ANNIE REHEARSALS and CHINESE LANTERNS

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!

MAXMOM here...

Hello there, everybody!

The latest news is that a cold-front is moving into our neck of the woods. 

Brrrrrrr....!!! 

It's likely to become pretty chilly over the weekend. I can't say that I'm really looking forward to the winter, but I suppose the appearance of cooler weather is on schedule.

I think it's time now to stock up on some good books, warm blankets and enticing food. 

---xXx---

Although the rehearsals for 'ANNIE' are now in full swing, the organisers don't need Toby to be on set at the moment. He is due to join up with cast during the full rehearsals later on this month. We do, however, go a along to the school regularly, to simply be amongst the cast members while they practice. It's a great opportunity for him to become completely comfortable in their company and all the activity around him.

I continue to rehearse his specific moves at home and I also meet up regularly with his chief instructor -Shannon - from

McKAYNINE TRAINING CENTRE

to revise the things he needs to do in the play.

  

All-in-all, Toby is coming along really nicely and he is maturing by the day.  He has the sweetest, most endearing personality, and is a hit amongst the children.  He is totally in his element when he's 'working' and is almost ready to take the stage. 

In addition to his training for 'Annie', he attends his regular

"Canine Good Citizen"

 classes on a Saturday morning at

McKaynine Training Centre. 

During the week, I also try to expose him, as much as possible, to various public settings.  I'm really lucky because he seems very comfortable in any environment - especially in crowds of people.

Last night, I took him along to the

RANDBURG HOERSKOOL,

to mingle amongst the crowd.

An 'Open' evening had been organised where the school was able to showcase its many activities to prospective learners.  It's a well organised school and there were tons of people mulling around. 

Toby and I were never short of company.  Many folk came along to say 'hello' to us and to give Toby a pat.  We were introduced to the Headmaster too. Toby rose to the occasion by shaking paws with him - much to his amusement.

He can be really cute sometimes and will lie on his back willingly to have his tummy rubbed.

Later in the evening, a ceremony was held for all the prospective learners. 

Some of the children will be attending high school, for the first time next year.

They had organised a chinese lantern ceremony for the children. The kids were asked to write their dreams onto the lanterns and symbolically send them up into the heavens.

The lanterns were lit and launched into the night.

It really was very pretty to see them all floating away.

 One couldn't help but be moved, as we watched all the beautiful lanterns disappear into the night.

Once again, thank you to the Randburg Hoerskool for the opportunity to be part of your production. 

And thank you to the instructors at

McKAYNINE TRAINING CENTRE

for all your help in preparing Toby for this wonderful occasion.

That's all for today.

Wishing all our friends a wonderful, happy and restful weekend.

Sending lotsaluv

MAXMOM IN SOUTH AFRICA