The Weekend

Saturday was delightfully quiet--legos by Blaze at the library. 

In the evening I went to see the well-reviewed Cherry Orchard, which Francisco saw earlier in the week. It was quite well done--a strange combination of new (costumes and accents and, well, especially and annoyingly the microphone) and old (the Russian names, the headscarves, the themes of aristocratic age to democratic age). 

I really enjoyed it and want to read the play. My one comment--not sure if it's a complaint or not--the characters seemed to me to too closely stand for something--Marxism, capitalism, the ancien regime, the Orthodox church. And so I think they became a socio-political point rather than a person. 

A couple of small points: Blaze is studying "minibeasts" this term. I think minibeast is not a scientific, but more of a vague term that refers to insects plus. Not certain, but intrigued by this term. One of the minibeasts he's learning about are ladybirds. I love the little differences in language. 

I read him a book from school this weekend (part of his homework). It was all about farts (not my normal cup of tea). But this one was really clever--I'm telling you the list of things that this book uses as euphemisms just cracked me up. Some I've heard of course, some I have not. (I think it's Australian.)

• gave their bum trumpet a blow
• my bottom squeak
• backside flap
• ripe trouser cough
• rear-end sneeze
• rang his bum bell
• pongy bot smell
• thunder down under (the name of the book)
• blew that butt sneeze
• botty tweet

Q was horrified at the vulgarity, but I was impressed at the creativity.

Sunday has just been an embarrassment of beauty. After mass--with a baptism! (so much joy) and a celebration of Pentecost!--at a lovely church we'd never seen before, we walked to Hyde Park and enjoyed the gardens (and coffee and ice cream). 

Jesus, homeless

The park was full of bikes, horses, walkers. 

Before heading home, we even managed a quick stop at the Royal Academy of Art without making anyone upset! Above: an anatomical crucifix. Below: Flaming June. 

We talked most about this copy of The Last Supper, about which Q's teacher apparently (questionable--just as likely that Q misremembered) taught him it was painted by Michelangelo (it's Leonardo de Vinci), that the far, far left is Judas (it's just the left-most in this photo), and that Judas sold Jesus for 20 pieces of silver. Oh my. Cannot trust the state to give religious education! 

Grateful for the chance to wander without a plan and to encounter so much beauty.