1979 School Magazine

SERVIC€ * ST" ANDREWS MENNORIAL HOSPITAL

E"E.A" ORIENTEERING For the first few weeks of the activity, we got lost in our own school grounds (believe it or not). We found corners of the school that we had never seen before. Then we found out trivial things, like how many steps to the kilometre we took, and how to read a compass. When out in the wild, we completely forgot about these impor- tant facts. While Mr. Johnston raced through the scrub, seeing what we were doing all that time, we got more and more frustrated and worried about getting back. To be an orienteerer, you need to be a champion long distance runner, in order to enloy yourself thoroughly.

The main thing that old people need is to feel wanted and loved. For an aged person who lies in bed all day, every day, with perhaps only one relative coming to visit them in a month, time has no meaning for them. Each Thurs- day, when we arrived, some of the people exclaimed "lt's Thursday already." Some may f ind the geriatric section of the hospital a very depressing place but once you get over this and talk to the people, you realize how lonely they are. lt comforted some ladies, bed-ridden for the rest of their days, just to sit there holding our hands and talking to us about their families. The lower floor of the geriatric section is usually very quiet, with all its inhabitants being asleep. All that is, apart from a little old lady in a wheglchair, who liked to be wheeled up and down the corridor at break-neck speeds until you were finally out of breath. ln the upper floor, many of the patients were awake and we amused ourselves and them by doing crosswords and when we had exhausted the newspapers and magazines, we performed a song and dance routine to the tune of "By the Light of the Silvery Moon", which even made the ladies sing along. Though some girls may feel apprehensive about doing the service unit in E.E.A., the benefits to both those who ybu are helping and yourself, override these initial feel- ings. Gill Lindsay, 12C.

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E.E.A. DIVING Diving is an experience for those who love {ooling about in the sun and water while learning new tricks to impress your f riends. Firstly we learnt the techniques of the sport on the firm ground so that we knew what to expect up there in all the glory. Progressively we did some diving off the side of the pool, to the lower board, and then if any of us were enthusiastic enough to attempt the highest board, the BUBBLE machine was tqrned on for us. lf you delight in showing off, diving is THE sport of summer. E.E.A. PHOTOGRAPHY For all those who ever wondered what life in the darkroom was all about, a group of us from 5th and 6th forms, had the privilege of sharing such an experience. And what an experience! After the initial shock of walking blindly into the darkroom, and stumbling into enlargers and containers of chemicals, (which we were threatened would corrode our bodiesl), we actually made ourselves a camera, in which I might add, not a single shot turned out. We, who bravely undertook this course in E.E.A., (with a great deal of nudging and pushing from friends), started quite ignorant as to the matter of photography, and I must admit that we emerged just as confused! Still, I'm sure we all enjoyed the course, working under the skilful eye oJ Mr. Walsh, and I would strongly recommend it to any up-and-coming Sth former contemplating photography. Wendy Demunari, 12C.

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