14th 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!
13th 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!
12th 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!
11th 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!
10th 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.