Days 221, 222, 223 and 224 June 26, 2008

Be grateful people of blogland that I’ve been ‘otherwise detained’: you have been spared yet another week of work driven moaning.

#221

The last Monday of term too busy to really enjoy that moment. Big Sis came over for chat and herbal tea (I stick to the coffee) was good to catch up but worry that relationship advice from me ‘the most single girl on the planet’ may lack clarity and direction.

#222

The ‘Welcome Yr 8′ evening at school: it was good to dress up in a suit and heels and be the ‘professional’: work has been about too many ‘other’ things recently. What actually made today though was S: he came to stay we had champagne and Chinese in our pjs and a conversation that reminded me how much I love him.

Didn’t sleep a wink though!

#223

I don’t dare ask what S did in the bathroom for 45minutes but HATE, HATE, HATE being late: I had time to break a wine glass and a cup, clear up the mess: cook and eat breakfast and still he was semi-naked and singing from my bedroom: made me grateful for my single living status.

This was a very hard earned half day from school; but I had my ‘at school gym’ induction: I had a long list of things to do, but after the exercise and lack of sleep: I hit the sofa and awoke sore and annoyed two hours later; bang went my productive evening. I’m hoping the shut eye served me better than the productivity.

#224

Today’s theatre trip to Blood Brothers was incredibly shambolic: in total fairness to the teacher involved organising 87 pupils is huge: but it is within reach. We all looked ridiculous today: that we all made it to the Opera House and back with all 87 still intact is something of a miracle.

But the production itself never fails to move me: the humour of the characterisation; the talent of the cast; those horrifying shots and the ‘Tell Me, It’s not True’ finale that is heartbreaking every time: I was sobbing as I came to my feet for the standing ovation. Even the most jaded of pupils are touched in some way.

Go see it!

 

Day 217, 218, 219 and 220 (where did this week go?) June 22, 2008

#217

Thursday: went to dinner with my sister, was good to catch up with the passing pages of her new romance and good to spend the night chatting with our favourite SATC episodes playing in the background. We both need to find the time to do this more.

#218

A work bbq at a beautiful location: a farm place nestled between Slieve Croob and Slieve Donard: on the sort of deck with a pot bellied stove that creates an alfresco atmosphere totally perfect for the Northern Ireland climate. Was good to meet with people I don’t normally spend a lot of time with in work…was good to be sober and and observant rather than the one feeling like she is being observed…

#219

A shopping/ lunch trip to Belfast were I spent too much money in House of Fraser: was totally overwhelmed by just how great our little city has become. A rainsoaked coffee in Cafe Nero with fabulous biscotti and making the right decision to stay at home for the night rather than brave the rain once more.

Mum and I finally overcame our indecisiveness and booked four days in Paris at Hallowe’en: tres bien!

And late last night just as I was pouring a glass of wine I stumbled across Gone with the Wind: movie magic.

#220

The arrival of a second daughter for a close family friend. The satisfaction of FINALLY cleaning my house/ doing my ironing/ being as close as I ever come to actual domesticity. And now I wait for Mum to take me to dinner…tough being me!

Days 215 & 216 June 18, 2008

#215

Woe is me. I dragged my ass out of bed; still not feeling great but not really sick enough for another day of channel surfing; only to find that Yarri (my car) would not start. Now I’m not a girl blessed with mechanical luck…as my insurance company will verify.

A taxi cab and rush against the bell and I made it to school on time.

I rang Uncle Jim at 1.45pm, but 3pm he was in Donaghadee and wondering where I was (such is the service he offers his second niece). Turns out I didn’t properly shut my boot, therefore the interior light was on and I flattened the battery. Uncle Jim’s mechanical understudy: charged Yarri’s battery from the Range Rover (a sight to see) and I washed dished and boiled the kettle while my mechanical maestros took the car for a spin. I could feel my ears burning…

The trek around the Peninsula later that afternoon to ‘boost the battery’ was a frustrating one: long gone are the days I enjoyed driving for the sake of it…

But blessed by Uncle Jim and his instant response to my SOS: that I remain the family driving joke is a punchline of my own making.

