Weekend in Aberdeen by Sue Akande

Simbi Akande as Marta in Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Company’
(Aberdeen 2018)                           photo credit Sue Akande

I had ummed and aahed for ages about whether to go. It was a long way to Aberdeen from Wolverhampton, just for the weekend and in the middle of term too. Then there was the cost and what about the lesson prep and marking I had to do? My daughter was performing in ‘Company’ by Stephen Sondheim at Aberdeen Arts Centre so I toyed with the idea of catching the plane but the times just didn’t fit. I kept looking at the train timetable. I could just about do it if I left school sharpish, but I was still hesitant. Then, I heard my daughter singing a snippet of her song in the show ‘Another Hundred People’. It sounded amazing and I was propelled to book my trains for the weekend. I just had to go.

Friday came and all went well to begin with. I caught the train to Edinburgh and there were no problems with my connection to Aberdeen. However, we were barely on our journey further north when a passenger, slightly the worse for wear, decided to try and open one of the doors between stations and the train came to an abrupt halt! Had I made a mistake in deciding to travel?

A voice came over the tannoy informing us that the driver was going to try and fix the problem so we could make our way to the buffet car for a complimentary hot drink. Everyone looked around approvingly and began to make a move to the centre of the train. Just as we were moving another message advised us that there were no hot drinks available. We all groaned and made our way back to our seats. I must make use of this time I thought and continued with my marking. About 40 mins later we jerked and jolted our way to the next station and were told to exit the train! The driver could not fix the problem.

Spending two hours on Kirkcaldy station was made interesting by one passenger talking in a very loud voice to a station assistant about her school days, university and her job. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever make it to Aberdeen but we finally left Kirkcaldy at 11.30pm - ETA at Aberdeen was 1.30am! As I was staying with my daughter in theatre digs, I phoned her to let her know and fortunately she was fine with me arriving so late. I couldn’t wait to see her and the show.

Aberdeen at 1.30 in the morning was buzzing and although I had never visited the city before, I felt at home. There were so many people around still enjoying their night out that I decided to walk to the apartment instead of taking a taxi. Rather than feeling tired after such a long journey I felt refreshed. The stresses of school melted away – I felt alive!

On Saturday morning my daughter and I had brunch before going to the theatre. I bought tickets to see both shows, the matinee and the final evening performance and the occasion was made even more special as my son had managed to catch a train from Manchester and was going to join us for the evening.

The show was incredible! Of course, I loved my daughter’s song and performance as Marta but there was another song which also had an impact on me. It was the final song sung by Oliver Savile as Bobby and it moved me to tears – twice! The song, ‘Being Alive’, is the kind that I love – the words are thought provoking and it builds to a climax with a final high note. Oliver delivered an emotional rendition. As often happens, although I had never heard the song before, I have heard it several times since and it always reminds me of that wonderful weekend with my daughter and son and it gives me a little nudge to remember to make the most of life. I would have missed so much if I had listened to my initial doubts about going to Aberdeen.

As my son and I made our way home on Sunday morning there was another treat in store. I had travelled north in the pitch black but on the way back the magnificent scenery of the east coast of Scotland revealed itself in the sparkling sunlight. The snow-capped mountains to the right, the glittering sea to the left and the span of the Tay Bridge were breath-taking.

My memory of that weekend is truly one to treasure.  

Audio – Simbi singing ‘Another Hundred People’ from ‘Company’ by Stephen Sondheim