Butterflies.......

I'm feeling so unsettled lately. I have so much nervous energy! This is all strange and new to me. Ususally I am a fan of new experiences, but I am NOT enjoying this one. I feel like I am waiting for something bad to happen!

Maybe this is due to the fact that I have just recently started to really FEEL again. I have been wondering through this beautiful life with rose-coloured glasses. It's not like it's been easy sailing either! I have had some KAK experiences! For example: I was fired from my first job because a 15 year old GIRL said I touched her!!! You find a girl who I have touched, and I will introduce you to a liar! Not even that affected me the way little things are affecting me now..... The other day, while I was driving to work, I was SO MOVED by Barbra Streisand's cover of the gospel standard Holy Ground! Mr Q was crying mense. Another example (which was much more embarassing) was in my first year class on Friday. One of the boys started speaking (very emotionally) about the fact that one cannot always be who you are in company: about the need to hide! I cried with him......in front of my class! I have NEVER cried in front of my students!!!

So what the hell is going on! If you have an answer, please speak up NOW!

I don't know what's happening, but......I am LOVING it. I am, for the first time in a long time, being affected by other people's fears and insecurities. Once upon a time (a very long time ago) I was like this. Before people started judging me for my strange (by that I mean gay) ways! Growing up in the closet is difficult. Parents do their best for their children, ALWAYS! But, my parents were given a problem (me) they did not, and could not understand. So what do you do, where do you go if not to Mamma en Pappa. Pappa is 'n predikant!!! Ek gaan Hel toe!!!! Al my broers is popular en het meisies, en hier sit vet, lelike ek alleen. So, you stop feeling......for 20 years!

So here I sit (alone in my office again), listening to Barbra (again), with butterflies in my stomach. I am KAK scared of my unpredictable self....... But I am equally excited! In my 32nd year, I am getting to know myself again. It's freaking out those who are very close to me, but I think they all know it's for the better! I just hope I don't ever become like Paul (my AMAZING colleague and director) and start crying at (literally) the drop of a hat......

Random thoughts (alone in my office)

This has been a good week! One that has been filled with laughter, talking kak, time spent with special friends, reconnecting with old friends, old acquaintances becoming new friends..... sleepless nights alone, long working hours, sick (again!)...... I love how life just makes things work out for us: I had sleepless nights because I missed my love (that's positive), my working hours are LONG, but my students make me happy (that's positive), when Robyn realised I was sick and had no time to go to the doctor/pharmacy, she gave me tablets (that's positive). Why is the trend to focus on the negative then??? For me, the glass is ALWAYS half-full.

On a different note: I am alone in my office this morning. I haven't been alone in my office in a LONG time, and I don't quite know how I feel about it. I fear being alone with my thoughts! But right now it's kinda nice. Don't get me wrong - I would choose company over being alone every time, and I miss my friend. But.....this is nice. Is that what age does to one?

Funny little thought about age: the average life expectancy in South Africa (according to wikipedia) is 49.3 years. So FUCK wikipedia, I'm going with the bible! Psalm 90:10 says: The days of our years are threescore years and ten [70 years]. Does that mean that in 3 birthdays time I will be middle-aged!!!! YOR!!!!!! You're right Shaun, Im OLD.......and I've had heart surgery!!! Djy! A person doesn't joke about surgery!

Which leads me to another random thought. Why DON'T we joke about things like surgery? The first thing I said to my dad after his triple bypass operation was: Het Pappa dit geniet? I got a smile! It's like when people tell moffie jokes. They tell their jokes, and they tell their jokes UNTIL a moffie walks in. Heeerel mense! That effing moffie has heard them all. He's the pro! Hoekom is julle almal nou sommer tjoepstil?

Mense, Keith told me last night I'm becoming too common! I think I must stay away from those cloras (is that how you spell clora?)! They just make a person common.....Yor! I'm glad I'm not common ne!

Liefies vir almal!
Ek gaan nou chila......

Saleh and my MID-TERM BREAK

Mid-term break wasn't so bad after all. I rehearsed, did the concert, taught, played/sang at the funeral and spent yesterday with mom-in-law! I enjoyed all of the above. In addition to this, I slept late twice (today I only got up at 1pm), spent a day with my dear friend Saleh ('twas AMAZING!), an afternoon with Mrs Kleinhans (my 80+ year old friend) and even had alone time with K! Also stayed abreast of current events (facebook!) and e-mailed a friend or two, offering advice......in true Mr Q (take responsibility for yourself) style! Was productive and I got some rest.....

