343 and 344 October 27, 2008

343: West Wing Night: The much anticipated West Wing night was a lot of fun; still enchanting and I’ll admit slightly disarming to meet the good and the great of blogland (and of course fellow West Wing fans); meeting those of such inspiration when Carrie’s words have been those of stress and moaning misery, in the lovely surroundings of Casa smoothstones/ elephant is humbling to say the least…

But this was a night of easy friendship, gorgeous food and of course great TV… (Thanks to our gracious hosts and all at the West Wing)

344: Lily Todd and I had used West Wing night as a means of escaping reality for a night: we stayed at a hotel and stayed up much too late; but the catching up was cathartic, therapeautic and quite simply fun.

A glance at the glorious North coast while we ate lunch and people watched in The Nook; was only surpassed by a very lazy (for me, if not Lily) afternoon where we ‘customers’ at the Angels shoe shop, and an audience at their ‘Fashion show’.  The embraced chance of catching up with Strictly Come Dancing and the X Factor; a chinese take away and a ginger beer and it was time for home.

340, 341 and 342 October 25, 2008

340: Today I had a long anticipated absolute hissy fit: a Dramaqueen reaching into the higher echelons of humiliation : the pupils who bore witness to my moment of madness looked at me with a shock and concern difficult to put into words; but opening this valve on the ‘musical’ pressure cooker was long overdue and somehow massively cleansing.

341: Even though I would have a ‘teach the teacher’s day’ on Friday; this afternoon it felt like the end of half term: I embraced that feeling of freedom; had a take out dinner and a night on the settee purusing my Lonely Planet for Paris…

342: An inspirational trip to the theatre that allowed me to yet again fall a little in love with Belfast; remember the true privileges of my job and realise that in the world of all things Drama I still got a lot to learn…

339 October 21, 2008

An early post for me; instead of writing at bath running/ getting ready for bed time: I’m writing in those minutes during which I decide what to have for dinner and what of many work things I ABSOLUTELY have to do this evening.

A day to be grateful for: meeting an NHS audiologist who not only replaced my broken hearing aid with a much better one but made various helpful suggestions; listening to a song two pupils have recorded and being totally blown away (and feeling touched that they let me be part of their chosen audience), and giving DI a lift home that turned into a rare chance for conversation and then a coffee.

Coffee gave me the chance to once again see this particularly wonderful family dynamic in action: D managed to welcome the kids home, make me coffee, have R offer me tax advice, oversee an intense colouring in session, rescue a crayon from the mouth of her youngest, show me the jewellery she is making for a Christmas Craft fair, broker a UN peace negotiation/ custody battel over a disputed Baby Annabel and all the while keep up her side of a conversation.

Mothers never cease to amaze me….

What should have been a PS October 21, 2008

M and G have asked me to be Godmother for their perfect little bundle: I blubbered down the phone when M first asked; and then wept all over again when G took the phone to say thank you…

I humbled, honoured, touched.

A huge and wonderful responsibility: but where does a Godmother go to get her wand and wings; and the ability to turn a pumpkin into a carriage fit to take a will-be Princess to a ball…I’m going to try ebay….

337, 338 and 339 October 20, 2008

336: A lovely day; a lie in, a haircut, a cheap and cheerful new pair of boots and enough time to feel like I could enjoy getting ready. That my persistent resistance of a particularly drunk; and overly ‘affectionate’ friend of a friend at the bar of the Hilton (a charity event I was allowed myself to be persuaded to attend) was entertaining to the ‘audience’ watching will have to be the silver lining in an otherwise less than 365worthy evening.

337: Strange dreams (vodka induced) disturbed my sleep…but I had great conversation with S and P over coffee at the Pavillion  at Stormont (P INDULGENTLY joined the Members’ Club to enable this to be the surprise 30th birthday/engagement venue of choice) we got to talk diamonds and holidays; and more importantly how P’s parents had taken his life-altering news…

Sunday dinner at home is hard to beat; catching up with T and Mum was as therapeutic as always: that I managed to offend the latter is something I need to rectify.

338: The flat tyre/ late for work combination made a bad start to my Monday…Work Experience week began today: meaning that Year 12 are ‘pretending’ to be adults and that we were given almost all day for Joseph rehearsals: despite feeling like we got a lot done; I’m beginning to panic about the still to do…

But I’ve already begun a list of life laundry tonight: and if I get it ALL done; the world will be a rosier place in the morning…

334, 335 and 336 October 17, 2008

334: Queen of Disorganisation strikes back: returned from a rather woeful theatre trip (although it is always good to be out of the classroom with pupils) to find my car in a locked car park: our leading man was collecting his current leading lady and insisted on giving me a lift home. If this wasn’t humiliating enough: I then couldn’t find my door keys; had emptied my handbag: made an ill-timed, poorly executed quip about him discovering something of mine on the backseat and then found the keys in my pocket. Dignity and professionalism are things of the past.

