Ball of a Time - Part II.

Oh I love sequels! Well, not really, but this one I do. The ball is in t-minus... I don't even want to know how long. By all means - do not remind me.

This post is an update on what has been achieved in the past 48 hours. Hell. So much. On Wednesday morning me and (today, Birthday girl) Leaper embarked to Eden Park to have the first look around. I mean, I had seen it before but Leaper hadn't so it was worth going to - at least to meet Jenna - our lovely assistant for the ball experience.

Tables were set up, fairy lights ready to play... Just chairs and colour coordinated napkins and our decorations to be put up.

Expect a fantastic dinner with a buffet of super awesome yumminess. I had a sneak peak at Jenna's menu and saw 'Seafood Casserole'; now I know people hate seafood but oh my gosh. Seafood just screams luxury! You must admit... It does.

DJ and band have been liaised and scheduled.

Voting papers for King, Queen, Prince and Princess are ready. Someone just remind me to get some pencils or pens...

Photographer will be roaming and on stand by at the usual spot.

Oh yes be certain, I do not jest. This is going to be one super ball. I shall see you there!

Show Offs and Ons.

Pure excitement. Several times now I have declared my undying love for this year's show family and folks, guys, dolls... this year is gonna be amazing.

Day, or rather, evening one. - Wednesday

The above photo represents every possible feeling of excitement and enjoyment in the world. Thank you for that Miss Harris and Miss Woolley. I was amazed at the speed and dexterity Miss. Woolley had in securing the best cabin of Peter Snell Youth Village - Partay Central. Although this cabin suffers from dampness in the afternoon, it has a most excellent side effect of crankin' times.

Straight into rehearsal *squeee*. As soon as we entered the hall the smell of plastic chair heaven encroached upon us. Ah bliss! I will miss the segregation - I mean, seperation - I mean... sorting of the vocal ranges. Sops, altos, tenors, basses... love you all despite how far away we tend to move from the sops... Ha! Took us a solid half hour to get the papers - thanks Nellie. First song we sang. The 'Some Enchanted Evening' of our show - 'Guys and Dolls'. This song is usually sung by Nicely and Benny but the entire cast is singing it due to lack of chorus-ness. It was... interesting. It will be amazing.

Dinner was the classic nacho, wedges mix. Why blog that? Really need to remember these details peeps. Food is life. *pause* what? It is!

Day Two, the actual day time of day. - Thursday

Good thing I took a gazillion photos because my memory is already beginning to fail. Woke up early, specifically to enjoy an early morning hot chocolate. Bless! Anyway, where were we? Ah! Ninja games. The rival to the Islander boys' fighting game. Comparison:

Ninja's

vs.

Islanders

Yes, Unknown what this behavior has to do with show but fun nonetheless.

Thursday was the day I had my lacrosse game. Dale vs. Westlake Girls. We won 11 -0 which was nice but I had to miss out a solid rehearsing of the song 'Bushel and a Peck', 'Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat' and I missed out on hearing the boys' 'Fugue for the Tinhorns'. Good thing Guys and Dolls is my favourite musical and I at least know the rhythm of the songs. Very nice.

Thursday Night

Dinner was a vege and chicken curry and ice cream and jelly for desert. Overall, good combo.

After this most chicken-y meal, Mrs. Weeks joined us! YAY! Love! Incomprehensible! We sang/serenaded her the songs we had learnt and she began devising 'Guys and Dolls' - ish. Last year we stayed up until 10pm, I swear, working on 'Wash that Man..." this year, we didn't stay up... Aw...

Day and Night Three. - Friday (the last full day!)

Must have had about four cups of hot choc by now. That stuff is the shizz. Gotta know where to get the good cups too by the way. Jess knows:

The day, I recall was a-pretty-mazing. We had our first dance warm-up led by Mrs. Weeks, leaps, bounds and superman dive type moves were enjoyed by all. Then straight into the choreography of 'Guys and Dolls'. It would tell you what we've done but nah... Imma keep it on the DL. It'll be crazy cool is all I'm saying.

By the afternoon, we had reached the stage of separating the sexes. The girls got to practice with good ol' Uncle Bell *bless* while the boys spent time with the Dev. Again, would tell you our secrets but it would be a botz call. However, we did get 'Follow the Fold' and 'Take Back Your Mink' added to our repertoire of rehearsal.

Dinner was braised sausages, potatoes and veges or else known as... SAUSSIE WASSIES!!! Desert was... brace yourself... SELF SAUCING CARAMEL PUDDING. With copious amounts of cream. They always save the best for last.

