For the previous six weeks, a colleague and I have been running a Beginners' Course, with the usual ups and downs, sometimes dragging ourselves down to the club on cold grey evenings, hoping torrential rain would mean a postponement. Every week the students turn up, enthusiastic, and actually quite good. After the last lesson, 8 of twelve join the club. Last night was their first time as new members. Still sticking together, they spent a couple of hours diligently trying out 30 yards. Then one tentatively asked me if they were allowed to shoot "at that long distance" - 50 yards. No probs, so off they trot. And for the next 40 minutes - long after other club members have finished - they seemed consumed by joy, delighted when any one of them hit, delighted when any one missed. Anyone watching would have though archery was great fun. Which it is.
So, thank you to my students for showing me again how good life can be.
