Recovering

I arrived back in Melbourne Friday night/Saturday morning. I foolishly thought that I would be able to jump into bed and get to sleep straight away and jetlag would not be an issue. This thought was despite the many, many warnings that friends and family have given me. I never really got it! 22 hours travel time through a fast speed day (flew from day into dark then through a day back into dark!)

Sure enough, I got into bed and did not sleep for 5 hours!

I then slept for 5 hours.

I then sort of got through the day in a slight delirium.

10.30 pm got to bed and asleep. Awake midnight. No more sleep.

Sunday was my godsons 4th birthday. Nothing like going to a 4 year old party when you are vague as all giddyup!

Dozed on the couch at 6.30pm....awake at 7.30pm. Bed by 7.45 asleep not long after. I woke at 5am this morning. I am still very tired but I am not delirious. The aim is to have another early night tonight......maybe after my current favourite tv show has finished.

I will review my trip and put in a few photos tomorrow.

Thank goodness I don't have to work until next week!

You know you're a grown up (OR OLD) when......

* go to a party. It's going fine - then one of the drunk, young men decide to light a fire and then help the fire with petrol which makes the fire explode into life with a huge amount of force and you feel yourself get blown away with the force. Then you hear yourself utter incredibly loudly "What. The. F***. Are. You. Doing?" Which then leads to sheepish behaviour - and muttering about you to their mates.

* like to wake up in your own bed rather than doss down on the floor after a few too many drinks SO stop drinking so you can leave and drive home before you drink too much.

* think it would be better to leave a party rather than drink daiquaris with a bunch of people you don't really know.

sleep is good

Day one of my holidays.....what have I done? Nothing - except 2 1/2 hours of phone calls. Lovely.

I had my final one-on-one pilates class last night. I found it very strenuous. My mind and my body were not one. I was laughing a great deal, as was my instructor, as I could not really coordinate the activities that I was being asked to do. The best - feet in table top, arms completing over head pull downs whilst doing a minor sit up. WTF? I realised that giggling doesn't help.

Having had a big morning tea and a yummy Indian lunch I had no need for dinner but I did have a few dry biscuits. I lay back on the couch to relax and I think I must have had a sleep for two hours there.......I was on one channel which had the evening news on at 7.15pm.......I woke up to the same channel and it was still the news but a different presenter......9.37pm.

I went to bed and slept until 8.10 this morning. The only thing that woke me through the night was the heavy lump that is my cat trying to get comfortable on my feet. She got kicked off and I returned to sleep.

My plans for the next few days is to relax, correct the final work I have from my year 12s, write their practice exams and then, as much as possible, turn off.

I do have a few other things - finish making sheets, make a few skirts, sort out the books in my house and purchase a few bits and bobs. Not much really. I am thinking about a holiday to NZ in the summer - a friend has just moved there and I think I might visit her in January.

Do you own striped pyjamas?

Last night, as I wrote yesterday, we had the final night of recitals. I got home at a reasonable hour and wound down with a spot of port and West Wing......

Finally I went to bed at around 11pm and found myself looking at the ceiling. My mind kept going back to one thing.......I had left the heating on in the music centre at work. I was very concerned that I would get back to work this morning and find that the centre had burnt down.......this was the last thing that I wanted - there is a lot of expensive equipment there.

I then had a conversation with myself about the fact that the heating hadn't even worked so there was almost no chance of the place burning down as there was NO heat being generated. My mind then decided to contemplate the issue that the electricity was going and there was a high possibility that the motor might die and again, there might be a fire.

At 11.56 I made this decision. Get up, drive to work, turn off the heating, drive home and go to sleep.

11.58 I was out the door and in my car. I drove - within the speed limit - and made it to work in 20 minutes. This is amazing as it takes me 35 minutes minimum during peak hour. I pulled up outside one of the building sites (we have two - I was outside the hall) and it was then I remembered that I was in my pyjamas, slippers and a short-waisted zipper jacket.

After a moment of thought I jumped out the car, locking it as I shuffled round past the building site and to the boiler room where the heating controls are. I unlocked the room, turned off the controls and then shuffled as fast as I could back to my car. 1 minute 30 seconds total.

In hindsight I realise that it was a stupid thing to do.....but then I am (and was) very tired.

I drove home and all the way home I contemplated the thought that although I didn't meet anyone at the school itself, there might be video evidence.....which could end up anywhere.......

