Wednesday 16 October 2019

Low Level Disruption







A day's birdwatching in Somerset with the biggest boy. That's Glastonbury Tor in the distance. I suggested we go and have a vegan meal in Glastonbury on the way home (a really hippy town, for those who don't know it). It turned out it was too alternative for him. It's wall to wall crystal shops and witch shops and hemp shops and even a dreadlock place. Sadly closed, don't think I didn't think about it... The people all looked wonderful, colourful and different and with all the hairstyles. There was even a dog on a motorbike. He said, 'I just want to eat somewhere normal.' (The boy, not the dog. Although maybe the dog was thinking that too.) I used to go to Glastonbury quite a bit, and several of the cafes were still the same. He wasn't convinced, so we went somewhere normal. I fear small town living has not prepared the urchins for the wider world.

On the subject of the wider world, I see that Donald Trump has referred to himself as having 'great and unmatched wisdom'. I am not quite sure what to make of that. It sounds like the sort of thing I would say to the children. If he tried it in this house he would be told off for sarcasm, they are very strict on sarcasm here you know. Or maybe he actually believes it. What goes on in that 'so great-looking and smart' (that was his too) head of his? He says he is a stable genius. Could it be that the opposite is true? Isn't it time for a new President yet? It's been a very long four years.

Anyway, back to the Somerset levels. It was a glorious day out there. Peaceful, vast and teeming with wildlife. Within the first fifteen minutes we'd seen a bittern, a marsh harrier, a Cetti's warbler, a little grebe, a great crested grebe and a great white egret. It's a wonderful landscape, reclaimed from the destruction left by the peat industry and painstakingly planted with reeds by hand that RSPB staff grew from seed. There are (from memory) around forty pairs of bitterns there now, which is an amazing achievement, as they are fairly rare. It's quite the success story.

The littlest boy was given a detention in a gross miscarriage of justice. His brothers were thrilled. 'He's only been there a month!' It took them far longer. Apparently the boys behind him were talking and the teacher thought it was him, so he got a warning. Then he was hot after PE so he opened the window without asking and that was it, bam, detention. Oh dear. He was not happy. I discovered there are different numbers for each crime. For example, number 4, Low Level Disruption. Apparently there are loads. Not sure what number Opening Window Without Permission was, but I'm guessing fairly far down the list. Anyway, we have (mostly) moved on from the injustice of it all.

16 comments:

  1. You were more successful than we are when we visit RSPB reserves.

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  2. Oh no, poor youngest, I feel for him. Most unfair. Love Glastonbury too and I can almost smell the joss sticks from here. Well done on the bird count. Looking forward to seeing my returning Brent geese. B x p.s. I’ve just been watching a film where Trump made a guest appearance. It was a comedy...need I say more!

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  3. Dear CJ, please convey my sympathy to your youngest. The world can be cruel at times. Poor boy. The birdwatching sounded great although I don't know those birds but have heard of egrets and grebes. What a shame that Glastonbury didn't appeal to him. What truly lovely photos CJ. I really enjoyed looking through them. Nature can be so beautiful. Thanks for sharing. Regards, Robyn

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  4. You made me laugh with your son's reaction to Glastonbury! E and I loved it when we went in the summer, but it was a bit of a shock initially. Shame about the vegan cafe being a step too far - we have fond memories of one in particular; it was so good that we went for lunch and dinner! Oh, I feel for your youngest. The injustices of youth burn deeply and I'm sure that he will remember it for a long time to come (my girls still remember similar injustices at school even now). It speaks volumes about his lovely character that he suffered in silence and didn't point out the pupils actually talking! As for the window opening, detention for that seems a little harsh. Your trip to the Somerset levels sounds heavenly. xx

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  5. Well.. your poor youngest! It's so unfair that he was given a sentence when he was innocent. And the window thing.. I guess he learned the hard way one of the many rules there. Seems harsh to me. I painted a watercolor of the Tor of Glastonbury for a blog friend of mine who went to a festival there. I'm glad they restored the marsh and the birds are coming back. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  6. Even 70 years later I can still remember the injustice of being told off for something I had done which I hadn't even realised was a crime so I can sympathise with the lad! I live not far from Glastonbury but haven't been there for ages - must go again sometime as it is lovely to find a town that isn't a replica of all the others.

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  7. And now the poor youngster will be terrified of infringing some rule or other. I love your discription of Glastonbury, we went to Shepton Mallet this year and it was nearly the same! The wildlife sounds amazing. Love the mushrooms picture.

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  8. Good post and pictures. I agree about eating somewhere normal. My sympathies for the littlest boy as I remember suffering a similar miscarriage of justice at school which still rankles.

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  9. I've only visited Glastonbury once - my husband reacted just like your son. The town must have inspired Diagon Alley - Seriously weird and unreal - who BUYS that stuff? Yet it seems authentic, not just commercialised. But no sense of irony either.
    (Great walk up to the Tor though, esp. out of season. I refused to cheat, took the steep route and ended up crawling on my knees!)

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  10. The Somerset levels look so lovely and peaceful, and it's great hearing about success stories like that of the bitterns. As for the long 4 years, I live an hour out of DC and can only say amen to those sentiments.
    Jenni Marsh

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  11. Your photos are lovely, as usual. Thank you so much for sharing them with us. Funnily enough, I had a long talk this afternoon with a 14-year old who was also incensed about an injustice at school. Believe me, if it seems like a long 4 years to you, (actually only 3) imagine what it is like for those of us who have to hear, and see, this nonsense on a daily basis. I cannot wait for November 3, 2020 when we have a fighting chance of getting rid of the "orange man!"

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  12. I was stunned by that 'great and unmatched wisdom" quote too and thought I must have heard wrong - but sadly no. Sympathies to littlest too, I hate miscarriages of justice -but on a happier note, those are some fine looking mushrooms in your first photo.

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  13. Beautiful photos! Looks like a lovely day out. Blimey! Detention for opening the window. My kids wouldn't last 2 minutes in a UK school :(

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  14. Ah D Trump, don't even get me started on all the ridiculous things he says and sadly there are still people who love him. How that can even be at this point I don't know. Ignorance? He might have great and unmatched wisdom about himself but that is as far as it goes. I swear Melania has sold her soul to the devil. On another note, Little B got sent to the assistant principle for talking at breakfast and not listening when it was time to go back to class. He called me late in the school day just to check in with me about their chat. Sigh..........

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  15. Nothing changes. 40 years ago and we had to ask to remove a blazer. Really? My sympathy to youngest. I believe Glasto is more alternative than Stroud and that's a colourful place. Must visit sometime. CN x

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  16. L used to be proud of his detentions. The other two were scandalised that being dragged up to see the headmaster had had so little effect on him. LOVE the somerset levels- I live in hope of seeing a Bittern. LOVE glasto too, such a unique place xx

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