Potion No.9 And Walking Amongst The Tree-Tops.

If you have curly hair I seriously recommend a product called Potion 9.
It's a bit pricey.
But if like me you've spent a fortune on products which claim to define the curl / banish the frizz / enhance shine... only to find they don't do anything promised. Then this stuff is worth a try.
I feel born again: as i've found The Answer.

Today J and I met up with A and her 4 year old son J.
We went to a forest and embarked upon a tree-top walk.
Ending up above many of the trees.
I imagine it might be the kind of place where creativity strikes as it was so peaceful with a really breathtaking view.
But with and an 11 and 4 year old in tow it wasn't likely.

Live Life Then Give Life...

...isn't that a great slogan for an organ donor awareness campaign?

You may or may not be aware of why I feel so strongly about this subject...I won't labour the point, but if you have a few spare moments do take a look at the site.
It could make an incredible difference to someone.

It's Pisces Time.

That time of the year when the Pisceans amongst us celebrate another birthday.
A very busy time, and frankly I know too many to mention them all individually.
So wishing you all a marvellous birthday celebration.

Apologies if you were amongst the chosen few who received a text message from me late on Saturday night about my outing to a South London Hawian club.
By this point several glasses of wine and rather too many slippery nipples had been consumed.
All by way of celebrating London C's birthday.

Sunday was more genteel. Lunch hosted by M and A. With just a little more wine.
Thank goodness for public transport.

Not being much of a drinker does have some advantages.
In that on those occasions one does partake in an alcoholic beverage or two, it feels like something of an event.

It's V Day.

Well actually it isn't.
But anyway, tonight C and I went to watch the Vagina Monologues.
It was put on by the Performing Arts Society at uni.
Some of it was just so sad.
With the stories of ill treatment and torture.
But mostly it was funny.
C took a liking to one of the actresses.
Reminded me of a fox in the hen house.
Maybe she's been single too long?
Maybe we both have.
I agreed to make some discreet enquiries if the opportunity comes along.
But as i'm not actually out at uni myself this may prove difficult.
Well here's me saying i'm not out.
Did I happen to mention that whilst out gallavanting with the other C on Valentine's day we bumped into one of the lads on my course in our local gay pub?
Marvellous.
He did ask if I knew what kind of place it was....
Well. Yes I do know.

A Very Important Question.

Is 31 too old to be rolling around on the floor, walking like a monkey (on all fours), trying to get your ankle up by your ear and leaping like a kangaroo (while holding your ankles), all in the same afternoon?

Usually i'd answer don't be silly...

But today my aching body is saying that maybe it is....

Mind you, everyone was complaining how tired they were.
So that makes me feel much better.

I'd just like to mention faux teachers careof Hoofie: when someone who says they're a teacher, isn't really.

My ever charming brother has nicknamed me BKS:

Buntingford's* Keenest Student.




*Not really where I study but for the purposes of anonymity that's what we shall call it for
now.

Crime and Punishment.

Dividing the group in half, lecturer M sets one half the task of being prisoners and the other as being guards.
Initially i'm a prisoner.
The role seems to have brought out a rebellious streak and I find myself completely resistant to one of the guard's commands to dance.

Second time around and it's my turn to assume the role of guard.
It was so easy to assume this very dominant role. Scarily so in fact, and provided a real insight into the complete pointlessness of engaging into a battle of wills, just for the sake of it.

It was a great exercise, and reminded me of days gone by. Just a little.

Great day at uni:

• first lecture involved walking around the campus looking for sites which might make an interesting performance space. I especially liked a quaint and twisty fire escape, an archway and an especially old and wizened tree.

• then chatting to some others in the canteen in bewteen lectures about the drama's in their student house. There were some amusing stories with a slightly uncomfortable undercurrent of bullying. Hard to believe such pettiness is going on really.

• managed to get a ticket to see Broken Chords by the Vincent Dance Theatre which was recommended by lecturer L. It means i'll have to miss a lecture but managed to get permission from lecturer S, as will have to travel to see them. This is good but would have just made my excuses if permission hadn't been granted. So much better this way. It's also be the very first time i've been to the theatre alone. Yay!

• took a risk and shared something of my in care past. Only the smallest piece of info. really, but felt like a big step to me as I do (mostly) opt to keep such things private.

And tonight am off out with C to celebrate our singleness!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Even though I find Valentine's day to be like many people, a largely over commercialised nonsense affair. I can still appreciate the sentiment and was very happy to have got a lovely card from J, who in turn was surprised to have a card from a secret admirer*, as well as one from me.
I was also lucky enough to receive several valentine text messages from friends and also an e-card.



*I confess to being responsible for this.

