Why its important to have a passion (to me)

So it has been a while since I have posted on here, but I always come back - funny that. Covid-19 has been a whirlwind and yes, this devastating disease is a factor - but I am also studying full-time, so I am busy, so busy in fact, I would be isolating whether out of global necessity or not. 

I passed an exceedingly difficult test today. Although many say it, 'study is hard' – I struggle a lot. I struggle for reasons I simply cannot help, no I do not have a closed mindset, but I would rather not discuss my struggles now. This post is about passion – something which can be so ridiculously hard to come by when life is just difficult, frustrating, boring or even busy. I do not dwell on these things, but doesn’t everyone get carried away with daily activities and emotions? This, this right here and now is just sometimes what we must embrace – the moments – when you may have them, that make up why we are here and what we love to do! Perhaps ‘this’ will explain what I am struggling to say:

Life throws lemons at you, you bruise, they bruise - so you cannot make lemonade and you go looking for oranges instead. Those imperfections though, the odd bunch of stories, “really's?” and “why me's?” – one day, you might look back on them and think, “why didn’t I?” or “I am glad that happened” – it’s up to you!

I have learnt not to rely on others too much. If everyone knows everything about me, well I do not think this is possible, but if they did - I guess I would be disappointed. Disappointed in that, they can take everything away, dictate how I feel and even influence what I do and BELIEVE I am capable of. It sucks, but let me show you another song, one I feel just displays this so well:

"All my secrets with you."

I get it, you have a romantic partner or friend and they break your heart, I'm not saying don't tell anyone everything, I'm just saying - keep some things for yourself, know how to perk yourself up.

If you give all of yourself to someone or everyone, it doesn't even have to be someone close, perhaps a mentor, boss, co-worker, friend, parent, sibling, neighbour even, if you let them know everything (or most things) and rely on their response to anything you do, well, are you setting yourself up for pain?

I'm not talking break-ups or regrets, not really. I am talking about being yourself - to yourself. Proving that you can do something purely for you, not for others - your passion. If you can always revert back to your passion after living your everyday life - well to me, that can just be all of the self-care and inspiration I need to keep going, keep fighting!

Stay passionate!

KK

Renewing KK's passion

Life is ridiculously hard. how many times have you read that in an article, blog, book, etc? Well for me, I try not to dwell in the hard places of life, yet this is easier said than done. I do, however, feel I need to confess a few things.

I seem to have lost my passion.

Hence, why I have not been posting for a while. On this blog. KK's Passion. If I did, it would be quite hypocritical of me.

I don't know yet, whether I want to reveal the most personal parts of why I may have lost my passion, but my health, work/study careers, and relationships are what we all sometimes go through and it sucks when we are broken by it.

I don't know if I can just reignite my passion like a match to wood, but I am going to try.

For now, though, I am hoping that my passion for writing will return as long as I just keep writing...

This song has been (for lack of a better phrase) my guiding light, for the better part of the year and if you haven't seen the movie I highly recommend it for all ages:
Sound the Bugle - Brian Adams (Spirit, stallion of the Cimarron soundtrack)

I hope you can stay passionate,
KK

Hello 2019!

 As 2018 was a very tough year for me, I am going to take it easy in 2019 without being too hard on myself. Usually, I am willing to set challenges, work extremely hard and just push myself to achieve and experience, but that's not what I need right now.

I started the year off on a camping trip with some friends and that in itself bought up mixed feelings. I knew that I screwed up my 2018 all by myself and in 2019 I am determined, yet not promising, that I will get back on track - whatever track that may be!

I am back at Uni again this year, hopefully, to follow through to completion by 2020 and boy has this study been a long road, because truthfully, I have been studying for all of my 20's and I will be 27 this year - you do the math... I am really trying not to be ashamed. Let's be honest though, I have changed campuses twice and changed from part-time to full-time, which hasn't helped.

The #tenyearchallenge sees me as not much different at all - apart from a different tan and white dog, I am very similar to my sixteen-year-old self, now almost twenty-seven, I just look more tired - again, another excuse to take it slow and simple this year.