The highlight of my weekend was the day with Saleh. Now I haven't seen Saleh in a LONG time. So I went to his new shop, saw the cottage he is renting, saw the house he is buying, visited his mom, visited his friend Martin, coffee in a tea garden, wine tasting in Constantia and lunch in Kalk Bay.......and chatted and joked and just enjoyed each other's company.

Saleh and I met 7 years ago. He came into my life at a crucial time, and helped me through a very difficult patch. A month before I met Saleh I was fired from my first job. According to the school (and the police report) I touched Samantha (yep a girl!!!!) inappropiately: apparently I cupped her boob and then slid my hand down to her.......ooohhhh NNNOOOO......I can't even say the word. The closest I can get to a name for it is fanny! KAKKA! I have and would NEVER, EVER even LOOK at a tart! But, I was fired from my first job after only 1 term. It would have killed me. I was broken: I did not work for 7 months! I would probably have done something really stupid if it hadn't been for Saleh. Saleh worked around the corner from where I live - he was a shop owner. I spent EVERY working day with him! I would go with him to measure curtains, hang curtains, buy material.....Saleh was, in short, the distraction that kept me sane while I was seeing lawyers, going to police stations....... I am eternally grateful to him for what he did for me, and I love him deeply.

On Friday it felt like nothing had changed. I was so exhilerated that evening. We bring out the light (as opposed to darkness) in each other. Why, though, did we allow ourselves to drift so far apart? I know why I allow that to happen: my insecurities. I am always worried that I'm gonna maak 'n las of myself - I only realised this recently, when a younger friend (jy lag al weer vir my ne) told me he doesn't sms because he doesn't want to maak 'n las. He (the younger one) knows that I love him, and I told him that he could never EVER become a las. I meant that! So you can see where I am going with this! I will not let Saleh out of my life again: he's too important to me. Hopefully he feels the same.....na I know he does!

Craig Ross's Funeral

I played the organ and sang for a funeral at the church where I served as an organist for 10 years - until I stopped going to church completely. In the last 3 years I have only been to church's to play/sing for weddings and funerals. But today was different. Today was MY church. I saw all the old congregants, we sang all the old hymns, I played the organ that my choir bought after raising the money ourselves.........

I also saw the leadership that let me go, had cake and tea in the hall where I played my final church fundraising concert, stood on the stoep where I would hide and cry during church services.........

A part of me wanted to say Yes to all the people who begged me to go back to the church today: they have not had a musician there since I left three years ago. I realised how much I missed being part of that kind of community. And then my head reminded me of the countless Sunday mornings when I would have to pull off the road to calm down and stop crying. The phone calls to my dad in Joburg to ask for advice. How unhappy Keith was with the unhappiness the church caused.

So when a little old lady asked me if I would ever belong to a church again, I found it very difficult to answer.

Enough about me. Today I had the great privilege to be part of a send off for the late Craig Graham Ross. I was asked to play the organ, and sing a solo. When I asked Maureen (Craig's wife) what to sing, she said that I had known Craig and that I should decide myself. STRESS! I then thought of Craig the man. I met Craig 13 years ago. He was a sickly man, in constant pain. There were 2 very special memories. One was Craig's standard comment whenever he heard anybody speak about a good church musician: Yes, but you haven't heard OUR church organist. Say what you want, Craig Ross was loyal to me. The other amazing thing about Craig was the fact that he NEVER complained about his health. WOW! I sang For Good from the musical Wicked.

So what did I learn from Craig? How to cope with adversity. How, you may ask? SMILE! Craig Ross always smiled with me. It warmed my heart. He would make whoever was pushing him around (in his wheelchair) stop wherever I was, just to smile and greet. Now when an older heterosexual Christian man shows such love, compassion and tolerance for a rather difficult, always thinks he is right, LOUD queen (!)..... That's someone special there. Thanks Craig. Your love did not go unnoticed!

MID-TERM BREAK

Funny how we all moan about our places of work - me included. But every now and again our bosses do some really cool things for us! One of those cool things at my place of work is the mid-term break. We get a weekend off (friday to Monday) slap bang in the middle of each term. We are worked HARD at the College. If I have a half hour break in my timetable, it gets filled asap. So when mid-term break comes around, I NEED that weekend.

