Mike claims that Carpe Diem means ‘seize the carp’!

We all know perfectly well that this is not the case.  But today we seized the one day in the foreseeable past and future when it was not raining and we did not have some prior engagement, and took off to a water garden not too far from where we live.  It was beautiful and interesting, with plants in flower, petrifying fountains, insects, sculptures, water chimes, … and coach-loads of school kids getting their education.

I was able to observe that Antonia’s allergy to school has not decreased one little bit.  Whenever she saw them, she headed determinedly in the opposite direction.  We still got close enough to see that they spent their time being herded around in crocodile formation, getting told off for taking up space and making noise and being lectured about plant types.  I’m still kind of wondering if they actually learned more from this experience than my kid did.  I half suspect that neither the school-kids nor Antonia actually ingested that much new information.  What I do know is that she had a lovely time appreciating and observing everything the garden had to offer.

I think the school kids were mostly bored.  The other interesting thing that happened is that as the garden was fairly small and closed, we told Antonia she could go where she liked as long as she was on the paths.  Practically as soon as she was out of our sight, one of the gardeners assumed that she was with a school party and either lost or playing truant and ordered her back to her guardians.  That was kind of strange!

All in all we had a nice time, and as I type the rain has set back in again.