Fitting to this post, my word of the year is:

STEADY



Obviously, I just want to take it easy this year as mentioned earlier and steady seemed like the perfect word! In living by this word for the year my focus will be on:

• Slowly etching away at my goals
• getting out in nature more
• focusing on eating well, exercising and getting plenty of sleep.
• saving, saving, saving! (money)
• enjoying my work to the best of my ability (employment and Uni)

My big goals include:

• writing - working on this blog and my story.
• photography - back to nature and maybe entering some competitions? I am a complete novice though.
• Immersing myself in studying and focusing on one topic at a time, in smaller time increments. I am aiming to go into one of three scary fields of further study after completing my Bachelors and I want to gently work towards figuring out which one! 
• Becoming more confident and social. 

My smaller, yet just as meaningful goals include:

• Reading without any pressure on numbers (with this tactic I have already listened to two amazing audiobooks and I am halfway through a 380-page book from my favorite author!) 
• Keeping a reading log of books, articles, papers, audiobooks and any information I have consumed. I want to prove that I read more than I do, but in a gentle way.
• Volunteering to add to my resume and end the year with a bang... steadily. I plan to only volunteer when I am feeling 100% able to. (It is hard work)
• Practice singing and do singing lessons.

Every January seems like a big chance for new beginnings and without putting too much pressure on myself, I really aim to just begin to chip away at all of this. Most of the goals I have already begun, so I guess I am halfway done!

Enjoy your 2019, no matter how it was started,

KK

My Inner Child

The title of this post may sound a little 'woo woo' to you, but I assure you - it doesn't have to be. I think of my inner child, literally as 'me.' Thinking back to my childhood, I can clearly picture the innocence and sense of adventure I had. Thinking back to that happy, adventurous child running through long grass, climbing onto roofs, haystacks and trees are a lot easier to reflect on than doing those things as an adult... usually.

Being an adult is hard work. I'm not saying that adulthood sucks and being a child is bliss, but they are different. Seeing as I really always knew who, what and where I wanted to be, I knew if I worked hard and became a decent human, I'd achieve my dreams. I often get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life now - so, just thinking about the days when I was a kid really help me and bring all that I wanted, back into perspective.

I know that not every childhood was like mine and not everyone knew what they wanted to do when they grew up. I do believe that everyone must have at least a handful of moments that reveal pure innocence and joy - even if you have blocked them out or don't care to admit it.

You may think I am dwelling on the past, but the truth is I am not, far from it really. I choose to remember those times and smile because I know that at that age, I believed in myself - so why aren't I doing that now?

A big reason why I go back to my childhood and remember how it was is to recall inspiration, wonder, excitement, love, nostalgia, sentimentality, sadness, physical hurt and the life-changing moments and other emotions we are supposed to feel. I don't generally experience these every day, I do think they are good to feel and take in. As a creative, I also often need to recreate similar characters in my writing. It is much easier to remember curiosity, excitement and lose count of the number of times I laughed when reflecting on my younger self. Fun fact: we don't laugh anywhere near as much as we did as children!

The meditation I use to do this is from The Honest Guys YouTube channel: Heal your inner child

If you still aren't sure how much your inner child can help you overcome the worst, watch this video with an open mind and do it privately so that you can immerse yourself in, you: 

So embrace your inner child, regularly if possible and remember that you really haven't changed all that much, you can still have fun, right?

KK

Left: This is me as a kid (I don't know what age) with the cows and another with my brother.
























Below: is a picture of me now (at 26.)

I'm fine tuning, but I'm still me!

Here is a selfie. I don't do selfie's.

However I do have this selfie because I know that I was incredibly happy in this moment. It's a moment I want to remember. I am genuinely smiling and I just feel great here - it doesn't really matter why.
My point here, is that we go through changes in our life (I mean I took a selfie, when I don't like to) and that doesn't change who we are, it just helps us fine tune our personality.