But now I'm sitting here at home: first day of mid-term trying to figure out what the hell I'm gonna do. I moan all year that I never get a day off. Now that I have one, I have FILLED it with activity. Was meant to meet a friend for coffee at 7 this morning, but my tummy decided to fuck with my sleep!!! So I needed the sleep this morning! Sorry friend. I now need to go to Constantia to meet another friend for brunch and a kuier. Thereafter I am teaching for 3 hours, after which I get into my car to drive to the City Hall for a rehearsal of tomorrow night's Welsh Choir performance. Tomorrow I was booked to work with exam students all day, and then off tho the performance. It changed though: First I'm going to play and sing at Craig Ross's funeral, then off to college to salvage what I can of the exam rehearsals, straight to Welsh Choir performance. Sunday will be spent with mom-in-law, and I don't even wanna THINK about Monday!

I'm not complaining! When I was sitting at home depressed because of a lack of work, I asked God to make me busy. If you didn't know this, I am telling you now that God has a sense of humour! Ask ANYONE who sees me everyday what my life is like. I run around like a headless chicken all the time. It's a good thing I do not have children! But......I LOVE IT!

I have so much responsibility: it causes stress, screws with my health, interferes with relationships...... But it makes me feel ALIVE! I have found my purpose for now - I do believe (by the way) that our purpose changes a few times in our lives. Mine is to inspire! What a privilege.

For those students with question marks right now? I believe in TOUGH love. I sometimes think the TOUGHEST!  

In conclusion? Well I had some train of thought, but I went off on a tangent...as usual. Anyway, enjoy your weekend!

Parallel Consciousness: A Play by the 2nd year Drama Students!

I had quite an emotionally charged Master Class with my 2nd year babies today. They have spent the last 5 weeks preparing a play that they wrote themselves: Parallel Consciousness. They asked me to attend their performance tonight. I am not in the habit of attending drama performances at the college. I feel that it puts me under too much pressure to give my opinion of their work. So i said No. They responded quite....uhm......emotionally. I then suggested they offer me a comp to watch them. That was the first explosion! There were a few more explosions! We settled down, I hinted that I may (after all) attend the performance, but proceded to ask them WHY they thought I would attend. I was quite hurt by their responses! Not ONE of them gave me the reason I sought: I care for them.

It's my own fault though. I'm very good at pretending that I do not care. I just assumed everyone could see through it. They then spent a large part of the day discussing this class......and as usual they came to all the WRONG conclusions about me. And as usual, Mr Q (that's me) heard about it in technicoloured detail! It was thus with great difficulty and much sadness that I attended tonight's performance (accompanied by my 2 bodyguards: Aine and Shaun).

PARALLEL CONSCIOUSNESS:

I promised my babies I would write what I felt (it's easier than saying it out loud). It was very difficult getting into the play (with all the nervous energy I was feeling). Besides my butterflies, it was also one of those pieces where you had to wait till the very end for the explanation. So you sat there wondering what the hell was happening the whole way through. I didn't mind that at all though. Congratulations to Tommi for not even winking once while I was trying my best to distract her. The bulk of the cast were frozen in time as we entered the chapel, and they were required to STAY IN THAT POSITION. I was closest to Tommi! Thumbs up to the toys for their singing, and their comedic characterisation! They kept me interested the whole time. The humans (dead and alive): you did a sterling job in holding the piece together, and making a dramatic statement! Beautiful journey. Theoca and the boys in black: I LOVED the way you guys were willing to do the comedy bits that were a bit embarassing to the actors! I was embarassed for you guys sometimes!!!! Well done. Jethro: WOW! Flip, I hope I haven't left anyone out!

I LOVED the Hollywood ending - I'm a sucker for cheap thrills!

It was difficult.....but I'm glad I went. To my 2nd years: don't assume ANYTHING about me. If nothing else. I'm unpredictable.

Mwah! (that's gay for xxx)

Relationships

So after my last blog (!) I've had an emotionally charged weekend and HECTIC day today. It's been sorted, I am neutral! My emotions have shut down temporarily. It's better that way. The students who care for me deeply (especially one young lady) are very worried about my lack of interest at the moment. But, it seems we are on a road to recovery......

So over the last few days, I have been faced with relationship problems: not my own! It's funny how we screw up our relationships with our partners from the word go. A manual needs to be written. Should come standard with each birth. Detailing how to start a relationship with a potential life partner. It should cover a few things:

1. Don't pretend to be something you're not
2. Don't do everything your potential partner wants, sacrificing your own needs in the process
3. Don't forget your friends
4. Don't tell your potential partner intimate details of your family life (esp about your parents). Let him/her make up their own mind.
5. Don't lie
6. Don't EVER take the 5th amendment. Talk to your potential partner.
7. Don't EVER assume anything!

