Today I experienced a strange moment, the first person for whom I definatively remember their first day of school had her last day of school.

I remember Eilidh because her sister Emma was one of my chess players, I knew her mother and father quite well. So I was interested in the arrival of her wee sister, so I remember Eilidh and her first day. Yesterday was her last day at Boroughmuir.

The sixth year were getting fractious and exams were going on so I was out-and-about doing crowd control when I saw her.

"So Eilidh, last day of school?" I could see that she had been crying.

"You won't remember it but I remember your first day at school."

She smiled, "Yeh, you were the janny at Craiglockhart, I remember you, my sister used to be in your chess club..."

We were swept apart by the swirling mess that is a sixth year's leaving.

The whole thing made me feel old and happy and sad at the same time. I watched someone's entire school journey. I don't suppose that it ever occured to Eilidh that I was watching, watching to see that she didn't fall. Like I do for them all.