Well, an e-mail explaining the dilemma to the local conductor has solved my problem. "Oh bother! Of course you must take the ESO work. It won't compromise your position with us..." That's a relief. The answer I wanted - and by honest means as well.

Chelsea came to tell me she was quitting violin. Well, I made her come and tell me - I'm not having these second hand "Chelsea's quit miss" rumours. Turns out that the neighbours were complaining that her practice was waking their baby. WHAT??? Eventually we worked out that if she practised in the spare room, she wouldn't wake anyone and could carry on. Jack can't buy his violin book - his mum's going on holiday instead.

Today's moral and ethical dilemma:-

Which to do... The gig that's been in the diary for ages leading the violas in the good local amateur orchestra and sharing a stage with the Swingle singers, which I morally shouldn't back out of

or

the just come in gig with the pro orchestra whose extras list I've only just joined and whom, selfishly, I don't want to turn down?

Clarice (grimacing)... "But, miss - I don't understand why that violin costs so much - I mean - it's.... OLD"

"Well yes - I know. It's like an antique - people pay a lot for antiques too"

"But like really old"

"Yes Clarice - about 250 years old"

"URGH! That's disgusting! Think of all the dead people who've played that! EEEUUUURRRGH!"

I suppose I'd never really thought of it like that.

"But miss - I don't know that note"

"Yes you do Jade - just think for a minute. What's that note there?"

"D"

"OK - so this one is one note higher isn't it? Can you see how it's higher up on the stave? Well then - what comes after D?"

"A"

"Well - not quite. What comes straight after D? What comes after D in the alphabet?"

(pause)

(big smile of recognition)

"FAST!"

Skills required for the peripatetic lifestyle....

1. Diploma in advanced parking.
School car parks today looked as though (to quote Bill Bryson in his Europe book) I'd just missed a parking competition for the blind. The abilty to reverse in and out of small, odd shaped spaces across grass and pavements is essential to the quick getaways needed with 10 minutes between schools.

2. Immunity to bad smells
Dear me - Kathy let off a stinker this morning. I could hear the phrrrrup, and hoped that the noise would be worse than the smell. It wasn't.

3. Slow, patient driving
Yes, as well as the fast, efficient driving, there is the driving out of school gates at the end of the day technique, where parents and small children are totally oblivious of large motorised objects.

Lots of extra kids at my after school group today. All in preparation for the big concert at the end of the month. Of course, it coincided with the school hall being out of action and the music co-ordinator swearing blind that he didn't know it was happening today. Still, we crammed them all into a classroom and watched the sweat drip off them for an hour. They still refused to take their jumpers and fleeces off.

Saturday

Turned up at Hagley Hall in plenty of time for the rehearsal, and followed other cars around until we gave up trying to find the 'right' car park and settled for the field nearest the exit to enable a quick getaway at the end.

Lots of extras in the band, including some familiar faces, as well as a choir of 300 primary school children, and their barking teacher, Jasper Carrott, Josie Lawrence and Becky Taylor, who is apparently the 'new' Charlotte Church. She looked very sweet with her shiny hair and Claire's Accessories type outfit, and apparently she could be heard perfectly through the speakers. I have no idea what she sounded like though - couldn't hear her from the 3rd desk of the violas.

The audience arrived nice and early and set up amazing picnic tables, hampers, deckchairs etc, and waved their union jacks throughout the proceedings. I think they were bored by the 'real' music though. Mendelssohn's Hebrides overture was a fine excuse for a loo stop and a natter. Mind you - I can see their point to a certain extent.

Jasper Carrott (who does seem to be actually, positively involved with the charity for the concert) told lots of anti Danish football, curry and bacon jokes. I thought he was quite a laugh, although my mother ( who was there for the first half only) was disgusted by his bad language in front of the children. I don't think it helped when I pointed out that children that age use far stronger language in my presence.

So - we didn't get to rehearse 3 of the pieces at all, and there was a somewhat unexpected rendition of the national anthem at the start. Other than that - a nice introduction to the ESO, and I was home before midnight.