I have now cycled in twice on my new bike and it is lovely! Significantly faster, smoother and easier than my previous old road bike, and more to the point capable of taking panniers so I no longer have to suffer rucksack sweaty back! This is definitely a good thing. The bike is by no means perfect; it took me two cycles and Google to figure out how to change down gear (the up shifters are independent, but the down shifters are built into the brake levers), and the front shifters are a little temperamental, probably exacerbated by my small hands being unable to reach them without stretching a little. The rear brake was also rubbing slightly, but I fiddled with it last night and appear to have solved that little issue.

I don’t have a name for her yet, but since she’s all fast and pretty I’m thinking of something based on birds of prey. I did see an egret on my way in this morning, but somehow a graceful, lazy sea bird does not really seem appropriate. She’s red and white, so maybe Red Kite? Though that’s a little boring. My previous bikes have been Oddity and Aleda (named after dragons), Lily and Kitt (not named after anything in particular). Recently my dad told me that his first real bike, which was a three speed black ex-postal bike, was called Hercules Falcon III or something like that – that seems a good and noble name for a road bike! Maybe I can come up with something more imaginative than Red Kite.

Singing was tiring last night. A lot of the company are ill, which is kind of a good thing because this way most of us will have got ill and better before the performance, rather than during. Lead sop in particular was very unwell and miserable, and spent most of the time moaning or playing on her new DSi. I did kind of empathize with her, since she was needed briefly at about 9.00pm then sat around, occasionally dashing on stage to say one line then dashing back to her seat for another half hour. I was the same, mind, and I have ever less to do. But then I was feeling well and enjoying watching the other performing.

Next Tuesday we have a photoshoot for the local paper as well. It’s going to be just me and the other two Little Maids, and I’ve been given a long list of things to bring with me next week. Plus I actually get to wear my yukata from Japan! It’s a cotton kimono, and is purple with white flowers all over. Our Stage Manager, Helen, also has a kimono which she is lending for the shoot, and hers is much more detailed than mine, and a finer cotton, but I don’t mind because mine’s PURPLE. The lead sop will be wearing a fantastic white silk kimono, which is apparently rather see-through! We’re having to arrive half an hour early to have our makeup and hair done, then we get to do the whole rehearsal in the kimonos rather than the sarongs we normally wear to simulate the restriction round the legs. It’s going to be awesome! :D