Why do all my nights out happen in the last week of the month?

I'm cruising along quite happily, bang up straight on everything and then, wham! Piles of paperwork and ironing to sort through today!

That's because I finally saw Les Miserables on Monday - which I've wanted to see since I first heard Susan Boyle sing I Dreamed A Dream on Britain's Got Talent (I wonder how many other viewers were inspired to check it out?) I did see the Through The Barricade show in a local theatre a little while after, but Cameron Mackintosh's production at The Queens Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue took my breath away. Jean Valjean and Javert were incredible, whilst Lucie Jones (remember her from X-Factor?) and Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers acquitted themselves very well. It's so moving and powerful and while you may think the subject matter a little depressing, the comic relief in the shape of the Innkeepers is brilliant - honestly, the wife could easily be Kathy Burke in character as Waynetta Slob, she was hysterical. GO SEE IT!

Not just nights out either, on Tuesday morning I was attending the How To Do Your Self Assessment On-Line course (I never said it was all exciting stuff) before enjoying a very nice Nibble.101 at a local Chinese buffet - and collaring the teenager to take me there and back (which obviously cost me petrol. But it was nice to have some Tia Maria, I've missed it so ...)

The MumUltrapreneur radio show I was interviewed for was aired on Thursday afternoon and then it was onto the girls-night-in-although-we're-actually-out fun night of the Mums in Biz meeting in the evening. A couple of exciting opportunities arose there, which I'll be exploring further!

Finally, last night was the preview of an exhibition in our local art gallery - local artists creating pictures of each other, which took so many forms it was completely inspiring! Plasticine, film, paint, spam ... yes, spam!

I feel like I'm beginning to catch up - two blogs down, website and one blog to go!

Medway Fuse Festival 2009

The finale to this year's festival took place last night at Rochester Castle (which was actually the only night I could attend anything) and it was probably a mistake to take Matt!

From The Inky Deep, taking place in the moat (it's dry now, there's grass in it) promised "tightwire and aerial circus with dance and physical theatre, transporting you to a far-away world where dark fairy tales and mythical creatures will amaze and delight" which it kind of did, albeit just ten feet off the ground. The music was quite low key and it really wasn't something an eight year old could appreciate; very arty but we were expecting something a bit more lively on the acrobatic front. So he spent the last twenty minutes asking when the fireworks started. And cheered up a bit when I bought him a three colour, flashing lightsabre!

Then we made our way to the castle grounds proper to watch a man set light to a lot of artistically placed wood to the sound a mournful cellist. It said pyrotechnics, you see - again, we thought it'd be a little bit more lively than it was. Don't get me wrong, had I been on my own or with adults I'd have appreciated it a lot more. But having an eight year complaining he was tired/cold/bored took the edge off it.

It's important to support these events though - Medway Council, I feel, do a sterling job of keeping the arts alive in the towns, hopefully next year we can get along to a few things Matt will enjoy more.

‘Our Creative talent: building local voluntary and amateur arts participation.’

The plan of action was to hear a few opening speeches from representatives of interested bodies, followed by breakout sessions and finally, a panel discussion, where members of the audience had free reign to quiz the panel. Think ‘The Friday Night Project’, but less comfortable!

Mark Robinson, Executive Director of Arts Council England, North East, was very entertaining, as was Robin Simpson, Chief Exec of the Voluntary Arts Network, who incorporated a surprising twist on the Wizard of Oz to great effect. Feargal Sharkey (who some of you of a certain age may remember - he didn’t bring his perfect cousin with him) is now the Chief Executive of British Music Rights, an umbrella organisation representing the interests of composers, songwriters, music publishers and their collecting societies. He spoke with passion; it had to come from his good heart, since he had no speech, not expecting the full auditorium before him: “Music is inherent and built on spontaneity.” (Did you see what I did there?)

Amongst the speakers was supposed to be David Lammy, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Skills (Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills) – ie. the bloke in charge of adult learning; he was ‘called away on urgent parliamentary business’. He had, however, had the foresight to pre- record a speech! Maybe he did it there, on the hoof, maybe not.

To hear what they had to say click here.

Did you Know: Arts and Creative industries contribute to the economy more than many other areas altogether, almost as much as the Financial Service industries. Speculate to accumulate, eh, Mr Lammy?