My Wild Self!

  
I went on to this site to make my wild self and it was actually so much fun! You should too, the link is: http://www.buildyourwildself.com/
:)
xx

A sentence without words

pic source











pic source

pic source

Christmas Time!

Hi everyone!
So last weekend we put up our Christmas tree at home and the school one is up so I decided it was about time I posted something christmasy and what could ever be more christmasy than Micheal Bublé (who I absolutely love!) singing Winter Wonderland!
So watch and enjoy and HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Great day at the Ballet!!!

On Friday the 2nd of December 2011 we went to Belvedere College to see a ballet, and it was amazing!
I absolutely love their dresses and costumes. They looked stunning. They preformed the Nutcracker Suite and The Snow Queen.

The Irish National Youth Ballet performance we went to see!
I am so jealous of anyone who can go 'on point' (up on their very tip toes). The dancers were incredible, especially one girl who is in our class! She was absolutely fantastic. Their dedication is amazing. Most of the girls started when they were 3 and practise almost everyday! I am in awe of their talents! Just as the rest of the audience were, When the final curtain fell, most people were on their feet and everyone was beaming :)
Thanks for reading,
bye,
:)
xx

The hills are alive with the sound of music......!!!!

Our school is putting on a musical this year!! Its The Sound Of Music! And it's very exciting :)
I'm part of the wardrobe team and apart form the shawl catastrophe (no one seems to have any at home), we've managed to find everything!
The show starts Monday night which is the 5th of November and it's going to be on for four nights.
I'm going to be the one of the people backstage (wearing black!) that hands all the actors their costumes!!
I really cant wait, it should be so fun. I haven't been in a play since I stopped going to Speech and Drama when I was about 12 or something!
Speaking of Speech and Drama, I was Maria in The Sound of Music when I was about 8 r 10, and the funny thing is I really CAN'T sing!!!!
Oh, the embarrassment!!
bye
:)
xx

Edu Blogs :)

I'd like to nominate Caitríona Eves for her amazing blog. I love reading all of her posts which always manage to put a smile on my face! Well done Caitríona!!! :) xxxxx

http://tienies.blogspot.com/2011/11/neven-heaven.html?spref=tw

Brooklyn Novel Review

I have recently read "Brooklyn" by Colm Tóibín. It is the story of an Irish girl named Eilis Lacey who moves away from the small town of Enniscorthy to Brooklyn in order to have better opportunities and prospects in life.

There are many themes in this novel like love and poverty to name just a few.  But the one that I found most interesting is the theme of family. Eilis' mother is a widow. Her older brothers have moved to England for work. Her sister Rose has an office job which support the family. Rose meets a priest back from America who offers to arrange a job for Eilis. She soon finds herself crossing the Atlantic third-class, when it dawns on her that by organising this, Rose has sacrificed her own future so Eilis can have a better life. This has really shown me how strong love between family members can be. Rose will now have to stay at home and look after their mother while Eilis gets to start a new life in America. It is because of how selfless Rose was that I have loved the theme of family in this novel.

Eilis is a very brave, strong and interesting character in this novel. I have to admire how she leaves everyone and everything she knows for a new life she knows nothing about. She is a character that grows and develops as I by the end of the novel it was clear to me that she was less defenceless and more troubled than she initially seemed.

The novel is set in Brooklyn during the 1950's. It has thought me about the roles of men and women and the differences in social class during this time which I found very interesting. This was most clear to me when Eilis is traveling to Brooklyn after leaving home. The third class passengers have a lot lower standard of hygiene and accommodation than the first class passengers on board the ship. When the passengers were sea sick, the third class cabins were the last to be cleaned. 

From reading this novel, I feel Colm Tóibín's outlook on life is quiet negative. In my opinion, this novel is not a particularly happy one but I am feel Tóibín is perhaps a realist and I understand that not everything is always light and happy. 

I enjoyed how Tóibín depicted complicated feelings using simple everyday words in a way which is very effective. His writing is very descriptive and I liked his use of dialogue. 

If I was asked would I recommend this book and I am sorry to say that I don't think I would. I found it dull and slow moving at times and was tempted to give it up. However I persevered and finished it! While I am glad I did, In my opinion a truly good book should be hard to put down and sadly this book for me wasn't. But I do have a friend who read the book and loved it, so don't let me put you off to much! 

Thanks for reading!

:)

Opera Time!!