I have been meditating (I mediate at least twice a day) to a guided meditation, (on the app - Headspace) on change - and this is very ironic, because a lot has changed in my life recently!

Through study, career, relationships, health and the rest of life, change can really help to keep me focused. It doesn't have to be drastic change, but little changes (I have never been a fan of routine) can still make a great impact.

I recently listened to this great podcast, where Ilene - better known as Lavendaire - talks about just that, being true to yourself. Ilene has so much to say about owning your worth and so many other creative lifestyle tips. Her resources are really extraordinary. Links below:

podcast: Lavendaire - Be true to yourself, but don't get attached to any identity

Lavendaire website: www.lavendaire.com

It is just always nice to remember that change doesn't change us - unless we allow it to and I believe that a little change can make me realise who I really am and what I really want!

Enjoy change and do what you can to change!

KK

Be the 'One that got away!'

I'm going to propose something impossible,

- envisage this.

Your partner or your crush, whom you are incredibly enamoured with, you have so many memories, so much in common, you have fun, laugh, feel comfortable with each other and there are endless possibilities. 

Then it ends, before it has begun...

When all is said and done in a relationship, it can be so hard to get back into life and focus on yourself, focus on the future, etc. But in retrospect, if I took it in my stride and just thought that the person who would have been my partner, missed out, I'd be okay with that. No self- pity parties and the usual break-up disasters, (or in a crushing case, wonder about what never happened...) If you turn it around and consider that 'it was never meant to be,' it really can help.

It all takes time of course, but as I have said so many times on this blog, you are the glow, the shine. You are awesome the way you are. You are the gold that makes life worth living, if someone didn't appreciate that, then they didn't get to experience your glow, you, however always will.

If you love yourself, you can love another. After a break up, it feels impossible to recover, be the pure, golden joy that you are and can spread to everyone in your life, but your glow or whatever you wish to call it never goes away, sometimes it becomes hidden when your mind is elsewhere, but when you glow, those who have wronged you miss out - so bring back the glow!

Be the beautiful you that got away, because you never want to escape yourself!

KK

High standards

I got another one today. One of those emails that say: 'you aren't good enough.' Well they attempt to put it nicely, but that really is exactly what they mean.
By 'they' I don't mean bullies, teachers, politicians, doctors or even a potential boss - I am talking about someone that I have asked advice from.

Let me explain...

I am coming to the end of my current University degree and therefore asking career counsellors, lecturers and really anyone that I can, to lend some advice on what my next move should be. (I actually have some great ideas in my head, but I'm not telling anyone, especially going by the way my own academic institution views me...) and all I keep hearing is either 'you need high marks,' 'try to volunteer more,' 'you need to have a great resume' or 'you aren't based in this area, so you can't work there.'

Excuse me?

First of all, I need to point out that these 'advice givers' are well meaning, I mean, they took the time to respond to my messages and gave me answers to the questions that I'd asked, but not one person has said - 'there is always another way to get where you want to be.'

Now I really only expect generic advice from my academic institution, because if I have learnt anything about higher level tertiary education - it is certainly that 'grades matter.' This is fine, I don't expect them not to, but does anyone consider the alternatives, outside of grades?

- disabilities
- how well someone can physically do something (not just mentally)
- grief
- depression/anxiety
- distractions
- hard home life
- 'disadvantaged' living
- work/family/life [imbalance]
- rural living
- 'disadvantaged' upbringing
- LIFE...

The irony of these alternatives, is that there are postgraduate degrees that allow students with an undergraduate degree to learn to 'help' these 'disadvantaged' people, but to get into that course one needs very high grades.... "insert eye roll emoji."

I'm not angry. I'm really not. If anything I am determined. I have more than one of the above 'issues' in my life and, well so does every other human being. I don't blame people for praising the highly academic minded people, after all, they seem to have given up a lot to get where they are.

But I too have given up a lot to be where I am, I have also gained so much more than I thought I ever could. This leaves me to pity those that make these rules of needing to meet certain standards. I mean, I know the world is competitive and this somehow justifies needing standards to do certain things in life, but that's okay... I'll find another way around.

