It is April Fool’s Day tomorrow and it is the type of concept celebration that I don’t particularly like. I don’t know about you (I mean most people think that it is harmless fun and usually it is!) but I don’t like the feeling that comes with making someone feel foolish or stupid; the feeling that your prank could hurt them either physically or emotionally. I don’t like the feeling for myself so why would I inflict it on others and why should I enjoy their discomfort. I’m sorry but I don’t! It is a bit like surprise birthday presents or parties where people pretend to have forgotten your birthday, sometimes all day, and then surprise you in the evening. The feeling of being miserable because you thought someone who supposedly cared for hadn’t remembered your birthday is horrible and hurtful. So no April fool’s day is not for me. As a teacher it was always a difficult line to walk if school was in on April 1st like it is this year. With younger children I always let them fool me but as the children became older it was more of a challenge that you didn’t! However I’m not really a stick in the mud with no sense of humour (Honest I’m not!) so in the spirit of the day I have written this poem, which is a bit of fun but I’m still not keen on the sentiment behind it. April Fool’s Day I was walking to school The other day When I saw my friend Her name is Faye I said, ”Hey! Faye how have you bin?” She said, “Just fine thank you Jim.” We carried on walking now together And talked about the lousy weather. Then I asked her if I might Take her out tomorrow night. She said, ”Hey! Jim what would we do?” I said, “Hey Faye that’s up to you.” I said I’d pick up at a quarter to eight She told me I’d better not be late. Then we arrived at our school And I shouted out, “Hey Faye! April fool!” Thoughts for the day; If people try to bring you down it means that you are above them. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me!
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When you buy a CD do you read the booklet that comes with it or is it superfluous? I don’t know about you but I always take the booklet out of the plastic box and look at it. I have been lucky to receive three CD’s as presents this year and this is what I found. Adele 25’s booklet was disappointing. It contained a selection of black and white photographs of her in the recording studio. I would have preferred that the booklet had printed the lyrics to the songs so that I could sing along with them. She could have included information about how she came to write the songs or any story attached to the songs. This would have helped me to understand the process or the feelings that she was going through when writing the album. For instance, where did she get her ideas from? Did she write the lyrics first or the music? Who were the people that she collaborated with on each song? So much more could be gained from this booklet than a selection of photographs. Even a note written to the buyer would have been welcome. CD number 2 was, ‘Elvis and the Philharmonic Orchestra.’ The title of each song was given and then underneath it was a list of the musicians who played on the recording. I’m sorry but I’m not really interested in who played the violin or guitar on a particular song. (Hey! Maybe the musician’s mother would have found it interesting- but not me!) I would have liked to have known more about why these particular songs were chosen and for what reason. Possibly some Information about how the album was put together; when and where and finally how long it took to be completed could have been included. I would have liked to find out more about the background history of the orchestra and as an Elvis fan I wanted to know more about him such as information about when he originally recorded the songs. Coldplay was the next CD I received. In fact this was interesting. The CD came in a very unusual box and the booklet inside was good. The lyrics of each song were written out so that I could follow the songs and sing along if I was so inclined. The art work and design of the CD sleeve and the booklet were aesthetically pleasing; basically written in fancy way! I haven’t had a Coldplay CD before and it had a few songs, which I liked instantly and some that I would have to listen to again, which is a sign of a good mixture of music to be found on a CD. I just wondered if the booklet was really necessary? I mean it must add to the cost of the production of the CD and that cost is handed on to the customer but who, like me, actually reads it? Maybe to cut down on the costs, a one card design of the title and photograph of the artist is all that is needed? Who knows, but to those people who are connected with creating this type of booklet; maybe a little bit more thought into what goes in it please! PS I hope this blog shows you just how eclectic my music taste is! LOL Thought for the day; Families are like music; some high notes, some low notes but always a beautiful song. Have you noticed how message boards or notices have sprung up in shops and that people are buying them to put up in their homes? I'’ve collected a few from my travels and put them together in a list poem. This one is about happiness. Maybe you could think of a few you would add to the list yourself. Happiness moments. Happiness is vacation days Happiness is sunny days Happiness is the fall of autumn leaves Happiness is gentle snowflakes. Happiness is playing hooky . Happiness is the first page of a book. Happiness is finding the first good book in a series and knowing that there are more to come. Happiness is writing something that you are proud of. Happiness is finishing a good story. Happiness is the smell of