Don't mess with Larkin and Yeats

[woolymonkey]

Well that'll teach me to make flippant posts about vengeful dead poets.

My tutorial and hasty dash across town were successful in that I got to West Road concert hall before the interval. But what I didn't know was that Spidermonkey had been quietly succumbing to winter vomiting virus all day.

He lasted long enough to play violin on stage with the orchestra while the audience took their seats, but left discreetly before the first tune of the concert proper. Then he threw up backstage.  I was still at Hills Rd of course, but musique_monkey  was called out of the audience and sat in the lobby with Spider, who still hoped to go on stage with Rauchestra. All the boys had been shut in a disgracefully crowded and stuffy room since 8.45 that morning, so it was possible he just needed some fresh air and space. This must've been around 7.10.

When I arrived at 8.15, nothing much had changed (except for Spider being sick again). We were told Rauchestra would go on at 9 to start the second half, so Spider decided to wait until then. At 9, the first half was still in full swing, but Spider was no better, so a kindly janitor let us into a side room so Spider could have peace and quiet away from interval crowds   We decided to take him home after the interval when things would be quieter, which would also give us the chance to watch Squirrelmonkey and the Rauchestra survivors.

They done great! Squirrel got to do a double improv solo (his slot plus Spider's), and he was fantastic. Because of the overrun, they had to cut down from three tunes to one. (But this is quite good because it means Spider has a chance to perform those two at the summer arts event.) After that, Musique drove Spider home while I cycled, then I stayed home with him while poor Musique drove back to West Rd for Squirrel and the mountains of kit (4 instruments, two massive amps, and then some). Squirrel had a good concert, in spite of lots of stuff getting cut.  They were home around 11.

Today, Spider is at home, Top-Gear-on-Dave-ill rather than groaning-in-bed- ill. He's being really brave and not moaning about unfairness at all, although this is the second time in a row he's missed a guitar performance through illness. (Remember July?)  It's such a pity because the guitar ones are few and far between and he really cares about them.  

Squirrel slept in but has gone to school in time for his music lesson.  I'm not sure the music teacher will do as well. She was feeling ill yesterday and having an incredibly stressy time. I hope she doesn't get into trouble over all the things that went wrong because it's really the school's fault .  They could have had a couple of low-key events in the two school halls, but went for this huge, ambitious plan without giving her the staff or support to carry it through.

But I also hope they've learned a few lessons about planning, timing, and treating the kids better during rehearsal. I don't know how many Health and Safety rules they broke by locking (yes, literally) almost 100 boys in a classroom-sized room for nearly 12 hours straight, but it was a lot. Many of them were ill. Musique and I felt ill just from going in there to collect some stuff.

So thank God that's over. Well done to Squirrel, and thank you to Spider for bravery, Musique for nursing and roadie-ing beyond the call of duty, and the janitor at West Road for kindness.

Now to see who else catches it, and when...

PS
I will use that poetry tutorial again, but perhaps not on concert nights.

Comments

[woolymonkey.livejournal.com]

I'm anxious rather than phobic. Which may be why I think it would be sensible to take wipes or hand gel. I wouldn't try to clean the equipment, but I can see strong arguments for making sure your hands don't touch your face while you're exercising, then using wipes or gel to clean them as soon as you finish. I never did this because I'm lazy, and tend to believe I'll pick up whatever is in general circulation anyway. But I do always wash hands after a trip to the GP, on the basis that the germs there have been selected for more than average nastiness. But many would call me neurotic.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

I already do the wipe before leaving thing. But I can feel the wipe-equipment madness sneaking up on me... Bah. I need not to let this get too big a worry, as I like the gym, it's good for me.
And here am I wittering on while Spider suffers. Which is bad.
The behaviour of the school is quite appalling, and definitely needs to be commented on. If enough parents complain, it should ensure it doesn't happen again, but even so... Not acceptable.

[woolymonkey.livejournal.com]

He's not suffering much--mostly from boredom now, since he even managed a little lunch. Which strongly suggests that at least half the problem yesterday was down to being shut in that bloody room.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

That kind of hothouse atmosphere can't have helped. I hope he continues to feel better.