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alt_aliceYesterday, we received a rather remarkable gift.
It has been a challenge, cobbling together our store of magical knowledge from old textbooks, the occasional bookstore, and memory. When I opened the crate and saw so many lovely books and materials covering all range of subjects, it was very nearly overwhelming. We feel quite rich indeed.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
We'll put the books and notes to good use. The memories Laura and I have of Astronomy and Arithmancy respectively may be quite rusty (and Frank and Jacinda didn't go past OWLs), but Regina has pounced on your notes with eagerness, and has already started pulling and prodding us into filling in the gaps in our knowledge. Fu, Pilar, and Danny have taken it upon themselves to survey for the best place to set up the telescopes, and by summer, we'll have taken our first much-needed steps into integrating those areas into our existing coursework. (Pilar is the most eager by far. She was in utter raptures at your lecture, Siz.) And the other books will be much used and loved as well, I can assure you!
Arca, I'll be passing along some feedback about your programming. It all looks quite solid, and I am very pleased. Initial distribution of the pamphlets will be a bit of a challenge, of course, but well worth our while in the long run, I think. The international sports programme sounds like it'd be just perfect. There might be a little politicking that may need to be done in Aldrich, only because it's important they're fully behind any new initiatives as well, and they're hesitant about devoting airtime to our target demographic, but I think you've made a convincing argument for our need.
It has been a challenge, cobbling together our store of magical knowledge from old textbooks, the occasional bookstore, and memory. When I opened the crate and saw so many lovely books and materials covering all range of subjects, it was very nearly overwhelming. We feel quite rich indeed.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
We'll put the books and notes to good use. The memories Laura and I have of Astronomy and Arithmancy respectively may be quite rusty (and Frank and Jacinda didn't go past OWLs), but Regina has pounced on your notes with eagerness, and has already started pulling and prodding us into filling in the gaps in our knowledge. Fu, Pilar, and Danny have taken it upon themselves to survey for the best place to set up the telescopes, and by summer, we'll have taken our first much-needed steps into integrating those areas into our existing coursework. (Pilar is the most eager by far. She was in utter raptures at your lecture, Siz.) And the other books will be much used and loved as well, I can assure you!
Arca, I'll be passing along some feedback about your programming. It all looks quite solid, and I am very pleased. Initial distribution of the pamphlets will be a bit of a challenge, of course, but well worth our while in the long run, I think. The international sports programme sounds like it'd be just perfect. There might be a little politicking that may need to be done in Aldrich, only because it's important they're fully behind any new initiatives as well, and they're hesitant about devoting airtime to our target demographic, but I think you've made a convincing argument for our need.
Private message to Alice
Date: 2014-10-09 09:18 pm (UTC)I just - reading back in the journals, there's a bit about Poppy and her borrowing one of my telescopes, and Hermione and -
The stars belong to everyone. They're much bigger than any of us. Knowledge, the same thing. Getting to have knowledge. I've been thinking about that a lot, this week.
(And thinking about what really matters. One of the telescopes, the student one, was a present from Mum and Dad when I turned nine. The other was from the whole family, when I started my apprenticeship. I've a much better one now, a present from Raz, and haven't been using them. Part of me wants to cling so tightly to things, and the rest of me thinks that's horribly selfish. So, better they get used. Maybe enjoyed.)
Over Christmas hols, maybe I can come out and do a few more classes. The most useful bits, but maybe something just enjoyable, too. The littler ones might like the stories about the constellations from different places, maybe? (I'd say Pilar should write with questions, but I don't entirely trust myself not to leave something out accidentally. But I hope that new astronomy text and the annotations help.)
Mum's so pleased the pamphlets are the right kind of thing. She's struggling, a bit, with keeping things from Dad, though she'd never say so. (She will, mind. Once she gives her word, it's solid. But that's why she doesn't want to be able to go to the secret-kept places.)
Re: Private message to Alice
Date: 2014-10-09 10:34 pm (UTC)You know, when we first got Moddey started, we were all so immediately focused on survival and safety, and keeping a handful of very young children as happy and healthy (and fed) as we could -- and Merlin, those first few years were hard.
We were in a drafty old ruin, and didn't know anything about farming or fishing, or how to keep goats and chickens. We only had two wands to work with, and none of us (besides Judith, bless her) had any experience as teachers. I don't think we even thought that far ahead in the beginning of things. It's not easy to imagine that the babies you've taken charge of will eventually need to learn Latin and Herbology and Charms, especially when you barely have enough time to keep on top of the nappies.
It's no Hogwarts, of course. I wish it could be more. But it is the best we can make it, and your gifts will make it better.
We would love to have you over Christmas. I'll have Pilar keep a working list of all her questions that she can show you once you get here.
Re: Private message to Alice
Date: 2014-10-09 10:52 pm (UTC)But practical, too. And Mum doesn't want to do things that'd cause more difficulty, and it's not like they haven't kept some things private before, I know.
I can imagine that was very hard. All the things you'd need to know. All the things you didn't know you'd need to know, too.
I'd like that. At Christmas. And Pilar's questions. And do tell me if there's other things you need, and we can see what we can do.
Re: Private message to Alice
Date: 2014-10-10 03:01 am (UTC)I certainly shall pass that along, and will be sure to let you know if there's anything further we need.