Something New - Month Two

[smallhobbit]

Again, it's still difficult to do something new, since there are limited opportunities.  We saw my granddaughter at the weekend after a gap of four and a half months so it felt new, even if it doesn't fall within the category.

This month's story_works Take A Leap Challenge was to do a new physical activity.  I went back to Sadler's Wells Company of Elders dance sessions, which I'd tried before, but this time did Old School Hip Hop and Funk, Contemporary (Sweden), Kathak and Acogny Technique.  I enjoyed trying them out, and some of them I'd be interested in doing again at some point.

Only two FutureLearn courses this month:
Introduction to Intercultural Studies: Intercultural Contact by the University of Leeds.  This was a two-week course, and there are others in the series.  It was okay, but not particularly relevant to me, since it was discussing living in a different culture for a period of time and the challenges which can be faced, and the further challenges which may occur on return home.

Penshurt Place & the Sidney Family of Writers by Lancaster University.  A new course, and I recognised the names of some of the other participants from other courses I've followed.  Theoretically this would have been an interesting historical course, but it didn't grab me.  The family, both men and women, were writing around the time of Shakespeare and there was obviously a comparison to be made.  But the Sidneys were only writing for themselves and their friends, so they could afford to be self-indulgent with their writing.  It didn't appeal to me.

Comments

[corvidology]

The dance lessons sound like a lot of fun.

[smallhobbit]

They were - I particularly enjoyed being a baobab tree!

[margaret_r]

A nice variety of activities even if they all haven't engaged you as much as they could. Glad you enjoyed the dance sessions, they sound like fun.

[smallhobbit]

I've learned some things and it's quite possible the Sidney family will turn up again so it will be helpful to know a bit about them.

The dance sessions were fun. I've expressed an interest in one of the organisers of a session and they're running an online class tomorrow, which might have been fun, but we're due to reach 30C then, so I won't be doing it.

[luthienberen]

Online dance lessons? I didn't know such classes were held! Must be fun. :)

[smallhobbit]

Yes - these ones are recorded so you can always stop and start if you want to practice something, which is a good idea. I just muddle on going in the wrong direction!

[luthienberen]

What a fabulous idea. I feel you on going in the wrong direction! Not easy when attempting to follow directions whilst thinking ahead *remembers couple dance lessons taken far in the past* 😂😜😊

[rusty_armour]

It's great that you were able to see your granddaughter after four and a half months. Considering how quickly children grow, I can understand why seeing her felt like something new!

I'm glad the dance session went so well. It sounds like fun and something that you probably would enjoy doing again.

I'm sorry the FutureLearn courses weren't as engaging as they could be. I suppose it can be a challenge to gauge what a course will be like based on the course summary.

[smallhobbit]

Yes - she had grown both physically but also in ability.

I've taken FutureLearn courses which sound really interesting and been disappointed by the way they've been presented, and I've taken others because I'm half-interested and there's nothing else that's particularly appealled and been totally fascinated. At least in part it depends on how enthusiastic the presenter is and how they communicate, which is why I continue to take a variety of courses. Last autumn the Working Lives series was excellent, and yet I'd only started because it looked vaguely interesting.

[ellieet]

Glad you got to see your granddaughter. After not being able to see my nieces for nearly three months (frustrating as they live fairly close by with their mother and she's been looking after them alone since my brother moved out) we've had the pleasure of seeing them three times over the past fortnight, which has been wonderful. They came along for my birthday celebrations and the eldest one wrote me a poem on the day. <3 Hope you had a good time with your granddaughter.

[smallhobbit]

We had a good time with our granddaughter. Glad you got to see your nieces Too!