Pilki's Space

Well, it's been 2 weeks into 6th year it has been really busy indeed. Meetings here and there, preparations for events and many a visit.

 

 

Tomorrow (13th) the P7's begin their 2 day visit within the logistical nightmare that is their induction. With the class I'm showing around (along with Suzanne and Nicola) I'll be helping out at this teambuilding thing that they do with a group called '5th Dimension'  They'll probably replicate some Meccano sets that are some national monuments or what-not. Should be somewhat interesting, eh what?

 

When they are not chapearoned or in a class, they are 'safely' confined in the assembly hall. There they find their safe haven from the 'oddities' that roam the academy today.

 

 

Something the 6th years really want to resurrect. We are in the process of working out how to accommodate the equipment and, most importantly, use them so that we can have speakers in the link corridor, prince street doors and the Tea Bar, work once more by providing various programmes of music led by the budding DJ's in the year. From what is known Jackie will host her very own 'cheese show' dedicated to the very music she loves - cheese. I am sightly mixed as to what type of show I should do. I will probably settle with broadcasting music through the ages. From the legends of Jimi Hendrix, the Who and Pink Floyd right up to the modern bands/singers like Sandi Thom, Kaiser Chiefs, the Automatic etc. Everythings on the drawing board until things are confirmed, so watch this space!

 

 

At a Maritime Rescue Institue, in a small town called Stonehaven, a group of 20 buzzing 6th years travelled there to undertake teambuilding exercises. Most significantly was the victory of "Dr. Leven and the Babybels" (to which I was a member of) in the raft race. We were instructed to build rafts out of barrels, wood and rope and race the two rafts in a relay race.

 

Check out the photographs taken by our resident photographer Heather, t'was good times had by all. I think we'd all go back there in the blink of an eye to do it again!

 

 

 

Many more things await the class of 2007. But such is 6th year that many things lie ahead. The School show looms, Rock Challenge will begin again, and the various projects led by the heads and deputes. but of course we have summer to look forward to.  I shall quote Stephen here for his extreme relevance in this matter:

 

 

After a wait of around 3 months, my camping ticket for Oxegen (The Irish version of T in the Park) has finally arrived!!!

 

 

As you can tell I am very pleased........

Well, two days ago (Tuesday) I went in for my Head Boy/Depute interviews, without an overwhelming obsession for success. One minute, i'm sitting in a nice comfy chair being interviewed by three teachers: the Headmistress (Mrs Alley), the legend we know as Mr Doig and a representative of the Guidance Staff, Mr Giles; the next i'm sitting with the rest of the Head Boy candidates, and I have just been granted the position of Depute Head Boy!

 

A highly unexpected turn of events this was, but it was a joyful one at the very least. So come the sixth and final year at Peterhead Academy, I'll be deeply involved in the workings of the school, from the Pupi's point of view. From helping to organise events for the Prefect's Charity, to planning out particulars for the School Ball.

 

But i'm not alone in this position. There is the Head Boy and the Head Girl/Depute. They are:

 

Head Boy: Michael Bruce

Depute Head Boy: Myself :)

Head Girl: Sarah Simpson

Depute Head Girl: Jackie Farr

 

To the above, I offer my highest congratulations, I hope that we will help create the best year that could be possible in school:)

 

ciao for now

Last sunday I went with a mate of mine to Aberdeen Music Hall to see a "cover" band. Yet words like cover/tribute band etc. give the band no justice at all.

 

They have a near exact replication of the band we know and love called Pink Floyd. They have performed for David Gilmour's birthday and have performed at a little something we call Glastonbury.

 

We managed to be one of the first people in the concert hall so we managed to get right in front of the stage, we were met with interlude music of a Australian country variant. It turned out that the country music played were remaked songs from the Floyd album "The Wall"....

 

It was to be noted that it was not one type of people that was at this concert. The band had attracted people from all walks of life, all ages and all ideas. Amongst the punk/rock chicks etc. there were a swarm of middle aged people and almost every other people you would think of, apart from the ned variant. It was good to see that the band had appealed to all, pretty much like Floyd themselves. I remember that when Live 8 was aired last July everyone in the home stopped to watch them perform. It was like that here, except everyone came to see this wonder of a band.

 

The line-up they played at the show is described below:

 

First half was the whole of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here album. being

Shine on You Crazy Diamond Pt1

Welcome to the Machine

Have a Cigar

Wish You Were Here

Shine on You Crazy Diamond Pt 2

 

Second half was a collection of greats from Floyd's collection. They were:

 

Astronomy Domine

Keep Talking

Happiest Days of Our Lives

Another Brick in the Wall Pt 2

Great Gig in the Sky

Time

Mother

Us and Them

Comfortably Numb

Run Like Hell

 

Slightly peeved that they didn't play Money, but you can't have everything can you?

 

If one looks at the collection of photos I took when I was at the gig one of the first noticeable things is the lights. Me being a lighting dude at heart I can't leave out a massive part of the show in this blog. They were overwhelmingly superb. Lights moving left right and centre throughout the show, my compliments to the crew of the Aussie Floyd Show. The lights almost played as big a part as the band did.

