There's a raw wind blowing from the north. The sort of day when gloves are needed. As we head out into the courtyard three deer look up from their grazing. Unsure what to make of us they opt for caution and bound off at high speed towards the beach. The local deer population seems to have settled into two groups of three and one larger group of seven. Sometimes the herds wander through the fields separately, at others they appear en masse. We're guessing the two groups of three are mothers with this years offspring. The local farmers ignore them so , for all intents and purposes, they can pass their lives on our little North Sea peninsula wary but unthreatened.
Despite the cold it's going to be a fine day. Frost is forecast inland but here on the coast we'll be spared.
A quick detour to the bookstore. We're the first customers of the day. There's something special about having a bookstore to yourself. Browsing heaven. 
At lunchtime we go to the daily concert in the arts centre. Six young ladies taking an MA in music are performing. A group of seven year olds have been brought along from the local primary school to listen. They've been told to be on their best behaviour. We know this because their teacher stands in front of the stage before the concert starts and reminds them in no uncertain terms that ' This is all about trust. You promised me you'd behave. If you can't be trusted we won't do this again'. Amazingly, this seems to work and they sit quietly like angels. At the end of the concert the seven year olds applaud enthusiastically. They are instructed to shake hands with the performers - which they do. One young girl , when asked if she'd enjoyed it, says ' That was absolutely lovely '. A little reminder of the importance of primary school teachers in shaping lives. To our delight the performance is of a professional standard and at thirty five minutes in length timed just right for the audience.
13 comments:
Hari OM
Oh, I enjoyed the concert just because the weans did and Angus told us about it!!! YAM xx
The lunchtime concert sounds perfect. And how gratifying for the musicians to have such a polite and appreciative young audience.
Five minutes in the new London hotel and I would be yearning for some Swedish minimalism!
Cheers, Gail.
Young children are usually entranced by seeing live performances in music or drama.
Looked up the hotel - price for one night in a de luxe room with king size bed £895. So no, I won’t be booking. Lovely comments re the children and primary school teachers. (have followed your blog for several years starting when we too lived in France. Still think about dear old Bob and Sophie too of course). Christine
Lovely story about the children.
We aren't posh enough or flush enough to stay at that hotel.
The bookstore looks wonderful, also a place that will shape lives.
To borrow a phrase, the second photo is "absolutely lovely."
It always feels like a gift to see deer on our walks.
35 minute daily concerts sounds like a great idea. Good job teacher! The hotel photos look a bit too Dame Edna for me. Plus last photo of boy with mischievous look at a drum set..well that just makes me wonder if boy now plays drums loudly while managing a hotel.
The concert sounds delightful, and the kids really came through on behavior! As for that bookstore, I would love to find myself roaming through those shelves.
I follow the adage if you have to ask the cost, you can't afford it, and I'm certain that is true for the hotel. Thankfully, I wouldn't want to stay there at any price. Reminds me more of the French Revolution than a comfy hotel. Just another indicator that there is too wide a gap between the normal folks and the grossly wealthy.
Nina
I like the bookstore. Lovely place to start your day. 📚📚
I'm so envious of your bookstore. The titles that are visible are intriguing. My husband would love MI6 after watching each Bond film over and over...Skyfall for the fourth time just a few days ago!
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