreign Prime Ministers visit. I was paired up with Katharine a beautiful leggy brunette. We were asked to run from the gun man (well, you would, wouldn't you?). I'm just over 5'2" so running  alongside Katharine  was no mean feat but thank goodness for flat boots! I'm sure it must have looked very comical with Katharine pulling me behind her as I tried to keep up.

After that I had to cross by the main actor who was being gawped at by tourists. The road had been closed off except for taxis so of course everyone wanted to know what was happening and who the  main actors were. Eventually people moved on and filming could take place.

After lunch - this is one time  where lunch was not only awful but served up in plastic boxes and had to be eaten standing up in case we were needed, we started filming in the local park.

There was a man with a laid bike trike usually used to ferry passengers about, now being used to ferry the camera about. He could certainly go at some speed! More shooting, people cowering, the usual chase sequence - actually if this happens in real life I probably would assume it's someone filming. 

There was a great stunt lady on this one. She had to walk in the park with a pram and be thrown to the ground. She was later thrown to the ground on a concrete bridge too. It was amazing to see her 'gel filled bottom' just like chicken fillets (girls, you know what I mean) but for your bum. 

Eventually we wrapped some time after 4pm and then it was time to drive through Central London....but that's a whole other story!

Strangely enough, I was later asked back to a casting for a featured role but sadly, I couldn't make the casting. Who knows what would have happened if I did?!

Cardinal Burns

Whilst working on one of the previous films, I received a call asking if I would be prepared to be featured in a comedy sketch show wearing nothing but my bra and pants in a hot tub!
After everyone had finished laughing, including myself, I though why not? and replied yes.
After various phone calls I was finally confirmed for the job. As you can imagine, the choosing of the underwear became the major focal point in my life! Too skimpy, too big, too bright, too darketc. I finally decided on a couple of sets and put them to one side.

Costume phoned - change of plan - no hot tub sketch, just wear office clothing. Well, I felt a bit deflated. Not that I have the perfect body, far from it. I probably have more wobbly bits than anyone else AND in more places but  I felt it was time to shake off that person that always changed in the girls loos  too afraid in case people peeked. Peeked at what I'm not quite sure but anyway, the challenge had been taken away so I would never know whether I could do it or not. 

I turned up for a 7am call at Wimbledon Studios (fab  place - always fab food) and grabbed breakfast. I went for the full English seeing as I didn't have to show anybody anything. Delicious! I got chatting to the girl at the next  table, Kathy. It turned out she was also doing the sketch too. Our point of contact for the day, Dan came over and said that  we were too early as the call time wasn't until 9.45am.... Oh well, plenty of free food, coffee, good company so I was quite happy anyway. However, Dan returned with

"As you are so early we thought we'd reinstate the hot tub scene". I imagine my face went from white to an eerie shade of green. What was he talking about? My underwear was at home - admittedly my current undies weren't too bad - bog standard black boys shorts but no spares! (I later found a pair tucked into my backpack and have always carried a spare pair since!) We walked with confidence into wardrobe or so it looked. We started to strip and then giggle. We were both wearing the same black underwear (or so it seemed). 

"You can't look the same" said Wardrobe as they handed me a stripey pair of  pants with an ill fitting lilac bra. Now, I quite like my boobs, they are neither too big, too small, have yet to start sliding south and they are practically the only bit of me that I can muster any enthusiasm over. However, in this bra they simply became invisible - nowhere to be seen. Kathy, on the other hand, had a glorious pair spilling over and looking, well, rather full. Robes were donned and slippers given to us. Off we went to the hot tub. At least I could  hide underneath the bubbles so it wouldn't be too bad would it. I mean, how bad could it be?

