Beach Volleyball

I mentioned several entries ago that a few years ago a misguided group started their Exodus or Hurricane autocours in the neutral mask, with a beach volleyball session. They claimed, as we all claim about our autocours when they are stopped before the end, that it would have got really good if they'd just had the chance to keep going. The next image was genuis, the next scene was fantastic. It was just about to turn a corner. We've all been there.
Imagine then, my delight and horror when, last Friday, watching the first year's hurricane's one group started on a beach with, yes, I kid you not, two people throwing a ball to each other, others playing (sandcastles?!) and some having a nice swim in the sea.
Paola stopped it characteristically quickly.
'What do you think you're doing?' she said. (Or words to that effect). 'The neutral mask doesn't put on suntan lotion! The neutral mask doesn't go on holiday in Maroc!'
Then, to my even greater amazement, she told the group to chose a later point in their piece, when they'd stopped applying lotion and finished off the airport chick-lit, and re-start their piece.
Nevertheless the profs ripped it to sheds at the end, but I think that group have no idea how lucky, or unlucky, they were for that to happen. That's the first time I have ever, ever seen or heard of a second chance being given.
Another of the second years turned to me and said, 'they're going soft! This school is going to the dogs!!' But then he does tend speak with a lot of exclaimation marks.