Friday 30^th January

Hometime day today. Was very sad leaving the McStay house. Everyone got up early and Morag cooked Egg, Bacon and Sausage which was very nice! And then as I left they gave me a Thornton’s chocolate heart with ‘All The Best’ iced onto it! So lovely! Kirsten had tried to get me a Starbucks mug but they have discontinued them!

So into school for 8.30 and had to put some blue material back up in the common room then the last day went something like this:

 9.10am – THEATRE: Taste did a music lesson for S2
               - C ROOM: Envizage did an RE Prejudice lesson for S4
10.00am – THEATRE: Taste did an RE lesson for S1
             - C ROOM:  Envizage did a Drama Workshop for S3
10.50am – Break
11.05am – THEATRE: Taste did music lesson for S2
             - C ROOM:  No more lessons so Envizage packed down the room and loaded Ivor. I had the hiccups and Rachel and Ollie were laughing at me L
12.00: – THEATRE: Joint RE lesson for S3 where Envizage performed College of Knowledge and Big Ears.
12.55pm: Lunchtime – Sweet Chilli Chicken and Noodles for lunch, mmm was yummy! Then back to the theatre which was packed with people and we were signing autographs and having our photos taken with the kids. La Roche led a mass rendition of I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles! It was very sad when the bell went an we had to say goodbye.
1.50pm: The grand packdown! Once I’d done my bit of taking down black material and ungaffering I became Keel’s skivvy. Un-leccying lights, taking out gels, making tea and digging out boxes from the dusty depths of backstage. I got hiccups again and was being laughed at. We were all done and left about 3.30pm.

First leg of the journey I was in the front of Ivor with Keel where I made the mistake of drinking half a can of Irn Bru. Got hiccups again and apparently the Tasty Boy rule is that everytime you hiccup you get punched. I got punched lots. We stopped at Rosies for Fahitas and Cornettos then second leg I was in the back of Ivor with Sammy J and La Roche. Service Station stop (bought a starbar for Lewis’s birthday). Then third leg was in the front of Ivor with Sammy J where the Irn Bru started to kick in. We sang loudly, looked out for Whoosh lorries, pretended to all be dead when we overtook Tess, just general hilarity. Then another stop and final leg of the journey was in the back of Ivor with Keel and Ollie. This is where the Irn Bru really took effect. Just general talking rubbish, having fits of giggles, attacks of hiccups and tiredness. Got back to the office at 1am, unloaded Ivor while Taste unloaded Tess into Linford. Lots of stuff went into Rachel’s car so when we left I was squashed in the back cross legged.
Got home just after 2 and collapsed into bed!

Thursday 29^th January

Happy Gordon Day everybody!!!! Today was the day Gordon (the SU man/clown we worked with in November) came to visit – very exciting! And he brought us grapes and muffins and a bottle of lemon juice because he thought we would have run out by now! (Rachel likes drinking hot water and lemon) Very sweet of him!

9.10am – THEATRE: Taste did an RE Lesson for S3
               - C ROOM: Envizage didn’t have a lesson so we sat and drank coffee and chatted!
10.00am – THEATRE: Taste did a music lesson for S1
             - C ROOM:  Envizage did an RE Prejudices lesson for S4
10.50am – Break
11.05am – THEATRE: Envizage doing Abi for S2
             - C ROOM:  Taste doing a music lesson for S2
12.00: – THEATRE: Joint RE lesson for S1 where Envizage performed College of Knowledge and Customs – lots of fun although I got stuck trying to get backstage with George the giant inflatable whale! I was on the panel for Q & A at the end and got to share why I wanted to be in Envizage – love answering that question!
12.55pm: Lunchtime – Chicken and Sweetcorn soup and Salad for lunch and chatted to a few young people then back to the theatre.
1.50pm: – THEATRE: Taste doing a music lesson for S2
               - C ROOM:  Envizage doing an RE prejudice lesson for S2
2.40pm onwards: Setting up for the gig. Wasn’t too much we could do before the end of school as we had to put the tuck shop and Check It Out stands out in the hallway. So a fairly relaxed set up, dinner was Battered Sausage and Chips. Taste rehearsed the James Bond Intro and then us girls went and changed, did our hair and makeup.
6.30pm: Prayer meeting then doors opened! There were a few people who started queuing before 5pm! It filled up pretty quickly, had about 230 people there which was brilliant! Was able to watch the beginning from by the tech desk then headed backstage. All went well, including the dreaded ‘Street Tuff’ and Lady Starburst made a welcome return in Harrybow – hurrah! Was quite a noisy gig all the way through which made it a bit difficult during the sketches and Martin’s little speaky bit!