The whole trip took me 40 minutes and I was asleep in bed by 12.45. Amazing really.

This morning I awoke with the thought that door was on the alarm system and that I was sprung on the cameras......I tentatively walked through the school building until I came to the Principal. She made no mention of being alerted by the alarm system.....so far so good.

After keeping my mouth shut (told one person who laughed very loudly....) I did tell the principal. She laughed very loudly too. By the end of recess the buildings and grounds man approached me and asked me how much was I willing to pay to have the footage 'disappear'. Hmmmmm.....I thought that I was sprung so I decided to see where the footage was taken from......

I reapproached the buildings and ground man. I had, in passing mentioned it to another staff member who had witnessed the principal laughing, he then told another and so the story moved...... If we didn't have the hall work taking place I would have been sprung.....there could be footage from the end of the staff area - but I think that this is highly unlikely.....

I don't think there are going to be anymore striped pyjama runs in the near future. Tonight is get to sleep quickly night! I won't stay awake for a long period tonight!

I'M ON HOLIDAYS! The interns are finished!!!!!! Massive concert done! It's all good.

sleep time yet?

I have been back at work two days and I need another holiday.

I have two interns (slightly more experienced than a student teacher) with me this term.......one rang me on Sunday to tell me she was sick. She's been away two days now. What this meant for me was that I had to leave her classes something to do as this is something that she is unaware of what to do at this stage. (note to self - teach this immediately on Thursday when they are back.....)

Then today another teacher in my department was absent so I prepared his work for him too!

The front building has been knocked down and I teach at either end of that 'void'. I have a feeling I am going to lose a lot of weight walking between my classrooms. If I go out the front of the school it takes about 4 minutes to get from one end to the other. If I go through the carpark, round the toilets, through the corridor, across the quadrangle it takes closer to 7 minutes. I know which way I will be going - but then you have to make sure you don't get stopped by a big truck entering the site.

Monday is a relatively light day - only 3 on! Tuesday I have all 6 on! Today we had general assembly and we had a staff meeting after work. Now I am tired. Tomorrow I have 5 on and choir practice.....

It's 6.30 and I have been in my pyjamas for 45 minutes...........

sick

Home sick today.

Woke up and my head cold had taken a turn to the 'interesting'. Sinus headache.................can't breath properly.

That was at 5.45am and I had a shower to do an inhalation. Worked somewhat. Still couldn't breathe.

Made phone call to the answering machine that miraculously covers your lesson throughout the day. Then emailed my lessons to colleague at work so she could print out.....hope she did.

Went back to bed and slept for 3 hours - on top of my 8 hours the night before. Must be sick if I sleep that long.

Woke up, rang the doctor and struggled to get an appointment for this afternoon. Must be lots of sick people in the area today.

Now sitting on the couch. Thought of doing reports - but left my mark books at work. Hmmmm. I'll be fine for tomorrow - especially if I sleep more today.

Later the same day - been to the doctor. Yes there are lots of sick people in the area. Had to wait 40 minutes from scheduled appointment time. Apparently I have croup........lots of it going around! Off again tomorrow.

just stuff

I love a good lie in. Unfortunately I can't get my head and body to work together on a decent sleep in.

7am! What is that meant to indicate in terms of sleep ins?

Ok - it's an extra hour but come on! I like the idea of sleeping in a little bit longer - say to 9am......no much to ask really.

Now I am going to address a rumour.....

The head of department that I work with does NOT, to my knowledge, have swine flu. Yes, he has been absent, sick with a respiratory infection, for the past 3 days but he hasn't been traveling etc. It is a mere coincidence that another staff member is absent with flu-like symptoms as well.

I have started my 230+ reports........I have entered all names into the program and I am slowing starting to input marks.

Before I can finish them I have to mark kids ICT projects which I can't do at home, and I have to allocate marks for their participation and performance in the big ensembles........this week will be busy!

But I am off to trivia tonight with a group of friends. I am trying to remember the balance issue I had promised myself to look out for at the beginning of the year. One thing I noticed is that the more I stayed at home, due to my back being a cactus being, the more reluctant I was to go out. So now I make sure I am going to be out at least 2 nights per week...........which means having to get work done at work. Nice concept that I am aiming to follow......

