Hugs Always Welcome

Slightly crowded in Trafalgar Square

A rather relaxing weekend. Saturday had my hair trimmed and did checked out a nearby shopping centre with Josephine.
Sunday we ventured into the city for the Chinese New Year celebrations. MAYHEM - the only word to describe the masses of people all jammed into Trafalgar Square to see the performances.  We arrived and could not even get into the square.  We finally squeezed our way along the street until we could see one of the big screens and got a peek-a-boo view of the dragon dance. Then while they were preparing for the next performance the crowd shifted somewhat and we made out way down to the lower part of the square by the big fountains. Here we got a partial view - between heads and on our camera screens held above the crowd - of the lion dance. This dance was amazing with two performers in the lion costume, who then climbed on top of a series of poles and jumped and threw each other around while balancing on top of the poles. These guys were crazy! Next came the bowl dancers, who were far back on the stage, so we could mostly only see on the screen.
We eventually grabbed some not so good Chinese food and wandered around the square.  Getting tired of the crowds we headed towards Chinatown. This was a mistake, have not seen crowds like that since the Nottinghill Festival in August, which was frightening to say the least. So we made our way over towards Oxford Circus, which amazingly seemed deserted compared to the crowds we came from! We grabbed a delicious sidewalk waffle and then headed for home tired from all the bustle and bumping into people.

Bobbies in Chinatown

Sunday night I got the sad news that Zack is no longer with us. Wasn't really feeling well in the morning so I took the day off.  Worked the rest of the week. Glad I have been getting lots of work lately. Wednesday I spent the day in a year 1 class where I got lots of little hugs all day long :)

<3

Now I am getting my things organized for the weekend - in ROME!!
My flight leaves very early Saturday morning, so instead of going through the hassle of night buses and trains I am probably going to head to Gatwick tomorrow evening and hope to get some shut eye somewhere in the airport before my flight.
Then Saturday I will explore Rome while I wait for Mom and Chris to arrive! This is going to be a GREAT weekend :)

Swan Song

Another long week, worked every day this week ($$). Good for obvious reasons, not to mention that the other day I booked flights to Amsterdam in April for when cousin Devon comes to visit!! Also, tiring.

Thursday was quite the day. I woke up not as tired as I had expected after a late night at Phantom.  I got ready and waited to be called to work.  About 8:25 I was sitting on my bed reading my book and the agency called to say it was unexpectedly slow and I wouldn't get any work for the day. Oh well, I decided to keep reading for a bit. Called to make a hair appointment but they weren't open yet. About 20 minutes went by and I was just getting up to change into my gym clothes to go for a run and the phone rings. I am told that they have work for me and I need to leave asap. Luckily the school is nearby, one stop on the tube and about a 10 minute bus ride. 

Well after waiting 15 minutes for the bus, I am on my way and get there just after 9:30.  The class is lovely, I can't believe my luck! After playtime they are doing maths and there are a couple stinkers making too much noise, but nothing too out of the ordinary for a supply teacher. Finally I put the name of one boy on the board for messing around. After several warnings I tell him that he will have to stay in when the bell goes (while I try to find out this school's policy for misbehaviour). Well the bell goes and he starts getting belligerent saying he is not going to stay in. He is shouting at me. I send a TA to find a head teacher or someone who knows the school rules... By this time he is now yelling at me to F-off and is kicking over bins, just what I signed up for!

Anyhow, in the end he spent the afternoon with another teacher, I found out he swears at many teachers and that I got off easy with a little F-off, usually female staff get called worse... But without him in the class the rest of the kids were great and all in all it was actually a very enjoyable day.


After work I went for a quick run to blow off any extra steam, and I was still disappointed to have missed out on my morning run. Then it was time to get ready for the ballet!
I met Josephine and we went to the theatre in Wimbledom to see Swan Lake, by Raymond Gubbay and his Russian dance company. It was unbelievable. I have never seen anything like it. When the white swans first came out and the 18 of them are all dancing together it seriously made me want to cry it was that beautiful. The Swan Queen was simply stunning. And then the black swans all dance and it is breathtaking. I know it all sounds so cliche but it really is something I cannot even begin to describe.  I told my flatmates that until I actually give birth to a child, that will probably be one of the most amazing things I will have seen. I was in awe. Now Friday is here and I finally get to relax after a hectic week.

Angel of Music

So my last week was not super exciting. Worked a lot again. I had a long weekend since I didn't get called in on Monday, but then worked everyday after that at my regular school and in my regular class. The teacher that I cover for on Tuesdays is soon due to go on maternity leave and was feeling poorly. Which meant a great week for me! Friday night the Impact Canadian teachers crew all got together at a friend's place for a few beverages. I don' think I will ever drink again when I get back to Canada and see the prices compared to here! I bought a 4 pack of Strongbow cider for less than 4 quid, and still have leftovers for next time ;) Yes, I am officially becoming an old lady!

Saturday I spent the day with Josephine having coffee, brunch, a little shopping, we met up with Angela and saw a matinee - Reese Witherspoon, Jack Nicholson, Paul Rudd in How Do You Know. Then we went to a great Japanese restaurant in Wimbledon. Delicious!! All around great day. On Sunday the sun finally broke through the grey clouds we have been having lately so I spent most of the day just walking. Walked over to Colliers Wood, then went to Tooting Broadway for a bit and around Wimbledon before it finally started to get dark!
This week I have worked everyday so far, so I am sitting here half dressed and ready to go this morning torn as usual.  Want to work to get more money, but also have a bunch of things I would rather get done today... so either way is fine with me.
Last night after work I met up with Jo, Christine and Jen to see Phantom of the Opera. It was amazing. All of the productions here are so well done that I really don't think I could go to one and not enjoy it.  Chicago was definitely more my thing, a little more lively, but still great to go to the show. And it is a busy week, tonight Jo and I are heading to Swan Lake, which is playing in Wimbledon so hopefully not quite as late of a night.

PHANTOM! Christine pretended to get mad, bu how can anyone resist putting out their 'piano hands' every time the famous DAAAA DA DA DA DA DAAAAA is played?? I would challenge anyone to resist!