Today Tuesday the 22nd of November we got to go see an opera! I have never seen an opera before so it was all completely new to me. It was on in Swan Cinema in Rathmines, county Dublin. It was very long but the singers were AMAZING!!! I've never heard anything like them before. The all-star cast included Marina Rebeka, Barbara Frittoli, Isabel Leonard, Matthew Polenzani, Ramón Vargas, Peter Mattei, MariuszKwiecien, Gerald Finley, Luca Pisaroni, and John Relyea.

 A still of the opera.

The opera is Mozart’s “Don Giovanni”. It was preformed at the Metropolitan Opera in February and March of this year.

The storyline follows Don Giovanni who kills a man at the beginning of the Opera and then continues to get himself into even more trouble until eventually it all catches up on him.

Its defiantly one to see!

thanks for reading,

bye,

:)

Work Experience in a Primary School!!

On Monday the 14th of November, my work experience in Scoil Bhríde primary school begun. It was absolutely brilliant! Here is a brief outline of what I did each day....

Monday 14th

I was so nervous starting! I spoke with the principal in the morning who told me to go to room 3 (junior infants). I mostly just watched what was happening and helped out with zipping up coats, opening lunchboxes, yoghurt's, drinks and cheese-strings and giving out books. By the end of the day I had relaxed a bit so I really started to enjoy it!

Tuesday 15th

By Tuesday morning the nerves had turned to excitement and, for once, had no problem getting up when my alarm clock went off. I laminated pictures, cut out masks and did most of the things I did the day before. I slowly begun to learn their names (and not just because they were written on their tables!) It was so much fun, by day two I was sure primary teaching was the career for me! We had a fire drill which the juniors were very excited about! It was their first in the school so the teacher was worried in case they would think it was a real one but they all loved it and wanted to know when the next 'emergency' would be!

Wednesday 16th 

On Wednesday, we had P.E. It was great! We played with bean bags and hoops. It was so much fun! Other than that I corrected copies on top of my usual routine. I knew all their names by the end of the day :)

Thursday 17th 

On Thursday, I went into the other junior infants class. Again the day flew by too quickly! The difference between the two classes was surprising, one was a lot more boisterous than the other but not in a bad way. I loved them both! Thursday evening I came to the shocking realisation that I only had 1 day left :(

Friday 18th 

Friday I was with both classes. And as usual before I knew it the day was over. It was so sad leaving them all. You get very attached to them! The teacher explained the paper work side of the job to me and I asked her so many questions that anyone would have gotten annoyed, but she didn't. She's very patient! 

After reading this, I realise I really didn't do it enough justice! Everyone in Scoil Bhríde was so kind and welcoming to me. I now defiantly want to be a primary school teacher and I am so grateful to Scoil Bhríde for having me. Its a brilliant school and I had an amazing time! I wish I could have stayed longer! It was actually so much better than how I have described it but I'm afraid I just can't put it into words!

Juno And The Paycock Review.

On Wednesday the 19th of October the Transition Year students of St. Wolstan's Community School hopped on board two buses to go see the latest production of Juno and the Paycock at the Abbey Theatre.

Overall the standard of acting was excellent in the play especially in the case of Mrs Madigan. I loved her character in the play and I was delighted that she was given a bigger part on stage. She succeeded in creating a happy atmosphere in Act 2 when all around her was grief and political unrest. 

"Juno I have never seen you in betther form."

However I was slightly disappointed by the character of Juno who I felt was very good up until she was told her son had died. While her lines were very moving I didn't feel that how she portrayed her grief was very realistic. In my opinion she could have just been told that her dog had just run away instead of learning that her son had lost his life.

"Blessed Virgin, where were you when me darlin' son was riddled with bullets"

The set was incredible. Sitting in the Abbey Theatre I felt as if I ad just entered the tenement flat occupied by the Boyle family in 1920's Dublin. The set was very realistic, everything down to the smell of the sausage sizzling in the pan was accounted for. I feel there is great credit due to the set designers who did such an amazing job. I loved the contrast between the bare and boring tenement flat before the Boyle's received news of the money and the same flat after it had received it's luxurious transformation.

"Put on the gramophone, for God's sake, an' stop Joxer's bawlin'."

Throughout the play many themes were highlighted. In my opinion money and lack of it is the biggest and most important one of all. There was a huge difference in the peoples attitudes towards the Boyle family before and after the money. The drastic change can even be seen in the 'Captain' who suddenly wears suits instead of moleskin trousers. They are treated with more respect until everyone finds out there is no money coming. 

"Ever since the Will was passed I've run hundhreds o' dockyments through me hans"

From the play I feel Séan O Casey's overall vision of the world is very negative. He does not give any of his characters a happy ending. In my opinion there isn't much hope left at the end of the play. It is very dark, depressing and negative but I feel that he is also a realist and happy ever afters were not common in the tenements in 1920's Dublin. 

