Ok, so I've changed the famous quote from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, where lovestruck Orsino asks for more music to quell his unrequited love for Olivia.
You may wonder where I'm going with this and what exactly this has to do with oven cleaning, well there is a link... most of you will know that Life of Grime Ovens was borne out of adversity and a strong desire for me to change my lifestyle. What I've learned and indeed, what I want to share with you now, is that sometimes with the right attitude, support and perseverance, tackling adversity head on can actually turn into a really positive experience.
Last night Mrs C and I were privileged to be invited to the 'Celebrating Woodmill' concert at Woodmill High School. My wee girl Caitlin, who is in first year at the Department of Additional Support (DAS) was taking part, singing two songs with five other DAS pupils and this was obviously the main reason for us attending.
Now, to put some meat on the bones and to give this some perspective, Caitlin has never performed in front of an audience before. Throughout primary school, in all the school plays and performances that we've gone to see, Caitlin has flatly refused to perform, often at the last minute, retreating instead to sit beside a teacher consumed by her own vulnerability.
Last night Tracey and I begrudgingly, if being perfectly honest, trudged to the school with preconceived scepticism and prepared for another diva-esque, last minute strop. True to form, since coming home from school at 3.30 pm, she was adamant that she would not take any part in the evening's proceedings. So any prior optimism we had was obliterated and we were resigned to the probability of once again watching everyone else's kids give their all with joyous abandonment.
When she took to the 'stage' Tracey and I were overwhelmed and it's quite possibly our proudest moment of her wee challenged life. The joy on her and her friends' faces was inspiring and of course they received the unfettered adulation of the 200 or so audience afterwards. It was more than a little emotional for us.
However, surrounding Caitlin's maiden singing performance, we were somewhat surprised and delighted (as well as now counting ourselves very lucky) to be able to appreciate the burgeoning talent of Woodmill High School's other young musicians. It turned out to be a quite fantastic way to spend a horrible wintry Monday evening.
From the Phoenix String Ensemble to the brass band, the fantastic solo cellist and trombonist, to the choir and more contemporary rock performance from talented quartet The Obliged, it was a smorgasbord of musical style and sound. Tracey and I left the evening uplifted with a daughter, who was for the want of a better phrase, wired to Mars!
Now before you think to yourself so what, that this kind of stuff goes on at schools all over the country and of course, you'd be right.
This concert was all the more unbelievable given that Woodmill High School suffered a catastrophic fire in August. The participants, all from different year groups, have been spread around Dunfermline in different schools and centres continuing their education in less than ideal circumstances.
Indeed some of them have only returned to what's left of Woodmill High in January after one of the buildings (the one which housed the music department no less) had to be demolished and temporary buildings and measures were (and continue to be) installed. The first and second years are still at large and it's hoped that they'll return after Easter. But, despite that and with limited space and resources, they've crammed in practise wherever and whenever they could. Even a last minute hitch, a leak in the roof above the stage which prevented them using it, couldn't (pardon the pun) dampen their spirits!
Given that backdrop, it was a truly remarkable performance and achievement. But much, much more than that it emphasised what can be achieved from adversity with positive energy and perseverance. I think we can all learn a little from the example shown by the wonderful staff and pupils who helped organise and take part in the concert last night.
And, in a time when there's much criticism of the education system and 'the youth of today', last night gave Tracey and I a wonderful insight into the kind of environment and community that our children are learning in. To coin a phrase from Darius, there was a lot of love in the room! So, if music be the food of adversity, #woodmillhighschool play on!
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