Musical - Whistle Down the Wind

hehe - have just noticed, having written quite a bit of this post, that the title I wrote was: Musical - Whistle Down the Window  I totally did it by accident and never noticed till just now - how funny!

Had a nice text a week ago from AS asking if I wanted to attend Whistle Down the Wind at the local theatre with her and Grandma.  And I replied 'yes please'!  So after a staff leaving do last night, I was on the train back home this morning to be there for the matinee.  Sadly getting to bed gone 1am and waking up at 6.30 (naturally - grrr) meant I was a little tired at the show and my eyes were closing for several parts of the first half; don't think I quite went unconscious (is that what you call sleep?) at any points though!  It was a shame, over the last year I have become quite the fan of the title track and I wasn't fully with it during the song so I still don't quite understand what it's going on about!  But beautifully sung, though maybe for my mood it was slightly too like a lullaby!  Thought all the singing was nice, it sounded different - no idea how to describe it.  The rest of the music was not immediately identifiable or memorable - except for No Matter What that Boyzone released.  There were a few fairly funky 'rock'n'roll' numbers which I felt were my kind of thing and I should have enjoyed more and woken me up.  The lighting was interesting, but a lot of the story happened at night so it was fairly dark - again not good for keeping me awake! There were 2 child actors who I thought were great and had very large parts (3rd and 4th biggest in the show I'd say) and put on pretty good american accents.  I was interested to learn that the musical is based on a book written in the 50s by Hayley Mills' (original parent trap and pollyanna to me) mother which was then turned into a film by Richard Attenburgh and starred Hayley.  I do remember when it was Andrew Lloyd Weber's new musical and turns out it was in 1996.  So though I wouldn't add it to my top 10 musicals, I am still pleased to have seen it and ticked another Andrew Lloyd Weber musical. 

Great excitement came after the show as we were leaving the theatre.  The main man in the show (Jonathan Ansell) had a big bio in the programme and AS said he was from a singing group she knew of and turned out they had done well in the first X-factor. As we were walking down the steps to head out the back door I noticed a crowd gathering in the foyer and realised people were queueing for autographs.  So after announcing the fact to AS and Gma we ummed and ahhed and I eventually decided to go take a photo - I had photo of the day on my mind!  Mega panic and rising excitement as I tried to hunt through my bag to find my phone.  Having snapped a shot, I ended up deciding to join the queue to get an autograph as well, having given AS a quick lesson on how to photo with my phone!  He seemed a really nice and genuine guy and apparently stayed after every performance until everyone waiting had got their autograph.  And fairly attractive too!

Having a look at his website tonight, I was entertained to see a photo of me on his forum page (in amongst lots of others!) - definitely looking surprised! 

 Outside the theatre after the show.  Lovely setting.

Summer ducks doing their thing.  Who's who?

Flashback Friday - Happy Times

Have been reminded today (Sunday 4th July) of two times I have been very happy in my life.  Maybe one time of contentment and one of happiness (I refer you to Frenchman's Creek for my definitions of these ;-) ) and I thought it might be nice to record here.

The first that was jogged in my memory was a weekend in May (probably a bank holiday one) spent in Alderley with all my cousins.  That's why it was so special as the two sides of the family didn't often cross.  And I got to spend some fairly individual time with all seven of them.  I have got a feeling I might have written about it somewhere.  Thinking now, it could have been in 2000 in which case it would have been in my first year of the millennium diary.

I was reminded of it when we entered the Cowley Road Festival in the park and saw a giant bouncy slide.  It looked good fun.  I have been lucky enough to go on one once before in my life on this special weekend.  We went to Tatarn (? oops, just managed to find out its Tatton of course) Park for some sort of pet show/fair.  I remember seeing some dogs doing those obstacle course things.  Maybe it was actually just a dog show.  There were also stalls and marquees types things, rather like at the 3 Counties.  Then in one corner there was some childrens entertainment including the big bouncy castle slide.  I remember feeling dead important climbing up with my littlest cousin and going down with her on my lap.  I always loved occasions when I got to be in charge of the little ones - that's rather why I'm a teacher!  Also over the course of the weekend, some of us went to the park in Alderley Edge and played a bit of cricket - I was with one of my boy cousins on either side of the family, so there was some quality time in there.  I also remember it was the Eurovision Song Contest weekend, and I got to watch some, enough to be fairly satisfied, by myself in Grandpas study I think.  There might also have been a trip to West Park, but that might have been the one other time in life that all the cousins got together.  I will have to see if i can sometime find the original recording of the weekend.

