Fortunately Hilda was not around when I muddled up 'can' and 'may' when asking permission to open this thread.

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"In the absence of knowledge, it is easier to judge than to understand."
James Axtell, 'Moral Reflections on Columbus'

Unfortunately someone told her and she was horrified at your lapse!

Fortunately, she was distracted by having to deal with some 'sinners' amongst the Middles.

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''He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim Elliot

Unfortunaltely, the sinners had set fire to Gaudenz' shed

Fortunately, Gaudenz was not inside at the time.

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"In the absence of knowledge, it is easier to judge than to understand."
James Axtell, 'Moral Reflections on Columbus'

Unfortunately, lots of pots of paint and varnish were, and it was a huge conflagration

Fortunately, Gaudenz was insured

Unfortunately the insurance company had gone bust.

Fortunately, the huge conflagration had not spread to the school, so in the grand scheme of things the School's losses were minimal.

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"In the absence of knowledge, it is easier to judge than to understand."
James Axtell, 'Moral Reflections on Columbus'

Unfortunately, Gaudenz informed the tabloid press of the incident

Fortunately, as it was the Swiss press, no prospective parents from any other country read it, and there was no drop in pupil numbers

Unfortunately, the Middles were thrilled by the publicity and sent copies home to their parents.

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"In the absence of knowledge, it is easier to judge than to understand."
James Axtell, 'Moral Reflections on Columbus'

Fortunately these got confoscated by Customs at the border and didn't reach their destination

Unfortunately the Customs officials returned all the copies to Hilda, who was furious with the Middles.

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"In the absence of knowledge, it is easier to judge than to understand."
James Axtell, 'Moral Reflections on Columbus'

Fortunately she hadn't heard the interview with the Middles on the local radio

Unfortunately, Nell Wilson had.

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"In the absence of knowledge, it is easier to judge than to understand."
James Axtell, 'Moral Reflections on Columbus'

Fortunately she had fallen into a faint at the sheer awfulness of it all

Unfortunately, Matey brought her around quickly with a quick dose of smelling salts.

Fortunately, Matey's smelling salts were so powerful they caused temporary amnesia.

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"In the absence of knowledge, it is easier to judge than to understand."
James Axtell, 'Moral Reflections on Columbus'

Unfortunately they also induced hallucinations