All great changes are preceded by chaos.
And how chaotic it has been. After twelve consecutive days of full rehearsals and six performances, we finally finished the production at work. By the end of Friday night, we were all completely shattered – the staff were exhausted, the kids were exhausted, even The Bloke was exhausted after being my personal taxi service all week and we had done it all during the hottest week of the year so far. I had counted down the days religiously for the last month, creating a list that I ticked off at the end of each day. However, rather ironically, after the final performance had ended on Friday night I was sad that it was over. It was going to be the last time I would ever work with some of my favourite students and it was my last ever show, and I felt an unbelievable sense of pride of everything that we had all achieved. My colleagues felt the same, and even my boss (who is normally very calm and collected) was so overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of what we had accomplished together in the last few weeks that he shed a few tears, which set me and many of the students off with him. My mum had come down on the train to see the performance too, and I was pleased that she enjoyed it, which I find quite amusing as she’s seen every performance I have done since I started playing the violin at eight years old, and at 33 I still seek her approval and value her opinion.
On Saturday morning, I was wide awake with some of the songs from the show in my head going round in a loop. My mum was staying for the weekend, and we had planned to go into Birmingham for a wander round. However, I was so tired we ended up going to a local pub, had a nice lunch, spent some time relaxing in the park in the glorious weather, and then we had a sleep for the rest of the afternoon. In fact, she pretty much slept for the rest of the time she was here – she’s had a horrible time at work recently and she’s been stressed and tired, so it was nice that she could completely relax and get some rest in the same way that I do when I go to her house.
However, this means that the blog, very much like so many areas of my life at the minute, is in a total mess, and after what seems like forever I finally have time to myself so I can attempt to catch up. I’m going to be over at #SundayBlogShare on Twitter for a large part of the day (which is trending again) and replying to comments that were left as long as three weeks ago. Even better, my head teacher has very graciously given me some days in lieu of the time that I have had to work on my days off, so I don’t have to go into work until Thursday.
Rock on.
What about you guys? Tell me how you have been getting on and catch me up!
You can also find me on Twitter and Tumblr @suzie81blog, and don’t forget to check out my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/suzie81speaks and Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/suzie81speaks
Sounds like an emotional roller coaster! I’m so glad it ended up going well, and leaving you with such feelings of pride!
Thanks my lovely – the kids were just amazing! We were all so proud of them and ourselves, but I’m glad Ive got a bit of time to catch up now haha! How’s things with you?
Always love reading your posts Suzie, they’re so darn real! Really does sound an emotional time… hope you get back on the blogging bandwagon 🙂 XXX
Thanks so much Karen! I’m looking forward to getting back into it over the next few days!
It’s strange how one looks forward to the completion of monumental events, which have taken one’s every waking second, but when the event or the project is over, it seems almost ant-climactic, and the chaotic exhaustion is strangely missed. Glad you get to have a rest now!!!!!
Definitely! I’d been looking forward to it for so long, and then was so sad when it was over… Great memories though…
How’s things with you?
Good – thank-you for asking. Just plodding along, trying to survive the dead of summer – 108 degrees the other day, supposed to be 104 today. We spend early mornings outside and retreat inside when it starts warming up. Getting ready to start my second book – researching on Aborigines – very fascinating stuff. I think I would like to go on Walkabout. Hope you have a lovely couple of days off!!!!!!
That sounds really interesting! What made you think of that particular subject? I love reading about different cultures – I’ve just finished one on the samurai…
Went to boarding school in Australia as a kid, wanted to write about that, but needed to add some supernatural elements – so that’s what I came up with. I love reading about different cultures as well. Samurai are so interesting. Did you ever see that movie “House of the Flying Daggers”? Love that movie!!!! Also – speaking of Aborigines – did you ever see “Walkabout” – very fascinating and disturbing all at the same time.
No I’ve never heard of it? I’ll check it out!
I am jealous of your Mum’s long naps. 🙂
Have you not been sleeping well?
Not lately. Bad dreams. Ugh.
I’m really sorry to hear that – I can totally relate. I’m getting a bit tired of waking up at 4am with a sense of relief that it wasn’t real… Is your brain ticking over too much?
I think so. I need to stop thinking so much, but that’s easier said than done…
Totally… It’s so difficult when the brain won’t switch off…
Hi Suzie! Glad you had a nice, restful, relaxing weekend with your mum. I am almost done with a three-day weekend, keeping very busy with projects and friends, and celebrating the Fourth of July. Weather has been beautiful…I only regret I didn’t get in a bike ride!
Thanks my lovely! Sounds like you have been having a glorious time! How was the Fourth of July?
The Fourth was wonderful! Beautiful day, good food, and spectacular fireworks.
Aww that sounds nice! We don’t usually use fireworks except for Bonfire Night but by that point it’s always freezing!
So glad that your final performances made you feel exhilarated and successful – great way to end this part of your career. Of course, one chapter closes only to open to the next. Hope an interlude finds you and The Bloke enjoying some wonderful personal time.
And wouldn’t it be something if we could land on the jump going up?
Hi Sharon! Thanks for your lovely comment, as always! Hows things going with you?
Working on the three novels I’ve completed, trying to do final edits (for the 100th time!) and ready them for agent pursuit, though I think that’s really a swim in the desert. Still, I’m going to try, and if it doesn’t work within a reasonable amount of time, I will self-pub. Thank you for asking.
Well, I’ve had a quiet week, really. Was called into work three times this week (refused once) and other than that, the usual round of tests, echo cardiogram (good), lots of walking, feet up and a glass or three of a nice Shiraz.. Heading off to Adelaide in a few days and Herself wants the spare bedroom painted out for her sister coming from Scotland to stay with us for a holiday. Quiet life, really.
Hi Edgar! I’m glad that your tests went well. How come you were called into work – surely they can’t do that if you are supposed to be off?
So glad to hear you’re due for a bit of rest. And so glad your Mom got some recuperation time with you, too. xoxo
Thanks very much my lovely! I had a nice time… only 2 weeks to go! How’s things with you?
Things are great, thanks for asking! Houseful of TwentySomethings over the 4th. Good times. And plenty of fireworks! xo
That sounds like fun – I haven’t been to a fireworks party in years!
That’s a big heck yes!
Thanks!
I was on the other end of this with a house full of twenty somethings this weekend, working then out to the wee hours then working then out etc… then Sunday lunch came around and a sussuration of snoozes filled the house. They all woke for an early dinner, starving so filled them full of steak and salad. Sweet things apologized as if I’d never done the same. Children, huh!
Aww – that brings back some good memories… I used to do exactly the same. I couldn’t cope with that now – I’s have to have a week of sleep to recover! That sounds like a busy weekend for you though!
Funny when the day is upside down how we all adjust to another pattern of life – body clocks aligning or something!
I didn’t know you played the violin. I’m officially a fan. I’ve always wanted to learn it.
Enjoy the rest of your – hopefully more restful – week! 🙂
Thanks! Yeah, that’s what I trained in – I started at the age of 8 and ended up doing a music performance honours degree at a conservatoire. Only trouble was, by the time I finished I realised that orchestral playing was not for me!
Sounds hectic and fun. What was the performance?
It was a Disney musical… We really went to town on it, hiring a professional set etc. totally worth it, but completely exhausting!
Would love to see it. Did you get a recording?
I’m not sure… I’ll have to check on that… It was awesome!