The second memory was jogged by hearing Orinoco Flow during Shrek 4 at the cinema.

I was immediately back in ryhtmic gym lessons in lower 5 - that's year 9 at secondary school.  It was a song that my Dad had played at home before and I had liked and think he had recorded onto a tape for me.  It was the only time we got to do Rhythmic Gym at school, it was on a thursday after break.  We had a few lessons learning how to use the ribbons (and maybe balls and hoops as well).  And then we started practising the whole class routine to Orinoco Flow.  I was excited that I knew the song from before.  And it was just so much fun and I looked forward to it every week.  I remember that it started with the class in 6 lines and I was at the front of one and my friend was at the front of the line next to me and we were kneeling down and did mexican wave things along the lines whipping our ribbons over our heads.  The music and the whole class team excitement was just great.

And that was part of the reason Thursdays became so great.  They were my favourite days of the week then and would just make me smile.  Can't remember what was first on a Thursday or straight after break, but then it was the gym lesson, then single maths in the funny classroom on the physics corridor with our funny american teacher.  Not anything special but not terrible either.  Then it was single french (which was one of my least favourite subject lessons, but being only a single and being on the wondrous Thursday became bearable).  Then the afternoon was single Latin which for some reason was always fun.  My thoughts of it were being sunny.  We sat on tables of four, my friendship four.  On the table near the door.  I think we always had a vocab test.  I remember Miss Williams leaning against the lockers near our table.  At the end of the test, she always said 'Shuffle your books around' to mark each others, but led by one of my friends in particular, we would just turn our books round in the air and Miss Williams would find it funny every week and laugh!  Which of course we then found funny.  After Latin, it was off to the music school for our weekly double music lesson, which were always chilled and generally fun.

It was lovely to be taken straight back to those Thursdays and feel the happiness I had then over such simple things.  I am pretty sure I knew at the time that it was a special enjoyment that I would treasure.  I am having such a good time at the end of term now, that maybe in years to come I will be writing about these days on a flashback friday.

Other blogs I have read have had a Flashback Friday feature from time to time.  I started writing this on Sunday but hadn't finished it by Friday - oops!

hmm, why does the video fit on this screen but the danny baker ones are too big...

Snake Bursts After Gobbling Gator

 Fitting perfectly into the random tag category, I wanted to post a link to this that popped up again on the BBC news most read list this morning.  Haven't seen it there for probably over a year, not sure when I first came to it, but it's so incredible that I felt it was worth me including the link for posterity.  (the word posterity always makes me think of Pliny the Younger writing about Pliny the Elder in my Latin GCSE texts:  you ask that I write to you about the death of my Uncle that you may hand down a more accurate account to posterity.  He was at Misenum and in charge of the fleet himself... )

Shrek Forever After 3D

Big Day.  I finally saw my first 3D film.  Not counting of course Honey, I shrunk the audience!  Very mixed emotions going into it.  Influenced almost entirely by Dr K.  He is not a fan.  I had heard from some trusted sources (Lizzie) that it was not like the rides we had been on in the past, which I admit was my main expectation and not really what I wanted from a film.  After the whole wondering about Avatar thing, it was quite nice to finally just go and see one in 3D.  I almost went on Thursday evening by myself.  I was fancying the cinema, but Shrek was the only thing I was tempted to see, and as it was only just opening I didn't feel I could bring myself to go, just me.  But miraculously, someone I know from dancing emailed a few of us on Friday night asking if we wanted to go over the weekend.  So I readily agreed - good to increase my social circle!

Well, to finally get to the point... I was amazed the first time I put the glasses on!!  Just for the trailers I thought it looked great and probably had my mouth agape!  It seemed so clear and it really felt that one person was in front of another!  I wasn't particularly interested in things rushing towards me, or generally the flying through space/over Grand Canyon feeling, I just liked the mega clarity.  So I'm sorry to say Dr K, I liked it!  I'm still not sure if I was normally offered the choice of 2 or 3D then I would opt for 2D just becuase it's cheaper.  But I wouldn't be adverse to going.

And Shrek 4 itself.  It was good.  Not quite up there with the others (I can't particularly differentiate them), but still fine.  First half I was a little squirmy, then donkey came in and stole the show (you know what would raise morale around here, flip flop fridays).  And I left feeling very happy and smiley and cloud floaty!  But also oddly disoriented.  I panicked during the film that I didn't have my lights for cycling back, but as it was a 6.15 film it was still light at 8.15 when we came out!  But other than a few handfuls of minstrels during the film, I didn't eat anything that evening.

