Egg Table

Well here she is our egg-shaped tripod table which we designed in collaboration with local ecological carpenter and artisan Philippe,  made from Ash. (http://www.histoiresdarbres.com)    Our table is affectionately known as Cosmic Egg (after Hildegarde of Bingen).

Hildegarde of Bingen's Cosmic Egg

Because it has three legs and a curved shape it is possible to sit up to 12 people around it, without anyone being jammed against a leg (the legs are set well back).  It has 5 coats of ecological 'hard' oil, and is pretty tough.  The natural grain of the wood means it is not too pristine and stain-fussy.

The more I get to know this table, the more I love it.  Everyone always ends up round the table, not just for meals, also because you're talking to the cook or need a flat space for your tea and biscuits, your pen and paper, your musical score...   It's rounded shape and edging creates a fluid passage around it, is comfortable to lean into.   You can sit anywhere on the curve, close to your neighbour, or if you prefer, in a space by yourself to work, or sing, or think, there are almost infinite possibilities along the curved line, and it feels comfortable for one, two three, four and a cat with hope in its heart, around the circular bit for sitting opposite with plenty of space, or gathered closely around the pointy end, or nobly separated at each end and facing one another, and comfortable with a crowd assembled.  It's pale warm colour reflects a soft light, it's grain is infinitely fascinating, it's touch soft and appealing, conversations flow over it, meals spread out comfortably, a cluster of mismatched cheap and recycled chairs gathered around it, differences welcome,  it is a centre of family life.

"If we are showing off the table mum, then we must all sit like Bree Hodge (B and JC didn't)

I'm sure it will double as a conference table in future years,  for the Hermit Support Group's Annual Conference, perhaps.

Marks Again!

R was in the mood for revelations this morning:  having previously received a false mark on Pronote, the Mark Obsessed Website, 3 out of 20 instead of 13, he now finds the error can be in his favour.  He is the proud owner of a 20 out of 20 intsead of a 12.  This is because he is sometimes given the marks of another boy in his class who shares his name.  Happily for R, this boy is an 'intello', a particularly obedient and diligent child who dedicates his life to getting good marks, so R can only come out on top.

I previously reported that someone at school had hacked into Pronote The Online Mark Administrator and upgraded all his marks, and this morning more revelations emerged on this subject too;

"He got expelled from the school"

"But I thought he only got a warning"

"No, because in fact he was helping lots of people to get good marks"

"A philanthropist, hardly a sacking offence..."

"No, he was charging 10 Euros an upgrade.  He got caught because he usually had an avarage of 8 out of 20 and he changed it to 18 out of 20.  And then one day a teacher noticed one of her marks should be 15 and was 20, she thought it was a mistake and put it back to 15, and then seconds later it went back up to 20, so they knew there was a hacker"

"Hang on a minute, how do you know all this?"

"One of the assistant teachers likes to tell stories" he says smiling, "It's a pity that boy got caught, otherwise by 18 he could have been a rich man".