Hello. I am writing this the day before Christmas Eve. Rather weirdly, Christmas is upon us. How did that happen? I realise it has been a fair few months since I blogged for Pentabus. Kinda terrifying how quickly time has gone. Anyway. I thought I would write a final blog for 2009, just before the new year (and decade) kicks in. Things have been very busy in the Pentabus offices, with lots of planning and tour bookings being made for ‘Tales of the Country’. A few weeks ago, Orla ran a few days of r and d with 5 actors and Nick, to workshop the current draft, time well spent as many important and exciting discoveries were made, and Nick is now well on his way to a final draft. Brian Viner and his wife came to the read through at the end of the workshops, and he then wrote some very excellent things about us in his column, a great signal of his approval. Hurrah. I am coming on board as Associate Director on the project, which I am utterly thrilled about and can’t wait to get cracking in 2010. Elsewhere, Pentabus has commissioned Tim Price, one of our fantastic PIGS writers, to write a full length play for our future programme, which is brilliant.

And most importantly, the company got together for a bit of a Christmas feast last week. I travelled up to spend a few days with Pentabus, and spent most of the time eating, supping wine, and nosing around the shops in Ludlow, many of which were beautifully filled with tempting Christmas treats, and had decked out their shop windows in the most theatrical of ways. Selfridges eat your heart out. Lovely. One highlight for me on this particular visit was a meal at La Becasse, the restaurant where the writers on our PIGS writers week, spent an afternoon each in their kitchen. I had never been before, so was quite excited to actually experience the taste sensations that I had heard talk of far and wide. I was not disappointed. Orla and I booked a table for 1pm, and we didn’t leave until nearly 5pm. It was a freezing, misty and proper wintery day, and I couldn’t have imagined a more warming and comforatable haven than the restaurant. We were treated to some of the most extraordinary dishes, and once Will (the Michelin star head chef) found out orla was in the house, he sent out a few more surprise dishes, which were very welcome! Every time a new dish was brought over (yes, every time, we had 8 courses!) a detailed description was given, but I was always too busy staring in awe and wonder at what was now in front of me to pay attention! And each time I would try to guess exactly what was going in my mouth, savouring every mouthful, and telling myself that next time a course was brought to me, I would actually listen! I didn’t. But it was kinda fun identifying the different flavours. Highlights for me included a perfect horseradish ice cream with smoked salmon, and a little chocolate er….thing (sorry Will) served with different flavour sorbets. Over tea and petit fours (funnily enough still had room to eat them. all.), Will popped out to say hello, which was pretty excellent. I had never met him before, and while Orla and him chatted away, I felt more than a bit star struck.

So. If we weren’t sure we had eaten enough at la becasse, the next day was Pentabus’s official Christmas celebration at the Clive, a lovely restaurant across the road. More delicious food, a spot of wine, some rubbish cracker jokes, dodgy hats, and talk of imminent Christmas celebrations. After a final round of ‘happy christmas’, I hopped on a train back to London. very full.

Happy Christmas to everyone, am keeping my fingers crossed for a white christmas…… see you in 2010!