As the song goes,

I've always found my way somehow, by taking the long way...

The long way around - Dixie Chicks

January reflections 2017

Well as I believe most people did, I planned on starting my 2017 off with a bang. I did vlogmas in December 2016 and among those videos, I completed workbooks by Susannah Conway on finding my word for 2017 and unravelling 2016.

It is now late February and I am very much behind on updating you on January 2017, but better late than never...

As you will know if you read my last post, my word of the year is FOCUS and so, I had a few things on the top of my goals/resolutions list, that I wanted to Focus on.

I have made a vow to live my year (and every moment of it) with passion, to focus wholeheartedly on the moments and achieve my best!

I really wanted to achieve big at uni (which hasn't started yet, on the 24th Feb...) Focus on the little moments and the big one that I (clearly) haven't done a lot of - focus on my writing...

As this is my second post of the year, I would say that my writing is a little behind. Although I have tried to sit down and focus on my writing, (blogs and other personal projects) I just haven't been able to get in the right frame of mind.

I must admit that I was having a very tough time in mid-January and I wasn't in the mood to do much at all. What I did do though, was take a trip to Lakes Entrance with my parents and dogs - it turned out to be a trip I really needed! Ice-cream, seafood, beaches and love = priceless!

 

 I also took a day trip with my parents to my local waterfalls in early Jan. (First picture)

Trips away from the norm, really help sometimes...

Overall, January was a fairly good month. I kept my focus on the 'moments' for a great deal of it. Although I didn't get a lot of writing done. I did do a little personal writing and a little is better than none at all!

Stay tuned!

KK

My word of the year 2017!

If you have been on my social media for a long time, you may know that I have been doing susannah conway's 'Word of the year' for the last three years. I recently just did vlogmas and talked about it quite a bit there also.

I think it is very inspiring to have a word to guide me through the year and so far it has somewhat worked for me, so I am going to fully take in my 2017 word of the year which is:

I am in my final years of uni and I want to go out with a bang. I also want to volunteer more and focus on my passion for nature by working on Never Doubt Nature.

I also want to focus on the moments and be more mindful of whats going on around me, rather than being stuck in the daily blur of life.

Lastly, the main thing I want to focus on is my writing! Blogging, but also my long-time-coming stories are going to get a lot of attention from me this year!

Do you have a word of the year?

KK

Do I impress you?

I think I have said before, 'I am only me when I'm alone...' Well I thought about that, and it can be a strange concept. I always am who I am. Yes, I often change to fit the environment and try to hide things that - for lack of a better word - I am 'embarrassed' by. I obviously don't speak every thought out aloud and I behave differently around different people, but to get to know my true self I often think about my little bubble. As the saying goes:

Do I impress you?

If the world was blind, how many people would you impress?

Would you impress yourself?

I am talking about how one really is, who one wants and believes themselves to be.

I have my up and down days - just like everyone else. I feel very insecure some days and others I feel more confident, (usually it is somewhere in between...) but I think that it is just good to know yourself in a way that no one else would - don't compare yourself to others and when that mindset does start to blind you, I, myself, try to remember why I do the things I do and how much, deep down, I really do care what others think.

So 'do I impress you?' Is actually a rhetorical question. I just want to impress myself.

Let that sink in,

KK

December Reflections

I am doing a monthly challenge for the December of 2016 as I reflect back on not only the year, but my life. This month I plan to really knuckle down and look at the nitty gritty of who I am and who I want to be, so I am taking the advice of the amazing Susannah Conway and using this #Decemberreflections2016 list to achieve this!

I will be posting the reflections on my blog and some on my Instagram in the form of photos, art, writings, videos or other forms.

Here are the first few reflections and their stories:

Day 3 is 'Fave photo of 2016' and boy is this a tough one because I have a few... I live through the memories of photos, so I think I will do a separate post to sum up my favourite photo's because I can't choose!

