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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.

Another eventful week. Last Saturday was a proper spring day - sun shining, blue skies, sparkling seas. It was also the day of the Bigton Yoal Rowing Regatta. A yoal, for the uninitiated, is a small Shetland boat based on Nordic designs. It is intended to be rowed by 6 people. Rowing races with yoals are extremely popular throughout Shetland - with many localities having their own boat and teams, including men's, women's and youth's. In the beer tent, where else, Consort & I had a blether with Ruthodanort who was coxing the Unst women's team.

All day Wednesday I was involved with the Second Tammies Shetland Schools Film Festival. Schools from across Shetland - both primary and secondary produced films which were then shown to an audience in a cinema-like environment. The morning showing was practically a full house. There was also a smaller public event in the evening. Long may this continue. However, despite his boasts, Muness's entry never materialised...

Finally, today has seen our follow-up to the Day of Action when Charles & Camilla visited. It started off with a showing of Al Gore's film An Inconvenient Truth and carried on with further work on our school garden.

Our special guest today has recently appeared on TV. If you saw the edition of Coast dealing with Orkney & Shetland you'll have seen the hydrogen car from Unst. Ross took the car down to our school and some of the kids got a chance to go for a spin in it around our playing field.

The PURE energy project in Unst uses aero generators to produce hydrogen which are then stored in cells. This hydrogen is used to power the car whcih is amazingly quiet and whose exhaust gives off, not carbon monoxide, but - water.

Yesterday was the longest day & everyone in Shetland was encouraged to fly the Shetland flag. Lapel badges were handed out to all Shetland school children. The Shetland flag (see pic), since its official recognition in 2005, is now flown throughout the isles in place of the Union Jack or the Saltire.

Another event also happened yesterday. Some people remember being at Woodstock, Live Aid, the Cavern....... But our pupils put on a talent show yesterday afternoon, culminating in the debut of Discipline With Dignity. Ten teachers on stage performing Pink Floyd's Another Brick in the all (part 2). We were ready to RAWK!! after lengthy rehearsals - well, 2 ten-minute stints in the music department on Tuesday & Wednesday - we took to the stage. Taking a tip from AC/DC's Angus Young, there we were before the entire school in school uniform - shorts, school ties, lollipops in our mouth, the lot. Alice Cooper had nothing on our stage show: fights on stage, water pistols spraying the audience, etc. Band line-up was PE teacher on drums, French teacher on bass, Music teacher on keyboards and our Head on guitar/mandolin. Vocals were from our depute head, one of our Maths teachers, Geography teacher, one of the Primary teachers, and one of Learning Support - oh, and myself. What we lacked in finesse we more than made up for in enthusiasm. We even had to do an encore. Which we did from our vast repertoire of 1 song.

Some of us sat outside the Head Teacher's office afterwards though - dunno why I was there, it wasn't me that done it. It's not fair anyway. It was all B-O-R-I-N'!!

Very cathartic being able to act the way a lot of our pupils acted. You could see some of them laughing and then the slow realisation that they were looking in a mirror. We were just behaving the way they often did.

If any pics of the performance turn up I'll post them.

Now, when are we playing Wembley?

We're now into the countdown to the summer hols - HOOORAAY!! Here's a pic (as threatened) of the teacher's band that performed at last week's legendary show in the school. Think we'll use this for the cover of our album, "Never Mind The Textbooks......". Then there's the tour, complete with t-shirts..... we could play St Ninian's Isle, Bobby's bus shelter, Muness Views hoose, the Peerie Neep Festival!

Last weekend was also the Johnsmas Foy in Lerwick. A flotilla of yachts from Norway arrived. Tents for food, Shetland crafts, beer & music were set up on the pier in the middle of the town.

Got there on Friday night, Consort & I had a nice alfresco seafood meal - mussels, squid, octopus, etc. Consort had to go to a work's do so I retired to the beer tent - as one must. Bumped into Ruthodanort & her man. Good blether with them. For the first time in years, saw local band, Drop The Box playing a stormer of a set.One of the best ever gigs I remember being at was in the mid-90s when Drop The Box and 2 other Shetland bands - the Red Vans & Bongshang played in a marquee in Aberdeen's Union Terrace Gardens. One of those nights when bands and audience were out to have a good time.....Also brought back memories of seeing them in the Blue Lamp in Aberdeen.

Shame we didn't make it up to the Fetlar Foy the following night - did try dropping hints with Muness but to no avail.