... a weird thing just happened. I just scribbled down a page or so of fiction for the first time since God knows when. Let's see where that goes.

Well, the good news is that T2 Trainspotting is good. It's not as good as the original, how could it ever be, but it catches the spirit of that film and certainly doesn't tarnish the legacy. There isn't quite a scene that catches the spark of some of those in Trainspotting but there is one in an Orange Order pub that made me laugh until I was nearly sick. And there's no question which cast member has aged best...

... and a lot has happened since I was last active here.

I left my long-term job at the college in March. I had been under a lot of stress and it was getting too much and so I walked away. I gave myself six months to recharge and signed with some teaching agencies and since September I have been working in a Pupil Referral Unit, this is where the young people who have been excluded from mainstream school go. It was very different and emotionally difficult but I managed it reasonably well. However, I got bored with not really teaching (most of the time is spent in crowd control) and will be starting at a new place in January. I will be teaching English to 11-16 year olds which is a bit of a change. The great thing with agency work is that if it doesn't work out you can just leave - this really takes a lot of the stress away.

I have an interview for a part-time research internship at The Globe at the beginning of January. Please keep your digits crossed for me as this would be an awesome thing to get and should work around the job I am starting. The Shakespeare stuff is growing. I am on the education committee of the British Shakespeare Association and should get a move onto the Board of Trustees some time this year. I also presented my first ever conference paper at their conference in September on performance conditions at The Globe.

I have also started running (or doing run/walk intervals) and can pretty solidly do 5k now. I also don't get out of breath when I walk up hills and stairs any more.

I went to see both parts of the Harry Potter play yesterday (because my Jamie is in it!) and speaking as someone whose previous experience of Harry Potter stops at having seen the 1st film I have to say that I really enjoyed it. The staging is fabulous with all kinds of wonderful magic and illusions and the new Harry, Ron and Hermione are all excellent (they're Shakespearean actors, you know!!) and I may even had a wee tear in my eye at the very end. Of the new characters, I particularly liked Scorpius Malfoy (great performance from Anthony Boyle).

What made the day even better was that I had a ticket booked for the back of the balcony (4 levels up!) but when I went to take my seat it seems there was a booking cock up and so I was moved down into row G in the stalls (very much nearer the front!) for both shows! And I had paid £10 for each ticket!!!!

And if that wasn't exciting enough, I was sitting 4 seats away from Chris Pine, Karl Urban, Zachary Quinto and John Cho who are clearly on the promo junket for the new Star Trek movie. Nice to see them getting some downtime. And eating Maltesers. And giving the cast a standing ovation at the end.

And I'm being a good girl here, as requested....

.. would you look at my Jamie now!!

I bought a new camera yesterday. I've actually downgraded from a DSLR to a compact - I got fed up of lugging all the gear around. I took it out and tested it today. Doesn't seem too bad...

In a desperate attempt to get me posting here regularly again I have resurrected an old, incomplete meme. It seems I was going to make 100 bookish posts but didn't get very far, so I'm going to pick it up.

Hamlet. When I was a prototype-emo teen, Hamlet was my homeboy. I was so in love with the melancholic Prince of Denmark I used to hope that if I wished hard enough the ending would change and he would survive that duel. No such luck :( I even played Hamlet in our A Level Theatre Studies mini-production of Hamlet and, although it was 30 odd years ago I can still recite most of To be or not to be.

Well, for the last couple of months I have been teaching Hamlet for the first time ever and it's rekindled my love of the play. It's very different looking at it as an emo 40something. I can appreciate Shakespeare's art more now and I'm more interested in the language of Hamlet's soliloquys than having him as my teen-angst poster boy. It's also been great to share it with my students and to see them getting to grips with the language.

It may have been temporarily usurped in my affections by the History plays but, damn, what a piece of work it is. And here is a pictorial accompaniment that I've taken.

Yesterday was the big day. We were at the University of Warwick for the graduation ceremony for my Masters Degree in the Advanced Teaching of Shakespeare. I love any excuse for a good dress up and a graduation is the perfect opportunity. It was also lovely to spend time with the people I met on my Intensive Course in July 2014.

Have a few pics...

Shaking hands with the University Chancellor, a Knight of the realm no less, and suffering severe gown envy:



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It seems that my lovely Jamie is the grown-up Harry Potter.

https://www.pottermore.com/news/cursed-child-play-casts-harry-hermione-and-ron

Please be nice to him in fandom, he's an absolute doll.

And I have just become a member of the education sub-committee for the British Shakespeare Association. This is a BIG thing!

I also discovered yesterday that Ewan McGregor is sort of in The Force Awakens. He recorded some dialogue which you hear when Rey is at Maz Kanata's place.

So, that cool Shakespeare related thing that I mentioned a few days ago?

I am on the short list for it. Skype interview next week.

Keep things crossed for me, please.

