Australian Ballet adventure

In July, Brid was given the opportunity to attend a Winter school with the Australian Ballet. As Dermot was working, my parents booked an apartment,2 doors away from the Australian Ballet. We all stayed together, it was a really nice to share this experience with Mum and Dad.
Every morning Dad and I would drop Brid at the Ballet studio and we would discover some area of Melbourne.
My Mum has not been well for a while with aches and pains, so we only wanted to be gone for a few hours each day..
We caught the tram to St kilda, to Richmond walked the CBD and Southbank..It was really nice having a few days to be with my Dad. He said he enjoyed sharing this time together with me. That was such a Blessing.
The only downside was Brid hurt her calf and she needed to ice after exercise and heat the muscle to cool down..This was her only regret, apart from that it was an amazing experience for her.
To celebrate her efforts that week, I took Mum Dad and Brid to a little Italian restaurant around the corner. yummy food and wine for us all. Oh and a milkshake for Brid.
I had made an appointment the following day for Brid to see a pointe shoe fitter at Bloch- Southbank. Oh, and use her discount card..!!! We were not expecting to find any Pointe  shoes. She was happy with her Russian Pointes. Within 15 minutes we had found a pair of pointe shoes that fitted so well. She really liked them, so we purchased them. I was quite surprised that she didn't ask for any other item..  Straight after this we caught a Flight home. It was lovely to be at home and work out what we were going to do with her calf.
A few days later:
The Studio had entered the group into another festival, and as one or two girls were unable to make it, we needed a couple of fill ins..They needed to practice.
The day of the eisteddfod arrived and we were scheduled to be on stage at 10am. The troupe did very well, They didn't place, but that's the eisteddfod scene. They were in time, executed there steps well. they looked fantastic. Afterwards her dance teacher spoke to Brid and myself about calf. He wanted it sorted. That actually meant a week off. So a
I asked several Dancing mums who to see. What physiotherapist would be best. We already had an appointment at a Bowen therapist, but I was unsure if this was the correct treatment?????


  

Last part of 2013 in snapshot.

Well here I am again apologizing for not checking in.!!!
I 've tried to keep up with all our friends different posts on Blogger.

Its been totally mad around our home since last August.
I haven't been able to find the time to blog.
September saw Brid do her Ballet exam. She scored well and was awarded a Highly commended. The 2nd top result in the scoring system. She had a calf and shin injury, therefore, she couldn't do small or large jumps ( Petite and Grande Allegro).
We were ever so proud of her.
After the exam, we worked with a Bowen therapist to realign and correct connective tissue. Yep- You heard right. Amazing work.
This was a major success.
We holidayed in a little cottage 8.7 kms out of Dorrigo. Such a pretty and relaxing place. We walked, talked, lazed and reconnected with each other. Its been a very busy year.
Brid attended 2 eisteddfods following our holiday, she attained great results and danced her first modern expressive- choreographed by herself. Critiqued by her Jazz and contemporary teacher.
Once school holidays ended then began the hours of concert preparation. Brid says this is her favourite term. She loves learning new dances and assisting in choreographing.
somehow, between all this we fitted in school work. How I don't know. !!
We even managed a fortnightly Shakespeare gathering, reading and discussing Romeo & Juliet. This later turned into Art appreciation lessons with the same family. Loved the company and enjoyed the experience. It will happen again this year.
Meanwhile, We took it in turns to drive Brid to Ballet. We began car pooling with another family. That took off a little pressure.
I reconnected with several life long friends and family member after a sad incident in September. Its been lovely keeping in contact.
During all this busyness and mundane life, we purchased a puppy. She is adorable and much loved by us all.
The Christmas production Of Cinderella was drawing near and wow was it going to be good.
Brid was cast into 5 different dances, She was pumped and up for the challenge.
We tried to prepare our hearts and home for Christmas amongst all of this. It wasn't the most well prepared we could be, but we ket giving over every day and challenge to Our Lord.
Brid continued to attend Youth group and has some lovely friends and has enjoyed the company of the youth leaders.
We said goodbye to our Central coast Holiday house. Its being sold. So sad, the end of an era. Brids' been going there since before she was born.
Its been quite an emotional roller coaster of a journey for us all this year, learning hoe best to support Brid through several difficult peers at Ballet. She has made many good choices and learnt so much about herself, who her friends are and how Friends and family can be there to lift her spirits.
So that brings us mostly up to date with last year 2013.. Of course,  our faith was the underpinning of our reactions and the source of moral judgments.
Dermot and I celebrated 10 years for our computer company. That's quite an achievement in these days. We decided to give our clients a little hamper of things we liked. A useful box, wine and glasses, coffee and mugs, lovely tea, chocolates and assorted goodies all presented in cellophane and individually delivered to each of our clients. We chose every item ourselves and carefully wrapped it all. Brid helped by writing and printing the cards.
I'll share some more news soon.
 


