Stomp!

Wow, I'm really on a roll with the whole blog thing this week!

I went to see Stomp today (as an aside, I did get lost looking for the theatre, BUT I also found myself stumbling across the infamous Cybercandy a.k.a. Twinkie store! So we were lost but had Hersheys Kisses to keep our strength up). When we eventually reached the theatre, we found that we had really good seats (considering they were very cheap- front row, upper circle). And the show was AMAZING. I tend to fall in love with every show I go to see, but it really was incredible. The performers didn't say a word throughout the show, but somehow they managed to make it hilarious, just through the routines and the expressions on their faces! They made instruments out of dustbin lids, plungers, brooms, matchboxes, newspapers, and even kitchen sinks tied round their necks... very impressive.

Unfortunately I have a rather bad cough at the moment, and it always seemed to be during the rare, very quiet moments that I would explode in a fit of coughing after trying to hold it in. I spent most of the perfomance thinking 'I hate people like me' so goodness knows what the poor people around me were feeling. Especially when I never felt as much as a tickle during the deafening crashing of dustbins or stamping of feet... law of sod, that.

Another thing ticked off on my list of things to do before I'm 30...

Ok, so I haven't actually made a list. But if I did have a list, then riding to Brighton in a stretch limo/hummer would definitely be on there! This bank holiday a friend from work turned 30, and 14 of us planned a surprise limo journey to Brighton for the weekend. We told her we were going in a minibus, and to be honest she was a bit slow on the uptake. When it arrived she said (with a rather confused expression on her face) 'That's a big minibus!' Then, a few minutes later 'It looks more like a limo!' She was still referring to it as a minibus even when the chauffeur opened the door for us and we climbed in...

Anyway, I'd never been in a limo before, and I wasn't disappointed. There were two large screens for watching films, comfy leather seats and an awesome music system! However on the way home on Monday most of us slept the whole way, which feels like a bit of a waste. The next thing to do on my imaginary list is to ride an elephant...

Yesterday, I managed to get lost in London for about the millionth time. Every time I go into London (which is quite regularly!) I end up ringing someone asking for directions. On this particular occasion I was meeting up with two of the girls from uni, and we had a lovely time. Unfortunately we chatted so much on the tube that we subconsciously got off the train, up the stairs, through the barrier and out onto the street before realising that none of us had any idea which station we had got off at! Unbelievable. Then we got lost trying to find Primark, we walked and walked (counting 4 underground stations on the way) before discovering we were going in the wrong direction. And it was raining. We eventually gave in and got the central line just in time for rush hour (people that read John's blog will know just how horrible that experience is...) I really think I've got my comeuppance for the Twinkie incident!

Tomorrow I'm going to London again to see Stomp! Am very excited, it's had really good reviews and I'm looking forward to seeing how the musicians can make music out of household objects. Not so much looking forward to trying to find the theatre, especially as I'm going with my friend Meg, who is more clueless than me. Making me the responsible one by default. In the past year I've managed to get lost finding theatres for The Lion King, Chicago, Les Mis and Evita.

There's no hope...

Just a quickie...

Here are a few photos from Grease:

Guess the importance of the photo on the bottom left. Yes, that's right... Jan is eating a Twinkie. (You really could tell in the audience, the photo just isn't that clear).

And you've got to admit, the cars are pretty cool.

Knightmare...

Apologies for lack of posting lately, I really haven't had anything interesting to say... but then today I found something worth blogging about. I discovered YouTube.

Now, I know I'm really behind with the times and that I'm probably preaching to the converted, so I won't dwell on that fact alone. No, what really made the discovery amazing was being able to watch old clips from Knightmare! From my childhood I remember it being the most technologically advanced, terrifying, exciting show ever made. Watching it now, I'm glad to say that I wasn't disappointed. Click on the link on the right hand side of this page (for some reason the video then magically appears at the top of the page all big, not sure why but I'm quite pleased with myself). It really is scary stuff... I used to believe whole heartedly that the boy in the helmet actually did fall down the hole/get eaten by goblins/perished in a blackened room. Admittedly, the graphics aren't the most realistic, but in those days it was pretty incredible. I also remember this very episode, worrying about David and imagining him all alone, with his helmet on, stuck in this room whilst everybody else went home... still brings a tear to my eye now!

Whilst nipping back to the early 90's, I also discovered the theme song to my other favourite show (I think I was a bit older by this time), Sister Sister! That programme rocked.

Please spare a thought for me over the next couple of days... after the stress of Grease I am now about to unveil my first class assembly to the rest of the school! We're doing 'The Owl Who Was Afraid Of The Dark' (another nostalgia moment, I'm just full of them at the minute!) and trying to get 6-7 year olds to recite lines whilst acting as barn owls is no mean feat, let me tell you. Especially when Mummy Owl keeps drowning out Plop because she believes that I have made the biggest casting error in history by choosing someone else as the main part.

At least there are no props this time...

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.