Well I managed to get to the Unicorn Theatre last Thursday to see our offering in the ODN festival, Kill Jill, written by Mark Wheeler and performed mostly by the youth section of our group. The adjudicator for the festival Paul Fowler was quite kind to the cast I thought as there were numerous prompts but I guess nerves were in play and all credit must be given to the young folk for performing in a festival play in the first place.

The second play was Death of Cuchulain by W.B.Yeats and performed by the Henley Players. Now I have to say the plays selected for festivals are seldom my cup of tea and this was no exception. I also have to say it was a polished and professional performance from the cast but I am fascinated how someone could read a script lie this in the first place and think ‘This is great, just right for us to put in the festival’. OK, I admit I am a dinosaur when in comes to festival plays. I sometimes think they look for the weirdest one-act plays they can find. I guess it’s me. Anyway congratulations to the Sinodun Players, HAODS and again the Henley Players whose productions of ‘Night School’, ‘Happy Birthday to Me’ and ‘This Time of Year’ were asked back on the Saturday night.

The Colin Dexter award for outstanding dramatic moments was awarded this year to EuroAct for the variety of dramatic pieces in their play "Chatroom".

Onward to other matters, our ‘Forties to Noughties’ Quiz is looming. June 20th. 7.30 Kingston Bagpuize/Southmoor Village Hall 7.30pm. This is one of the functions to celebrate our 60th anniversary. Any budding Masterminds who wish to enter a team of six players contact Linda on 01865 802605.

Now sitting here contemplating the anniversary of Edward VII meeting Tsar Nicholas II on the Royal Yacht ‘Victoria & Albert’ off the Estonian coast this day in 1908, my whinge of the week concerns the Ock Mill Beefeater restaurant in Abingdon. Fancying a steak last night and having reserved a table all was set for a convivial evening and then we were told there was no fillet steak. Now please explain to me how a steak house has no fillet steak, because the duty manager couldn’t other than the fact their supplier had let them down. So couldn’t he pick up some from a local butcher or even another Beefeater? We left in a huff and had a great meal with great service at The Fox on Boars Hill. Excellent value and pleasant staff and has been awarded a three star rating in my recent book ‘Blast, I wish I’d eaten there now’. I just thought I’d tell you.

We had dinner recently at the house of an elderly couple we have known for years, and after eating, the wives left the table and went into the kitchen.

My friend and I were left talking, and he said, 'Last night we went out to a new restaurant and it was really great. I would recommend it very highly.'

I obviously asked, 'What is the name of the restaurant?'

He thought and thought and finally said, 'What is the name of that flower you give to someone you love?

You know... The one that's red and has thorns.'

'Do you mean a rose?' I said, 'Yes, that's the one,' he replied. He then turned towards the kitchen and yelled, 'Rose, what's the name of that restaurant we went to last night?'