335: An at school meeting where I was smothered in egos and testosterone was only balanced by a night of finding domestic harmony while perusing my Ipod and comfort eating Percy Pigs and M&S cheese.

336: Being quite fabulously reduced to tears by a Yr 12 Drama performance; and a ‘Let’s go for coffee1′ that turned into ‘Do you want to have a glass of wine?’ and finished with a cheese on toast, a little Josh Groban and plans for a weekend away: nothing beats a feelgood Friday.

332 and 333 October 14, 2008

332: Having a truly crappy rehearsal/ttotally unorganised/ highly gruesome work daymade better by a ‘I was wrong, you were wrong, you know I love you anyway’ phone call.Feeling proud of a tutee who has won a scholarship to America for a two week cross-community project (even though I’d nothing whatsoever to do with the award), the pleasure of escaping inside words….

333: The powers that be at school decided today was the day to wake up and read the calendar; and while JC and I have spent too many moments bemoaning our lack of actual, get up of your butt and do something support: the influx of a highly critical audience pre, post and during today’s rehearsal was hard to take.

But grace found me: through the Bangor Academy Old Guard: a frank, honest, we can do this conversation as I gave the wonderful DI a lift home (and the realisation that even at my craziest moments; I do not even begin to understand the stress sheet of the working mother) gaining much needed perspective, the promise of West Wing night (thanks Smoothstones) made all the sweeter by an LT escape plan; and taking the time to text apologies to two of the Old Guard who offered opinions and advice and got a diva response…

I now find myself in that quandry of having so much to do; that I’ve started various things and can’t finish any of them: or begin to prioritise…maybe putting the kettle on is the best place to start?

331: A PS: Decision made October 12, 2008

This is the episode (as yet previously denied my viewing pleasure) when Adam Carter becomes a Spook. Hail ye Rupert Penry Jones: decision made. Mr Big and Carrie B will wait but this is an issue of national security: if RPJ demands my attention he will have all that and more…

328, 329, 330 and 331 October 12, 2008

328: Dinner at home was a ‘mid’ week treat I allow traffic and school work to deny me. I got to let myself in; have coffee and do an hour’s marking before Mum came home to make a dinner so fabulous she sent me home with another portion and a recipe. I’d forgotten how calming home cooking and conversation can be.

329: A dinner with an ex-pupil. K was my first Drama star; a girl who taught me more than I taught her: a key member of my first and by far the craziest A-level class I’ve ever taught. She is taking off to Oz for a year and this was goodbye: dinner turned into too much wine (I’m scared to check how many times that phrase has appeared in the last 300 and so days) and an until dawn conversation. I was overwhelmed to see her; and love that she still makes the effort to allow me to be part of her life.

330: My hangovers get worse. I had a much- anticipated, although given that my hearing-aid wasn’t working and that time confusion meant I missed my hair appointment (my vanity is increasing with age)was less eager than I should have been; wedding /30th birthday party. I spent the day somewhere between sleep and wakefulness; and somewhere between my bathroom and the sofa. Managed the shower, but not the dressing and the make-up. I am a crappy friend who cancels way too many things because I’ve no sense of moderation: I didn’t deserve Dermot O’Leary for company last night but was grateful for his sunny, charming presence in my living room.

331: Did a little of the domesticity typically earmarked for Saturday; headed home for more home cooking but am feeling restless…an over hang of my hangover and the sense of a wasted weekend gnawing away at my sense of self. How can it be Sunday night? Can’t decide if I should watch an episode of Spooks on one of the endless repeat type channels or treat myself to the unearned and as yet unwatched pleasure of a second helping of Sex and the City: the movie.

326 and 327: a shorter list than usual October 8, 2008

326: A giggle filled moment in a busy school day: watching a true Mentor teach a class and telling a joke I always find delightfully funny( about speeches and mini-skirts: I’m a simple girl)… and was once again shocked as to how a ‘bad’ rehearsal can shake the very core of the collective confidence in the show.

327: Ten minutes of coffee, a mint kit-kat and conversation was true manna today

Feeling incredibly ridiculous that I could not in any circumstances find my focus to stand in for Jacob and rehearse with ‘Joseph’: this incredibly talented, incredibly tall and terrifically intense guy was staring down at me and I went to giggling pieces: but the laughter helped to calm yesterday’s fears.