Helen Monkton

Centre Stage

I thought my days of taking to the stage were well and truly over, but it seems that last night I was proved wrong.

The show started beautifully as normal and I was minding my own business calculating money taken for programmes. The next thing I know, one of my staff comes running down the stairs gasping, "where are you, they've stopped the show!" Oh, my goodness, my worst nightmare! I bound back up the stairs 3 at a time to see the house lights up, doors open and patrons trickling out of the auditorium. I find the stage manager cowering behind the curtains fresh from her worst nightmare of having to go onstage to call for a short break in the performance. One of the actors had been taken unwell and the break was to ascertain if he would be able to go back on or not.

My planning instinct kicked in. We had nearly 300 people who would be wanting to re-book or be refunded for their tickets. Fortunately, we have systems for this. Stationing my staff evenly about the theatre complex, I briefed them for the worst case of the show being cancelled. It was.

I prepared myself for my appearance. Actually, it wasn't that bad. The lights are blindingly bright and all you can make out is a sea of faces. Putting on my best teacher voice and ensuring that the back row could hear me, I bravely explained the situation and how people could access what they needed.

Best thing... I got a round of applause!!!

People were really rather calm. I must have answered the same questions hundreds of times, but most people's main concerns were for the actor's welfare.

Phew.

I have to do the same show again tonight. Hopefully I won't have a starring role in this one.

Made me Laugh!

Matt Hughes showed us this yesterday and it made me laugh!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTYr3JuueF4

First fruits

I’ve been into my veggie patch this year, and amongst wrestling with rabbits (not literally!) a good number of things have begun to grow. I’ve tasted the strawberries, munched on a radish or two and am about to consume a salad for supper this evening which contains my very own lettuce!

There’s something intensely satisfying about eating things you have worked hard to grow. I can tell I’m going to be VERY annoyed should I potter down the garden one morning to find the rabbits have eaten the cucumber or the birds have pilfered the raspberries!

Pondering and Pottering

Since getting back from France my life has returned to its busy self. There’s something about being in another place without all your normal ‘trappings’ to highlight what is important and what is not. I am determined to allow this experience to shape my future ventures and to carefully and prayerfully consider the things to which I devote my time.

I liked having the time to do things. Space to think and muse that was not crowded by household chores or rubbishy things that suck my time. I like being able to while away  a couple of hours reading, walking or chatting. Now, while of course the chores need to be done and they should be part of our rhythm of life, they shouldn’t be to all consuming  factors of my time. Yes, the bathroom needs cleaning, but could I pray at the same time? Granted, the shopping needs doing, but could I actually talk to people on my way around rather than plug into my ipod and ignore the world?

I think it’s just a challenge for me to develop a rhythm that works, not one that induces stress and strain.  It’s about pacing myself in a way that I can get to some spare time and not feel the need to merely crash out and feel ‘petrified’ (to coin a Harry Potter reference) .

Facebook

Since being away in France for the last two weeks, I have become a devout Facebook viewer. Along with blogs and email, it’s been my way of staying connected with the people I love despite being far away. Of course I’ve missed people, but in a very different way to many of those I’ve been with. They have called, text and been on MSN for hours to stay in touch with their loved ones. I feel like I have not been separated from folks, and that people have shared my journey.

I'd love to write more but...

In the past 2 days I've been kissed by a french man, signed the shirt of a giant baby in a nappy, eaten crepes and been to Switzerland.

I'm just too tired to write any more!!

A l’école.

Fatima and I approached the gates of the school with trepidation. I now know what it’s like to feel totally lost is a foreign world. The playground seemed decidedly empty as we approached the school gates at 7.45 this morning.  A couple of mischievious looking boys hung on the school gates, so i cautiously asked them how we got in. After vigorously tugging all the doors, he concluded loudly that no one was yet present, so we had to wait.