Someday My Prince Will Come
Posted: Thursday, 07 June 2007 |
A (slightly) quieter week this week at school than last. Monday (28th) was the last day here for our outgoing 4th year. They’ve now started at the Anderson High in Lerwick. For some inexplicable reason they decided to dress up as pirates. Amongst them was some really skinny looking guy who must have been too long on the Atkins diet (see photo).
Scientists from Edinburgh university held hands-on sessions for all the kids. Couldn’t really participate, but what I did see interested even a sci-phobe like myself. Others that weren’t at the Sci-Fun sessions were taking part in African drumming and dancing in the hall.
The next day (29th), our S3 and some S4 pupils went to the Garrison Theatre in Lerwick to see a play about the Kindertransport before WWII. Sadly, historian that I am, I didn’t go.
Wednesday morning (30th), in the staff room we had a healthy breakfast of smoothies, fruit, toast etc. I had suggested organic bacon and eggs but that didn’t happen. Never mind, made a change from Alpen. In the afternoon, some of the kids had organised a sports day – and despite the biting wind, enthusiastic ‘athletes’ made their bids for glory.
Thursday (31st) was the big day! It was our Environmental Day of Action – and the whole school from nursery to S4 and staff were involved. Some took part in our Voar Redd Up – this is where the Shetland community goes on a tidy up of all the rubbish throughout the islands. Groups of kids went along the roads nearby picking up litter and putting it into bags for later disposal. Chess pieces were made from recycled materials. The school garden had plants planted in it, trees were put in, a pergola was painted, the shed and the fence around the compost heap were painted.
I was involved in the planting of poppies to commemorate those from Dunrossness who served in WWI and the planting of alder trees to mark the Battle of Trafalgar – at which a great number of Shetlanders (mostly press-ganged) fought.
The highlight of the day though was the visit to the school of Prince Charles and Camilla – sorry Muness, we went one (or two) better. This explained why a few weeks ago some men in suits and carrying briefcases suddenly arrived at the school. This had led to rumours that human remains had been found in our school garden and that these were detectives come to investigate. However, they were Special Branch come to assess the security of the school. It even meant that the police had to check all the drains around the building.
Charles and Camilla were a little late in getting to the school but stayed for longer than planned. On their walkabout they displayed a great talent in being able to engage with the kids – Charles in particular finding out how one of older pupils broke his arm skateboarding. I didn’t get a chance to speak to Charles but Camilla came and had a wee blether with me. She probably wondered what a big hairy Viking was still doing in existence.
Scientists from Edinburgh university held hands-on sessions for all the kids. Couldn’t really participate, but what I did see interested even a sci-phobe like myself. Others that weren’t at the Sci-Fun sessions were taking part in African drumming and dancing in the hall.
The next day (29th), our S3 and some S4 pupils went to the Garrison Theatre in Lerwick to see a play about the Kindertransport before WWII. Sadly, historian that I am, I didn’t go.
Wednesday morning (30th), in the staff room we had a healthy breakfast of smoothies, fruit, toast etc. I had suggested organic bacon and eggs but that didn’t happen. Never mind, made a change from Alpen. In the afternoon, some of the kids had organised a sports day – and despite the biting wind, enthusiastic ‘athletes’ made their bids for glory.
Thursday (31st) was the big day! It was our Environmental Day of Action – and the whole school from nursery to S4 and staff were involved. Some took part in our Voar Redd Up – this is where the Shetland community goes on a tidy up of all the rubbish throughout the islands. Groups of kids went along the roads nearby picking up litter and putting it into bags for later disposal. Chess pieces were made from recycled materials. The school garden had plants planted in it, trees were put in, a pergola was painted, the shed and the fence around the compost heap were painted.
I was involved in the planting of poppies to commemorate those from Dunrossness who served in WWI and the planting of alder trees to mark the Battle of Trafalgar – at which a great number of Shetlanders (mostly press-ganged) fought.
The highlight of the day though was the visit to the school of Prince Charles and Camilla – sorry Muness, we went one (or two) better. This explained why a few weeks ago some men in suits and carrying briefcases suddenly arrived at the school. This had led to rumours that human remains had been found in our school garden and that these were detectives come to investigate. However, they were Special Branch come to assess the security of the school. It even meant that the police had to check all the drains around the building.
