Back in the game...

Regular readers will note that I was nice and chipper at the end of my last blog post, and I'm glad to report that that hasn't changed. Phew!

StageWrite 2015 (see previous post for details if you've been living under a rock) put me back in a wondrous headspace, so I eagerly jumped out of bed (well, I wouldn't go that far, it is me after all) and got ready to attack my upcoming shows with a new sense of awesomeness.

The week has flown by, but my productivity levels were at an all-time high. I eagerly raced home from my cleaning job every day to see what delights the postman had delivered, tore open the packaging with all the excitement of a child at Christmas, and whooped hysterically and immediately tried on every costume that had made its way to me. It turns out I can't fit into childrens clothes any more. Who knew?

Meetings were also on the agenda, but naturally being me, I had been forgotten about so they didn't happen(!) but that meant that I got more work done so that was fine by me!

With last week still gloriously rolling around my head, I found myself coming up with ideas for a script of my own to start writing, with the possibility of submitting it to next years StageWrite (which is definitely happening, huzzah!) if I dare.

Thankfully in one of my other jobs I work with a brilliant woman who is delightfully funny and is the basis for the play that I have ideas in my head for, and I spent most of my last cleaning job on Tuesday rolling around on the floor insanely laughing, trying to blink back the tears in my eyes so that I could write down all of the comedy gold that was flowing from her mouth. I told her she was going to be the basis of a play and she loved it, but insisted on me changing her name, and promptly suggesting herself one, and one for me too! So as well as having three plays on the go now, I'm writing my next show for the kids that I teach, and have started this play too. Who needs sleep?

Apparently me. By the time Friday arrived, I was completely exhausted. So much that I didn't even know what to do with myself, and by 3pm with two hours of teaching ahead immediately followed by a three hour dance class, I wasn't in the mood to speak to anyone. But teach I did, and I was very happy with the progress that we made in lessons. A few more lessons with Nasty Natalie and I think we'll be on track. Fingers crossed.

Saturday saw my sewing machine come out of hiding and I made more costumes for my tiny little actors. The skirts I made them are incredibly cute, but I was very concerned that they might be too small. But then again, I forget how small that humans are at a young age, and I measured them all so I think they'll be okay.

I actually found time to go out last night too! I went out for dinner for a friends birthday, followed by drinks. I don't know whether it was too much food, or impending old age, but we were home by midnight, before all the youths even got out into town, and I was fast asleep in their spare room before they had even made it to their bedroom. It seems my hectic lifestyle really is taking its toll. I had the most beautiful nights sleep and I could have slept the day away if it wasn't for the fact that I had to go into work today for customer service training. Ugh.

It was cringeworthy in the most horrific of ways. Staff members trying to be upbeat and cool when trying to deliver pointless information which everyone with a brain knows anyway (- when dealing with a customer, smile!) and using clips from Beauty and The Beast and Catherine Tate to try to explain good customer service really made me want the floor to open up and swallow me whole. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy my job and the people that I work with, but when companies force things down your throat like that it enrages me. I'm 29 years old, I know how to talk to people and how to be polite. Believe me, my acting degree has been worth every penny when it comes to faking being nice to people. I use it every day, don't lecture me!

So customer service training over, and my first shift is next weekend. I honestly don't know how I'm going to make it through. Cleaning weekdays, followed by teaching at night, followed by working probably both days of the weekend means I'll be working 7 days a week, and that's not including all of the extra hours I have to put into working on my shows that I normally start doing at around 8pm every night until my eyes give in and I fall asleep in the early hours to wake up around 4 am with my laptop burning my face and I'm surrounded by various pages of script from seven different plays.

But it has to be done. There are only 61 days until my Neverland shows, and with a to-do list longer than both arms, there's no time to stop. And my bank balance is pitiful, so I can't turn down any work at all.

I'm set for another insanely busy week, with all four jobs on the go, as well as squeezing in two meet ups with friends, and taking my brothers dog to the vet (first time meeting him, he will hate me!) so I think the next time I'll get a sleep will be next Monday! Wish me luck, and send Red Bull, I'm going to need a bucketload!

Be good,

Nxxx

Natalie's Nugget: Tickets are now on sale for both Neverland shows, tickets available on 01536 414141 or via www.masquekettering.co.uk