I started to feel a bit better, confidence began to return. Let's do it!  Into the room we went which now had the crew in plus the 3 main actors. The room didn't feel that warm and where oh where were the bubbles?? Deep breath , robe off and into the nice hot....wait a minute , scrap that, luke warm water! No luxuries of hot water for us because the camera lens would steam up. There we sat, occasionally being revived by a hot cup of tea for what  seemed like, a couple of hours until shivering had commenced and goose pimples were  gradually shared round the tub. Rehearsal, action, finally all over. Into the by now, damp robes as we had been let out a couple of times which was worse as we knew what we were  getting back in to! Just think,  some people like to think this work is glamorous...Still, there was the office party to look forward to - but that's another story! Look out for Cardinal Burns E4 in April (just  don't look for  my boobs!!)

Frozen Assets!

I had just finished playing Mrs Van Daan in The Diary of Anne Frank 

when a text came through for the place where lots of murders are committed - could I play a gym user?  Having not ventured near a gym for at least a year ( yes I know I should do) it was with some trepidation that I dug out the black trackies, t shirt and oh not so white trainers. Anyway, the trackies were long enough to cover them weren't they? It was in a slightly odd place - the Chesham United Football Club, Bucks, especially for us non locals to find. We went past this lovely looking health club and I did kind of  hope that it was the place we were to be filmed. No such luck. Breakfast finished (everyone knows you can't film on an empty stomach) and into the cars. I was paid extra for using my car and all it did was to sit in a car park for the morning!

A theatre had been transformed outside to look like a real gym - in fact it had me fooled until I realised the lack of gym gear! Easy job - walk in and out, talk to partner. After coffee and biscuits (remember what I said about the empty stomach)  we went  over to the park to freeze our butts off. It was November after all and standing in a cold damp park did nothing to  lift anyones spirits. After not being used at all we were off to lunch (see, it's all about the food!). We later returned and my partner and I had to go and feed the ducks / geese. We ended up being like 'Bird Women' as more and more geese, ducks and whatever else took it's fancy came swooping down or with the geese more perilously close to biting us - they were even biting each other and not in a good way! We started to laugh and the more we laughed the more ridiculous it seemed - and we couldn't even hear "Action" or "Reset" anyway! It certainly made up for the morning part anyway. Later on I was partnered with a lovely man and we had to walk endlessly up  and down the grassy bank. However, just to the side of us was a circular exercise place where others were jumping up and down, running around like lunatics to each different exercise place. I was very glad that I wasn't part of it especially as one or two seemed to find it incredibly hard going! We wrapped later than I would have liked especially as I was frozen solid - note to self - buy better thermals!!

The Not So Cool Paramedic!

A  job appeared via one of my sites - I applied. It was to be a Paramedic and they would provide full uniform. It was a fantastically sunny day in October which was just as well as we were all sat outside the house under a gazebo for the day. I walked in and said 'Hi" to all the Police in riot outfits and to the Scene of Crimes Officer - one man was showing how to load, fire and use the guns so that the actors weren't just 'playing' with them. You never know quite what you're walking in to! After biscuits and coffee, I began to wonder where the rest of my team were. I soon found out that I was the one and only Paramedic!
After lunch (fish and chips) the filming seemed to move on a bit quicker and finally I was called.
I had to take one of the main actors, Kevin Bishop, past the other main actor, Jack Doolan. Kevin (or his character) would appear to be distressed whilst Jacks character was in the main, p***ed off. At one point the character appears from a basement, however, no basement in the house so the downstairs loo was used! 3 of us in a small downstairs loo with the lights off...
Kevin and the lading  actress ( I apologise - I don't remember her name) appeared to getting up to all sorts but soon stopped when I said " I'm sure my daughter would love to be in my position right now, but I have to admit, I have no idea who you are."

Sometimes, my brain decides to act by itself and the monitoring bit cuts out and I find myself saying things to people that would have been best left unsaid... Silence.....Mental note to self look up Kevin Bishop when home.  Luckily, he seemed fairly unfazed about it and we moved on to getting him out of the loo, past Jack and outside the front door.
It was lucky that I did look him up as I was to be asked back at a later date!

