tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17499034273256504142024-03-21T14:16:52.462-07:00anelephantcantRandom thoughts and images, some serious, some humorous, some pointless.anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-60514408849920232282012-06-15T08:47:00.002-07:002012-06-15T12:19:01.446-07:00Day Boat on Loch Lomond<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLB-MOZfAFCJAxjfOuMmhzRLc0LvSG-xyYiF2DiDD1t9iA-jkl7tDTfk72xLsdmaJrwqyLVBHk-su2R8vWivf-wdP0-nBsy4yNcJzd07gou-um8KEaxDcZ33cLdQq8e-U-9r3FGfwyQU/s1600/view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLB-MOZfAFCJAxjfOuMmhzRLc0LvSG-xyYiF2DiDD1t9iA-jkl7tDTfk72xLsdmaJrwqyLVBHk-su2R8vWivf-wdP0-nBsy4yNcJzd07gou-um8KEaxDcZ33cLdQq8e-U-9r3FGfwyQU/s400/view.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
AnElephantCant possibly do justice<br />
He doesn’t have the gift of the gab<br />
But he’ll show you some pics<br />
And a few rhyming tricks<br />
To describe his adventure on the Day Boat BigRab</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJiHIHpNCKb8jLYs7Qkj5WXO2QvkOTMkVa8E8CJo8eRV8dx75D7-ujKPvTwZw1OxgSLwE0-DJPvNNTkjQfwGEQoCvQW54o049-j3ymv8l1Ed-6B83cWPnXAQNyd8quLntxTbo31UxkAM/s1600/calm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJiHIHpNCKb8jLYs7Qkj5WXO2QvkOTMkVa8E8CJo8eRV8dx75D7-ujKPvTwZw1OxgSLwE0-DJPvNNTkjQfwGEQoCvQW54o049-j3ymv8l1Ed-6B83cWPnXAQNyd8quLntxTbo31UxkAM/s640/calm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Another magical trip on Loch Lomond<br />
The most beautiful place on this earth<br />
Amidst towering Bens<br />
And glaciated Glens<br />
This Elephant sightsaw for all he was worth</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSl1-A_QVh8ox1AXTRl90-gxkpX2APQJPCzaWnu9ZDIo6M39dM8cuL3i_ZADXFVPzFQkJV9mU_8SD3wijDkDVfOl2_twWJnFej4pE3MTZMX8pMQv20lEOeQ2jT9c2vUX4yijghTMSNLI/s1600/moss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSl1-A_QVh8ox1AXTRl90-gxkpX2APQJPCzaWnu9ZDIo6M39dM8cuL3i_ZADXFVPzFQkJV9mU_8SD3wijDkDVfOl2_twWJnFej4pE3MTZMX8pMQv20lEOeQ2jT9c2vUX4yijghTMSNLI/s640/moss.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div align="center"></div><div style="text-align: center;">We set out early morning from Balloch<br />
A wee town at the southernmost end<br />
The Maid of the Loch is berthed there<br />
Awaiting tender loving care<br />
A bonnie boat that we highly commend</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxbPPauwUCJobl2bMuH5wUGRbvfwlzMS8jYpt1IyF3MLz9nsjkFwFgsA2NCRY_72a-dRbf9tyxpgmDmX8ddrNLIUv9M94KlP8RoQZw5hVM2dD3MH88DDT71WzxYKN8jnc_xwkL4clb7w/s1600/maid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxbPPauwUCJobl2bMuH5wUGRbvfwlzMS8jYpt1IyF3MLz9nsjkFwFgsA2NCRY_72a-dRbf9tyxpgmDmX8ddrNLIUv9M94KlP8RoQZw5hVM2dD3MH88DDT71WzxYKN8jnc_xwkL4clb7w/s640/maid.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The water was just a tad choppy<br />
As we headed into the teeth of a breeze<br />
We are really quite tough<br />
And it wasn’t so rough<br />
We’ve caused bigger waves with AnElephant’s sneeze</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPLItFJPCw_NDB6EJNpViCWJ54qYqrYaXTNkRb756NDK8_TVzmRxmXf7kdAkFBGLb2KgWLywjHV8GE5fXjGLZN7F9CgPxRO8UcEvxYhjzlUiBzziRVgiY8TjEAUN2VnB_qVv97qvMA7U/s1600/ben+choppy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPLItFJPCw_NDB6EJNpViCWJ54qYqrYaXTNkRb756NDK8_TVzmRxmXf7kdAkFBGLb2KgWLywjHV8GE5fXjGLZN7F9CgPxRO8UcEvxYhjzlUiBzziRVgiY8TjEAUN2VnB_qVv97qvMA7U/s640/ben+choppy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
The boat floated serene through The Narrows<br />
An idyll of wondrous tranquillity<br />
This place gladdens the heart<br />
Makes you feel you are part<br />
Of some vast cosmic invulnerability</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5A5lGu3khJU_N4rFI3bi1LNa1NEYb9eumtBa-kV3iOTGBQeQJwECmLI8SpOrlbTQfTmqk6f90GxKP6r1tbDQ104FrOIz6nouSCL7hBOkXlRWMtASF72z404LXZKyKElpaOFWP1OL2ANw/s1600/narrows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5A5lGu3khJU_N4rFI3bi1LNa1NEYb9eumtBa-kV3iOTGBQeQJwECmLI8SpOrlbTQfTmqk6f90GxKP6r1tbDQ104FrOIz6nouSCL7hBOkXlRWMtASF72z404LXZKyKElpaOFWP1OL2ANw/s640/narrows.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
We came ashore on the beach at Inchconnachan<br />
Which means Island of the Colquouns<br />
It is home to a colony<br />
Of Australian Wallaby<br />
But with us they refused to commune</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkMfpdXtZALLhfvl_ThxuwKyrzA_4aoEZlAHqH3Wav6IlJ4SIt_Bih653q8h71vgsc8Y-SKoIkqgCwb37Hr9z0B18ZJq7pb-TDp_AZc1fXObqvsghQ-TNY5tafEgrArbioAuni-RRhbA/s1600/swan+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkMfpdXtZALLhfvl_ThxuwKyrzA_4aoEZlAHqH3Wav6IlJ4SIt_Bih653q8h71vgsc8Y-SKoIkqgCwb37Hr9z0B18ZJq7pb-TDp_AZc1fXObqvsghQ-TNY5tafEgrArbioAuni-RRhbA/s640/swan+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
We headed over to Luss for some breakfast<br />
And tied our wee boat to the pier there<br />
Rolls ‘n’ sausage and tea<br />
And homemade tablet you see<br />
In the shop at the pier it’s not dear there</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2U90e2GlIrXPgIKTO0aFgXpH2ST3E7itARo3J8Il6gEwTtlajC3czeuRNNO5Qsidg0JQdNQ120qu2aFQiKGdLjhAjpyt2o7yTYGgEIHYQeaCu7k1PSC6Tvfh6DBhn9biaQXBwzCBubN8/s1600/luss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2U90e2GlIrXPgIKTO0aFgXpH2ST3E7itARo3J8Il6gEwTtlajC3czeuRNNO5Qsidg0JQdNQ120qu2aFQiKGdLjhAjpyt2o7yTYGgEIHYQeaCu7k1PSC6Tvfh6DBhn9biaQXBwzCBubN8/s640/luss.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
So another great day on the water<br />
With our captain who we need to thank<br />
Between us and you<br />
We are not much of a crew<br />
But not once did he make us walk the plank</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpaeLyl3VwZaXi26v6BFnCrqlYrMtNJOaYk3qTviElG4y29yWH_fnM8OpDpS-3aUlC6bqKz3sVr6HPDtQUEXXep-oBbJDRl64gyKXf7CX1FJdRcSP0Py_wxqAVwKbeq0a4wYhfirVVQs/s1600/south.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpaeLyl3VwZaXi26v6BFnCrqlYrMtNJOaYk3qTviElG4y29yWH_fnM8OpDpS-3aUlC6bqKz3sVr6HPDtQUEXXep-oBbJDRl64gyKXf7CX1FJdRcSP0Py_wxqAVwKbeq0a4wYhfirVVQs/s640/south.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
AnElephantCant say it more clearly<br />
Some places you just feel at home in<br />
If scenery is your thing<br />
Then let your soul sing<br />
On the bonnie bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVMRH5PJL76AiUKAdvzfOsBHT7DQj0u_RGYmcS0VLzohbxJAbrChTly3iG0eoR6fwWaPl5irNXijzr4WgSI6tb1WYnrDrSfh4DQwZYJR9jz7gvr0LYgTdAuV9rgqy8wIJaDhh3w0e8uo/s1600/glade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVMRH5PJL76AiUKAdvzfOsBHT7DQj0u_RGYmcS0VLzohbxJAbrChTly3iG0eoR6fwWaPl5irNXijzr4WgSI6tb1WYnrDrSfh4DQwZYJR9jz7gvr0LYgTdAuV9rgqy8wIJaDhh3w0e8uo/s640/glade.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-55813516702578279862012-06-09T15:39:00.002-07:002012-06-09T15:44:03.061-07:00Forest Bumps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEAHR6aWDo4jTi0MrPurCu5bcmkK79MfBFmmBHfyFVeyZ3QGV_LH2PNC_eQ4K-gHifpQ25GXWg0H8mrJh4QK_27h4eyNciRlibtTe8JhcoP2RyfiAAh7YHkCJfjheDzUtxw2BEZURqRs/s1600/orangutan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEAHR6aWDo4jTi0MrPurCu5bcmkK79MfBFmmBHfyFVeyZ3QGV_LH2PNC_eQ4K-gHifpQ25GXWg0H8mrJh4QK_27h4eyNciRlibtTe8JhcoP2RyfiAAh7YHkCJfjheDzUtxw2BEZURqRs/s640/orangutan.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">On the recent news that orang-utans are highly skilled engineers:<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://phys.org/news/2012-04-orangutan-reveal-expertise.html">http://phys.org/news/2012-04-orangutan-reveal-expertise.html</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: center 207.6pt right 415.25pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">AnElephantCant find a rhyme for orang-utan<br />
Or even Old Man of the Jungle<br />
There is nothing worse<br />
When writing a verse<br />
To discover you have begun with a bungle</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">AnElephantCant deny that these animals<br />
Are clearly much smarter than people<br />
High in the tree tops<br />
They build a cradle that rocks<br />
These structures are quite unbelievable</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Orang-utans use thick branches as scaffold<br />
Interwoven with boughs that are springier<br />
To ensure a good rest<br />
Fine leaves line the nests<br />
We have lived in hotels that were dingier</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">They build a new nest every evening<br />
And sometimes one for an afternoon nap<br />
100 feet above ground<br />
A long way to fall down<br />
We are sure that they do Mind the Gap</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Young adults build nests just for practice<br />
But here is one fact that we find quite funny<br />
You may think they are cute<br />
Although somewhat hirsute<br />
But for eight years they stay at home with their mummy</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Orang-utans are natural builders<br />
Like Scots they are great engineers<br />
An idea takes shape<br />
We ask these great apes<br />
Could they build some new houses near here?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-36655143745602619612012-05-20T05:59:00.001-07:002012-05-20T06:00:31.233-07:00Eurovision Song Snoozefest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVckwqwUCXZ3Ru1nba_Ff_ThMsSZHpwNHWZh1AhiA_C2SMswyHvlVv6GYJk8j-B6pC_TY7XQWZx7t_LOa0V_XE6aUdgkVDB3Y0WO2SnUUi3pPSlLpdz1sbDqm2YdQ-1Z17a8DacrjHOqg/s1600/eengy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVckwqwUCXZ3Ru1nba_Ff_ThMsSZHpwNHWZh1AhiA_C2SMswyHvlVv6GYJk8j-B6pC_TY7XQWZx7t_LOa0V_XE6aUdgkVDB3Y0WO2SnUUi3pPSlLpdz1sbDqm2YdQ-1Z17a8DacrjHOqg/s640/eengy.jpg" width="416" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">AnElephantCant knock Engelbert Humperdinck<br />
Because our mum was a bit of a fan<br />
We don’t think he can sing<br />
But that is not the main thing<br />
Mum found him a handsome and quite charming man</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">He is going to win EuroVision<br />
The Song Contest that nobody watches<br />
If you tune in you find<br />
You go out of your mind<br />
And your ears become covered in blotches</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We are not planning to be overcritical<br />
We will not list this old crooner’s faults<br />
But we strongly exhort<br />
That he keeps his song short<br />
Not like the dreary interminable mind-numbingly tedious repetitive boring Last Waltz</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">He made his fortune performing in Vegas<br />
Reducing blue rinses to tears<br />
He owes his great fame<br />
To his quite silly name<br />