#216

Sports day at school: I escaped the rigours of long jump raking due to a meeting for the musical: it was productive and we’re starting to feel like a group who with a little effort could achieve something: whether that actually amounts to a school musical only time will tell.

My 365 moment alludes me: I may have to eat a Magnum before bedtime and make do with that…

Day 214 June 16, 2008

An at home sick day: not good. I would say I awoke but that suggests actual sleep (I really have to do something about my insomnia) and the infection that either makes me feel dehydrated or just gives me a very sore throat has not disappeared even though I asked it to very nicely…

I got a little shut eye and watched too much daytime TV (let’s hope for a summer not filled with days like this one) but a highlight was getting myself together to go to the post office and get a take out cappuccino on the way back: a simple pleasure.

(I want to point out that I make the connectin between my caffeine laden pleasure and the insomnia: but I’m an addict: I ask for your understanding not your judgement.)

Also (cue: self promotion ALERT) taking the time to write a ‘real’ Carrie blog was good; or at the very least may stop unfinished paragraphs from further addleding my feverish mind.

Day 213 June 15, 2008

I have in my mind an idealised Sunday: I would awake late enough to have had a line and yet not so late to have to feel bad about it. I would then walk in the Donaghadee sunshine to buy crossiants, pain au chocolat and The Sunday Times to return to my wrinkle free sheets and spend the day absorbing culture and liberal politics…

It has never happened. Today I did buy The Sunday Times but not until late afternoon, and the Co-op were all out of delicacies of a french patisserie nature. I did make coffee and manage to read two articles in the Culture section before the restlessness that kept me awake have the night returned to my afternoon.

I’d had a great weekend but today was one of those days when I felt very single, Big Sis was out, Mum at a church function and I don’t like to disturb the sacred moments that Sunday’s represent to families and couples…I didn’t clean the house… I didn’t do the overdue school work and didn’t do any of the writing/ catching up I so could have done…so instead I feel I’ve wasted my day…

 

Days 209 – 212 June 14, 2008

Technical hitches have got in the way of my doing my blog homework but I’m back…

#209

A dinner at home; Mum had gone out of her way to make one of my favourite dinners; we had a quick shopping trip I helped her pick nail polish and we bought chocolate cream cakes for desert. Simple pleasures that I too often take for granted and but have conspicuous by their absense of late: was great to embrace them again.

#210

A through the week night out/ wine on a Thursday night/ fabulous food at Grace Neil’sand even better company: a celebration of freedom (from marking exam papers) and a chance to catch-up: may my summer be filled with nights like this one.

#211

Lily Todd’s birthday party: a night filled with moments of magic: a few highlights:

• Finally meeting the great and the good from blogland: Elliecooke, Lambypie, Smallcorner and Soapbox: an undeniable pleasure.
• Lily’s dancing (and that of the very sexy “Carrick Mummies”; the opportunity to ‘cat walk dance’ down the length of the room and in Lambypie’s case right out the door.
• A moment when Lily and Vox were dancing and whispering into each other’s ears: was too initmate to watch.
• The winning combination of chocolate birthday cake and red wine
• The walk ‘home’ that allowed me a glimpse into luxurious Ten Square and a heartfelt birthday gift that I opened by the hotel fire.

I’m blessed by having Lily and Vox in my life: last night was I hope all they both wanted it to be; because no one deserves happiness as much as they do.

#212

Linda has forever offered her Belfast abode to lay my weary and drunken head and last night I took her up on the offer: was strange to be pottering around someone’s house when that someone is not there.

I decided to take myself and my birthday money on an overdue virgin visit to IKEA. Words fail me: it is immense although I did feel terribly bad that my ’space’ lacked such innovation.