So stay tuned and maybe take this month to reflect back on your year too!

KK

It's okay to cry

Sometimes the best thing to do is to cry. Nothing should ever be held in so much that we are at breaking point - but this isn't the reality we live in.

I rarely cry and if I do, I hide it. Crying can be seen as a sign of 'weakness' and by crying alone, I feel like I can then pull myself together, knowing I'm not going to explode in anger on someone else. It's not the best tactic, but it saves the day.

I also want to portray how important and okay it is to cry in front of others. I know it may seem attention-seeking, like you've broken down, or just plain embarrassing, but we are only human.

Stay strong, but strength is in how you recover, not necessarily what you do.

KK

A note on microaggressions - think of them like mosquito bites...

As explained in the video above, micro-aggression's are dismissals, insults, or similar 'aggression' directed at anyone - particularly in a racial sense, women, those of different abilities, religions and other marginalised social groups - such as disabilities and lower income earners. However, I think this theory applies to a lot more these days - a lot of things can be seen as offensive to the person receiving the comment.

Comments like:

"You get around well!" To someone in a wheelchair
"You don't look like you're in pain..." To someone with an 'invisible illness'
"I never notice you struggling..." To someone with a disability, eating disorder, etc.

- Are all little comments that we can put up with in moderation - besides, most of the time the people saying these comments mean well, but I think it is important for us all to understand that - like the video says - these comments can be like mozzie bites - one or two are fine, but constant bites, (comments) can get irritating quick!

It can be hard to see if a comment will effect someone, but keep it in mind,

KK

Motivation Monday: You are the glow

What do we all want in life? Happiness? A partner? The simple life? - That's the point ~ there is always something we want!

But is 'want' the answer to how we get it? There are many theories about who, what, when, where, why and how we achieve what we want, but I believe that best thing you can do is GLOW! Own your worth, create love for yourself, live in the moment and be thankful!

Trust me, I understand how hard it can be to own your worth, but if you want anything in life, EVER - you need to glow!

To get the things you want, you need to not only believe in yourself, but enjoy every moment you are alive.

Its only as lame as you make it, but your heart pounds when you are happy for a reason ~ you're glowing! I always try to imagine that my heart is glowing and warm sparks swirl around (like Rapunzel's 'healing') when I want to feel good.

If I am grateful and feel my heart glowing, I find that, no matter what, I have what I want - in the moment, because that is all it takes!

As you may have noticed if you have watched the above video, 'the glow' is referring to the Disney princesses (we all know and love) discovering who they are and what they want. Although there is total merit in wanting to be a Disney princess... you, as yourself, gender aside, have the ability to be the glow!

So try it! Take a deep breath, close your eyes if you want, focus on something positive and use your glow!

'You are the glow!'

KK

Hey..... What's your sign?

You can tell so much about a person by their star sign. I know it sounds overused and just plain corny, but there are not many people I have met who are somewhat true to their star sign!

I don't go by everything that star signs say and I do know a lot of people who don't care for them, but I also study science, I am logical and I still believe - belief is a post for another time.

As shown above, I have found that these good qualities are true for the people I know. I'm a Pisces and without sounding like I am trying to hard - I am 99% true to my sign - just about anything you read about the qualities of a Pisces is me in a nutshell, the good and the bad. And no, I'm am not a fish...

I know a lot of Aquarians who are definitely honest, they can be blunt about it, but they mean well and I always listen, eventually.

Every Taurus I know has a complex personality, although their main trait is stubbornness (which is rarely a bad thing in their case,) the complexities of why they are stubborn would surprise most of us, so they tend to understand the harder stuff.

Sagittarius will definitely defy the rules to make things better...

I know a lot of the other signs well and they are also quite true to this strength portrayal. All I am saying is to take a closer look at what makes a person - it doesn't necessarily have to be star sign related, but they are just a little peek into what makes a person...

Just demonstrating my Piscean nature...

KK

Every person in my life!

Today I met with my good friend. Although our chat was bittersweet, it inspired me to reminisce and let the pain and good times mesh together to create a beautiful ambience in my head.