And no hit song in the last 40 years</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">He has entertained old dearies for decades<br />
So this Elephant does not want to be beastly<br />
But old Hump should retire<br />
In a chair by the fire<br />
And burn the dreary interminable mind-numbingly tedious repetitive boring Release Me</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now we have been told that our rhyme is unfriendly<br />
And that we must attach an addendum<br />
Engie sings marvellous songs<br />
He rights the world’s wrongs<br />
We apologise sincerely to AnElephant’s Mum</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-27269338993701603932012-05-16T05:27:00.000-07:002012-05-16T05:27:50.826-07:00I spy with my little eye<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAYy9_rNRMzuvu810OTaYiRgOWspZMitOy4CIw70ZMPSUIWk5X4fTDrerZT_bFdry7XKmso_Ue92B2QQANHxetWgNmt9JLfcMqBlvcCuEM4St7JSrkQS-lH7OaPyeZw4dInndJuQHm2Y/s1600/jack's+gran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAYy9_rNRMzuvu810OTaYiRgOWspZMitOy4CIw70ZMPSUIWk5X4fTDrerZT_bFdry7XKmso_Ue92B2QQANHxetWgNmt9JLfcMqBlvcCuEM4St7JSrkQS-lH7OaPyeZw4dInndJuQHm2Y/s400/jack's+gran.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
AnElephantCant keep a secret<br />
We have discovered Mrs Ellie is a spy<br />
Not double-oh seven<br />
She is more legs eleven<br />
AnElephant is happy that he is her guy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She has long had a wee crush on Sean Connery<br />
But then again what woman does not<br />
We have to admit<br />
We are jealous a bit<br />
He is apparently the world’s handsomest Scot</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She always says she is a Civil Servant<br />
Although civility is not her strong suit<br />
She comes from Glasgow<br />
Where as all Doctors know<br />
You learn kung fu if you plan to stay cute</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As a femme fatale she is well qualified<br />
She has those alluring good looks<br />
We try not to rile her<br />
Cos when she gets hostiler<br />
She makes brave men turn whiter than Spooks</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We ask if she ever gets violent<br />
She tells us it is quite arbitrary<br />
Disdaining strong arm<br />
She prefers to use charm<br />
Less Dirty and more Mata Hari</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">AnElephantCant claim he is courageous<br />
But he knows Mrs E is quite bold<br />
If he gets a fright<br />
On a bleak wintry night<br />
He wants her to come in from the cold</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Although she really is quite easy going<br />
Here is something you should quickly learn<br />
That if you upset her<br />
She will draw her Beretta <br />
And make you wish you had never been Bourne</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are dozens of great secret agents<br />
Our Man Flint George Smiley Jack Bauer<br />
Get Smart and Matt Helm<br />
But the superest of them<br />
Is Mrs Elephant with her trunkful of Powers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She has skills that would make your eyes water<br />
So we try very hard to ca’ canny*<br />
She knows nine martial arts<br />
And she is quite good at darts<br />
And she can disguise herself as your granny</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now we ask you to please keep our secret<br />
Because that is one thing she has often said<br />
She gives us fair warning<br />
We will wake up one morning<br />
To discover we are already dead</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">* ca’ canny = be careful</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-87574777142577202322012-05-03T02:23:00.002-07:002012-05-06T01:42:57.203-07:00Cardross on the Clyde<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRTYvwkl8Fjqac4rytuUYDHaLIR3618JugthFmFY9GmnjMnKI7aKbTKxnG7ZBeJ49Eq2B2QjR3lHKDG0e9_dU3hdT6ltmNPoC1F6d_MhIsJtOWI6Gds0JTZAZ0PAN8BN-zajsDK_1JIE/s1600/DSC01029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRTYvwkl8Fjqac4rytuUYDHaLIR3618JugthFmFY9GmnjMnKI7aKbTKxnG7ZBeJ49Eq2B2QjR3lHKDG0e9_dU3hdT6ltmNPoC1F6d_MhIsJtOWI6Gds0JTZAZ0PAN8BN-zajsDK_1JIE/s400/DSC01029.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">AnElephantCant hide his pure pleasure<br />
In Scotland in springtime in sun<br />
The bright blue the fresh green the blossom<br />
And no one with an elephant gun</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsRy-674T8Nh3jRm1HDArq6M4pLQNLWh9I1UVMd9b_HcjujkPUDjZLRFjraih3iDO9U1__NwT93bV08soNtRnk-nh5_tjJ5UhivriJchscSBx9ZA0R13-Ww1d3lR3tzF7ey44QXuwDBk/s1600/DSC01034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsRy-674T8Nh3jRm1HDArq6M4pLQNLWh9I1UVMd9b_HcjujkPUDjZLRFjraih3iDO9U1__NwT93bV08soNtRnk-nh5_tjJ5UhivriJchscSBx9ZA0R13-Ww1d3lR3tzF7ey44QXuwDBk/s640/DSC01034.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Last evening he wandered through Cardross<br />
With his buddy Big Rab by his side<br />
Admiring the trees in the churchyard<br />
In that bonnie wee town on the Clyde</div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lSHx0Pd6oXWmaAcJTK-H9JOVOlNCWXQcxk52CXS3TXHUx1kuehIILzCzB2fgKPnILJYw35ZZWRKTFbWDRK5BmhPBJn2y3VeBcGMxJdenwMNnpzV_wJ07GFWoEngEov-0ylP-CkWyttY/s1600/DSC01032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lSHx0Pd6oXWmaAcJTK-H9JOVOlNCWXQcxk52CXS3TXHUx1kuehIILzCzB2fgKPnILJYw35ZZWRKTFbWDRK5BmhPBJn2y3VeBcGMxJdenwMNnpzV_wJ07GFWoEngEov-0ylP-CkWyttY/s640/DSC01032.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-84659225353811703142012-04-26T02:59:00.000-07:002012-04-26T02:59:25.511-07:00road less travelled<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvedSHzH4sv0hNxMm19_SaNT8NqIehR9aFSPr8xcAzSvCZ-se_UJJ0aUqiwz4F_kV56EGLItbRMeD8SaFZ-jnF6Ycvqo7BsLaPVLXMdHyZEoyF4pXCZk3LLSnQJBv9wFhcOyr5Bkh0qc/s1600/walking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvedSHzH4sv0hNxMm19_SaNT8NqIehR9aFSPr8xcAzSvCZ-se_UJJ0aUqiwz4F_kV56EGLItbRMeD8SaFZ-jnF6Ycvqo7BsLaPVLXMdHyZEoyF4pXCZk3LLSnQJBv9wFhcOyr5Bkh0qc/s640/walking.jpg" width="520" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
AnElephantCant say we’re great walkers<br />
But we are a bit of a squeeze in a car<br />
We are not built for a bike<br />
So when we have to hike<br />
We prefer a short stroll to going too far</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">A campaign by the Living Streets charity<br />
Wants to get us all stretching our legs<br />
We have to admit<br />
We are not awfully fit<br />
We don’t usually go further than Greggs</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We quite like to meander or amble<br />
We don’t often canter or trot<br />
A leopard can lope<br />
As can an antelope<br />
But we assure you AnElephantCannot</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">When we go for a dauner or perambulation<br />
We have to remember which roads we have crossed<br />
We find one-way streets<br />
Confuse some of our feet<br />
We are embarrassed to admit we get lost</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">When our promenade leads to a bifurcation<br />
We confess we can sometimes be baffled<br />
We have a solution<br />
To our state of confusion<br />
We know the difference is to take the road less travelled</div><br />
dauner – Scots for saunter<br />
Greggs – a chain of retail bakers <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/put-your-best-foot-forward-take-part-in-the-great-british-walking-challenge">http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/put-your-best-foot-forward-take-part-in-the-great-british-walking-challenge</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-9214691095320036432012-04-11T08:14:00.003-07:002012-04-11T08:33:08.249-07:00Queen's Park Sesquicentenary Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3C73bhDYVq0Ob69GgwZ4WgWL-Sa9OpUJ1GO6zCJKOrTI3llN3b8PEzR2D4r3UR70aMhQeK6aDnVqETOjr8JjaZ0Sg5qa8OqytCiDL0HcRe8DWefCGWGkO2KBej795jFvlHzwhQ2yN-us/s1600/a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3C73bhDYVq0Ob69GgwZ4WgWL-Sa9OpUJ1GO6zCJKOrTI3llN3b8PEzR2D4r3UR70aMhQeK6aDnVqETOjr8JjaZ0Sg5qa8OqytCiDL0HcRe8DWefCGWGkO2KBej795jFvlHzwhQ2yN-us/s400/a1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div style="text-align: center;">AnElephantCant do poetic justice</div><div style="text-align: center;">To Glasgow’s Queen’s Park in the spring</div><div style="text-align: center;">The pond has tadpoles</div><div style="text-align: center;">And from the flagpole</div><div style="text-align: center;">We see flowers and hear the birds sing</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6f-W41uORO0poYE1-9jcXans8SaNWcBZl8ZqS1KTEipGslA2UIolazVzxZCdl4CARnKZHnjdX6j3H7zRU41cauBv5s6jGlXqCJhzAApsqV48uYyWDmXgFLqIS4MwhV8dfHyj8g05ewfU/s1600/a2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6f-W41uORO0poYE1-9jcXans8SaNWcBZl8ZqS1KTEipGslA2UIolazVzxZCdl4CARnKZHnjdX6j3H7zRU41cauBv5s6jGlXqCJhzAApsqV48uYyWDmXgFLqIS4MwhV8dfHyj8g05ewfU/s400/a2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> The park celebrates its sesquicentenary<br />
This year with a host of events<br />
A much loved space<br />
This dear green place<br />
Deserves to get millions of presents<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfcXViRuZoj2BIn9sEQfs-sNTWRDQBoLKtNpxHFOi_493b_RipRdgdMJwnea3Ols33Wi3SRdcFJGVQKSnNlaAuD2dYodSfXtMMCx6zCzalHPB7mOUrkKFNIMhy7LzmqEpwb-EyaqCtRQ/s1600/a3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfcXViRuZoj2BIn9sEQfs-sNTWRDQBoLKtNpxHFOi_493b_RipRdgdMJwnea3Ols33Wi3SRdcFJGVQKSnNlaAuD2dYodSfXtMMCx6zCzalHPB7mOUrkKFNIMhy7LzmqEpwb-EyaqCtRQ/s640/a3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> When it opened Abe Lincoln was president<br />
Alice in Wonderland was being penned<br />
Which just goes to show<br />
It was a long time ago<br />
The US Civil War was still far from its end</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuB-eUesOv3JLVbaG2C3lmeUhYgz0pTtGHH96csTXzhp_QePupmbiGgTKS4sS82bWW5DUuQeClsYRF5f0nDdxpxWtVDEzbSNy950C7Lx4CDS1fm49pwU3YDI5j_sruFm3LmTbMmLuiv4/s1600/a4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuB-eUesOv3JLVbaG2C3lmeUhYgz0pTtGHH96csTXzhp_QePupmbiGgTKS4sS82bWW5DUuQeClsYRF5f0nDdxpxWtVDEzbSNy950C7Lx4CDS1fm49pwU3YDI5j_sruFm3LmTbMmLuiv4/s640/a4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
There are fewer dragons and mammoths in the trees now<br />
Because my young leader will quite soon be seven<br />
But laser beams and stun guns<br />
Means we can still have fun<br />
