Last night I was enjoying a conversation with Steve and Wendy… the usual stuff – politics, families, pets, gardening. Then Wendy said, ‘Have you heard of Roland the Farter?’ I confessed that I hadn’t.
In my experience there are three responses to flatulence: You address the matter with serious embarrassment, you mustn’t speak about it at all, or you make a small-boy-style joke of it.
Wendy took the latter approach. Apparently Roland was court jester to Henry II in 12th century England – for which services he was given Hemingstone Manor in Suffolk, not far from us here.
Each Christmas one of Roland’s responsibilities was to entertain the king by ‘a jump, a whistle, and a fart’. Apparently these actions were accomplished simultaneously.
I’ve been told by wise and capable women that multi-tasking is a skill that only women can master. I’m happy to agree. Doing only one thing at a time suits me. Roland, however was famed and rewarded for his ability to multi-task. I confess I have never tried, let alone succeeded in matching his accomplishment.
As a boy scout I learnt that ‘A scout smiles and whistles under all circumstances’. Although I understand the principle of positivity, resilience, and striving to find joy, I’ve tried that particular multi-tasking requirement and discovered that simultaneous smiling and whistling is impossible.
On Sunday I watched a gent multi-tasking admirably… caring for a young girl, getting a drink for them both, anticipating her next action, negotiating their way through a crowd, acknowledging people he knew, stopping for brief conversations…
…Remembering the multi-tasking prayer of Richard of Chichester: ‘O most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother, of you three things I pray: To see you more clearly, love you more dearly, follow you more nearly, day by day.’
…This morning reading Jesus’ multi-tasking requirement for his disciples: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’
Next time I see Wendy I must remember to ask about her particular multi-tasking skills.
malcolmsmusings.org 
Malcolm, as a teacher you had to multi-task most of the time. Teaching the lesson as well as being aware of who was listening and who wasn’t and being aware of what was going on in the corner.
Teaching a practical, such as a food tech project, certainly demanded multi-tasking. As well as being aware of the attention of the group assembled around the preparation area (you’ll probably like that description of a worktop), I also had to be able to demonstrate the safe use of kitchen tools, be aware of the next ingredient to use and possibly watch the hob for something that was already being cooked.
In the staffroom teachers have to hold a conversation with their colleagues, make a hot drink using a hot kettle as well as keep an eye out for the head because they were already supposed to be making their way back to their classroom.
Happy day. Of course, I had my own tea making facilities that were put to near constant use. But then I always made my TA a drink at the same time, whilst keeping an eye out for a wandering head who’d finished his own bit of pen-pushing and decided to stretch his legs for want of something better to do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re absolutely right, Alan. When we were teaching we were multi-tasking all of the time. Sometimes now it’s convenient to be a man and be told that I can’t multi-task.
LikeLike
Nice one, talented man xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now I will forever think of multi-tasking in a whole new light! 😆
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too, Dana!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have managed all three but never got a castle, dammit xx
LikeLiked by 3 people
It’s not what you know it’s who you know. Or to put it another way it’s not what you can do – it’s who sees and hears you doing it
LikeLike