Goodbye Vulcan Bomber

The first few days of my summer holidays have passed by in a pleasant blur. I have been delighted to sleep back in my own bed and chat to my boys and my cats. On Saturday I accompanied James, Ally, and Davie to East Fortune airfield to watch one of the last few flights of the Vulcan Bomber. Apparently it is now past its sell by date and after a few more visits to air shows this summer and autumn, it will be consigned to a flight museum. It was a fine, warm and breezy day and the boys enjoyed looking around the planes while I had a coffee and read my book. The Vulcan finally arrived early afternoon; the boys used their phones to monitor its approach up the east coast via Twitter. After about 5 minutes and a couple of fly pasts it went on its way. 

On Sunday evening James, Ally, Davie and Ewan set off to see ACDC at Hampden. We had dinner at Wetherspoons first then the boys went to catch their train while Heather and I stayed on for another drink. We then had a very pleasant evening playing with the kittens and chatting, with Glastonbury (Chemical Brothers and The Who) playing in the background. Going to a music festival would probably be my worst nightmare, mainly due to the inadequate toilet facilities, mud, and squalid, overcrowded conditions. A bit like an airshow but worse because you have to spend the night in a tent with your muddy wellies sticking out into the rain. James keeps telling me that there's a very civilised music festival in Perthshire each summer which is specially designed for folks of our age and tastes (middle-aged foodies with a liking for cleanliness and comfort). But although I don't want to go to Glastonbury, and I found Kanye West on Saturday evening to be truly and amazingly talentless, I'm not sure that I want to relegate myself to the anodyne nursing home version of a festival just yet either! The boys arrived home from AC/DC in fine spirits. They seemed to have enjoyed themselves although they mentioned that it was extremely loud and speculated on Angus' life expectancy! 

The Florence Nightingale Award

On Thursday morning I felt like an absolute zombie after two hours of sleep, however after a bracing shower and some breakfast I was ready to set off on our long journey home. Gastric girl was feeling much better I'm very glad to say. The other teachers had made up my packed lunch for me, and I managed to get another couple of hours sleep on the coach. Our last visit of the trip was to Zaanse Schans, just outside Amsterdam. It’s a pretty outdoors museum with windmills and houses around a lake. It was good to have a break and stretch our legs. It was touristy but interesting with traditional crafts and produce on sale. 

Once we were back on the boat at Port of Amsterdam the teachers played cards in the sunshine on the open top deck. We played scabby queen, gin rummy, and Jane taught us to play Hearts which was quite hard but fascinating.

Unfortunately, one more pupil came down with the gastric bug on our way home and the poor girl vomited on and off for the rest of the journey, although she did manage to get some sleep on the boat. I kept a close eye on her, encouraged her to keep sipping water to keep hydrated and reassured her. She was so exhausted that I arranged to get her taken off the boat by wheelchair so that she wouldn't have to queue through security and passport control. The crew member who accompanied us was a very kind man from the Philippines called Benjy and we safely helped her onto the bus at Port of Tyne.

During the last part of our journey home we had an awards ceremony. The award certificates were written on sick bags from the boat, which was both amusing and appropriate. The teachers had made them during the previous evening; Audrey did the bubble writing "Germany 2015" and the illustrations, and Jane and I coloured them in. The awards were of course for things that had happened during the trip such as the pupil who had most asked "are we there yet?" or the pupil who had done the best singing on the bus etc. It was all really good fun and even gastric pupil number three perked up. To my surprise there was one final award - for me! The music teachers gave me an award for "best nurse" together with a "nurse" mug that they had managed to find at the service station, and a beautiful bunch of flowers. I felt very emotional; I really didn't expect it and it was just so nice of them. I really like the music department who have all made me feel so welcome on this trip, and by volunteering to be the first aider I felt that I was doing my bit. It has been fantastic.

Back to Koblenz Hospital

The whole group returned to Boppard yesterday evening for our final concert. Except this time we were on their coach so instead of getting the tiny ferry we had to drive all the way up to Koblenz and back down the other side of the river which took about an hour!

The concert was great and the weather remained warm and sunny; it was a good gig.

However another pupil took ill with severe stomach pains during the concert, and they continued for hours. I consulted with Jamie by phone (my hero) and he was pretty sure that it was a gastric bug, but without being able to examine her he couldn't be absolutely certain. The pupil was doubled up with pain, so eventually I took her to Koblenz Hospital just in case it was something more serious - I couldn't believe that I was back there again! Long story short, it was indeed a gastric bug which was a huge relief. She was a brave girl. We got back to the hotel just after 4 a.m. and had to get up again at 7! We are now in the bus on the long journey home and gastric pupil is peacefully asleep. I'm going to try to get some sleep too. 

I'm glad that I went to Boppard!

During my visit to Koblenz hospital last night with my sick pupil, we were attended to by a very bossy doctor. I actually quite like bossy doctors because they inspire me with confidence. This one was particularly loud. When we suggested that the sickness might have been caused by a dodgy mussel on the ferry on Sunday evening, she was very dismissive. NO she shouted, IT IS NOT THE MUSSEL! YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN SICK AFTER TWO HOURS! THE MUSSEL IS GONE! She prescribed three different types of medicine for the gastroenteritis, one of which was by suppository; the pupil respectfully asked if he could have a tablet instead. IN GERMANY WE LIKE SUPPOSITORIES, THEY ARE QUICKER! she yelled, YOU NEED TO DRINK ONLY WATER OR APFEL JUICE AND ONLY EAT BREAD OR PRETZELS! I asked if flat coke would be helpful (as is recommended in Scotland for sickness) and she was horrified! NEIN! NEIN! NOT IN THIS COUNTRY!