It's half term and unlike being at work when it was possible to take holiday, it's not the same at uni. Which goes on regardless. So whilst J was at a football course this morning I took the opportunity to pick up some marks for a piece of physical theatre from last term. I trotted along to see L, the lecturer who was holding the marks. There's a group mark and an individual mark: group- 55%, individual: 53%.
Again am really happy with these.
Got chatting about the whole uni experience...and mentioned this blog...that should make interesting reading says L.
Ha! I doubt it.
Before the course started i'd heard stories about lecturers handing assignments back with THIS IS A LOAD OF RUBBISH as the feedback.
So I wasn't sure quite what to expect.
But so far the lecturers have been unfailingly positive.
It really does make life so much more pleasant when people are.

Will you pull my tooth out? says J whilst sitting in the cinema watching the space adventure: Zathura.

It was extracted sometime later in the car park of Frankie and Bennys.

Much like life, being a parent and all other states of being which require a smidgen of responsibility. This mature student lark is a bit of a juggling act.
On a semi-regular basis I ask myself what it is i've let myself in for: although this is becoming less frequent.
It can be hard as some of the lecturers are of a similar age to me, and I do worry that by challenging a point they might make it might somehow appear as if i'm undermining them. This is definitely not something I want to do. I'm a student and am relishing the opportunity to share the experience of lecturers and students who have infintely more knowledge and experience within the field of performing arts. But when the discussion creeps into a territory of which I am reasonably well informed ( well I like to think so anyway ), I do feel myself torn.

But. I do still absolutely love being a student.
It's so stimulating to be achieving in a completely new subject and enjoying all the new challenges as they come along.


Recently J joined a local boys dance company who meet in the uni gym.
As this is their 10 year anniversary a big show is being planned by way of celebration.
At first J was adamant he wasn't going to take part in the show, for fear of messing up and embarassing himself.
After receiving high praise from the dance leader he seems to have agreed to take part in the show.
It'd be such a boost to his confidence if he did.

It's that time of the week again and an update is long overdue.
This has been a busy week where several things of note have occured:

* got through a dance assessment without any major cock-ups
* had the second essay returned with a 68% mark.
* had a dream about a lecturer in which she was saying she lived in Stevenage.
(not sure what that's all about?! Any dream analysts out there? )

A curious thing is happening. Anyone who knows me outside of this blog will be aware that my previous career was in the guise of a counsellor. The majority of this was spent working within a prison followed by a brief stint doing counselling-type stuff in a secondary school.
On the face of it Performing Arts and Counselling are really poles apart. Except they're not. Not really.
A large part of this course is reflecting on self and being sensitive to others. Also putting yourselves in the shoes of another. This was all pretty standard when I trained.
It's just not something i'd really considered before.
Also, my counselling training involved many hours of role play: as both counsellor and client.
This really isn't so different to acting.

In a workshop today we were discussing what we'd learn't etc. One of the lads described a previous workshop he'd attended in which he described breaking down barriers. I couldn't help approaching what he'd said form a counselling perspective and being wary about keeping people safe.
I decided that while I have some boundaries which are pretty much solid, there are others which i'm open to having stretched.

Sometimes I feel that some of the discussions we're having are a bit superficial. This can be a little frustrating, and I do keep having to remind myself the the vast majority of fellow students are much younger than I and so probably don't feel the same.
Anyway, that's enough rambling.
Be well. x

It's the weekend. Hurrah!
Went out last night for a bit of a mingle...had fun watching a karaoke competition, catching up with friends and enjoying the local singing talent.
And today i've got up and seem to be gripped by the theare bug. You know the one....where one is compeled to book seats for various performances. So that's just what i've been doing.
Looking forward to Edward Scissorhands and Noise Ensemble.
Tonight i'm meeting with the old work crew to debate the merits of student life over work.
Have a good weekend one and all.

Oh!

Hands up who's read the text I set for last week?
Up shot my hand like a lonely missile heading towards the ether.
( Ok that may be a bit dramatic but I am a Performing Arts student, darrling.)
I soon tucked it back into my lap when realising I was the only one.

• Madonna
• Michael Jackson
• Celine Dion
• Squeeze
• Kriss Kross (supporting MJ)
• Rozalla (supporting MJ)
• Living in a Box ( on the Roland Rat show)
• Bon Jovi (several times)
• Mel C
• Liza Minelli

  These are all the acts i've seen live.....that I can remember anyway.

  • Stomp!
  • The Lion King
  • Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
  • The Nutcracker Suite
  • Night Fever
  • Swan Lake ( the gay love story version)
  • Various pantomimes...oh no I haven't...
  • Random bits of theatre
  • The Royal Variety Performance

  These of course, are the shows i've seen.

  • Kilroy (yes, really)
  • The Wide Awake Club (ditto)

  TV programmes i've appeared on ( the shame).

Ping and Pong

This evening was J's first time playing with the local tabletennis club.
It was like a window onto another world.
It takes places in a school sports hall which is filled to the brim with tabletennis tables and people of various ages tapping a small white ball backwards and forwards.
It seems to be a sport which attracts men of above a certain age (certainly in this town anyway).

I think one of them may have been flirting.
Oh well, J had a good time and that's what counts.