Well today we’re off to Cardiff for Identity, a Girl’s Brigade Event. I’m quite excited!! Doing a few sketches and some games which will be lots of fun.

Expected back around 4am Sunday morning so not sure when my next post will be!!

Today was rehearsals at the Barn, Rachel dropped Ollie off at the office first, then we went off to the Barn, just me and her today as Dave has gone back to Wales. First things is to switch the heaters on, get out a table and some chairs, make a drink and get out the biscuits. We ran through the sketches for Saturday and went through All About Abi too, which went fairly successfully! We then attempted to learn a new sketch which for some reason was determined not to stick in our heads! We tried for a while then descided our brains were tired and we needed a break…so we watched an episode of ‘The Big Bang Theory’ (I’ve never seen it before – kind of American Comedy). We then went back to the script…still not happening. So we ate biscuits. I decided it wouldn’t stick in my head because I hadn’t highlighted it BUT I didn’t have my pink highlighter with me, so had to do it in another colour and then get another copy highlighted in pink to go in my folder… That sort of helped. We then line ran More To Life with only a few hiccups (quite literally). Then we sat and waited for Mike, Ollie and The Pizza. (Not really sure why The Pizza has capitals, just does) They arrived about 1.10 and The Pizza was a meat feast yummy one. We chatted about stuff and I waffled on about something to do with creativity that I have no idea where it came from and they laughed at me. Then Mike left and we went through the sketches and All About Abi with the amazing technical genius that is Ollie. No scripts needed and only the second time he’s seen the sketches. Amazing. We then discussed some of the games for Saturday – lots of fun including XXL mens pants! We then headed back to the office to sort out costume and props for Saturday. I really think they go out of their way to make themselves, or in this case me, look ridiculous. If there are photos you will see what I mean. Then we went home via Tesco for Apples (Prop), Chocolates (Prize), Bonjela (I have a nasty horrible ulcer L) and Petrol (106.9p which made Rachel very excited!) Got back and spoke to Lewis, watched Neighbours, wrote out my recommended reading list for the year, had dinner, watched two episodes of Hollyoaks, rang my nan, spoke to my mum, uploaded photos from my phone, put some music on my phone, wrote this blog entry and I’m just about to watch Mock The Week!

Sorry for the long time since my last post, having moved Hosts, I know don’t have wireless internet access at home, so can only upload occasionally when I use their computer or when I am at work!

So since my last post…

Friday 19^th September:

Was a day in the office, learning 3 new sketches and a few bits and pieces, nothing too taxing!

After work I got the train back to Braintree, took an hour (Billericay to Shenfield, Shenfield to Braintree) so got to the Church about 6.40. Stood outside waiting for an appropriate moment to go into Kids Club (K4J), which there wasn’t one until about 7.10! I walked in just as they started the song ‘Flabbergasted’, so I went to the front and did the actions! Some of the girls came over to hug me which was cute! Then I stayed for Youth Group (A2J) where they were planning stuff for their mission week in October, which I will conveniently be around for. After A2J, Lewis dropped Andy off and we went over to Notley Bowl, parked in Great Notley Garden Village and walked under the underpass. There’s lots of exciting play equipment spread out through the park so we were exploring that in the dark (avoiding the groups of young people hanging about!). That was good fun and I got home about midnight.

Saturday 20^th September – Mum and Dad’s 39^th Wedding Anniversary.

