I love… New Year

There’s only one day to go until 2013 and I’m really rather excited.

Not only we have a cracking party at my parents house surrounded by lovely family, eating fabulous food and consuming a tasty tipple (or two) but I’m really lucky that I’ve got so much to look forward to in the New Year…

Things are settling down (of sorts) in my Part-time ‘normal (?)’ day job; I’ve got a fair few things in the pipeline with regards to the dancing side of my life; there may even be time for a short holiday somewhere warm too 🙂

Here’s just a few of the dancing projects that are coming up…

Monday
1-2pm(Jan & Feb)	Adult Tap Classes at St Andrew’s Hall
4-5pm	NEW Children’s classes at the DanceFit Studio
Tuesday
1:30-3pm	NEW PE Class at St Mary’s Fields Infant School
1:30-2:30pm (June & July)	NEW Tiny Dancer at Embrace Arts, Leicester University
7:30-9pm	NEW Advanced Ballet Classes at Dance Leicester
Wednesday
7:15-8:15pm	BalletTone Classes at the Dance Fit Studio
Thursday
1:30-3pm (Jan & Feb)	NEW PE Classes at Mayflower Primary School
1-2pm (from March)	Adult Tap Classes at St Andrew’s Hall
Friday
3-4pm	After School Club at St Mary’s Fields Infant School
Saturday
early morning time tbc!	Zumba without music at the Ceeda Centre
Sunday
Day off ? Although being self employed this doesn’t really exist, does it ?! 🙂

Plus, I’m going to be working towards a GNVQ Level 2 in ‘Exercise to Music’

As you can see there’s a fair few things going on, but there’s always space for more – get in touch at abdance@ntlworld.com

It’s going to feed my love of stationery quite nicely with diaries and calendars to make sure I know what I’m doing, where and when; and folders with routines and registers and coursework for the ETM 😀

I hope you have a fun-filled and prosperous 2013 too xx

I love … Learning

Some might call me a ‘course tourist’ (you know who you are!) but I really do love learning.

Partly because it often means compiling the newly acquired knowledge into a folder which feeds my love for stationery as well as recognising that I now know something new.

Within the dancing word you never stop learning – you pick things up from other teachers and instructors as well as the people (young and not-so-young) who take part in your classes and it all goes towards constantly working to improve what you do.  Also, within the dancing and education worlds there is a great emphasis on qualifications to ensure that you are the right person to run the classes.  The qualifications give reassurance that I…

• have the relevant subject knowledge.
• teach the technical aspects (steps and movements).
• teach correctly and safely.
• teach the work to examination standard and enter pupils for examinations.
• have critical knowledge of anatomy and physiology along with correct warm ups, limbering, stretching and cool (warm) down.
• keep up to date with developments in the syllabus/curriculum and teaching practices.

Here are the teaching qualifications I have and the courses I’ve attended recently, with a little bit about why each one is so useful…

Associate Ballet, Tap and Theatre Craft – syllabus and teaching practice suitable for pre-school children up to and including Intermediate grade;
Licenciate Freestyle – steps and movements, anatomy and physiology, warm up/down, stretching and limbering for children and adults;
Dance Exercise Diploma – all ages and all styles of dance with fitness and fun as the focus;
Zumba – steps and musical appreciation to create simple and effective fitness routines;
TinyTalk – sign language for babies and young children to help everyone communicate;
Safeguarding and Protecting Children – awareness of the procedures for ensuring the safety of the children who attend classes;
First Aid for Sport – just in case there are any injuries or medical mishaps;
Nutrition for Sport  – to understand what the body needs to support an active lifestyle, and how to ensure your diet is meeting your needs;
PE and the National Curriculum – to keep up to date with the changes so I can be sure I’m meeting the requirements.

Next on my list is ‘Exercise to Music’ and ‘Zumbatomic’…

I love … Running

Who’d have believed it??  A ballet dancing vegan running the best part of 5km in 29 minutes??!??!

There was a very good reason – Race For Life, a ladies-only fundraising event since 1994 for Cancer Research UK, the country’s leading cancer research charity whose aim is to ‘bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.  It won’t happen in our lifetime. But, if we stand united it will be achieved.’