In the dens in the bushes in our heaven</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Sxov8OdvdHEsy0CuQWkyUPVY84Hfs8RGrhdvalDd8BImaRfqYqx9jkl2im9wZ6jSdBdPaKYXxNsVJfNsx_QmhM4VAU4fev4SHfuyTN_vgu8wWBo_QLqoX6jTdECtgejsd0WmgwLZnVQ/s1600/a5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Sxov8OdvdHEsy0CuQWkyUPVY84Hfs8RGrhdvalDd8BImaRfqYqx9jkl2im9wZ6jSdBdPaKYXxNsVJfNsx_QmhM4VAU4fev4SHfuyTN_vgu8wWBo_QLqoX6jTdECtgejsd0WmgwLZnVQ/s640/a5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our sticks which once shot sabre-dino-dragons<br />
Are re-commissioned with extraordinary functions<br />
They have magical power<br />
Making super baddies cower<br />
While we blitz them without the slightest compunction</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4nxPw8FwIbvz8W96YLFHDBis2PdffBbet3mXTK1on9w-YGQN9TB-MPj61hiA-ud6fJUeTzeGqX2DgOGloJiCFot0TRXmb173_Rj8Oe4nnbYOSLcUNdMYCLsjgg-TfzatG3fiK1heR3GU/s1600/a6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4nxPw8FwIbvz8W96YLFHDBis2PdffBbet3mXTK1on9w-YGQN9TB-MPj61hiA-ud6fJUeTzeGqX2DgOGloJiCFot0TRXmb173_Rj8Oe4nnbYOSLcUNdMYCLsjgg-TfzatG3fiK1heR3GU/s640/a6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
We play tennis and putting each Monday</div><div style="text-align: center;">Joints and bones are starting to creak<br />
He climbs swings and larks<br />
Around the play park<br />
While this old dude feels like an antique</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHk3HIY8AdUF6yntYAHn6_qUChLufY_0Thv4BTji2v0RKkgmQIhBmVkV3I7yPk9fcKAqniV-X2GNgXE-s8aSRMlqHsBDAmG8oyAdAhlfT0dtDmw1uQCNXuPCR8TTDP5ALKMiKZZfpybkY/s1600/a7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHk3HIY8AdUF6yntYAHn6_qUChLufY_0Thv4BTji2v0RKkgmQIhBmVkV3I7yPk9fcKAqniV-X2GNgXE-s8aSRMlqHsBDAmG8oyAdAhlfT0dtDmw1uQCNXuPCR8TTDP5ALKMiKZZfpybkY/s640/a7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are areas which are wild and unspoilt<br />
Where we run free without any plan<br />
We jump over logs<br />
Sing Teddy Bear and Hound Dog<br />
Yep my best friend is a cool Elvis fan</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvpggw4WqK18kuTGqVeBwOvY0fVoD6Wg4tcKnO0UJhhfzLC1xtipl_yUKOVNNKAX4G643L8BclJJstem1mOinRw4RBBbYXFA1Lcd21I4dgELvvYQIHj8YQyEPDBrTbv5T6p0m-e04GPQ/s1600/a8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvpggw4WqK18kuTGqVeBwOvY0fVoD6Wg4tcKnO0UJhhfzLC1xtipl_yUKOVNNKAX4G643L8BclJJstem1mOinRw4RBBbYXFA1Lcd21I4dgELvvYQIHj8YQyEPDBrTbv5T6p0m-e04GPQ/s640/a8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">When I am puffed out we go to the rose gardens<br />
Which commemorates some of Scotland’s great poets<br />
While I try to relax<br />
He plans more attacks<br />
And we are off again before you know it</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKs_5Ty5MnUFpqLyuNATv6b2kQNhT_1k7mm6mIXlymp-OuD1jPQvLdYroIlVlfzm94C8XEpxnwue2mff1ZM-7fbkO87N3dGgMaYlJQVrVRYxmOSE_UBOAuREYIPuH7eGRfLgqMdvST2AQ/s1600/a9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKs_5Ty5MnUFpqLyuNATv6b2kQNhT_1k7mm6mIXlymp-OuD1jPQvLdYroIlVlfzm94C8XEpxnwue2mff1ZM-7fbkO87N3dGgMaYlJQVrVRYxmOSE_UBOAuREYIPuH7eGRfLgqMdvST2AQ/s640/a9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
At the end of the day we get ice cream<br />
That’s our reward for being good as gold<br />
With a tub or a cone<br />
We meander back home<br />
Through Queen’s Park which is 150 years old</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGicDR-kkR3MORxvN8zfe0kr03hOF8bMRmY3xxRDFBtk3uUNZRxl5vUMxmN33azBL4ilmfv5PVcZaGs6201TcoUqPYRIHdhF3LyuaIXwXDYVLSjhuWmDixuroHb07nmLPUMdUeo_nPffo/s1600/a10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGicDR-kkR3MORxvN8zfe0kr03hOF8bMRmY3xxRDFBtk3uUNZRxl5vUMxmN33azBL4ilmfv5PVcZaGs6201TcoUqPYRIHdhF3LyuaIXwXDYVLSjhuWmDixuroHb07nmLPUMdUeo_nPffo/s640/a10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-29532178249425833402012-04-03T14:24:00.000-07:002012-04-03T14:24:28.888-07:00Lochwinnoch Rocks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5q_rLxDSiCD-73apyiVZhtIg3uPAX7kmeQnlS30PcM6rgZf2i-4AMKQHOafb_F8Y3sIcaVp87THq9qemGPyd_ZL6RW2lCWpozeRv9j_dkBh001gVAgkhM36mpNuNTlZ_CL3wIVjPOt0/s1600/pic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5q_rLxDSiCD-73apyiVZhtIg3uPAX7kmeQnlS30PcM6rgZf2i-4AMKQHOafb_F8Y3sIcaVp87THq9qemGPyd_ZL6RW2lCWpozeRv9j_dkBh001gVAgkhM36mpNuNTlZ_CL3wIVjPOt0/s400/pic1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">AnElephantCant always be poetic</div><div style="text-align: center;">He has not had much time to prepare this</div><div style="text-align: center;">But he feels it’s his duty</div><div style="text-align: center;">To display Scotland’s beauty</div><div style="text-align: center;">So sit back and relax while he shares this</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHq8QUGul3HuSfhyphenhyphenbbdRkpLKO20OiozxVMMNtyLGUPugTBIsR92aNLtC2G6O2QTZU1ibPoVq88ajL7u8pGKJhWYUHs53-7uqYWyBDhb6h2KeaS1Xhyym4VC6XzOyPy46sfnb5fWOgFiQ4/s1600/pic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHq8QUGul3HuSfhyphenhyphenbbdRkpLKO20OiozxVMMNtyLGUPugTBIsR92aNLtC2G6O2QTZU1ibPoVq88ajL7u8pGKJhWYUHs53-7uqYWyBDhb6h2KeaS1Xhyym4VC6XzOyPy46sfnb5fWOgFiQ4/s400/pic2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The chairman* suggested a trip to Lochwinnoch</div><div style="text-align: center;">On a train from Glasgow Central Station</div><div style="text-align: center;">We may be prosaic</div><div style="text-align: center;">But we like this mosaic</div><div style="text-align: center;">A remarkably colourful tessellation</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmNHbUt8Y89GyDAsM3VN44zOAYePuTDYbG8L1M-eqcDuiKdnRDCozoJMypkmyIbLg2_IlY0YqRM5J_IR-2MPT_Bduf25oIgucbEXlLq-QTp2B9zK_9Nrmdlxx8huLCw844mWzkaEXl0w/s1600/pic3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmNHbUt8Y89GyDAsM3VN44zOAYePuTDYbG8L1M-eqcDuiKdnRDCozoJMypkmyIbLg2_IlY0YqRM5J_IR-2MPT_Bduf25oIgucbEXlLq-QTp2B9zK_9Nrmdlxx8huLCw844mWzkaEXl0w/s400/pic3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lochwinnoch is a small country village</div><div style="text-align: center;">Twenty miles or so south-west of Glasgow</div><div style="text-align: center;">It sits on a loch</div><div style="text-align: center;">Which is not named Winnoch</div><div style="text-align: center;">The reason can be found in the past though</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCo0X7bFcUL926EU22_a8UGzWiBExkKZm5qvTh8yt5CepNn7op7dKYqsLU87i5CrzwhuNIDEnENPad2mNkaftVRwyPWftSc0M-sdwuXDSPguzfw7UbNL76AgnleDAYQjOjniNPTX2Buu8/s1600/pic4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCo0X7bFcUL926EU22_a8UGzWiBExkKZm5qvTh8yt5CepNn7op7dKYqsLU87i5CrzwhuNIDEnENPad2mNkaftVRwyPWftSc0M-sdwuXDSPguzfw7UbNL76AgnleDAYQjOjniNPTX2Buu8/s400/pic4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Castle Semple Loch is a Bird Sanctuary</div><div style="text-align: center;">Where the chairman is a Wildlife Explorer</div><div style="text-align: center;">An RSPB site</div><div style="text-align: center;">It inspires delight</div><div style="text-align: center;">And a great source of natural lore there</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtcmnzpjVfMsl4LXn_YRwPGYJUPPnvjso_RG663EraPMNML6u6P44WBi7ib_E18c_9y5YKj0Vm1u13Hpe1iwPfJCVIlSAZEePIfM8j29TIG7J0q5yb-Qkj56jhLqKBrflSMRM8d60LVw/s1600/pic7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtcmnzpjVfMsl4LXn_YRwPGYJUPPnvjso_RG663EraPMNML6u6P44WBi7ib_E18c_9y5YKj0Vm1u13Hpe1iwPfJCVIlSAZEePIfM8j29TIG7J0q5yb-Qkj56jhLqKBrflSMRM8d60LVw/s400/pic7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">There are hides where you watch the birds feeding</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you’re not quick you click the perch they were on</div><div style="text-align: center;">Finch robin and tit</div><div style="text-align: center;">But just walk on a bit</div><div style="text-align: center;">And see a tall elegant patient Grey Heron</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7RwoWTy4NSSS7sCCPGF26dBZzV54O9l7uvMeshyphenhyphenE_jc1SftUIkkc4yjtLonUBi0_XJMZ4qP8PPk7ytq5ge85t1wNiQOLqxrVZ7q-YVHEkKsEMwyt7QKf_mePCxPhpNdRHfQfvqqPEp8/s1600/pic8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7RwoWTy4NSSS7sCCPGF26dBZzV54O9l7uvMeshyphenhyphenE_jc1SftUIkkc4yjtLonUBi0_XJMZ4qP8PPk7ytq5ge85t1wNiQOLqxrVZ7q-YVHEkKsEMwyt7QKf_mePCxPhpNdRHfQfvqqPEp8/s400/pic8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The types of birds there might number a million</div><div style="text-align: center;">Varied shapes different sizes and hues</div><div style="text-align: center;">When it all gets too much</div><div style="text-align: center;">Spotting mallards and such</div><div style="text-align: center;">AnElephant chills out and enjoys the great views</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo01cUmtcDNRPFkLgOW1Yoo4r5l4XnRQ9lvaUPTGMaSSH6JTh2-5axKzun2Pa_6Kg-tBwmci4QeGqNL3-OTCx-OgJjD5YnT0YR3XLovkjl9470PsBhc8h_9uTLaAp6kWopkwKLo0Iz3Xc/s1600/pic5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo01cUmtcDNRPFkLgOW1Yoo4r5l4XnRQ9lvaUPTGMaSSH6JTh2-5axKzun2Pa_6Kg-tBwmci4QeGqNL3-OTCx-OgJjD5YnT0YR3XLovkjl9470PsBhc8h_9uTLaAp6kWopkwKLo0Iz3Xc/s400/pic5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">There are dipping ponds with nets provided</div><div style="text-align: center;">An illustrated chart to match what you catch</div><div style="text-align: center;">Water boatmen pond skaters</div><div style="text-align: center;">But no alligators</div><div style="text-align: center;">So AnElephant’s leg stays quite safely attached</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOlY2wWTXt4wjKik9Snt3lWqV2tJN87Pe7SZdRWwF1ZbFzFInFOk58o-3T4drYWcgh-3Ug-xtudL1vLqqTUwjpsugOV2Nu0fkW_hJsRt5p9s5BtXSxy1gkJ0PyXdo4g1ctFe_RqiZWBQ/s1600/pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOlY2wWTXt4wjKik9Snt3lWqV2tJN87Pe7SZdRWwF1ZbFzFInFOk58o-3T4drYWcgh-3Ug-xtudL1vLqqTUwjpsugOV2Nu0fkW_hJsRt5p9s5BtXSxy1gkJ0PyXdo4g1ctFe_RqiZWBQ/s400/pic.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">There are fun things for elephants and their calves here</div><div style="text-align: center;">Play areas and cool woodland walks</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wildlife photographing</div><div style="text-align: center;">Treasure hunts lots of laughing</div><div style="text-align: center;">This Elephant Can tell you that Lochwinnoch rocks!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdFKU_ehLHkNxNrgIenYx5qaFAplQYJxlUQsJUhhhH6qt9NnQxRp7zWhdh2IPsqEeWJEVlMoYotgLz5mEmcMsOfjT_mgXPu1NdIQ71aG8_cl1Vl23kUKMRDPU9evBmUciW9qmv3xz_D4/s1600/pic6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdFKU_ehLHkNxNrgIenYx5qaFAplQYJxlUQsJUhhhH6qt9NnQxRp7zWhdh2IPsqEeWJEVlMoYotgLz5mEmcMsOfjT_mgXPu1NdIQ71aG8_cl1Vl23kUKMRDPU9evBmUciW9qmv3xz_D4/s400/pic6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div>*The Elephant’s grandson, and the inspiration behind the books and so much more</div><div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-31540737014337376432012-03-27T03:12:00.001-07:002012-03-27T03:29:30.870-07:00Loch Lomond<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'By yon bonnie banks an' by yon bonnie braes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Whaur the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Traditional Scottish - first published 1841)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5VVhHXl5ZmYlsMSIlwxPOAROWHgAK6fM20N9GvHLVTCofM3dn4oq2Ny83Sn_xees3DW250ciy_aktcrOfdXsmevus7GvlwkegIRE4ZIwuF1mgOUBZYahaXOItkPkk6BLCgKcnjCIDE0/s1600/DSC00779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5VVhHXl5ZmYlsMSIlwxPOAROWHgAK6fM20N9GvHLVTCofM3dn4oq2Ny83Sn_xees3DW250ciy_aktcrOfdXsmevus7GvlwkegIRE4ZIwuF1mgOUBZYahaXOItkPkk6BLCgKcnjCIDE0/s400/DSC00779.