Tag Archives: food

Happy New Year!

So, here we are, it’s  almost New Year’s Eve as I write this on Thursday evening.

It’s been another odd year hasn’t it? Lockdowns, loss of people, loss of work.

Dad and Benjamin in Canada

New Year is always a time for reflection time for me anyway, my Dad died Dec 31, 2010, and I always feel his loss. This year it feels even more reflective.

So it’s back to New Year traditions to say farewell to the old and welcome the new. I’ve baked lots of tarts, jam and lemon curd. My Gran always cooked them for Christmas and New Year, and as a youngster I helped, cutting out the tarts, scooping the jam fillings. And making a jam turnover with the remaining pastry.

Tomorrow will be an evening at home with my Mum, a beer or two, nibbles…. some Pork Pie, Scotch Egg, Sausage Rolls, vol-au-vents… And this evening I’ve made Egg Nog for the first time, it’s now chilling ready to add to traditions tomorrow. I admit, my Brandy pouring hand may have been over zealous.

At midnight I’ll sing Auld Lang Syne, I’ll go out and come in again to First Foot, I’ll phone and message friends near and far, then to bed and 2022.

I’m hoping work continues next year as it ended in 2021. I ended up quite busy over the last couple of months. An episode of Doctors for BBC1, two episodes of an upcoming series, Compulsion, for Channel 5. And most recently I shot two episodes of Coronation St, airing mid-January on ITV.

To end the year tomorrow, you can hear me doing some radio. As I’ve mentioned before, I co-host the monthly Comedy Show on Write Radio on Sheffield Live. Tomorrow’s show is a year-end special, a murder mystery featuring all the hosts of Write Radio, put together by our amazing producer Andrew Tildesley. It’s fun, so listen in, either live, or catch up on the link later. Write Radio airs Friday afternoons, 1-3pm.

And remember, during January I will be taking part in the Run The Month Challenge for Prostate Cancer UK.

So my dears, I bid you all the very best for the coming year.
Be kind to yourself, spread the love, and stay safe and healthy during these dark days and testing times.
If you can find a test.

See you next year!
Dave X

 

Dad and friend Reg, New Year in Canada. 

Lockdown Log, Tiers, and Christmas…

Ey up!

I hope you’re all keeping well during these strange continuing times.

Last year I was in a play called The Sylvia Swing, a touching piece about loss and loneliness. Playwright Melanie Hopkins has adapted the stage version to be performed online, and it went live Friday night.

Take a look at the results below. A lovely piece – and feels apt for these times.

The Lockdown Log…

So, Lockdown 2 is over and we are now in Tier 3 (again) – or T3.2 as I think of it.

I spent Lockdown 1 doing a streaming chat show, Mockdown. The link takes you to a playlist of Mockdown episodes.

I passed the days of Lockdown 2 doing a daily log update with a max running time 2:20, so I could post to Twitter.

I’m keeping up with the Log now we’re in T3.2, hopefully through to Christmas at least. Link below is for the YouTube Playlist for the Nov/Dec videos… Take a look, I walk the dogs, eat breakfast, drink coffee and spend time at the computer…. Exciting times.

Stay safe – and call back again soon!

Dave X

 

I’m Live Streaming – MOCKDOWN! a new weekly show!

Hi folks!

Hope you are all keeping well and retaining sanity during these strange, strange times.

I was delighted to help friends set up the technical side for a couple of Live Streaming shows over the last few weeks, so taught myself to use StreamYard, an amazing bit of free Chrome-based goodness that allows you to broadcast to the world.
And so decided that I too wanted to add to the self-broadcasting scene.

I hosted a lot of radio when I lived in Canada, so I love the buzz of hosting a live show, though this is all very different, clicking on the computer to add guests, sources and images…. I could do with a studio crew.

The first show went live last Sunday… there’s a link to view it on YouTube below. But if you’d like to keep up to date and receive notifications and links to future shows, please follow my actor page on Facebook, ROWE DAVID McCLELLAND. The show will air Sundays at 8pm  on Facebook, and I will put them on YouTube after the event.

Here’s the show from the weekend… three lovely guests, Jo Swain – Sheffield actor, known for the Full Monty, now running Hello Velo, a super B&B/Bike hire place in the wilds of France, TV Director Neil Alderton in Manchester – if you love a TV soap, chances are he’ll have had a hand in it – and Phil Yarrow, a Northumbrian exile now living in That London. Actor, Puppeteer, Improviser and dad, with a passion for Theatre For Young Audiences.

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Many freelance artists are struggling during these Covid-19 days.
If you are able to donate a little to the EQUITY BENEVOLENT FUND, or any of the links mentioned in the show, please do.

Another streaming show you may enjoy is hosted by my lovely friend in Canada – actor, writer, director (and so much more) Charlie Rhindress.
The Charlie and Heather Show airs 8pm on Sundays in Canada (that’s midnight here in the UK), so if you’re a night person, please tune in, there’s a lovely mix of chat, stories and songs. I was a guest on the show May 31st/June 1st, so check it out on the show page or below….

 

And finally, I’ve taken some time to update my acting showreel…. Take a look…

Stay safe folks… and don’t trust the Tories….
D x

 

The Memory of Fat

New video uploaded today on my weight loss…. I have lost around 80lbs over the last two years, 60 of those in the last year.

To help me remember how good it is to have lost that weight, I still use my old belts on my jeans and trousers. With 14″ less waist to encircle, the spare belt reminds me how well I’ve done.

So if you spot something brown and leathery flopping from my trousers, you know what it is 😜

10 mores pounds to my next milestone…..

Dire Summer Telly… Let’s BBQ a flock of sheep…..

Summer TV viewing can be pretty poor at the best of times, but promo ads for 2015 summer ‘entertainment’ aren’t making me want to sit inside watching the telly….. (other than the ‘Summer Fate’ promo for  Emmerdale, but that’s another story..)

Flockstars – celebrities teamed up with a trained sheepdog to “compete in a series of sheepdog trials testing skill, technique and discipline in a bid to win the coveted Flockstars’ shield.” Coveted????? COVETED?????

flockstars
The Flockstars Photo from ITV.com

I admit to watching One Man and his Dog when I was a nipper, but this show leaves me uninspired. I expect they will have to introduce killing and cooking whatever the dogs round-up to keep viewers.

Which brings us neatly to B.B.Q. Champ – “A team of ten contenders from across the country will compete against each other to become the first BBQ Champ and while Myleene Klass hosts the series, Man vs Food star Adam Richman will judge, alongside British chef and restaurateur Mark Blatchford. ”

BBQ Champ hosts. Photo ITV.com
BBQ Champ hosts. Photo ITV.com

I love a BBQ myself… my ancient gas grill rusts happily in the garden awaiting it’s next outing, if the rain ever stops. But watching other people BBQ without the smells, camaraderie and a cold beer? Not for me I’m afraid. Perhaps it’s all a plan to make us turn off the TV and go outdoors.

I imagine this show will resort to Mylene Klass bikini shots like I’m a Celebrity to keep viewers interested.

Or here’s an idea….. maybe they’ll combine the shows and have bikini-clad celebs with sheepdogs catching food, which then they BBQ for Adam Richman to gorge on until he explodes.

Adam Richman eats Myleene Klass….

Now that’s worth watching! Crack open a beer and fire up the barby!