Symphony for breakfast

Ahh the symphony. All of the instruments collectively combine to provide the ear with a pleasing and unrelenting single sound or voice. This morning was no exception. However instead of trumpets and violins, I ate breakfast to the sounds of children screaming and parents scolding. Yesterday was the last day of school for the British school children and subsequently everywhere you look, children are out and about enjoying their summer holidays. Since Legoland is a fascinating attraction for these schoolchildren, the hotel that I am staying at has suddenly become overrun with these kids. Granted, I love children. They're fun and have a spirit that hasn't yet been squashed by years and years of "EAT YOUR PEAS". So it's a pleasant if not loud branch from my normal hotel mornings filled with business people in ties on their way to work. I literally felt as though I had stepped into an insane asylum... or more appropriately a zoo. In less than five minutes I overheard the following stern admonishments by parents while at the same time they were being drowned out by their 5 year-old's screaming lungs. It was a sight to witness for sure. And you know what happens when you get a lot of children around one another, they have to show off. So each table of children was trying to outdo the children's misbehavior next to them. It was hilarious. I am sure the parents are exhausted, but it was fun to watch.

"Do not try to trip people with your monster truck"
"That is not funny. You're not funny. Stop eating like a pig."
"Do not put the knife in your mouth. Do not put the knife in your nose!?! "
"Please sit down. Please stop. no. no. Please don't do that."
"Say thank you. No. Do not stick your tongue out at your sister. Say thank you. "
"Do not jump on the seats"
"Stop hitting each other"
"Please be nice to your sister."
"THIS IS NOT A ZOO! Stop swinging from the chair! You're going to break something. "

And then quietly, a break in the cacophony as a lone child was trying to take his crossiant to the table with the thongs in hand. Every two steps he would lose his grip and drop the crossiant. Then he would gingerly pick it back up and put it into the thongs before heading back to the table again. Drop. Stop. Pickup with Thongs. Step. Drop. Repeat. Over and over again. Then the noise level picked back up to its usual cresendo. It was literally like a small entertainment piece orchestrated for my very eyes. It's all in the perspective that you take, although I don't think the hotel staff was amused.

This also happens to be the same hotel that when I checked in yesterday didn't have power, no lifs in operation, and wouldn't for quite some time. Gotta love the rollercoaster ride of travelling. Carpe Diem!