Here are the before and after pics – we’re looking good in both but can you work out which one is which?? 😀

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Considering we did little/no training we (me and a few of the other ladies from the DanceFit Studio) all did brilliantly well and should feel proud that we’ve been part of a team raising money for such a great cause.
It was hard reading the messages on the other participants’ backs, but it just spurred you on.  That, along with all of the fabulous people who came out to cheer us on.
We were really lucky with the weather this time too – it’d had been postponed twice (June and July) thanks to the sogginess that was the British summer this year.

It’s not too late to sponsor us, just click the link.  Here are just some examples of where your donations will go:
£10 – 300 slides for microscopic study of the cancer cells.
£30 – 250 petri dishes to help understand cancer.
£123 – a cancer information nurse for one day.
£1,000 – running a laboratory for 22 days to help improve treatments allowing children to survive in the future.

Here’s a statistic that got me thinking – ‘every 2 minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer.’  That means in the time it took me to run the 5km almost 15 people had been told their lives were never going to be the same again.  Kinda makes you stop and think, doesn’t it.

I love … Sewing

Give me a needle and thread with maybe a few buttons, sequins and some ribbon and I’m happy!

I always did little cross stitch/embroidery pictures when I was younger which was great for learning how to paint the pictures with the basic stitches.  These days it’s freestyle all the way!

Have a rummage through the cupboard (I’m not joking) and find what’s available then get cracking.  From T-shirts, to hair clips, blankets and Christmas stockings, cuddly toys and dresses too.

I never was much good at drawing but somehow with the fabric and other bits and bobs it all comes together quite nicely.  I only sew for family, friends, fun and charity (at the moment) as I don’t want to spoil the fun by putting too much pressure on myself by taking money from people to create things for them.

Here are some of the things I’ve made recently…

I love … Sunny Days

There’s just something about seeing beautiful blue skies and that lovely yellow ball of warmth and light.

It might be due to the fact that I love being outside but I, like may people, feel so much happier when it’s warmer.  Colours seem brighter and life just seems lighter somehow.  There have been lots of articles about SAD (seasonal affective disorder) where people are ‘OK’ for most of the year but seem to experience lower moods during the seasons when there is less sunlight.  The exact cause is not yet known but people do find that sunshine (and light boxes) alleviate the symptoms.

Not only does sunlight enhance your mood, but it allows your body to make Vitamin D which is essential for strong bones and teeth, as well as playing an important role in your immune system.  yes you can take Vitamin D supplements, but getting nutrients naturally is always best and what better excuse to sit outside or go out for a walk?!

Looking after your skin in the sun is essential, I tend to wear factor 20 or 30, even in the UK and make sure it’s got UVA and UVB protection too.  Wearing sun protection cream does affect the Vitamin D production so ver short periods (15 minutes or so) of sun exposure without sun protection is deemed to be OK.

Even at the end of the day when the sun is going down after a fabulously sunny day, you get the most beautiful sunsets.

I love … my husband

It was our 6th Wedding Anniversary yesterday and we spent a lovely weekend in Ironbridge – 6 years is iron (or sweets, but in the interests of saving our teeth and waistlines iron was the better option!)

Here’s a picture of us on our Wedding day on 16th September 2006.
We got married at St Peter’s Church in Glenfield, Leicester at 12 noon then spent the rest of the day at Beaumanor Hall, Leicestershire.
It really was a lovely day surrounded by our family and friends.

We’re quite different really but compliment each other:

• I’m a bit of a chatterbox where he’s much quieter (maybe cos he doesn’t get a word in?);
• He’s really laid back, almost horizontal, whereas I’m much more highly strung;
• I’m a vegan – he’s a carnivore – this causes fun when we book restaurants as we have to check that they can feed me, then when it comes to making to booking in the name of Bacon you can hear them doing a double take at the end of the phone!;
• He’s like a walking radiator while I’m almost always cold.

That said, we get on really well and hardly ever argue about things.  We both support Liverpool Football Club, enjoy walking in our beautiful countryside, watch gruesome tv shows and films (i.e. Dexter, Bones, House), love chocolate cake, despise spiders.

