Prom

I went to the school prom last night. I was really glad that I went because it was a great evening and everyone, including the pupils that I was supporting, had a brilliant time. It was of course also my last prom at my current school which was bittersweet. Word has got round that I'm leaving and some very nice things were said to me. My gorgeous Uganda pupils were all there because they are all 6th years and we had a group photo. They also presented my with a mug with a photo of us all at the source of the Nile and the message "from your Uganda children" as well as my alleged catch phrase "Right yous, 'nuff ae that!" 

I also know a lot of the pupils who have done the D of E Award. At the end of the evening I found myself dancing with George in the centre of a large circle of pupils to a song which I think was by someone called Pitbull, doing some amazing dance moves as the 6th year pupils chanted "Susan! Susan!" I will miss them! 

Social Saturday

The weather has been fairly warm and sunny this past week, which is very welcome and I think has lifted everyone's spirits. I have made my Big Decision (I mentioned this on 25th March but have been thinking about it for a while), which is to move job. It's all official and I have received my offer in writing. I'm very happy with my move, although there will be lots of things that I will miss about where I am now. However I have absolutely no doubts that it is time to make a move. 

Yesterday I went to a coffee morning to raise money for the 2016 Luwero trip. I was very impressed by the efforts made by pupils and staff; the pupils were providing musical entertainment as well as lots of stalls. A couple of my colleagues also turned up and we had a pleasant coffee together. 

I went straight from there into town to meet my school chums for one of our lovely lunches full of news, chat and laughter. All five of us were there and Libby and I were reporting back on the recent school reunion. 

When I got home James was having a wee cup of tea after working in the garden all day. We decided to go to the cinema to see Bastille Day, starring Idris Elba and Richard Madden, who played Robb Stark in Game of Thrones. I do like an action thriller and this one was very good; set in Paris and full of exciting chases and plot twists. Idris Elba has such presence - there was a hilarious scene in an elevator where he intimidated another character just by looking at him  impassively. I think Idris would be a great James Bond. Then we finished off the evening with a nice dinner together in our current favourite restaurant, Bill's, before heading home for a cup of tea with Ally and Cat. 

A very loud concert

James and I went to see Muse at the Hydro this evening. What can I say? It was not to my taste. Too loud and just not very good. On the plus side, James loved it. He said that it was the best live concert that he has seen for a long time and sang along with the various songs, a few of which I recognised. I did quite like the special effects and watching all the people dancing - the girl in front of me coincidentally did a dance move that one of my pupils taught me today. I saved my hearing by fashioning a pair of earplugs out of my torn up concert ticket and some paper hankies.

A tale of a Duck and a Dog

On Friday I went to Glen Tress in the Borders to check-point a Gold Duke of Edinburgh expedition. I met up with my colleagues and the D of E groups at the start point, and some of the pupils found a wee duckling running around in the long grass, separated from its Mummy. After a bit of debate we decided that the best thing to do would be to make ourselves scarce, so that once we were away the duck family would be able to hear each other calling. Hopefully that will have worked.

The pupils all set off in fine fettle and we kept an eye on them from a distance, by walking in to meet them at pre-arranged points. This gave Carolyn, Ross and me the opportunity to have a wee coffee in Inverleithen, which was very pleasant. It was a cold day and to my surprise it even started snowing! One group got to the camping place in excellent time, but the other group were running late and when we checked on them we found out why - a wee dog had started following them and had ended up walking with them for most of the day! They had become very attached to it and were quite sad when we took her away to reunite her with her owners. This was not too hard to do because there was only one house on the route and when I phoned them they were very relieved; they had been out looking for her. She has form for this and has apparently been handed in to Peebles Police station seven times! 

As a result of the delay, we didn't set off home until 9 p.m. and I felt very tired and nauseous during the hour and a half drive home - at one point I felt quite faint and nearly pulled in to the side of the road, but I was ok. I think that I was just tired and hungry. I was very happy to get home at half past ten and James made me a lovely cup of tea.

A good holiday week

It has been a very good holiday week. I feel as if I have made the most of it. I have done everything I want to do, including a good deal of pottering about in the house; sorting and tidying. I have done a bit of shopping, got my hair cut, attended to one or two routine medical matters, and spent a day in the Borders check-pointing a Gold Duke of Edinburgh expedition (of which more in the next post). 

One of the highlights of the week was the ELO concert on Tuesday. I was lucky to obtain two tickets and James and I were really looking forward to it. Unfortunately (and more importantly than any concert) James' Mum took ill while we were on holiday last week and by the time we got back she had worsened despite antibiotics. It was a pity that we were away because with my experience of my own Mum's illnesses I would have recognised the signs and got her into hospital sooner; however the doctor finally sent her to the RAH in Paisley on Tuesday and James went there to be with her in the evening. *

So I phoned Ally, who was studying in the University Library and asked if he would like to come to the ELO concert. Never one to turn down a concert, Ally joined us at Lebowski's for a pub tea beforehand. Heather and Ewan were also going to the concert so the five of us had tea together before James headed to Paisley and the rest of us walked down to the Hydro.

At that point Heather and Ewan went to their much superior seats very near the front of the auditorium while Ally and I set off to our seats in the back row of Level 2 - which actually gave us a perfectly good view. Before the concert Heather and I texted each other photos from our locations and Ally, with his fine young eyes, could see them looking round and waving. Heather and I, with our slightly less young eyes, couldn't make each other out at all!

Soon the concert started and I thought it was tremendous. ELO played all the old favourites and the audience were singing along. Two songs that I hadn't heard for a long time were Wild West Hero and Telephone Line, I was surprised that I still knew all the words and I have been singing ELO songs all week since. Rockaria, Don't Bring Me Down, Hold on Tight, Mr Blue Sky - they were all really good. Ally said that he enjoyed it too, although he didn't get up to dance like I did. It was a great evening and even submitting myself to the horrors of queueing for the train on the way home did not take the shine off it. 

* Grandma made a speedy recovery I'm glad to say, and is now recuperating back at home.

Spring has arrived

In the week that we have been away, Spring has arrived. The garden is full of daffodils and birdsong. I felt so happy when I woke up this morning with the kitties lying on the bed and then James brought me my breakfast before he went to work. I had a lovely day pottering about and playing with Tom and Ruby. They were brought home from the cattery yesterday afternoon by James and Alasdair and immediately went outside to patrol the the perimeters of the garden. I hate that they have to go to the cattery but it's a good place and most importantly I know that they are safe when we are away.

Ally got up early to go hill-walking with friends to Beinn Narnain and the Cobbler. Davie went into town to meet Chanel, who will be staying with us for a few days. It was really nice to see her and she and Davie are really cute together; she makes him very happy.

Arrivaderci Sestriere

So here we are on the coach, on our way to Turin Airport at the end of a great ski holiday. I got a good sleep last night so I'm feeling quite chipper even though it's 6 a.m. We have been so lucky with the weather and the snow. I felt quite sad as we left the village and now we are heading down the mountain with the snow at the top picking up the very first rays of the sunrise. I'm going to have a little nap, so goodbye Sestriere - it's been grand.