Well yesterday I finally convinced myself that perhaps these:

Were better for me than this:

I managed to pull myself together despite discovering that Meno had an endless supply in the frozen wastes of Canada.

I was resigned to the fact that I'd soon be tasting the delights of a morning bowl of Shreddies but shock horror this is what arrived instead:

Now don't get me wrong - I'm not being ungrateful - it was so kind of my friend to bring these all the way from England but they are not what I asked for and I can buy these over here!

Now I could murder a Cadbury Creme Egg and some Shreddies!

C'est la vie et mange tout!

I want one now!

Ah! I suppose the cereals will be more nutritious!

My neighbour has just been round to split some of my logs for me. Thank you Gordon! Whilst we were working we were discussing what wood it might be. I could remember learning a song or poem at school when I was about 12 or 13. The only line I could recall was "Oaken logs burn steadily" a quick search on the internet gave me the rest.

LOGS TO BURN!

Elmwood burns like churchyard mould,
E'en the very flames are cold.
Poplar gives a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke.
Applewood will scent your room
With an incense-like perfume.
But Ash wet or Ash dry,
For a queen to warm her slippers by!

Then afterwards I found another version:

Oak-logs will warm you well
That are old and dry
Logs of pine will sweetly smell
But the sparks will fly
Birch-logs will burn too fast
Chestnut scarce at all
Hawthorn-logs are good to last
Cut them in the fall.
Holly-logs will burn like wax
You may burn them green
Elm-logs are like smouldering flax
With no flame to be seen
Beech-logs for winter time
Yew-logs as well
Green elder-logs it is a crime
For any man to sell.
Pear-logs and apple-logs
They will scent your room
Cherry-logs across the dogs
Will smell like flower of broom
But ash-logs, smooth and grey
Burn them green or old
Buy up all that come your way
They're worth their weight in gold.

Sadly I don't know the authors' names but I might do another search later.

Here's the solution to Monday's pre-decimal coin brainteaser

ANSWERS:

14 pounds
Penny farthing
Bob
Tenor
Guinea
Tanner
Ape Knee
Three far things
Crown
Half a knicker
Pound
Sick Squid

Making a grand total of £32.17s.8 1/2p

No-one managed to solve this one but Joebangles made a valiant effort! Well done Trevor!

Time for a hot chocolate!

... to yesterday's brainteaser!

More tea anyone?

A coffee break brainteaser!

Have fun!

One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the purpose of showing his son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what he considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"

Cheer up it's Friday and it's time to have some fun. Act like a child - you should try it.

Here's something to think about:

Walk in the rain, jump in mud puddles, collect rocks, rainbows and roses, smell flowers, blow bubbles, stop along the way, build sandcastles, say hello to everyone, go barefoot, go on adventures, act silly, fly kites, have a merry heart, talk with animals, sing in the shower, read childrens' books, take bubble baths, get new sneakers, hold hands and hug and kiss, dance, laugh and cry for the health of it, wonder and wander around, feel happy and precious and innocent, feel scared, feel sad, feel mad, give up worry and guilt and shame, say yes, say no, say the magic words, ask lots of questions, ride bicycles, draw and paint, see things differently, fall down and get up again, look at the sky, watch the sun rise and sun set, watch clouds and name their shapes, watch the moon and stars come out, trust the universe, stay up late, climb trees, daydream, do nothing and do it very well, learn new stuff, be excited about everything, be a clown, enjoy having a body, listen to music, find out how things work, make up new rules, tell stories, save the world, make friends with the other kids on the block, and do anything else that brings more happiness, celebration, health, love, joy, creativity, pleasure, abundance, grace, self-esteem, courage, balance, spontaneity, passion, beauty, peace, relaxation, communication and life energy to...all living beings on this planet.

- Bruce Williamson, "It's Never Too Late To Have A Happy Childhood" 1987

Whatever you do have a lovely day and a fun-packed weekend!

Marian

I don't usually do these but this one caught my eye. So far I've seen Znethru and Mrs_F do one.

First of all I had to know what "obscure" really meant and found the following eleven definitions:

adj
1. not clearly understood or expressed: "an obscure turn of phrase"
2. marked by difficulty of style or expression: "much that was dark is now quite clear to me"
3. difficult to find: "hidden valleys"
4. not famous or acclaimed: "an obscure family"
5. not drawing attention: "an unnoticeable cigarette burn on the carpet"
6. remote and separate physically or socially: "existed over the centuries as a world apart"

verb
7. make less visible or unclear: "The stars are obscured by the clouds"
8. make unclear, indistinct, or blurred: "Her remarks confused the debate"
9. make obscure or unclear: "The distinction was obscured"
10.make undecipherable or imperceptible by obscuring or concealing: "a hidden message"
11.make difficult to perceive by sight: "The foliage of the huge tree obscures the view of the lake"

As the meme is about obscure facts about oneself that means it must be an adjective so I could immediately forget about the last five definitions. So just six to go! Right it looks as if the best fit is number four "not famous or acclaimed". Now the task is easy after all - I can tell you just about anything unmemorable or unremarkable about myself!

Yesterday I posted a photograph of a beautiful toad I discovered on my log pile. If you didn't manage to see him click here. I thought I'd better find out some more information about him and can now say "him" with confidence because I checked! Nothing to do with a "toad's tool" he had a voice sac.

So I must thank Bufo for allowing me to take his photo and apologise for disturbing his hibernation. I will need to get some more logs for my fire but will try to do so very quietly and carefully in future!

....... my prince will come.

On Thursday I told you my exciting news that, thanks to the power of blogging, two of my poems were being set to music. In case you haven't been following here are a couple of quick links to bring you up to date:

Click here to hear the first song entitled "A Very Private Man" based on the following poem:

The Great Wall of Mike

An invisible defence encircles him
Repelling all marauding invaders
He’s happy being an independent state
Or so he tries hard to persuade us!

