Here I go again

The KHT is back at college.
A new college.
A different course.

We missed Induction Day.

After a summer of uncertainty, I honestly didn't know if she would be starting the course.
Transport was essential, as the KHT couldn't safely access the unsupervised transport.

On the Wednesday before term began, transport was still not sorted,
so I was avoiding looking at the paperwork, in case it all fell apart, and she couldn't go.
I failed to notice that she was supposed to have taken all her paperwork in, and got kitted out, before term started.

The college rang up.
"Don't worry, we will sort it all on day one."
The college rose in my estimation!

Meetings were held back in the Spring, to try and ensure that the correct wording was on her EHCP  - Education and Health Care Plan.
We applied for transport, but our application would not be looked at until early July.
The beginning of July came and went.
Nothing happened.
I kept checking the website.
Nothing happened.
I contacted them.
The person processing applications was off sick.

Nothing happened.

Finally our application was considered.
"Great!"
...and rejected.
"Not so great..."

Conversations were had around the ECHP.
IF this was updated to include the information from the last meeting, then an appeal would not be required.
Time passed.
The ECHP was not updated.
"Appeal" they said, "then someone will consider the merits of the case."
"But I don't need to appeal if the EHCP is updated..."
No progress was made on the EHCP, so I appealed,
and we waited.
Finally, on the Thursday before term was due to begin, we heard that our appeal was successful.
PHEW!!!!

Most of the time I did not doubt that we would get transport. We just had to hold our nerve.
However, as the start of term drew closer and closer, I started to panic and wonder how we would manage to get the KHT to college if transport was not provided.

The effect of this was that we were not able to prepare the KHT for her new course
in the way we would have liked,
because we had this cloud of unknowing hanging over us.
We could not predict if golden rays of sunshine were going to break through,
or if we were going to be deluged in a mini-disaster.
Our daughter did not have the summer where she could savour each day,
as despite our efforts to minimise the uncertainty,
there would have been an underlying vein of doubt.
Acknowledged, but not encouraged.

Some elements of the course have yet to be finalised, which has meant a gentle introduction.
Just as well, as at the end of the first day, she was a zombie!

Wednesday was a welcome day off for the KHT.
After an Open the Book rehearsal - for a performance she may, or may not, take part in,
she came to work with me and then we went into town.
We arrived later than I hoped, so we went straight to our new cafe of choice.
The KHT likes surprises.
"You have two choices of what we could do this afternoon. We could go and see Mama Mia..."
Her face lit up.
"The only problem is that it begins in 4 minutes and we haven't finished lunch yet. This means we would miss some of the adverts."
Her face fell.
The KHT likes the adverts, particukarly the big boom at the end of the Dolby sound ad.
"We would still see all the film."
Then she remembered.
"Wait! You said there were two choices. What was the other one?"
"We could just go round the shops."
"Mama Mia!"

During my teenage years I was a great fan of Abba.
Word perfect. I could sing along with them all.
Somehow I never got to see the first Mama Mia movie.
I had delayed going to see the second until the children were safely back at school.
I have successfully avoided showings when too many small people are present for years!
Ironically, ever since watching 'Abba The Movie' at a Saturday matinee back in the late 1970's, with my friend J, and her Dad. The back of my seat was repeatedly booted and bashed by a hyperactive pre-teen, who is probably a grandmother by now... We vowed never to repeat that particular experience, and I do not recall that we did!

What did I like about Mama Mia - Here I Go Again?
The songs, obviously! As no-one was sat within several rows of us, I did feel able to sing along a bit!
The film was a bit like an Abba-themed advent calendar. Every time they sang a song a pair of doors were flung open.
The KHT says she followed the convoluted plot that served as an interlude to the songs.
I spent most of the film trying to decide if the same girl played both Donna and her daughter Sophie - and if it was down to clever make-up to distinguish between the two...
I missed most of the switches between characters, and then found my self mentally backtracking, trying to work out when they had changed.
Next time make one a redhead or brunette, so that the switches between the past and the present are more obvious and less frustrating!

What made we wonder?
Cher - was she supposed to be so expressionless, or can she just not crease her face anymore?
Spoof or non-spoof?
None the wiser...

What did I love?
The lack of stick insects.
Donna, in particular, was played by a person with curves!
The highlight of the film was not a thigh gap - thank goodness - or that could have become a 'sigh' gap...

The film is a great success and the winner takes it all to the bank.
Will there be a third film?
Well, there was another baby...