Enjoy your weekend.

grumbling

Went out to dinner last night which was a fun catch up with some staff from work. Being so overworked at the moment I feel lucky to make an occasional lunchtime.

Got home, went to bed and finally asleep by 11.30pm only to be woken at 12.30 and not able to sleep again until 4.30am! So cross. BUT the fun didn't end there. The grumbles hit my insides.

I might just tell you that there is nothing like the internal machinations of something really untoward working it's way through your system. Pain, incredible pain.......and you know those grumbles only leave one of two ways........I didn't like either but was only really persecuted with one way that involved my lower half.

I ended up going to work for 4 hours this morning as I have a theory group who are sitting their external exam tomorrow.........final class and all. Also my Year 12 Group kids had an assessment task that needed to be done for their overall grade. I left at 11am and got home by 11.30 and slept on the couch until 12.45. Feel so much better.

Going back to the theory class....the kidlet turned up this morning with the other three gentlemen. They gentlemen should pass really well. I don't think she will. Poor poppet - she is under pressure from her mother to do well in everything and so she is pushed to succeed. The kid doesnt know if she is coming or going....hence what happened on Sunday.

I've been sitting and reading assignments for the past hour and loving the fact that I am just about up to date.......Year 12s to do next.

one down, nine to go!

One week into term two and I feel as if I have been caught in an eddy.

I will try and give you a small break down of the week......

MONDAY - new photocopier log in procedure which STUFFED everyone up! We have these whizzbang copiers which store a number of jobs in a row......but the new system has deleted that excellent aspect. Standing at the copier I swipe my card in and I work out the systemal procedure and the touch screen goes out of action when a colleague sends their work from their computer......another frustrating feature that I discovered was the fact that you can't multitask. You could log in, set and walk away. The machine would remember. Now you log in and if you happen to log out before your job is done then the job is deleted. Considering all of this I went to class slightly unprepared. Got it sorted eventually. Normal day of teaching. Went home so tired.........but I had a massage on the way home and collapsed into my bed - after dinner.

TUESDAY - General Assembly. Whole school. One hour. Not one of my most favourite things but there are always a few highlights amongst the presentations. Shortened lessons as a consequence. Crazy lady I work with in my department came in and set up her whirlwind. Amazing. Staff meeting after school where we were informed that due to the economic crises we have lots more kids trying to get into the school. Still thinking through that one - how big are these classes going to get? (most of my junior classes are on 27.....) Saw the osteopath and the back is so much better. Still tired.

WEDNESDAY - More shortened lessons (I should say that a normal lesson is 42 or so minutes. Shortened brings back to 37 or so.) Work my butt off to get through the work.....Year 12s not prepared for performances as requested at the end of last term. Got cross at them but I do understand their lack of focus. Those that did perform were great. Choir rehearsal at lunchtime where we learnt some of two new songs and worked a little on an older one. Parent-teacher interviews with Year 9 and 10s. I only teach one class at these levels. I had 8 booked in but ended up getting through twelve. That was fun.

THURSDAY - Late start....except I had organised for my theory students to come to an early class. They didn't I was there 2 hours early! (Swearing profusely!) Again short lessons. Mad catch up with colleagues for various things. Collected year 8 work and year 9 assignments. Taught Frogdancer's son after school. Came home and collapsed - I was in bed by 10!

FRIDAY - today. NORMAL length lessons but I couldn't cope! I had 5-7 minutes extra which I had to think about......Freaked out my year 12s by playing Shirley Bassey to them! I had Year 7's at the end of the day and they were CRAZY! At lunch I rehearsed with a kid from the school production. Can I tell you that the music in that is so hard! I decided to do my household shopping tonight after school. And now I am sitting on the couch listening to Smokey Robinson on the Elvis Costello show. Love it.

The weekend will be correcting, socialising and just kicking back.

Tomorrow is ANZAC day where we commemorate the sacrifices that our old soldiers (diggers) made, particularly the landing at Gallipoli during WWI. I had planned on going to the dawn service but the weather is not the best and it's cold at dawn, with my back still not 1o0% I have decided not to go.

holidays

I'm on holidays! I am so relieved that I made it. This term has been CRAZY to say the least. The last few weeks I have been so busy that I didn't know if I was Arthur or Martha.

So this is what I have planned for my holidays.......

