Until 2015. So I have 50 weeks and about half a day to do all of the things on my list of things to do in 2014…. Except I didn’t make a list. And I’m not going to. Sitting here at my desk, listening to Frank Turner and The Eels, I am quite content that I barely even have the week ahead of me planned out. But the crazy thing is, I am SO busy and my diary is actually pretty full – rehearsals HAVE to be put in the diary months ahead or I WILL forget. Yet, I’m not stressing about next month or the month after (at the moment), I’m just giving today it’s time and then I’ll move onto the next. Of course there are exceptions to the rule; drama school auditions, plays I’m going to see, plays I need to remember to book tickets to go and see, trips to fancy places – MONACO GRAND PRIX: yes, I am excited and birthdays (mandatory with a forgetful mind). Having a diary to put them all in is a wonderful thing though isn’t it? Like a really nice one that it took you ages to find and fits in all of your bags just perfectly. Like this one!
Courtesy of Paperchase.
I’ve tried to use a diary many, many times before and yet every time, it ends up being thrown out in the expired year with spine neatly in tact, pages still crisp, without as much of a birthday scribbled on all those precise little lines. This year is different already, thank goodness. I’ve obviously reached a pinnacle part of my life now that I am capable of maintaining not just a blog, social life, working life, day-dream life but a diary to diarize all of it as well! Score. Maybe I’ll be able to stop being as forgetful at my next pinnacle point and not actually need to write it all down…
So not only did 2013 go out with a bang, but it was danced away with my best friend.
Just ever-so-slightly hungover from a night of champagne and giggling around Tynemouth, it was pretty lovely waking up on the first day of 2014 next to one of my favorite people – no matter how bad her breath was. Joking! Jade, I’m joking, I love you and I have no idea what your breath smelt like because my mind couldn’t stretch as far as to making my senses work that morning. Which is exactly why I cooked us the breakfast of queens.
– 4 double eggs and 6 bacon rashers anyone? –
I gathered up all of my strength and booked a taxi (thanks Dad) to my Grannie Jensen’s for her traditional New Year’s Day party with all the clan. All alcohol was devoutly refused and her delicious food avidly eaten, my hangover thanked me deeply. Tearing myself away from the trifle, I was chauffeured over to the next party on the schedule. I really recommend this chauffeur; excellent service, spacious vehicle and very friendly driver and driver’s companion. They’re called the Snowdon’s (otherwise known as my Mama & Papa) and have a wonderful, recently renovated campervan that they took to the Edinburgh Hogmanay and had an amazing time by the sounds of it. Reunited, we scooted over to my Auntie Christine’s for a canny little family gathering of the Carr variety and more food, but I was far too full this time so I gave in and had a glass of sherry – a must on New Year’s Day!!
Absolutely pooped, we left early, got in our onesies and put Sherlock on the TV. What a flaming good episode that one was – and the one after it for that matter. I could go on forever about Sherlock so all I will say is #SherlockLives
But alas, the first few weeks of my new year have not just been full of parties, food and excellent television viewing (contrary to the belief of many). I finished an incredible book: Being an Actor, by Simon Callow. Given as a gift last year for ‘Inspiration’ or to be ‘a good luck charm’ it is definitely turning out to be both and more. I just loved it. I heartily recommend it to anyone who is or who is wanting to be an actor, myself being the former and the latter combined and confused have found it more useful than Stanislavski, An Actor Prepares. Personally, I’m not a massive fan of reading books on acting technique. I much prefer to be taught something than to read about it. Reading gives things more clarity, if it hash’t been taught well, and a further insight into the exact process but I want the rough methods and ideas from a good teacher, so that I can take what I need from it and absorb everything else into the memory bank. In all truthfulness I was (and still am) bored reading Stanislavski’s books on acting, I’ve used them for reference in essays and that’s about it. But that is certainly not to say that I don’t like his ideology or approaches to performing, in fact, like most actors of today, they are the first and probably main foundations to the way I act – though Meisner is working his way in there quite swiftly (thanks to Adam Stadius). And the reason they are my basis to performing is because I was taught how to use them to my best advantage from unbiased, energetic, great teachers who wanted to enlighten and not preach. Reading a book like Callow’s is like reading about yourself and seeing into your future (maybe not so much if you’re not interested in acting) – hindsight & foresight in the living pages of a well-written collection of memories and opinions. Very well-written indeed. The only other book I have read of worthy comparison would be Sir Antony Sher’s Year of the King, another honest insight into the real world of being an actor. In terms of learning from reading, it’s books like these that leave a lasting impression on me. Learn life from people and acting methods in a class.
So you partied, and read a book, is that it? No, it most certainly is not. Not by a long shot. I’ve started going back to the gym and feel 100% better after just one session, I’m back in full swing of rehearsals for The Lost (post to come soon) and for Northern Stage Young Company with lines being learnt for both of them. I have and still am spending quality time with nearests & dearests, which I hope will continue for the rest of the year and not just the first month and the most pressing thing is that I have 3 more drama school auditions left. Which are all within a couple of weeks of each other so I shall be spending some quality time with London dearests and getting a bit of me time in Manchester. Nice little balance.
2013 was the best year of my life so far. Whether that’s because I can’t pick out specific years before that, or for all the darn good reasons I have for it being amazing, I just don’t know. But I’m pretty happy with the start to my 2014 and I think know it’s going to be a damn good year.
