2023

 A great start to 2023.  I was fortunate enough to be cast in a major film about the life of Amy Winehouse.  Still to be released.  I played her Great-Aunt Renee.  Although a very small part, I loved every minute.   I was greatly helped by the kindness of the actor Eddie Marsen, who played Amy's father.

My 98th birthday in March was a specially happy day.  I took 4 special girl-friends to a lovely restaurant in Wimbledon village and it was a joy. Received an avalanche of gifts and  good wishes messages by phone, email and cards.  I feel very loved.

April I went on my annual visit to Israel.  A great joy to be with my family, my loving step-family and my many friends.  The last few days of my visit I had to cancel all my plans as I got Covid.  Luckily very lightly, and soon disappeared.  Came home in time for the Coronation.

In June I went on what will probably be my last trip.  I have always wanted to see Dresden after reading a book about it.  I found an organised trip with no flying--everywhere by train.  I took my wonderful carer, Ania, and my Polish friend Edyta.  We stayed overnight on the way in Bonn, where we were joined by my dear German friend, Annegret, and on the way home we stayed in Wuppertal. We had a glorious week in Dresden.  I am so glad I went.

In July I performed my one-woman show THAT'S ENERTAINTMENT at the Pheasantry in Chelsea.  It was sold out and a most wonderful audience.  My niece Leora came over from Canada to see it and my cousins Yariv and Billie from Israel. The audience laughed, they cried, they listened, they applauded and the standing ovation at the end was thrilling.  I have decided I will not do it again, so it will remain a precious memory.  Also in July I was on a zoom panel on the subject of Golda Meir, whom I played onstage for many years.  

During the long hot summer, I loved to sit in my roof garden.

The rest of the year I kept busy. I loved 2 shows with my darling friend Janie Dee appearing in them--one about John Gielgud directing Richard Burton in Hamlet and one with the songs of Steven Sondheim.

In September I appeared in a concert of the songs written by Kander and Webb singing songs from CABARET.

The end of the year is not happy.  My second home, my beloved Israel, is engaged in a horrific war I am terribly worried. The glorious view from my window of trees and grass and a lake landscaped in the 18th century by Capability Brown is under threat from an evil plan of the All England Tennis to chop down the trees, dig up the turf to build 38 tennis courts and an 8000 seat show court.  But the worst upset of all is the shocking sudden death of my wonderful cousin, Ann Rachlin--more close than a cousin, more like a sister, on November 20th.  A crushing loss for me.

But I am already planning to do something special next March, when all being well, I will have my 99th birthday.  Which means it will be 100 years since I was born and first saw the light of day!  I am a very very lucky old lady!!!