By the time we packed up and got home it was about 10.30pm!

Wednesday 28^th January

9am: Assembly where David and I did ‘Amazing But True’ and Taste did a song
9.20am – THEATRE: Taste did an RE Lesson for S3
               - C ROOM:  Envizage doing an Abi Follow Up Drama lesson for S4
10.10am – THEATRE: Taste did a music lesson for S2
             - C ROOM:  Envizage doing an Abi Follow Up Drama lesson for S3
11.00am – Break – I ate 3 custard creams.
11.15am – THEATRE: Taste doing a music lesson for S2
             - C ROOM:  Envizage doing an RE lesson on Prejudices for S1
12.05: –  THEATRE: Joint RE lesson for S4 where Rachel and I got to perform The Watch! We also did College of Knowledge and I was on the panel for Q & A at the end.
12.55pm: Lunchtime – Pasta for lunch and then when we got back to the hall, loads of people came in to chat and play on the drums and generally see what was going on.
1.50pm: – THEATRE: Envizage doing ‘Abi’ for S1 
2.40pm: – THEATRE: Envizage doing ‘Abi’ for S1
               - C ROOM:  Taste doing an acoustic music lesson for S2

After school we went to the Nazarene church for debrief and they fed us amazingly with steak and sausage pie with peas and mash, apple pie and ice cream, cream horns and chocolate biscuits! Had to continue the meeting after dinner – planning the gig tomorrow. Got home just before 8 and have been catching up on my blog and emails and facebook while everyone has been out. Showered and its now 10pm and I’m going to bed because I’m tired and have got a long day tomorrow!

Tuesday 27^th January

Picked up at 7.50am, in by 8.20 to soundcheck and get ready for the day which went like this…

9am: Assembly where David and I did ‘Amazing But True’ and Taste did a song
9.20am – THEATRE: Joint RE Lesson for S4 where David and Rachel did Big Ears
10.10am – THEATRE: Envizage doing ‘Abi’ for S2
             - C ROOM:  Taste doing an acoustic music lesson for S1
11.00am – Break
11.15am – THEATRE: Taste doing a music lesson for S1
             - C ROOM:  Envizage doing an RE lesson on Prejudices for S2
12.05: – No lessons so we had an early lunch (tandoori chicken Panini – yum!) because of the lunchtime concert.
12.55pm: Lunchtime – the Theatre was packed (holds about 250 people) which was great! Taste did a couple of songs and Envizage performed Customs – lots of fun!
1.50pm: – THEATRE: A joint lesson for a group of P7s that came up from the local primary school – Rachel and David did Amazing But True and we also did ‘What’s It Worth’.           
2.40pm: – THEATRE: Envizage doing ‘Abi’ for S3

Was shattered by the end of today! We went to the Baptist church for debrief and then to the Manse, where Andy and Joy are staying, for dinner. We had soup (the nicest butternut squash soup I’ve ever had!) and bread for starters, roast beef, potatoes, veg and Yorkshire puds for main and big chocolately creamy gateaux for pudding, followed by coffee and jaffa cakes and birthday cake! It was James’ (the minister) birthday so we had a mini party…although he wasn’t there, he was at a meeting! We played pass the parcel which his wife Irene had organised. She had had a sort out of old books she didn’t want or had duplicates of and every layer was a question and a book! I got a book called ‘Evening by Evening’ by C.H. Spurgeon  - daily meditations. The music was Saturday Night so Claire was dancing! We also played Black Magic and various other similar games for ages! We were supposed to be going out to a pub quiz with the youthworkers but it was a bit late and we were all tired so went home and I went to bed!

Monday 26^th January

So alarm went off at 5.10. That’s like the middle of the night! Rolled out of bed 10mins later and downstairs for some toast. Can’t stomach much at that time of the morning! Was outside waiting for Dave just after 6am, wearing Sarah’s hat which is made of Alpaka. Itchy but warm! At Port Glasgow High by 6.30am and had 2 and a half hours to set up. Our main venue is the theatre which is basically stage space and tiered seating so some setting up challenges! Also we set up a PA system and flats in the 5^th year common room across the other side of school for Envizage to do some RE lessons and Taste to do acoustic lessons.  No major issues apart from the end of a speaker lead coming off (actually nothing to do with me believe it or not!) and Keel coming to the rescue and fixing it!