Why is it that our tolerance level drops the moment we commit to our partners. When we are courting, we are patient and kind, we hear each other out, we support with love and tenderness. Once the relationship has been established it becomes: He should freakin know what I'm feeling by now! Are you bloody stupid? Do it yourself, I'm busy! Shut up! You haven't changed!!!!

The last is my favourite! Why do we want to change our partners? It's the differences we see in them that attract us to them in the first place. Then there's the other side of the coin: the woman who becomes a carbon copy of her husband. How dare he!

Problems in relationship occur because each person is concentrating on what is missing in the other person. (Wayne Dyer)

What happened to loving me for me. Why are we more tolerant of our friends' shortcomings than those of our partners? I have no answers. Just questions. 

I have found that in my relationship with my partner (of 12 years), communication is the key. We make a point of chatting in bed EVERY NIGHT for at least thirty minutes. I love him, he loves me. We need to know what's happening in each other's lives, how we respond to situations and what the partner thinks of our actions. We need to make an effort to know our partners well. They are evolving all the time, and we need to stay up to date. 

Fluit, fluit my storie is uit....

Love.....DAMMIT!!!

So I believe in love.... There, I said it! I believe in unconditional love between two human beings, but that's not what I wanna write about. I wanna explore the love between friends. The kind that does not allow our judgmental natures to interfere with the love we share. I find that kind of love can be as painful as the first I mentioned:

Why do we expect so much from our friends? Or rather, why do I expect so much from my friends. I give myself COMPLETELY, holding nothing back. When I'm hurt, insecure, angry, feeling fat, whatever....I tell my friend. When I've done something good (or bad), my friend is the first to know! When I need to bitch about K, well, you get the idea. I love that he accepts me and allows me to be my truest insecure self. He knows when to just listen, when to give advice, and when to hold me. I love that he can be all of this for me.

Why then will he not allow me to be all of this for him. I was thinking today, and realised that I know nothing of the intimate relationship he shares with his partner. Realised that when he needs comfort, he just deals with it himself, doesn't tell me. I know his personality and habits better than anyone, but know no details!

So does this make me selfish? The fact that I get to offload when I need it? Or is he the selfish one? Unwilling to share? What does this say about our relationship? Is a friendship not about sharing with each other, or have I got it all wrong? Is this really love, or just convenience? Anything but Lonely - the title of an Andrew Lloyd Weber tune - am I just a substitue for solitude?

I'm feeling baie insecure tonight mense. Any advice, input, insight would be GREATLY appreciated. You cannot comment here, but feel free to write on my wall on FB or inbox me.

Love......well I think it is........

"NOISES OFF" at Reddam House

My students are gonna be so proud. I watched a play tonight!!! No Music! Can you believe it! I loved it. It was a farce by Michael Frayn. Noises Off is set in a theatre: final rehearsal a few hours before opening (which ends up being the dress rehearsal and tech call as well. Sound familiar?)

In the first half we see the disastrous rehearsal: was very entertaining and funny sometimes. Second half is the show! Now I love cheap thrills (along the lines of There's Something About Mary) and this was filled with them. I was so relieved when the whole thing ended because my stomach muscles (????) were aching, and my tear ducts were empty.

I have seen MANY high school productions. This one was well-rehearsed, had good direction and a strong cast. Lighting and fx cues were on time!

What I loved most was the passion (I hate using this word!) these kids have. There is something to be learned from high school drama students. Sure, they are technically insecure and don't really know what they are doing; but they have PASSION and ENERGY.

What happens to this passion when they get to Tertiary level then? My job is to teach technique and intention. Who is responsible for keeping the love of theatre and singing alive? Surely I cannot be expected to take responsibility for this! The onus is on the student to keep his love alive. Learning technique is a difficult and emotional journey. Sometimes soul destroying.

I have told my students that if they allow ANYBODY to kill their love/passion/drive, they did not love enough to start with. To my babies at college: I love you, but you and only you can keep yourself going. Never forget why you decided to study performance in the first place. And.....if by chance you do (forget), go watch a high school show. I am so inspired right now.....

Teaching versus Performing

I have the great privilege to be a teacher. It is my responsibility to give my students an holistic approach to becoming the best singer/performer/interpreter of music they can be. I take my job very seriously! Whenever I doubt my ability as a teacher, affirmation pours in from students (old and new), colleagues and industry peeps. The Vivacious Voice students have been a great source of affirmation recently - which I needed this week especially....

