A few teensy reminders
Mar. 28th, 2013 07:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_umbridgeDear children -
I know you are all apparently quite excited to depart on your little holidays, but there are a few teensy considerations before you go.
You are, of course, expected to behave at home with the same sense of discipline, self-control, and maturity that I expect of you here at school. Don't think I won't learn of it should you misbehave or fail your obligations as proper young witches and wizards in our larger community.
Hogwarts Junior Council members, please pick up your membership and service badges so you may proudly wear them at home and tell your parents about how you are helping make your dear school the very best and most perfected it can possibly be. And of course, I'm sure you'll alert me should there be any little things that come up while you're gone, that I should be aware of. You are models for your classmates.
Mr Fred and George Weasley: kindly report to my office at 7:30 tomorrow morning: I have a little request of you while you are home over the holidays. I need to know why you persist in sharing a journal.
Miss Hydra Lestrange, kindly report to my office at your convenience before you return home for the holidays. You are not in any trouble at all, dear, but I have a few teensy things I'd like to learn more about.
Mr Neville Longbottom, I remain displeased with the delay in the full planting of the Memorial Garden. I am certain that you can find some way to plant fall plants in April if you only apply yourself the teensiest bit. Honestly. I expect a revised Memorial Garden schedule upon your return from hols, for dedication this school year.
Miss Megan Jones, my dear, I do hope everything is in order. Do let me know if I need to assist with any additional little arrangements.
Finally, parents, should you wish some ideas and plans to keep your children focused, disciplined, and aligned with the larger goals of the school and our glorious Protectorate, materials are available from the Education office on request. (They have graciously agreed to handle the matter, since I will be back and forth at various appointments through the next two weeks.)
I know you are all apparently quite excited to depart on your little holidays, but there are a few teensy considerations before you go.
You are, of course, expected to behave at home with the same sense of discipline, self-control, and maturity that I expect of you here at school. Don't think I won't learn of it should you misbehave or fail your obligations as proper young witches and wizards in our larger community.
Hogwarts Junior Council members, please pick up your membership and service badges so you may proudly wear them at home and tell your parents about how you are helping make your dear school the very best and most perfected it can possibly be. And of course, I'm sure you'll alert me should there be any little things that come up while you're gone, that I should be aware of. You are models for your classmates.
Mr Fred and George Weasley: kindly report to my office at 7:30 tomorrow morning: I have a little request of you while you are home over the holidays. I need to know why you persist in sharing a journal.
Miss Hydra Lestrange, kindly report to my office at your convenience before you return home for the holidays. You are not in any trouble at all, dear, but I have a few teensy things I'd like to learn more about.
Mr Neville Longbottom, I remain displeased with the delay in the full planting of the Memorial Garden. I am certain that you can find some way to plant fall plants in April if you only apply yourself the teensiest bit. Honestly. I expect a revised Memorial Garden schedule upon your return from hols, for dedication this school year.
Miss Megan Jones, my dear, I do hope everything is in order. Do let me know if I need to assist with any additional little arrangements.
Finally, parents, should you wish some ideas and plans to keep your children focused, disciplined, and aligned with the larger goals of the school and our glorious Protectorate, materials are available from the Education office on request. (They have graciously agreed to handle the matter, since I will be back and forth at various appointments through the next two weeks.)
no subject
Date: 2013-03-28 11:58 pm (UTC)In that case, I would like very much to have a plan that will produce the optimally presentable garden suitable for dedication this spring, and then a supplemental plan for later plantings. After all, we want this to be splendid now and splendid later.
I'm sure you will have something ready at the end of holidays, in keeping with our budget, though I suppose we could arrange some supplemental - aren't there plants that just bloom for a season? Inexpensively.
I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2013-03-29 12:33 am (UTC)Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2013-03-29 12:39 am (UTC)And then sow the entire garden with weeds.
Dandelions are very colourful, for example.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2013-03-29 12:40 am (UTC)She'll love it!
no subject
Date: 2013-03-29 12:44 am (UTC)I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2013-03-29 12:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-29 12:50 am (UTC)And there's different levels of plants in the garden design. How would you like me to lay out the options for you?
Do you want the supplemental plantings broken out in separate spreadsheets? Annotated by nursery? Some are more expensive than others, BUT less hardy if they have to be sent from further distances, or, well, some nurseries just have better reputations for providing dependable and disease-free plants. How do you want that accounted for?
Do you want the transparency overlays which show how the garden changes month by month? The charms have to be re-set if planting is pushed back from the ideal schedule due to weather, of course.
I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2013-03-29 12:50 am (UTC)I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good: Private Mesage to Neville Longbottom
Date: 2013-03-29 01:03 am (UTC)Just think of Dad saying 'chin up, kiddo.'
We'll get a chance to see them over hols.
And I know you're frustrated, but you're letting it show, Pete. To Her, I mean. So be careful.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good: Private Mesage to Neville Longbottom
Date: 2013-03-29 01:18 am (UTC)Yeah, I can't wait to see them.
And yeah, I'll be careful. But this is part of that 'white noise campaign.' Throw a bunch of stuff at her, act helpless, and bury her in having to make decisions.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good: Private Mesage to Neville Longbottom
Date: 2013-03-29 01:24 am (UTC)I'm just saying be careful. That's all.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good: Private Mesage to Neville Longbottom
Date: 2013-03-29 01:41 am (UTC)Hopefully, she won't notice the gritted teeth.
no subject
Date: 2013-03-29 12:58 am (UTC)Some of the rarer plants IF you want to include them require special additives (dragon dung, vampire blood meal, etcetera). If you want them to thrive, that is. Of course, you COULD plant them, and add the additives later, with the NEXT budget cycle. And then hope that they survive until then. If they die, you could re-plant with something less expensive, but then you wouldn't need the additives after all.
You could try to scavenge the materials for the raised beds rather than order it. Perhaps there's some lumber in some of the castle attics? Of course, you don't know how the wood has been treated, and some it might rot. Or you could find stone and dig it up. That would add to the time you need to get everything into the ground, of course.
These are just a few of the concerns with adjusting the design or varying the budget, of course.
I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2013-03-29 12:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-29 02:16 am (UTC)Are you trying to be difficult, Mr Longbottom? Honestly, most of those questions seem entirely illogical to me. You had best come by and talk before you leave for break, and we will come to some determination.
I do, however, want to know the reasoning for each and every decision you make, and have a proper list of alternatives available should there be any need for later discussion.
no subject
Date: 2013-03-29 02:35 am (UTC)I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2013-03-29 02:35 am (UTC)