Time

Two weeks ago, Johnny came back from his pre-exhibition trip to London.  In the past, these occasions have always been a pinnacle of anxiety for all parties, with Johnny starting to stress the minute Clive informs him of departure times.  Clive lives (stressfully) in hope that Johnny will make the train.  (Johnny has been known not to!).

It is also extremely important not to hassle, or rush Johnny in any way, because this brings out a belligerence that is at odds with his usual, affable, easy-going self.  And the more he feels hassled, the slower he goes.  He did this to me when we were all going to the opera (with huge notice of event and persistent gentle reminders of time and date).  Having arrived on time to collect him, my car is still parked outside 30 mins later (in an area patrolled by ESP Traffic Wardens).  There are four of us in the car, waiting in our posh frocks and best suits and guess who insisted on one final cup of tea?  I was ready to throttle him but daredn't, because I knew he was picking a fight, which would give him the excuse not to go.  And that's where he has us, because we really, really want him to come.  Humph!

Ready then?

Johnny doesn't do time - he feels it, rather than refer to a watch (same, same brothers Paul and Phil). I was the only watch wearer on our Thailand trip and therefore, out of some kind of misguided sense of urgency (trains, boats, planes - that kind of thing) and instinct for order rather than chaos, I along with Marta, (she is similarly misguided) would attempt to marshal them into moving. This is like herding cats. Five minutes from departure time, Phil would decide on a shower.  Johnny would wait until one minute prior to leaving and decide to change his shoes, whilst muttering belligerently that he had been ready for hours!  Hah!  Paul too was a nightmare with his baseball boots (visiting temples required extra-time), until he discovered clogs and from then on, would be ready first.  Of all the brothers, I think Paul has the best sense of punctuality.  Perhaps it's from years of having to turn up on the right day and time for a gig.

However, for Johnny's latest trip to London, I observed a new man in action.  'I am really looking forward to this trip,' he confided. 'I am excited about the exhibition.  Everything about it feels good - all the people who are helping me do this.  I want to do it - to put on a really good exhibition that people will enjoy.' Johnny was on time, calm and not a peep from Mr Grumpy!