All in all the time with my family couldn't have been much better. Ok so there was very little genuine relaxation, but I got to see loads of interesting places and had a laugh in the process. Camp, however, was a little different. Jane was only with us for a week, and it was a real shame because she was great. Mr Wickham was enjoying ruling the roost and using his right to a veto wherever possible. He had managed to ensnare Lydia who hung off his every word and adopted his inspiring 'I can't be bothered' attitude.
So after my amazing Garda-filled weekend, I was ready for a much better week at camp. I'd fumbled my way through up until now and after taking some time out to plan, I was confident of being able to start afresh and power through some good lessons for the kids so that they could come out of the week having learnt at least a little bit of English.
This was not to be.
Lydia had insect bites.
Mosquitoes are potentially the most unpleasant animal found in those parts and boy did they make their presence felt. So Lydia, we all had insect bites. We did not, however, decide that these insect bites were so bad that we desperately needed a day off. Lydia did.
Picture the scene. It's Monday morning and already getting muggy. I cycled a couple of miles to camp and I need to prepare some things for my class. I arrive at camp only to be told that Lydia won't be joining us today and so I have to take her class.
'But I already have a class.'
'I know.'
'Now you have two. Together.'
'Oh.'
Mayhem. Mayhem is the only word I can use to describe what went on that day and put me back in my ever-so efficient plan that I was still playing catch-up on Friday. Fortunately the company was way ahead of us and sent another tutor to help us out. I shall call her Charlotte Lucas. When Lydia decided to come back the next day, she was told that as she was weakened (yeah right!) she could share her class with Charlotte Lucas.
Lydia and Mr Wickham continued their acquaintance and I was adopted into the American/Canadian family. Charlotte Lucas, a Canadian herself, took great pleasure in telling us over lunch that Lydia didn't do any teaching at all. She used her pidgin Italian to bark instructions at the children and keep them in order.
Anyway the end of camp show couldn't come sooner, but not without a few extra tales on the way...
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