 

Its been a while..

I can't promise I will be able to stay too long, but I needed to tell you of our adventures...

WOW its been busy.

Last school holidays Brid entered an Eisteddfod - festival for US friends. She performed a Solo she had been working on for some time.

It took quite a while to perfect it because Brid has been en Pointe at the Barre' - using a barre', and not in the centre. Because of her age, she needed to do this solo en pointe..
Brid has moved rapidly with the greatest care of her Ballet teachers, from Ballet flats to Pointe shoes.
This has not been without injury though. Let me explain, as Brid has advanced so quickly, it meant that her muscles and joints needed to catch up.
She performed her Classical Solo to lovely classical piece, which showed her ballet style off beautifully.
Before the performance Brid had the opportunity to warm up and use the dance studio to go through her dance again. This was a very special opportunity that her teachers had given the students. It really showed how much they care for there students. The venue was quite close to our dance studio, so we drove there, got Brid settled and prepared for her solo dance.Miss Kristy had a chat to her and then it was up to Brid.. and some little friends who waited with her..
I only have one picture.. Yes I forgot to take photos. I was so nervous for her that I forgot to take photos. Her ballet teacher, Miss Kristy took a photo..
Her hair was twisted at the and placed in a bun. She had flowers in her hair rather than a tiara or head piece.
Her tutu was redecorated by a friend, it sparkled and shone with the lights of the stage. We nervously waited for her to be announced on stage and then we proudly sat and watched her dance en pointe. I had seen the routine twice, but it wasn't until that evening that I saw her dance to her full potential.
She executed every step and presented herself very well. Her teachers looked around at me when she was finished and stated, "Its the best she has ever danced this routine." They were very happy. I couldn't ask for more. Dermot & I were happy, Her teachers were happy and Brid was happy.
So that an amazing night..
She can't wait to perform again...soon...

How am I going to cover....

SHAKESPEARE.

Will it be interesting. ?
Will It keep Brids attention and mine.?
What one shall we begin with?

These were all real concerns for me.
When I studied Shakespeare, it was in a class room full of teens my age, with an enthusiastic teacher, and books and essays.

Well that wasn't going to be the case with Brid. So where do I begin. I just knew I wanted it to be alive.
I was having morning tea with a friend and we both aired our concerns about this topic. We both said
"Let's have the girls do it together"
Great idea.
I had a few ideas of how we would do this and proposed them to my friend. We chose to start with Romeo and Juliet.

Firstly we would meet fortnightly for 2 hours.
Brid and I drive over each fortnight -as its on our way to Ballet.
We have hot drinks and morning tea snack while we read and do our work. It doesn't seem like work though..Its relaxing and enjoyable.

We have chosen to read the story first. This would give the girls a real understanding of the story before we began on the 'Old English'.
our lesson plan is quite loose.
Week 1. read the story and chat about the time place and anything else that comes up.
homework. - where is Verona.

Week 2. Continue reading the story and use the Socratic list from Teaching the Classics to stimulate further discussion and grasp a greater understanding of the story, its time and place, characters, protagonists, antagonists, themes etc. This was quite a lot of fun. some real serious questions were discussed.

Week 3. Read the play aloud. Use a new English version to interpret as necessary.

Week 4. Continue reading the play.

Week 5.( This maybe a night time activity). Craft activity. Decorate Masks. watch the Ballet or drama.

We are putting no pressure on the girls. They are coming up with there own ideas. We are hoping to have the last lesson as a night time fun activity that will embellish the whole Shakespeare play.
Its turning out to be a great adventure.

They are already asking, what one will we do next?
Thats a good indication of its success.
This lead Brid and I on a discussion regarding literature on our way to Ballet.
Brid has a great list of literature books, she is reading her way through. I haven't asked her to write a review or a report for a long time. It creates tension and as Brid says, it makes the novel dead from the beginning.
Les Miserable - Is her latest novel. She has several that she is wanting to read, so I can't ask for anymore than that can I.



