I had a bloody fabulous day today. I spent a silly amount of money. I will not eat for a week as a result(HAHA yeah right). I bought gold heels and black buckled boots and a Lady cuddly toy because I LOVE Lady and the Tramp so much, and my bed needed a cuddly toy. They didn't have a Figaro toy. I was sad. Then I spotted Lady, and the till guy was like "Who's it for?" with this knowing smirk on his face, and I grinned, "ME." It was wunnerful.

Got another collar, this time with spikes around one and a half inches long, maybe two. Unsure. The shop that sold it was fronted by this crazy woman who refused to acknowledge my friend, because said friend is "mainstream". This crazy woman seemed to like me, probably because I was wearing a corset top, black jeans and boots. She openly proclaimed that she hated "mainstream shit". I desperately hope she was referring to the clothes, not the people who wore them. I understand very well the problem "alternative" people have in finding clothes that they like in high street shops, but I don't agree with hating "mainstream" clothes. I wouldn't like it if a "mainstream" person hated the clothes I wore, so I don't hate their clothes as a matter of common courtesy. Freedom of choice is what it's all about, people. (Yeah, I realise I am a giant hypocrite for despising tracksuit-wearing chavs, but it's more about their attitude, not their clothing.)

So anyway, this shop had an amazing and very angry sign on the till. I can only remember bits of it:

We are NOT a "Goth" shop. The Goths were East Germanic tribes. We sell alternative clothing. We do not sell pointy fucking "Asterix" hats."

I suspect that woman wrote it. She seemed pretty peeved the whole time. But she was helpful in picking out a collar that wouldn't make me look stupid or swamped by the length of the spikes. I was looking at one with HUGE spikes, but she tactfully pointed out that they suit tall people. I am pretty short.

I ALSO got two sweet little necklaces, one with a teacup and spoon on, the other with a clock on. They reminded me of Alice in Wonderland, I couldn't NOT have them.

Anyway, the first of two performances of the shortened Shakespeare plays went ahead tonight...and the audience reaction was PERFECT. Everything went so well, everyone's hard work paid off, and it was a brilliant night. People DID notice me pacing around in the interval, giving my actors last-minute instructions, since Hamlet premiered, as it were, right after the interval. Then one of them asked me if I was feeling stressed. Did it show? Apparently so! I had nothing to worry about, however - they were brilliant, were my actors and actress.

THEN, when I was leaving, I heard a couple of people behind me enthusiastically discussing the evening. I then heard, "'Hamlet' was the best one!"

I dropped back.

"Did you enjoy the evening?" I asked.

"Yes we did," they replied. "...Were you in any of them?" they asked, unsure if they recognised me or not.

"Oh no," I cheerfully countered, "I directed one of them." (Selfless indulgence coming right up, readers.)

"Ooh, which one?" they queried.

"Hamlet" I rejoined merrily.

"Wow, really? It was fantastic!" they exclaimed. I was very happy. I thanked them a lot. I discussed how it felt to see my play entertaining people, comparing it jokingly to "a small child I have lovingly nutured". They were lovely. I was happy. I still am.

Second performance tomorrow - wait, tonight, and my friends are coming to see this one. Can't wait. I haven't stopped buzzing about it for ages, so they will FINALLY get to see what I have been writing, ranting, stressing and expostulating about.

Exciting stuff!