Tuesday
We started the day in the barn, learning monologues, trying my best not to be distracted by David! Then at 10.30am we went to the office as David and Rachel had a NET (National Evangelism Team) meeting from 11am-1pm.So i was sat by myself, on my own, shivering upstairs with my laptop,learning my monologue, working on a video I’m making, trying and failing to print my newsletter and perhaps visiting facebook once or twice! Then Rachel went out in Ivor at lunchtime, I ate the gammon out of my sandwich and carried on working on my video. Then the fire alarm went off! Oooh excitement for a Tuesday afternoon.We trooped out the building and over to the bit of grass the other side of the road (our designated meeting point was the only tiny bit of grass to be in the sunshine!), but it was only us and one other unit out so while i head counted, Lindsay went into the main reception to see what was going on. They had no idea but assured us there was no fire so we went back in with the siren still going and had to carry on working til it stopped! I borrowed (with permission) the radiator next to Lindsay’s desk because its COLD upstairs!! We spent the afternoon talking about the Christmas show, sorting out props and generally faffing, before going home at 4.15pm.
I went upto the library to take back some books and get some new ones, stretch my legs and get some fresh air!
Dinner was pasta and sauce and apple pie and custard…mmmm 
Then spent the evening sorting out for Wednesday, and more importantly catching up with Holby City (silly anaesthetist, annoying Faye and horrible mean nasty Jac!). Had a reasonably early night.
Wednesday
Alarm went off at 5.05am. Hadn’t slept very well so wasn’t too chirpy. Got ready blurry eyed, Rachel picked up Ollie and then me at just after 6am. We drove to the office, jumped in the van, got a few metres before David saying the oil light was on so slamming on the brakes, Rachel leaping out to check the oil, throwing open the side door to get some more, filling the tank, jumping back in and zooming off. (We’re a theatre company – everything is dramatic!). Not too much traffic, got over the bridge before 7 (Toll prices have gone up!! £1.50 now!) and arrived at Christchurch High School just after half 7 after slight difficulty finding it (They go there every year, you’d think they’d know where it is by now!). Had to wait a bit for Andy (the guy organising us for the day) to come, then we had to move the van, unload into cages,get it all in the lift, then down a loooooong corridor. I think we started setting up at 8.05 and were done and soundchecked by 8.35! Pretty good going. We had 5 lessons, all Abi (and with the first appearance this year of Jerry Springonion – David, very funny!!! all year 9s. By the last lesson, a lot of them had seen it already and were skipping lessons to see us, saying our lines before us – very annoying! We also had a first ‘appearance’ of the teacher in one particular scene (David backstage just going ‘blah blah’ into a microphone – but sounding very much like Pingu), so hard to keep a straight face! Rachel also introduced ‘Mr Sharp’ as another teacher in an attempt to make me smile! Was a good day, the pupils were very vocal throughout, difficult at times, but generally ok!
By the time we packed down, carried everything down the stairs because the lift wasn’t playing ball, loaded and left it was 4.20pm. Hit traffic before the tunnel but was moving all the way. I tried to hold my breath through the tunnel but inhaled a bubble so ended up spluttering everywhere. A fairly violent game of punch when you see a mini developed between me and Rachel, as we were giving advice to David on how to be more ‘alluring’!! Back to the office just after 6, unloaded and then back to Billericay at 6.40pm. Had dinner straight away (Jacket Potato, Sausages, Creamed Parsnip and Carrot, Apple Pie and Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream) then spent the evening finishing my newsletter, tidying my room, finishing my video, printing labels and went to bed!
Thursday
Lie in!! Rachel picked me up at 9.45am…aah nice! We were in the Barn all day, blocking monologues, going through the other sketches and learning and blocking the final one. We watched an episode of Doctor Who in David’s attempt to get me to like Doctor Who…it was called Midnight and was actually quite good! All took place in one room and was all skill of acting…so it was educational! I had egg sandwiches today, yum! We decided we’d worked hard for the day so finished at 4 and came home! Got to the end of Wednesday in writing my blog, but then the computer crashed grr. Watched Neighbours (Yay for Libby and Dan) and the news, then had dinner – Salmon & parsley sauce, new potatoes, creamed parsnip and runner beans, blueberries and mango sorbet. Then this evening I have been writing out my testimony and content for some links that we did in Scotland and I’m going to watch Never Mind The Buzzcocks, pack for going home, have a bath and go to bed!
Tags:
Apple Pie and Custard,
Ashford,
Bath,
Cold,
Doctor Who,
Fire Alarm,
Holby City,
Monologues,
Mr Sharp,
Neighbours,
Pingu,
Testimony
) and a full run through of the show. By the time we had sorted technical problems out and packed down it was 4pm, so back to the office, then back home by 5pm! Really not much exciting stuff to tell today and I don’t want to give away any of the secrets of the show! Watched Neighbours…tut tut Susan and Karl!, had dinner and coffee profiteroles for pudding…quite nice! Then watched a double bill of Hollyoaks…ooh the Warren/Mandy/Louise storyline heats up! Then went to the bathroom and all the lights went out…powercut. Ooh how exciting! We found a torch and lit some candles, not sure i’ve ever been for a wee by candle light before… but the power came back on all too soon!