Going HOME

Tomorrow I head to London and will be staying in a rather swish hotel. My flight back to the States is early on Sunday! I am incredibly happy to be headed home -- I am actually missing the place I was so desperate to flee....

School finished off on a rather high note -- classes were quite good all week. Staff....they were ok as well.

I am pondering some New Year's resolutions. I achieved last year's of passing my driving test and getting a car. Now what??

I shall ponder some more....and let you know. On the flight I will we working on my Cambridge essay and reading "The Last Lecture."

I hate flying, so I'm hoping we get a good pilate!!

Ohio -- here I come!!! See you all State Side!

Oi! Christmas is upon us!

PETER PAN! It was an absolute success! I'm not sure how much money we raised for Great Ormond Street Hospital, but I know we had a sold out audience both nights (must be over 1,000!). The Kids loved - and that's what matters the most! I really am going to miss working with them - they were such a great bunch. But I have learned a very important lesson. When directing a play by myself - don't cast more than 20. 55 was a HUGE amount! But that is 55 kids who got to do something spectacular - small role or large. The pictures were taken by one of my crew kids on our dress rehearsal, so they aren't perfect, but it's still nice to see. :)

School has been a bit of a struggle lately, as some people might have guessed. I've not been 100%, fell ill a few times. I was just plain miserable. Since the end of the show I've shifted. Perhaps it's Christmas, perhaps it's less stress, perhaps it's finding an intelligent outlet like Cambridge -- I don't know what it is, but I'm back to my usual self. Super energetic and annoying....but loving the season. AND DRIVING! My little Clio is fantastic!

In other news Cambridge has been fantastic! I am working on my Essay 1 - where I am discussing Picture Books and the benefits of using them in secondary schools. There is a lot of enthusiasm around my topic with the professors and they are anticipating something fantastic. Hopefully I can deliver! I've been doing plenty of reading and it's actually a really interesting topic. Dad has been listening to me babble on about mimesis and pedagogy - so it's been on my mind 24/7 - although I'm sure he'd rather I not go on about it....

I've been getting involved with my Hall as well - Trinity Hall apparently owns HALF of England. It's a really big deal! I didn't know that! I went to a Grad Hall dinner and then the Grad Christmas dinner. FANTASTIC! Was met with champagne at the door and the Headmaster came up to me and was talking to be about this and that. Then the meal was three course with a different wine for each course. Port with the dessert (traditional Christmas pudding and mince pies). I sat next to Phillipe who is a Canadian studying engineering. I happened to sit by him at Grad hall as well - so I was so relieved to know someone! Usually we wear our black gowns, but for this occasion it was super fancy. I have a BEAUTIFUL Laura Ashley dress I will be wearing for the Christmas season. The headmaster even said I looked "Lovely as Christmas." Oh, I love Cambridge. Not sure what I want to do next, but the faculty I work with on Arts in Ed say I need to get myself to the Cambridge area.



At the house we have put up a Christmas tree - we call it a Pimp-mas tree. It's black fibreoptic with silver baubles and tinsel. I chose the pink star. The guys love it - very impressed with how pimp it is.



Today I am being quite lazy. I stayed up late last night cleaning (NO idea why....), did some laundry today and have just been messing about with photos and laundry today. I think I will do some more reading, perhaps some writing on my essay. Star Wars 1 is on later today, so I'm looking forward to watching that. Very "Christmas-y". I'm also going to DRIVE to Tesco because they have donation boxes for Africa. I have some clothes and shoes I am going to donate (Yes, mum, I am donating shoes. That means I can buy a new pair or two!!!)

Well, I'd say that's it for me! Home in 2 week! 10 MORE DAYS OF CLASS! TWO more lessons with each class!

Sick Day ponderings...

I miss things the way they used to be. But then again, I can't tell if I miss things they way they were, or if I miss the way I used to feel. After spending the day half conscious, half staring at the computer screen, I found my mind drifting back to the old days.

I've been through so much over the years. Experienced so many different things, been to different places, took so many different paths. It's a good story. Who would have thought that their life makes for a good story?

There are exciting aspects, sad aspects. I play the good guy, I play the bad guy. I am incredibly stupid and I am pretty damn intelligent. Every decision I made has led me to where I am. Am I happy with that? I don't know.... Some days I am, and some days I'm not. Either way, I'm learning something. Learning about myself, learning about the world.

The next question is....what next?

I am not loving the idea of sitting stagnant, and I do not like the idea of remaining a drifter. I want to find a place for me.

I have this fuzzy idea of what I want. I suppose I need to narrow it down. Start making some clear decisions. There's a plan in tact.

Then again....last time I came up with an idea of what I wanted....well, I ended up on my own in England.

We shall see how this works out....

Leaving Never Land

"Peter Pan" has come to a close. Am I happy? Sad?

I think I'm just a bit exhausted.

I know I'm not going to direct a play of that magnitude again. The idea of getting as many kids involved as possible - yea, big mistake. A cast of 55 ... I was asking for it.

Well that chapter is over and now what? I've got a nice long period of relaxation on the cards....amongst other things.

Still have to work on the QTS portfolio.....the bloody awful, horrid hoop they make foreign teachers jump through.

And then there's my Cambridge essay. First one! Fantastic! But quite intimidating. I'm looking at Picture Books and their uses in Secondary Schools. I've read some fantastic books on the subject. Actually came across the idea of Mimesis. That's crazy interesting. Doesn't really apply to this Essay - but perhaps I will focus my next on it.

Mimesis is imitation in the sense of “re-presentation." Recreating something based on what you have previously seen. How all great ideas are born.

Interesting....something to ponder...Vague. Just like this country.

I'm off work tomorrow. The new muscle relaxants are a bit strong, so they have put me off into fairy land. I like it. I'll watch "Run Fatboy, Run" and perhaps even "Love Actually." Oooooooo..."Elf?"

I love the Christmas season....I'll tell you what though, Star Wars IV was on last night....I could really go for Episode III. What a nerd.....

Apologies for the jumpy post....it's the meds....

Until the next time....