Stories, Never Doubt Nature*, this blog and similar projects came to mind. I've always had a passion to create and work with animals and seeing my friend and chatting, made me click, made me remember the why!

Although the chat bought back some very hard times, I let them come into my mind and just go, almost like a meditation. I wouldn't say that the 'sweet' parts of the bittersweet memories made up for the bad, but I did think of the rest of the 'sweet' that I have achieved since those days...

I really wish that there was something I could do or say, but whether there is or not, I want to convey how important every person in my life was or is important to me!

I remember the times we pretended to be snow leopards in the long grass of my backyard and hid in the alcoves of your dads house in the winter.

I appreciate the cutting and pasting to try to win a competition in a barbie magazine when I was so young.

I remember picking the tiny buds off the bushes in your garden.

I laugh at the times we were in timeout together, just from laughing during dinner.

I am embarrassed by the time I broke the ornament on your mantelpiece.

These are the smallest of my memories, but they are there and important to me. Whether the people I shared these memories with, remember them or not, isn't too important. What is important, is that I drew inspiration from these and to this day I notice the things that everyone I know, does. I am glad you are in my life, negative or positive, you have been there for a reason.

KK




*Never Doubt Nature is my growing business on the side: neverdoubtnature.blogspot.com.au keep an eye out!

New year, new word.

Looking at the year ahead...

So in true 'New Years Resolution Style' I am getting around to doing the post I wanted to do in early Jan... in April, but better late than never!

If I talk in the present tense and look back at the start of the year - wow, my year has sucked so far! I mean it has definitely had its good parts, but overall, it was been a pretty ratty year for me. My mind has been all over the place... bleh.

But I have been thinking about the time I am using ( I would never say that I have wasted the time) and its been pretty hectic, so I have actually accomplished so much this year already, yet no where near what I thought I would have done..

Anyway, enough babbling. Here is the post I have wanted to write:

A fresh start - Unravelling the year ahead. 

This is my second year of doing this workbook of picking a word to live by for the year and it has really motivated me to get things done, this is the website: www.susannahconway.com and there is a lot of info on how to get started, but I have chosen for my word this year to be: SELF. 

Last year my word was Explore and boy did I do that! - I will post a review of all of that at some point...

But I really wanted to focus on Self this year because I am always doing things for others - so far I have failed dramatically at being self - aware, self - confident or any other self- related thing I was aiming for, because I think that a lot of things just fell in a heap and it has been hard to focus on me and easier to do things for others.

Is it okay for me to start fresh now? Well screw it, I'm going to, because every day is just another day and every minute is just a minute, we have to treasure them, but that doesn't mean we can't start fresh whenever we want!

KK

Annie Jnr.

Right now I am sitting in bed with the flu, but I feel like I deserve a good rest because I have just been through another (probably 6 months) of rehearsals and show week! Yes I completed my Second Musical Production with BATS Theater Company!

The three Boylan sisters and Sandy

My love of Annie the musical started with my childhood hours of watching the 1982 film Annie. Then there was the day I'll never forget on my 9th birthday. Mum took me out of school, (yes I got a day off school without protest...whoa!) and I had no clue what we were doing. It's the little things that have always gotten me excited. But it turned out that, mum, my neighbor, her mother and I were going to see ANNIE, IN THE CITY, AT A THEATRE! Wow! (Yes kids, in those days, I lived in the country and the city was a far off magical place!.... Yes Adults, that was only 14 years ago...) I won't crap on too much about this very special day, but it is a big memory for me because I knew that this was the beginning of my love for theater. Little 9 year old me, knew that every light, every person, every instrument, every prop had a purpose and there was just too much to take in!

So getting back to the production I was in ANNIE JNR. Yes, I know I keep repeating myself, but I am in awe of not only the role I played, but the whole experience of being in a musical production, amateur or not is just such a big deal for me! I played Annette the maid ('Silk, no the satin sheets I think') Yes I had a line! But the role I was originally cast in and auditioned for was a Boylan sister! (Omg, my dream.) Which I performed with all my might.

