Staff and pupils from my department all trooped out into the playground at 9.30 a.m. on Friday, armed with pinholed sheets of paper ready for safe eclipse viewing. We weren't the only people who were interested in the eclipse; there were crowds of teachers and pupils all down the side of the school. It was quite exciting, like being a part of something big. It was very cloudy so I wasn't convinced that we would be able to see anything at all, but just in time there was a brief break in the clouds and we could clearly see the sliver of sun peeping out beneath the black disc of the moon. Amazing. A couple of further glimpses and then the clouds rolled over completely. Apparently the eclipse was 93% where we are near Glasgow; it didn't become dark but it turned noticeably gloomier than it had been earlier.
On Friday evening I went to our school prom and was jolly glad that I did - it was a pleasant evening and my own little group of pupils had a ball. What struck me was the sheer exuberance of all the young folk; I have seen many of them grow up into really lovely young people over the past six years and it was great to see them so full of life and ready to sally forth into the big world. The dancing was amazing and everyone was literally jumping to the last song (Loch Lomond by Runrig) I was absolutely exhausted when I got home!
While getting ready for bed in the dark, trying not to wake James, I had a bad fall. Basically I went to lean against the wall - except that I wasn't where I thought I was and I crashed to the floor. I hit my head and my left shoulder on the radiator and was alarmed to see a flash of bright light, it was very sore. Needless to say this woke James who was less than amused to be woken at 2 a.m. and was very vocal about it!