Confidence of Youth

I've been trying to reconcile two parts of myself lately...the fun, confident, exuberant teenager of fourteen years ago with the adult woman of today...but it got me thinking: which parts of my teenage self do I want to resurrect?

Some things I am really grateful for now: I am a LOT more tactful than I was at seventeen; I am no longer skittish around education and actually find myself fully embracing new learning opportunities; I take a lot more pride in the things that I do...
These are all things, essential things, that I lacked as a teenager and yes, I suppose all or most teens are like that and I shouldn't feel like I was the only miserable and lazy adolescent. But I was constantly reminded and berated for those 'normal' shortcomings and found that when I hit my twenties, I could no longer bury my head in the sand and be oblivious to these things. I needed to make a change.

But in all of the changing, I lost some good bits as well. And the thing I miss the most is the confidence I had back then. I wish I could combine the confidence of my youth with the wisdom (I hope) and maturity (I fervently hope) of my 31 year old self.
I'd be unstoppable.

Feeling inspired

Inspiration that hits you out of the blue is the best kind.

One of our school parents started working for us unofficially a year ago. She started as a feeding scheme assistant and running the aftercare. She is a lovely lady, who helps with everything. No task is too menial for her hands. She is such a team player, and when one of our caretakers retired at the end of last year, we retained her in that capacity.

A few weeks ago, we applied to our education department to make her a permanent employee, which would mean a very positive change in her earnings, as well as job security. Today, our principal called us both into his office. He handed me a camera and asked me to take a picture of the two of them as he handed her her first official department payslip. My heart burst at this moment!

She started out as a parent volunteer, who wanted to assist the school in some way to compensate for the fact that she couldn't afford to pay the school fees. Through her determination and work ethic, this is the rewards she is now reaping.

I am sooo proud of you Aunty Fay!!

Shakespearean Lovers

About two and a half years ago now, I posted a piece on my favourite literary couples (http://ravingsofanalien.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-favourite-literary-couples.html). I have read a few more books since then and have met with some more interesting couples.

For the last 4 months or so, due to fandom and Twitter (here's looking at you, Tom Hiddleston and @HollowCrownFans) I have been reading more of the Bard and have come across some new couples.
So, thus far, these are my favourites...

1. Benedict and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing - these two make use of my favourite thing as foreplay...humour :))

2. Henry V and Katharine - Act 5 Scene 2. I need not say anything else. This entire scene is one of the most romantic I have ever read. But I leave you with the following quote...
"You have witchcraft in your lips, Kate. And there is more eloquence in a sugar touch of them than in the tongues of the French Council. And they should sooner persuade Harry of England, than a general petition of monarchs."

3. Marcius and Virgilia - Coriolanus. Okay, so this is a very bloody piece of drama from Shakespeare. It deals with politics and war and deception...and the stubbornness of the title character's character...

Caius Marcius Coriolanus is an absolute snob. He has been reared with a epic dislike and prejudice against any person who is not of the nobility and without the ability to mask it, or any of his true feelings on any subject. He cannot pretend.  "He would not flatter Neptune for his trident, Or Jove for ’s power to thunder." (3.1.321)

But with his wife, Virgilia...the beautiful names he calls her (My Gracious Silence, Best of my flesh), his gentle manner of speaking and dealing with her...we see a side that only comes out with her, a complete antithesis of the soldier he is in the rest of the play. 

Coriolanus

I started writing this post a few days ago...Sunday, 2 March 01h00, to be exact. Why was I up at this unGodly hour?
Because I was so wired after experiencing one of the best evenings of my life...one I was waiting three months to experience.

After a morning tutoring session with my niece, I showered, put on a pretty dress, my favourite perfume and heels, and did my make-up. And when we got to the cinema, I sat, through forty minutes of repetitive trailers, waiting for it to start.
It didn't disappoint.

I have so much to say but no words can do justice to the brilliant performance I had the privilege to watch.
Let me start by saying a big congratulations to the entire Donmar team. I am so upset that I don't live in London...I would have been your best patron.

I have never been to the theatre to watch a Shakespearean play. In fact, the last time I was at the theatre was probably at primary school, so I was expecting some stage dressing. To have the lights shine on a naked stage took me a bit by surprise but it actually worked well, forcing you to focus entirely on the drama as it unfolds on the stage. You, as an audience member, were not distracted by props or garish costumes  and made the performance on stage so much more powerful.


Before I get to my shallower musings, I need to applaud the actors for an AMAZING job. I went out and bought Coriolanus to read in preparation for the play. I am usually a fast reader but it took me a few weeks to get through it...I read it slowly, so that I could understand it to the best of my ability.
But, Shakespeare wrote plays, and I only fully appreciated Coriolanus after watching it. I certainly did not pick up humour or sarcasm when I read it, and I don't recall laughing for any scene. But I laughed like an idiot in the cinema (the people probably thought I was on crack or something) for the droll wit of Menenius, in particular, and even of Virgilia and Marcius.

All the actors were brilliant, but the performances that stood out for me were those of Mark Gatiss (kept me in stitches in almost every scene he was in), Rochenda Sandall (sensational, playing a million different characters - and for such a small lady, huge stage presence) and, of course, Tom Hiddleston.
  

What can I say?
Firstly (and here I am going to be frivolous, and I apologise in advance if it makes you a little uncomfortable), you are one sexy man. Even when you are scowling. You need to throw away every loose-fitting pair of trousers you own and only wear slim cut pants.
 

 Initially, I was struggling to focus on more than just your posterior and biceps (when did that happen???) and I was really grateful that the lady at the refreshments counter put extra ice in my drink (I needed it).

But your performance took me on a such a ride...and my emotions were scattered all over the place by the end of it.I hated your arrogance and admired your courage through the first Act; I felt awkward and uncomfortable with the intimate looks at Birgitte Sorenson in all of your scenes with her, yet I could not look away; I wanted to protect you from your own family and friends who wanted to change you;

Birgitte and Tom

my heart broke when you parted from your family, broke again when you humbled yourself to Hadley Fraser and shattered when I saw you hang at the end.

I was exhausted...yet strangely energized when I left the theatre.
Coriolanus was well worth the three month wait and R120 I paid for my ticket.