BUT the Columbus County Fair "Battle of the Bands" was held this evening, an annual competition between the four bands in the County, Whiteville High School, East Columbus High School, South Columbus High School and of course West Columbus High School. The stakes are high, local pride and all that, and of course my husband "Mr. Nick" was beside himself with nerves and worry this morning. Turns out he was worrying needlessly, the results were Parade 1st place West Columbus, in the half-time show 1st place drum line West Columbus, 1st place guard West Columbus, 1st place horn line West Columbus, Half-time show overall 1st place West Columbus, Grand Champions Columbus County Fair Battle of the Bands - West Columbus. Okay so they got second place in the Drum Major category (durn it :)) but as my husband explained to the drum majors, the horn line and drum line would not have got first places without the drum majors. So lets hear it for West Columbus - Grand Champions once again, I am so proud I could just about spit.

GO VIKINGS!

Mum and I had a very successful day of thrift store shopping, and I ended up with tons of outfits for the price of perhaps one item at a regular store. When you think about it thrift store shopping is recycling at its finest, not only are you keeping perfectly good clothes out of landfills, you are taking advantage of all those shopaholics who get a high out of buying clothes but end up never wearing them but, and this is the neat part, you are also helping out a charity of some sort, its a win-win situation. When you go to a department store to buy clothes all you are doing is paying through the nose for an item that cost $1.00 to make and for which a worker was paid maybe 50cents in China and lining the pockets of already incredibly wealthy people who own the store. I honestly believe that buying clothes new is an absolute waste of money, now granted I tend to buy "classic" clothes, things that survive the whims of fashion, there is nothing more enduring than a well cut pair of slacks, paired with a form-fitting polo (turtle) neck sweater, that look NEVER goes out of style (for a perfect example see Diane Keaton in "Somethings Gotta Give") therefore, my entire winter wardrobe consists of slacks and turtle necks in various colors and shades. During the summer I wear the same slacks with either short-sleeved or sleevless tops, again a classic look that never goes out of style and mores the point, it is appropriate for all of the time I have to spend at the courthouse. I managed to get through the past few years without ever giving in to the "slut" look, you know, low rise pants, belly baring tops, but then again I am 46 so I have an excuse (an excuse that I wish all the 50+ year olds that succumbed to the trend could have used.) Personally I do not believe that you can ever have too many pairs of polyester pants, in whatever colors. They are a breeze to wear, wash em, throw em on the line to dry and they never need ironing. My ambition is to have a month's worth of work outfits so that if, for example, my washing machine breaks down, I don't have to worry about it for a month. I can't wait to wear my "new" clothes next week :)

The full moon. We went out to dinner last night and on the way the full moon was hanging lazily in the sky, it was perfect and it was easy to make out the various craters on it. When we got home from dinner I took my camera outside with my tripod and tried to get a shot of it. As it turned out I didn't get the shot I wanted but it was nice nonetheless.

From several areas that since my mother has been visiting I have not been updating my blog (You know who you are Elizabeth and Beryl) Tis true I am afraid. I only get to spend a month with my mother a year so I tend to stay away from the puter and chat with her. Today I took the afternoon off and took her dollar store shopping, (our favorite thing) I found a whole bunch (40+) frames with a beautiful gold matting which I of course snapped up for my photos in anticipation of one day actually being able to sell them. Last night I had two submissions to the NC Conservation Network accepted for their annual fundraising auction. So if you are interested in a framed and matted print of a couple of my shots (namely Pole Dancer and Cypress Sisters) go here http://www.cmarket.com/catalog/itemDetail.do?ID=15e63cc254a4a58c09337732deac85b9

and here

http://www.cmarket.com/catalog/itemDetail.do?ID=15e6d96a54a4a58c093377322a8db112

where you can bid on the items after October 27.

Other than that I posed happily with a VERY large tin of Heinz Baked Beans which my mother brought over for me, ye gods you actually get to see ME! Alas my annonimity is gone.



It would appear to be fall, the tree frogs have begun moving into the shed to keep warm at night (snuggled up in a discarded patio umbrella, obviously their version of a blanket). It is no problem of course because the bugs have already moved in so there will be alot of food for the tree frogs during their winter hibernation.