Tonight we also performed the Nelson, Dev, Weeks, Bell tribute song which is available on facebook to all friends of Dan Liu. *plug*

One of the best things about the last night of show camp is that nobody cares! I love that we had good ol' DMCs with Nellie and Uncle Bell. Unkie Bell wants to sing but is too much of a genius at the piano; and see back in Nellie's day, kids were the same. Y'know, they still danced the same way *Sexy Bitch plays in the background*. Missed the deck conga line but then again, chillin' and chattin' was really nice this year.

Day Four. - goodbye!

FAT CRY! Woke up in my own bed this time (thanks Georgia). Had a shower and popped over to the last breakfast. My combo of porridge with fruit and three pieces of marmite and butter toast never fails. I'm gonna miss it - it never tastes as good when you're eating it alone at home...

We had the usual schedule - physical warm-up, without Mrs. Weeks, followed by a full revision of all songs. Loving Mr. Gino Pimentel as my super, super dance partner. He is brave for lifting me times like... ten throughout our practices.

Since we didn't have dinner I'm gonna have to mention the famous soup and roll combo on the last day of every show camp. I am really going to miss eating every scrap of my food (sorry Nugget!). I'll miss the cookies and fruit that show up every few hours, the cake and muffins... Oh food! I love you!

This is my second year of show and although this part's over, the best part is yet to begin. See you at either rehearsal or on opening night my friend.

Ball of a Time - Part I.

Ball season has dawned and as usual I woke up late - at midday. Not bad considering I woke up at like 3pm for last year's season.

This is update number one. I have succeeded in finding a general concept for my dressings this year. Secret Garden = Peacocks.

With this inspiration I found an awesome dress that I have decided not to reveal to the public as of yet. I tell you though, it is super cool.

Dan Liu will look equally as good. Even he has no idea what the dress looks like.

We're going on a history trip... I'm not scared.

Who needs geography when you can see axe muskets and play Maori vs. Pakeha on old battle sites?

Seriously though. History trip was a most excellent choice in winding down post-exam. Two mini buses (one being a giant blue blob), four teachers, twenty-something students and fun times.

First stop was Pukekohe East, a church whose grave stones has bullet holes. Intense Maori vs. Pakeha times. Jana taught us how to avoid being attacked by evil spirits. Cleaning hands with water after = protection. Then a brief stop at everyone's favourite rest stop- Bombay Hills - to smell butter chicken and buy $4.50 pizza sticks. Why? "Because they're so big!"

By the way, I'm recounting this on pure memory, not that booklet, seeing as I've lost it. If you have mine. It'd be great if I could have it back. Great.

Anyway, on the road again we make a stop at Alexandra Redoubt. Another cemetery. More holy water to throw over our heads. Here we get to see a pretty legit trench system and for some reason several random graves. Stew-Dawg probs said why but I was too busy finding crazy grave sites such as 'man at bottom of graveyard where the forest meets - buried in 1888 because he died in his sleep'... Fun times had by all but no photo here - because graveyards are quite frightening.

Next stop. Mercer via Pokeno - aka. potentially in the top three of best ice cream towns. I have to say a big thank you to the Indian fellows who gave us a butter chicken, rice and SALAD special for $8. Love being a student.

Carrying right on. Stop at Rangi-shoot. Memory fail. But it's an awesome vantage point in a stink town and - it's where many a gang sign was pulled behind the backdrop of splendid rolling hills.

Skip to Te Awamutu where our marae was more intense than we thought it would be. Super nice with... interesting carvings. Really though. Exquisite. Dinner of five-vege nachos and dessert of ice cream. Win. Followed by a movie - Rewi's Last Stand. Now, as much as I love film, I was reeeaaalllyyy tired so no disrespect to the gods of film but I fell asleep mid-battle scene. All good. I was however, very awake for Kingitanga aka Mafia. Who did we have? Mafia: three badass chiefs Hongi Heke, Te Kooti and some other badass. Angel aka Taniwha (taniwha noise): Rev. Samuel Marsden and the useless detective: James Busby; Busby, not the player. Fun had by all, good call Rose on picking Giles over Riley as the last of the kingitanga.

We awaken to the creaky cries of the marae... (Quote courtesy of Greg) and have a breakfast of cornflakes, scrambled eggs and real butter. Thanks go to the boys for a good clean up while the girls were in the kitchen COOKING SOME EGGS.

Last on the itinerary was a morning out with Mr. Reilly the curator. Compelling storytelling. Drove through rolling scenery to this, actually, really nice church building. They have cushioned pews.

St. Pauls who stole the giant stained glass window of St. Pauls Auckland. OMGsh Facts.

Finally, after an epic KFC ultimate burger meal and a Californian roll we were off. I had a great couple of hours to train my pokemon while everyone else caught up on some good ol' sleep.

Real keen for the Bay of Islands trip.

Hope history repeats.