  

what are you reading? What are you covering this year?

This year has been filled so far with so many good books.

Brid has read
Literature
The Scarlett Pimpernel
Persuasion.

Faith
A heart for Europe
We are on A mission from God

Culture
A Distant Prospect- Annette Young ( A friend of ours).
The story of Van Trapp family singers
Her next book is The diary of Anne Frank. I read this book after visiting Amsterdam and seeing the house. It is the Pan Books edition.

Now I don't bother with book reports or notebooking.
I know she has enjoyed the book because she explains the book to me. I know many would say this would not be how they do it, but its less restricting and allows flow in our day. Often Brid will have several books on the go...She has plans to read Les Miserables this term too.

I waver between formal learning and child directed learning.
It works best for us.

Brid is working her way through Australian based History Writing IEW. I was going to ask her to read several books along side it. I changed my mind as I wanted her to make that decision. Well she has. She asked if she could buy a book on the Cobb & Co..Of course I was delighted and quickly directed her to my proposed Australian history reading list.
She is looking through the list deciding what she'd like to read.

A lesson in Poetry & short stories by Australian poets, has been a rabbit trail today. Henry Lawson- A drovers wife, A look at various poems like the Bush Girl and reciting A Sunburnt country.

Next week we wil be beginning Romeo & Juliette with a friend. Using this book as a translator. It will be simple but effective. We will look at a play or a Ballet once we complete it.

Our other subjects covered are
 Maths. using teaching textbooks -Algebra I
IEW - fix it Grammar
Biology- Using Apologia.

Of course Brid has been researching and writing about various Ballet companies, Dancers- male & female, choreographers and Ballets. She listens to Ballet as she works and its rather energising.
I was worried at the beginning of the year, that we wouldn't have enough time for all of this but it just seems to flow.
As oiur AP said, if the child has a passion this will flow over to there school work as well.. It certainly has been the case with Brid... 







 

wednesdays

During term 1 this year, Brid asked if she could make a special meal for us. She always helps me cook, prepare and serve and she is quite capable. We gave her our Blessing to go ahead.
She went about her planning. She sat with several recipe books around her, trying to locate the perfect dinner menu.
She sent us both invitations in the mail... and added the date to our calendars and diaries so that we would not double book it.  Not that we would Wednesday nights are our home nights.
She then drew up a list of required ingredients, shopped for them, decorated the table, and began preparing her feast.
It was adventurous.
She had never used oil to pan fry before, so a little help from me was required.

After that Dermot and I vacated the kitchen and enjoyed an evening together, being served by our sweet teenager
Would you like to see the photos..? Here they are

It looks good, company great as wel

the mood was set..

 

 

 

 

Chicken parmigiana

Ice cream, jelly and chocolate- simple but yummy.

It was quite a feast and we could let her sit alone, so we asked her to join us.





 

 

 

Our Lady- The Virgin Mary

                                   This month is a month we dedicate to Our Lady.

I look forward to this month every year.
I sit our statue of Our Lady at the dining table surrounded by a blue cloth, flowers and a candle and our rosary beads.
This year I can proudly add our candle from Lourdes. Its 60cm tall at the moment.
Its wrapped neatly with a blue ribbon
It is Our Lady I turn to in times of trouble, She directs me to her Son.
I turn to her when I am happy and joyful, she again directs me to her Son.
I love her simple prayfuness.
So serene and gentle, yet very strong and powerful..
I am reading a book at present. ' Spiritual Warfare: Attacks against the Women..Its a very good read, easy and not too heavy. A strong component is Our Lady- as you would imagine.

It was my grandmothers devotion to Our Lady that first drew me to her. I have shared this with you before. My Nanna would sooth me to sleep as a little girl by rubbing my back and whispering rhythmic  words. It was when I learnt the Rosary that it occured to me that this was what she was reciting. Our Lady has had her hand on me since I was a little child...

My favourite prayer would 'Mary conceived without sin, Pray for us who have recource to thee''..I pray this often, very quick and simple.

This month we also honour our mothers, with Mothers' Day. Such a beautiful time to spend with family and our mums, remembering and just being.

How will you spend this month? How will you be spending Mothers 'Day?