your first coffee of the day. Happiness is melting chocolate on the tongue. Happiness is eating your favourite meal. Happiness is tea- a cup, a sip and a sigh. Bliss! Happiness is dunking your biscuit in a cup of tea and pulling it out still intact. Happiness is fitting into clothes you no longer thought would fit. Happiness is meeting friends. Happiness is spending time with family. Happiness is a baby’s giggles. Happiness is a lover’s caress. Happiness is a moment alone. Happiness is a journey not a destination. PS. Happiness is seeing a comment or a like recorded on my website pages or blog. So come on everyone, - make me happy! As I sit here writing this I feel like Alan Davies from the TV programme QI when he waits for the klaxon to sound and the lights to flash as he states the obvious. But hey someone has to do it! So here goes! Easter eggs are such a rip off! There I’ve said it and I mean it. NER! NER! NER! NER! (I don’t know how to spell the sound but hopefully you catch my drift) They are all packaging and no substance! Sure they look impressive and I know that children like them and that they like to count how many eggs they receive and boast to their friends about the number but still let’s be honest here; they are not value for money. It also seems to me that the chocolate inside isn’t as good as the bars of chocolate that are sold every day. It usually has no taste no matter the brand label. So I would suggest that you save your money and buy a couple of your regular bars instead or better still treat your youngsters to a book or a trip to the cinema. Now I also know that you won’t go to this extreme because you can buy an Easter egg for £1 and it is Easter and it is a tradition; so you will continue to buy them regardless of what I say. But I wonder; did you know that the first chocolate Easter egg in Britain was made by Bristol’s Fry’s confectioners in1873 and that Cadbury’s made their first chocolate egg in 1875? You didn’t? Well you do now. And that the first egg was made out of bitter dark chocolate and the Victorians liked to decorate their eggs with marzipan flowers? And that only the rich could afford to buy them? No? Well, I was an educationalist in my past life! So, in keeping with the spirit of Easter eggs at Easter time (I’m not really a kill joy!) I would just like to say that Marks and Spencer’s have some really novel ideas this year, (albeit expensive ones!) from 30 hollow chocolate eggs set out like a tray of hen’s eggs plus their cute hen house and the unusual carrot coloured Easter egg. I don’t know what the quality of these is like as I haven’t tasted any of them but top marks for innovative ideas. PS Check out my Easter story on my website in the Ideas section for adults. www.suewestcott.com Thought for the day: Today be brave! 10 things that annoy me; 1. Sticky bar code labels on the bottom of plates and cups etc. They are so difficult to get off. 2. Why do we have to have mayonnaise on pre-packaged sandwiches rather than butter? I don't like mayonnaise! 3. Why do we not have simple plain English type of sandwiches any more, like ham, lettuce and tomato? 4. If you buy a ham only sandwich, why is it always on white bread, and never on brown? 5. Cars parked outside my house so that I can’t park my own. It is a nuisance when I have been shopping and I can’t get near to my front gate. 6. Pigeons- say no more! 7. The use of the word from in holiday adverts and brochures. These are very misleading and annoying as when you take the time out of a busy day to check it out they is usually only one, at that low price and on a date, which you can’t take. 8. The after smell on someone’s breath when they have eaten garlic. Why don’t you clean your teeth for heaven’s sake or suck a mint before you breathe all over me! 9. People who walk too slow! 10. And finally; Computers that are not working for me but they do when my husband does exactly the same thing as I did! Maybe you could make up your own list- it is quite therapeutic! PS. And finally to that person who doesn’t answer texts immediately – you know who you are!! Thought for the day: The happiest people don’t have the best of everything they just make the best of everything. As it is the first day of spring I have a confession to make. I’m afraid that I am in danger of turning into a garden centre gnome! I’m an aficionado on the subject. You know when you have finally lost your marbles or caught the bug, when you find yourself talking to strangers about which one they have visited and would recommend. I actually enjoy visiting garden centres even though I’m not what you would call a gardener. But hey don’t knock them until you have tried them. Let’s face it they’ve got everything you need especially in the winter months - outdoor space for nice days with fresh air and colourful plants to look at and sigh over. And obviously buy! (I usually pretend that I know what I’m looking at and then there are the names, which are a real test of your pronunciation skills!) If it is cold or raining there is the indoor space, which in some garden centres out manoeuvre the outdoor ones in size. These are full of gift shopping galore. On offer are extremely expensive items, which are lovely to look at and touch but not to buy. Usually there is a clothes section either suitable for outdated and old fashioned grannies or for the country set with Barbour coats, hats and ‘wellies’; think of Audrey from the TV programme To the Manor Born.