The Music Video

Advert on Starnow caught my eye: Actors wanted to play Cruft Judges for a music video. Give it a go I thought. I applied and was called to a casting in Wardour Street. You never know what sort of stuff you are going to be asked to do at a casting so I sat there waiting to be called in to the room with a gentleman that had arrived just after me. We had to sit at the table and pretend dogs were coming in to the room and we were to judge them. First we had to love the dogs then we had to pull faces to show disdain at a mongrel type dog. The writer was in the room and it was all filmed.
That took place  on the Friday, the job was on the Tuesday so I had to wait over the weekend. By Monday lunch time I thought the job must have gone to someone else, never mind. I then, got a call from costume asking me to  bring country type clothes to the following days shoot. I explained that I didn't have the job as yet. I waited for what seemed like an eternity and finally the call came through. I'd got it.  I would need to be at Wimbledon Studios at 8am the following morning. No problem. Parking was available - great.  However, I had never driven around Wimbledon before (and never have done since!) and I wasn't prepared for the amount of speed cameras, traffic lights etc plus the most enormous amount of traffic. I always leave hours in advance of a job but this one left me 15 minutes late! Straight into hair and make up. Luckily I always do my own make up and hair was fluffed and costumed donned in under 30 minutes. Not bad! Having been dressed by costume to resemble Barbara Woodhouse myself and two other judges sat down at a judging table within a show ring. There were lots of supporting artists in the stands behind us. Suddenly in came Will Young and the dog, Levi. They did a fabulous routine together with the trainer standing near by. It had taken 3 days of work to get them to this standard. It was amazing to watch this dog dancing around the show ring to Will Youngs song "Come On".

Later on other dogs joined with their "owner" - people chosen because they resembled one of the dogs - I imagine one or two must have felt insulted! It was a lovely day and after being fed, watered and paid we finally wrapped later in the evening. Enjoy the  result!

Bingo!

Next came a call, could I be part of a bingo commercial. No problem. Filming was in a studio in a very lovely part of Islington so I was more than happy to go. Breakfast was served beneath a beautiful painted window.

 Breakfast  was just cakes etc. However, there weren't too many of us so we were able to get to know those around us. There was an awful lot of waiting around and not much communicating so it wasn't too long before boredom set in. Luckily I was with a young lad and another lady who were in good form and Ian had no end of smutty jokes and innuendos!
Eventually we went into the studio and were told where to sit. The main actor would introduce the Bingo then other actors planted around would say phrases such as "I just won!" etc.
It took a while. The main actor, who by all accounts was doing brilliantly was constantly berated by the Director for not saying a line right - could he say it THIS way or THAT way? As the actor's nerves went up, his perspiration came down! All the way down the back of his shirt infact! It was also very hot in there and one lady next to me almost fainted. We had to shout Bingo! and raise our arms and cheer etc.
When the ad came out, everything had been blacked out except for the main actor so maybe that was a very expensive way of getting a commercial wrong!

"Pride and ...silliness!"

The next film was Austenland. Obsessed with the BBC production of "Pride and Prejudice", a woman travels to a Jane Austen theme park in search for her perfect gentleman. This was the one film where cameras and facebook were welcomed with open arms.
There were an awful  lot of us for this one but we were soon split into groups making things much easier. It's much easier to interact with the people surrounding you if you know you are all together in a 'set' as it were. One man was a newbie to the business so wasn't quite sure what was going on but soon took it in his stride. We were to be husband and wife for the day in a pink theme park with gliding swans on the water.

Hats and fans were thrust upon us and we all had to look as if we were enjoying ourselves. Actually that was quite the easy bit! Good company and everybody having a laugh at what we and others were wearing.

I have to say a few of us got a little saddle sore on the carousel!

Scene of the crime!

Given an email on the Monday  for a contact and suddenly found myself two days later on a murder  crime scene. After a fabulous breakfast we were mini bussed out to location. As it's in the middle of a village, lots of the villagers were also there looking on or taking pictures. One little girl with her mum in tow said "Can't walk through there mummy, they're filming." Whereupon Mummy replied :"Well, they'll just have to get used to it after all we live here, they don't." I wondered how many other  villages get fed up with actors & crew all turning up and taking over. It has to be said, however, that this cast and crew went out of their way to make sure that the villagers had right of way and were always spoken to in a polite fashion.