"The whole counthry's in a state o' chassis."

Therefore I conclude that Juno and the Paycock in the Abbey Theatre was an unforgettable experience that I really enjoyed. I was very impressed by the acting and the set. I was fascinated by the themes and now understand Séan O Casey's vision and viewpoint of the world.

We're back! :)

Today is the 20th of October and as promised I'm updating my blog on our English trip to The National Library, The Abbey Theatre and The Yeats Exhibition.
I can sum up yesterday in one word; BRILLIANT!!!!
We went to Yeats first, then The National Library and finally to Bog Bodies before Lunch and then...drum roll please... don don don dooonnnnnnn........Juno and the Paycock!!! Definitely the highlight of the trip!
Everyone should go see it :)
Here are some pics of the amazing cast in action!

Juno Boyle

Juno with her son Johnny Boyle

Joxer Daly

bye for now,

xx

The Abbey Theatre

Tomorrow is the big day, the one we have all been waiting for since we first got back in August/September....It's the day we go to the Abbey Theatre to see our play 'Juno and the Paycock.'!!!
Its really exciting, I can't wait! :) At first I thought I couldn't go but yesterday I found out I can! I'm sure it will be really fun :)

A picture of Juno and the Paycock but It's a different production to the one we're going to!
Were also going to see the National Library, The Yeats Exhibition and Bog bodies! I'll blog about them after we go!
thanks,
bye,
:)
xx

FOOD!!!

Today (16th of Oct) is blog action day and world food day.

Today us the day everyone who signed up (millions of people all around the world) will blog about food.

I was not sure what to blog about; hunger in third world countries, nutrition in general or even a recipe I like. But what I have decided to do is list my top 10 favourite foods as I'm sure everyone else will blog about everything else better than I could have had. so here it goes!..

1) has to be chocolate (no doubt about it!)

2) ice-cream (twisters in particular)

3) roast potatoes

4) stuffing

5) I know it's actually a meal but still... Christmas dinner!

6) cheese (only cheddar)

7) eggs (especially when fried, scrambled, poached, boiled, as egg mayonnaise, omelets or any other way of eating eggs!)

8) strawberry smoothies

9) coffee (I now its not really a food but still, I love it :) )

10) and finally, last but not least... melon!

Well there you go, my top 10 favourite foods!!! 

thanks,

:)

xx

5 things to do in TY this week!

1) Try to finish geography around the world trip project.

2) Research Sybil Ludington for history project.

3) Find out information on The Abbey Theatre.

4) E-mail NUI Maynooth and other Institutes of Technology about our mini-company.

5) Find black tull or something for Home Ec.

Elizabeth O'Farrell!

Yesterday in history we watched a documentary about Elizabeth O'Farrell and her role in the 1916 Rising on Réabhlóid.

Pic of Elizabeth O'Farrell.
Elizabeth O'Farrell is in the most iconic image of the 1916 Rising, capturing the moment when the rebels finally surrendered. The thing is though, as you can see only her feet are shown.

1916 Rising rebels surrender.
She is a 32 year old woman who helped in the rising and worked with the red cross. She later went on to become a nurse. She was the person who bravely surrendered and walked out of their safe house waving a white flag.
The picture was taken by an unknown photographer. The next morning in an English Tabloid, the picture appeared but Elizabeth O'Farrell's feet had been airbrushed out. This has raised many questions such as; Who's idea was it for her to be mostly hidden from view? or Is this image symbolic of the role of women at the time? or Why are only her feet showing?
From what I have learnt form the programme, Elizabeth was later interviewed about this image and she said that she had actually stepped back on her own because she felt there was no need for her to be in the picture alongside Pádraig Pearse.
The documentary also features her grand niece and others. In my opinion, it's well worth a watch if your into that sort of thing.
thanks,
bye,
:)
xx

Sesame Cookies!

This morning we had our double Home Ec. class, where we made Sesame Cookies!
There were really nice if you picked off the sesame seeds because they're just not nice.
However, all my friends beg to differ because they loved them, sesame seeds included! Two have even asked for the recipe.
I think I'm going to make them again at home over the weekend without the seame seeds, I'll let you know how I get on :)
bye,
:)
xx

Mini-Company Workshop

Today the 29th of September, we had our first of three mini-company workshops in 'The Moat Theatre' in Naas.

A pic of inside The Moat!

 Their logo sort of!

Here's a pic of The Moat!