Could you tell me what appeal he has for you?

And what are your favourites from his performances?

I'm writing a little piece on him and would like some ideas. Thanks x

It's official! I have a Masters in the Advanced Teaching of Shakespeare!

Oh, and keep your fingers crossed for me, I have applied for a Shakespeare-related thing that it would be very cool to get.

And it looks like I might be writing another cover article for Shakespeare Magazine.

Oh yes, and I got invited to hang out with Ben Crystal at a Shakespearean clowning workshop a couple of weeks ago and to do another interview with him and also to go for drinks afterwards.

Hmm. This is a very Shakespearey post!

Yes. It happened on Saturday! I finally came face to face with Patrick Stump... oh, and the rest of Fall Out Boy.

I reacted in my usual cool, calm and collected manner. Yes.

Erm... no!

I reacted like this...



( Full version behind here!!Collapse )

I have been ill all week. I think I was being held together by adrenaline until the dissertation was complete. I haven't even dared look at it again since in case I discover a stray typo or something equally stupid in it.

I have, however, read two novels just for fun which is an unprecedented event!

We still have the Sword of Damacles of an Ofsted inspection hanging over us at work and I hope that happens before the half term break because I really just want to relax and unwind for that week. I didn't get a summer break because of the dissertation. I'm going to stay with suechosethis for a few days and then having a day out in Bath with my two dissertation pals who have got me through these last few months.

It is also less then three days until I see Fall Out Boy. Hope I'm feeling a wee bit better by then.

Well, here's the finished article, shipped off to the university in the post today...



It seems that I've been held together by adrenaline for the past couple of weeks because now that it's finished I have fallen foul of some kind of icky lurgy. My throat feels like death and I've slept on and off for half the day. The lovely Mr Shakesmears bought me breakfast in bed, French Toast with maple syrup and I have a tub of ice cream in the freezer. Must get better for next week. Can't be all germy around Mr Stump.

Other than that I'm finding it hard to know what to do with myself. I even just made a little dent into the ironing pile.I need to start sorting out my study/dining room as I want to get it redecorated. I have fabulous book wallpaper and want to make it look like an olde worlde study. I definitely need a skull for in here. Definitely.

Student Number: 1264496

This e-mail confirms that you have submitted "Dissertation" for module "IB9DE0" for marking.

We received your submission at 19:21:05 on 1 October 2015.

I have finished my Masters Degree. Now just have to sit and wait for the result.

This means today is the beginning of a new era. I've devoted three years to it and now it's done.

I'll have to find something new to amuse myself with. Some people have said I should expand my dissertation into a book. In the mean time I have a piece to write on Teaching Shakespeare for a published magazine and I'm sure I can find more things to do for Shakespeare Magazine.

That reminds me, I finally had the cover article for the last edition (Benedict Cumberbatch) and I wrote a huge feature on Stratford upon Avon which suechosethis and I also took the photographs for.

http://issuu.com/shakespearemagazine/docs/shakespeare_magazine_08

Maybe I'll have more time to take and edit photos too. Maybe it's time to really start searching for a new job. I have no idea if I'll have one at my current employer at the end of this academic year with our A Level course ending. I almost hope to be offered redundancy, though the pay outs are crap.

We shall see.

Oh yes, and there's the small matter of meeting my absolute hero next week. Girl child and I are off to see Fall Out Boy and we have VIP meet and greet tickets. I am finally going to meet Patrick Stump. And I am going to try and not act like a hyperactive twat. He might understand, though, seeing as he's ADHD too. I am SO excited.

... the reason that I've been so absent from here is that I've been working my little arse off on all things Shakespeare.

Since the residential course in Stratford last summer I've been constantly busy with my MA. I am currently neck deep in dissertation with the deadline hurtling towards me like that stone that chases Indiana Jones. One good thing about the dissertation is that it's been an excuse to interview some of my favourite Globe actors. And we all know who my very favourite is. I interviewed him in June, as I mentioned in a post then, but it was only a couple of weeks ago when I was thinking about transcribing the interview that I realised IT HAD NOT SAVED. Luckily, Jamie is the nicest man in acting and he has agreed to redo the interview with me next week. This means I have to buy him dinner AGAIN. Ho hum.

I hope anyone who watched Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell spotted Jamie sideburning his way through 3 of the episodes. He was Wellington's intelligence officer...



...rather dashing, I'd say. And what a great programme that was.

I've also been writing for Shakespeare Magazine, I have a couple of pieces due to go in the next issue which should be out any time now, it will also feature pictures taken by me and suechosethis.

The girl child has finished her first year of drama school and has appeared in a couple of excellent productions. Here she is looking as 'ard as nails.



Seriously, don't mess with her.

And I have just gone back to work for the final academic year of us teaching A levels. I'm happy with what I've got for this year but it could be the dawning of something new for me next year. With any luck I will have finished this damn MA by then!

