Ruby Grimshaw invites TV cameras into her home

I had thought that the first public use of my beautiful new loft space would be a yoga or meditation class with a few friends, but it was much more exciting than that. It was filmed!

I had offered to be interviewed by Lynn Ruth Miller, a rather crazy elderly (even older than me) lady comedian. She was from San Francisco. Naturally. Where else could she be from? Normal ladies in their seventies might join health clubs or even try golf or gentle jogging, but a stand up comedian? I’d rather join the street cleaners in Brighton town centre on a Sunday morning.

Anyway, Latest TV is aiming to win the race to become Channel 6 and LLTV–Latest Local Television–is making a pilot programme for this new TV channel from Brighton. The idea behind the small bit I was to be in was about was making the most of life and attempting new things as one gets older. I suggested bringing in my friend G who had just celebrated her 80th and is a whiz at Pilates. She is easily top of her weekly class in Patcham.

The TV crew were delighted with my light, airy loft space and quickly began G’s bit of filming. It was a bit earnest at first because it takes a long time and several classes to understand the principles of this type of exercise. At last a frustrated G remembered an idea to help women who find it difficult to locate their pelvic floors (Lynn assured us with a smirk that she had lost contact with hers years ago) G explained that sucking your thumb can sometimes help to pull in this forgotten muscle. Needless to say our lady from California found this hilarious and the whole morning was spent with breaks for thumb sucking. Meanwhile I was more worried about my beautiful new thick-pile cream carpet having coffee or tea spilt on it. Also poor W, one of the camera team, looked very unhappy. His eyes were starting to run and he was having trouble breathing. It was a reaction to Bella my cat, even though she is not allowed in the loft. His troubles increased when we went downstairs for my interview, and we had to open the windows for the poor chap before he passed out altogether.

I am assured the take was very good and I look forward to seeing it. G said she will never use thumb sucking again to teach pelvic floor exercises.