Friday the 9th of May saw Evelyn Strange being performed at the White Rock Players Club as part of the 2008 Greater Vancouver Zone Festival. Evelyn Strange went away with:

Best Supporting Male Actor
Best Supporting Female Actor
Backstage Cooperation

We all managed to survive the day and the performance. Only a few problems occurred like me dropping and ‘breaking’ one of the props which was quite successfully glued together. Oh, that was such an embarrassing moment but we all held together. Being part the backstage and scene change crew it was quite an honour to have been recognised with an award.  Well done to all involved!

I enjoyed the experience and am now working on Here On The Flight Path as backstage crew once again. This time we’ll be dressed as movers and will actually be seen by the audience.

Since the end of November 2007 I have not been allowed to work in Canada. I am however, permitted to freelance for people in the UK as long as my pay gets deposited into my UK bank account. This has worked out quite well so far. The only draw back is that I work part time hours and sometimes have weeks were there is no work at all. This gives me spare time, which in the beginning I wasn’t really used to. I have used this time wisely and offered my services for the Senior Services Society and Vagabond Players. However, volunteering doesn’t always use up all my extra spare time. Then I remembered some art activities that I used to do when I was a kid.

There is a three floor hobby shop near the bottom on 6th Street in New Westminster. While browsing the store I discovered Engraving Art by Royal & Langnickel, wow… I used to love these when I was a kid. I have purchased two designs: Copper Giraffe & Baby and Silver Elephant & Baby.

I am finding it quite relaxing and enjoyable. If I don’t mess up the designs I might frame them and hang them on one of the many walls that is currently very bare!

Some time in the future I might try to Paint My Own Masterpiece. My art skills have diminished considerably since I left high school some 12 years ago. These little pre-designed art projects might get me back in the swing and reignite the arty side of my brain.

Until 1st May 2008 the City of New Westminster is hosting a photo contest. The area of interest is downtown New Westminster which includes the waterfront neighbourhood south of Royal Avenue. For more information please read the Hot Shots contest details pdf.

I will be spending the next couple of weekends walking the area and shotting photos of things I find interesting. I will try to enter one photo per category. Keep a look out for my favourites, the ones I enter won’t be posted on here until the contest winners have been chosen.

While I wait for a response from Canadian Immigration regarding my permanent residency application (fingers crossed they like me) I am not permitted to work in Canada. Therefore, I am still doing work for people in the UK and unfortunately it isn’t full time. To keep myself busy I’ve been volunteering for various organisations in and around New Westminster.

Senior Services have been a part of my volunteer duties since January 2008. My tasks include grocery shopping and a runner for meals on wheels. Lately I’ve been doing more meals on wheels than grocery shopping. When delivering the meals you meet some interesting characters. Most of them are quite friendly and respond well to my cheerful nature.

There was one lady who didn’t want to receive her meal because it was on the wrong day. It took me a while to persuade her that I was already here so she might as well have an extra meal for the week. I entered her home and was engulfed by this terrible stench of human urine. I tried to breathe trough my mouth to avoid the smell, but then my taste buds didn’t like that either. I unpacked her meal, wished her a good day and headed for the door. Unfortunately, she positioned her wheel chair right in my path. She wanted to chat (Oh no, not now I can’t take the smell)! I explained that there were many others just like her waiting for their meals. She gracefully let me out the door. I have quite a sensitive nose and the smell of urine wasn’t pleasant.

With meals on wheels the secret is to deliver the meal as quickly as possible, be friendly and smile. Being friendly can get me in trouble as they want to talk but the majority understand that others need their meals too.

Yesterday was the last night of Evelyn Strange at the Bernie Legge Theatre in Queens Park, New Westminster. Myself and two others, Kathy and Suzanne, volunteered backsatge, there were quite a few scene changes that needed our attention. It was a very good experience and I have decided that I will offer my services for the next show Here On The Flight Path. The Vagabond Players have been around since 1937 and it’s an honour to be contributing to local performing arts.

Evelyn Strange isn’t over yet, in the month of May the Vagabond Players will be performing at White Rock Players Club as an entry into the Greater Vancouver Zone Festival. The festival runs from the 4th of May to the 10th of May 2008. To find out more about festivals in your area please visit the Theatre BC website.