Chatting to one of the Vivacious Voice girls today reminded me of a chat I had with my brother a few years ago. Four years ago, I was a full-time freelance performer. I had just completed a run of my biggest break (A Handful of Keys) and things were looking up for me as a performer. The phone call from the Waterfront Theatre School arrived at that time. Needless to say, I accepted the job. My eldest brother then drove to my house to discuss this with me. He told me that I was compromising: that I was the best performer he had ever seen and that I was giving up. Problem was, I missed teaching....

At the beginning of the year, I was suffering from headaches and a slight depression. Teaching was getting to be too hectic and I wanted to perform. So I wrote my first solo show: My Grand (ma se) Piano. Preparing for this show around my hectic schedule was K@K difficult! I hated the process and despised myself for doing something as stupid as a SOLO SHOW! Self-doubt is a terrible thing. The headaches were then joined by backache, asthma, colds and flu, verrucas, pimples! The night before opening, I considered cancelling the whole thing altogether! Thanks to Paul, Aine, Cheri and Robyn for the help that night.

The strangest thing happened. Once I was running at the Grahamstown Festival (2 differnet runs simultaneously!), all the aches disappeared..... I felt healthier than I had in years. How K@K was that! When I performed I was sick because I wanted to teach, and when I taught I was sick because I wanted to perform... So what now?

I want it all! And I'm gonna have it....

I need to teach: I need the special relationship I have with each and every student. I love them all dearly (sorry if that freaks out the straight [what's that???] guys). I need to perform: I LOVE the limelight, though I pretend it's not that important to me.

At the moment I have a happy medium. It gets a bit hectic sometimes, but I love it.

So stop worrying WTS peeps, I'm very happy right where I am! My favourite qoute is the title of my blog. My second favourite: If you continue doing what it is you were born to do, success will find you! Now if only my money angel could find me already......

Sanlam's Got Talent

So I had the privilege of attending the Sanlam's Got Talent Showcase this year. Ian von Memerty was the MC for this event, and since I am his official Western Cape pianist, I played the piano for him. This whole concept and execution thereof is phenomenal. Often businesses come up with the most amazing ideas, but then fall short with the execution. Not Sanlam:

Sanlam's Got Talent starts with an audition process where people who work at Sanlam are allowed to audition to be part of the showcase. So they choose their cast, and then they HIRE A MUSICAL DIRECTOR to conceptualise, arrange and present the showcase. WOW! They then hire a beautiful venue (this year it was the lovely Lagoon Beach Hotel) where they have 2 performances: the first one for senior management and the second for junior management. The juniors, by the way, were alot more fun! Then (now this is the best part) they hire Professor Mike Campbell's Jazz Ensemble to accompany their singers!!! Not backing tracks or a pianist, but a jazz ensemble complete with brass!

So they really put on a great quality show. Then there's the cast: well, Sanlam definitely has talent. Every single cast member has talent. 8 people who love singing so much, and have the voices to match their passion. I (obviously) had my favourites: the young lady with the Yaris who sang Celine Dion and the slightly....uhm....less young lady who did Tina Turner. I have NEVER heard Tina done this well. Shit, I must find this lady: I wanna do a show with her.

So now why can't more companies (including ones that are linked directly to the entertainment industry) have this kind of budget for their young talent? Certainly a happy staff is more productive??

On a different note: 1 down, 2 to go! My verrucas. My right foot has healed completely. YAY!!! Now just one sore foot... After months of medication it took normal white VINEGAR!

One more question: long or short? Please advise.

Vivacious Voice en my nuwe stoel...

I have 10 mins to blog this morning before my first appointment arrives! It took my laptop 15 mins to start up! Maybe it's time I bought that Mac???

Anyway, I have been doing something different on a Tuesday night for the last 4 weeks: presenting a singing workshop (okay, well, not SO different) for Vivacious Voice. Students sign up for an 8 week introductory course in singing, which ends in a concert on week 9 where every student must sing a solo. Now I have, for a long time, challenged the decision to teach people to sing in private. When I was a student, the course was designed in a way that NObody would sit in on our lessons, except an accompanist at examination time. Now I have (eversince I started teaching at the College) made singing lessons sessions that are open to other students to attend and watch. My reasoning was that it would help the singers get over their fear of performance. These public singing lessons were done in conjunction with weekly master classes, which meant that my students never have a private moment with me.

