Goldfish Eating Bass, Circus Tricks (and a bit of Spenser for good measure)

Today was a busy day indeed with positive thinking and yessing galore. Okay, I might be exaggerating a little bit, but not entirely. Today was the first day of my volunteering experience in a local primary school. I had a few doubts about going as I was getting into a bit of a stressed out state over the amount of uni work I have to do. And I didn't really think it was such a good idea to be around young children when in a bit of a mood. But, I knew this would be a different and, most likely, a worthwhile experience (working with younger people usually is, even if it's tough going). Conscience urged me to go. Next thing, there I was in the volunteer office (standing beneath a bloody hot heater!) with a newspaper in hand (no relevance, I'd just bought The Independent on my way down there) and a volunteer t-shirt. The t-shirt would subsequently be put on with some amount of pride.

So, we journeyed over to the primary school, did the usual 'wow, I'd forgotten what it's like to be in school', and made our way to the classroom. We were soon greeted by a class of small, lively, smilely children. Us volunteers probably looked more nervous than they did. In fact, they looked like they were raring to go. It was so exhilarating being surrounded by enthusiastic, bright and lively youngsters. I admit I momentarily put aside all the study work and absorbed myself (okay, I didn't completely loose myself in the moment, I still acted like a responsible adult) in the imaginative mini-universe of young people delved into art (in its broadest sense) and play. It just confirms for me one of the possible career paths I would like to pursue: working in a theatre education department. The idea of school children being able to benefit in a fun and exciting way from theatre - both doing it themselves and seeing it live - is brilliant to me, and I would love to be a part of that experience. One of the pupils came out with a line which completely cracked me up - in a very good way - about goldfish eating bass. It was all at once so random but so imaginative. It's something only children can do. It brought a smile to my face for hours afterwards. I'm still smiling at it now.

If I hadn't already exhausted myself for the day (actually, I felt rather refreshed after my volunteering) I decided I would say 'yes' to a departmental seminar about Edmund Spenser - that abandonned contemporary of Shakespeare. That's all I knew about him before I went. That, and his having given name to the Spensarian sonnet form, his having written The Fairie Queene and... some other things. I really do know very little about him. I came out enlightened. It was a thought provoking, interesting, really nicely delivered seminar - some great questions asked too. It made me want to delve into the world of letter writing - from the Renaissance right through to more recent writers. There's something about letters which I find absolutely fascinating, and often beautiful and exquisite (read some of Charlotte Bronte's letters and Keats's letters and you'll see what I mean). It's an area to look into once my first degree is finished, along with Shakespeare, Batman and Spooks. - I really do have a bizarre range of tastes where literature/culture is concerned. Afterwards a group of us went to one of the campus bars for a drink and a chat. Another 'yes' in my book (and well worth it too).

I refer to the circus tricks in the title because I forgot to write about my friend's 21st birthday night out. Tut tut to myself. 'Tricks' is perhaps a bit far fetched. There weren't any involved. But we were dressed circus-style, amongst us: a clown, an acrobat, a ring master, and various other brightly clothed figures. It was great fun. Although, I occasionally had to question the D.J.'s music choice. It was well worth saying 'yes' to that, even if I did have yet another tiredness hangover the next day, or days. I say 'tiredness hangover' in absolute honesty. I had very little alcoholic drinks that night.

Hmmmmmm. I've wound down my rather exciting but tiring day with another episode of Spooks. Wonderful programme that it is.

For now, goodnight to all. Much love,
xxx