The pavlova for the seniors

A tense time...

Life at The Royal Ballet School has been amzing for me so far. I have had a wonderful time working here, meeting new people and all that jazz...but at the moment, the students are quite stressed out. They have their appraisals this week! The year 11s have a different sort of appraisal...they have to do a dance for the director of the entire school. I believe (although I'm not certain on these facts) that this performance is like a first audition for the Upper School. Living in the year 11 dorm has ceratinly given me an incite into how they are feeling. They are acting so differenty. Some are keeping quiet and not talking whereas others are acting out a bit.
I have planned to bake them a cake for tomorrow, just as a present for them to enjoy after a very stressful day. I'm going to make a pavlova.....not sure how that is going to go!!! I have been given the details on how to prepare the best pavlova by none other than a New Zealander!!!!! Even the notion!!!!! HAHAHA!!

The rest of the school is certainly tense at the moment. The other year groups are doing their own appraisals but the outcome of their appraisals will be whether they have a position at the school after half term or not.

It certainly is a harsh world for such young people to be in....but its a world that they love so who can tell them otherwise.


In other news...I am extremely excited about going to Ireland at half term! I think it will be a great week. I'm planning on getting a train from Euston to Ali's and Eliza's school (the two people I am going to Ireland with) and then staying overnight there, then in the morning we will head off to the airport to catch our flight. I'm going on RyanAir.....I've certainly had some mixed reviews about them to put it simply....

Anyways....thats about it for me at the moment. I've been in contact with home quite a bit, organising things to do when family comes to visit...although basic dates are proving to be quite difficult to find!!

Deer in the park....

A frosty morning in the park...

Life at White Lodge...

So far everything has been amazing here at White Lodge. I've completely settled in to the routine of work I have. Each day is pretty relaxed but there is plenty to keep me occupied.
I went into Sheen today (as it was my day off) and bought a few bits and pieces. Sebastian left the Gap student's bike at Mortlake station and I had the brilliant idea to just "pop down" and get it....little did I know it was going to be such an ordeal.....
I got to the station an there were millions of bikes there!! Sebastian told me it was black and orange so I began my search for a black and orange bike, but was not successful. People probably thought I was looking for a bike to steal! Very suspicious. I then had a few phone calls back and forth with Suzanne at reception and with Sebastian. Eventually I found the bike......it was silver.....
I rode it back to find the reception staff laughing their heads off about this little ordeal. It was quite funny!

I've been talking to Suzanne a lot recently. She offered to see a movie on any weekend which is nice. I can't imagine going to the cinema alone for some reason....what would you do with your popcorn if you needed the toilet during the movie?? If you left it in the cinema it would be a bit odd and someone might take it, but it would be very strange to take it to the toilet with you!! I might take her up on the offer. I'd love to see a movie some time as there are a lot of good ones out at the moment.

Other than these little anecdotes from around White Lodge, nothing much has happened here. It's quite a stressful time for the students as they have appraisals next week.

I've been a bit homesick lately, but I've been managing it quite well. I suppose it would happen eventually, so I'm a bit glad I'm going though it now rather than when I first arrived.

Anyways.....not much else to say at the moment....just living it up in London!!!

"Live your life to the fullest"........I know I certainly am :)