The doctor then advised the sick pupil not to take part in today's activity; a visit to Phantasia land theme park. In fact she seemed quite disapproving of theme parks and demanded to know why we were going there. I explained that we have been performing a series of concerts and that our pupils would enjoy a theme park. WHY? she asked insistently, IT IS NOT CULTURE! YOU SHOULD TAKE THEM TO HAMBURG OR KÖLN! I didn't really have a good answer to this and she followed up with, I BET THAT WHEN YOU TAKE THEM TO PARIS YOU TAKE THEM TO DISNEY! Since this is in fact true, I didn't have any comeback apart from muttering weakly that we take them to cultural things too. She didn't reply but looked at me with thinly veiled disbelief.

This morning the sick pupil wisely stayed in his bed and I volunteered to stay at the hotel with him. This was no hardship for me as I have visited Phantasia land several times before on school trips, and although, as theme parks go, it is a good one, I was quite happy to give it a miss this time. I spent the morning reading and by lunchtime, sick pupil emerged from his room feeling much better and ready to venture forth for some water and bread.

A really lovely afternoon ensued. We went for a walk around the village and had lunch at a restaurant on the banks of the Rhine. The sun came out on cue and I ordered a toastie which consisted of ham with hot cherries and topped with cheese. It was absolutely delicious and I am going to make it for James when I get home. Sick pupil sensibly stuck to bread with a little ham.

We then walked for about half an hour along the river to a tiny ferry which took us over to the pretty village of Boppard. It was absolutely gorgeous and we strolled around the village with its little streets and cafés before having a drink on the flower filled terrace of the Bellevue Rheinhotel. It was warm and sunny and the views up and down the river were beautiful. No harm to Phantasia land but I'm glad that we went to Boppard and I would love to return there. Actually I will be returning there tonight for our final concert, but I mean on a future holiday! 

Rudesheim

I was very excited this morning to set off on our hour long Rhine cruise. We passed the Lorelei Rock where allegedly a beautiful mermaid lured sailors to their deaths. And we passed lots and lots of picturesque castles perched on rocks - our tour guide Sue told us that they are often referred to as ABC - "another bloody castle!" Pretty villages, islands and churches also abounded. There were many neatly tended vineyards on the very steep hillsides above the river.

Although we set off in rain, the sun came out during the cruise which was great, and we re-boarded the bus to travel to the beautiful but touristy village of Rudesheim to give our next concert. The highlight was the amazing Muskikabinet museum where there were all sorts of early musical instruments. The open cable car up to the top of the hill behind the town passed above the vineyards and the views of the Rhine were stunning. And kaffee und kuchen with the other teachers was delicious.

Unfortunately I ended up the day at hospital in Koblenz with a pupil who has gastroenteritis and vomited copiously in the coach. I'm really hoping that I don't catch it but am a bit concerned because it was me who cleaned up the sick I disinfected my hands straight away so hopefully all will be fine. 

Maastricht in the rain

What a day it has been! I slept remarkably well in our tiny cabin and soon we arrived in the Port of Amsterdam and set off towards Maastricht. I instantly fell asleep in the bus and was later shown a photo of me snoozing! Our concert took place in the bandstand in the Vrijthof Square and although we didn't have much time to explore I could see that it is an attractive place, with lots of medieval buildings. I would definitely like to visit properly to see more of its history. We had a quick lunch in a brasserie (while all of the pupils piled into a nearby MacDonalds!) then the musicians efficiently set up for the concert. Luckily the bandstand was covered because the weather had turned rainy, however despite the weather we attracted a small but appreciative audience. I was chatting to a girl from Luxembourg who is a student at Maastricht University and goes to Scottish country dancing classes.  

Back on the bus I quickly fell back asleep for almost the whole of the journey to the Rhine Valley - I must be very tired! When I woke up we were driving along beside the Rhine - it's beautiful (even in the rain!); big and wide and winding with beautiful villages dotted along its banks. I was really excited to see it but the pupils were much more excited when they saw a Lidl supermarket. Even though there is an identical one very near school. Words fail me. 

Our hotel is in Kamp-Bornhofen right beside the river and is clean and pleasant. I am thrilled to have my own room. After dinner we walked along the riverside to the afore-mentioned Lidl to stock up on chocolate, and relaxed in the bar until it was time to settle the pupils down. And despite all of my sleeping today I think I will sleep well tonight.

Below decks

I have never sailed out of Newcastle before - or Port of Tyne as the harbour part is called. It was fascinating; we sailed down the river Tyne before emerging into the open sea, passing small and large boats, smart new apartment blocks, industrial areas and finally the ruins of a castle. Perhaps it was the castle (once new I suppose) after which the town was named. It was nice to be out on deck, and as I looked northwards I could see the coast stretching into the distance towards Scotland and I felt homesick for my boys and cats.

The ship, Princesse Margarethe, is well furnished with lots of bars and eateries. The cabin that I am sharing with Jane and Audrey is on deck two, which I reckon is well beneath the waves - in the well known film about a ship beginning with T it is more like Leonardo di Caprio's cabin than Kate Winslet's. Best not to dwell on that!