Wide blue sky

What a joy to see the sun!
In my first week back in Brisbane I saw family, friends, the beach and the optometrist; I found it quite difficult to see with so much light and had to buy sunglasses. And, although nobody can notice it, I have lost that bluish tinge my skin had aquired through lack of sun exposure.
I've had my neice and nephew for sleepovers (multiple) at my place and at the beach. I even did running on the beach and swimming with them. (For the benefit of readers from outside Queensland, locals don't swim until November - it's too cold.) It's just glorious to see the sun sparkling on the blue ocean under the immense blue sky. And to feel the sun and the water on my skin again. I may have been a little vitamin D deprived...
We also went to the local park and feed the water lif. There were 2 types of ducks, little tortoises and big eels. I forgot to take my camera. Too busy living the moment.
The jetlag was shocking. It has taken weeks for me to sleep properly and be able to concentrate on conversations, emails etc. (Apologies for those who tried to communicate with me.)
I am back on track now. In fact, I started my new job on Monday. I'm really enjoying teaching again, particularly the classroom music. And the unit for year 9 is...JIGS! Nice.

A Fine Finale

After the lovely weekend in Paris, we flew back to London and caught the train to Stratford Upon Avon for the final adventure before returning to Australia. I had organised tickets to the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Hamlet in October. Maeva and Jenny drove down from Newcastle to join Tony and I for the evening. Tony and I had already sampled the delights of the pub built in 1596 before the others arrived. We had dinner at Lambs of Sheep Street which was stunning, then headed off to the Theatre.

WOW! What a production! David Tennant and Patrick Stewart starred, but all the cast were great. We all enjoyed the production. Afterwards we went to the next door pub (where the actors hang after the show) to complete the evening.

The next morning we visited Shakespeare's birth house.

After a sad farewell to the girls, Tony and I headed back to London.

Paris

After a wonderful celebratory lunch with friends after my recital, and a celebratory evening with other friends, I finished packing my room. Tony and I left early the next morning for a weekend in Paris. As you do.

We stayed in a little hotel between St Germaine and the Latin Quarter. The driver we'd booked had no idea where the hotel was. Actually, he was very incompetant, but we eventually found the hotel and got settled. After lunch we went on a bus tour of the city.

After the bus trip we had a fantastic dinner overlooking Notre Dame. I got some roses, as I'd had to leave my gorgeous recital flowers in Newcastle. We wandered back to the hotel through teaming backstreets, stopping to hear a fantastic busker singing original songs.

The next morning we had plannd to climb the Eiffel Tower, but couldn't get to it as the surrounding streets were closed. We went instead to Montmartre and visited the Dali exhibition which was fantastic. The rest of the afternoon was spent wandering the streets.

Recital

The week between handing in the dissertation and doing the recital was mad! Not only did I have rehearsals with my 4 accompanying musicians, seperately and together, but I also had to pack my room and ship excess baggage back to Australia. I also tried to show Tony around some of the local sites, although we did seem to see more of the gorgeous old pubs than anything else.

We did get to Jesmond Dene and Leazes Park (beautiful parks), the Newcastle castle and Durham Cathedral. Not bad for a week.

The recital itself went well. I had lots of friends come, which was so lovely. And a HUGE thank you to everyone who sent the gorgeous flowers!!!!!!!!! It was so exciting that so many people were supporting me.

Dissertation

My dissertation was due yesterday. Of course, as always happens, technology failed at the last minute.

My printer stopped working with two sections (of eight) left to print. I thought it would be a simple turn off, turn on kind of fix. Apparently not. When I'd rebooted my computer, the printer drives were sumehow uninstalled.

So I thought I'd save the documents to memory stick and take it to uni to print. Apparently not. I couldn't get the memory stick to accept the files. 'Error' came up every time I tried to print or save.

I could still email, so I got the files emailed as attachments, and headed over to the music department. Unfortunately, the only person on in reception was a temp, who wouldn't let me print the documents.

I headed over to the library, where there is a print shop and bindery. I asked if it was possible for them to print the documents from email attachments. 'Sure. Just email them to print services.' So I sat at the computer and sent off the emails.

Then I overheard the staff member tell another student that the print shop had closed and would not be printing again until Monday at 11am.

I was getting a little stressy by this time, as the clock was ticking.

However, there is a computer cluster in the library. I went an asked the staff there if it was possible to print from email attachments. 'Yes, if you've got a university email account.'

Fortunately I'd used my uni account. I logged onto a computer, opened my account, opened the document and clicked on print. Nothing. I clicked again. Hmmm.

I found the printer bank, and there were two printers amost finished my 40 page document! Luckily I needed two copies. I went back to the computer and sent the other doument twice, logged off and collected the copies. And I didn't have to pay as apparently every student gets a £5 print credit. That information would have been kinda useful earlier...

Back down to the bindery. Put all the documents together (I hope in the correct order) and submit for binding. Receive the bound copies. Get back over to the music department. Time and date stamp the work, and submit. Right on the deadline.

And today I found out that one of my housemates (in another department) has applied for a three month extention, received a two month extention, and NOT been penalised.

No points for doing the right thing hey?!

However, it's in and I can get on with final preparations for my recital.

And pack.

Yorkshire

Last weekend I went with friends to the Whitby Folk Festival on the Yorkshire coast. To get there we drove over The Moors. I had pictures of Jane Eyre (who's aunt Mrs Reid came from Gateshead- across the river from Newcastle incidently) and Tony's health warnings ringing in my head 'Stay off the Moors...'! They are beautiful and bleak.

Whitby is a pretty little seaside town.

There's a replica of the Endeavour in the harbour/ river, because James Cook was born in Whitby. There are also lots of Goths because Dracula arrived from Transalvania at Whitby. It's also the home of beautiful Whitby jet. (I didn't just spend my time having fun, making new friends and playing music!)

On Sunday I performed at a festival concert featuring tutors (including Vic Gammon, Sandra Kerr and Alastair Anderson) and students from Newcastle University. I did a solo, some duos with Vic and a song with Vic and Sandra. It all went well and was very enjoyable.

I couldn't stay for the week as I had to get back to Newcastle to finish my dissertation. Maybe next year...

I did have a lovely trip back in the train, looking across to the Moors again. Apparently it was a 'direct' train. However, when we stopped at the first station, exectly 2 minutes from Whitby, I realised that perhaps my understanding of 'direct' was somewhat different from Northern Rail's!

Graham's Visit

And yet another Australian visitor! Graham came to Newcastle during his recent trip. It was an absolutely gorgeous day so we went to the Coast. We got the Metro to Whitley Bay and then walked to Tynemouth and visited the castle and priory ruins. It was lovely to be out, in the sun, walking on the beach (ok, we didn't take our shoes off). I even got a pink nose from the sun - oops! It was also great to catch up with someone who's known me for more than 11 months!

The first picture is me at Whitley Bay. Note the short sleeved shirt!!!!

This second picture is of the castle ruins at Tynemouth.