 

When the gig ended and the crowd dispersed the CD music played was none other than the legendary Monty Python    Perfect end to a perfect concert...

 

 

On other notes I have just bought meself a 'Gee-tar'. a Yamaha acoustic guitar. I'm hoping to get lessons in the near future and i shall see how it progresses from there....

 

That's all for now. Ciao

Whilst browsing through t'internet, I began to reminisce on the wonderous series of events that is the Rock Challenge Tour. I noticed that at times I have gone on about it in my space yet have not delved into what it is, thus bamboozling the reader. So I come to the rescue, here is my view of Rock Challenge, what it is and what it does to the many thousands of people worldwide...

 

Rock Challenge is primarily a performing arts contest, designed as an anti-drug, anti-alcohol campaign to promote the fact that a 'natural high' can be obtained without the use of abusive substances. That is the Rocka ethos, but there is much more to it than that.

 

14000 young people worldwide aged from 11-18 (plus a vast number of adult volunteers/helpers etc.) take part in the Global Rock Challenge. Beginning in Australia, spreading to South Africa, New Zealand, the US and the United Kingdom. All enjoying the drug-free high that spreads like wildfire every time an event takes place.

 

The UK Rock Challenge is a structured performing arts contest. Local events happen throughout the UK between February and June, starting in Aberdeen (my local event) to finishing in Grimsby in Humberside. what the public sees in a event is approx 10 schools each performing 8 minutes of dance and drama, that's the main perception. What the public does not see is what happens before the competition begins...

 

From  early morn to before the contest there is no time for slouching at all, you are on your feet no matter what. there are around three instances in the day where every participant takes part in 'warm-ups' (unofficially known as moshes ) which are pretty much 10-15 minutes of dancing and such to the  songs that you absolutely must dance to (the likes of the cha cha slide and Greased Lighting, YMCA also come to mind). This, I believe, helps to bond every participant, no matter how far they are from each other, some scottish people can come and really have some fun with like-minded people from Lincoln etc. It's the perfect opportunity to just go out and have a blast of a time, something that is rarely found in places.

 

Rehearsals by every participating school takes part throughout the day, which gives other participants the opportunity to see what other schools are doing for their performance, and to cheer people on and off the stage. Being part of the stage crew in my whole Rocka career that is not all I have done, for in free time our school's stage crew have had times of last minute DIY-ness, fixing bits of set or building any new additions. As I said before, you hardly ever get the chance to sit and relax.

 

For the past two years I have been involved with the Stage lighting element of the performance, This year is my first year as lighting manager, in charge of desiging the entire lighting element, to help create an atmosphere in certain scenes. It is a totally new perspective on things rather than setting up set on stage. Seeing in front of you the fruits of your work gives real satisfaction when you see the dancers moveing around a piece of set you made, or seeing the effect certain  lights make on a scene. (take for example dark green lights in an evil scene, it adds to the eeriness of it)

 

After all the schools have done their performance in the actual performance- in the evening, comes the most nerve wracking part of the night.

The Awards ceremony.

This is the moment where months of hard work and determination produces the final result. awards are dished out on elements, for example "Best set Design" or "Best Choreography" but the real nail biters are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards. near 80dB cheers erupt from a school whenever they win an award, and sporting applause and cheering from the other schools, which is completely common in Rocka, everyone supports everyone-  other schools help out when someone else needs help etc. very friendly place.

but when the winner is announced, the noise level is almost doubled with the noise of a 70-strong team (approx.) screams, cheers and jumps like there's no tomorrow. Joy fills everyone's hearts when they win an event. I should know this since Peterhead Academy won the Aberdeen Day 2 heat this year  The only time I have ever been more happier was when I received the letter noting my passes in exams. but that's debatable, I'd probably say winning a rocka event was far more joyous.

 

So we have won that heat. The next step is a trek to Grimsby in June for the Final. An amalgamation of the winners of Rocka heats across the north of England, and the heats from Scotland and Ireland. The top 3 schools in the Open Final are promoted to the Premier Divison, the Rocka elites, for wont of a better phrase...

 

Atmosphere in finals are almost ten-fold of what the atmosphere is like in heats.. This is mainly because everyone knows what to expect, and knows to enjoy it to the max, which everyone does :D and conversely the awards ceremony is twice as loud.

 

To end my rant on this  I will summarise Rocka in a sentence:

 

Rocka, to me, is a 100% fun-filled day full of surprises, always buzzing  and not a moment at all where one could do nowt else but have a ball of a time.

 

Rant over, rambling over.

 

Peace

As some may have heard, the GMB union (which includes Aberdeenshire Council's school janitors/cleaners/dinner ladies etc.) are striking this coming tuesday (28th) over some argument about pensions....

 

Bad news is, no one likes striking. but it's one of those things...

 

The good news is.... THE SCHOOL IS CLOSED ON TUESDAY!!!!

 

But that mean's my piano exam scheduled for tuesday has been moved to half four ish on monday.... ah well

Whilst our nation runs, jumps, throws etc. at this year's Commonwealth games in Melbourne. The Australian Pink Floyd Group tour the UK....

 

I've got my ticket to see them at the Music Hall in april, looking forward to it!

 

But still waiting for my Oxegen ticket to arrive.. arg...