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">AnElephantCant possibly do justice</div><div style="text-align: center;">He lacks the descriptive ability</div><div style="text-align: center;">Loch Lomond is quite</div><div style="text-align: center;">The most wondrous sight</div><div style="text-align: center;">An ocean of beauteous tranquillity</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFRM8903f6c5h5TuDKzEOPNIF2QPw92bSJddMRy-9AEn0-P-1TRoI-ZDS7sD-SFg6TRgqFgPi1jV66BX95JvfNr_V3ysqgjf8Nrdgejy2EfCgOzk-Hk9QhueG0pxfhcq3rbI0adjBy0M/s1600/DSC00682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFRM8903f6c5h5TuDKzEOPNIF2QPw92bSJddMRy-9AEn0-P-1TRoI-ZDS7sD-SFg6TRgqFgPi1jV66BX95JvfNr_V3ysqgjf8Nrdgejy2EfCgOzk-Hk9QhueG0pxfhcq3rbI0adjBy0M/s400/DSC00682.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">The morning mist lies low and eerie</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Elephant records in his Captain’s Log</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then the sun breaks through</div><div style="text-align: center;">Shows a sky of clear blue</div><div style="text-align: center;">And quickly dissipates Kermit the Fog</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JZVl-YjerUNvmCPnSFbV3uJw32EanBpDmy3mG0nVoz0gWgXUSRbYR-LvlKDBgekwoJUKtSCVVTfYuN8jo4MvbY8A3ZkvMA0AYtNPmj6JJx-Adrwpk0vdH0VyEzwIlDpAD220KcXMSK4/s1600/DSC00829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JZVl-YjerUNvmCPnSFbV3uJw32EanBpDmy3mG0nVoz0gWgXUSRbYR-LvlKDBgekwoJUKtSCVVTfYuN8jo4MvbY8A3ZkvMA0AYtNPmj6JJx-Adrwpk0vdH0VyEzwIlDpAD220KcXMSK4/s400/DSC00829.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">AnElephantCant claim to be useful</div><div style="text-align: center;">When he is asked to propel a canoe</div><div style="text-align: center;">He is not to blame</div><div style="text-align: center;">Perhaps it’s a shame</div><div style="text-align: center;">He is a pachyderm not a gnu</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IpUema7X61YMHYcORDbYheEYPE7cWUKCy2phidntcU67tR7Dv9N6c8iYGjhuELvyThDKAcgKtf2qMWQYZ9-24GN_FW8h0SWvIO3DG1zTKvF4_swKCVKau02pYmln0TRBCvGUtGTyaR8/s1600/DSC00803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IpUema7X61YMHYcORDbYheEYPE7cWUKCy2phidntcU67tR7Dv9N6c8iYGjhuELvyThDKAcgKtf2qMWQYZ9-24GN_FW8h0SWvIO3DG1zTKvF4_swKCVKau02pYmln0TRBCvGUtGTyaR8/s400/DSC00803.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center">If each picture paints a thousand words<br />
It is best if the Elephant is quiet<br />
A very quick message<br />
Black pudding and sausage<br />
And the wee stove that Rab brought to fry it</div><div align="center"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycQNESKsOEFR4MVqnr6w6r5VdD0-gzaxznnm66WaZ23JNkqq8VDH_K6Gg8gQ_N98UoPtRX8oUzxHAYoVwfwKsdUMvPbNzzmCcSf6-HTlNqkJaeW3y943LmfjJihnqUwVRQWpiWriMkRk/s1600/DSC00836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycQNESKsOEFR4MVqnr6w6r5VdD0-gzaxznnm66WaZ23JNkqq8VDH_K6Gg8gQ_N98UoPtRX8oUzxHAYoVwfwKsdUMvPbNzzmCcSf6-HTlNqkJaeW3y943LmfjJihnqUwVRQWpiWriMkRk/s400/DSC00836.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center">Breakfast rolls and mugs of tea<br />
On a loch of clear calm water<br />
There is no surprise<br />
This is paradise<br />
Quite perfect (like the Elephant’s dear daughter)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92kz8SvYq3Dxlnvv84K4hAi6Bz7UY3IJN31Y4i8B7cNp-MrbaCIoRESOjRz1ouJdsgUuzvQhDbYeyvvNB44M3zDX01GH6LzWBSVvkSDQLCktNcWPOTkZaPBO-vaRX_s637TTaW_WaNZk/s1600/DSC00706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92kz8SvYq3Dxlnvv84K4hAi6Bz7UY3IJN31Y4i8B7cNp-MrbaCIoRESOjRz1ouJdsgUuzvQhDbYeyvvNB44M3zDX01GH6LzWBSVvkSDQLCktNcWPOTkZaPBO-vaRX_s637TTaW_WaNZk/s400/DSC00706.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center">AnElephantCant paddle for toffee<br />
You might say he is more of a passenger<br />
But it did provide time<br />
To make up this rhyme<br />
So be kind please and don’t shoot the messenger</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-Aw0Nbuk8cZog2VKzl5vrqG9fE8KDNAhKU4JVcE9uiiHBLC2ziNNMd0i_XIMik5Og7EEtrLViSPe9os2XlmbGc99D04NXJegWNoY5c6NWKqT8L_JB005_rPrM7ZcT1kg_O-Fh-cvvpI/s1600/DSC00751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-Aw0Nbuk8cZog2VKzl5vrqG9fE8KDNAhKU4JVcE9uiiHBLC2ziNNMd0i_XIMik5Og7EEtrLViSPe9os2XlmbGc99D04NXJegWNoY5c6NWKqT8L_JB005_rPrM7ZcT1kg_O-Fh-cvvpI/s400/DSC00751.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center">If you can take a brief time off this summer<br />
Then this wee rhyme may be a good omen<br />
Do not go abroad<br />
But take the high road<br />
To the bonnie bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKp65sUVn8YJxHhYtQbBMmkJuNownRUSDssirP_lsovbmenSBLXXpBG_LLoVgHYcn4egwnjOpTmoNbzpnEQntg2DNqGEQkqfwRCqKCcqiBrvB1D-bpml2-V-pUa6OSvhOBw1dNwWikIN4/s1600/DSC00834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKp65sUVn8YJxHhYtQbBMmkJuNownRUSDssirP_lsovbmenSBLXXpBG_LLoVgHYcn4egwnjOpTmoNbzpnEQntg2DNqGEQkqfwRCqKCcqiBrvB1D-bpml2-V-pUa6OSvhOBw1dNwWikIN4/s400/DSC00834.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-6674310648010357492012-03-26T01:49:00.001-07:002012-03-26T01:52:03.536-07:00Budget 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82T_z7d1tNvG0XT9_pgNGps_7zY0wMNODmn1h_IYV53m9njarjl7RTg_RQEyvh2tekP_BYDfpFB7XcS8G7bsVybY-Ipn0QoInqogUWMJt3_kpzbfIAiuoilgSQwg2vrRQ2eI5YeFMo7Q/s1600/free+london.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82T_z7d1tNvG0XT9_pgNGps_7zY0wMNODmn1h_IYV53m9njarjl7RTg_RQEyvh2tekP_BYDfpFB7XcS8G7bsVybY-Ipn0QoInqogUWMJt3_kpzbfIAiuoilgSQwg2vrRQ2eI5YeFMo7Q/s400/free+london.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We are all in this together<br />
But the rich don’t have enough<br />
The poor are just so greedy<br />
Do they really need so much?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Rich people only work if they know they will get richer<br />
Poor people just won’t work unless they are really poor<br />
So it seems a whole lot fairer to take money off the old folk<br />
Who cares? We know that they’ll be dead long before me and you are</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stop moaning all you folk out there<br />
All this griping is unhealthy<br />
If you want some help from George Osborne<br />
All you need is to be wealthy</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Forty plus years of PAYE<br />
NI Vat and Council Tax<br />
Stop your whining<br />
There’s a silver lining<br />
Davie Cameron knows the facts</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It costs old folk 300 quid<br />
To save Georgie 40k<br />
You are out of luck<br />
He doesn’t give a hoot<br />
Because you are old and bald or grey</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So you thought you’d have some comfort<br />
A warm fire a cup of tea<br />
You daft old cretin<br />
You should not bet on<br />
Any help from a rich Tory</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-18110346451652797082012-03-20T06:33:00.000-07:002012-03-20T06:33:07.225-07:00Blue and Yellow and black black black<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9IGwWCKVxthmvweoX7y60zx_FSRgiiJfaZpjXt4epZWwoOnnntku5bPKTJa0uTCi_J4INyYphOxGvUM7uKs-vwC2F_SdG4uRnv4GiW96U4PK18dSoTN5vxrXZMCb6agZCndWDr0zh_Y/s1600/chinless+two.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9IGwWCKVxthmvweoX7y60zx_FSRgiiJfaZpjXt4epZWwoOnnntku5bPKTJa0uTCi_J4INyYphOxGvUM7uKs-vwC2F_SdG4uRnv4GiW96U4PK18dSoTN5vxrXZMCb6agZCndWDr0zh_Y/s400/chinless+two.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">AnElephantCant quite grasp the problem<br />
That is vexing the Westminster louses<br />
Should they tax the rich?<br />
And if so then which<br />
Those who make loads or the ones with big houses?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">AnElephant doesn’t live in a £2 million mansion<br />
Please forgive our sad lack of conceit<br />
We are not being funny<br />
But with that sort of money<br />
You could jolly well buy our whole street</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We don’t earn £150 thousand per annum<br />
We would be up to our big ears in peanuts<br />
If we did we’d be nice<br />
And give up a slice<br />
At that level we would not even see cuts</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In London the story is different<br />
Old Boris calls £250,000 chickenfeed<br />
For a weekly column<br />
We find this appalling<br />
A cash-obsessed addict in need</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Government says they cannot tax the wealthy<br />
On their income because they avoid it<br />
We think they mean evade<br />
We are being betrayed<br />
If they have a conscience it is time they employed it</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This Elephant is a quite simple beastie<br />
We do not ever pretend to be clever<br />
But we do get irate<br />
When Cabinet millionaires state<br />
OK chaps we are all in this together</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is something we did suggest last year*<br />
When Wee Dave thought Big Phil the bee’s knees<br />
So George here’s our thought<br />
Why not tax the whole lot<br />
On the cash their wives ship overseas?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">If our leaders won’t take cash from their rich chums<br />
(At least not in the way of taxation)<br />
We will ask a hard question<br />
And make a suggestion<br />
That may cause Dave and Nick some vexation</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We detest all these bankers and traders<br />
Their greed could cause the next revolution<br />
We don’t want to nobble ‘em<br />
But they are the problem<br />
We believe they should be the solution</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">These folk make obscene wealth in this country<br />
Then ship it to where their wives stay<br />
They like a good laugh<br />
They say don’t be daft<br />
Tax is what little people pay</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So this Elephant suggests independence<br />
For the City of London’s rich gents<br />
