“I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself.”--- Mikhail Baryshnikov

One of things I like most about volunteering with the Special Olympics is the smiling.  My smile, their smile; we are all smiling!  Cheesy?  Very much so, but we are loving it and isn't that all that matters?  I don't think I laugh nearly as much any where else as I do on a Thursday and Saturday with these guys.  They are truly an inspiration.  They have taught me so much, not least of which is to stop taking myself and life so seriously. 



Essentially I guess I am finally realising what a lot of people have been trying to tell me for a long time and that is to stop worrying about what other people think!  Probably more accurately, I need to stop worrying about what I think other people are thinking.  Can't dance and far too old to be trying is what I tend assume is being thought.  True to be fair, BUT I know I will never be a professional dancer, but as an enthusiastic amateur I have never had more fun!  I have finally stopped apologising for wanting to dance and in doing so I have met so many wonderful people and had so many amazing new experiences.  It is so lovely to be dancing again and even more lovely to still be learning.  My latest bit of news is that I CAN and did apply to dance in London with people who I know will be so much better than me.  The result, an offer to learn from some great people and hopefully leave dancing just that little bit better than I do now oh AND dancing in the West End and for one night only!  Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah I can hardly believe it! Very definitely a dream come true!!!!!

For now however, it is feet back on the ground and in Special Olympic land and we have a new toy - New Age Curling.  It is fun fun FUN! The most fun part arguably being to watch people trying to figure out how the equipment works.  So simple, yet so perplexing.....  We also have our second heat of the Devon Inspire Trials.  An important occasion I am sure you will agree, and accordingly I felt the uniform needed a little something and more specifically, the stripey leg warmers were it.  Apparently the uniform on the day will be red t-shirts, red face paint and red ribbons in our hair.  I swear it is like they had me in mind when they were coming up with it.  I almost feel I should apologise to the other competitors and volunteers....almost.

   

“You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche

So today is the first day of my new life as a teacher! I've got three weeks work at a local primary school teaching dance as part of their after school club.  It sits in really well with the teaching I have been involved with so far and I really can't wait to see how working in a primary school compares! I've been reading their website to find out a little more about the school and it looks like I have some very high standards to reach!  It seriously seems to be a fantastic school with some excellent teaching and learning provision.  I am so, SO excited about the thought of being part of it!  

 

The theme for Lesson One is Space. My remit being to create a fun environment from which the children learn through play, I decided there was only one thing for it: SPACE PIRATES!  I so enjoyed it, more importantly of course I felt the children really did too!  I felt much more in control of the class this time and so I would like to think the madness that ensued, was in fact organised chaos!  The children really got involved with every exercise and responded really well to the ideas.  It was great seeing them use their imaginations so creatively! Hilarious seeing the reactions of other children and teachers passing by, keen on seeing no doubt what we were up to!  Teachers tended to be much more tentative, but a swift smile and nod in my direction followed on every occasion which I hope means I got the the thumbs up and will be allowed back next time.  Thinking on which, perhaps I do need to prepare something a little calmer.  I was asleep by 8.30pm, which as an insomniac is quite the achievement!  They wore me out for sure! 

"Nobody puts Baby in the corner" ---Johnny, Dirty Dancing

So it has finally arrived, my last day on campus!  The baby of the office is leaving!!  That's me on below signed out by the lovely Paula FOR EVER!  Weird!

It was a strange strange day! It was essentially business as usual for most of it.  Then 4pm came.  I was so engrossed in my emails that I didn't notice anyone coming in.  When I did finally look up the office was crowded and all faces looking in my direction!  My manager gave a lovely speech, I was really touched.  I should have prepared something to say in return, the thank you and I miss you already I just about managed didn't seem enough! I have met so many lovely, lovely people.  I am genuinely so upset at the thought of not seeing them every day! I have warned them, that come Monday I am likely to have missed them too much and they can most likely expect to see me at my desk as usual!

Well Monday came and the temptation for a lie in won against the wanting to get back to the office - sorry office peeps, you know I love you really!  I finally managed to actually open the card I was given and read the lovely words.  I think everyone should leave at least once a month, it is good for the soul to have written down all the love you have!  Failing that, we should just tell each other more! And on that note I am off to ring the super sister who put a post on my fb wall today and made me laugh, smile and cry all at the same time!  Feeling pretty blessed right now and like I am very certainly the luckiest girl in the world!

“It's the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance.” --Bette Midler

OK one week left, how did that happen?! The last two weeks have passed incredibly quickly. I can’t decide whether I like that or not! It is very strange to think that this time next week, I’m done.

The goodbyes have started. Not liking those much! The first was the worst, but perhaps that was to be expected. Some lovely things were said to me. It seems I might have done OK after all. It is a silly thing, but just to hear it and from people who I have really looked up to meant a LOT. By the time it came for the hugs I had all but lost the power of speech with the effort of not bursting into tears! I was very glad of the 15 minute walk to my office afterwards since it gave me the opportunity to morph into a veritable blubbing snot monster without witnesses! Another tear-jerker was attending the very last date in my Social Programme Calendar. Oh goodbyes I do not like you!  However, I don't think I could have asked for a nicer event to have ended on - many giggles, many smiles - just how I like it!

 
Over the last few days, the bulk of my time has been spent sorting out the handover. Much of this has involved tidying up the ‘real’ and electronic resources I have accumulated. There are many of these. I have also been writing some new documents which go through step by step, each element of my role. There are also many of these! It is a strange thing to sit down and actually think about everything that I do like this. Kinda nice though to be able to look at it all and think, I did that!

It is looking very unlikely now that I will meet the new ‘me’. I am really curious to know who they will be and what they will make of it all.  I found myself this morning suffering pangs of jealousy! It seems the thought of someone else organising MY social programme, MY visa workshops, MY drop-ins, MY inductions, MY students, ALL of MY lovely job does not sit well with me! Better perhaps then that we don't meet, quite possible I'd scare them off with the crazy jealous version of me! Although, thinking on that - a plan....?  This whole starting a new adventure is becoming all to real, maybe I could just stay here a bit longer.  It's a big world out there, am I ready eeeeeeek?!

“Life is short and there will always be dirty dishes, so let's dance.” ―James Howe

Hello!

So it is one week down and three more to go. Three more weeks of permanent paid employment.  Three more weeks of being able to afford my rent, the bills and keeping my cupboards stocked with an obscene amount of chocolate.  Three more weeks of playing at being a grownup and living the sensible life.  What comes next, I am not entirely sure.  What I do know however is that this cookie intends to go dancing!