Jonesieblog

Last night I went along the see Fiddler on the roof, performed at North Berwick High School.  It was a wonderful experience.  The singing and acting were incredible, and the musical accompaniment performed by students and music teachers was superb.

I can’t really put into words what a great privilege it was to be there.  My son was performing, and I have taught most of the pupils who were on stage.  I also sail with quite a few of the youngsters.  It was like being a proud parent thirty times over.  It was also special for me because it was the first school musical that I have been able to see, having been a performer in the last two shows.

“Happiness doesn’t come from having things – it comes from being part of things” as the saying goes, and I felt a huge pride last night at being part of the community that produced such a fine performance.

Lesley Hood devotes a huge amount of time every year to putting on the musical.  I don’t know where she finds the energy, but I’m very glad that she does.  She thoroughly deserved the rapturous thanks that she received from performers and audience last night.

Stumble it!

I love where I live

Yesterday I spent the morning teaching, then sailed with school pupils in the afternoon, and went out again at the Sailing Club “Fun Friday” event in the evening. There was a thick sea fog over North Berwick in the morning, but it cleared to sunshine about lunchtime. Being out in the Firth of Forth in a sailing boat is just wonderful.

This morning, I strolled up to school to do a bit of last-minute preparation for the new timetable on Monday, then wandered down to the high street and along the beach to the harbour, where dozens of boats were lined up for the Sailing Club regatta.

After lunch on the beach watching the sailing, I headed home over the golf course.

The sun is shining and life feels very mellow.

Stumble it!

North Berwick has been experiencing a mysterious plague of flies over the last week. Speculation has been rife as to the source of our unwelcome visitors. One story doing the rounds is that their arrival is related to the recent record high tides that we experienced. Another is that they are breeding on rotting crops. Whever they came from, everyone is agreed that they are bloody annoying! We can’t leave food around in the open, and the delicate amongst us are being disturbed in the night by buzzing in our bedrooms. Bring on the scottish winter!

Stumble it!