The day then went something like this:

9.10am – THEATRE: Taste doing a music lesson for S1
             - C ROOM:  Envizage doing a drama workshop for S2
10am – THEATRE: Taste doing a music lesson for S2
             - C ROOM:  Envizage doing a drama workshop for S2
10.50am – Break: Soundchecks
11.05am – THEATRE: Taste doing a music lesson for S3
             - C ROOM:  Envizage doing an RE lesson on Prejudices for S2 – with the best version of The Good Samaritan I’ve ever seen!
12.00: – THEATRE: Taste and Envizage doing a joint RE lesson for S1/S2
12.55pm: Lunchtime – last minute adjustments and eating soup and sandwiches
1.45pm: – THEATRE: Envizage doing ‘Abi’ for S4
             - C ROOM:  Taste doing an RE lesson for S1
2.40pm: – THEATRE: Envizage doing ‘Abi’ for S1
             - C ROOM:  Taste doing an RE lesson for S3

Its quite strange doing lessons in the theatre because you are looking up at everyone! Had a good response from the students, most seem very friendly and enthusiastic which is great! Also there are 3 youthworkers  - Jeni, Peter and Simon – who are coming along to lessons which will be a great link and follow up for the students once we’ve gone.

After school we went to the Baptist church for debrief and dinner – lasagne, cottage pie, salad, cauliflower cheese and lots of cheesecake! Went back to our hosts for the evening – I had a nice early shower and sat in my PJs chatting to Kirsten, Shona and Morag which was really nice. Also had a cup of tea in a BIG genuine Starbucks mug which was incredibly exciting! And my first crème egg of the year!! Bit of a late night…didn’t get to bed til about 11.30pm!

Tags: Black Magic, Creme Egg, Gig, Gordon, Hiccups, Irn Bru, McStays, Pass The Parcel, Port Glasgow High, Starbar, Starbucks Mug, Theatre

Sunday 25^th January

Got up about 9.20, showered, dressed, packed and had breakfast. Then at 11am we had a time of worship/reflection/prayer all together for about an hour and a half, just thinking about God and who he is and words to describe him and then writing our own Psalms/Love letters to God. Then for lunch we piled all the food we had into the table and ate! Beans on toast, cereal, crisps, cake, rice pudding…still had to bring loads with us though! Then left for Port Glasgow about 1.45pm. One stop for fuel and another stop at a nice pub for a drink. Got to Port Glasgow about 5pm, had a meeting with Martin (the Scripture Union guy we’re working with this week) about the week and setting up etc. Then off to our hosts for the evening. I’m by myself, staying with the McStays, a lovely family! Morag’s the mum then there’s Michaela who is 11, Shona who is 14 and Kirsten who is 18. We had a gorgeous lasagne and chips and then chatted for a bit, got my laptop set up on Wifi so I’ve been catching up on facebook! The girls had put a Galaxy Ripple in my room, yay! It’s now 9.45, up about 5.30am tomorrow so better get some sleep. Going to ring Lewis first though as I have the luxury of phone signal and haven’t spoken to him in a week!

 

Saturday 24^th January

Day off!!! Lie in day YAY!!! Got up about 10.20pm, had a long shower and got ready really slowly, just because I could! It was lovely! The team cooked a big full English, I didn’t had any but it smelt really good! By the time we had finished and cleared up it was about 1pm. We had a quick game of Take Two and then La Roche, Keel, Matt, Ollie and I went into Newton Stewart to see Madagascar 2…it was brilliant!!! Very funny!! The cinema was a one screen (we think also a theatre) that shows 2 films a day. It was really comfy though! Then we came back to base and am now typing up some of my blog and trying not to be tempted by all the cakes and things on the table! We were all planning to go out for dinner, but finances, illness and general opinion meant that Andy, Joy, Claire and Rachel went out for dinner while the rest of us drove into town and got Indian or Chinese takeaway and came back to base. I had a Chicken Chow Mein and bamboo shoots and water chestnuts. We all ate round the table and then La Roche and Keel had set up the projector and speakers in the little lounge so we had our own cinema! We watched the film ‘21’ (me snuggled up with my duvet), it was really good! A kind of Ocean’s Eleven type film – to do with counting cards in Blackjack and winning lots of money in Vegas! Joy made some more of her wonderful hot chocolate. The boys then decided to watch ‘Hitman’, a 15 rating with two guns on the front cover of the DVD. Hmmm…think perhaps I won’t watch that! Left them to it but couldn’t find my phone so went back in there twice (they had to pause so it didn’t scare me) but still couldn’t find it so Claire went in and found it for me. I think they were getting annoyed with me! Bedtime now, its 11.45. Claire rescued me from a killer spider above my bed – I did have to hold the cup and paper while she got down from the bunk bed – the spider moved and everything *shudder*. So last night’s sleep here.