• obligatory school work - teaching the number of kidlets that I do I decided that I need to plan my whole term during th holidays. I am planning on at least an hour a day. I'll see how I go.
• sorting out the financial part of buying property - speaking of which I will need to run now and look at another one very soon.
• getting my house sorted out - the study organised properly, cleaning through my clothes etc.
• catching up with friends and family
• hair appointment and other girly things
• go away with a friend for the night - a girly night or two away.
  

so that's it so far - in amongst sleeping and resting, reading etc. I might even blog a few more times.

so tired but still awake

Sheesh! I am glad this week is over.

Well - Sunday I went to a friends bbq and overate sausages and cheese. Not in the one sitting. I ate heaps and then suffered the consequences the next day. Thank goodness it was a public holiday.

Tuesday back on deck and working hard in my year 8 band. My year 12s sort of did the right thing all the day.

Wednesday night the year 8s performed REALLY LOUDLY and painstakingly fast at "Meet the year 7s. Parents and teacher night." I haven't laughed so hard in so long. My Percussion kids took off like a rocket. I did the best I could to keep up with them. Rehearsals were not like this.....their first performance for the year was a hoot. We have had 4 rehearsals on new pieces and the kids have been, on average, playing for about 8 months. I was so impressed. the non percussionists (well the flautists) were trying not to laugh at my facial reactions while they played their instruments.

I had some of the more bizarre conversations with some parents. In fact one dad was doing his best chatting up lines on me. That was fun! Glad his wife wasn't around at that exact moment......got away from that one and chatted to a woman who told me that her daughter had to stop playing the trumpet as it would probably ruin her teeth and therefore her good looks.

Finally got home, after my singing lesson, at 9.

Thursday I taught all day and we had the house music festival during the night. One of my year 9s was caught wagging and finally turned up during the last lesson of the day. We had a chat and he did improve through the lesson. I was impressed by his change.

Thursday night, after talking to a fair few parents, I got home 10pm.

Today my student teacher finished up. She is very, very good. I look forward to working with her when she comes back as an intern. The only downside to her finishing today was the crazy emotional meltdown a student had. It was awful. We dealt with the situation but it was awful.

I got home between 6 and half past. Lying here on the couch. I should be asleep but can't be bothered getting up. will as soon as I have finished the post......

In amongst all of this I have booked tickets for Angelique Kidjo, organised the replacement of the top casing of my laptop and finally got my itunes working for me again. Very happy with my ability to download again.

The back neighbours have had a few LOUD fights at night this week. As I have rearranged the lounge, it is not as easy to hear the statements being shouted from one to another. I miss them.

Next week will be even more crazy. No lunchtimes for me next week. Rehearsals for a main character in the school musical, rehearsals for a girl quartet for the cabaret night and finally standard choir rehearsal.....AND I have to take all my own classes.

Its too darn hot.

I am sitting at home after being out for dinner and relishing in the fact that it is 24C (75F). This is fantastic after the 45.1C (113.18F). The house is starting to exhale the hot air.

Then there are all the power outages. I have been lucky but I know people who had over 30 hours of no power. It came back on today then went out again! Where I went out to dinner they had the upper hand over all the nearby restaurants. They were the only one with power. Of course they are run off their feet and everyone serving in the restaurant is looking a little stretched.

What the power companies are talking of now is enforced black outs - 2hours a pop - to try and cope with the amount of energy being used. I would hate to think what the carbon footprint is for the state at the moment!

I also heard in the news that the state government is thinking of utilising emergency powers to force the non use of certain things. The report didn't mention which things....

Surprisingly I have not heard much from the Western Front out the back. They are quiet. I am blessed.

Tomorrow is set to be 33C (91.4F) which is actually really cold compared to the last few days. Oh who am I trying to kid. It's still hot but I am thinking that it is less than 40C (104F). The long range forecast is low to mid 30s for the remainder of the week. With kids starting it will be interesting. But this is summer. This reminds me of what being a kid was like.......

Bringing me to my thoughts on my 'new' house - environmentally friendly and designed for the hot and cold.........

back to work

I started back at work yesterday.

It was, and still is, bloody hot!

Yesterday topped 43C. (109F) Today 44.8C (112.64F). Tomorrow will be about 43 again! Overnight we have got down to 29C (84.2F). Tonight will be 27C (80.6F).

I have minimal air conditioning and I am not turning it on when I get home as the room it is in gets the strongest afternoon sun. Despite this I have slept well.

