Another (fairly) busy two days just gone by!

Yesterday I started work at 10 and had parade REP for Green Army - The Toy Soldiers from Toy Story - until 2. Then at 3:30 I had another visit to the Disney Doctor to give them my MRI images and talk about my back. After waiting for what seemed like forever, the Doctor, Jean-Jacques called me in to his office. He asked me questions like how long I've had it, where's the pain etc. (The questions I get asked EVERY time I go to a Doctor) and he concluded that he's not worried about it getting worse while I'm here, but if there's a costume that is too heavy, to tell him and he'll write that character off for me. He also said that he didn't think it would be a good idea for me to pursue a career in performing. Although I'm hoping he just means without having it treated and fixed first, because to just write off performing altogether doesn't sound ideal.

Today I left the house earlier so that I could go to the bank before my shift at 10 and sort out my account and get my bank card. I received a letter saying the Val d branch opens at 9.30 so after I checked there was a train to get me to work in time, I went to the bank. Only after I'd been waiting for 5 minutes, an employee told me that it doesn't actually open until 10 and closes at 6. Unfortunately, I'm working 10 'til 6 every day this week! So I went to work and forgot about it.

When I arrived at Character 1, I was told I was doing face training in the morning and then Tweedle Dum in Park 2 (Walt Disney Studios park). My face training was for Maleficent and only lasted an hour because it's very much like The Queen but more sinister. Laura, who I'd REP'd with for Malef. and The Queen was also doing the training and it turned out she was being Tweedle Dee with me in Park 2. After our very brief training, we got into costume and waited for "traffic" which is a bus to take us to the break room of the area we are doing the SETs in. It was a loooong wait. Kelly who is also Maleficent was doing Pluto in Park 2 so we waited with her.

I was really excited to do these sets because it was the first time I'd been a character out in the park since my approval almost 2 weeks ago! Although, the Tweedles aren't actually in my height pack so I had to quickly check the signature and ask Laura what they're like. I did two sets in the morning and 1 in the afternoon (it was raining in the afternoon so we didn't do the second) and it was really fun. I was dancing with the children and playing jokes so it was nice.

After work I badged out and ran to the train to get to Val d and to the bank before 6 and I just managed to make it in time! I signed my contract and got given my bank card. When I get my first pay check I just have to take it in and then they forward my details to Disney and after that my wages go in automatically which is nice. I can also make international transfers online for free too once I've applied for some sort of password or code (the woman's wasn't quite clear about it because of her English) and when I leave and close my account, I can give them my English bank account details and the last of my pay will go into it at the end of that month which is really good. I won't be able to pay in my wages until I'm back after this weekend and have time which will probably be on the Tuesday because I'm working 7-3 in Café Mickey doing Eat and Greets. But I can cash my checks at the Post office at Chessy train station so I'll have some money which is good.

I'm on SPP tomorrow 10-6 which means Spare Parade, so I'll probably be doing SETs in the morning and possibly something like Rope Carrying, Water (giving characters water after the parade) or nothing so it'll be interesting to see what kind of day I'll have. I'm doing REP and SPP on Thursday and then SPP on Friday. Every day this week I'm working 10-6 and on Friday my train home is at 6:20 so I'm going to take my bags to work so that I'm ready to go when I'm done.

It's only 3 more shifts until I come home and I'm so excited to see everyone and be a bridesmaid at Sarah's wedding. I collected my train tickets yesterday and it all made it so much more real. I will only have been at Disney for 3 weeks exactly the evening I come back. It feels like I've been here months it's so timeless, but at least it doesn't really feel like work. It feels like rehearsing for a show and then performing it every day and there are so many lovely friendly people here so I'm rarely short of someone to talk to. Although I was homesick again yesterday and the night before but hopefully it will be easier after my visit home and having people out to see me and my life here to encourage me and keep me going.

Bye for now and update you soon

xxxxxx