I went to one of the BBC Proms concerts at The Royal Albert Hall on Friday evening.

How about this for a combination???? It was an evening of Sinatra songs sung by Seth McFarlane (yeah, him. Family Guy, Hollywood films and all) and JAMIE PARKER (yeah, him, that little gingery bloke that I know). They even did a duet.

Surreal.

1. Marmite- love or hate?
Love it!
2. Marmalade- thick cut or thin cut?
Don’t like marmalade. Ick.
3. Porridge- made with milk or water?
Milk
4. Do you like salt, sugar or honey on your porridge?
Sugar
5. Loose tea or teabags?
Teabags –Yorkshire Tea (the best decaff)
6. Where on your door is your letterbox?
Low down in the front door
7. What's your favourite curry?
Prawn Tikka Masala
8. What age is the place where you live?
Built in 1928
9. Where do the folks running your local corner shop come from?
The corner shop
10. Instant or fresh coffee?
Prefer fresh but I don’t drink a lot of coffee
11. How far are you from the sea?
About 10 miles
12. Have you travelled via Eurostar?
Yep – been to Paris a couple of times
13. If you were going to travel abroad, where's the nearest country to you?
Holland
14. If you're female (or possible even some males) do you carry a handbag?
Mostly use a backpack but I do always have some kind of bag or two with me
15. Do you have a garden? What do you like growing?
Front and back. Front has bamboo, back has trees (including a 3rd generation Boscobel Oak) and flowers
16. Full cream, semi skimmed or skimmed?
Semi skimmed
17. Which London terminal would you travel into if going to the capital?
Liverpool Street.
18. Is there a local greasy spoon where you live?
Yep.
19. Do you keep Euros in the house?
Nope
20. Does your home town have a Latin, Gaelic or Welsh alternative name?
No – but it has a Saxon name, Gippeswyk
21. Do you have a well known local artist or author?
I’m going for Ed Sheeran, he’s a music artist who played his first substantial gigs in the town
22. Do you have a favourite Corrie character?
Nope. Don’t watch them.
23. Are your kitchen sink taps separate or a mixer?
Mixer
24. Do you have a favourite brand of blended tea?
No.
25. What's in your attic if you have one?
Old baby stuff, old toys, books and records
26. If you go out for a cream tea, what jam do you like on your scone?
I really like blackberry
27. Talking of scones- scon or scown? Jam or cream first?
Depends on the day – I say it both ways! Cream first. And it HAS to be clotted cream not thatcanned whipped stuff
28. Barth or bath?
Barth
29. Carstle or castle?
Carstle
30. What flavour of crisps do you favour?
Salt and vinegar
31. If you go to the chippie, what do you like with your chips?
Fish and curry sauce (that’s two separate items!)
32. Take away, take out or carry out?
Carry out
33. If you have one, what colour is your wheelie bin?
Black for normal, blue for recycling, brown for compost
34. What colour skips does your local skip hire use?
Yello
35. Do you celebrate Guy Fawkes?
No – it’s an outmoded sectarian celebration that has no place in 21st Century Britain
36. Dettol or TCP?
TCP.
37. Do you have a bidet in the bathroom?
Of course not. Our house had an outside loo until a few years ago!
38. Do you prefer courgettes or aubergines?
Courgettes
39. In the 'real world' Do you have friends of other nationalities? Which nationalities?
A variety....
40. Do you have a holy book of any sort in the house?
King James Bible
41. Do you prefer a hankie or tissues?
Tissues.
42. Are you a fan of crumpets? What do you like on them?
I love crumpets. I like them with butter but don’t mind a bit of sliced cheese too.
43. Doorbell, knocker or both?
Both – I have a Shakespeare door knocker!
44. Do you own a car? What sort?
We have a VW Golf estate
45. What sort of pants do you guys prefer? Y fronts or boxers?
Neither - hubby wears trunks
46. Anyone still a fan of suspenders?
No!
47. Do you have a favourite quote from the bard?
Quite a lot... I actually hate calling him The Bard. He has a perfectly good name and it’s William Shakespeare. Or Shaxsper. Or Shakspere. My fave is probably the “She should have died hereafter speech” from Macbeth. And I also love the St Crispin’s Day speech from Henry V.
48. Do you like toasted muffins?
I do.
49. Do you think a traditional trifle should contain jelly?
Yes.
50. Do you attend regular religious worship? Of what kind?
Nope.

You'll like this archaeologist_d. I was supposed to be meeting Jamie Parker after today's High Society matinee but he did not appear. Stage door tried to call him. No response. I asked several cast members if he was still inside yet no one could find him. I ended up with Rupert Young texting him on my behalf. After much waiting he surfaced, all apologetic, poor lamb had conked out after the show and been fast asleep. But Rupert was very helpful and sweet.