Bought lots of pictures and frames, throws for my fast fading chairs and a fabulous somethting or other that will allow me to ‘put my feet up’ in my tiny outdoor space. It has been a long time since I bought something in celebration of the apartment I get to call home…it is looking better already.

I also came home to yet another splendid birthday present: this time all the way from Melbourne: a ridiculously large array of fabulous make-up: I was like a little child with a new box of colouring pencils. I am unbelievably spoilt!

 

Day 208 June 10, 2008

A frustrating day that after yesterday’s productivity somehow has achieved little.

I spent time on the phone with Mum doing the moaning I’d congratulated myself on avoiding earlier in the week; but it was great to catch up and made all the more poignant as tomorrow night I’m allowing myself the rare mid-week luxury of heading home for dinner (Mum is going to help me complete my exam paperwork: how spoiled am I?).

Another highlight a little texting and FACEBOOKing with the lovely Lily Todd; she indulged my need for procrastination…

I’m now exasperated by my slow or absent mobile connection; having been texted by an ‘old friend’ I’m eager to indulge in nostalgic and flirtatious banter but I’m denied by a network unwilling to indulge my need for quick wit.

Days 205- 207 June 9, 2008

#205: The Birthday Dinner

I should learn to follow my instincts: all the reasons why I didn’t want a ‘birthday party’ raised their heads on Saturday night. Not everyone could make it, I felt that the timing and location weren’t quite what I was looking for, breaking the zip on my top meant I had to revert to the slutty red dress that displayed just enough cleavage to create that classy ‘hooker’ look.

I’m an annoying drunk: giggly, silly and bitchier than usual…not good.

But was overwhelmed by the people who made the effort to be there.

#206

And today proved it: a whole year older but no wiser at all. The draining of the final southern comfort probably accounted for the hangover that couldn’t decide to take hold but refused to let me commit to achieving anything today…my moment is that I managed not to actually vomit and dissuaded myself from making a moaning phone call to Mum that would have been all about the hangover and lack of sleep.

#207

Still HUNGOVER…not that I deserve sympathy. Got a lot done marking wise today and had a meeting about the musical that meant I got to giggle at Donny Osmond as Joseph. Also got to flirt with a guy on the phone who promised to take me to dinner when he comes to Belfast in search of ‘a girl with a sexy accent like yours’. That I will NEVER actually meeting and the fact was selling something and therefore flirts professionally mattered little. I enjoyed the practice!

Day 204 June 7, 2008

A good Friday, filled with Stephen and I going to the “End of Year” show of a local stage show: its good for me to expose myself to other performances and great to see ‘our’ kids (that is our pupils as opposed to children that biologically belong to Stephen and myself…) celebrate their talent.

Had a scary work moment: yet another timetable discussion prompted the realisation that I may be left with a mere two periods of English teaching come the next academic year. Should I resign my post as Teacher in Charge of Drama and get back to my English teaching roots or should I ’step up to the mike’; stop making excuses for myself (my 2:1 in English and Politics from QUB is useful for many things; three terms at RADA would have equipped me better for what I’m trying to do now…)? Do I pursue the career I wanted forever and ever or follow the path and the boards I’ve found myself treading? It is professional/ literary snobbery to realise that as an English teacher I’m given credence and as a Drama teacher I’m a punchline; and therefore vanity to realise I need the credence?

These questions and many others were driving me crazy but Stephen was my knight in shining armour; our casual chip shop dinner, ice cream and our fighting for mirror space lifted my mood…for now I look forward to a birthday dinner and lots of wine, and find myself too busy demanding the resignation of Iris Robinson to worry about my own.

Day 203: A birthday June 5, 2008

I turned 29 today which meant today was all about warding off those birthday blues: I was totally SPOILED by presents from the girls in work; and got to eat birthday cake and have an excuse for consuming cups and cups of coffee.

Was back to the marking when I returned home; but the mindlessness was punctuated by ‘happy birthdays’ appearing on my FACEBOOK; and by birthday party planning texts: impossible to feel blue when my night was filled with such friends and generosity.