In 1959 Jane left her job at Boots and sailed to America to work as a “baby sitter”. She was 19 and a little stunned to be left alone with four kids whilst their parents went golfing in Mexico. She was horrified by the children’s table manners but on the plus side the local boys were much taken with her refined British accent. The resulting culture shock made a funny and touching tale.
Phil took us on a journey of a life in four colours, stretching over decades. Yellow = wearing his sisters petty coat, aged 7, the sun streaming in through the bedroom window. Blue = age 19, cross dressing, looking for understanding and acceptance. The psychiatrist said “if you are still doing it in 10 years, then come back and see me”. Phil never went back to see him. Instead, he was married, with children and having his toe nails painted in Spain, = green for the nail varnish. The last period = Red, for an expensive, but not well fitting pair of shoes, which he gifted to his son’s girlfriend. A great story of knowing yourself and being comfortable with that.
We closed the first part of the evening with Gareth (aka The Gentle Good) telling a true story and singing a surreal song about a huge Venezuelan tuna. How may of those can there be? (songs not tuna) I hear you ask.
After the break Betty told of two youthful loves (three if you include art) one of whom possessed the complete works of Proust and Sartre and shared his room with a pet centipede; the other of whom possessed a false leg and a very seductive record collection. With great wit and poise Betty fleshed out their characters and hers as a young woman artist in London in the 60s.
Paul then asked us,”Where does a story begin?” For Paul it began on a broken down boat, on a river, in the middle of the Peruvian jungle. After hours of attempted repairs they gave up and decided to camp for the night on the riverbank. They built a fire to keep warm and all seemed as good as it could be until dozens of spiders came. Attracted by the fire and big as plates they made their way up the banks of the river to settle on the travelers. Now safe and sound and back in the UK, Paul isn’t as frightened of the commonly Welsh spiders anymore.
Iolo rounded off the evening with a heart-felt self-penned song about a friend who many people had lost faith in. After a fatal accident, stories came forward of his friend’s herioc act to save his step-daughter. Our audience were spellbound.
We hope to be back at Kemi’s in December. Keep spreading the word and if you have a story to tell, get in touch!
all the best
Steve, Andrew & Maria
