I've managed to get on the internet for a while now so I can continue my blog. This time I have a weeks worth to write up so I'm going to try and keep it a bit shorter this time otherwise I'll be here all day and I only have an hour. I'll do this one day by day as it might help keep it short.

Tuesday 22nd Feb

Today was prbably my best day so far, I taught 4 lessons, 2 piano and 2 music theory to grade 8. Just the name of notes though, so nothing to difficult. Then at 1st break there was loads of food out on the table in the staf room which was great, mini pizza's and toasties :) yum :). Then after lunch we had production rehearsal, followed by athletics and a late dinner, then straight onto another choir reheasal. This time I played the clarinet, 1st time since being away, but I had to transpose everything before I could play along with the choir, which took me forever. The singing is amazing and playing with them is brilliant.

Wednesday 23rd February

Had another ok day today, taught 2 grade 8 theory lessons again and 1 period of playing piano for junior choir. Sat in the sun all morning during my frees which was good. Grade 8's trid to cheat and copy each other work so I just took their paper away and told them to do it again, their faces, lol :) Then we had rehearsal again in afternoon and evening. Vien (not sure how to spell name) now has electricity so now have my own room which is good.

Thursday 24th February

Good day today, Hendrick was appointed permanent principle which is brilliant. Covered some classes today for another teacher, Gr 8 maths, gr 2 Accounting, Gr 12 Bussiness and Gr 11 Accounting. I didnt actually teach the last 3 of them, as I don't have a clue about the subjects, but just gave out the work. Gr 12 Bussiness was a nightmare, they would not shut up. 3 boys at the back wouldn't do any work and kept talking, I gave them 3 warnings and then moved them all, was quite scary as they were all my age and all bigger than me, but after about 5 min I eventually got them to move and they stopmed to their new places and slammed their bags down, lol, they now don't like me, but who cares, lol. Lunch was great as we had it in the hal to celebrate Hendrick being appointed principle, had lasagne, bread and Chamagne :D Brilliant! Reheasal again in afternoon. Then in the evening there was a gr 12 parent meeting, where they all got told off. I I left at half 7 but had to walk back to hostel, it was pitch black and pouring with rain, walked back with lisa using mobile for light, was quite amusing, got very wet and muddy.

Friday 25th February

I didn't teach much today but helped with some paper work and tried to sort some things out for my week in cape town. In the evening we had another type of sausage, although it didnt look to appealing. Then in the evening there was a talent show, loads of great talent but the nosie gave me a massive headache.

Saturday 26th Febuary

Up for beakfast at 8, no lie in even at weekend. Then straight to rehearsal where we stayed untill 4. Had an hou lunch break though. Then I went back to Davids with Flic and we tried to get white paint out of a massive black backdrop curtain, although this proved impossible. Davids showd us all his guns which was pretty cool, there was like 7 of them, rifles, 2 pistols and a shotgun. He shot one of the rifles, very loud! Then I got to drive one of the big trucks which was good, biggest thing ive ever driven. After we then lit the braii (my first in South Africa, yay!) and all sat around it with drinks and a snack and just talked which was really good. The sky was amazing, there's no light pollution so it's so clear, you could see the milky way as well tonigh which was brilliant. Then we cooked the meat and had a meal inside which was delicious :) Definitely the best afternoon/evening I've had yet :D

Sunday 27th February

Went into town in the morning with lisa and tess, then came back and sat on school field in the sun. Went inside just before luch and wtched a bear grylls episode. After lunch I walked up to the dam with lisa, tess and two others and went swimming. We stoed lower down first and swan where you could jump just below a mini water fall, then continued up to the dam. Everyone walked bare foot from here so I thought I should to. My god it killed!! The whole path is covered in rocks, stones twigs and other shrp objects, everyone elese walked like they had shoes on, my poor feet arnt used to it yet :( When we got o the dam we crossed the steam and sunbathed for a bit and then went rock climbing. It was great fun and the view was beautiful. Great afternon, esspecially as we got a lift bck down in the back of a truck, that was fun :) Also spoke to Dad and Ben for the 1st time since leaving which was really good.

Monday 28th February

Mixed day today, had ok day but not much to do. Then had rehearsal in afternoon and after dinner. Wen to hotel after reheasal with Vien and Megan which was good, although this drunk guy came and sat with us. I was at the bar buyin gthe drink and he came over and asked what was round my waist, it ws my hoody, when I told him in said, oh i thought it was a ribbon and slapped be across the back so hard I nearly fell off the stool. The he came and sat with us and made the onversation very awkward. He was just being rude and a general p**** Plus he slapped my arm again when I was holding my drink and nearly made me drop it. Eventully he left, although when I went to get the next round of drinks I was told that that guy was getting them for us, he was trying to win us around but we ignored him and took advantage of the free drink :D

Tuesday 1st February

Taught grade 3 and 4 today, fun, not. Wasn't told what I was supposed to do with them as I was covering the lessons, so gr 4 I did the keys on the piano and gr 3 we played the tamborine. Plus one of the grade 's started crying as I told 3 of them that if they carried on talking and messing around that I'd move one of them, at which point one of them got up and moved him self to the front anyway and started crying :/ So I let him play the piano and he was ok again. After afternoon reheasal all the music staff went out for a coffe and birthday cake and a tea shop as it was Mam Hoogendoren's birthday, ( I really don't know how to spell the name) was a realy good afternoon. Then in the evening we went to the Koncerthus and painted the wall, although I just watched as it was a bit advanced for my drawing skills.

Wednesday 2nd March

Invidulated 3 tests today and taught another grade 4 class. That lesson really tested my patience. Eventually I just ade the whole class stand up for 5 mins, which worked quite well, although 1 boy carried on talking so I made him stand at the front :) Rehearsal again after lunch, but, had free after dinner, YAYYY!!!! So I walked up to the dam with Flic which was good, climed up the rock a bit while the light dropped and then watched a masssive lightening storm down the valley about 5-10 miles away, was awesome. Then we realised it was getting dark so we stared to wlk back, it was very spooky, so we jogged most of it. All the way back the lightening kept going, it was illuminating all the mountains and the skyline, amazing! We were very lucky to get back dry. Then in the evening I went on Skype and spoke to and saw Nana, Mum, Dad and Ben which was brilliant + I saw Barnie :D By the way, you really do need a hair cut Ben, lol :P I hope you beat dad at darts and snooker as well, you've got to keep it up while I'm not there :) Then about 23:00 the storm arrived at Lady Grey, I have never heard thunder like it in my life, it was so loud and so continuous, I had to put my earplugs in to get to sleep. lol.

I feel alot better now and am really starting to enjoy my self, although it's pretty hard work at the moment with all the rehearsals. It strarting to fell more like home now and I feel more comfortable walking around the town, time already seems to be going really quickly. I think after this 1st weeks holdiay time is going to fly by as we have all the production stuff and passion play stuff for the next month, then we'll have more free time when we can go on do stuf and have loads of fun. During the first week I thought that this 1st month was going to go so slowly, but I've already been away pretty much 3 weeks, it will be 3 weeks tomorrrow. Anyway I'd better go, been writing this for long enough now. Thanks for all the messages everyone, it really helped me get through the first week and it's great to hear from you al :D Hope everything is well with you all in England,

Bye :D