Under the weather–perfect English euphemism for the annoying cold that isn’t exactly ‘flu that has confined me to bed, for almost a week now.
Meredith and Pippa have been exemplary carers though–(Meredith up and down stairs with trays and tinctures and Pippa lying there on the bed, willing me better)
Pippa(r) with two student carers.
–and it has given me some reading time.
David Weston’s book “Covering McKellen” arrived the day I was struck down.
It relates, in the form of a diary, the troubled but entertaining backstage story of the 2007 Royal Shakespeare Company’s World Tour of Shakespeare’s King Lear–starring Ian McKellen.
David Weston understudied Sir Ian and played the supporting role of “Gentleman” in the production.
He prefers to call the job “covering”–hence the title.
I was in the National Youth Theatre with David in 1960 and The Actors’ Company between 1972 and 1974 with Ian–hence my interest.
The book has proved therapeutic and enjoyable.
It has also reminded me of the danger understudies can pose to a principal–they might be rather good!
Lunch yesterday, for instance, was grilled lamb chops and asparagus–provided by my understudy/cover.
Perfectly cooked–nicely pink without being bloody, seasoned to a “T”with salt and black pepper and with a hint of olive oil, garlic and rosemary from the short marinading–I ate them with relish, not quite understanding the faint feeling of unease I was experiencing with each bite.
Then I remembered David’s book and resolved to get better–asap!
Robin Ellis 
How sweet your kitties look asleep! Hope you are better soon!
Hi Robin,
Glad your on the mend; and everyone can use a sous chef.
Sheila
thanks Sheila. Good sous chefs are not ten-a-penny!
So glad to hear you are well enough to write and eat and enjoy a book about your friends/colleagues. Sounds like your next cookbook may be a joint venture . . .!
Greeting Robin and friends, I have been suffering from the same sort of malaise that you describe this week. I did finally go to the Dr. and did find a bit of medicine to speed its on its way. My great chuckle, your three cats lying there near you as you recovered. Mine do the same thing, so it really connected us all in our human condition. By the way, my great read discovery was this blog. I read it with great joy and interest during this week of feeling less than grand and after viewing your wonderful recipes, I, too, vowed to get better.
In the kitchen just now, a large tray of onions, sweet potatoes, carrots, asparagus, tossed in olive oil, tarragon, a dash of balsamic, roasting away in the oven. The house smells heavenly aromatic. Get well soon, and thank you for your blog, and thank you for Poldark. Judy in America
Sounds and I bet smells delicious. I wish you better too…
What an adorable picture and a funny story. Get well soon!
Hello dear Robin, Hope you get better soon.It’s good to have the cats on the bed.Puske-Puske is always by me on the pillow in bed.We have bad weather here in Belgium it’s raining already for about 2 weeks now.For the rest it’s still hectic.Enjoy your rest and sleep, big hughs Chantal xxx.
Greetings Robin, I was sorry to hear your under the weather. I am especially sympathetic, since I too, have just spent such a week, confined to home and hearth with the same ailment. I love the three cats maintaining vigil, and had to smile, as mine did much the same thing. They make good companions when one is not feeling quite up to par.
I further enjoyed your story about the book and the enjoyment of reading an old friends work. While I rested, I too, found an old friend that greatly cheered me up and encouraged me to get well, and back in the kitchen. Yes, I was and am one of the millions who adored you in Poldark, and happily discovered your blog this week, much to my delight.
In the oven roasting, are sweet potatoes, onions, carrots, and asparagus. All tossed in olive oil, a dash of balsamic, some tarragon and garlic, and perhaps some good parmeson near the end to finish it off. It smells heavenly in here. Get well soon, your kitchen is calling.
Feel better very soon, Robin. It sounds as though you are being treated with the best medicine: good food, cute kitties & love!
Thanks Rachel.
Is there anything cuter than a cat asleep. Mine is right now on her favorite spot on my bed. I hope you feel better soon, don’t forget the Chicken soup. I too enjoy reading your blog. I just received my copy of your book. I have Type 2 also. What a pain. However, it is what it is. Every time your blog appears I think of Poldark and smile. You were great in that, an English “Gone With the Wind”. Virginia in Delaware
Thanks Virginia–I hope you find things in the book that are helpful.
I do hope you get better soon, and it sounds like you have a great carer. The four legged ones are so cute. I found your comments interesting about the role of the understudy from the point of view of the lead. I really should read a book about acting from the actors’ viewpoint. Meanwhile, enjoy the care, and I’m sure you won’t be replaced soon.
Cats take their rest! We should be like them….
Best wishes from Caroline
I LOVE the photo!! Togetherness. 🙂 Hope you are feeling better soon.
Robin, were you ever an understudy? Do tell!
In the Actors’ Company I understudied Edward Petherbridge in one piece. I found it hard to learn the lines! I never had to go on.
Hope you are feeling better Robin!!
So sorry your under the weather……Hope it’s a normal cold and not allergies, herer in the states, it’s been a bad, bad spring. Tea with lemon is good. Skip the hony. Clear “real” chicken broth does help clear up the nasty mucus. Wishes for you to be up and around. Take care
Glad to hear that you are feeling better,your carers are looking after you well,feeding you up, and keeping you company. Get well soon.