So like my last post from my last show http://kkspassion.blogspot.com.au/2014/10/a-beautiful-theatrical-beginning.html I will now give a review as I am such an expert... not..

'It's a hard knock life!'

The show began with the beautiful, scruffy, young orphans. The extremely talented actress playing Molly began the show with her crying from a nightmare about her parents. When Annie comforted her, the hopeful song of 'Maybe' began and the cast in this scene performed beautifully every single show. Some of the cast were in their first show and who could tell? Such a talented bunch. The orphans Molly, Pepper, Tessie, Kate, July and Duffy started to drift off to sleep when they were woken by Annie trying to sneak out of the orphanage. When the scheming Pepper got up and pushed her right into the arms of Miss Hannigan! - and let me just add... WOW!

'Heya Aggie.' 'Oh Bundles Get outta' here with that laundry!'

Miss Hannigan was the epitome of Miss Hannigan from the 1982 'Annie' film. She was the lipstick, the pearls and the curls of the disgruntled, house mother of an orphanage full of little BRAT's! As Miss Hannigan dealt with Annie and got all of the orphans out of bed, she swayed around stage, a blur of children racing around complaining of a 'hard knock life.'

Then along came Mr. Bundles to woo Miss Hannigan and distract her while Annie became a stowaway in Bundles' laundry cart. Mr. Bundles was the mellow, flirt, happy to chat to anyone and everyone - on and off stage!

On the street, Annie wandered off as Mr. Bundles discreetly let her go into the street where she found her true friend - Sandy.

Annie and Sandy

So Sandy stuck with the talented, feisty, Annie as she was captured by the policeman and taken back to the dreaded orphanage....

However, here is where things took a turn for the... better!

As a proud, 'graceful' secretary-type woman strolled into the orphanage and took a addressed Miss Hannigan (who'd been swooning and uh, dribbling, lipstick stain and all, over the soulful sound of the radio. Grace as her name preceded her to be, asked Miss Hanigan for an orphan, for Oliver Warbucks, the mill... uh billionaire to look after in his home. Cheeky Annie was of course on top of this...

Annie was picked and out of the orphanage again, but in the meantime...

 "Rooster!" cried miss Hannigan as her brother entered, his cocky attitude matching his moustache and sleazy manner. Miss Hannigan's surprise quickly turned to disgust when she remembered her brothers way of always needing a penny or two... Then along came Lily.

A 'broad' from New Jersey... She accompanied Rooster with a perfect harmony of high and low notes in 'Easy street' along with Miss Hannigan. Three actors couldn't have done it better as they marched and whirled across Miss Hannigan's office. Lily may have stolen a few pearls as they did so and Miss Hannigan was left in a daze as Rooster and his girl strolled off to scam some new innocent after just leaving jail....

From back left: Butlers, Cecil, Mrs. Greer, Annette, Drake and Mrs. Pugh
Front: Grace and Annie

Grace, another talented actress had a lovely voice and demeanor as she introduced the mansion staff to Annie - full of awe and amazement in the presence of not only people wanting to please her, but the wondrous mansion.

'Good afternoon sir'

'We think you're gonna like it here.'

After being introduced to the multi-talented mansion staff, Oliver Warbucks made his presence on stage. The actor was absolutely incredible and I am not just saying that, Warbucks was full of talent, could hold the audience captive and project to everyone while still keeping the strict demeanor of his character. 



Mr. Warbucks, a busy man soon ascended back into his work, shortly after meeting Annie. The Mansion servants went back to cleaning as Annie looked around in awe. Grace made the suggestion that they welcome Annie properly...

Mr. Warbucks and Grace decided to treat Annie to the sights of 'NYC,' leading Annie through the hustle of downtown New York City, the mansion and the rest of Annie's journey, always caring, always by her side.

'What's that? you're coming to dinner?'