We are not being funny<br />
Let them keep their money<br />
And we charge a gazillion pounds rent</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
* <a href="http://anelephantcant.blogspot.com/2011/03/taxation-vexation.html">http://anelephantcant.blogspot.com/2011/03/taxation-vexation.html</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-64785241078952929082012-03-12T04:02:00.000-07:002012-03-12T04:02:35.278-07:00While Rome burns<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7bSyuqGHm-N6h6i4knZgGBHxHAqUy2tnp_XnQe5_By_V0Q4xqR1uXUSsX-qGQ33bQW-qER4Y5apAQDpdJLlR1dJPEatrR3WH_0bfY81aXkhIeIoZk6JNW-kArCpYx-MQ2YRAKjnnnH4/s1600/bankers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7bSyuqGHm-N6h6i4knZgGBHxHAqUy2tnp_XnQe5_By_V0Q4xqR1uXUSsX-qGQ33bQW-qER4Y5apAQDpdJLlR1dJPEatrR3WH_0bfY81aXkhIeIoZk6JNW-kArCpYx-MQ2YRAKjnnnH4/s400/bankers.jpg" width="321" /></a></div><br />
<br />
On the news that theRoyal Bank of Scotland, 84% owned by the UK government/tax-payer, is to relocate hundreds of call centre jobs to India.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/herald-view/a-jobs-export-that-goes-too-far.16944722">http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/herald-view/a-jobs-export-that-goes-too-far.16944722</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/anger-as-rbs-transfers-scottish-jobs-to-india.1331003045">http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/anger-as-rbs-transfers-scottish-jobs-to-india.1331003045</a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">AnElephantCant grasp Royal Bank logic<br />
They are giving more workers the sack<br />
You and I are the donors<br />
Of their gigantic bonus<br />
Still they won’t lend us our own money back</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">They have 350 who earn quite good wages<br />
Over £1 million every year<br />
They send good jobs abroad<br />
This logic is flawed<br />
250 more are out on their ear</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">They take 785 million pounds for their bonus<br />
While the rest of us struggle for cash<br />
It’s what we deserve<br />
They announce with great verve<br />
And they just keep on building their stash</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">They say that they must pay out our money<br />
Or all the good people will leave<br />
From our point of view <br />
That’s just what they should do<br />
And don’t treat us as though we’re naive</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The taxpayer owns 84% of this bank<br />
But they make 250 people redundant<br />
More folk on the dole<br />
They keep digging the hole<br />
Can you climb out? AnElephantCant</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We suggest to all Royal Band customers<br />
Why not deposit your cash somewhere else<br />
This is not a threat<br />
Just have a nice debt<br />
And tell Stephen Hester his business plan smells</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-21313726294438558822012-03-07T05:07:00.000-08:002012-03-07T05:07:49.826-08:00Frogs and grandsons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyCWLCUeOTKNMTenc6Mn6fzQocWlMquKU3RdTIETrVRi5Ze5acn4bS1707lY5jqvKpy6NMZ5LGbXwwhB4Pm5i5gimirUhBriCByvyKcuQcIYJX452T4bfZCPtLCR-ut-jde8Iv13KE5c/s1600/frog+spawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyCWLCUeOTKNMTenc6Mn6fzQocWlMquKU3RdTIETrVRi5Ze5acn4bS1707lY5jqvKpy6NMZ5LGbXwwhB4Pm5i5gimirUhBriCByvyKcuQcIYJX452T4bfZCPtLCR-ut-jde8Iv13KE5c/s640/frog+spawn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I spent yesterday afternoon with my grandson, who is 6 years old. <br />
<br />
When I picked him up from school at 3pm he asked me if I knew anything about science or about projects. <br />
<br />
By the time we met his mum at 6pm we had been to the pond, collected frog spawn, taken pictures of pond and spawn, and designed a project plan!<br />
<br />
I suggested that we diarise the development of the tadpoles.</span></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He said 'We can use the computer, I'll just do it in Word'!<br />
<br />
When I was his age I dipped a slightly squinty nib into an inkwell!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-65829119438725978742012-03-05T15:51:00.000-08:002012-03-05T15:51:27.056-08:00Windmills and Windbags<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipb7w2heH2sK-nx_sAoXxysFiXUxUwSESRu9mTm_3ccHXBhxlAWm1ss1o3r1r8mqxHw5CQaL-z4AgTs0VERqL7hSrkGUhDa5ITYt1ua6G45LX1zB7DridbS8p1pycq4k8bfGXA5TQFeKE/s1600/trumped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipb7w2heH2sK-nx_sAoXxysFiXUxUwSESRu9mTm_3ccHXBhxlAWm1ss1o3r1r8mqxHw5CQaL-z4AgTs0VERqL7hSrkGUhDa5ITYt1ua6G45LX1zB7DridbS8p1pycq4k8bfGXA5TQFeKE/s640/trumped.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
AnElephantCant say that he’s certain<br />
Whether wind farms are good things or not<br />
From what he has read<br />
There is much to be said<br />
On both sides so he gives it some thought</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Clean energy is clearly a benefit<br />
As Scotland strives to keep our planet green<br />
But these structures might be<br />
Considered unsightly<br />
Can we build turbines that generate unseen?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">AnElephantCant pretend he’s a big fan<br />
Of the US tycoon Donald Trump<br />
It is fair to say<br />
He likes his own way<br />
If he can’t get it he pure takes the hump</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The last chap who tilted at windmills<br />
Was in a book that our Don might have read<br />
This affable clown<br />
Was abruptly knocked down<br />
He did not listen to what anyone said</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So oor Donald is building a golf course<br />
And would like the horizon protected<br />
He thinks he can tower<br />
Over our future power<br />
He does not want to see wind farms erected</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">He thinks that he can tell our Government<br />
What can be built off our scenic east coast<br />
They have a mandate<br />
From Scotland’s electorate<br />
I don’t remember him getting our votes</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Could he possibly have ulterior motives<br />
For trying to get this project binned?<br />
We could make whoopee<br />
Poking fun at his, em, hair<br />
But perhaps he just doesn’t like a strong wind</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">He claims he is trying to save Scotland<br />
He holds our scenery in the highest esteem<br />
Are we being unfair<br />
To say he didn’t care<br />
Until it affected his money-making scheme?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We have a wee message for Donnie<br />
We are a friendly and peace-loving race<br />
Please listen carefully<br />
We don’t like a bully<br />
So gi’e us peace and don’t get in our face</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-39154951448224236312012-02-27T04:35:00.000-08:002012-02-27T04:35:10.898-08:00A duck-billed platitude<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkm3eJOZOSenTarlGtWHptZYXov9HiHR_WKn7rmzWtMMemgu_Hsih7JFwEj-4GMTu72rHm50auW5ySb_jJKShcWlNSYGuppohYFkDqPOFjGL7rTLgn6ZNXojV2Zx0xeaP4H2TvcGTX_g/s1600/cliche.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkm3eJOZOSenTarlGtWHptZYXov9HiHR_WKn7rmzWtMMemgu_Hsih7JFwEj-4GMTu72rHm50auW5ySb_jJKShcWlNSYGuppohYFkDqPOFjGL7rTLgn6ZNXojV2Zx0xeaP4H2TvcGTX_g/s320/cliche.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
AnElephantCant always avoid clichés<br />
The artist has mentioned this a million times<br />
He gets sick as a parrot<br />
All stick and no carrot<br />
But the rhymer sometimes needs one for a rhyme</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We know the doodler has oodles of talent<br />
He takes to drawing like a duck takes to water<br />
Your scribe’s in the dog house<br />
As poor as a church mouse<br />
With prospects like a lamb to the slaughter</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This pachyderm grows old and confuseder<br />
Is there some animal who never forgets?<br />
Does every dog have his day?<br />
Where there’s a will there’s a way?<br />
Over the hill or just hedging his bets?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Why is the horse such a source of sad clichés?<br />
About water but not about drink<br />
Get on when he’s high<br />
Close the door wave goodbye<br />
And a nod is as good as a wink</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Perhaps the writer just isn’t the brightest<br />
He can’t find his way even to Rome<br />
His goose is well cooked<br />
He has leapt but not looked<br />
The lights are on but there’s nobody home</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Let’s put an end to this shaggy dog story<br />
Let’s pretend the fat lady has sung<br />
This dodo is dead<br />
Let’s put it to bed<br />
And wish the cat had got more than his tongue</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The rhymer knows that his work is quite hackneyed<br />
Does he lack skill or just have a bad attitude?<br />
But time is the thief<br />
He’s sick to his back teeth<br />
So he signs off with a new duck-billed platitude</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-33023361097123602652012-02-22T06:20:00.000-08:002012-02-22T06:20:45.368-08:00Big Blue Mug<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4Y6c_5ji6ghyl8K_cX8Wq4SBri56asj4asUc40Q3tvT8FQsjoGKsCXMD9ZLUdO6jBNvXEDSfiLBeZoJK4kJRqpj6xKrsN7qUSsl9lor4QnjA9fR8OmLA323eNLF8q-l3ZNE5kla8mjA/s1600/mary's+mug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4Y6c_5ji6ghyl8K_cX8Wq4SBri56asj4asUc40Q3tvT8FQsjoGKsCXMD9ZLUdO6jBNvXEDSfiLBeZoJK4kJRqpj6xKrsN7qUSsl9lor4QnjA9fR8OmLA323eNLF8q-l3ZNE5kla8mjA/s400/mary's+mug.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
A dear friend has brought this to the attention of the Elephant:<br />
<a href="http://forargyll.com/2012/02/dermot-oleary-backs-marys-meals-big-blue-mug-campaign/">http://forargyll.com/2012/02/dermot-oleary-backs-marys-meals-big-blue-mug-campaign/</a><br />
There is no apology for the change of style and mood.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
AnElephantCant contain his excitement<br />
About the charity that’s called Mary’s Meals<br />
No jokes this time<br />
But a cheery wee rhyme<br />
To tell everyone just how he feels</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mary’s Meals started feeding 200<br />
Now it is 600,000 children each day<br />
There is only one rule<br />
They feed them in school<br />
They never turn one child away</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This Elephant does not usually do serious<br />