Coffee was served in the morgue (I kid you not) which delighted one iphone person who took pictures of everything in the room. I don't mind people taking pictures, indeed, I take a camera with me to every job as I never know when I'm going to be dressed up by costume or not. Its also been very useful when iphones batteries die as they seem to do quite frequently. However, I can't see the fascination of taking pictures of everything. Some people try to take pictures of the sets, put them on facebook and then wonder why they're kicked out of the agency. Occasionally we're asked to bring cameras and to promote a certain film by putting pics on facebook but in my experience, that's quite rare. 

Anyway, having been fed and watered I was then asked to walk about outside just as a passerby. Easy job. Well, it would have been had it not been for the person opposite me, a young lad who couldn't quite get the timing right and either didn't move at  all or just missed colliding into the main actors. I suspect it was because he was so busy texting that he didn't actually hear any instructions. Usually, mobiles are forbidden on set/location but he had been told to use his to look slightly more natural. The trouble was, he was so wrapped up on being natural that he totally forgot where he was!

This turned out to be a very short day for four of us as we got wrapped after just 3 hours which meant missing lunch. I wouldn't normally mind but the caterers had an incredible reputation for serving fabulous food. Oh well, it would have to wait until next time!

Too hot to shop!

Now is Good - another film this  time with Dakota Fanning. Set in a shopping centre this was a very early call  time of 4am. Plenty of coffee and a fried breakfast soon got us all ready to start filming. Very strange being in a shopping centre where you are in a shop but everything is closed so you can't buy anything! Great if you're a shopaholic! This was the beginning of a slow two days in a very hot shopping centre with very few places to sit. However, it was entertaining to see 'the public' enter the little pharmacy that had been set up only to be told all the boxes were either empty or contained something else than what was on the box! Luckily, the people with me were very upbeat and positive so that if one person was getting a bit fed up, there were plenty of people who would boost them back up. It was also interesting when the centre opened to the public and they became involved in the filming. Crowds began to gather and surprise registered when one of us stepped forward to take our place for filming. One of the Supporting Artists was a man that was promoting his massage technique. He went round giving free massages to  anyone that  wanted it with his special oils. Of course, he always left his business card but he was very much appreciated by everybody and I do hope his business took off for him.
Again,  I met some lovely people who I am still in contact with and who I frequently meet on sets all over the place. It's a lovely feeling walking in to a new and different place and seeing a face you recognize. It's a bit like starting a new job over and over again - new faces, new things to do, unfamiliar territory. So if you're reading this & thinking 'that's the life for me' make sure that  you are comfortable being in a 'new job' every time as some people don't find it very easy. I enjoy the feeling of not knowing what the day is going to bring and the new faces I'm about to meet. But it's not to everyone's taste.

A lesson learned...

I was next asked to be a restaurant diner in a film starring the very funny Simon Pegg. The experience of this certainly taught me a valuable lesson for the future! I had to take a couple of dresses or outfits suitable for a smart lunch. I went dressed in black trousers with a 'nice' top but wardrobe decided they wanted me in a dress. I hadn't tried this dress on in a very long time. Now I know what you're thinking - it was too tight. Actually it was too big! I'd bought the dress a long time ago and I realised as I stood in the 'dressing' room that it was way too big all over! In fact, it was too long too big too everything! Also the shoes I thought would go with it were my 'office' type shoes and certainly didn't go at all with the dress.... A valuable lesson for the future which has always taught me now, that even if it seemed perfect a few months ago TRY IT ON!
It was the start of a very enjoyable two days of  filming. Again, I was lucky enough to be with some very talented people. We also got to eat the food in  this beautiful little restaurant in  Central London with fish cakes starting at £15.... very yummy they were too!  It was also the place (thank you catering van) where I tried Rainbow Fish with Dirty Rice! No idea why it was called 'dirty' but it was extremely tasty!

Good morning!