 

Friday 23^rd January

Had that Friday feeling. Hard to get out of bed this morning. In for 8.25 to get ready and soundcheck etc.

Last day in Douglas Ewart went like this:

9.05: Taste did an RE lesson for S1’s
9.50: Envizage did an ‘Abi’ lesson with a group of S2’s.
10.45: Breaktime
11.00: Joint RE lesson for S3’s where Envizage performed Big Ears and College of Knowledge.
11.55: Taste did an music lesson for some S2’s.
12.50: Lunchtime – went down to the canteen and has roast beef, veg and gravy….mmm. Went back to the hall and there were loads of people in there just chatting to us which was cool.
1.30: Envizage did an ‘Abi’ lesson for S5’s who really enjoyed it and it was very hard to keep a straight face!
2.25: Last lesson – a joint RE lesson for S2s where Envizage did Gnome and Customs.

We packed down in and were out by 4.50…pretty good going! The boys enjoyed playing with the trolleys, especially the one that went down steps.

Went to the Cinnamon Café for dinner – Haggis Lasagne and salad followed by Caramel Shortbread Ice Cream. Not convinced by Haggis yet, didn’t really eat it!

Then went back to base for a chat about plans for the weekend. Joy found Lindsay’s Barn key in her pocket so decided to text her to apologise. We constructed the text by going round the room and saying one word each. The story went along the lines of finding a sausage in her pocket, Jesus in her cup and juggling underwear and rolling pastry with 12 disciples. Hmmm…we could all tell it was the end of the week!

Then we went into Wigtown for their youth group. Played Table Tennis and chatted with the kids. Then the plan was we performed Street Tuff, however I got to the second line and my voice gave way so I couldn’t carry on an walked off. So David and Rachel did it instead. Was very frustrating!! We played Uno and ate scones and jam and then went back about 10pm. Went to bed about 11pm.

 

Thursday 22^nd January

Gig night tonight! Nice long lie in, didn’t get into school til 8.55! The day went something like this:

9.05: Envizage did a drama workshop type lesson for the group we saw yesterday while Taste moved the tech stuff back and soundchecked.
9.50: Taste did a Music lesson for a group of S2’s
10.45: Breaktime
11.00: Taste did an RE lesson for a group of S3/4s
11.55: Envizage did an Abi lesson for a group of S5s. Turns out they had already seen us, but wanted to see it again so we did the play and then had a discussion after.
12.50: Lunchtime – went to the canteen and had a pork and apple baguette and potato wedges, yum!
1.30 – 5pm: Putting up some more lights, putting up the Check It Out stand and merchandise stand, rehearsing, sorting out props, sound checking etc – just generally getting everything ready for the gig.
5pm: Dinner – Fish/Battered Sausage and chips, Pizza, Cake, generally unhealthy yummy stuff! We then noticed one of the lights didn’t have a safety chain on it so Keel went and found the ladder and put a safety chain on. We then waited til he had gone and put the ladder back and sat down before telling him he hadn’t put it round the bar. Then followed a series of attempts to put it back without using a ladder – Keel on Matt’s shoulders, Sammy J with a broom handle, Joy gaffering a pair of pliers to the end to make it easier…in the end we did it, but Ollie went up the ladder anyway to reposition the light!
5.45pm: Rehearsing the James Bond Intro, then getting changed, hair straightened (the boys), makeup etc and meeting to pray with some of the helpers from the local churches at 6.30pm.

Doors opened at 6.50pm and a load of kids poured through the doors. We had about 200 people there which was fantastic! We did a ‘new’ sketch called Customs which went down really well and was really good fun to perform!

