Same pattern as yesterday, with rehearsals first: we are pretty much running through the play each time now, though I have to look for other approaches, in order to maintain a certain freshness of approach, as well as highlighting particular aspects. Today, we first focused on the words, sitting in a circle and working our way through the words of the text. Slightly disconcerting that a couple of guys from the video studio turned up, and slightly rearranged us so that they could shoot us with a clean background. But otherwise we ignored them, (though at one point I was aware that I was sweating profusely, and did momentarily wish that they would point their cameras elsewhere.)
Having finally set up wifi on all three devices I am using here in my new location, I decided to return to my room to get on with admin, writing etc. This did mean I had to tackle yet again what has become my nemesis: the bridge.
To explain, S.P.A. ( not SPA) runs a number of sites in town; the Bachelor of Hotel Management, for example, operates out of the Bread Box building. But the major site, where I spend all of my teaching time, is divided into two blocks, separated by a public road (though really not much more than a lane.) Though there are gates from both sites onto the lane, for the most part these are kept locked, and access between the two is nearly always over a large and rather intimidating metal footbridge. It is very high, far more so than one would think necessary, and the steps are steep. And on a normal day I might find myself hauling myself over the thing at least half a dozen times. I suppose it does mean I am keeping myself fit. Or ruining my knees. Whatever.
But actually, the college has very little choice; the alternative would be to separate the two blocks, and give each site its own security, and with large numbers of staff and students having to move between the two, this would be impractical. In the end, an inelegant but effective solution.
Dhir the musician returned today, armed with his guitar, and we gave over the afternoon rehearsal to him to run the song. With excellent results; he was able to stabilise the tune of the song (with me, it wandered around all over the place), and from that point to build their confidence, so that they can give themselves the best chance of doing themselves justice.
