"KEEPING UP WITH THE MUGGLETONS" : SATURDAY, 24 JANUARY 2009

Hello everyone....... It's January 24th and its 40 degrees here in Sydney today. I've always been considered hot stuff but this is ridiculous!! Since returning from London with my father we have had a fantastic time together. Tomorrow we leave for Queensland and a week of visiting very dear friends; we are trying to fit as many things in as possible now as Dad returns to London on the 15th February.

As he leaves, I start work immediately, going into a month-long rehearsal for The Man From Mukinupin which i am really looking forward too. I will be appearing in this production at Belvoir Street Theatre in Surry Hills, Sydney. I am very excited about working with Director, Wesley Enoch, and it will be my debut at Belvoir, after all these years. In fact, I was one of the few supporters who scraped together $1000 to help save the Theatre way back in the 1980s. So, I feel a great attachment to Belvoir. I play an English actress visiting Australia, and it is set in the 1900s. I get to perform the murder scene from Othello as Desdomona which i have never had an opportunity to do before! And I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to be working with Kerry Walker once again, what a joy! I last worked with her in Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit and she would have to be one of my favourite actresses.

As for me personally, I haven't had an alcoholic drink for two weeks, neither have I eaten red meat. I am just trying to give my liver a "fair go" in 2009. But I am feeling positively fit and dangerous. So watch out. Ever since I tried on my Chrissie Latham uniform again for the fans, whilst I was in the UK (mwah, Barry!) I realised how much weight i had put on, I still need to lose 5 kilos to be comfortable again, so wish me luck!

I am very excited about my good friend Val Lehman's 30th Anniversary Event next month. I hear that Gerard McGuire (Fletch The Letch) will be coming in from the USA. I cannot wait to see everyone again, including the beautiful Peta Toppano, the very adorable Fiona Spence and Denise Morgan, one of Prisoner's best writers! I am also hoping I will be able to see some of the faces whom I met on my recent UK trip, and of course a lot of new fans, as we all share a drink in the grounds of Wentworth!

You may also have heard, that myself and business partner Bernadette Eichner, have just opened Scene & Heard, an acting school in Sydney. Due to my difficult work commitments in 2009 the days that I am unable to teach will be filled by the likes of Julieanne Newbould, Anna Lee, Peta Toppano and the wonderful Director, Rodney Fisher (who has also taught for many years at NIDA). We are starting very small to begin, but out of small things, big things grow!

I have just spent a very fun afternoon with Brian, who does all the fabulous technical bits and bobs that become a website! We have made a little video message to you all, which once edited (to omit giggling) will be added to the site soon, so please keep coming back to www.amandamuggleton.com.au

My love to you all, I will blog again soon as I head into opening night of The Man From Mukinupin and perhaps post a photo or two... so in the meantime, I look forward to hearing from you all via email, Facebook, MySpace and my own official website.

LOVE AMANDA XXXX