Lots of Check It Out tracts were taken which is brilliant and we signed lots of photos! Gig finished at 9pm, we left after clearing up at about 9.40pm, got back and ate lots of cake and other sugary foods and Joy made the most amazing Hot Chocolate out of milk and chocolate spread….just what we all needed! Took a while to sleep as the adrenalin (and sugar) was still pumping!

 

Wednesday 21^st January

Same start time today. Had Rice Krispies and Toast with Strawberry Jam for breakfast. We got into school about 8.15, Taste set up and soundchecked their acoustic stuff. We soundchecked and I told the story of waking up this morning with puffy gunky eyes, and remembered I had been crying in my sleep, nice!

 The day then went something like this:

9.05: Joint lesson with Taste for a few Learning Centre Pupils, Taste did an acoustic song, Envizage did ‘What’s It Worth’.
9.50: Envizage did an ‘Abi’ lesson with a group of S2’s. I jumped off the stage during Jerry and at that moment realised I wouldn’t be able to get back up, so had to stay down on the floor until it was time to go, then walk along the front of the stage to the steps. Won’t be doing that again!
10.45: Breaktime
11.00: Envizage did ‘Abi’ for another group of S5’s. As I came back on stage at the end to wrap up one of the girls said ‘Ooh she smiles!’
11.55: Taste did an music lesson for some S1’s.
12.50: Lunchtime – went down to the canteen and got some Chinese pork and rice and went and sat with a couple of girls called Amber and Alanah, Rach came over and joined us and then loads of girls came over and we were chatting which was really nice! Mainly about dead pets but even so, it was good just to chat with them and most of them are planning to come to the concert tomorrow which is fantastic! A few people came into the hall and then all of a sudden, Sammy J walked in followed by about 100 students! It was a kind of Pied Piper of Hamlin moment, very amusing!
1.30: Envizage did a drama lesson for a group of S4s. One of the groups spent a long time carefully choreographing the fight scene in the Good Samaritan – brilliant!
2.25: No lessons last period – we had to move all the tech equipment into a cupboard, we did an all hands on deck lift and shuffle – good work! We then went to the video conference room for a debrief and sang happy birthday to Rosie and ate cake. We planned the gig tomorrow night too.

Went to the café for dinner – chicken in a creamy sauce with Pilau Rice. I then had a cup of tea – a little teapot, cup and saucer and a jug of milk, I felt so grown up!

We went back to the Faith Mission Centre and had a bit of Recharge led by Rach – looking at the story of the Israelites defeating the Amalekites. We then spent some time praying for the students at Douglas Ewart and for the gig tomorrow night.

Now relaxing and going to have a game of Scene It in a while!

 

Tuesday 20^th January

Alarm went off at the much more respectable time of 7am and we set off at 8am. Had a few little bits to sort out, then soundchecked and today went something like this:

9.05: Taste did an RE lesson for S2 while Envizage had a group of S4’s for Drama
9.50: Envizage had a group of S1’s for ‘Abi’ – Taste went off to do some rehearsals
10.45: Breaktime
11.00: Envizage did ‘Abi’ for another group of S1’s – One girl told Abi to stop being like Tracy Beaker – first time that comparison has come up!
11.55: Taste did an music lesson for S1
12.50: Sandwiches for lunch then at 1pm we had our lunchtime concert which was attended by about half the school – about 350 young people! Was incredible to see so many of them! First performance of ‘Amazing But True’ as David and Laura!!
1.30: Taste and Envizage did a joint RE lesson with ‘Big Ears’ (including guest appearance of Abi) and the all new ‘College of Knowledge’ with the Stratislovarian Doctor Eun. And a Q&A session in which I was able to share why I’m doing what I do – brilliant!
2.25: Envizage did ‘Abi’ for a group of S6’s.
3.20: Finish – pack away laptops and microphones and cover everything in blue material.

Had a debrief meeting in the library, which was encouraging to hear good stories and see how much more positive the teachers and students were. We felt like the barrier had been broken through which was great!

Then went for dinner – very excited to see a ‘Laura’s’ van parked outside the Cinnamon Café!

Tuna Mayo Jacket Potatoes and salad for dinner and I had a very sweet hot chocolate after!

