One of the (many) things I like about the Italian language is the little grace notes which lubricate our conversations and add to the feeling of community.
Of course, you know that buon giorno (good day)is the formal phrase when meeting someone, but when you part, you should wish them buona giornata, which is best translated as ‘Have a nice day.’ (Technically, giornata means a day’s work or, in artistic terms, how much of a fresco could be completed in one day, so you are wishing them well in their labours.)
Similarly, it is commonplace to say to someone who is off to work buon lavoro, good work, which is not praising work they havedone, but rather a wish that their working day will be a good one.
When you meet someone who is going on holiday, you’ll say buona vacanza, ‘Have a good holiday, ‘ and when they return, wish them buon ritorno, literally a good return, but really ‘Welcome back.’
Before every meal Italians will wish you buon appetito, ‘Enjoy your meal.’ And, of course, you will have a ‘good appetite’ for the delicious Italian food before you.
There are many more examples, but I would just like to wish you a buon giornata for today and buona vacanza for your coming holidays, particularly if you are joining us for one of our creative courses at the Watermill this year. (Details and links below). And, of course, if you come on, Giulia Balestri’s lovely Italian language week you will enjoy inspiring buon lavoro as you learn even more of this delightful language.
Our inspiring painting courses:
Ali Hargreaves
22 – 29 April 2023 – fully booked, waiting list open
Watercolours
To learn more about Ali and her course at the mill, please visit her 2023 Tutor Profile Page.
Randy Hale
13 – 20 May 2023 – fully booked, waiting list open
Watercolours
To learn more about Randy and his course at the mill, please visit his 2023 Tutor Profile Page.
Pamme Turner
20 – 27 May 2023 – fully booked, waiting list open
Watercolour and gouache en plein air
To learn more about Pamme and her course at the mill, please visit her 2023 Tutor Profile Page.
James Willis
3 – 10 June 2023 – one or two places available
Watercolours
To learn more about James and his course at the mill, please visit his 2023 Tutor Profile Page.
Herman Pekel
10 – 17 June 2023 – fully booked, waiting list opene
Watercolours
To learn more about Herman and his course at the mill, please visit his 2023 Tutor Profile Page.
Maggie Renner Hellmann
24 June – 1 July 2023 – two or three places available
Oil and watercolour (acrylic, pastel)
To learn more about Maggie and her course at the mill, please visit her 2023 Tutor Profile Page.
Fiona Graham-Mackay
1 – 8 July 2023 – still places
Painting en plein air (oil, acrylic, watercolour, pastel)
To learn more about Fiona and her course at the mill, please visit her 2023 Tutor Profile Page.
Belinda Biggs
8 – 15 July 2023 – still places
Watercolours
To learn more about Belinda and her course at the mill, please visit her 2023 Tutor Profile Page.
Mary Padgett
26 August – 2 September 2023 – still places
Pastels (and other portable media) en plein air
To learn more about Mary and her course at the mill, please visit her 2023 Tutor Profile Page.
Mike Willdridge
9 – 16 September 2023 – one or two places available
Watercolours and drawing (also gouache and acrylics)
To learn more about Mike and his course at the mill, please visit his 2023 Tutor Profile Page.
Brienne M Brown
16 – 23 September 2023 – Fully booked, waiting list open
Watercolours
To learn more about Brienne and her course at the mill, please visit her 2023 Tutor Profile Page.
Charles Sluga
23 – 30 September 2023 – two or three places available
Watercolours (acrylics and oils)
To learn more about Charles and his course at the mill, please visit his 2023 Tutor Profile Page.
Tim Wilmot
30 September – 7 October 2023 – fully booked, waiting list open
Watercolours
To learn more about Tim and his course at the mill, please visit his 2023 Tutor Profile Page.
Grahame Booth
7 – 14 October 2023 – fully booked, waiting list open
Watercolours
To learn more about Grahame and his course at the mill, please visit his 2023 Tutor Profile Page.
Our wonderful knitting weeks:
Georgia Farell
29 April – 6 May 2023 – Still places
6 – 13 May 2023 – fully booked, waiting list open
Knitting and La Bella Vita
To learn more about Georgia and her course at the mill, please visit our 2023 Tutor Profile Page.
Watermill Knitting Retreat
15 – 22 July 2023 – two or three places left
Knitting and La Bella Vita
To learn more about the Watermill Knitting Retreat at the mill, please visit our 2023 Retreat Page.
Our inspiring writing course:
Jo Parfitt
17 – 24 June 2023 – fully booked, waiting list open
Write your life stories
To learn more about Jo and her course at the mill, please visit her 2023 Profile Page.
Our unique Italian course:
Giulia Balestri
14 – 21 October 2023 — stillplaces
Learning Italian with the Italians
To learn more about Giulia and her 2023 course at the mill, please click here.