Writings and ramblings

The exclamation mark doesn't really capture how I feel. I'm a bit...flat, really. The exam itself went ok - not super brilliantly (unlike my last workshop lesson, which was one of the best classes I'd done, period) but I think I got in most of the points (though I realised one major one as I was leaving the exam room), and I was playing over in my head things I forgot to mention in it earlier today (exam itself was yesterday, around lunchtime), but I can't think about it too much. It's done. And hopefully, that will be that. Overall, I'm ok with how it went. I do feel I could have done a bit better - I'm not sure if that was a question of better preparation, nerves, could have had the lesson more solidified in my head, etc - but I'm basically ok with it. I *think* I'll pass, and really, the marks I get on the exam aren't the major thing; the major thing is to have the certificate. Am trying to tell myself I'll really get better as the years of actual teaching progress, as I get more experience, learn more about dancing, about the music, about ways of handling a class, the whole shebang.

There'll be a bit of a break over summer in terms of dancing, and I think after the past six months, I'm going to need it! When term time picks up again in September it's going to be very full-on, with new people for the University club, and a beginners class for Branch. I look forward to them; but it will be a lot of work, so for now, time to enjoy a dancing hiatus for a bit. :)

( Well, the good news first )

( then the bad )

( Dancing and Newcastle )

( Me at Grey's Monument, Newcastle city centre )

In other news, I'm very happy to see the daffodils up at last; they make me very happy. See new icon for the ones that have sprung up in our barrel in the back garden, and these two pictures under the cut: ( Daffodils from barrel )

My orchid has also completely blossomed now, and I love it to pieces (probably the purple colour, but also the fact that following my horticulturist neighbours advice has worked!)( Three pictures of my orchid )

And also, if you ever wonder what happens to potatoes if you leave them in the cupboard for ages...( wonder no more )

That was an interesting thing to pull out of the pantry today!

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In terms of blogging stuff, I'm itching to do an update of what turned out to be a busy first three months of 2010, which I may do after I've eaten dinner which is in the oven right now. Have happily though as a result of this post deleted a few drafts I've made as a result of attempting to blog. Makes the whole journal feel a bit 'cleaner' if you will.

At any rate, I'd like to do this before heading off to Madrid to see my sister for Easter. She has the net over there so I'll hopefully update on being there whilst I'm there, though from 8-12 April I'll be visiting a friend, K, in the French Alps, where he tells me the net is rather sparse. But I think I can cope without it for a little while. ;)

Record of Teaching Practice has been sent off via email, hard copies will be in the post by Monday, and I'm overall pretty happy with it. There is a vague chance RSCDS HQ might ask for it to be re-submitted, but fingers crossed it will be ok...I'm hoping acknowledging that my lesson plans are a little bit sparse and that I should pay better attention to what music I use will compensate for them wanting more details on the music...

The other good news is my cold is subsiding. I spent most of the afternoon/evening in bed yesterday, partly just trying to keep warm and party because I wasn't in the mood to do much of anything. It appears to have done me good. Nose is no longer dripping like a tap and I'm definitely feeling a bit perkier. The self-medication of strepsils (supplied by house mate), lemsip, tea, and bovril seems to have worked, despite the lack of appetite (tis nearly 4pm, and I have only eaten some bread, but I suspect food will seem appealing later this evening).

I do have photos of the snow, but my Facebook account is being funny and doesn't seem to want to let me share things with people who aren't on it...does this link work for anyone who isn't on there?

Snow in Cambridge

Else I might post them to photobucket or the like if that fails.

Right...more tea or bovril is in order now I think.