It was really fun, I loved it :) 

Two other schools were also there. We sat in our groups and listened to Orla (who gave the workshop) as she advised us on 'market research' and 'idea generation'. 

There are five really nice people in our group so I can't wait to get started!

Hopefully, we'll have our market research done by this time next week :)

Thanks for reading,

bye 

:)

xx

Visiting Nepal!!

In geography we are going on our around the world trip. I'm going to Nepal and there'a achually lots to see and do there that I had never heard of before, like the cow festival!!


I now know all about the Dalai Lama which I didn't know anything about at the start of our project. He is a very interesting person. I can now tell you how the new Dalai Lama is chosen and everything!
Here is a pic of the man himself...

Picture of Dalai Lama!


I'm doing other things in Nepal too appart from going to that festival and visiting Dalai Lama but if I wrote them all up, my blog would be too long. I have no where to stay yet but I'm sure I'll figure that out soon!


thanks for reading this!


:)


xx

Junior Cert Results!!

On Wednesday the 14th of September we got our Junior Cert results!!

It was nerve wrecking waiting until we were called down to the hall at 1 O'clock, but eventually we were called from music. The teachers were really nice to us as they knew that we were nervous! After we had lined up in our class groups from last year, our teachers handed us our envelopes.

At first I didn't know if I wanted to open it straight away or wait till later but the second I got it I decided I couldn't wait any longer and practically tore it open!

There were lots of tears and hugging and even screaming once people found out what they got. Most people I know were really happy with their result so that's good :) .... I was really happy too!! :)

Then we got to go home. The bus was really fun, everyone was excited and the journey home flew by! (I live 15mins drive from our school.)

We ended up getting off opposite our old primary school so we visited them for awhile before going to a coffee shop with my friend Grace!

Afterwards, we went to Caitríona's house to get ready for Time!! Which is a place in Naas that we went to celebrate! It was so much fun! I LOVED it!!!!

That's all for now, Thanks if your reading this! Bye :D xxx

Carlingford!!!! :D

On Monday (September 12th) we went to Carlingford Adventure Centre in Co. Louth!! It was so much fun! I really loved it. We had to meet outside Esso on Monday morning at 6:45am so we would be able to fit in lots of activities that day. There were 77 of us who went so we had 2 buses, a big one and a mini-bus. A group of us decided to go on the mini-bus together. It was so much fun!


When we arrived, we put our bags in a storage room (We had to pack so much clothes!) and started on our first activity. We played lots of mini games such as spider web and low ropes. Afterwards we had lunch before walking up a small mountain (really it was only a steep hill) where we did laser guns! In my opinion this was the most fun! We got to hide behind trees, shoot people and sneak up on the other team. Over all, our red team lost but we still had a brilliant time! That evening we had dinner before we played charades with the boys school that was there too! Then, climbed the mountain again for our next activity. We were blindfolded and had to find our way through the forest holding on to the person in front in the dark. That night in our free time we all sat around the common room and talked and sung songs before bed. We were all wrecked but we still managed to stay up chatting that night. (We got a room that the 11 of us could fit in so it was really good!)


We woke up at 7ish as breakfast was at 8ish. Our activity for the morning was orienteering. It took a while but out team got there in the end! After lunch we had our final activity which was rock climbing and abseiling. I got to the top! I have lots of bruises now though because I sort of crashed into it on my way down :( It was worth it though and I'm really glad I did it. Sadly then it was time to leave even though we wished we could have stayed longer because we loved it so much! I'm hoping to go back again soon! 


So that's really it for now! bye! :D xx

My First Week in TY!!! :D

My first week in TY has been brilliant! So far I love all the project work we have been doing and being in the computer room for most of our classes! We are doing our family tree in history and an 'around the world trip' for geography. For our 'around the world trip' we get to pick countries that we want to visit and with our €1200 budget each we see how far we can go. I chose to visit Nepal and Malaysia. So far I have found a cow procession festival in Nepal! But I know I have a lot more to do yet!
On Monday we had our first ever mini-company class which was really fun. Were still thinking of ideas though but I'm sure we'll think of something soon. We also got started on our BT young scientist project which I love too.
On Thursday we had our first afternoon of activities that started with pilates! It was hard work but really good fun! Then we had a workshop on 'flapper' dancing! I got most of the steps but I need lots more practice! We also had a class on photography. He showed us pictures and gave us tips of how to take better photos.
Today, we made cantuccini in home ec! they're Italian biscuits that are sort of hard and very sugary but they are really nice :) 
Anyway that's all for now. I have really enjoyed my first week in TY and can't wait for the rest of the year! 
bye :)