about me

My name is Athole. Welcome to my website.

I had a short lived one previously here http://video-school.blogspot.co.uk

And a slightly better loved travel blog here http://furry-boots.blogspot.co.uk

One of my favourite Scottish films is Gregory’s Girl, a beautifully observed comedy about teenage awkwardness and football, set in the near-future vision of Cumbernauld in 1980. In one scene, Billy, a school leaver who has returned to the school as a window cleaner, shouts out to his former teacher:

‘If I dinnae see you through the week, I’ll see you through the windae!’

Gregory’s Girl

As a wee boy, I watched the classic BBC TV programme, Play School. Each day, you sat, google-eyed in front of the box, desperate to see which 2D-shaped window you would enter. You were then treated to a short video clip of hypnotic delights such as the inside of a biscuit factory, children at a play park or fish in a fish tank.

As a teacher, I love the shared adventure and inquiry that teaching and learning can bring. 

I also think that play is paramount in learning. Taking risks, getting messy, problem-solving, taking your time, experimenting, inventing, creating, collaborating, sharing, daydreaming, thinking, discovery – all the good stuff.

So ‘through the windae’ could mean lots of things: a window to another world; a portal to the interweb; different ways to connect; different ways to learn; different ideas to discuss; memories and experiences to share; and future visions to dream up.

I have two big brothers. One of them, Neil, died of cancer at the age of 46 in 2010. I see him all the time in my thoughts. And miss him still. The last film we watched together was Withnail and I. To quote Withnail:

‘You’re not leaving me in here alone. Those are the kind of windows faces look in at.’

Withnail And I

He’s never far away.

Two Christmases before he died, Neil edited and gifted a slowed down version of the colour 16mm footage of my Christening. You can see it here:

The last slide reads:

To Athole, long life and happiness. Be aye true tae yourself.

Neil McLauchlan