Dawn and other stories

Ok, my hamster Dawn is about 2 years old. Her fur is falling out because she’s old. Also, my mum thinks she’s a boy. Apparently my baby girl is an old man. Go figure.

Christmas is only a week away and still have nothing for my mum. Been brain-storming with Sophie, and so far the best idea seems to be a subscription to the Grand Designs magazine, or some other homes and gardens type magazine. Sister will be getting a book about body modification ("hot bodies, cool styles") and might get her something else as well, in case she doesn’t like it. Got dad two books – "Does Anything Eat Wasps?" and "Eats, Shoots & Leaves", both of which I sort of want to keep for myself!

Staying at Sophies house for three days this week. Her parents and siblings (apart from Denis) are away, gone to Butlins or something, but Denis and Sophie have been banned from all family holidays, so are staying home. Rather then have a house party, a couple of us are moving in with her for a couple of days.

Friday night was pretty pathetic. First, it was far too cold. Second, no one was drinking, which seemed to make it even colder for some inexplicable reason. Third, I had been in a really good mood until I got into town and three glum faces walked towards me slowly, I was beginning to think someone had died, but was instead informed that I looked old enough to get served. Seriously, this was the first thing said to me by someone I hadn’t seen in two weeks. I was under instructions not to drink that night (see below) and when I said so, friend looked at me frostily as though it would be my fault if she had a miserable, sober evening. Things didn’t get any better as the night wore on, but mostly in the form of nothing much happening except people complaining continually about how cold it was and how they wanted to go home, ending with as all leaving at around 9:30.

So, was not drinking on Friday night because on Saturday night had an important singing concert. Concert was about three hours long, but was at the center for about 7! My sister was there for even longer – about 8 and a half hours. See, there were two shows, the first was from 3 to 5:20, which my sister was in, so she had to be there at 2. I watched that one with my parents. The second was at 7:30, which I was in, and my sister was in the finale, so she had to sit backstage for the whole of that as well, and it didn’t end until 10:30! The rehearsal for the second show started at the same time the first one ended, so I went straight from the audience to being backstage. Was a bit hectic and our singing teacher was mighty stressed, for obvious reasons.

Was quite fun backstage though. I’ve known everyone for years now, and Jack T was singing in the same thing I was, so we were recounting past parties we’d both attended to a few people in my singing group, and informing each other of times the other had missed when they were unable to go out. Also got to see photos of some of my mates when they were younger, which was halarious. I guess the most important part of the evening was my solo, was shaking like a leaf the whole way through, even afterwards! Was so nervous, but am told I went ok. Can’t really remember that much of it, apart from noticing the mirror ball was turning, and looking up at the technical office thing when I couldn’t think of anywhere else to look. Only got the timing right for the first time on thursday, and five minutes later sang it without words for the first time, so I think it’s quite understandable that I was nervous! Was the first person in my group to go on, so when I got back, was given hugs from Jack and Becky, then congratulated by others, and asked if you could see the audience by others. Everyone’s so lovely, I feel really lucky to know them all. There are no divas and no one puts any pressure on you to do anything, and everyone gets on so well, it’s really nice. Everyone did so well!

My sister sang a solo as well, in the earlier show! She’s only ten, I think it was her first solo, though she’s done a lot of drama stuff. I was so proud of her, mum and dad were crying. Apparently they were crying through my solo as well. We got a tray of chocolates each today as congratulations. Very yummy! Daisy (my sister) sang Reflections from Mulan, and I sang Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers, but in a stroke of genius, changed all the "she’s" to "he’s". *Cool*

My aunt and uncle had their first baby today! Is a little boy. They’re in Ethiopia still (went out for six months to do some freelance reporting, and are still there a year and a half later), and my dad reckons they’re going to name the baby after the capital city – Addis Ababa. I doubt they will, but think they might give him an African name. Will update when I know!

Well, I think that’s it.

-x-