Ailsa, our fellow blogger who spends way too much time in airport, train station and bus depot lost-and-found offices in search of her elusive backpack, wants us all to take a giant time-out.
No, she doesn’t want us to drop what we’re doing to join in her “quest” for her misplaced luggage, but she does want us to take a deep breath, look around and reflect on TIME — this week’s travel theme.
Tempus Fugit, Latin for Time Flies. It really does, doesn’t it? That’s probably why somebody, somewhere is always asking someone else, “What time is it?”
You know, I’ve got so many wrist watches that I’ve purchased over the years that I really ought to look into applying for Swiss citizenship. Or, maybe I should just share them with the aforementioned guy who has no handy means to tell time himself.
These handsome pieces, unfortunately, are now nothing more than a fashion accessory to compliment the day’s wardrobe, as I, like just about everyone else I see on the street, rely on my mobile phone to tell time.
Most days you’ll find me parked in front of my laptop computer where the analog and/or digital clock — your choice — is just a cursor glide up the screen.
In my kitchen, there’s a wall clock. The oven door has an imbedded digital clock; likewise, on the refrigerator door. There used to be a clock on the night stand next to the bed, but when I finally call it a day, I just carry the iPhone upstairs and set the alarm for tomorrow’s wakeup call.
And the granddaddy of all of my time pieces is, well, a grandfather clock.
That rather tall and heavy piece of “furniture,” that stands guard right inside the entryway of my apartment, chimes every quarter-hour. When it strikes, I react, just like Pavlov’s dog, and either glance at the computer clock or look over at the mobile phone.
With spring now here, although the weather outside begs to differ, it’s that time of the year when I actually clean my clock, the grandfather one. Enjoy the short video below of this dinosaur of a time piece.
For my fellow bloggers and followers scattered around Central Europe, here’s a Tempus Fugit reminder. Set your clocks and watches ahead one hour before going to bed Saturday night as Daylight Saving Time — Central European Summer Time or British Summer Time over here — is upon us Sunday.
Tick…tick…tick…
©The Palladian Traveler
©Tom Palladio Images
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You have spring??? Oh the joy of being in Italy…sigh.
Only on the calendar. It’s still pretty cold and rainy here in the north, but it won’t be for much longer. Great weather for rose’. 🙂
Hahaha, we’re still happy with the reds at this point in cold Michigan…but I cannot wait for the rosés to come out…
As amusing as always, Tom, even if I had to forego the pleasure of watching your ministrations to your grandfather clock due to low bandwidth 🙂
W-Gene – Sorry to hear you don’t have ample bandwith to view the video and all the others I’ve been posting. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Have a great day. 🙂
I can have a house full of clocks working and not working, new and old or antiques. They are there not to mark time, but to immortalize a moment in time.
Valentina — I agree with you. I love my “nonno” clock and antique clocks in general. Thanks for viewing and commenting. Ciao for now.
A weakness for Antique Clocks here. Though I don’t own any, they are beautiful and always catch my eye.
Loved the video and especially the music choice. Nice.
Thanks MG. The music is from Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons”.
Yes, it’s amazing how many clocks and watches we each have, without realising it. I love the face of your grandfather clock.My mom-in-law has one that chimes every quarter hour too.
Sylvia — I’m a sucker for watches and glasses. Thanks for stopping by, and welcome home.
Tom – what a wonderfully witty and creative post. I usually don’t wear my watch now that I’m retired and I don’t carry a cell phone because I travel light when I move around my neighborhood (and world) so I’m the one who is always asking what time it is. I’m still working on what I want to do with this challenge. Maybe I need to go to a furniture store. 🙂
Pat – Take a second look at the post and let me know which wrist watch you like, and it’s yours. Btw, just in case you’re wondering, it’s 9:18 a.m. around Central Europe. 🙂
What would I do without you? You are my hero. Actually I thought the cell phone wrist watch was pretty cool. I asked for one in all the upscale jewelry stores here in Naples yesterday but they just looked at me funny. Italy has always been ahead of the US in fashion so I guess it hasn’t crossed the pond yet.
Pat — I hope u were joking as that iPhone is just covering a real watch giving the illusion that the iPhone is attached to the wrist band.
Sent from my iPhone
Tom – I was joking and really appreciated your creativity in making a cell phone watch. As we laugh they will come out with one next year.
What is it about us being slaves to time. That darned clock gets me every time. Super watch collection you have Tom. Love your photos.
Emily — We’re prisoners of time, aren’t we, whether we like it or not. About that watch collection, none of them work as I never got around to changing batteries, plus with the clock built into the phone, I just wear them for ornamentation. Thanks for commenting and the thumbs-up for the photos.
great post 🙂 i still wear a wristwatch often. habit 🙂
KZ — It’s hard to break habits, like the wearing of wrist watch. I wear one, too, but it doesn’t work — just for show.