Translations

We have recently returned from a week in Sicily - the largest island in Europe and home to so many ancient civilisations. Given that it suffers from both a volcano and earthquakes, it is amazing that its ancient history survives.



Landing in Catania, with the dramatic backdrop of Mount Etna dominating the skyline, we drove through the inevitable land of warehousing and dereliction, which seems to be the universal surround of all airports and onto an extremely bumpy motorway, which apparently was funded by the EC, but most of the cash found its way into Mafia pockets (allegedly) and hence the poor quality of the road.



Despite a monstrous oil refinery which resembled a futuristic space station, spewing out fumes and smoke, lighting up the sky, obliterating the plethora of stars, the landscape was remarkably beautiful and green, with a backdrop of rugged hills. The fields along the coast housed row upon row of orange and lemon trees, and heading inland, olive and almond groves, and, of course, vineyards. Five litres of very drinkable wine costs 10 euros from the local winery. They fill up your plastic container from huge tanks. Far too drinkable. There is still plenty of evidence of a once thriving tuna business; as well as carob trees peppering the landscape. Polytunnels house artichokes, aubergines, fennel (on steroids - they were HUGE) and all manner of vegetables.



Sicily, despite the monstrous structures indicating some manufacturing capacity, is very largely rural, and the people confirmed this. Straight talking, friendly, to the point types, with a good sense of humour. The men seemed to be short, and positively embraced the Don Corlioni look, black attire, smart shoes and Easy Rider style sun glasses. I was sad to see that Italy has finally succumbed to obesity. There were numerous examples of obese people, mainly women and young children. But the quality of the food in the supermarkets and markets is still wonderful.



Whilst on holiday, Rob ended up doing various jobs for his sister, who has just built a house there, creating endless DIY possibilities. We went to the local hardware shop and bought a piece of equipment we needed.

These were the instructions. Can you guess what it is? I'll give you a clue. It's not a nucleur weapon.

Spelification

This product can be send up laser beam. And it will be formed a beeline when used in the in door condition.

Warning: please use the product according to the process, or may caused some imperilments as the radiation leak out.

Precision: never preponderate over 0.5mm

Be applicable temperature: 30-104 degree in Fahrenheit and 1-40 in centigrade

Install batteries: circumrotate the wheel which at the rearward of the product, open the battery room, the put two AAA batteries according to the mark which on the laser level.

Mintain:

1. Must be careful when use the laser level as it's exact utensil;

2. Avoid shock it;

3. Put the laser level back the case when after use it;

4. Keep distence from dust and water;

5. Keep the product dry and clean;

6. Check the batteries frequently in order to avoid its degenerative.

Got it?

How we screw up children!

I watched a child on the Beacon, where I walk the dogs, trying to skip a stone in the small lake up there. His mother was making the kind of encouraging noises mother's do, showing him how to hold it and throw. His first attempt was clearly a failure, it plopped into the pond more or less at his feet.

"Well done Freddy, you did it. That was lots of skips!!!"
(high pitched condascending voice).

"I did not. It didn't skip at all."
The boy was indignant. Understandably.

"It definitely had one skip."
His mother continued to enthuse, trying to cover up her previous 'exaggeration'.



The point of this observation is that it made me think about the lies we tell our children. Our motives are no doubt sound - we want them to feel good about themselves. But it is also very patronising and possibly damaging, to tell a child they have done well when they clearly haven't.

This kind of false, 'oh you're so good at that' flattery, might be well meaning, but it is also misguided. It teaches children some damaging lessons:

1. not to try (what's the point if everything you do gets a thumbs up)
2. lying is okay if you're saying nice things
3. not to trust people when they say you are good at something

There are, of course, ways round the 'lie'.

Teachers, especially, are extremely adept at coming up with phrases which, whilst not actually saying, 'Look, that was shit', don't actively tell a lie.

So they use phrases such as:
"It looks like you tried really hard on that."
"Nevermind, next time it'll be easier."
Or, throw it back to them:
"What do you think of it?"
That lets you off the hook entirely, because if they say, "I think it's brilliant," you can just say "Well done."
And if they say, "I think that was crap," you can say the "nevermind...." spiel.

The long term damage is obvious. Constant praise denies ever letting children feel failures. So, when it inevitably happens, it comes as a huge shock.

Look at all those wanna be singers who are clearly tone deaf, who are so outraged, humiliated and horrified when Simon Cowell tells them they're 'rubbish'.

"But my mum says I'm brilliant."

Oh dear.

So, mothers, don't be fooled into thinking that bigging up your children is necessarily good for them.

We all survived, and we're doing okay. Aren't we?