Sometimes he allows the occasional tourist
A little glimpse of the treasure store
Before banishing them to the borders
To simply look on, that’s all, no more

There are a few, of which I’m one
Who’s allowed ‘freedom of the city’
I can come and go unchallenged
Still only a visitor – more’s the pity

He’s content to be a tourist attraction
Residency permits are not allowed
People come from near and far
He quite enjoys the busy crowd

Perhaps one day he’ll unlock the gates
And throw away the key
Perhaps one special tourist
Will be given permanency?

©Marian Barker

The song, (a fitting memorial to Michael John Falcus) which was 'released' yesterday, has already had some lovely comments from English, French and Spanish listeners to the composers blogs.

It's pitch black.

Last week I discovered, *by chance, the musical talent of Richard Mathew (Richard Mathieu) a French singer and composer. Richard has asked if he can compose a piece of music for the following poem:

Backstage

Perhaps when the show is over
You'll look back and you will see
That it was all just one big charade
You never did know the real me

©Marian Barker

I can't wait to hear the result. Meanwhile, you can visit Richard's blog and hear him sing by clicking here.

This morning I feel like the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland!

This is my entry to Davidjohn's Portrait Competition.

Teddy Polar Bear Goes Missing

Come on everyone!

Davidjohn is organising a Portrait Competition. The closing date is 31st January 2008.

The rules are that entrants should post submissions on their own blog before the end of the month and send an about 500 K Byte jpeg [copy] image to David who will print off images for the judge. Winners will be announced in early February.

For further details and to contact David click here!

No sooner have I finished pantomime than I've thrown myself in at the deep end and joined the scurvy crew to perform "HMS Pinafore" in 10 weeks time! I must be mad - don't answer that one!!

For anyone who doesn't know the story (me included) here's a brief outline:

The fourth collaboration between Gilbert & Sullivan was their first blockbuster hit: "HMS Pinafore", or "The Lass That Loved a Sailor." This opera opened May 28, 1878 at the Opera Comique. It ran for 571 performances and became a huge fad in England, as well as in America, being copied illegally by dozens of performing companies in the US, as well as being presented there by Gilbert, Sullivan and Carte themselves. Pinafore is among the most popular Gilbert and Sullivan operas, perhaps because of its infectious tunes and generally well-constructed libretto.

Drawing on several of his earlier "bab ballad" poems, Gilbert embued HMS Pinafore with mirth and silliness to spare. The opera's gentle satire reprises and builds upon one of The Sorcerer's themes: Love between members of different social classes. The gentlemanly Captain of the Pinafore, who claims that he would never swear at his crew (What, Never?), does not know that his daughter has fallen in love with a common sailor serving on her father's ship. Meanwhile, the Captain has arranged for her to marry the First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Joseph Porter. Sir Joseph himself has risen from humble beginnings to gain his office by political acumen, despite having never gone to sea! And the Captain himself fancies a poor bumboat woman. Fear not: it all works out in the end. Hip, hip, hoorah!

By Samuel Silvers.

I've just read Usksider's posting on the subject of CHUMS and was just about to comment when I realised that it wasn't as simple as that.

Is there a musician in the house?

The reason I ask is that earlier today I posted a poem on my other blog and my blogfriend Ranfuch made the following comments:

"what a beautiful poem. Can easily be turned into a song....... when I was reading it to myself, it flowed like a music and I found myself humming it to myself."

I'm not sure if this poem could be made into a song but wonder if perhaps one or two of my other poems might adapt.

Marian

Well it's another year and like everyone I wonder what 2008 has in store. This is what my horoscope has to say:

CAPRICORN

Love and lust

All in all, it's a pretty cosy year for Capricorns. You will barely want to leave your big, battered sofa of status quo contentment. Instead, all the real action in your affections will surround friendships. As Pluto hops in and out of your sign throughout the year, you'll find yourself pursued by others who want to nail you as their friends. Most of these will be very special. Some, however, will be nigh on stalkers. Be careful who you give your phone number to. You are a powerful people magnet.

Work and money

When it comes to work, you are going to have to be an all-round gymnast this year. If you want to score a perfect ten, don't let your feet touch the ground. You may even find yourself vaulting from one job to another. Wherever you land, one thing is guaranteed: your wealth will build. It's a slow process but you will soon find there are plenty of pennies in the jar. Those with their own business will annihilate the opposition.

Life and leisure

Last year saw you getting all airy-fairy and spiritual. In 2008, friends will think they've got the old down-to-earth Capricorn back. They'll be wrong. In fact, you still feel a greater connection with the cosmos. But rather than blabbing on about it in a vague, incoherent way, you are quietly and systematically applying it to your life. Photography and painting are key hobbies to explore.

Watch out for

A riddle wrapped up in an enigma. You'll be intrigued by this mysterious being, but don't waste your time trying to decipher him or her – there's actually no mystery there.

Well all in all rather promising - friends, hobbies, pennies to spend and a bit of mystery or not!

We shall see!

Earlier I did a posting on a new blog "The Good News Blog" which was the brainchild of sula36 and jackfrost. I mentioned that as 29th February 2008 is an "extra" day perhaps it would be a good idea if it was celebrated in a special way.

Sula36 posted this comment:

"Well we are using the day for our works trip. Instead of a Christmas meal in the busyness of December, we are instead taking a day in the mountains to ski, sledge, walk, or whatever all together. Should be good"

What an excellent idea.

Please submit your suggestions HERE

Warning: contains disturbing images!

Apologies to those of you with a nervous disposition!

From left to right Ming Varz, Abanazar and *Abdul

This posting will (hopefully) self-destruct!