Now my decision to do this has been challenged: not only by my peers but especially by students who come from other teachers. They refuse to sing when people are in the room....initially. They then get over themselves and learn to accept my terms and conditions!

The point of all this useless information:
I am starting to believe that private lessons just delay the learning process. It encourages laziness! Now why would I say this? Well....if a student needs to learn a song for a lesson, and they don't they only lose face with their teacher. But when teacher forces them to get through the song in front of their classmates......

So my new babies at Vivacious Voice. They are quite a cool bunch. Ranging in age from 18 up to 40 years old. Een haan, sewe henne en 'n moffie! Shame, poor Geoff..... They have improved so much as a group over the last 4 weeks. Wow! All proof that a much faster improvement can be seen within a group dynamic than one on one singing lessons! I'd like your views on this please....

On a lighter note

I bought a chair!!! Finally I can sit comfortably behind the piano. YAY! Don't you just love my delivery girls??? Thanks Chloe and Robyn.

Over and out.....

Students, a bitch and veruccas!!!

Okay. So I'm sitting in my office waiting for a guy to arrive who I was meant to meet today. When he called to ask for lessons, I said I was too busy. He then begged me just for a meeting and possibly 1 lesson to just get him going. So nou sit ek hier soos 'n poephol en wag.... Dis 19h11.... He better not ask for it to be rescheduled!!!

But what is it with people. Why make an appointment if you're not gonna pitch up for it. Had a student cancel her 10h00 singing lesson only after 11 today. I leave work 3 hours before I need to start work for a reason: I HATE being late. Also, I hate the traffic, and after sitting in the traffic I find that I am not productive at all. My job is important to me, so I wanna do it well! It seems that I am one of few people who see their job as a calling....

From moaning about others to moaning about my health!!!

For those of you who do not know what they are, pray to God that you never EVER get veruccas on your feet. The PAIN!!! I have 2 little ones on my right foot and an even smaller one on my left. It was misdiagnosed and mistreated initially. After weeks of applying and re-applying KROKO ointment to my feet, I went online and looked at pics. There I saw looking at me eeltjie en beeltjie in living colour on my laptop se screen. I have veruccas!!! They are warts on the soles of your feet. However, they grow into your foot rather than surface because of the pressure on them constantly. So I read about treatment, and there are people online who have been struggling with these things for 40 years!!! Goodness Gracious!!!! There are all sorts of treatments. I opted for the Treat at Home column: ducktape and vinegar! You must smell my bedroom. Cotton wool soaked in vinegar at night held in place by ducktape, and just ducktape during the day to smother the things. I opted for gaffer tape (being theatrical and all). It's working (thank the pope).... They're starting to go black and die. YAY!!! a tiny note on verrucas: I got them at the f*&^%$# gym. In the showers! So what now? Do I just stay eternally fat??? I'm not going back for more. DAMMIT!!!

On a more positive note: I'm learning to love my bitch Giulia again. She became all patchy and scaly (due to allergies) and started to stink. Now most people have empathy when their doggies are sick, not me. I despised her so much for making my life hell. After COUNTLESS trips to the vet and the vet shop, her hair is finally growing back. She still stinks up a storm, but I'm hoping that once all the skin has healed, the smell will go! Will keep you posted.

I must go home, K is cooking dinner and I said I'd be there before 8.

Lekka slaap peeps. Chat soon
Mwah....

Let's see if this works out for me

So finally I've decided to do this. Enjoy reading other people's blogs so much that I thought it was time I saw if I could put my thought on paper too.

The college has just finished a short run of a show: Dance Me a Song. I was asked to prepare a few nos for the show - against my will and the wills of the students in my department. There is so much to tell about the rehearsal process: especially about the relationships between staff and students at the establishment where I work! But, I have decided (with this blog) not to rehash things that are too far back in the past. Current news (like 1-3 days old maximum) will be reflected upon.

About the show:
There are a few of us (fortunate folk) who see the results of our daily labour constantly. I am one of these fortunate folk. It is my responsibility to teach young adults to sing. This is not easy! But, I do believe that I have a nack for teaching (coming from a LONG line of teachers, including my dad).

Maybe it is just me being biased (because they are my students), but my babies are AMAZING! I watched them last night with tears in my eyes. From the brave ones in the opening number right up to the relief on their faces at the end of a (somewhat stressful) successful run. My mom said that she loved the fact that they enjoyed themselves so much!

My battery's dying.

I'm not to keen to share my feelings by mouth, but good on paper. For those of you who read this, this blog will become a peek into Mr Q's head... Chat soon!!!