Had a lovely sleep back in my comfy bed, got up about 8.15 and saw the new kitchen for the first time. It’s just a big room at the moment, but it’s HUGE!!! Had breakfast and got ready leisurely, talking to Mum and Dad and showing photos and videos off Facebook etc! Lewis came round about 11 and we went off to do some shopping in Colchester, had lunch in Yates, mmm duck wrap and chips…I bought 2 pairs of Black Jeans and then we drove to Frinton and met up with Mum, Dad, Sarah, Matt, Maddie and Emi. We played on the grass for a bit, Maddie was doing some fantastic footballing, and she made a friend and discovered the word ‘share’. Hmmm… I was outrages at the fact the toilets had been revamped AND that they now charge 20p!!!!! But the Dyson handdryers almost made up for it. We went down to the beach but the tide was in so we could only look at it. Maddie wanted Uncle Lewis to go into the sea to get a “ball, ball, ball, ball” that was floating about, but Uncle Lewis was mean and woulsn’t get it for some reason. Maddie and me had some fun playing peekaboo…for a long time… We then went back up to the grass and got out the kites. Me and Lewis had the little one and Matt and Sarah the big fancy stunt kite. Wasn’t really that windy and me and Sarah soon got bored and left Matt and Lewis trying to get the stunt kite going! I think the record was about 10secs in the air. Lewis and I then went to get Fish and Chips and we came back and ate them in a large bus shelter type thing. Then it was about time to go home, and we put Maddie’s car seat in Lewis’s car and she came back with us! She was an angel, but refused to sleep despite her eyes being really heavy! Perhaps that was the sugar in the wine gums… We took her back to Sarah’s and saw Maddie’s new bed, beautiful white bunk beds, so cute!!! Stayed for a drink, then left and I went back to Lewis’s and we chatted for a bit before Lewis took me home!

Sunday 21^st September

Lewis picked me up at 9.25 and we went to church. I was singing so we had the practice and then church, it was nice to be back and Sarah, Maddie and Emi came so I got some good Emi cuddles and Maddie was doing some good tambourine playing – in time and everything! Stayed to chat to a few people, then went to Tesco with Sarah to keep hold of Maddie. Lewis and I then went back to Mum and Dad’s and we all walked up to Fowlers Farm for lunch. I had Gammon, as I always do! We went home (via Somerfield to get some custard tarts) and had coffee. Lewis then ran through some of my lines with me and I packed up more stuff from my room to take back with me. We ended up leaving about 6.45 to head back to Billericay. We stopped off at Beth and Stephen’s first to collect my things from there and then went on to my new host family across the other side of Billericay. My new hosts are Julie and Bob Cristin and they are really lovely, made me feel at home right away! Lewis stayed for a drink and then left. I chatted for a little while with Bob and Julie and then went up to my room to start unpacking and sorting things. Whilst doing this I was watching ‘The Notebook’ (I’ve got my own telly in my room), which Lewis and I saw ages ago, but never saw the end, so I text him to let him know and we were both watching it and discussing over text! I got a fairly early night coz I was so tired. I’m now in a single bed which is sooooo comfy, a really soft nice mattress!

Monday 22^nd September

Woke up slightly confused before I worked out where I was! I’m the only person using the main bathroom so I’ve spread out my stuff around it. Had a nice hot shower and got ready. Went down for breakfast, had weetabix and an orange. Packed up some clothes and my prom dress ready for our Envizage photo shoot! Rachel picked me up about 8.45 and we went to the office to load the van with lighting and some bits of costume. We then headed over the barn, met Dave and Simon (the graphic design man who also takes photos) and had our photo shoot. Lots of various combinations of people, outfits and poses, including a posh one round the piano. Lots of fun and I didn’t want to take my dress off!! We spent the rest of the day blocking the rest of the sketches and rehearsing with sound cues which was good! Went back and unloaded the van and got back about 5.20. Spent some time reading the paper and watching the news and then we had dinner. Julie had a lady round for Spiritual Direction and Bob went out, so I watched a couple of episodes of Hollyoaks and went to my room to sort out some more bits and spoke to Lewis for a bit, watched some TV and then went to bed!

Tuesday 23^rd September

Couldn’t wake up this morning. Had bitesize shredded wheat for breakfast. Ollie was spending the day with Taste today so Rachel just picked me up and we went to the Barn. Spent the day rehearsing All About Abi. It was good fun, especially the newsagent scene…great fun!! Also went over the sketched again. Was quite tiring today, being in all day and concentrating! We finished a bit early, got home about 4.30 and went out for a walk, bit of an explore. Walked round the back to the high street, down the high street, along a main road for a bit and came back. Took about an hour and was good to clear my head! Had dinner and pudding was toffee pecan pavlova which was yummmmmy! Spent the evening filling in forms, printing off bits and pieces and watching TV. Nice and relaxing!!