The back to the youth hostel to pray and prepare for a prayer meeting later on. In that preparation time we played Jenga with the very silly rule that once you’ve touched a piece you are committed to pulling it out. I was second person to go and I pulled it down! Then 7.30pm was a prayer meeting with some people from the local churches. It was really encouraging to see their willingness to support us, and also for us to be able to share with them positive stories!

I feel better healthwise today (apart from my throat which is still sore and I had a bit of a coughing fit in and after College of Knowledge – not fun!) which helped with enthusiasm!

 

Monday 19^th January

Alarm went off at 5.45….thats early! Got ready in the cold and had breakfast shivering. We left for Douglas Ewart school at 6.45, arriving at 7am, but not being able to get in for about 20mins, meaning unload and set up was pretty manic! The day then looked something a bit like this:

9.05: Taste did a music lesson for S2
9.50: Envizage did All About Abi and a very short Jerry Spring Onion
10.45: Breaktime
11.00: Taste did a music lesson and Envizage did a Drama lesson for S5
11.55: Taste did an RE lesson for S3
12.50: Lunch – Macaroni cheese and green beans mmmm!
1.30: Taste did an RE lesson and Envizage did a Drama lesson for S1
2.25: Taste did an RE lesson for S3
3.20: Finish – pack away laptops and microphones and cover everything in blue material.

We then had a debrief meeting in the video conferencing room. Then went to the Cinnamon Café for dinner. It’s a Christian Bookshop with a café (opposite a shop called ‘Laura’s’ – yay!!) We had a look round the bookshop bit – found ‘More To Life’ by Dennis Pethers on sale…reduced to £4! Very exciting! Dinner was Beef and Haggis pie with neeps and tatties, and then raspberry ice cream. Yes, I ate Haggis. I can’t work out if I liked it or if I didn’t because I knew what it was. We then came back to the youth hostel and finished our meeting, prayed, and then spent the rest of the evening relaxing. Getting excited because it snowed powdery snow, some people played scrabble, Keel was soldering a lead, Matt and Sammy J were playing the accordion, David went for a run, I am typing up the last few days. Just found out that where we are now, we are closer to Belfast than Glasgow! I’ve got stomach ache….blame it on the Haggis. It’s now 8.50, I’m going to have a shower and then go and read in bed!  (We all fell asleep before anyone turned the light out, we were that tired!)

Generally we found it quite tough today, I think the fact I didn’t feel well really didn’t help, but there just seemed to be a barrier between us an the kids – not much response or enthusiasm from them.

 

 Sunday 18^th January.

Alarm went off at 6.50…ugh. Reluctantly rolled out of my warm snuggley bed into the coldness of my room, got ready and Rach picked me up at 7.40am. Drove to the office and met everyone there. Linfords replacement is an Iveco Daily (christened by Matt as Tess….as in Tess Daly). So we drove up to Scotland, with three breaks – Corley Services, Lancaster Services and a random pub called The Grapes, about an hour from our final destination in Wigtown, near Dumfries.  Had dinner at the Baptist church at 5.30pm, then went to the Parish Church for their evening service in which we were involved.  Taste did an acoustic song and we did What’s It Worth and David and Rachel did a sketch called ‘Who Cares’.  The service was an opportunity for the people there to see us, the team going into the local school for whom lots of them had contributed food, money and bedding! We got to the Faith Mission Centre, just outside Newton Stewart about 9pm, the youth hostel where all of us except Joy and Andy are staying. All the boys are in one room, David in another and Rachel, Claire and Me in another. Us girls had four showers between us which means we get to have one each all week, bliss! So I had a nice hot shower and went to bed! The bunk beds are quite low, I decided it was a good idea for me to take a top one in case I randomly sit up in the night like I sometimes do and knock myself out!

Tags: 21, Cinnamon Cafe, Customs, Douglas Ewart, Faith Mission Centre, Haggis, Hot Chocolate, Madagascar 2, Newton Stewart, Tess, Tracy Beaker

14^th January

Staff Retreat at the Barn. Really didn’t feel well today, sore throat and fuzzy head. Almost everyone from Viz was at the Barn where we spent the day worshipping, looking at who we are, chatting and praying in groups. Then the afternoon was the official almost launch of the Check It Out resource, a 6 week course for churches and youth groups to run, looking into Christianity. We had the joy of experiencing a session, sat round tables covered in lining paper, free to doodle and pretend to be 12 years olds.  Played games, watched an episode of ‘All About Me’ (a soap style story performed by Envizage a few years ago), guessed prices of paintings and chatted. Oh so much fun!!! Paper aeroplanes flew, ‘naughty’ words were written, people shouted out silly answers and generally caused havoc. I was on a table with Mike who just kept saying ‘I want to go home. This is boring. Ugh, God stuff.’ Very funny. Were all slightly disappointed to have to come back to our own age! Spent the rest of the day feeling sorry for myself and watching TV!

