Education has produced a vast population
They spend twelve months
teaching children to walk and then talk
and the next twelve years
teaching them to sit down and shut up
when all you have to do
is teach them all to read
its a source of amusement and fun
to happy little minds
Source : Trevelyan, Diller, Gilchrist and Plato (Via P. 96 & 97 of QIs Book of Quotations)
7th January 2019
#promptuarium
I’ve been doing the six word stories over Christmas…this piece is inspired by one
The tree may be gone for another year
and the decorations might be back in the box
but around and about the house
there’s enough pixie dust in the air
to bring a smile to a little child’s eyes
#Toystory #Memories #Childhood
Salford 6th September
I can see them now
scattered around on the floor
those little bricks that stuck together
some square – some rectangles
some red, some yellow, some blue, some green
we made trees and houses
for the little lego people
that rode around in the cars
on the stubbily green grass outside the house
we’d just built
Salford, 22nd August 2018
Another piece inspired by the #Promptuarium
Many thought you a funny kid
On most nights they’d see you staring into space
Overlooking the positions of the stars and the zodiac
No other subject interested you more
Destiny ? to be the first man to live – on a base on the moon
Until then – you sit out in the garden – plotting your way there
Satellites floating in zero gravity over your head as you
Track your course with telescope, pencil and paper
Salford , 29th April 2018
That could be a whirlwind, running round the house
and then again – it could be one of the younger members of your brood
now, you could engage a short sharp shock – but
then again – you would be crestfallen within half an hour
restrict the Tasmanian devil to his room
Until the time – he runs out of energy
Might be as nice as pie to you in no time
!note – he’ll have forgotten about what set him off too!
Salford 4th April 2018
The world is immense – to most people
Over the water there’s places you’ve never been to
During your lifetime – you’ll experience many a new thing
Daffodils won’t be the only flower you chomp on as you
Let your little toes explore the water (with mum and dad’s help)
Enjoying the nice warm sand in a place thats new whilst
Relaxing under a colourful umbrella.
Salford 18th March 2018
Anyone who’s read the “First Day at School” piece on here, will know how in my first year at High school – i ended up in Needlework for form.
Well, during the school week that year – as well as your regular stuff from English and Maths, Geography, History and all….we had craft lessons and this took us from Woodwork to Pottery.
But before we could get into the really messy stuff. We had to do the basics
and this meant making a pencil case from scratch
They were all standard size – and made from one standard tartan fabric,
the inner pocket – we could choose a colour from a selection and attached it to the tartan before creating the cases over all shape
I still have memories of lads in their craft aprons yelling out after being stabbed by a stray pin. For me, my Achilles heel was getting the thread in the needle
Once attached, we were shown how to operate the sewing machine
As i put my foot to the pedal – i watched as the fabric slowly formed into the case
Then the decorations and fixings went on – biased binding, riff-raff braid in all colours and velcro and pop-studs
It took a few sessions to master, but when i finished i’d created something i’d be proud to take into the rest of class with
It might look like world war three has arrived in the kitchen
but in reality , a masterpiece has been created
sticky fingers and flour dust on kitchen tops
even more on the cupboard doors and floor
colourful paintwork adorned on the table tops
while the finished article hangs on the refrigerator door
and all created to send out a message
“Happy Mothers Day!”
Crafting a dessert, is a bit of a magic trick
Oranges sliced and pineapples diced get laid in a dish, and
Next comes the syrup and then the batter, before the dish is covered in foil
Just before the dish is put in the oven – four holes are made to let out steam
Until its time – for it to be turned upside down and
Royally presented to all sat at the table
Excited little ones ask – can i have custard with mine ?
