I guess that it's Raining. All Over the World

When I went to this school, there were two "live-in" janitors, complete with wifes who worked housekeeping and catering. We also had three gardeners. In the Autumn, they had a full-time job on their hands sweeping up the leaves on a daily basis and burning them to keep the paths clear.

Since the Council took the school over, 2 Janitors, - they sold off the houses, so they just work normal hours and no gardeners. The leaves fall off the trees and lay in massive piles, making it a nightmare to find your way on and off the paths, and completely treacherous if it's wet like today, one wrong step and you are on your bum.

I have such lovely memories of this part of the school. They have taken a lot of trees down now, but that triangle used to be full of trees, a veritable forest. On a nice day, our art class might go down and we would sketch amongst the trees. On a rare occassion, an English reading class might be held beneath the shade of all the trees above.

In front of the trees, to the side of where I was sitting in the car, were the tennis courts, which also doubled as netball courts from April through June. There were four netball courts, and it was enclosed by 20 ft high fences. (I think).

I have so many happy memories of playing netball on those courts. Strangely enough, I don't think I ever played tennis there. I think the problem was, that tennis only catered for 16 at a time, whereas a netball game could host at least 4 games - 8 teams. A whole half year of girls and some reserves.

Netball was my "thing" at Marr. I loved it with a passion. I loved it so much I joined another team outside the school, which in those days was quite unheard of, other than for athletics. I joined Irvine Ladies. And although it was quite scary I learned a lot from them.

I learned enough to know that every school we played knew our teachers tactics of by heart. Every play we made was anticipated and we were beaten ridicuously ever match.

The coach also had a friend's daughter in the team who was her "star" player and play revolved around her. After a repeated track of 22-0 matches, I decided to change play a little. I reorganised the team around Irvine ladies tactics, and out played the teachers pet! At half time we were 0-18 away from home! What success!

Our success was not without it's price. I was taken from the team, and excluded from the next match and training sessions. What I apparently did not take into account was that it was a team game, as as a team player I had to learn that we played by the coaches play, not anyone elses.

I remember walking home from school two weeks later and she came screetching up to me in her car, and demanded to know why I wasn't at practise. I told her that if I was being excluded from matches I wasn't playing. She snorted at me, and drove off again.

I always think back on that now - it was my one chance to be in a sports photo. As it was, they moved the GA up from the 4th year team and it was she who stood in my place in the team photo.

But I don't regret it. I changed the play, and we won! And in those days. That is what counted to us.