Well I knew January was going to be a busy month, but last week ended up totally hectic!
I was in and out the theatre teching for Tally’s Blood, rehearsing for Fiddler on the Roof, had workmen at the flat, made a trip to IKEA then built three bookcases, attended counter-terrorism training (oh yes, more about that next time), fire marshal training for work, two assignments due in for uni, meetings to attend, a playwriting deadline to hit, and still found time to cater a meal for a party of 40 people on Saturday night.
Oh yeah — and work my full time job. Knackered!
My second uni assignment was the last one on my A176 Start writing plays course, which I’ve really enjoyed. I think I now have a plan for how I’m going to progress my writing career and I have a list of other courses I want to pursue now. I’m thinking about switching from the BA Open degree to the BA (Hons) Humanities and Literature, as I’ve started to settle on what courses I’m enjoying and what subjects I’m not. The assignment itself ended up being stress on a plate – I had a noon deadline, and on trying to submit it at 8am discovered the file was corrupted (thanks a bunch, USB pen). After several frantic emails and calls to my tutor, I was basically left with no choice but to do a complete rewrite in just two hours. I think my final one act play actually ended up better than the version I had completed the night previous; fingers crossed my grade reflects it when I get my results back.
I did get bad news on the uni front this morning, though. The OU are stopping accepting Tesco Clubcard Vouchers for courses above Level 1, which for me is a disaster, as all the courses I need to do to achieve my degree are now at Level 2 and 3. It throws my future studies in to jeopardy from next year onwards, as I’m ineligible for funding or support and struggle to pay my bills on a monthly basis as it is. Unhappy face.
I finished reading Clutter Busting during the week too (yes, I still have time to read thanks to my daily commute). It’s had a profound effect on me. I cleared 4 boxes of books and clothes out almost immediately and have labelled a further 3 ready for attack this week now that I have a bit more free time. I don’t think I was fully embracing the “letting-go” mentality though, I did keep a lot more than I probably should have. Maybe some things are meant to hang around a bit longer than others. I’m sure Brooks Palmer wouldn’t agree and would soon send me packing (well, unpacking) with a flea in my ear!
My short play The Bench is finished. I’m really pleased with it. It’s my first complete work and is now winging its way to a few different places for reading and feedback. I’m not sure it will come to anything, but I’m hoping it will at least make a few people take notice and remember me.
Right. What’s February going to throw at me?