He is aware that he sounds like a bore<br />
But the laughs are adjourned<br />
Where kids are concerned<br />
He knows that he could and he should do much more</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Please buy a mug which will help save these children<br />
It’s quite big and it’s a shiny bright blue<br />
AnElephantCant<br />
Eliminate want<br />
But he is trying and asks you to do too</div><br />
<a href="http://www.marysmeals.org.uk/">http://www.marysmeals.org.uk/</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-366313024209617172012-02-08T06:43:00.000-08:002012-02-08T06:43:55.401-08:00Artist on Vacation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZwSSvbNaM_3f6JPGb7iO7kV3Tuxql1we4Qq6Xbun5MvkpLaQfLCH4nl5djnw-SI8cEdchOGPRjGZOrKZEJoXWbe3dAVI8UfUejQfEXR5wSsNwHnShbWI4fhaOh-KTSLSP31e9jjPBuM/s1600/no+show.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZwSSvbNaM_3f6JPGb7iO7kV3Tuxql1we4Qq6Xbun5MvkpLaQfLCH4nl5djnw-SI8cEdchOGPRjGZOrKZEJoXWbe3dAVI8UfUejQfEXR5wSsNwHnShbWI4fhaOh-KTSLSP31e9jjPBuM/s400/no+show.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Half AnElephantCant pretend that he’s useful<br />
When the talented one goes on vacation<br />
He sits here forlorn<br />
Amidst winter’s storm<br />
While the doodler doodles in some exotic location</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yep Phil is off taking the sunshine<br />
In some paradise isle in the Med<br />
It has to be nicer<br />
Than the snow and the ice here<br />
This Elephant’s tootsies are cold even in bed</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">An artist can make an impression<br />
His pictures can depict a story<br />
With minimal appliance<br />
He can abstract compliance<br />
And be decorated in surreal glory</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The scribbler sits sharpening his pencil<br />
It is the best it is the worst of times<br />
He knows he’s no Dickens<br />
But still the plot thickens<br />
The rhymer has to keep finding new rhymes</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Or he can continue to recycle old ones<br />
He can re-use many happy returns<br />
He sheds a wee tear here<br />
The irony is clear here<br />
It is the doodler whose surname is Burns</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-53043822793708000252012-01-30T02:30:00.000-08:002012-01-30T02:37:29.653-08:0050 things I have done at least once in my life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3VCApHbjkfe6Q9kG08Nl6-dK80J0lgfUDmrKZdKmK0DikZr-XToN6VdHGximYDQMIxKDUwEElgNc2RyR1Jdt9x2A7q-OuNsIM6J7Yp9wg62NfjK5GB3I2yqumRCW8w7yL2uGDqrLGAk/s1600/vidock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3VCApHbjkfe6Q9kG08Nl6-dK80J0lgfUDmrKZdKmK0DikZr-XToN6VdHGximYDQMIxKDUwEElgNc2RyR1Jdt9x2A7q-OuNsIM6J7Yp9wg62NfjK5GB3I2yqumRCW8w7yL2uGDqrLGAk/s400/vidock.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: center 207.6pt right 415.25pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">50 things I have done at least once in my life</span>.<o:p></o:p></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I was inspired to draw up this list when reading a blog I always enjoy and much admire:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://bensgrandpasblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/all-these-places-have-their-moments.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://bensgrandpasblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/all-these-places-have-their-moments.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: center 207.6pt right 415.25pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I make no claim that they are necessarily good things or in any way exceptional, just hopefully a quite interesting sequence of snapshots of a life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: center 207.6pt right 415.25pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">They are very deliberately in no meaningful order.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: center 207.6pt right 415.25pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Swam in </span><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Indian Ocean</span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> on Christmas Day<o:p></o:p></span></div>2. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Danced sur le pont d’Avignon<o:p></o:p></span><br />
3. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Visited Franz Kafka’s Castle in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Prague</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
4. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Saw Shakespeare on stage<o:p></o:p></span><br />
5. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Went to </span><st1:place><st1:city><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Turin</span></st1:city><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, </span><st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Italy</span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> to buy a briefcase<o:p></o:p></span><br />
6. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sailed over the sea to Skye<o:p></o:p></span><br />
7. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Started my own business<o:p></o:p></span><br />
8. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Went to school in foreign language (Afrikaans)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
9. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Built a toy fort for my son<o:p></o:p></span><br />
10. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Saw </span><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Mont Blanc</span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> from the <i>terrasse</i> of my home<o:p></o:p></span><br />
11. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sailed into </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sydney</span></st1:placename><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><st1:placename><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Harbour</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
12. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Saw a shooting star in </span><st1:place><st1:city><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Venice</span></st1:city><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, </span><st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Italy</span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
13. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Wrote a children’s book<o:p></o:p></span><br />
14. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Drove through </span><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Pyrenees</span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> in a 2CV<o:p></o:p></span><br />
15. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Had a pet chameleon<o:p></o:p></span><br />
16. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Saw Michelangelo’s David in the Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence</span><br />
17. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Flew over </span><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jura Mountains</span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> in single-prop 2-seater plane<o:p></o:p></span><br />
18. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Attended a Burns Night in Alloway<o:p></o:p></span><br />
19. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Went to the </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bath</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Blues Festival<o:p></o:p></span><br />
20. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taught my daughter to ride a bike<o:p></o:p></span><br />
21. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Saw Johnny Hallyday live in an open air arena on the shores of the </span><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Mediterranean</span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
22. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Played rugby for school in morning, soccer for club in afternoon, went dancing at night<o:p></o:p></span><br />
23. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Saw the Little Mermaid in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Copenhagen</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
24. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Climbed </span><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ben Nevis</span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
25. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Crossed the </span><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Danube</span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> via the Budapest Chain Bridge (built by Scottish engineer Adam Clark) <o:p></o:p></span><br />
26. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Saw seals at </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Scalpsie</span></st1:placename><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bay</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, Isle of Bute<o:p></o:p></span><br />
27. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Won a trophy for Boxing<o:p></o:p></span><br />
28. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Had a close friend who spoke only French<o:p></o:p></span><br />
29. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Rode on a tandem through a forest in </span><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Frankfurt</span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
30. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Had a bi-lingual dog with a tattoo<o:p></o:p></span><br />
31. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Drove through </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Belgium</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> without stopping<o:p></o:p></span><br />
32. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Swam in </span><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Pacific Ocean</span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> at sunrise<o:p></o:p></span><br />
33. T<span style="font-size: 12pt;">aught Katy to parallel/reverse park<o:p></o:p></span><br />
34. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Travelled on airboat through the </span><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Everglades</span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
35. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Gazed in wonder from the top of the </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Eiffel</span></st1:placename><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tower</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
36. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Stayed in the House of the Rising Sun<o:p></o:p></span><br />
37. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Took my grandson on PS Waverley, the world’s last ocean-going paddle steamer<o:p></o:p></span><br />
38. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Saw Puccini’s La Boheme<o:p></o:p></span><br />
39. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Drove from </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Calais</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> to the Med<o:p></o:p></span><br />
40. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Saw a wild bear in the </span><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Blue Ridge Mountains</span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> of </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Virginia</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
41. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Saw Leonard Cohen live at </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Edinburgh</span></st1:placename><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Castle</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
42. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Scored 6 off 1 ball in school cricket<o:p></o:p></span><br />
43. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Took the canal trip in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Amsterdam</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
44. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Saw </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Scotland</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> score fastest ever try in 5-nations rugby<o:p></o:p></span><br />
45. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Got stung by a bee at the Jet d’Eau in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Geneva</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
46. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Abandoned a car in a Luxemburg car-park</span><br />
47. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Saw sunset in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Key West</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
48. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Skied in the </span><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Alps</span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
49. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Saw Blind Faith live in </span><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hyde Park</span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
50. <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Had my mother’s name inscribed on the Memorial Wall in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Glasgow</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 12pt;">’s </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Kelvingrove</span></st1:placename><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Museum</span></st1:placetype></st1:place></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: center 207.6pt right 415.25pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> Had a tricky time deciding what <strong><em>not</em></strong> to include, like live concerts by some of the greatest names in music, landmark sporting and cultural events, professional achievements and a raft of personal triumphs and disasters.</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: center 207.6pt right 415.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: center 207.6pt right 415.25pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p>And I am not dead yet .......</o:p></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-23162278307801643912012-01-25T03:16:00.000-08:002012-01-25T03:18:31.380-08:00Happy Birthday, Rabbie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7c5Ri26oAVpWDQyciIg0OPOiVzDe1DTu286QBSSJBHa9V-hQs55etG99NuIpBWKfZF5o7xb5NpChmKAd2tPoC14G8L_h5lh-ApNPPpKpitmtXGcLq4wPbJ0JJ9SU7DsW6_2frZp0tPm0/s1600/rabbie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7c5Ri26oAVpWDQyciIg0OPOiVzDe1DTu286QBSSJBHa9V-hQs55etG99NuIpBWKfZF5o7xb5NpChmKAd2tPoC14G8L_h5lh-ApNPPpKpitmtXGcLq4wPbJ0JJ9SU7DsW6_2frZp0tPm0/s400/rabbie.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">If he had written</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Haikus we would drink far less</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Whisky on Burns Night</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy Birthday, Rabbie, and thanks for everything!</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-86832831616734591922012-01-22T05:13:00.000-08:002012-01-22T05:13:38.482-08:00a bit of a rant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIrRzo0DZFOWGSg51bXQa1X2qCavWTiByoq_DilfYoDQ7JxgngLsVTjxmTC4C4N2ev1sS1btKAwc_WfdD2MLi_jB6ZbpGHZUyO81-Sy-DOfrpU-viDP8geGzSUGMkhId_0V53mKPi_sE/s1600/gibber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIrRzo0DZFOWGSg51bXQa1X2qCavWTiByoq_DilfYoDQ7JxgngLsVTjxmTC4C4N2ev1sS1btKAwc_WfdD2MLi_jB6ZbpGHZUyO81-Sy-DOfrpU-viDP8geGzSUGMkhId_0V53mKPi_sE/s400/gibber.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the continued absence of the smart and talented half of AnElephantCant (if the brain isn’t here, guess which part of the elephant you are left with), I feel like a bit of a rant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are all aware of the dumbing down of the English language, in whatever flavour we use it.<br />
The ever increasing use of email stripped the written word of much of its form and formality (and I confess to being as guilty as anyone in this) with the omission of pronouns, punctuation and even capitals.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
Now the use of text has created a whole new language, much of it well-nigh incomprehensible to old fuddies like myself, and has wiped out almost entirely all previous notions of spelling and grammar.<br />
This is not necessarily a bad thing per se, but I do wonder when ‘text’ became a verb and created the ugliest and most unpronounceable word in the language in its past tense.<br />
Texted! Really?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But I am much more dismayed by the collapse of proper pronunciation in much of our day-to-day speech.<br />
Here in Scotland this has, I believe, always been the case to some degree.<br />
The omission of the ‘g’ at the end of ‘-ing’ is a widespread example of this, but the most common is the glottal stop which replaces the ‘t’ or even ‘tt’ in the middle of a word.<br />
This is applied even in the name of our own country, Bonnie Sco’land!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
We also lose the ‘t’ from the end of words, giving us cannae, willnae, dinnae and disnae.<br />
And don’t get me started on such linguistic atrocities as ‘gauny’ or the execrable ‘um ur’ which in some circles seems to have replaced ‘I am’.<br />
(My apologies to non-Scots speakers here – some of that must be utterly unintelligible.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And now onto the English!<br />
By this I mean mispronunciations not found in Scots speech, but widespread among TV folk.<br />
Let’s start with the much-abused letter ‘r’.<br />
It is often omitted when it should be pronounced, as in poor, which becomes poo-wah.<br />
Think also of door, car, sore, and pretty much anything ending in the comparative –er.<br />
It is like a mass audition for the ‘Fwee Wodewick’ scene in Life of Brian!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, to be fair, this callous abandonment is compensated by the apparently spurious addition of the wretched ‘r’ to words ending in ‘aw’.<br />
Think saw, claw, flaw and that famous Scottish footballer, Denis Lore.<br />
If the family pet hurts its foot, imagine the consternation over its poor paw!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A more recent abomination is the emphasis on the internal ‘g’ in words like singing and ringing. In fact, it is pronounced as though there is an additional ‘g’, giving sing-ging and ring-ging. Why?<br />
Do some morons think it is posh?<br />
Or do posh people think it is moronic?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And what about the letter ‘h’? <br />
Yep, aitch is now pronounced with a leading ‘h’.<br />
Haitch.<br />
Why?<br />
What on earth possesses folk to just change a word?<br />
Are we going to start breathing fresh hair?<br />
Be all hakes and pains?<br />
Maybe drink a pint or 3 of real hale?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I would also like to mention words that are used wrongly.<br />
Recently every semi-literate sports ‘expert’ uses the expression ‘begs the question’, when he really means ‘raises the question’.<br />
Begging the question is something quite different, meaning to imply the answer in the question itself.<br />
I suggest you look it up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My last comment is more of an observation.<br />
We in Scotland now use ‘never’ in place of ‘not’ in many situations.<br />
I never saw him last night.<br />
I never went to the match on Saturday.<br />
And perhaps especially in a denial – no, I never!<br />
So it appears to be used for emphasis, for when ‘not’ just isn’t convincing enough.<br />
