It's the end of term!!!

The fact that term has ended means 3 things. Firstly, it is nearly Easter, which meant that my very generous class bestowed upon me gifts of chocolate (6 massive eggs to be precise) and lots of other bits and pieces. Secondly, it means that Grease is finally OVER! It was actually pretty amazing, and the backstage team had a lot of fun. The props went on and off smoothly throughout, and endless parents and teachers came up to me commenting on how organised it all was and wondering how on earth we managed to get hold of such fantastic props... I did take rather a lot of credit, especially at the end of the last performance when I had to go onstage to receive my applause. The kids were brilliant too, and even though the scale of the production was huge this year the school managed to pull it off. We think the only way to better it would be to do 'Phantom of the Opera' next year...

Finally, the end of term means that I am going on holiday tomorrow! I am going to the Philippines, where it is currently 30 degrees celsius and sunny (although thats a slight lie... I think its the middle of the night there at the moment). Anyway, I have a 20 hour flight via Dubai to look forward to on my own, followed by a relaxing two weeks with family on the beach (see photo... its actual paradise there) and in the busy city of Manila. Seems a shame, just as I'm getting into this whole blogging thing I have to leave it for a while! Still, I'm over it.

Dubai for now! (Get it? Dubai... sounds a bit like goodbye... I really do crack myself up sometimes).

It's a miracle!

The weirdest thing happened last night. My little brother's one eyed hamster, Nibbles, died. That wasn't so weird, considering that hamsters only live for a couple of years and he is pretty obese (He hasn't really got much going for him, I'm not gonna lie). Anyway, he was all curled up in a corner of his cage, which never happens as he always sleeps in his house. I poke him, he falls over sideways and is quite clearly dead. My brother is hysterical and I go to get something to put him in. Ten minutes later, we look in the cage and Nibbles has turned himself the right way up! Still not moving, or showing much sign of life, but definitely in a different position. I was a bit freaked out by this point and so we left him for the night. This morning, went downstairs to find that Nibbles not only was waddling around, but had completely rebuilt his house overnight and moved all his food around! Now, I know what you're thinking... 'That hamster was quite clearly not dead'. But you're wrong, I know a dead animal when I see one. Maybe he's like the hamster equivalent of Jesus...

By the way, we lost the netball 18-8. Even if you're not a netball fan it's pretty easy to work out that that's not a good result.

And everything's coming together for Grease, thanks again to all who have helped since the last post. I probably should make a special mention here to my friend John, who went to great lengths to buy me Twinkies (see his blog for more on that, I can't be bothered to go into it). It's really quite a good test of friendship to see how far people will go to get things (John just about passed). The drama woman keeps making last minute demands though, like 'Ooh, we could do with a hat stand/polka dot bag/authentic American newspaper'. She seems to conveniently forget that I have a full time class, let alone any sort of life outside of Grease.

Bring on the Easter holidays.

Hurrah!

Only 15 days until I go on holiday. Unfortunately, between now and then I have to write 52 more reports, have a typhoid injection due to said holiday, be observed by the Head (not because I'm rubbish, just because I'm newly qualified), supervise the goings on behind Grease and play an extremely competitive Teachers VS. Parents netball game. Surprisingly, the thing I am dreading most is definitely the netball, probably because I have never been under so much pressure in my LIFE to score goals. The other teachers are competitive to the point of being scary, and are slowly realising the error of their ways putting me in goal attack. I can't shoot (the teacher in goal shooter position actually tuts at me every time I miss), my fitness is about equivelant to that of a 50 year old obese man and I have the stamina of a sausage roll.

However, admist all this gloom my day was brightened up somewhat my one of my eccentric children (a 60 year old in a 6 year old's body) saying to the cook at lunchtime:

'I'll have some of that John Lewis turkey please. I heard there was a problem with the batch on the farm a few weeks ago but apparently it's been sorted out now so it's not a calamity'.

It's an easy mistake to make.


PS. Grease update... all is going well although haven't ticked off what we have and haven't got yet, so will keep everyone posted. I can't believe how easy it's been to find all the stuff with people's help! Thanks very much...

Grease Update

Thanks to all those people who have helped so far, its amazing how many people know where to find such random stuff! Have managed to get hold of an air horn, pom poms, an american magazine (although need more) and a few other bits and pieces. However, in addition to what is still on the other list, I now need:

- Classic Coke bottles (the plain/green glass ones, I know I've seen them somewhere but can't think where...)
- A car jack!
- Comic book
- An old fashioned telephone
- 'View Master' with slide
- Canvas butterfly chair
- 3D glasses (Uni people can help with this, does anybody still have theirs from Newcastle?)

Any ideas...?! I originally thought I wouldn't be given much/if any money to find all this stuff, but turns out the school is quite happy to send me off with £100 (or more if I need it) to spend on things! So the world is our oyster.

I really should be getting paid more...

Oh, and can anybody tell me how to make this picture smaller on the right hand side? It's huge!

Greasemania!

I can't really be bothered to introduce my blog, so I won't. Whoever reads this will probably have been pestered by me to do so, in which case I don't think an introduction stating my name and life philosophy is really necessary.

Anyway, the subject of my very first post is... Grease! In short, I have somehow been persuaded to be in charge of props for our massive school production (the clean version of the play I should add, minus the pregnancy scare and with a few alterations to lyrics), and basically I need people's help- the list goes on for pages and I'm really quite stuck. So if anybody has:

• American magazines
• 45 rpm turntable with 4 records (what does that even mean?!)
• Police siren
• Air horn
• 2 green pom poms
• Portable 1950's radio
• Twinkies*

...or at least knows where I could find these things, please let me know. This list is only a small sample of the stuff I actually need, and as it gets closer and closer to the 28th/29th March (when the performances are) I may start knocking on people's doors, holding out the list and bursting into tears. So you have been warned! On the other hand, if you are able to supply me with said items, you shall be rewarded greatly.

I'm quite impressed, my blog has an aim and purpose and I haven't even had to say 'I don't really have anything worth mentioning to say' etc etc. Now if somebody could show me how to add a photo to my entry, that'd be great.**

* Does anybody know what these are?

** I stole the whole asterix thing from someone else's blog. I think it looks quite professional...