Photos of the year - week 21

Monday 28th June

Another reason it's the best job in the world... water fight with the after school club on the field at the end of a hot day!!!  Loving it!!!

Tuesday 29th June

 The majority of the evening seemed to be spent trying to work out the phone bill.  I was only 7 months overdue!!

Wednesday 30th June

Dancing at OUP - Wednesday class in the vacation.

Thursday 1st July (wow July!)

 I find this such a bizarre sight.  My car parked in the Year 2 playground!!!!  I got a funny turn whenever I looked out the window!  Literacy was spent examining it.  I enjoyed having 25 children clambering round it.

Friday 2nd July

On the way to leaving do, there was a red carpet along my road???  I've always wanted to walk down a red carpet so I managed to ask for my photo to be taken while I happily posed!

Saturday 3rd July

 Bizarreness (totally overuse that word!) of doing a Scottish Dancing jigsaw in the outdoor classroom after the Summer Fete.

Sunday 4th July

 Spent afternoon at Cowley Road festival.  Hadn't been to it before but it was a fun experience.  It was a little overcast, though I don't remember it seeming to as much as in this photo.

Danny Baker

Fairly close on the heels of my love for Mark Kermode, is my love for Danny Baker!

i have just come across this this morning, which I remember listening to live and it has filled me with joy again!  Pure delight and genius!



Will go into more detail about the story another time, but just really wanted to record now!

There's also Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Maggie May, Message in a Bottle by Sting, Sunday afternoon, Jerusalem (that's a good one! always better when I know the song!)

Also on a related note, here's teletext Alex's version of Bohemian Rhapsody:



Then if you're feeling seasonal there's Merry Christmas Everyone!

Great day!

What a great day, in fact have been having some lovely days recently and enjoying those little moments in days that remind you you're living.  Liking walking to get a lift to school and seeing other people walking busy walking on their commute.  Somehow it just makes me happy feeling that little connection with other people.   And I've been spotting wild flowers on the slip road onto the A34 - I am pleased I am aware of these things.  And I need to update on the Lupins - going good or growing good there!  And it helps that it has been sunny for something like two weeks now.   Although I like to think I enjoy winter time, I think the truth is I do just feel happier in the sun! 

Last night it was the leaving do for someone at school.  In fact, it was one of the other Year 2 teachers who has been an amazing friend to me this year.  I realised for the first time yesterday, that I am being hit quite hard in the leavers: my mentor and my fellow year group teacher. I'm just glad no other friend is leaving, otherwise it would be a huge deal for me.

The evening started dropping of some K'Nex at Oxford Science place, and then me and the other year 2 teacher had a drink at mine and got ready.  Then it was cocktails (at least 2 maybe 3) before moving onto the restaurant with a glass or two of wine, before any food past my lips.  So yes, I was probably beyond tipsy and at one point couldn't remember the name of the person I was talking to!  But in truth, I did rather enjoy it.  Worryingly for me, I couldn't eat much of my meal, it just wasn't appealing and wasn't helping my drunken state.  Moving on then to pub for a jug of pimms and some strange heart to hearts.  Back home to bed about 12, but needed to stay awake to drink a lot of water.  Entertained myself by listening to the slightly eclectic mix of favourites on YouTube.  It wasn't the best night's sleep.  At 6am, having been awake for 45 mins, I was contemplating getting up and putting washing on to hang outside.  Fortunately fell back to sleep till 8.30 ish.

A gradual get up then it was off to school for the main feature of the day - school Summer Fete!  And a glorious day for it.  I disaapointed myself and am ashamed that I totally forgot any sun protection at all.  No hat, sunglasses or SUN CREAM!  And though I have tended to doubt the effectiveness of sun cream I am not forgetting it again as I am now somewhat red.  Plenty of cream being applied to my face in the hope I don't start peeling.  fortunately I had gone for my OUSDS t-shirt that covers quite a bit.  OK, rant over.

I wasn't on a stall, as our Scottish Dancing club were going to be performing and I hadn't been sure of when.  But in future I think I would sign up for one, as at times I did feel a bit out on a limb.  I did spend a little time helping out on the books.  And then joined my great TA and her family on their water and wine stall.  They had newspapered bottles which were either filled with water, or were actual bottles of wine!  And I had two attempts and got two bottles of wine - what a cool game!