Charles and Camilla were a little late in getting to the school but stayed for longer than planned. On their walkabout they displayed a great talent in being able to engage with the kids – Charles in particular finding out how one of older pupils broke his arm skateboarding. I didn’t get a chance to speak to Charles but Camilla came and had a wee blether with me. She probably wondered what a big hairy Viking was still doing in existence.
Comments
If it is Soljey on the extreme left of image 1 (as I think) then I suggest his drains may be malfunctioning.
Muness from Fetlar
Charles and Camilla eh? How awful for you and traumatic for the children. Is there anyhting we can send by way of compensation - blankets, food parcels etc?
calumannabel from Republic Cottage Brue
Lovely snaps soljey. Hope you're making the most of your new connections. You could see if himself would start a Royal Commission to investigate the lost luggage?
Annie B from the usual
Is there a reason, Prince Charles is holding onto his watch in image 7? Are there pick-pockets in Shetland? :-)
CVBruce from CA, USA
We were at Sumburgh Airport at the same time - actually we were in Lerwick when police were patrolling King Harald St just in case anyone even thought about doing anything silly. In fact no one was about except us, me transferring my luggage in a suspicious way from one vehicle to another. We then sped off to Sumburgh to catch our plane to Edinburgh for the weekend (and thats another story) but I digress - we were at Sumburgh the same day as Charles and Camilla. We saw their plane take off. And did they have to go through departures? no. Did they have to be asked 'did you pack your bags yourself' ' have you anything sharp in your hand luggage?' no. Did they have to take off shoes, belt, jewellery, bag, and still make the bleepers go off becasue of the many zips in my trousers? no. is the world fair - no! but if you get your drains looked at because of a Roayl visit....
scallowawife from shetland
Edinburgh University scientists eh, don't they keep a slimmed down version of Burke there, or have your students been borrowing items?
Lerwick Trevor from Sunny provence, fattening on wine.
You are right, of the 18,000 seamen at Trafalgar some 3000 are believed from the island. They were brought up from childhood as seafarers and don't forget Press Gangs were a legal government entity. I took a picture of a poppy field, here in France, and can understand the significance, my grandfather was a casualty on the Western Front in 1917. He had gone back as an officer and lasted the average for his rank, some 15 minutes when over the top. What a waste.
Lerwick Trevor from Still in the sun, ex RN
One of my ancestors was certainly in the Royal Navy in 1805 - but I don't know if he was at Trafalgar. On the subject of the Western Front, the pupils were interested to know that my Great-Uncle (who was from Trondra) was in the Canadian Army from 1914 - 1918, serving in the Ypres sector where he was wounded twice and was awarded the Military Medal and Bar. He survived and I met him late in his life. When I asked him about the war, he stopped me dead by saying that he saw things & did things that he did not want to be reminded of.
Soljey from Shetland Mainland
Charles's probably holding on to the watch in case Soljey nicks it - so he can sell it on E-bay to make up for his "misplaced" (ie lost!) luggage.
Everything's coming my way from Edinburgh baggage handling
Vive la République!
Flying Cat from Madame Guillotine
What IS the latest on your missing luggage? Has it been auctioned off yet?
Muness from Fetlar
Muness, no sign of luggage or compensation yet. Phoned airline's baggage claims dept to be told that claims take up to 3 weeks. I reminded them that this was 6 weeks after I had submitted our claim (now nearer 7 weeks)!!!!
Soljey from Shetland Mainland
Interesting pictures, thank you. I am glad that the sleuths decided the drains posed no threat to anyone: but then who would have thought that the bowel movements of your students would be producing explosives?! Pictures 5-7: proper and laudable examples for us all (doubtless). What was it you wrote, Flying Cat? Were your ancestors responsible not only for storming the bastille but also for dropping organic lapsang souchong in Boston harbor?
mjc from NM,USA
Soljey, I suggest that, next time you fly that airline, you take one of their seats home with you, as compensation.
mjc from NM,USA
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