And of course the Canada Geese have begun their familiar honking journey to the south. Only those who are heading south from their living quarters up North are doing the familiar V formation and the familar chorus of honks. We have an overwintering population here in Jacksonville so I will still be able to go down by the New River and see them feeding. That is what I love about living in this part of the Country.

Tomorrow it is Thrift Store day, my Mum and I's annual "mooch" where we start off in Swansboro at "The Hem of His Garment" and then travel back up Highway 24 hitting all the thrift stores along the way, it will be a good day, who knows what bargains we will find. :)

As the wife of a High School Band Director one of my many duties (although to be honest I do not consider them a duty when it involves hanging out with a bunch of mostly wonderful teenagers, it is a pleasure to share in their achievements and triumphs) is to attend various milestones in the band's life not least of which is Homecoming (the various competitions and parades are in the future.) This was my first appearance before the new band and my husband of course introduced me as "the woman not to be messed with upon fear of death" at which point all the returning band members yelled "hi Ms. Nick" (I bet you were all wondering where my Photobucket handle came from were you not?) As I milled around the band room I noticed several scenes, a whole gamut of emotions on display, this, Homecoming, was the night that the half-time show was to have its first performance and the room was thick with nerves. The show is "Music of the 70s" and this would be the first time the show had been on the field. As it was Homecoming the "half-time" show was to be performed at pre-game to enable the Homecoming queen ceremony to take place at half time. So if the fact that it was the first time the show was to be performed on the field were not enough it was also Homecoming, which meant, of course, that lots of former (and hugely successful) band members would be returning to the school to see how the current band were doing, not to put too fine a point on it this was "crunch night." So that you can imagine the music in your head the selections are 1) Kansas "Carry on Wayward Son" 2) Led Zepplin "Stairway to Heaven" 3) Edgar Winter "Frankenstein" and 4) Earth Wind and Fire "Fantasy." This year the props were relatively simple (for us that is) four album covers representing the albums on which the selected pieces were carried, and a "rock band" stage, where the electric guitars and a drum set were located. So come with me through two sets of double doors in the art wing of West Columbus High School, behind the scenes, into the band room of the West Columbus High School Marching Vikings on Homecoming night.

As can be imagined the Drum Majors (Megan Senior Drum Major and Casey Junior Drum Major) were on pins and needles. "But Mr. Nick, what if I forget the beat?"



With all the chaos going on in the Band Room it would appear that there is always a few minutes for a quick sectional rehearsal.



Meanwhile the drum majors give each other encouragement.



As the clock ticks, and the show grows ever nearer, some bite their nails, others resort to laughter to ease the tension.



But nothing can calm the Drum Majors' nerves, perhaps Megan has more than one thing on her mind?



With the final warm up only moments away it is time to "pin the Captains"



To the enthusiastic applause of the rest of the band, perhaps they aspire to those silver bars?



So as the clock marches on it is time for a final rehearsal of the National Anthem.



And time for final uniform adjustments, "what ifs" and questions.



As well as some more nervous laughter



Outside the activities were in full swing, including a dunking booth, which had a long line waiting to "dunk" the principal Mr. Edwards.



As the sun began to set behind the trees, the football team took to the field to warm up.



The pit crew is set, and the light begins to fade.



and a lazy half moon hangs in the sky like a christmas ornament hanging on a Carolina Blue christmas tree.



The "stage" has been set and the band marches onto the field, you could cut the air with a knife.



While a jet heads across the sky to parts unknown.



The band are ready, it is time, hearts are pounding in chests, throats are dry, notes have been forgotten and then remembered, steps have been stepped and stepped and stepped in the mind, they wait, wait, wait, for the show to begin.



Suddenly the night sky is pierced by the sound of an electric guitar... the "rock band" takes the "stage"



The crowd goes wild, the show is a success, there is a lot of rehearsing to do between now and the first competition, lots of refining, lots of improvement, but WE DID IT, the show is on the field, we did the whole show, and the crowd loved it. Hearts are pounding, sweat is rolling, lungs are gasping for breath. The crowd rises to its feet.....



(ALERT I would like to apologize for the quality of the following images but I was shooting without a flash and when you read the back story you will understand why I HAD to post them even though they are very, very, very sorry - sorry).

