Days can be long, and oddly eventful

I did not sleep well last night. The wind built up and that was it, rattling windows and blustery gusts catching the trees that creaked like rusty hinges. I rose early and finished some work whilst the reports of hideous weather continued to be read out by the radio reporters. And then snow.

There is no doubt that the world's climate is changing. Last week we had temperatures of 10+ degrees c. Today it was -1 with a chill factor of significantly less. When I finally ventured outside, it was most certainly a shock to the system.

The school chamber choir were due to go to Edinburgh to perform at an important Carol service today. That was cancelled due to the treacherous driving conditions, and this made Simon (dir of Music) rather frustrated, particularly given the extra time that was put into preparing for the gig.

As the day wore on, I didn't know what to do with it. It has got to the stage where there is so much to do, I just do not know where to start. What has been achieved is that 'the band' have had a full rehearsal for the staff show on Saturday. Even without Dave, our drummer who had a car accident yesterday, we managed to get through 'Sweet Child o' Mine' with thanks to our stand in Stew Anderson. Is this procrastinating or just a good way to let me get away from work for an hour or two?

That was not the end of the day. The storms appeared to be worse than expected. 2 dead in the UK, and evacuations on various coast lines. Then Derek, the security man informed me, as I left the department at 23:30, that Nelson Mandela had died. This is a huge world event, although, given his recent illness, surely not too much of a shock. Visiting Robben Island earlier this year was a powerful thing. I was then introduced to the film 'Invictus' subsequently. Both of these make me realise what a phenomenal man he Mandela was and make me want to read more about him. RIP Mr Mandela. You truly deserve to.