Talent! Fresh Talent For Sale!

It is fresh on my mind. Burning like this freakin' toasted sandwich I just had... Man that was the toastiest toasted sandwich I have ever had... Anyway, completely besides the point. Talent Quest 2010 was so amazing I don't even care if I'm not thoroughly going through every word of this blog writing the witty stuff. Talent beats witty botz people any day!

I had prepared my bags nice and early: Prefects sign *check*, Costume *check*, Lacrosse gear *check*. Picked up Monique, gapped it to school and, as per usual, said hi to our besteststststststsst deans. Frick. I don't even remember period one and two. Honestly, all I could think about was the seven things etched onto my hand: 11:30am, hairdryer, food, shower, poster, PE.

Explanations:

11:30am - Meeting with my law mentor. Her name is Mischa. She was home schooled and is awesome.

Hairdryer - showers straight after lacrosse so we didn't stink too bad under those lights. Hahaa... smell stink by the way.

Food - DUH!

Shower - DUH!

Poster - I left the all important poster for the nights' schedule at home. Gapped to get it. Thanks Ms. Learmonth for understanding my 'family reasons'.

PE - Needed task two to get my excellence. Gapped home and got that too.

Then... Here comes the weird part... Monique and I get back to school to find everyone going on about 'man with screwdriver'. Who is this 'man with screwdriver'? Why is his presence attracting police helicopters? Utter, utter chaos.

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/police-pursuit-ends-four-car-smash-3560833

Fourth period. Man did I miss Ms Nealie. Indian reliever with mustache. You were great but you will never be Ms Nealie. Nobody but her can get us to do a worksheet on, quote: "...some society I don't care about..." I love classics.

Fifth period. Oh my gosh. Eccles - only the best TIC of lacrosse. You legend. Sick as a dog yet reffed in the rain and drove us in a sticky, gross, traffic-y van. SOX UP! Oi kid! SOX UP! 14-2. Nice.

Finally got home (to school that is...) thanks to Ms. C. E Leaper and her massive backstreeting. Showered and ready by 6:09pm. Sorted with Brendon by 6:20pm. Ready for life 7:00pm.

Prefects. What can I say. We are the very best... that no one ever was. *dun* *dun* *dun* POKEMON! Teachers. Mrs. Weeks. Best Justin Bieber there every was. Great stuff.

Talent Quest was my life for over a month. Everybody in Talent Quest was my life; the best Quest there ever was. We can chill guys. For now.

I. So I've Been Thinking...

I promised I would blog Talent Quest. But I didn't. I have resolved a large catch-up to blog it later. However...

So I've been thinking. This is the last mid year exam I will ever do. Drama. Check. History *sigh* check. Classics. Pending. Economics *sigh* pending. That's it! This post shall focus on exams or rather, what happens during exam period. Exams? You say? What ridiculousness!

On Thursday we managed a swell win over Mags 17-0. Swell in the sense that our pride swelled massively but also... Heck, it's a win we'll take it (at the expense of monopolising lacrosse...). Baking this week was by Kate Edwards with a most excellent M&M slice. Next week. Marsha Permadhi on cookie patrol. We hope.

I also had a drama exam.

Friday, today. what an awesome day. The big game! Ha! The hilarity lies in the fact I couldn't make it. Still, I spent time I probably could have used to revise - making banners, blowing up balloons and all that jazz. The midday involved a visit Wing Wah with clever, hilarious, hungry boys and Cheerag. Sorry Cheerag! ... I actually do love you. The afternoon was a slightly uncomfortable yet compelling hour with Lionel Shriver. Note: she intimidated the hell out of me and her name was Lionel. Compelling stuff.

I also had a history exam.

Next week and the weeks to follow will potentially be the busiest weeks of life. Talent Quest final, show camp, music tours, sports tournament weeks, stage challenges, geography and history trips.

I also have to go to school.

A Week.

I haven't posted on this blog since the 30th of March. Some long time ago. In that period I have missed the update of Talent Quest etc. etc. and its progress. I'll have to mention it another time because this blog is to celebrate A week. Not just any week. A week. Agnes Week.

Thanks to everyone on Sunday who turned up to prepare the flagpole.

On Monday to the countless Year 13's and others who stayed during form time and period one.

From Tuesday to Friday, thanks to everyone who paid visits.

On Thursday, thanks to Sarah Woolley, Ben Maiava, the head prefects team, all, including our fabulous deans, who helped keep the school in touch.

Friday morning thanks to those involved with the organisation of the dawn service.

And Saturday. A celebration. We do not mourn for the life that could have been lived - we celebrate the life she lived with us. Agnes. Sorry that this is undoubtedly cliché in your books but I really can't think of anything witty enough.

Rest in Peace.