Its been about two weeks now since my last post, so i've got quite a bit to update on. To start, the past two weekends have been adult weekends, the first being 'School Reunion' and the second was 'Icons Weekend'. I have had most of the adult weekends off, so School Reunion was the first one I had to work for. We don't wear our Redcoat uniform for the adult weekends, as the adults tend to make fun of, or harass us for it. Instead, we wear our casual grey track pants, and a red zip up sweater that says 'Events Team' on it. We don't swan the Skyline and we aren't out half as much as we are during regular family breaks. Billy the bear doesn't make any appearances, nor do the rest of the characters we have. We mainly work the reception and check in, and then work the doors for some of the venues. This is the best time for training for new shows and stuff like that, as barely any Reds actually work this weekend.
Friday and Saturday night, I worked at the Silent Disco. We hand out the headphones, explain how it all works, and send them into our sports bar, Hotshots. Friday night it wasn't too busy so the four of us working the doors got to have our headphones on and dance around the whole night. I worked with two out of my three roomies, and my old room mate too. We finished at about 130 in the morning. So we went home, got changed and went out to party for the night. It was weird because although it was around 2am by the time we even got to the bar, it just felt like 10 oclock, tons of energy, and the start to a good night! We started in Center Stage, by this time there were no more shows or acts going on, it was just a live DJ. Tons of people in costumes filled this venue, and kept the party going. After a good amount of drinks, and some dancing, we headed down to Reds. Reds isn't normally a busy venue, but that night it was packed. Full dance floor, bars were busy, it was a good time. We partied until about 5am when they did last orders at the bar. Made it into our accommodation just before 6am. I would say that was one of my best nights in England, until the night after. I slept in that day until about noon probably, as I didn't have work again until late that night for another night of the Silent Disco. Saturday night in Reds was 'The Ministry of Sound', this is an unreal DJ that has a sweet stage set up and the act is well known in England. Because of the Ministry of Sound, and Center Stage with its live DJ and shows, we all figured that the Silent Disco would be a dead venue. In the Skyline to start the night off for the guests, the skyline stage has a DJ there until about 10 or 11pm I think. So as our venue opened up, that DJ was just finishing, and the shows up in Center and Reds were just starting. From the beginning of our night until the very end, we were lined up out the door, and jam packed inside. It was crazy! So many people were coming into the venue, we didn't have enough headsets, and unfortunately didn't get to enjoy listening to the two different DJs. It was still a good night, and we finished up around 2 in the morning. After work, we went home, got ready and went to Reds to see the Ministry of Sound. It was busier than the night before and the DJ was unreal. We stayed out until at least 5 or 6 in the morning. It was a messy but fun night as always. I absolutely love the adult weekends, they are the best time to let loose and have a good night out with the team, as most people are off. Unfortunately that weekend was a big one for training as there are a ton of new shows starting up. So not too many Reds were out. Still a good time none the less.
After that adult weekend, we were back on family breaks for the midweek. It was really quiet for both midweeks as school is in, so its mainly young parents and tots. Its good because we get to bond with the kids, and see the same faces over and over, helps to add sparkle to each families holiday. The next weekend was the adult Icons weekend. I decided to take a holiday from the 'Butlins Bubble' and go to Minehead for the weekend. It wasn't really planned, I just decided a few days before that I would go by myself because I had the whole weekend off. It should have been about a four hour journey from Bognor to Minehead.. it ended up taking SEVEN hours. Seven whole hours alone.. on a bus, train, car, subway, and foot. It was quite the adventure. Bryn & Louis walked with me from Butlins to the Bognor train station. Two minutes before my train was supposed to come, I was told that it was cancelled so I had to take a different one and get off at the next stop to change over. So i got on the train, and found another person going to London, so we stuck together for the traip. His name was Damion, really nice guy, and would have been lost without him. On the train for about 10 minutes, then at that station had to get off and wait 30 minutes for another train.. Repeated this for 3 stations. At this point, I should have turned around knowing that it was going to be one hell of a trip to get to Minehead. After a few hours, I was near London.. Then a voice on the train said that we were no longer going to London Victoria.. but London Bridge instead. Without a choice, I had to get off at the Bridge and then take the Subway