August – a wild month

At one point we had two teams on the go. One down to the Poacher International Scout and Guide camp down in Lincolnshire, and the other rushing round the Borders on Youth Forum Roadshow work – Wow.  Finlay, Neil and Marianne had a good time – but a solid week of workshops – draining! We seem to be on the list for a possible invite back to Poacher next year. Thanks to Alan, Jenny and new trainee Emily for grafting away locally. Alan introduced recording to his workshops, something we hadn’t done for a while. Other memorable bits of the month were the, now annual, trip to Edinburgh to take a summer school workshop, a making a painting drum project for the Eastgate Theatre, Peebles, a trip by Finlay, Marianne and Emily down to Stockton. And a shared Birthday bash with BYT. We were now officially 10 years old. 

Marianne leading group at Newton Aycliffe

September Goodbye

 We said farewell to Marianne, off to Carlisle on a year’s course. She had been a really energetic member of the team – a drummer, dancer, actress and artist-and we really missed her. It was a chance for everyone to unwind a bit; take holidays; try out personal projects; chill out. Emily was out with Bill working with his special needs group and out with Jenny working with a cub group and with Fin on a school project in Duns. There was one very busy period at the beginning of the month; Fin and Jenny working with Kingland school, Peebles on a piece to be performed in the town the following day-part of the Peebles Art’s Festival-plus the performing group; then on to Newtown to play for the local PTA; then on to St Boswells village hall where the full performance group took part in JAM’s Sudan Fund Raiser. Fin, Neil and Emily headed for Markinch to take a “Bridging the Gap” group – and that completed the month.