Friday 7 August 2020

Gondolier school









I'm finding it hard to believe it's August. Everything is still a bit surreal. My strict news diet (reading the headlines and the odd articles once a day) means I am sometimes surprised anew by it all. It still seems to be the main topic of conversation so often, which is understandable, but I'd quite like to talk about something else.

The articles I read are usually on other things. The fish on the Miami Bay webcam called Oval who has no tail, the sniffer dog who got to sit in the Speaker's chair and Elon Musk's tweet, 'Aliens built the pyramids obv'. Which set me to wondering how it is that people who are clearly absolutely barking get to be so rich and powerful.

The littlest boy is toying with the idea of becoming a gondolier. He pictures it as being paid to go paddleboarding all day. We googled it and discovered there is all sorts of learning involved, culture and history and so forth, which he found slightly offputting. And he was also surprised to find out it was mostly done in Venice. I'm not sure where he pictured himself doing it. Bristol Docks maybe? I think Italy would suit him rather well, he could have pizza for lunch every day.

I'm wondering how school will go down when September finally rolls around. A bit of an adjustment I imagine. And possibly a shock to the system of those who have managed to avoid almost all learning for the best part of six months. Let's not think about that today.

I am all braced for a warm weekend. I picture myself sat in a deckchair in the shade somewhere with a good book and a cold drink. Of course the reality will probably be racing round Doing Things, preparing endless food, clearing up endless plates and getting cross when no-one helps. But all in all, that's good too.

16 comments:

  1. I do hope you can arrange for a good amount of time lounging in the shade and reading. I have an idea. Tell the kids you are home-schooling and it's Occupational Learning Day and they are being trained to run a bed and breakfast and you're the guest and they have to be up early and serve you breakfast in bed and do all the cleaning and cooking for the whole day. Grade them on how successful of inn-keepers they are. :-) ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  2. I think being a gondolier sounds quite fun. We went on one on our trip to Venice but I don't recall the chap dropping any nuggets of history, he just punted us round. The girls were very young though, so maybe I was more concerned with them not falling overboard! Sweet photo of Bertie; I hope he's managing to stay cool in the current heat. xx

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  3. Love seeing your blog pop in my inbox. Just love your humour, makes me chuckle as I read and then my dearest wants to know what I am chuckling about, and I read it and he chuckles too! so 'gondolier chuckles' all round is a good feeling. Thank you. Your visionary bliss sounds heaven, but I can totally identify with the reality! We have just moved into our first home together yesterday (post 3 lads fleeing the nest) and boxes are the new wallpaper, along with the wood chip but it feels so calm, as if under a spell. Even with the chundering of whose favourite tin opener is going in the drawer! Fingers crossed 'calm chundering' as we merge two houses and books galore in the scorching heat :)

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    1. How exciting! I hope you'll be very happy there, and good luck with the unpacking. It will feel like home once all the books are out. CJ xx

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  4. A suggestion- he could go to Oxford or Cambridge and do punting- next best thing? I like the idea of shade, cool drink, book, but you know you will spot a weed or the children will want to do something because they are bored................... Have a great weekend.

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  5. Thank you for making me laugh out loud! Nobody to hear me, but you have really cheered me up this morning.

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  6. Thanks for a cheerful post and lovely pictures. The beans look good, as do the roses. I'm spending today indoors trying to keep cool as it's way too warm for me. Take care. xx

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  7. It sounds like most of my weekends! It would be lovely just sit and read all the time, but.....with children, dogs, cats, quinea pigs, three goats and a workoholic husband it´s impossible. But I hope yours will be nice. Hana

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  8. I bet it will be a shock to the teachers too - having full classes. I think quite a few adults going back to work are also missing being furloughed as well.

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  9. Curious that I should read about gondoliers as I am midway through Donna Leon's latest set in Venice. Tell your son he should read them as they often feature the different craft on the canals. Hot, hot ,hot here today and I’m feeling very sluggish. I almost need someone to turn the pages of my book for me. Love Teresa’s idea about the B and B. Get those boys at it I say.
    As for news, I too only look for the bizarre. Today was a naked man running after something or other...made me smile. Hope you get some me time this weekend. B x

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  10. My hairdresser told me about some truly barking people she has had in her salon recently, they might but Elon to shame. He is bonkers, that is a fact. I used to be an avid reader of Erik Von Daniken's alien pyramid theory books... as a young teen, I am completely cured of course although I have never lost my fascination for science fiction. I think there is a future in being a gondolier. Everyone you meet while working is in their happy holiday frame of mind. Sounds nice. I hope you get some reading time in a shady corner in your garden. I am off to google the tail-less fish now. Have a good weekend xx

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  11. I always picture myself being calm and crocheting, yet it just does not seem to happen. And frankly sitting outside in Florida in August is just going to make me sweat and feel gross. I think you might like the news of our local Clearwater Marine and Science. Center where the famous Winter the dolphin with no tail lives. They now have two deep water dolphins that are very rare and they are deaf. So glad they can live in a safe place and be taken care of. Hugs and stay safe.

    https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/life/animals/clearwater-marine-aquarium-dolphin-rudolph/67-803df685-6283-4c12-82a3-08f0ff824cea

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  12. I love Teresa’s idea to get your boys learning to run a B&B! I hope you managed a little calm time over the weekend. I often wonder the same about the totally bonkers individuals who manage to become rich and powerful... not to mention become world leaders to boot! My second eldest is a full time punt chauffeur in Cambridge, something he has done for over ten years. I guess it’s the nearest equivalent to being a gondolier in this country. He has a wealth of knowledge on Cambridge and it’s history and he loves the performance aspect of it. He’s also very strong as a result, although it does get a bit cold over the winter!

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  13. You have rich veg pickings there. What a career aspiration, my friends daughter is 7 and wants to be a roof thatcher! Takes all sorts. Love Jo x

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  14. A gondolier! Wish I'd thought of that career when I was his age - especially right now as I'm melting all over my laptop, trying to work and fan myself at the same time.
    I think being off-the-chart bonkers is a prerequisite for being rich and powerful. Only a complete disconnect from a reality means they get to be rich and powerful without being crushed by guilt.

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