Talking of cakes I’d better go and check on it – heart-shaped vegan chocolate fudge cake 😀 !!

I love … Strictly

It feels like ages since the previous series graced our screens and I’m sooooo glad it’s back tonight!

It’s such a popular show and has got so many people dancing – including me, as it inspired my to start a Strictly DanceFit class to teach the basic steps to the favourite dances while getting fit and having fun.

This is the link to the BBC’s dedicated Strictly pages with all of the latest details about the show.

Here’s this years celebrity line-up (in alphabetical order!):

Colin Salmon starred in Prime Suspect and Doctor Who as well as three James Bond films where he played the character Charles Robinson.
Dani Harmer is the star of a the very popular ‘Tracey Beaker ‘ from CBBC .
Denise Van Outen is a household favourite thanks to her time on ‘The Big Breakfast’ through her roles on Broadway and the West End.
Fern Britton is best known for her partnership with Philip Schofield on ‘This Morning’.
Jerry Hall with her famously golden locks and model figure should feel very comfortable in front of the cameras.
Johnny Ball  is a tv legend who brough science and maths to life for so many people and I can’t wait to see him in action.
Kimberley Walsh should feel right at home with the glitz and glamour following her time with Girls Aloud.
Lisa Riley shot to fame as Mandy Dingle in ‘Emerdale’ but has recently been in a play on the West End about pole dancing.
Louis Smith clearly wasn’t satisfied with his two Olympic medals and wants the glitterball trophy next ;-).
Michael Vaughan has a hard act to follow in fellow cricketers Mark Ramprakash (2006 winner) and Darren Gough (2005 series and Christmas Special winner).
Nicky Byrne has performed with Westlife in front of thousands, but dancing is a different world.
Richard Arnold is Mr Showbiz and there isn’t much he doesn’t know about TV.
Sid Owen played Ricky in Eastenders for 25 years so is accustomed to drama.
Victoria Pendleton has nine world titles for cycling and won two Olympic medals at London 2012.

Here are the professional dancers:

Aliona Vilani was last years winner when she was partnered with Harry Judd.
Anton du Beke.  It wouldn’t be Strictly without him.
Artem Chigvintsev was the winner in 2011 with Kara Tointon.
Brendan Cole won the very first series with Natasha Kaplinsky and is famous for standing up to the judges.
Erin Boag is a fabulous dancer and has been with the series since the very beginning.
Flavia Cacace was paired with Russell Grant last year and showed the nation what fun dancing is and should be.
James Jordancan be a bit cheeky at times, but honest with it.
Karen Hauer is the newest member of the team and I’m looking forward to seeing her dance.
Kristina Rihanoff was John Sergeant and Jason Donovan’s partner in previous series’ proving that anyone and everyone can dance.
Natalie Lowe was very lucky to have been partnered with Ricky Whittle in 2009 and finished in 2nd place.
Ola Jordan won in 2009 with Chris Hollins, quite possibly the smallest partnership on record.
Pasha Kovalev joined in 2011 and made it to the final so there are high hopes for 2012.
Robin Windsor is a dancer after my own heart who loves performing and teaching.
Vincent Simone is the shortest male dancer but makes up for it with his outrageous flirting.

And finally the judges:
Len Goodman returns as the chair of the panel and with his fair and constructive comments will keep the other two fellas under control.
Bruno Tonioli gets so carried away, you can see his passion for dance and it’s infectious.
Craig Revel Horwood gets a bit of a bad press but he is nearly always right in his comments (in my opinion) just maybe could be a bit ‘fluffier’ in how he says things.
Darcey Bussell is new to the judging panel and (as a fellow fan of ballet) I think she’ll be a great addition to the team.

Only 7 hours and 30 minutes to wait until it starts!!!!!

I love … Bunnies

And who wouldn’t?!?

Their little faces, bright eyes and wiggly noses.  They each have unique personalities and are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.

Let me introduce you to Flower and Petal…

Flower likes lying against the edge of the run for some reason

Petal looks soooo little here

I collected them from the Leicester RSPCA in April 2011.  Flower is mummy bunny.  We’re not sure how old she is and since it’s not polite to ask a lady her age I’m sure no-one minds.  Petal is baby bunny, born on 31st January 2011.
Their names came about after watching a well known children’s tv show with my nephews (aged 1 and 7 at the time) and one of the popular characters was singing and dancing.  My 7-year-old nephew suggested Daisy but my friend’s daughter is called Daisy so we agreed on Flower and then Petal.