Starting work yesterday I developed a nasty headache which had migraine-like side effects (bloodshot eye). I was a bit of a pain to be around - what with the idea of going back to work, the heat and then the amazing amount of noise amongst the staff just threw me completely.

I was a bit out of it. I didn't know but a few others noticed.

Today was better for me but not for a 'local'.

As I left school I saw a little possum struggling to cross the hot road. I moved closer to it and it tried to find comfort with me. Possums just don't come near humans.

I tried feeding him some water but it was not working. I picked him up and walked back to the school. A parent of an ex student stopped and helped me by picking up my gear. When we got into the school I wrapped the little baby in a wet towel and got instructions to the nearest vet from Scott, who also put a box together for me to carry the possum in.

Unfortunately the possum didn't make it. When I got to the vet he told me that lots of possums have been brought in. A lot of possums make their homes in the roof of peoples houses. With the temperatures we've been having it must be SOOOOOO hot in the roof. The vet was thinking most roof cavities were closer to 50C (122F) or more!

Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. It wont be cooler but a cool change is coming......apparently.

They're in

I finally finished them and I handed them in - reports that is. Only 170 of them. My 'buddy' (proofreader) wrote 220. This is ridiculous. She teaches 4 classes more than me but works less time than I.

How is this possible? She only teaches junior classes who have 1 practical and 1 theory/classroom contact per week. I have 4 classes like this, 1 at 3 contacts per week and 2 at 5 contacts per week.

She's a great proof reader and an excellent report writer - I read all of hers!

Now I have some serious relaxing to do.

I went to the hairdresser yesterday and had my hair touched up. It looks great.

Yoga tonight.

Christmas shopping tomorrow after my morning walk and my singing lesson, which I had to put off today!

Next week - legs will be de-haired and I will also have a massage. I might also see if I can squeeze in a visit to my dentist. Then I am off to WA! Woo Hoo!

I'm starting to feel pretty good already.

More videos and influence

So I decided to give you two links today. (update 15 exams to go! Spider bite almost gone but still itchy!)

The two links i am giving to you revolve around Paul Weller! What a legend. I am in the process of rebuilding my collection of his work.

Here is "A Town Like Malice" from The Jam



and Style Council's "The Walls come tumbling down"




I have to investigate his work a lot more.....While I'm on re investigating artists I am checking out David Bowie, Paul Simon and a few others. Keep a look out for my thoughts soon.....

Excursions

I am about to get changed to go to work to go on an excursion into the city to the soundhouse. The soundhouse is a place that is set up for kids to record, edit and compose their own music electronically. It should be fun. Plus I am able to wear jeans for two days!!!! (casual day tomorrow.)

I had a great night sleep last night due to the fact that I was so relaxed after yoga. The kids are lucky.

Tuesday

It's very exciting - I have been clearing my nose for 24 hours and there is no let up in sight! I just thought you should all know. (well we have slowed now!) I haven't taken any herbal or other sinus medications. The doctor I saw yesterday told me that he thinks it is better if you allow your sinuses to go nuts. (my words not his) Those of you who suggested a neti pot - thank you, you all freaked me out. I might invest in one for the future. Inhalations have been my go today.

I am sitting here doing my tax - should've done it earlier but, meh! I've got until October 31 so if I do it now I will be laughing.

I spent just under 2 hours on the phone to apple help today. Reason? I can't log onto itunes - which is where I buy music from. Anyone got another site that might be a little better but still as safe? The issue that I have is that the connections are not right - I keep getting rejected. I am almost over that.....the guys at apple aren't. I had beautiful comments coming back to me like "that's an unusual situation", or "I wasn't expecting that" (bodes well.....) and my personal favourite for the day "I am at the end of my professional expertise and I don't think I can help you." Thanks for the honesty sir! I have an idea of what it is that I need to do....but don't have the expertise to do it. I will chat to techs at work tomorrow.

I'm off to work tomorrow and I am almost excited. I have gone a little stir crazy here today....

Last night I watched Boston Legal - which I don't normally catch as it is after my bedtime and I don't have a recorder. I will invest in one I think. I have forgotton how much I love that show.

Some things I have learnt

These are the things I have learnt about being sick and staying home.

1) Daytime telly is a crock. There are shows on the the television that make me laugh but most make me cry! Why was I watching? Well my concentration was almost nonexistent. I couldn't knit, nor could I read. I decided to watch a dvd but that was late in the day and the damage had been done.

