Proud as punch

There are moments that you treasure, for always.  The memory and its lasting feeling is saved away. For, if and when you think of it, in murky times, your heart is topped up with the good stuff. Tonight I have saved away one of those. At the Thame Christmas Festival of Music our Middle got up, in front of a packed audience of a couple of hundred parents, teachers, pupils, band, sound system, mics and sang  ‘Away in a Manger’. Unaccustomed, unplanned,  unrehearsed and  unexpected.  My heart was in my mouth. Gone wrong with shock and nerves. To be honest, it could have gone either way with the last few weeks she has had in school. There could have been a dramatic dash from the stage in a shower of tears when she realised she was the only one up there. But, she stayed and sang beautifully with her sweet innocent voice, so sure she could do it. Oh lads, I’m so proud. More importantly, she’s so proud of herself. I hope she will look to this treasured memory and great experience, especially the applause, as the years go on, and gain from it.