My next job was for a TVC (television commercial) for a breakfast biscuit. I had to go suited and booted to be a business woman. I love being in a suit as choice in minimised as to what clothes to take/wear. When I started this choice of career, I took four times the amount of clothes that I actually needed. I have quickly leaned that the maximum needed for any job is 3 and usually there is a wardrobe department anyway if nothing bought suffices. I still have  a tendency if taking the car straight to set to pack the entire boot full of stuff that will never be used... This was an amazing job, not for what we did but for watching the sets go up. A school room was created complete with lockers, a tube train carriage, a supermarket etc Myself and an older guy were the two eldest on set and I don't think they knew quite how to use us! The actors were incredibly friendly and no 'airs and graces' about them at all. In fact, the main actor was so nice, no one realised his was the main actor until he got up to speak!

Up 1,2,3 Down 1.2.3...

Next, I received a text message asking if I would be prepared to be filmed taking part in an aerobics class for  a Corporate for a certain brand of margarine. I agreed and waited for the confirmation email. Eventually it came announcing to the world  that I hadn't been chosen. Ah well! Up to the pub then for a quick late lunch with a friend. Another text - ignore previous text they do  want you! Very thankful that I had chosen not to have a glass of wine with lunch, panic set in as to what to wear. Well, if you're going to have your jiggerly bits filmed you want them to jiggle in something half  decent don't you?! Up to the Supermarket - T shirt & black joggers -  perfect. Trainers? Eek! I remembered vaguely having some sort of white footwear a while ago.....but where? If in doubt, search underneath bed and yes, there they were. Well, they were once white....run to hardware store - trainer whitener - brilliant!
The 'aerobics' class was held in a very upmarket Health Club with breakfast laid on (choccie croissants WeyHey!)  It wasn't a difficult class, thank goodness, as the 'Teacher' wasn't actually an aerobics  teacher at all but someone who taught Pilates. However, she managed to put a routine together which we could all do so we didn't look too daft. One girl was a professional dancer and voiced her horror at seeing how bad we were. We thought we were doing quite well actually. Anyway, thankfully perfection was not what the Director wanted so we wrapped after just 4 hours with a full days pay - Fabulous!

A very patient patient!

It wasn't long after the comedy show that I got a call asking me to be a patient on a well known hospital series. I really looked forward to this one as it was a good friends favourite show. I did wonder, as it was next to another well known show whether I could 'visit' the other set but an email soon followed my thoughts letting me know that in no uncertain terms could artists visit each others sets. I duly bounced in on my first day, nice start time of 8am to find that no food would be forth coming for the whole day or even the  whole 4 days. However, this was quickly followed by the information that we would get a food allowance, travel allowance, holiday pay plus overtime! Wow!  This was a difficult production to do as the Green Room was actually the staff room on set so everything had  to be whispered. I was lucky as I had some exceptionally  lovely people with me who never seemed to tire of  good conversation,  they didn't complain  (except  when our biscuits went missing!) and everyone had a positive outlook. The crew were also exceptional and were very polite and helpful. On the final day, I asked if I could go on  time as my daughter had a college show to do and wanted me to see it. BIG MISTAKE!  The show was miles away and had finished by the time I got there having been stuck on a motorway for over 3 hours! Oh well. there's always next time!

It's been a while...

Wow! Can't believe I haven't written anything for such a long  time! Especially as the next job  I got was for a great  comedy - Lee Nelson's Well Good Show. I was a midwife and was on set for 5 days. As you can imagine the laughs were huge! We were in a sketch called Dr. Bob - basically a doctor who knows very little and says the most inappropriate things! One memorable sketch, we had to stand around and sing "Push It!" whilst one  woman gave birth.

In another, we admired (or not) a woman's vajazzle.  It was one of the best shows to do as everyone was so relaxed. Also, although we had to work on Good Friday, the caterers made sure we had chocolate by the bucket load! Girls came and went with their false bumps and various stories were told on what it's like to give birth to those pretending to but never had.  Having worn the bump for a day, eaten with it, gone to the loo in it, several remarked they might leave off having children until later in life. It was very sad to say goodbye to everyone as after five 12 hour days, you really do begin  to bond with people. However, little did I know I'd be seeing them quite a lot in the future!