After a car ride, a flight, a bus ride and an overnight coach, almost missing both the flight and the coach and having the coach break down causing an extra hour delay, at 7am, after 19 hours of travel, Dave finally got off the national express at Liverpool and dived into Jean's arms.
Words could not express how much he had missed her. He was so glad to be back with her and he would never leave her side again.
Or at least not for another two weeks, after which he was being sent to Spain for another Stats conference.
It's a hard life.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Stone Camel
The beautiful little town in which Dave was staying was called "Pietracamela", liturally "Stone Camel". It took it's name from the two humped "camel" shaped mountain on which it sat.
Italian lesson:-
Pietra - Stone
Camela - Camel
Pietrafied - Dave climbing up the Stone Camel mountain.
Despite it's obvious beauty, Dave was saddened to learn that the town was doomed. It had a current population of 50 people, with only around 10 under 30 years old. The mayor himself predicted only 20 years left of life in the village, as the young would abandon it for greener lands and the old would pass away. The majority of the town now belonged to tourists who visited once every few years. There were no schools, no shopping centers, no entertainment.
And yet one of the mayors chief concerns was that he thought the lighting in the mill should be a "softer white, not a yellow, but softer than the white it is now."
Italian lesson:-
Pietra - Stone
Camela - Camel
Pietrafied - Dave climbing up the Stone Camel mountain.
Despite it's obvious beauty, Dave was saddened to learn that the town was doomed. It had a current population of 50 people, with only around 10 under 30 years old. The mayor himself predicted only 20 years left of life in the village, as the young would abandon it for greener lands and the old would pass away. The majority of the town now belonged to tourists who visited once every few years. There were no schools, no shopping centers, no entertainment.
And yet one of the mayors chief concerns was that he thought the lighting in the mill should be a "softer white, not a yellow, but softer than the white it is now."
The Crawler
Midweek, the large group of Statisticians took on the nearby mountain. Despite having awful balance, a fear of heights and a lack of stamina, Dave had not once turned down the challenge of a mountain, nor quit before reaching his goal, and he wasn't about to start. Besides, these were Statisticians, surely they'll be equally ill equipped, maybe, dare he dream, worse.
No. The rest of the group was up and down that mountain at a speed equivalent to a decay rate of -0.5, whilst Dave was stuck at 0.5, a joke lost on every single reader of this page, but fitting given the situation.
Walking/crawling inch by inch up the side of this mountain, Dave was asked time and time again by his bored helpers if he wanted to quit. 'Never.'
Sure enough he made it to the cottage at the top and had himself a delightful dish.
The cottage was nice, and he planned to stay there until winter when he could skate down on the snow. Alas, he was informed he must head of straight away, and he slowly began to crawl back down again.
He sliently wished Jean's mum was around to give him a helping hand.
Later that day, his efforts had not gone unnoticed and he was given a new label to wear with pride.
"The Climber"
No. The rest of the group was up and down that mountain at a speed equivalent to a decay rate of -0.5, whilst Dave was stuck at 0.5, a joke lost on every single reader of this page, but fitting given the situation.
Walking/crawling inch by inch up the side of this mountain, Dave was asked time and time again by his bored helpers if he wanted to quit. 'Never.'
Sure enough he made it to the cottage at the top and had himself a delightful dish.
The cottage was nice, and he planned to stay there until winter when he could skate down on the snow. Alas, he was informed he must head of straight away, and he slowly began to crawl back down again.
He sliently wished Jean's mum was around to give him a helping hand.
Later that day, his efforts had not gone unnoticed and he was given a new label to wear with pride.
"The Climber"
ET phone home...
Dave collapsed into his new bed, tired and upset.
Having woke at 3am, 15 hrs ago, he had taken a taxi, a plane, a bus, two trains, a coach and a minibus to get here. He had problems at the airport with his hand luggage being too big, he had got lost in Rome, he had been given the wrong room and worst of all his phone lacked any kind of signal and he was now faced with a week cold turkey with no Jean.
The lessons hadn't started yet and this trip already sucked.
Then a light at the end of the tunnel, a payphone! After talking to Jean for 5 minutes the world suddenly took on a nicer glow. He realised how beautiful the town he was staying in really was, the weather was nice and the endless amount of delicious free food was a definite bonus.
Clearly this was how an addict felt after a quick fix. Dave would have to go to group on his return.
Having woke at 3am, 15 hrs ago, he had taken a taxi, a plane, a bus, two trains, a coach and a minibus to get here. He had problems at the airport with his hand luggage being too big, he had got lost in Rome, he had been given the wrong room and worst of all his phone lacked any kind of signal and he was now faced with a week cold turkey with no Jean.
The lessons hadn't started yet and this trip already sucked.
Then a light at the end of the tunnel, a payphone! After talking to Jean for 5 minutes the world suddenly took on a nicer glow. He realised how beautiful the town he was staying in really was, the weather was nice and the endless amount of delicious free food was a definite bonus.
Clearly this was how an addict felt after a quick fix. Dave would have to go to group on his return.
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