So half-time comes along and it is time to crown the Homecoming Queen..... the names are announced second runner up is a band member, first runner up is a band member.... and the Homecoming Queen is



Hmmmmm no wonder Megan was so nervous! Never mind it made for one VERY proud Band Director



especially seeing as it is two years in a row



I hope you enjoyed your evening with the Marching Vikings, after the game we descended upon Pizza Hut and drove the wait staff to distraction as always (they are the most understanding staff in any restaurant on the planet) and celebrated the fact that the first half-time show was in the bag. Next, Columbus County Battle of the Bands.... another essay to follow.

There are lots of things I miss living in the US. Of course there is the food, and whereas most people think that English food is absolute rubbish there is nothing I love more than a meat and tatey pie, chips, peas and gravy, cup of tea and bread and butter. There is something quite exquisite about stopping at a cafe in town and downing such a meal, it is without doubt a taste of heaven. But, other than food there are other things I miss. When I was living in Cornwall with my first husband our kitchen door was left open on a regular basis to allow our boxer puppy to go outside whenever he wanted. I wandered into the kitchen on one balmy evening to find a Hedgehog in the kitchen eating Danni's food. It sat there, by the dog food bowl, merrily munching away at the tinned food, I attempted to shoo it out but it was having nothing of it, so I left it alone. After it had eaten all of the dog food leftovers it wandered back into the garden to forage for slugs and such. I miss hedgehogs, my love of them goes back to Beatrice Potter's Mrs. Tiggiwinkle, and after that episode with the dog food I would put out a saucer of bread and milk every evening to make sure that my little visitor was well fed. I miss the sheer joy of driving to my Uncle's home in Sandside and on the way seeing the herd of Red Deer in the estate by the side of the road in Milnthorpe, while the deer here in the US are just as pretty there is something so majestic about Red Deer. I miss lupines and sweet pea flowers, neither of which I can grow in the oppressive humid heat of North Carolina. I miss dog daisies growing by the side of the road, I miss buttercups and daisies growing in the lawn, I miss making daisy chains. I miss jumping from the rocks around Devil's Bridge into the icy cold water of the river on a hot, sunny afternoon. I miss pub lunches in ancient village pubs where they have raffles on a Sunday. I miss walking the dog down by the canal and wandering through the bluebell woods. I miss the sheer silliness of the News of the World on a Sunday morning. I miss my family. I miss driving to the lake district and climbing the fells and then standing on the edge of a lake and watching the fog lazily crawl across Lake Windermere. I miss bed and breakfasts with massive beds, claw foot bath tubs, and a breakfast big enough to feed a family of four. I miss afternoon teas, with scones, clotted cream, strawberry jam and real butter. I miss hanging out in a pub playing darts and drinking lager. I miss Sundays in England, where the morning would begin with a large breakfast eaten while reading the Sunday papers (See News of the World) above, after breakfast (shortly after) everyone would get dressed and head to the pub (on foot) for the weekly Sunday social with all of the neighbours while the roast beef, chicken or whatever was roasting in the stove. On return to the house at 2pm (when the pub closed) a very enormous Sunday lunch would be eaten and enjoyed by all (traditionally roast beef and yorkshire pudding with all the trimmings) we would all sit around and watch tv and talk and pat our fat bellies. I miss that. I miss my friends. I miss shopping in Asda. I miss pork pies, lancashire cheese, smoked bacon, gammon steaks, pot noodles, vesta chow mein and scampi and chips. I miss tulips that come back every year. I miss The Body Shop. I miss Top Shop and Etam where I could walk in and clothes would actually fit me and I didn't have to sort through 27 different sizes to get clothes to fit ( I mean what the hell is Missy anyway?). I miss Marks and Spencer underwear. I miss wandering down to the Priory Church and sitting and spending time with my Dad's grave. I miss the church in Warton where I can spend time with my ancestors. I miss going to a butcher's shop and having them cut me a piece of meat for my husband that is EXACTLY what he wants. I miss parched peas. I miss going out on the town with my Sister and her husband and getting silly drunk and singing bad Kareoke and then stopping off for bad pizza before going back to their house for more partying. I miss my friend Lynn. I miss the fields of sheep and cows while driving up the motorway, I miss church steeples, villages, and I miss the patchwork quilt of the landscape. So you may ask, what on earth am I still doing here? Because I have a home with almost an acre of land where I can garden to my heart's content, where I can ensure that my critters are safe, where I have tree frogs, snakes, lizards, dragonflies, birds and butterflies that I would never have in England, and the bottom line, it is where my husband wants to be, and where he is, I am.