just another morning here

We’ve just got home from seeing the Y6 productions at Abbie’s school.

There are two Y6 classes this year, and one of them did a mashup of the Old Testament while the other one did a quick skip through the New Testament. The first production included excerpts from Joseph (and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat), David and Goliath (The Giant Slayer), and Jonah (Jonah Man Jazz) – the second performance was The Gospel Show.

Abbie played Joseph – and then a Philistine, and then a drunken Ninevite – not sure which part she enjoyed the most! Joe and Anna ended up being involved too – Anna supported the Y6 keyboard player in one of the jazzy pieces that he couldn’t quite play, so Joe helped with props. It was a great evening, really loved seeing Abbie and all her friends enjoying themselves

We went to see Josiah’s Y4 production at school tonight – a very entertaining musical version of Hansel and Gretel.

Josiah played one of the robbers who tried very unsuccessfully to kidnap Hansel and Gretel for a large ransom, but they were foiled by Gretel who conned them all into tieing one another up instead Great fun all round, good performances from all the Y4s, and we even got a glass of wine into the bargain!

Or: so much for less junk food this year! This week we’ve had a few muddly mealtimes as the girls have been rushing about to panto, and timings haven’t exactly been family-meal-friendly!

They had a technical rehearsal on Monday night, full dress rehearsal on Tuesday evening, then performances every night after that. I’ve been helping with the front of house for the past couple of evenings, but tonight we’re going to watch properly, along with Grandma, Grandpa and Robyn. There are some pictures on flickr but only for friends and family as they’re not my photos!

Panto has been great – loads of hard work but the girls have loved it. They’ve made friends and had fun, and I think it will be much like pregnancy – I’ll have forgotten about the niggles by the time the next one comes around and they want to do it again!

In the middle of it all, on Wednesday both Anna and Abbie sat entrance exams for St. Margaret’s – and we heard towards the end of the week that they’ve been offered a music scholarship and an academic award respectively – which is great news. We had toyed with the idea of applying for a specialist music school place for Anna but they’re all miles away which would have meant full time boarding, and we quite like her really, so actually we’re all very happy to abandon that plan and keep her at home, but in a school where she will have a peer group doing music at the same level that she is. So, not exactly sure yet when Anna will move but it might be soon, and Abbie will go in September.

So, back to panto – looking forward to a great night out watching it tonight. Tomorrow Orchestra starts again so no chance of a lie-in, but after the main orchestra rehearsal the girls have to miss Chamber to get back in time for the matinee. Then one more performance in the evening and it will all be over. Until next year … maybe!

Got home to find a letter for Josiah on the side; it was from Boden – he got all excited as they’d all entered some competition or other a while back, to design a t-shirt with ‘something beginning with B’ on it. Joe had done a really good picture of a bumblebee which turned out looking slightly Lauren Child-esque. On closer inspection his letter was a runner’s up prize just saying well done and there were some special stickers that came with it. He was pleased to have been congratulated on his efforts, anyway

Then after piano lessons and tae kwon do (yes Tuesdays are very busy!), tonight’s entertainment was a showing of Theatre Alibi’s Teapot round at the kids’ school. I think this is the third or fourth time we’ve seen a Theatre Alibi production and they are consistently high quality in every way possible. Great storytelling, stunningly creative use of props, sets, etc., and some incredibly talented performers. The play was accompanied by a single cellist, using various special effects as well, and she was excellent too.

One of the kids’ friends gave them all some sweets which they ate on the way home, then as we got back all hell broke loose. Turned out that Abbie had offered Josiah a love heart which said ‘Cheer Up’ on it, but then in order for him to cheer up, in her wisdom she decided that he ought to be miserable first, so she punched him So he retaliated, unsurprisingly! Daft children. It did make me laugh, even though I shouldn’t have! Thankfully they both managed to say sorry and make up before going to bed, all is now peaceful!