Unfortunate events, disciplining kids, Celtaholic, hair

[Tabouli]

Sofie:
> I'm really sorry for whining at you all but I've had such a bad week.

This sounds truly horrible.  A relationship break-up is bad enough on its own, let alone combined with major operations (eucchhh) and rude stepfathers and having to defer from university.  Poor Sofie.  Vent all you want.

Mary Ann:
> First of all, well done :)  Getting as far as you did with such an 
age variation in one group--especially siblings!!--was no mean feat.  
Glad to hear that your HP knowledge came in handy.<

Thanks.  I was very glad too, believe me!  Are siblings usually difficult?  The 6yo's older siblings were actually my best allies in the battle: his 12yo sister, in particular, was mortified by his behaviour, and continually trying to bully him into behaving himself (apologising to me all the while: "I'm really sorry, he's always like this...").  The 14yo was unrelated to the other three.

>Don't forget, he's testing you to see how far he can push 
you, so well done for the stern admonishments.  Goodness knows what 
his behaviour would have been like if you'd been soft with him 
(...) I'm sure all of us who work with kids in any capacity have some 
little "darlings" we could ship over to you (in a cardboard box) for 
a course in Advanced Brat Training.  But then we like you too much to 
do something like that :)<

Ooo, this I know all too well from my initiation as nervous 19yo piano teacher to two little girls, aged 7 and 9 (cringes at the memory).  I was, it must be said, a terrible piano teacher.  I learned piano for 12 years, but always hated practising so much that I had no idea of how to inspire other little girls to do it.  Being insecure, having had little experience with children and wanting them to like me more than I wanted them to do exactly what I said (another fatal, fatal mistake), they picked me as pushover within seconds and played up more or less continually. "I don't wanna play this one!"  It was a pity, because the older one showed real signs of talent (the younger one, OTOH, I would have happily throttled at times).  I learned from this experience, and made a point of observing parents and teachers disciplining kids for ideas.  I also realised, at last, what a trial I must have been to my own, long-suffering piano teacher!

Mary Ann:
> Ah, Montreal is my birthplace! It is truly fabulous, but bear in 
mind that Quebecois French is very different from the European 
version, just like UK English and North American English differ. But 
I'm sure you'll get by...I haven't been to Montreal for almost 10 
years now, so say hello to it for me.<

Ah, yes, I know well that Quebecois French is quite different from French French... I've heard it, both on TV and on the lips of a Canadian friend I once had (sounded very odd to me, like French spoken with an American accent or something, though I suspect that description wouldn't win any friends among the Quebecois French...).  Strangely enough, I once knew a Moroccan, and his French sounded fresh out of Paris.  Swiss French, though, must be different: I also had a couple of years when the only French I spoke was with a Genevan friend, whose French I initially had to strain to understand.  Then I got used to it, and she must have influenced me... I was once told that I spoke French with a Swiss accent!  Can't consciously pick it, though, whereas Quebecois French is unmistakeable (I will take your hello to Montreal in my best Quebecois accent).

>OK, OK, I'm a 2-hour train ride from Paddington Station, but if you 
do come to London you *must* come west for a day! Hopefully you and 
Rita will have solved the cat problem as we have 3 moggies, but if 
not we'll just dump the kids on DH and check out Bristol and Bath 
together :) 
>
>As for Cornwall, you must go there as well, especially if you have an 
interest in Celtic history.

On reflection, I think I *must* be developing an interest in Celtic history!  A vague curiosity about Celtic myth and ruined castles and fairy mounds and stone circles and the like has, of recent years, grown into a full-blown Celtic craving.  Going west to visit you and Celtify myself (are you actually in Cornwall?  How far west is two hours out of Paddington??) would be great, especially if I don't make it to Ireland (craving addict sweats in horror at the idea).   Perhaps the latent Celtic blood in my veins is making a bid for supremacy!  (I do have some).  Sino-Celtic... hmmm... I like it.

I've actually been to Bristol, though only for a day; Bath I never got to.  (ahh, the charm with with the English named their towns and cities.  But why did their colonial governors name all of Australia's cities for a veritable pantheon of Victorian monarchs and administrators??  Gah).  Would be more than happy to revisit the first and visit the second in congenial company...

Reading through the last couple of OT digests, our poor listmembers do seem to be experiencing "A Series of Unfortunate Events"!  Strength and sympathy to all.

--Neth, who took out her braids and now has Hermione
Hair and a desperate need for some Sleakeasy's)

Tabouli.
(who, hair fetishist tho' she be, has a pretty Hermionesque attitude to her own uncooperative hair.  Though today I had it hacked off to shoulder-length-ish at the hairdressing salon, where they have this amazing ability to turn usually unruly hair sleek and shiny...)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]