( sorry for younger readers- just Google it or YouTube it and you’ll know what I mean) Now don’t forget the expensive designer garden furniture, the art work and the organic delicatessen; all there for your delight! You would need to have a big bank balance in the black to afford some of the items for sale. Finally, when all the goodies have been perused and debated over there is the café. WOW! How to spend your hard earned pension quickly and effortlessly by buying two cakes, a coffee and a tea! But hey a trip to the garden centre is a treat. It gets you out of the house and on grey days adds sparkle to your day. I love them. However, I usually leave them guilt ridden by my gastronomic extravagance but can’t wait to try the new one just opened down the road. You never know one day I might be tempted to write a review blog of all the centres that I have visited; one idea to put on the back burner! Thought for the day: Wherever you go; go with all of your heart. Someone please save me from a daughter who swans into the living room at ten to midnight, just as I was reluctantly making my way to bed. (I’m not a good sleeper). “Mum,” she says. “What do you think would happen to Siamese twins if one of them committed a murder, was found guilty and sentenced to time in prison?” I looked at her incredulously. I was ready to go bed to try and sleep! She continued, “What would happen to the twin who had nothing to do with the crime?” Well, I’m sure you can imagine my reaction. My husband’s was quite simple. “I’m off to bed. I don’t care!” My daughter laughed and said breezily, “I just wondered. Goodnight.” Meanwhile three hours later and I still haven’t come up with a reasonable solution. Over to you! Thought for the day: The best thing to hold onto in life is each other. I've just read an open letter on Facebook written by a friend's youngest son and an ex pupil of mine. He has woken up this morning to the fact that his life is special and that he wanted to thank and acknowledge the help from those who love him and from those whom he has met along his way. It was a lovely letter and a credit to him and his parents, who obviously love him so much. So today, no matter how ordinary it is or no matter how ordinary you think you are; enjoy life, embrace every new opportunity, smile and appreciate all the wonderful thinks around you. Thank you Matthew for opening up your heart and my eyes! Thought for the day: Simple; have a happy one! On Saturday I visited the Tate Gallery in Liverpool and although I expected the modern art on show to be unusual and challenging; I was surprised by the work on display. On reading some of the descriptions which accompanied the pieces of art, I felt that the artists were trying too hard to justify the eccentricity of their work and wondered, "Surely a piece of art should be able to stand alone.?"(But hey what do I know?) However on my visit to the ladies room I was overcome with creativity (of an artistic nature -LOL) and I decided to try my hand at some modern ’ART’ of my own. What do you think? Voyeurism. This piece is evocative of the classic Jan Van Eyck’s picture, 'Wedding Portrait.' Due to the juxtaposition of the photographer’s reflection in the mirror, it cross pollinates the effect that the watcher has on the viewer. The inclusion of the warning on the wall highlights the inherent dangers found in today’s society of being constantly monitored and councils the voyeur, to be careful, as he/she could be ‘in hot water or trouble’ if found out. Holder of life. The pristine whiteness of the receptacle emphasises the purity of life, which it is designed to contain. The shape is indicative of the womb, which is also a life vessel. The contrast with the stark, grey interior is symbolic of life’s constant throw away mentality; that is life can be flushed away so easily. Hot Air! This installation is a waiting post, which is full of hot air ready to be dispensed at any given time; as are most of the descriptions and justifications (given and written) displayed by some of the works of modern art in the Tate gallery. Unintelligible and unbelievable nonsense! Unbeknown to me (and at the same time I was creating my work) my lovely husband, who had also visited the men’s room, had had a similar idea! (see below) We’ve obviously been together too long!! Thought for the day: Is it better to be ridiculous than to be boring?
In November last year I was lucky to have some winter sun in Florida. I drove from Miami, through Key Largo to Key West and back again. On the journey I found an article in one of the local papers about how church signs and posters were trying hard to entice people into their churches. They quoted a few examples such as: Wrinkled with burdens? Come inside for a faith lift. Where will you be sitting in eternity? Smoking or non- smoking. I decided to look out for some of these church notice boards and checked the local papers in each place we stopped to see whether I could find any amusing ones. I hope that you agree that I did just that! Check them out and see what you think: Church Humour on Notice boards. As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools. Our churches are prayer conditioned. Life stinks? We have a pew for you. We are not Dairy Queen but we have great Sundays! (For those of you who don’t recognise Dairy Queen they are an ice cream parlour chain) An apology is the best way to have the last word. Why didn’t Noah swat the two mosquitoes? Whoever is praying for snow; stop it! Staying in bed and shouting, “Oh God!” does not constitute going to church. Lord, please make me the kind of person my dog thinks I am. And my all time favourite: The best vitamin for a Christian is B1. I wonder what kind of signs or posters churches in our country could come up with. Over to you! Thought for the day: No matter what people tell you; words and ideas can change the world. |
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