to figure out how to get to Paddington Station. To get another train to Taunton. By this time, the sun has set, it is no longer warm outside, and I am standing alone in the London Bridge Underground in hightops, jean shorts, a leather jacket, animal print headband, and a huge animal print luggage bag. Not to mention I had diamond aviators on. The only person that would have stood out more than me would be someone dressed as Wheres Waldo. I looked like I was heading to L.A., not Minehead. I figured out which platform to be on, but to make sure I was in the right place, asked a girl that looked nice.. she replied in an Australian accent, "I'm lost too". Just perfect! Now there are two foreigners lost in the London underground. A nice young guy, also lost, came up to us to ask for help, which of course we couldn't give. Instead, we all got on the tube together and figured out where we were supposed to go. Cracked open a beer, had a few laughs, and enjoyed the short London Underground journey. Once we all split up, I made my way to get onto my last train of the day. It was a straight two hour journey to Taunton, where Nancy picked me up and then we drove to Minehead from there. Arrived around midnight, got changed, and hit the pub. It was absolutely dead, but i got to see friends that I haven't seen in six years! It was so weird, but such a good laugh. The next day myself and a few of the girls took a bus to taunton for some shopping then headed back to Minehead for another night of drinks and a fun. Started at the Hairy Dog, had a few drinks, saw some friends from the night before, then we all headed to another bar. This one was much busier Saturday night! Saw a ton more people that I knew and stayed out til about 4 in the morning. The next day, had some troubles about getting back to the train station, but with Ellie and Calums help, sorted myself out. It was only about a 5 hour journey home which I was really happy about.
This brings us to this past week. It was an average week, did the same old stuff, had some party dance training and got our new uniforms. We have our redcoat which is just a little bit different from last years. We now wear black pants, a white tucked in top, and black heels. We also have a black dress to wear for some details. In a few more weeks we will get our casual uniforms, but for now we just wear our old ones. My first time up on stage was last night. I did my party dances and only messed up once. It was so nervewracking getting on stage in Centre as it seems so busy, with a full dance floor of kids looking up at you to follow your steps. When I only messed up once, it was a huge relief as everyone messes up when they are on stage. Today I have spent a lot of time on activities as I will hopefully become an activities Red instead of just a general Red. Activites consists of doing arts and crafts with the Get Busy: 5-8's, stage school, circus skills and arts with Club Red: 9-12s, and stuff with the VIPs: teens. Its a lot of fun because we get one to one time with kids and get to know them better on a personal level, instead of just sitting with them when shows are on. Its really awesome. They become your friend for that week and when they come back, they ask about you, get your autograph and pictures with you. Mini Celebrity? Hell ya. As it's easter weekend, we are full house and every venue is busy. I don't think a single Red had the day off today. Its one of our busiest times of the year, and this weekend / upcoming week are a small taste of what summer will be like. Its really exciting and I'm always doing something new. I have second guessed myself a couple times over the past few weeks, as to whether or not I made the right choice in coming to England, by myself to be a Redcoat. Last night, my boss said to me that he took a risk in hiring me, as I wasn't hired like most reds are with the unique interview and audition process, but that he is very happy with the Redcoat I am and to keep up the good work. Its a confidence boost that was needed, and I am really happy and proud of myself and my choices. People have asked me how I deal with being away from home, and if I miss my family and friends. Of course I do. There isn't a single day that goes by that I don't think of my old room mate (nana), or my parents. When I see the younger kids, it reminds me of Jonny and Julia, who I cannot wait to see again. I wasn't the best big sister with my siblings before, and this job has completely changed me and how I am with kids. I miss them to death, you don't really know what you have until its gone. I wish they could be here to enjoy the Butlins experience, this British Disneyland would be heaven for the two of them. It would be really awesome if my older brother came over and saw what I did, its such a unique place, and I would love to hear what he thought of how I am as a Red. I wish my friends could be here because I know they would love it as much as I do, and would love the people I hang around with. I don't want to go home anytime soon, but I would love if my family could just come and share all of this with me. So to mom and dad reading this, I love you to bits, and can't wait to see you. XOXO
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