They live in a large wooden hutch which I’d hoped would fit in the shed, but I was wrong – we couldn’t even get it through the door!  So it is outside, against the fence.  I invested in brackets and padlocks to keep the foxes out, then in the winter of 2011 bought an insulating blanket and water proof cover since it was a bit on the chilly side.

As I write this, they are playing out in their run, nibbling grass and dandelion flowers, and running around like lunatics.  Some people call this ‘pop-corning’ or ‘binky-ing’ – I’ll try to get a video of them in action.  In the mean time, here’s a couple more photos of them.

I’m a member of the RSPCA and they have an article or two that will interest bunny owners; one about their new campaign Hay Fever and the other giving useful tips for their diet.  Both of which are well worth a read.

I love … Music …

… of pretty much all styles – classical, pop, rock, jazz, musicals.  From all eras.  Some for singing along with, others for dancing to and others just for listening pleasure.

At the latest count there are over 2,000 tracks on my iPod (other MP3 devices are available).

While in the doctor’s waiting room the other day I had a quick read of the September 2012 Reader’s Digest and saw an article called ‘No. 22 – Reasons To Be Cheerful’ by James Brown as part of their ‘Keep Britain Happy’ campaign.   It reccommended that you dig out your music collection, be it on vinyl, cassette, cd, or whatever and have a listen.  The nostalgia trip can be enjoyed on your own but better still shared with someone.

These are just some of my favourites songs/tunes:

Artist	Singing	Dancing	Listening
Pink Martini	Hang On Little Tomato	Bitty Boppy Betty	Ou Est Ma Tete?
	Lilly	La Soledad
	Aspettami	Sunday Table
	Let’s Never Stop Falling In Love	The Gardens Of Sampson and Beasley
	Hey Eugene
	Everywhere
Foo Fighters	Pretender	Statues
	Monkey Wrench	Bridge Burning
	Virginia Moon
Scott Joplin		The Entertainer	Bethena Waltz
Caro Emerald		Dr Wanna Do
		Back It Up
		Stuck
Robbie Williams	Me And My Shadow
Paolo Nutini		Pencil Full Of Lead
Ella Fitzgerald	That Ole Devil Called Love
	Every Time We Say Goodbye
Eva Cassidy	Over The Rainbow
	Summertime
The Artist		1931
		George Valentin
Dean Martin	Baby It’s Cold Outside
Chicago		Roxie
		Mr Cellophane
		They Both Reached For The Gun
Jamie Cullum	I Get A Kick Out Of You
	Fascinating Rhythm
	High & Dry
Zez Confrey		Dizzy Fingers
Dido	Thank you
Alex Sings & Oscar Swings	Do The Cha Cha Cha
Cold Play	Fix You
Flight of the Conchords			Robots

I love … Stationery

Did you ever get really excited about going back to school after the summer holidays?

I did, every year, not because I was looking forward to learning new stuff or wearing my new uniform (although they were good), but just because I had a new pencil-case, filled to the brim with new pens and things!  I used a Parker fountain pen (other manufacturers are available) and underlined everything in green, rather than red which I thought looked a bit aggressive?!

These days I still have a thing for pens.  But it’s expanded to note books of all shapes and sizes with various patterns – probably stemming from my love for covering my text books with old wallpaper.  I also enjoy decorating folders now that I’ve discovered sticky-backed-plastic!!  Then there’s the whole dividers, plastic wallets and getting things in order.

One of my favourite parts of one of my previous office jobs was going through the stationery catalogue for routine orders of paper and paperclips etc as well as setting up new desks with in-trays, pencil pots, files, furniture, you name it.  There was nearly always something on each page that took my fancy.  Imagine my delight when in another office job when I found they had a label maker!!  I was in my element and the office was tidied and organised to within an inch of its life.  I’m not all that offended when people compare me to Monica from Friends 😀
Update – 12th Sept 2012
My friends know me so well!!