My big moment of the day was our Scottish Dancing performance.  And I can't say enough how proud I am of them all.  We have been running the club since February, after I did some in my dancing lessons with my class ready for our Scottish Dancing Snowmen in the Christmas production.  Since Easter it has definitely got more chilled - I always enjoyed the club but it tended to be rather manic!  We met on the playground half an hour early for a little practise.  Slightly worrying at first that there were only 5 of them there...  we were expecting about 16 but would take whoever turned up!  Some of them had made a real effort with their clothing, some tartan dresses (that I would have liked to have!) and a little boy in smart trousers and white shirt!   We ended up with 19 children - the last one ran up as we were about to start, so I (somewhat gladly) was her partner.  Part of me thought I really shouldn't dance and should let them show what they can do and that's who the parents wanted to see.  But I also just love dancing so...  I was feeling a little nervous in my stomach as we were waiting to start.  We had quite a crowd out.  Our first dance was the Flying Scotsman.  I was just a little afraid they would start going round the wrong end of the set and was double checking each set (we had three :-) ) knew which direction they were going in.  We were dancing on the field outside, so it was quite an alien environment for them.  We had taken them out at the end of our last lesson on Thursday which I think was a really good idea.  And they did all head off in the right direction!!  And of course were totally fab!  They have got brilliant at counting in 8s and knowing when to start each phrase.  Most of the time they finish the phrases early so there is some standing around, which is something I would work on in future, but I think it kinda cute to see them counting and waiting!  We then managed to rearrange ourselves into a circle fairly smoothly ready for Circassian Circle.  And for this I just had the biggest smile on my face for the whole thing!  It was great because I could be looking at them the whole time and seeing their enjoyment.  I found it slightly funny that with the turn our partner at the end, I was usually the last one turning and they were all ready holding hands in a circle ready to go again!  I was definitely thinking of Crieff lots.  I was aware of spotting a few teachers (including head and deputy) watching from the sides but mainly I was just enjoying plenty!  And they were a lovely bunch of children and am so pleased I have got to share my passion and joy with them!

This is turning into an epic.  Could it start to rival Tweak of the Week in length??

Helped a bit at the end of the fair to clear up.  Including having a bounce with four other teachers on the bouncy castle and then deflating it!  Carried a few tables inside, but really didn't do a huge amount.  Ended up in the new outdoor classroom where all the books had been and the remainings were being carted off to the skip.  Ended up spending a long time with a colleague trying to do a jigsaw that was there.  A jigsaw of Scottish Dancers - what are the chances???? It was the only jigsaw there. It was quite idyllic.  I don't like writing the word quite.  Sometimes I'm meaning it in an 'a lot' sense and sometimes in a 'not very much sense' and I fear it doesn't come across which one I'm meaning.  In this context I mean 'a lot'.  We were shaded from the sun but there was still some breeze coming through the sides of the classroom.  It was certainly a surreal time, but equally enjoyable!  The jigsaw had surprise secret shape pieces (which I did find quite exciting!) and disappointingly there were the required 90 pieces, but one of them was wrong!  We eventually managed to leave school about 4.30 - 2 hours after the end of the fete!

By this point decisions and conversation were proving tricky (due to my hungover state and general heat), but delightfully we ended up in Blenheim Palace on our latest Vauxhall adventure!  It was past closing time for the house and gardens but the park was still open and we were told it wouldn't be closing till 11/midnight!

Blenheim is a great place. I have been a couple of times before.  The house is mega impressive.  Probably slightly too impressive for me to feel fully comfortable with wanting to move in!

The grounds are lovely though.  Another of Capability Brown's wonders (Croome is too).  I am quite a bridge fan  (probably another post).

The most ludicrous gate ever?  Well maybe joint with the one on the Isle of Wight.

Can't beat time spent in a tree.

Trying to say our registers in front of the lake and bridge and house.  We're bizarre but enjoying it!

Getting later in the evening.  We were pretty clueless about time most of the day.  There was a flock of Canada geese down by the lake pecking away.  There was also a stray goose sitting near the top of the slope that turned out only to have one working leg.  It was a truly truly bizarre sight to see it hopping along, looking quite drunk!  I was actually a bit scared as it lurched towards us!

We were one of only about 4 cars left in the main car park bit when we left, but we think there was a wedding going on in the house, that seemed to have a hot air balloon related to it.  A lovely evening and I'd like to visit again for the gardens including the Pleasure Gardens.

We made it back home via a little tour round the gardens of St. Hugh's.  Not quite on the same league as Blenheim, but I was proud of it anyway.

So, do you agree?  A great day?

This has definitely been a post in the style of my old diary entries - though in more detail?  I'm liking it.  Fully recording my thoughts of a time, without really going on photos (till the end).  Not that I dislike doing posts around photos.  Am still needing to do that whole blog v diary post at some point...