A bit of a mixed bag this time I mentioned in my last blog that I'd come to a decision, then I didn't get back to tell you what it was. Well, it happened at my husband's nephew's wife's birthday party. That side of the family is very into fifties music and most of them can rock 'n roll, jive and so on. A band had been booked for the occasion called Class of '58, playing music from the era. It was good. Feet were tapping, couples were getting up to dance and then the fun really started. A couple decked out like 1930's gangsters were jiving in perfect synchronicity. They were so technically perfect I had the impression they must be dance teachers. More dancers joined in and the standard was impressive. As the night wore on, a young man took the floor with three ladies, one on each hand, the other behind him, rocking and rolling as they rotated, right hand to left, then behind and so on, all dancing in time and moving round in sequence. It looked wonderful. My four year old granddaughter (see poem I've Seen You in My Dreams) watched them all in awe and whispered to me that she would like to dance like that. I've talked to her parents and am going to book her in for dance lessons as soon as possible.
I've been out gallavanting this week.
A little while ago I decided it was time I got myself some proper official, modern qualifications, so I applied as a mature student at the local university to do a BA in English. Since my former educational achievements occurred when Methusela was first trying to grow a beard, they said I needed to attend an interview so that they could look me over and I could learn more about the course.
Fair enough.
I toddled along yesterday and had a very entertaining hour talking about literature, writing and the motivation of Will Shakespeare. By this point I have to tell you, I was wowing them with my insights. One even suggested I come and teach a class on my ideas. As things got more friendly, the two interviewers let me into the secret of how they came to design the course (no, I'm not going to tell you, it's a secret) and asked why I was coming back into education at such a basic level (had never thought of anything universital as basic). Well we chatted on and I arrived home an hour or two later to find an unconditional offer in my email inbox. All very wonderful, but I didn't respond straight away. Too tired to write a proper acceptance.
The night was a long sleepless one as I turned over the conversations in my mind. What sort of level should I have applied at after so many years out of the learning loop? This morning I emailed and asked the question and received the advice that I should really have gone for a Masters. Coo - that was a surprise, so now I'm looking at clever courses that I can manage, in the knowledge that I should be able to manage the BA without breaking much of a sweat - oh, I mean a glow: I am a lady after all.
