Is it really five years that you have all been kind enough to log on to this website and see how your humble blogger has been faring and what I'm up to generally and professionally?  Five years – gosh!  And it would be wrong of me to allow this anniversary to go past without reiterating my great thanks to Rob Cope who has mastered the intricacies of web design and maintenance at the same time as being endlessly patient when this old codger forgets to update him about my doings.  Part of the problem is that he is so competent and knowledgeable that I seem to expect him to know things by osmosis.

"I know it therefore Rob must know it too!"

Clearly this is asking a lot – but he is always very forgiving when he is the last to know something!

Today, as I write this, it's Mothers' Day and the sun is shining – Spring is nibbling away at the Buckinghamshire countryside outside my window.  I am grabbing a few minutes away from the chores at Baker Towers to share with you all a few words about what is going on in my life.

I have agreed to go on tour with a really exciting new play by Chris Paling called The Final Test. It is beautifully written piece about a man who is perhaps a little too fond of his crossword and the cricket to know what is actually going on a round him and has to deal with the consequences of that lack of attention to the people in his life. I mustn't tell you any more about the plot, as it would spoil your fun if (as I hope) you all come and see it while it is on tour this summer.  It opens in Lincoln on May 31st and tours for the next three months to venues all around England and Wales (alas no Scottish dates at the moment) You can check the venues elsewhere on this site.  The play is being toured by Ian Dickens International – the same producer for whom I did Woman in White last year.  Also in the cast will be Peter Amory and Karen Ford who were both also in Woman in White, which I am delighted to report will also probably be touring again later in the year to some of the theatres we didn't appear at in 2011.

Before that I shall be recording a few Big Finish audios in April, as I will not be available to record any for a few months after then.  As you know, I am always delighted to get back in to Moat Studios to revive the doings of 'Old Sixie', and his endless stream of excellent companions – one of the vintage ones will be returning imminently!  I shall also be recording an exciting and spooky audio drama for Moonscape Productions in the West Country soon.  It is called 'Abercorn House' and is written by Kirby Fraser.  I'm looking forward to going down there in a couple of weeks time to record it.

I've been enjoying a rare opportunity to attend a few games at Adams Park where my local team Wycombe Wanderers play their home matches.  I'm a season ticket holder but usually I'm on tour and we always work on Saturdays in the theatre, which are invariably two shows days, so I miss a lot of matches.  Mind you, my presence doesn't seem to have worked wonders as we're struggling at the bottom of League 1, though we are showing recent encouraging signs of a late come back and recovery. Fingers crossed.

Life at Baker Towers remains as hectic as ever.  Our Jack Russell puppy, Henry Herbert, is keeping us on our toes.  He is simultaneously the naughtiest and the most beguiling dog we have ever had.  His favourite trick is to grab something he thinks you might like/want/need and then leg it, stopping to waggle it at you as if to say 'Come on - chase me!'  He also has a slightly protruding lower jaw and a snaggle tooth which add to the raffish and comical air. The end result is we have fewer hairbrushes, pens, pencils, loo rolls than we should – but we're never bored.  And if we do get cross with him he just rolls over and presents his tummy for a tickle. I wish I could get away with that when people are cross with me.  Maybe I should try it.  On the other hand….