Joy

The Gorse Fox and Silver Vixen headed out. We thought we would eat early at The Spur, only to find it closed, so we quickly formulated a Plan B. Returning to The Old Stables we were shown to a table. It was five o'clock but the server asked that we vacate the table by eight o'clock (as it was reserved). The Gorse Fox can only think of one or two meals in his life that have taken three hours - and one of those involved a large number of French colleagues and several bottles of wine back in the 1970's.

After our meal we made our way to Noviomagus and parked near the Theatre, then with 90 minutes to spare before the performance, had a wander round the grounds. It was astonishingly mild for an October evening, but finding a bar, it was necessary for the Silver Vixen to test the quality of the tea on offer - and so we went inside. Well, I say inside. Actually this was a large, modern marquis with a robust frame and roll-down sides. This, like the whole area was built on acres of decking.
(The main theatre is being rebuilt - so they have constructed a series of temporary structures and marquis in the park).

We made our way into the main tent and settled down. AT the appointed hour - to the strains of Ode to Joy, the diminutive and irrepressible Sandi Toksvig took the stage. There followed two hours of anecdotes, of stories, of history and even one or two jokes. She has mastered he art - engaging the whole audience from the very beginning, drawing them into her circle and chatting to us like and old friend. It was two hours of utter joy and thoroughly recommended to anyone with a modicum of intelligence and a funny bone.