13^th January

Today was rehearsals at the barn. Going over ‘All About Abi’ and ‘College of Knowledge’, learning a new sketch called Customs which is lots of fun and involves lots of props. Basically Envizage going on holiday and David has packed lots of suitcases with junk (light saber, bunny suit, inflatable fish) but doesn’t have the passports…the one thing he actually needs (prizes for anyone who guesses the moral of the story!). I get to slap David AND hit him with a giant inflatable whale…brilliant! Went through ‘Amazing But True’ and ‘The Watch’ and ‘Street Tuff’, just making sure we knew everything for Scotland! In the evening I worked on a leaflet I am making for Complete Dance, watched Holby City and went to bed!

12^th January

Rehearsals at the barn. Spent the entire day re-learning ‘All About Abi’ with new scenes and characters and David taking over some of the roles that had Rachel played. We also re-learnt ‘College of Knowledge’ with the addition of the Stratislavarian Doctor Eun who speaks entirely gibberish. Oh so hard to keep a straight face! Was quite an intense but productive day! Spent the evening re-arranging and sorting out my room and doing a bit of boxing on my Eye-Toy!

11^th January

Spent the morning at Sarah’s, playing with Maddie and Emi and then Mum came and picked me up and we met Lewis at Tutti and had lunch together. Then went over to Notley Bowl. Mum and I were following Lewis, who, despite assuring us he knew where to park in Notley Garden Village, spent ages driving round and we had to turn round a few times! Had a nice walk though, climbing on the equipment and me wussing out of the high ropes because it was too high, Lewis wussing out because he ‘didn’t have the right shoes on’. Hmmm… Then it was time for Lewis to go back to church and Mum drove me back to Billericay. She came in and met Bob and Julie then went back to Nanny’s. I unpacked and had an early night!

10^th January

Got the train to Braintree and met Lewis at Freeport. Had a coffee in Starbucks and then did a bit of shopping – I got a new pair of jeans from Lipsy. Went into town and bought a hair dye then went back to Lewis’s. What I wanted was a few brown streaks in my hair. What I ended up with was brown hair. Ah well, I still like it! Went round to Sarah and Matt’s in the evening for a Chinese and we watched Hancock. I then spent the night at Sarah’s.

Happy New Year to everyone!!

A massive apology to all fans and readers of whatslauraupto.com for the lack of posts for over a month. I know, shocking and unacceptable behaviour!!

My excuses: Crazy busyness of Christmas tour, lack of access to internet, illness and busyness of Christmas and sheer lazyness of not getting round to writing posts.

I shall do my best to update in the coming days.

Thanks for your patience!!!

4^th January

Church in the morning, I sang. We then went round to Sarah’s for lunch, then to the hand car wash which took ages, then to Nanny’s to give her her Christmas present. Mum was there too. Had a nice time with her and then had to leave to go back to Billericay. Bit of a crazy evening unpacking, sorting out Angel Christmas presents, finishing essay and sleeping!

3^rd January

Had a lazy morning, went round to Lewis’s and we made apple and cinnamon waffles. Went into town to get some bits and then had 7 Balmoral Court Christmas in the evening – exchanged pressies and played Buzz!

2^nd January

Went round to Sarah’s early afternoon and then Lewis and I took Maddie swimming which was lots of fun! She has no fear…just wanted to climb out and then run off the edge into the water! Then had a walk round Freeport and she had a long sleep. Took her back home then went back to Lewis’s for Fish and Chips with Wendy, Andy, Phil and Naomi, then they all watched Mamma Mia and Lewis and I watched his Michael McIntyre DVD – hilarious!!

1^st January

Happy New Year!!! Had quite a lazy day. Went round to Lewis’s around lunchtime and then we met Sarah, Matt, Maddie and Emi and went to see my Nan, took her Christmas presents and stayed there for about half an hour. Lewis and I went back to Mum and Dad’s house and cooked dinner and then we watched Mamma Mia!