It didn't take long for Warbucks to make the decision to adopt Annie, so off Grace went to speak with Miss Hannigan.

But to everyone's surprise, when grace arrived back, with a present for Warbucks to give to Annie, Annie didn't want to be adopted. She wanted to find her parents.

Mr. Warbucks attempted all he could to hunt Annie's parents down and even called in favours with a radio show and the President!

Bert Healy of the radio Oxydent hour presented Annie and Mr. Warbucks' dilemma to the world in his own wacky, boisterous way, a great actor with the ability to continue smiling... even when Warbucks' spoke the 'actions' on the script.... clearly not an actor fit for radio.... The lovely, darling, magnificent.... cough*... Boylan sister's looked on, in uh... boredom and sung 'You're never fully dressed without a smile' with Bert very professionally, because well, these girls are professionals, thank-you. But in all seriousness, this scene combined the radio crew with their 'doo, doo, doo, doos' as backup and clearly knew what they were doing, handling papers and expensive equipment all while acting professionally for their radio show.

So Annie had put the word out there to find her parents with great help from Warbucks whom she was getting attached to...

Meanwhile, back at the orphanage, the orphans were still driving Miss. Hannigan crazy, singing along to the Oxydent hour on the radio, mimicking the Boylan sisters, Molly and Tessie Portraying Bert Healy. It was a sight of fun and laughter, happy for Annie and the orphans just having a genuinely good time, until Miss. Hannigan blew her whistle.

She collapsed in her chair as the orphans ran off laughing and took a swig of her drink as Mr. Mudge entered, Mrs. Mudge in tow, disturbing, well I wouldn't call it peace... Miss Hannigan ignored them, distracted. Then they claimed they were Annie's parents. She told them that was impossible. That Annie's parents died in a fire years ago. Then Rooster revealed himself as well as Lily to be the con artists behind the best scam ever to trick Warbucks', get the money they 'deserve' and make their way down 'easy street!'

So the plan was in motion and the memo was sent to Mr. Warbuck's that Annie's parents had been found! Everyone was happy.

Then Grace did some research....

Before Christmas, Mr, Warbucks asked Annie to invite the orphans to the mansion for a little party. "Miss Hannigan too?" Exclaimed Annie. "Of course!" said Warbucks, growing oh so much more attached to the little girl.

Then came the song: 'You won't be an orphan for long.'

Warbucks sung this with such strength and his usual business-like facade faded from a spotlight to darkness as the dismal house staff came onstage, decorating the Christmas tree in a ballet sequence of sadness.

As the maids went to cleaning, Warbucks, Grace and President Roosevelt, along with a policeman entered, informing Annie, on the scam that is Miss Hannigan, Rooster and Lily...

 Then as the orphans and Miss Hannigan came to the mansion in their finery, the place was filled with joy. Orphans leaped at the tree and opened presents, with help from the maids. Miss Hannigan took in the sights of the mansion and wandered around as the Mudge's came in to claim their 'daughter.'

 Before they could, Warbucks presented them with a cheque stating 'the jig is up!' and as everyone flew into a panic, the police came to arrest the Hannigan's and Lily.

Miss Hannigan plading with Annie

So the 'crooks' were stopped and the household rejoiced, Warbucks told Annie he was going to adopt her and everyone sang 'The sun'll come out tomorrow' as Sandy the dog came onstage, sending the crowd into 'awwws.'

The End!

My second experience with this show was amazing and I really enjoyed every moment of it. I made some great friends and everyone was really lovely.

The backstage crew were amazing and the BATS staff too, Thank you also to the Director and everyone who was there for rehearsals, etc.

I wish I could thank you all personally and to everyone in the audience also.

I also met my new best friend Michelle during this show and I'd love to thank her for being my pal, we have already done so much together and have so much planned for the future!

KK

Michelle and I

The girls backstage

*Disclaimer: Names and photos will not be printed due to unauthorised permission or absence of permission and general privacy. The photo's displayed have been from Mark Symonds photography(c) and have been authorised by cast and parents of those under 18 years of age.