I hope you will be feeling better soon Robin–big hugs! 🙂
Speedy recovery, Robin! I have found cats to be quite sympa when youre not feeling 100%..They know.
Since I havent found the correct place to enter a general comment to you on your site, let me slip it in here…
When Poldark was playing in the US, I was transfixed! I LOVED it! I have 5 children, and my #4, a sweet girl of about 6-7 at the time always seemed to pick the time the program came on to come show me something, talk to me, tell me something. With a large brood, you wonder what is actually on her mind and dont want to shoo her away every time. I managed to get her to shut up and sit with me most of the time, but it sure did cut into my Poldark Hour!
Well she is a grown woman now, and it turns out that she thought Poldark was the most boring awful thing I could be watching and she sought only to help me by keeping me company and giving me something else to do.
We laugh about it these days, but she was so close to a bag over her head!
I am hoping to rope her in yet..
He who laughs last laughs best!
I’ve seen Edward Petherbridge in some tv pieces, and in the theatre. I especially remember him from Nicholas Nickleby. I’m glad that at least you understudied another good actor. 🙂 Get well wishes.
Dear Robin,
Love the cats! When I am ill with a cold i have 2 cats, a griffon and an assortment of children in any given combination covering my bed! All I need is a quiet moment to read a book and someone to take over my job as head cook !
Get well soon,best wishes,Lisa(Australia)
Hope you get well soon! Lambchops always make me feel better!
You are just THE BEST….. great photo!!! Healing beings with you and great cover. ;))) Give her my love… and my favorite meal: lamb chops with asparagus. Off to Greece to see my son. HUgs, Jill
Robin, I’m sorry to hear you have not been feeling good. I could tell you how to avoid ever catching another cold or flu, but you would probably ignore my advice as do my family and friends. Oh, well. Your kittens certainly look cozy. Cats and dogs really know how to enjoy life. Get well soon!
Many good wishes for a speedy recovery, Robin. Your understudy is a very talented photographer as well. I always love the photographs along with your blog!
Your orange tabbies look like yin & yang–so sweet! I thought you were feeling better yesterday, though? Bummer. You’re not just pulling the ol’ “Ohhhh, I’m SO sick! (groan)” that husbands do just so Meredith will wait on you hand & foot, now, are you?? That’s what Gene does to me, haha!
PS: So what 3 or 4 books would you take with you to a deserted island? And what albums, since you’ve had us talking a lot about music, lately? (Just a mini-interview you might consider doing while you’re bored…)
Cheers & hugs! Feel better!
I hope you’ll soon be well again but with the support around you I have no concerns.
On Wednesday evening I could have really used this emotional support by watching CL semi final. It costed me all my nerves and my voice.
Maybe there’s a chance to borrow Pippa and her student carers for the final ?
Thanks for interesting new about the book of your collegue; I wrote many things of your career at theater on your book Making Poldark and enjoyed with the pics. Very sorry for your flu, but your are in “un pisello nel baccello”…that is to say, you have the best for a good recover: Meredith and yours lovely cats! Take care, stay better soon! Bea
Get well soon!! You are in good hands. I like the photos on your blog–very clear images.
Being under the weather isn’t fun for anyone, so first I wish you well and and wanted to share with you and Meredith, my recipe for Greek Soup that my family swears by when I have made it for them when they weren’t feeling so well.
Two chicken breasts thinly sliced to make four
1/4 to a 1/2 cup of Rice
4 to 6 cups of chicken broth
Juice of 3 lemons
3 to 4 Tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups water(enough to cover chicken)
A sprinkle or two of Garlic Powder
Some Greek Oregano for garnish(Optional)
Season chicken with the garlic powder, then sear it in the olive oil for a moment or two on each side.
Add the water, bring to a boil, cover the kettle, then turn the heat to low and cook until the chicken is done and tender and the water has cooked down considerably. (about 20 to 25 minutes).
Remove the chicken from kettle and cut into bite sized pieces.
Return the chicken to the kettle, along with Chicken broth, and Rice and stirring occasionally, cook on medium heat until the Rice is done.
Stir in Lemon juice and cook for about 3 minutes more.
Then garnish(or not) and serve.
Enjoy!
Thanks Paula-Kate–looks simple, healthy and tasty, I shall try it next week.
Glad you have time to rest & recover. Of all the cats we’ve had, our current one-eyed Molly has the dubious skill of knowing who is allergic or not keen on cats, and she sidles up close to them. I love her dearly, but it’s good that she’s not here while I’m recovering from knee surgery–she would be purring with delight as she lay across my incision. 🙂 My recovery reading material?–Making Poldark. Delightful. And as for your understudy, she should be good–she’s working with the best! Wish lamb was more affordable here–it was over $90 for a lamb shank at Easter time. Can’t wait to get back to New Zealand–cuz I can smell that lamb from here. Rest, fluids, and good company–you ought to be on your feet in no time.
Hope you feel better soon. It is remarkable how our kitties know when we’re under the weather.
I’ll have to go back to Amazon to order this book! I saw that particular production of “King Lear.” Read my program during Sir Ian’s unnecessary nude scene!
Robin, did you know my old pal, the actor George Innes? He started his career as an understudy to Frank Finlay’s Iago in the famous Olivier production.
I didn’t know him but I always thought he was a fine and original actor.
Original is the word, lol!