Back to reality

Well, I'm back. And yes, I did have a 'philippin' wonderful time' (just rolled my eyes then realised the effect of that is lost in a blog). I thought I'd comprise a short list of things that I experienced for the first time ever. So I did and here they are...




1) I rode a banana boat

Note the expression on my face in this photo. Not particularly thrilled. Although once it started it was actually awesome! Would definitely recommend it. Unfortunately I couldn't see a thing due to the saltwater getting sprayed in my eyes the whole time... I wouldn't advise wearing contact lenses for this activity, it wasn't one of my finer moments.


2) I discovered my forte for sandcastle making

Now this beautiful creation was one of my finer moments...

Ok, so we ambushed the local children who had really made it and posed for the camera. Still, it looks pretty impressive!


3) I went snorkelling

Now, this was possibly the coolest thing I did the whole holiday. I'd never been before, and the second we were dropped into the coral reef area and I put my face in the water there were literally thousands of fish right in front of my face! (It scared the hell out of me actually, but I got used to it). It was amazing, everywhere you turned there were millions of brightly coloured fish of all shapes and sizes, dipping in and out of the coral. At one point I shouted to the others 'There are real Finding Nemo fish!' to which the boatman replied, in a bored, rather patronising tone 'Yes, they are called clown fish'. I knew that. We then all proceeded to search for Dory but figured she was lost somewhere on the other side of the ocean.

4) Life endangering situation 1: Nearly getting crushed by a coach

In the Philippines, tricycles are a common method of getting around (basically a motorbike with a sidecar attached to it, they're pretty cool to ride in). However, in the Philippines there are also no traffic regulations whatsoever. People drive where they want, when they want... no lane discipline, attention to traffic lights/signs, nothing. Which, as you can imagine, is pretty terrifying. On one occasion we were in a tricycle with a crazy driver who decided we would cut up a coach on the inside as it was turning a corner. Tiny tricycle, Huge coach. I squealed in terror and the driver swerved to safety and had the cheek to beep the coach!

5) Life endangering situation 2: Exploding car

My Uncle Jonathan has a brand new people carrier. One day, we were leaving the basement car park of a shopping mall when we realised the car couldn't quite make it up the steep slope to the exit (there were 9 of us in the car and a LOT of shopping). We tried doing a 'run up' but still no success. On the fourth try, there was a loud bang, the car started running back downhill and smoke was appearing out of the engine. We all jumped out the car and ran as fast as we could away from it... turns out something had caught fire under the bonnet! We caused such a scene, the security guys had the fire extinguishers out and there was a massive crowd around the entrance. Not to mention we had completely blocked the only exit to the car park so nobody else could get out. As a result I've developed a slight phobia of hills, every time I go up one in a car I hold my breath in case the car explodes...

All in all, it was an unforgettable holiday... it was really cool to see all my filipino relatives (some of whom I hadn't seen since I was 16!) and there were so many amazing things we saw and did that I haven't got time to mention on here. If you get the opportunity, go there!

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...