Chicago

The Cast was made up of the following Aberdonians: Michaela Green, Sammi Jackman, Amanda Chan, Queenie Ng and Hannah Brand.   They put on an amazing spectacle full of outstanding individual performances by all.   The pictures unfortunately do not truly capture the atmosphere, but demonstrate the immeasurable talent of the girls in the house.

The wonderful cast of Chicago

A few pictures from the House Tennis Competition

Happy Birthday Mrs Lewis

Steph made Mrs Lewis a birthday cake.  It looked yummy!   Happy Birthday from all of us at Aberdeen.

Summer Writing Competition

Some of the girls have been feverishly imagineering behind the scenes, leading to four Aberdonians (Anna Elwin, Kate Hughes, Kukka Ilmanen and Jenya Morrice) being highly commended in this season's Summer Writing Competetiton, the theme of which was 'Alive'. Here is a taste of their creativity below.

The Symphony

By Anna Elwin

On a cold and starry night,

He sits and waves his tail.

He gazes up to stare at stars

Then lets out a piercing wail.

No sooner does he start to sing,

(A loud and painful yell),

He hears the sound of dogs and cats,

They’ve all joined in as well.

And then as one, heads raised in song,

They screech with all their might.

The voice resounds and fills the streets

Awash with pale moonlight.

But then the mournful chorus

Is broken by a shout.

And from the door a large brown boot

Is lobbed directly out.

The feline conductor turns around,

Aloof, with eyes of hate.

It appears this song is not one that

All species appreciate.

Alive, thanks to you

By Katharine Hughes

Under cold cover of night
And haze of the street light

She crouches and watches

Daily life snatches

Of loving looks 

As her mother cooks

With her new children

In the designer kitchen

There have been no calls

Or shopping trip to malls

No home baked pies

Just a bunch of lies

‘You were special, a gift’

Meant to give her a lift

But failed all her life

Though she liked him and his wife.

She walks to the stairs

And hope her mother still cares

Is blood thicker than water?

‘I am your daughter...

Do your remember

The day in November 

When you signed on the line

And said you weren't mine?'

'Remember? Of course you are mine

But not now dear this isn't the time.

The boys have no idea.

My husband is clear

We mustn't upset them;

Tell them at half term.

This isn't the right way

I'll call you on Friday 

We just have to wait

He'll be home at eight.

You must go for now

Please dont  cause a row.'

'Oh I think you remember 

That day in November

When you signed me away

For your designer today.

Whats Thicker than water?

You prefer bricks and mortar'

There will be no call

I don't believe you at all

I am alive thanks to you

That is all that is true.

Today, on a wet day in November

I give you up. Remember.

The Sense of Being Alive

 by Kukka Ilmanen

A little boy once asked: What is the sense of being alive?

His father didn’t know, so he asked his mother.

She answered: “To be a good mother and a good wife.”

“But I’m not a mother so why should I bother?”

Was the clever little boy’s response.

“So go to the one who knows it all,

I don’t have time so go at once”,

Was the mother’s last call.

The teacher was small and bald,

He had inherited his profession

And all he knew, was in the school books told,

So as the little boy came with his question,

He stood there and started talking about cells

And how animals and plants are feeding.

So although the boy liked the talk about organelles

He was sure that wasn’t his life’s meaning.

The next idea that popped into the boy’s mind

Was the almighty, all-knowing God,

And his substitute was the priest, wise and kind

He didn’t think the question was odd!

He explained in a tone, which showed he took it serious,

That he himself definitely wasn’t all-knowing

And God and the sense of life was also for him mysterious

But his sense in life was praying and love showing.

The boy who wasn’t really satisfied

Started walking slowly on the sea side

Where just this morning it had been tide

And left a poor fish lying dried,

Who pleaded to go back to his life in the wide sea,

The boy was kind, but also had his question said

And the grateful fish triumphantly answered to the boy’s plea:

Alive; that means not to be dead!

The next responding one was an oak tree:

I feel alive when my branches are growing

Or when I feel the sun stroking me. You see,

To be alive allows me to feel joy while showing

My siblings in my shadow how to lengthen

Or while feeding my numerous guests as bird and lice.

Alive makes me protect and so to strengthen

Against the great winds, the rain and the ice

The boy repeated now the whole inquiry in a desperate tone

Tired as he hadn’t found his answer he didn’t notice

A single, grey, inconspicuous but listening stone,

Which suddenly slowly but firmly spoke this:

I am not loving, not knowing, not wise nor alive,

But it seems as if they all found in themselves a worth

Such as mothering or teaching to fulfill their life

And so everybody sees this as their sense in the world

So just go out and look for your use

And this is the sense in life you choose.

The Real life

by Jenya Morrice

Sun breaking through the glass,

trying to touch your skin,

trying to reach  your soul.

Meanwhile,

 ashes from cigar

 -are,

burning your lips.

Lipstick and thousands of sweet smiles:

(bittersweet)

But for no one to see.

No laughter

-real life vanished-

Shame and guilt resting

deep below the core.

And there sits my girl –

-crying,

Shedding the tears,

Which run downstream.

Like a never ending rain of sorrows -

Blinding her path.

It is not always true what people say-

But maybe she won’t know.

A half-empty glass of wine,

And the ashtray blowing its smoke towards you-

Burning-

Warning-

Giving a sign.

You k     You feel like being in prison-

chained...locked up.

You wonder:

What can you do,

What brings by tomorrow,

And why so then.

You question yourself:

How is it a life?

Living in captivity,

Being bred in the dark cage.

Never to see or experience

the warmth of sunshine.

I see your future is all planned out-

Won’t ask for words,

It’s crystal clear.

Your elbow supports

against

the Romeo and Juliet book.

The DVD player scratching the shine of the Titanic disk,

Ripping it in pieces,

As if saying-‘No, I won’t play!’-

Those are not your stories.

    Leave it alone;

    Have courage,

    Create your own,

    Then tell the world,

    Spread the word.

    Take in a deep breath,

Swallow the tears,

Open your eyes,

Get out there.

Live

like

never

before.

Summer is knocking on your door,

Screaming: ‘Is anyone there? Can you hear me?’

You are,

you can. So don’t pretend-

Don’t

waste your time.

Grab the     beautiful life,  the real life.

ITS searching for you,

Making you feel alive.

Anyone for Tennis

Sunday afternoon was spend on the tennis courts playing mixed doubles and having a BBQ, whilst the music was playing.   Lots of fun, but very hot!

The Great British Tea Party

The girls in Toynbee organised the 'Great British Tea Party'.  Some of the girls in Aberdeen baked cakes to take along.

Birthday's - Thalia and Laurence Haines (Ellie's Brother)

Happy Birthday Thalia for Saturday.  

Ellie and Laura had made Ellie's brother, Laurence a Birthday Cake and had organised some presents with the help from Mum.

 Laura and Ellie waiting to see Laurence.

Star of the Week: Queenie

Queenie became the Star of the Kitchen over the weekend.    She has been working hard rehearsing for GLEE next week and being a great around the House.  

The girls chilling out