Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime

15 – 20 March, 2010

Glamorous Kate O’Mara takes to the stage in Bill Kenwright’s presentation of one of Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated stories.  Her co-stars are Lee Mead, following his success in hit BBC show Any Dream Will Do as Lord Arthur Savile, Gary Wilmot, David Ross, Derren Nesbitt and Louisa Clein.

7:30pm (Thurs and Sat matinees at 2:30pm). Theatre Royal, Plymouth, www.theatreroyal.com

Oklahoma!

9 – 13 March, 2010

The Barnstaple Amateur Operatic Society perform the Rogers and Hammerstein romantic musical story of cowboy Curly and farm girl Laurey belting out classics like, Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’, Oklahoma and The Surry with the Fringe on Top.

7pm (Saturday matinee 2pm). Seats from £8. Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple. 01271 324242

Seedy Sunday in Embercombe

Sunday 14 March, 2010

Seed swapping, organic food, craft, entertainment in Embercombe, near Exeter, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm, free, 01647 252983 www.embercombe.co.uk

Markets, Mills, Quays & Kilns Guided Walk

Sunday 14 March, 2010

Informative walk with archaeologist Robert Waterhouse, Kingsbridge, 2:00 – 4:30 pm, www.southdevonaonb.org.uk

Flours and Flavours Bread-making Course

Sunday, 14 March 2010

Intermediate bread-making course with local artisan baker Emma Parkin, Occombe Farm Education Centre, Paignton, 9:30 am – 4 pm, £50, booking essential on 01803 606035, www.countryside-trust.org.uk

Water Saving Toilets

So even I think it’s odd that my first blog post for A Yank in The Village would be on the subject of toilets and their differences in the States and England because writing about toilets, how you use them, and anything humourous about toilets (what’s commonly referred to as toilet humour) just isn’t acceptable in the States.  But I can’t resist praising up the good design of the toilets here in England.

Almost everywhere I’ve been in the last six months of living here new-design toilets have been installed and I’m sure that loads of water has been saved in the process.  You may know the design that I’m talking about – the type with the two-level push-down flush button in the middle of the top of the tank.  You push on the bigger part of the button for the option of using more water to flush away solid waste and you push on the little button in the centre of the big button for the option of using less water for flushing liquid waste.  The little button acts like a limiter so that less water is used.  This is brilliant – quick and fast and I’ve discovered with the toilets in our apartment that I can use the little button for almost every flush as it is certainly powerful enough on its own to take away the solid waste. We are already saving water and our usage is less than the monthly amount estimated for an apartment of this size and number of occupants.  And the other nice thing about these toilets is the clean lines of the exterior design – very modern looking.

In the States the “new” toilets may be what they refer to as “low-flow” toilets but they still mostly have just one choice of flush type and they almost all have a push-down handle on the side of the front of the tank.  And the flush is like a big loud, short suction ROAR that can scare the pants off you if you’re not expecting the sound.  So I’m asking, why haven’t manufacturers in America adopted the smart design that is in use here in England?

Motown Liz

A Yank in The Village

Will they won’t they?  Great second half against PNE and a wonderful handbag fight in the Mayflower but will the mighty Pilgrims be playing Pompey next year?

Answers below…