It's good that you still have some time to decide what to do - I kept changing my plans several times at that age. 

Argh, now I haven't had the time to create a birthday gif. Well, happy birthday wishes anyway 

Yes, happy birthday, my dear! 

I would like some information about how school works in the UK. Here in America we have Elementary School Grades K-2, Primary School Grades 3-5, Middle School Grades 6-8, High School Grades 9-12, then it's off to College.

If someone wants to go into a career in acting then at the college level they can take acting classes but they would need to pick a university that is heavy in the arts. There are some dedicated acting colleges but they are dreadfully difficult to get into. There are also a few Preforming Arts high schools, but you have to meet certain criteria to get into them as well. My daughter wanted to go to the school of preforming arts for high school and if that had happened she would have had to leave home and go live with her aunt because you have to be a city resident to get in. We live in the suburbs. As it is she changed her mind and is now pursuing a career in psychology. 

So what kind of educational arc would someone in the UK follow if they ultimately wanted to get into the preforming arts?

Do the grade levels follow the same sort of system that I mentioned in my last post? That would be the pre-college grades. Also what are the good drama colleges there?

AliceI wrote:

Do the grade levels follow the same sort of system that I mentioned in my last post? That would be the pre-college grades. Also what are the good drama colleges there?

Ben went to the Univ. of Manchester, and I believe he studied theater there. No idea if it's considered a drama college or not. Here in the US, we all know about the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, but I think that's for the creme de la creme, or at least that's the reputation it has here, on the other side of the pond.

I came across this video on facebook and wanted to share.
As I watched I cried, because at least two of those kids were me. I remember feeling these things while in school, hell I remember feeling some of these things as recently as last week.
The bit about the children defining beauty as Mom really got to me. I have a loving husband and three wonderful children and yet I still feel unwanted at times.
Maybe it really does all go back to those messages pounded into us as children.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltun92DfnPY
 

What is The Gerkin and what is it for? I found a page about it that talked about it's construction and energy efficient systems and such. It also says it's not open to the public, but no where does it say what the building is for. Is it offices or a bank or what?
It is striking and I am just curious.

In Canada. In the mountains. The marmots are whistling. Spring has sprung.

Unfortunately it is snowing and cold here. Not too happy about that.