2) Don't go shopping when you are unwell. There are a number of reasons for this.
First, you buy things that in a month of Sundays you wouldn't buy EVER! I have things on my shelf that I am now looking at with a cocked eyebrow and thinking 'HMM!'
Second you take about 3 times longer to shop. You move along look at the shelves and ponder. You might have a moment when you have a head spin, or a hacking cough and then recover and finally move on.
Third, there are mad women who have 2 -3 kids who do their shopping in the middle of the day. They don't make allowances for anyone else, sick or well. They push through. Why? Well they have to get the shopping done BEFORE whichever child cracks it. Be prepared to get pushed around and have major head spins again.
Fourth, there also those who don't work and want to spend some time with the world and the grocery shop is the time and place for that. I learnt not to make eye contact with the vast majority of the population.
Finally, even if you have a list don't expect to follow it! (Refer to the first point.)

3) Don't try to do much housework. Better still just learn to live in a mess. I am now sitting amongst so many half done things. I won't be doing much today. I might just sit and read instead - or knit.

4) Nap. I didn't. Should've! Suffering now.

I hope these help you out.

my review of the concert

I made it through the concert. I'm home today. Hacking cough, unbelievable sneezing but otherwise ok!

Actually I should tell you about getting through a concert with the above mentioned cold symptoms.

I had explained to the kids that a performance is like a duck swimming. On top (the stage) is all smooth and there is no idea that underneath (backstage) there is frenetic motion going on. Many of them watched as I held the wall and had a good spluttering cough and then pasted a smile on my face and walked onto the stage. I think they got the analogy....

There were two moments that I freaked out a little. Once getting onto the podium just before I conducted my year 8 babies and then getting off that podium again. I had major head spins. Was not looking elegant. (Actually I think that would've spun the kids out if I had collapsed/fallen as I got onto/off the podium.) Before I got onto the stage I had had a major head spin and a hacking cough. The kids were concerned.....I was concerned! I grabbed a lozenge and headed off to the stage.

I just want to say how impressive the kids working on the backstage were. These kids worked their little butts off all day and night! I hope that the people I work with who read this find their names and thank them. The kids were absolutely hammered by the end of it! I don't think we'll get them back again! What will happen next year? Bugger it....we'll work on that next year!

The kids rose to the occasion brilliantly! All the ensembles were fantastic. It wasn't as long as I thought it would be - we had one extra item the Rock Ed kids dancing and they were great, and still finished by 11pm! I got home just on 1am after packing and unpacking the truck.

My 3 groups were great. First Choir - they were shit on Tuesday at rehearsal and I was so worried about the first piece they sang. We had to practice singing with music and dealing with folders.......They were much better last night and I was very relieved and quite chuffed. Go team! Froggie's first born in this group.....

Year 8 band - fantastic kids inspite of my crazy head spinning moments. My conducting of the first piece was haphazard but they played in spite of me....... We had only looked at that particular piece 5 times, including last night. I am thrilled with them! Froggie's second born in this group and he played his solo well!

Finally the massed singing - 500 kids on stage singing. It is an ego rush when you control that many voices. The soloists were great - Frogdancer's (Froggie) eldest had a solo. I am pleased with his singing, being his singing teacher and all. He has this big quality to his voice!
The whole school were reasonably loud and I was pleased to let them all go so we could pack the truck etc.

I'm off to sleep, do some household shopping (severely out of food!) and generally rest until Monday!

Tuesday night telly.....

I am watching this amazingly stupid TV show: "Wipeout!" WTF! I know we have stupid tv shows here but this is dumb as! Why would you throw yourself in front of, on top of and in the way of objects that knock you down? (and probably hurt you on the way)

I am sitting here watching the show and I feel like laughing but, having spent most of the day quiet - except for choir - I am mute with a stupid grin on my face. The commentators are trying to make it sound interesting........Keep at it fellas.

Now why was I at work? Had to be with a concert on Thursday - I have 3 LARGE ensembles. Year 8 band 78 kids, Choir 60+ kids and the Massed Choir at the end of the night with 500+ kids! I have had rehearsals everyday with all of my ensembles. It was fun today not speaking.....The kids were fantastic. My student teacher learnt lots about personality and presence.

Another early one tonight and see how we go......