Busy as a bee

Even with Stephen away setting the international shoe world to rights, I had little time to take things easy. I had what might have been my busiest week ever for lessons, what with the ones ongoing, ones returning and new ones starting. It was just as well that the particularly fine weather that started the previous week continued, much to Bella and Harry’s satisfaction. Temperatures during the day managed to reach the high teens in the sunshine, though the freshness in the air added a nip if you were out of it, and mornings saw us having to scrape the ice from the car windscreen. That, though, is an easy cross to bear for days of crystal blue skies and daylight eking out till almost 6pm.

Monday started off as things meant to go on with the return of Sauro in the morning. He was very happy as he had successfully passed the two BMW courses he’d attended, meaning he would be able to work for them throughout Europe, and, if I understood correctly, in America. His comeback, however, was short-lived as after two more lessons (he added an extra one on Thursday) he was off again for three weeks, this time somewhere near Milan, showing off two new models to prospective customers.

Tuesday was quieter as Silvia had to cancel due to work commitments, but Wednesday saw the start of my lessons for Helen Doron, preparing a small group of teenagers for the Cambridge PET exam – don’t worry if you have no idea what that is. The start was slightly hampered, though, as the materials that I had been promised to teach the course (which is ultra prescriptive – the sort of course that basically teaches you how to pass the exam) hadn’t arrived. Would they be here soon, I asked. They should be, I was told, as they had been ordered that day and Amazon Prime is usually pretty quick. It seems like a good business plan to follow: start the course, see how many are doing it, then buy in resources and let the obliging Englishman muddle through for a week or two.

After that it was a quick trip back to MSP for another lesson, sandwiched between two dog walks, and then off to Civitanova for an assignation with Stephen, whose train rolled in to the station on time, meaning he was trundling his suitcase by the car park just as I drove up. Such perfect timing, saving us all of 50 centesimi. It did mean, though, that he was back for Valentine’s Day (or, as it is known locally, San Valentino). We celebrated in the time-honoured way, with the exchange of cards and a couple of small gifts. Mario and Luigi, on the other hand, celebrated in their own inimitable way by continuing with their arboreal husbandry. This had been ongoing for a few days, as they vigorously pruned the trees on the various plots of land that they farm.

By Thursday they had reached the banking at the top of our road and opposite their house. This was less than an exercise in tree surgery than an attack on the vegetation overtaking the area. Just before lunchtime, Stephen, on his way home, stopped for a neighbourly chat and to ask why there was a van and a couple of white-suited engineers hanging about just around the corner. That was because, he was told, in their enthusiasm, the brothers had managed to chop through the telephone wire to the factory just over the banking. This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise as they do have previous form in this area, as last year, if you recall, they cut through the telephone wire to LCDDB, though as we had switched to EOLO and a radio signal, it didn’t affect us. This time, though, they made sure they did a proper job, for besides cutting the wire they also, somehow, managed to knock the pole over and it now juts out at a 90-degree angle from the banking. Just as well it’s a baby-sized one.

On Friday I had my first lesson with the staff at the business in Civitanova, which, I’m pleased to say, was a very happy experience. My main worry about being able to find it and to park proved groundless as the company, Prosilas, is located in a very sleek modern building in the industrial park just off the autostrada, so was easy to find. If I understand correctly, the business makes plastic prototypes for various clients throughout Europe, and English is the main language used when dealing with foreign customers, hence the desire to improve standards. I had been told that there would be seven students, but I should really have known better than to prepare just one spare set of materials as it turned out that there were nine. Still, the more the merrier, as they were all very charming and eager to join in, and one of them was more than happy to photocopy the couple of sheets that I was short.

With the addition of Prosilas to my timetable, you’d have thought that I had about reached saturation point. Not quite, as yesterday morning I had another pupil start in the shape of young Alessio, son of a former work colleague of Stephen’s who presently works as a physiotherapist and trains a football team (I think – I may be totally wrong on either of those, if not, indeed, on both) and who wants to improve his English so he can go and work in America. While I was assessing Alessio’s level and getting to know a bit about him, Stephen was off to Civitanova for a meeting with Paolo with the view to doing some work for him. This was a follow up to the one of a couple of weeks ago, if you recall, that had been slated for after MICAM, and which appears to have been a reasonably encouraging one.

Today, at last, was a lesson free day and the weather finished the week as it began, in glorious if chilly sunshine. Apart from the regular walks with Bella and Harry I wasn’t, however, in a position make the most of it. After a busy week I took the morning to catch up with some household chores and the afternoon to do some preparation for next week. As for Stephen, he saw off the ironing that had accumulated over the week and from his post-fair laundry. I’m so glad we’re semi-retired, for goodness knows where we’d be if we were working full time.