Wicked Witches and Magic Forests

School has been getting hectic, as I’m coming to the end of term. There are papers, projects, and placements galore. My placement is two days a week in a mainstream primary school, in Hackney. I get exhausted just watching the teachers keep the organized chaos in the classroom under control. My projects are on fibromyalgia and DMP, and a group project on setting up therapeutic spaces in schools. My other papers are mostly on movement analysis and observation. Thankfully, one of these papers provided a much needed break for me, because it involved going to a dance performance.

I chose to see Wicked, because a fellow Michigander had already invited me to see it with her, and because I’ve wanted to see it for ages. I was completely giddy on the train to the theatre. I know every song by heart and will always associate them with my time at Studio 1 and with DEMI. The Apollo Victoria Theatre is only showing Wicked, so the entire theatre is transformed into a green, glowing, magical place. I passed on the old timey candy cart, but didn’t regret the fancy glass of pink fizzy wine, that I balanced precariously in my hand, as I made my way to my red velvet seat.

The show was spectacular, beautiful, and uplifting. I left the theatre, soaring and nostalgic for high school.

The previous night was almost as wondrous. About once a week, I go to Brick Lane, with Abigail to get Indian food. The street literally sells nothing else, and you can walk down it until the best deal is offered to you.

“Miss, come here! 10% off!” Not good enough.

“This is the place ladies, free wine and pappadoms!” Sold.

Our Indian dinners are always fabulous, if not slightly awkward when I have to reassure the waiter multiple times that, yes, I know phall is extremely hot, and yes, that is what I want to eat. I swear my street cred on Brick Lane is through the roof, because this little, White, American girl can easily stomach the hottest curry available.

After dinner, Abigail told me about a popup promotional event in the neighborhood, The Rekorderlig Winter Forest Bar (I later learned that this closed 2 days later and was completely sold out). We tentatively approached the red velvet ropes, but were let in right away. It was beautiful.

The sampler given to everyone included apple cider, orange-ginger cider, winter cider, wild berries cider and an arctic cheese croquette topped with cloudberry chutney.

With Kesha and One Direction playing in the background, I could barely sip my mango raspberry cider through my giant grin. Forget Disney World, this is truly the happiest place on earth.