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Jan 24, 2010

FLITTING THOUGHTS

Gazing out of the window, at a sneaky new fall of night-time snow, I am reminded of buttercups and daisies. Which doesn't make much sense, I know - except of course that on parting the curtains, I was expecting to see the clear streets of yesterday, with their promise of Spring.

Fickle weather. But never mind, I can still dream of buttercups and daisies - which reminds me of a hymn we used to sing in our amazingly high young voices, at Sunday School:

"Daisies are our si-il-ver, buttercups our gooold..."

Free riches.

Which puts me in mind of Church for some reason. Probably because that is where the grown-ups would disappear to after dumping us at SS - and most of them (the grown-ups) were not rich at all. Which reminds me of that saying: 'As poor as a church mouse'....

Why is a church mouse considered to be poor? Seems to me it has quite an affluent existence, in a mostly quiet (except on Sundays) dry place, with access to an abundance of alter flowers, wafer crumbs and drops of spilled wine. Seems to me, a church mouse would be partying day and night!

Still, mice are not a popular animal. Which by a huge leap of the imagination reminds me of a 'school boy howler':

Teacher: I want you to write an essay on the House of Lords.

School boy (writing industriously): In the H of L's the men are called Peers, because they peer about a lot. And they wear cornets on their heads and their robes are trimmed with vermin...

Which reminds me of a Dutch song:

I saw a mouse (warble).
Where?
There! There on the stair - right there... A little mouse with clogs on..
Well I declare!
Going clip-clippity clop, on the staair! Oh yeah..!"

Which puts me in mind of another Dutch song about 'Tulips in Amsterdam'. Which makes me think of Spring.........and buttercups and daisies...

........and that infernal snow!

Which makes me think of 'whiskers on kittens and bright woolen mittens....tra-la'!!

'And they're coming to take me away, ha-ha-hee-hee, to the funny farm, where life is beautiful all the time and I'll be happy to see those nice young men in their nice white coats and they're coming to take me awaaay heyhey!'

Did I mention that it was Sunday?

10 comments:

Grannymar said...

Did visiting my blog bring this on? Sure you can blame me anyway!

Geri Atric said...

Hi Grannymar! Well... now that you mention it, I do remember dropping by yours earlier - but after that, it's all a bit of a blur(!) Did that cat drawing really wink at me? But still, I think we'll blame this one on the weather! Brain freeze.

jay said...

Bravo!! A very entertaining post! I particularly enjoyed the little mouse with clogs on, which is a song I used to sing and the tune came instantly into my head. I used to sing the buttercups and daisies hymn, too, but I cannot remember the tune to that one.

I used to know the origin of the church mouse phrase ... but I've forgotten that, too. See you at the funny farm!

Geri Atric said...

Good morning Jay ~ Thank you kindly!

Have you noticed too that a song you haven't heard (of) for donkey's years, or even given a fleeting thought to, will pop into your head suddenly, for no apparent reason - and a day or two later will be played on the radio, or T.V.?!! It has happened to me more than once. Perhaps our little 'black boxes' are linked ethereally to each other in 'mysterious ways'?
(Nah..! Coincidences of course - but still...)

We could google the origins of the 'poor church mouse' phrase(?) because I betcha someone else will have already thought to research it.
Creepy or what?!!! (Hee-hee).

Kate said...

Hey make room for me at the funny farm - surely theres a place left!!!
Yes I've got the songs going round my head too!!!!

Geri Atric said...

Hi Kate! Plenty of room (shoving up) and there's bread and honey for tea too!
Oh no, now that's reminded me of the 'Flight of the Bumblebee' symphony.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8alxBofd_eQ

Jay said...

You're right, it does often happen that a song you've just remembered turns up on the radio or in a shop. It's uncanny! Or is the same 'syndrome' that causes you to notice all the pregnant women when you're pregnant yourself, and all the other greyhound owners once you've adopted one? LOL!

Geri Atric said...

Good morning Jay ~ Could it be both perhaps? The 'uncanny' aspect and the 'noticing' syndrome. A qualatitive and a quantative solution in one...? Well whatever it is its wierd!

Have had a few pregnancies but no greyhounds (!) although I do so admire them - and the people who adopt, (house)train and love them, after a hard racing life.

Dan said...

I'm writing this as you commented over on Xbox4NappyRashes site congratulating him on the birth of his daughter.

I am writing it here because this post is down the page a bit and i don't want him to see it :)

A while ago, before Martin's (xbox4nappyrash) wife got pregnant I promised I would post a youtube video of me singing "Yes" by Mcalomont & Butler whilst accompanying myself on the ukulele to celebrate the birth of their child.

This will not be a pretty sight as I can neither sing, nor really play the ukulele (this isn't false modesty - I really can't).

However what I thought might make it really cool would be instead of just a straight video I put together a montage of videos shot by readers of his blog all celebrating - i.e. dancing, sticking thumbs up, cheering, holding up signs, that sort of thing. It would have to be something that would work without sound as I would put my (awful) soundtrack over the top of it.

It would be great if you could participate. If you send me a short 5-15 second video clip (or at a push a photo, but a video would be much better) along with your name and blog then I'll put it together with other submissions and get something ready for the end of the week. I think it would be a really nice thing to do for martin to show him and E how pleased we are for him. and Martin has been incredibly supportive of me and my various projects in the past.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. My email address is dghughes28@yahoo.co.uk

Thanks again.

Dan.

Geri Atric said...

Hi Dan! ~ I think that's a lovely thought and I would enjoy taking part - but unfortunately I don't have the necessary equipment to video/download (or is it upload?)/and then email myself waving to you!!
I am really very sorry for that - but good luck with the project anyway, it is a very kind and sweet idea!