A week of two halves

More often than not I expect half term to be all about being a mum.

Meaning that I plan trips and activities and don't expect to be teaching or going out to work. Sometimes those plans vanish into thin air.

The calls started early on in the week... Pencilled for a job in one place, possibility elsewhere.   Then I got a call asking if I could do a mother and child shoot on the Wednesday...  From a slow start it was promising to be hectic.  My poor long-suffering hairdresser doesn't get much time to plan, as I always phone her and want her on hand immediately.  Luckily she arrives, and smooths over whatever damage I've done to my hair.

As it turned out, the mother and child shoot was purely for me, as I was meant to be 'purchasing' a car. My daughter went on a trip to her dad's for the duration.  I really do wish that agents either had more of an idea of what we're meant to be doing, or if they do know, that they let us in on it.  

As usual I bring a selection of smart outfits with me and travel down in my scruffs, jeans and flats.   I had on my bare basic make up.  I was really surprised to find that they decided to go with me as is. The director (works normally on 'Top Gear') appeared with face powder and took the shine off my nose.  Hope it was translucent, I'll bet he doesn't have my shade.  He tells me he's done the nose of a despotic Dictator type - I'm imagining a Gadaffi type...  I really enjoy meeting the different people at shoots, they usually have such interesting jobs, often singers.

The showroom guys were going to be featured in the ad, and it's then that you realise how inexperienced some people are in front of a camera.  Don't turn your back to the lens, guys!

I can hear people laughing when I stifle a yawn at their talk.  They're really not 'selling' these vehicles to us, or giving us any enthusiasm.  Seemingly the excitement proves too much for them, as one goes off to 'blow his nose' and doesn't come back.  In the end they use me in my travelling gear on my own.  

We lip-synch as if we're talking about the car in the commercial.  It's an in-house one so I can't say too much more about it as we're not allowed to discuss the content.   I kind of hope there are no lip-readers watching as I'm not saying anything particularly sensible.   Nice little car, though.  Here's one without me in the way...

I have my usual leafleting to do, and I can't stop thinking my ankles look comical in my 'kung fu' trousers with flats in Leicester Square.  

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - The Musical if you're interested in seeing which leaflet I've got in my hands.