Wednesday 24^th September

Second Opti-Wednesday. Got to the barn a bit early so we set up tables, chairs and cups. We started off with personal time and then Ryan did a worship session on prayer and being honest with God. We had a drink and the Taste boys sang an amazing barber ship quartet version of Happy Birthday to Ryan who turned 20 today. We then had a ‘Share and Pray’ session for an hour with La Roche, Lucy, Kate and Jayne. We then ate lunch and this afternoon had a 2 hour session on Schools Work with Ian Kemble which was a good introduction. Then after we all went to the Honey Pot restaurant at Festival Leisure Park, Basildon as a celebration of Ryan’s birthday. Got back home about 5.30 and spent the evening on the phone and watching TV and uploading this post!!

I appear to be a day behind myself but hey ho!

So Thursday, yesterday, was first ‘proper’ rehearsal day over at the Barn. Also the first day working with David O’Brien. We worked on two of the sketches first, Amazing But True (ABT) and Street Tuff (ST) which I have performed before… but not with the music and the fabulous dance routine at the beginning of ABT! Also a bit more character definition and trying to iron out my little habits!!

We then worked on the first section of MTL, again more character definition.

We had lunch outside and then went for a walk around the grounds of the Barn, discovering more sculptures, naked people on sticks, went up the mound and admired the view…

Back to work and we worked on Parts 2 and 3 of MTL. Finished just after 4. Was quite intense and I came away with slight scrambled egg head!! Really good though, helpful to have someone watching and directing and noticing the things that you do that you don’t realise you are doing!

So got back about 4.30 and spoke to my lovely sister, and sort of to Maddie although she wasn’t really very interested in me….well her birthday present won’t be very exciting will it?!

Then was dinner time, mmm pizza was yummy!! My last meal with the Powneys We had a candle and everything! We watched Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’ in the evening, the one with Gwyneth Paltrow, Toni Collette and Ewan McGregor, was quite good, although Beth told me all the things that annoy her about it before I watched it…!

Then packed all my stuff up, I’m going home this weekend and when I come back will be moving into a new house so all my stuff is back in suitcases!

Went to bed about half 11….zzzzz…..

Well today was first Opti-Weds, Optimum Training. This happens every Wednesday and you attend each one that you are able (i.e. not out on tour!)

Optimum Training is held at the Barn so Lindsay picked me, Matt, Sam La Roche and Ollie up and we went straight there.

Here’s how the day worked…:

9.30-9.45: Coffee and Chat
9.45-9.55: Notices, general intro to how training works, the forms we need to fill in each week, the scriptures we need to memorise for the next week
9.55-10.40: Personal Time. This is to be used for prayer, Bible study etc. Today Emma and I went for a walk around the grounds just to have a chat and pray about stuff which I found really useful and really enjoyed her company. I think we are going to be good friends There are loads of random sculptures in the grounds which are really cool!
10.40-10.50: More coffee!
10.50-11.50: Share and pray: We were in groups of 4 and each person talked about their week, what they are happy about/struggling with and we prayed.
11.50-12.30: Lunch
12.30-1.00: Worship – Each person will be leading a worship section over the coming sessions so we had a hcance to think about what we might want to do for that, and actually what worship is, not just singing but other expressions.
1.00ish-2.30ish: Bible Study: Discussing what the meanings are of disciple/discipline/discipleship. We looked at our devotional lives, how we can apply the Lords Prayer to our own prayers, and the follwing statement: ‘The comparative affluence of many Christians today, especially those in the West, almost certainly is a stumbling-block to effective and radical discipleship.’ (Watson)
We then tidied up and left.

We went to Wetherspoons in Billericay where i got ID’d when I tried to buy an orange and lemonade, didn’t have any ID on me so therefore had to leave. Sillyness. So i walked home!

Rang Lewis to have a whinge/chat while he should have been working….

Then went out, walked round to Rachels for about 6.15 for dinner. David O’Brien (my team leader) was there so it gave myself and Ollie an oppurtunity to meet him before working with him. Claire, Rachel, David, Ollie and Me had a jump about on their trampoline….fabulous fun!!!! After fabulously yummy food, we had a chat over the plans for the year and then watched the muscial episode of Scrubs, was so funny!!

Came home about 10, had a quick chat to Beth and Stephen and now off to bed!