This is what happens when the good old ‘f’ word is so overused that it no longer has any impact!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">End of rant. For now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-68447529772121104942012-01-13T05:51:00.000-08:002012-01-13T05:51:50.536-08:00Sabre-dino-dragons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl_zID9QZqB9I9if1mpVFp5-w5S4raiSEr_yfY8kTzpNP35X66rH432OHVYE8AnYQ3AQva_Cu6lCqJIduzJ46yqYxh2qG5f_GMCZ0WlMUmYW6R0_E-QGa-LW9euOgPc0Q8ghRHbs49fk/s1600/drogon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl_zID9QZqB9I9if1mpVFp5-w5S4raiSEr_yfY8kTzpNP35X66rH432OHVYE8AnYQ3AQva_Cu6lCqJIduzJ46yqYxh2qG5f_GMCZ0WlMUmYW6R0_E-QGa-LW9euOgPc0Q8ghRHbs49fk/s400/drogon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">The park can be a wondrous place<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Full of strange exotic secrets<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">A twilight land of shadowy shapes<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">And dark mysterious creatures<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjWdRpGCGqIbe7x7uiQ9KOzCvDjsEHpSrE73wr_CTypyF0QP_flNsjID3npKM0TAIVe94fenKQ8Iqqr6r9di-HU6Ni8O5zcjxmbfI3m54JDbPlebH29Npm3NKnWX-jVuRGklKfn0cgls/s1600/DSC00303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjWdRpGCGqIbe7x7uiQ9KOzCvDjsEHpSrE73wr_CTypyF0QP_flNsjID3npKM0TAIVe94fenKQ8Iqqr6r9di-HU6Ni8O5zcjxmbfI3m54JDbPlebH29Npm3NKnWX-jVuRGklKfn0cgls/s400/DSC00303.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">T Rex and mammoth flourish here<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Imagination has a feast<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">A creative mind (with grandpa’s help)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Conjures up amazing beasts<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vI8IsixM8-V0TBGXj9t-_O0wi03PqT_wN7Qd0YGSBYj9Kh9Bi5WtcX0us5hZULFrP3WHAVkAY05IfhKsZy76QK47Sk1-0rMylC-vLrDrtmyNxsSodckJZCLZtbc07tnoBz7RdBU0SXc/s1600/DSC00033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vI8IsixM8-V0TBGXj9t-_O0wi03PqT_wN7Qd0YGSBYj9Kh9Bi5WtcX0us5hZULFrP3WHAVkAY05IfhKsZy76QK47Sk1-0rMylC-vLrDrtmyNxsSodckJZCLZtbc07tnoBz7RdBU0SXc/s400/DSC00033.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Jack runs tireless through the mud<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">His spirits never flagging<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">He’s on the hunt - has he found the tracks<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Of the Sabre-dino-dragon?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMR4yYlMEapw4wrzyno7dLlZZnOp7-5J0bgVtGusecvU_uKaHLTGCOzHq8QaPHxcDlKQH65i-Mka_9UGr0Ac5VnlkM2K8C2fUGY17yGF11gGSCmJuPt1nCP0hRQOPRn765fV9d07frCh0/s1600/DSC00029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMR4yYlMEapw4wrzyno7dLlZZnOp7-5J0bgVtGusecvU_uKaHLTGCOzHq8QaPHxcDlKQH65i-Mka_9UGr0Ac5VnlkM2K8C2fUGY17yGF11gGSCmJuPt1nCP0hRQOPRn765fV9d07frCh0/s400/DSC00029.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">They nest high in the leafless trees<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">They sometimes lurk around the pond<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">They move noiselessly up steep wet slopes<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">To the flag-pole and beyond<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMyZGC3ARWOpJLDzhH1km0hFD4JYBUHIgi0Lu3llbW8KZG-ubafigW5ZojzrxhjH7voQ6u9fyVW1zbNp5WhGr-R4mUXEGMritowMwk3xiXFFbhw2shsFG7cFv8L4-CWKLk1F-VvxjeZY/s1600/DSC00259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMyZGC3ARWOpJLDzhH1km0hFD4JYBUHIgi0Lu3llbW8KZG-ubafigW5ZojzrxhjH7voQ6u9fyVW1zbNp5WhGr-R4mUXEGMritowMwk3xiXFFbhw2shsFG7cFv8L4-CWKLk1F-VvxjeZY/s400/DSC00259.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Bushes protected by twig and thorn<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">For unwary clothes to snag on<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">The perfect hidey hole for boys<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">And Sabre-dino-dragons<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhSRLfHXK47-HpXsnyTWCtTmyxLaVo0SW4I63wZZm3ztluy_ctUwfNbze0XaNRBPOFZF6gR4znpJtPkVti2i-44DRcZ7gbWywI2KRQklc7EcDLOVXuSkz8pHab5fm1_9jmbs819GdaLk/s1600/DSC00266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhSRLfHXK47-HpXsnyTWCtTmyxLaVo0SW4I63wZZm3ztluy_ctUwfNbze0XaNRBPOFZF6gR4znpJtPkVti2i-44DRcZ7gbWywI2KRQklc7EcDLOVXuSkz8pHab5fm1_9jmbs819GdaLk/s400/DSC00266.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Jack’s mum says we are crazy folk<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">And it’s hard to disbelieve her<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">But we have studied their <i>environs</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">And seen the signs they leave there<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6WoqdOtW0HDuI9Hw_IUjCT3REg8FWS4sjXRclnRMbTEHKXhKYWHrjNI9ToTPIVV_CdC0V1kPhvp0ssHj-4mAxqw_FT-YVl_VfobCXIMPILKNiUMQZh7bE7GlEB66yDJiBwIyJ7C1S8E/s1600/DSC00279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6WoqdOtW0HDuI9Hw_IUjCT3REg8FWS4sjXRclnRMbTEHKXhKYWHrjNI9ToTPIVV_CdC0V1kPhvp0ssHj-4mAxqw_FT-YVl_VfobCXIMPILKNiUMQZh7bE7GlEB66yDJiBwIyJ7C1S8E/s400/DSC00279.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Is it all in my aging brain?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Is my sanity a-sagging?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Or has my bonnie brilliant boy<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Discovered Sabre-dino-dragons?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvwURo-Owf58sCfRcp1ZS277dMoHK-7ZAVWMBSDcDfWV1WKLt3mmCHHYOzqW6s21cUw70yVwbm5zxP6KKEi-u-occ_st-3ZHslAYaO0PEisd1WqFrVe597oEDlmBj7jqNqXAwWVYexPM/s1600/eve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvwURo-Owf58sCfRcp1ZS277dMoHK-7ZAVWMBSDcDfWV1WKLt3mmCHHYOzqW6s21cUw70yVwbm5zxP6KKEi-u-occ_st-3ZHslAYaO0PEisd1WqFrVe597oEDlmBj7jqNqXAwWVYexPM/s400/eve.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-84224028307387889202012-01-06T01:00:00.000-08:002012-01-06T01:00:09.942-08:00The King and I<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClaeCfTsc9eSwMqPRqCLeK0ftbIORuGzK4DtZBycayVdpk4oh9Z0P9jgjiSHu9KQi62ESkMZp5h3XjwIF0TEnuvkX8WKXSpfyBG1pibYrFL4ZXeNYkrX81_A2wsieZW7F-wyb3CpKCmM/s1600/Elvis_Presley_promoting_Jailhouse_Rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClaeCfTsc9eSwMqPRqCLeK0ftbIORuGzK4DtZBycayVdpk4oh9Z0P9jgjiSHu9KQi62ESkMZp5h3XjwIF0TEnuvkX8WKXSpfyBG1pibYrFL4ZXeNYkrX81_A2wsieZW7F-wyb3CpKCmM/s320/Elvis_Presley_promoting_Jailhouse_Rock.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br />
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<br />
Not long ago I got involved in one of those conversations. You know the kind of thing, the meaning of life, will we ever win the World Cup, what’s your favourite movie of all time, and so on.<br />
Well, it was the movie bit that got interesting. What does ‘favourite’ mean? The best? How do you define that? And so on.<br />
So we agreed to nominate the film which had the greatest impact on our lives, the one that most changed our way of thinking.<br />
There were the usual proposals – The Godfather (I think II was top here), Apocalypse Now, The Deer Hunter, and so forth.<br />
But my choice caused some disbelief, consternation, and even laughter.<br />
Until I explained the background.<br />
I was brought up in what was then The Union of South Africa, in the late 1950’s.<br />
There was no television.<br />
(This, incredibly, was true until the 1970’s!)<br />
There was not much in the way of radio, and most of that was in Afrikaans.<br />
For those of you unfamiliar with Afrikaans, it is an offshoot of Dutch with a sprinkling of other, mainly African, words.<br />
If you are unfamiliar with Dutch, try to imagine someone speaking German in that clipped, slightly nasal South African accent.<br />
It is not the most mellifluous of the world’s tongues.<br />
Now I spoke the language fluently, because I attended an Afrikaans-speaking boarding school in Newcastle in the Drakensberg Mountains, where I was sent for health reasons.<br />
My poor brother was sent along just to keep me company - even then I felt that was somewhat unfair!<br />
Regardless of fluency, Afrikaans is not the natural medium for song, comedy or entertainment for a 10-year old boy.<br />
I am struggling here to get to my point.<br />
I was raised on a musical diet of Al Jolson, my father’s favourite, and Kenneth McKellar, my mother’s, from the long-playing records brought from Scotland.<br />
To this day I know all the words of everything Al Jolson ever sang.<br />
Not just Mammy, Sonny Boy and Swanee, but Toot Toot Tootsie, A Rainbow Around my Shoulder, Baby Face and a hundred others.<br />
I am not here to denigrate these great singers from an earlier era but, for a pre-teen boy, they were not quite doing it.<br />
We went to the cinema, or Bioscope as it was known in South Africa, and saw The Wizard of Oz, Show Boat and other musicals, not always too contemporary!<br />
The drive-in cinema was a great favourite there, for many reasons.<br />
You sat in your car as a family – my parents, my two brothers and I – so you could talk and make the kind of jokes that families do, eat and drink, or even – in the case of my much younger brother – have a snooze without inconveniencing anyone else’s enjoyment of the evening.<br />
You had the speaker set to the volume that suited you, so it didn’t have to be deafening.<br />
I always thought it a great pity that our climate is so unsuited to the drive-in, when it is dark enough it is way too cold!<br />
So one night my father took us to the drive-in to see a new film from America.<br />
I sat open-mouthed, stunned, unbelieving, totally enraptured as Elvis Presley slid down a pole and ‘The warden threw a party in the county jail’!<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpzV_0l5ILI">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpzV_0l5ILI</a><br />
Yep, Jailhouse Rock. <br />
The film that taught me there was a whole new and different world of music out there.<br />
The film that showed me that a man could sing and dance and – no disrespect to the wonderful Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly - still be one heck of a man.<br />
The film that gave voice to a generation, to their music and their culture.<br />
The film that personified the new ‘Zeitgeist’, even if it would be 20 years before I knew what that word meant.<br />
The film that introduced me to Elvis, to Rock and Roll, to a way of life.<br />
The film that had the greatest impact on my life, the one that most changed my way of thinking.<br />
<br />
He would have been 77 years old on January 8.<br />
Happy Birthday, Mr Presley.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-88784183606401242012011-12-31T11:42:00.000-08:002011-12-31T11:42:33.129-08:00Happy New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RCL65z67Ag2dMder0pub5I_e5OefjBq_4fFxJ-zHTOqYrhqqrCb5_v75ymS7x2cdb9sPK3DFq6S6sLoqNZKgKdlu9OXbJoFUjiRoIBPlWycG_ypbFWqUPsxtSuM7UwRCiX_n9WR8Daw/s1600/xmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RCL65z67Ag2dMder0pub5I_e5OefjBq_4fFxJ-zHTOqYrhqqrCb5_v75ymS7x2cdb9sPK3DFq6S6sLoqNZKgKdlu9OXbJoFUjiRoIBPlWycG_ypbFWqUPsxtSuM7UwRCiX_n9WR8Daw/s320/xmas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Seasons Greetings to both our readers (and their mums) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
AnElephantCant stay calm when its Xmas<br />
All those presents on a sleigh with reindeer<br />
He keeps asking his mum<br />
Will Santa get down the lum?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Close your eyes, dream sweet dreams, never fear</div><div style="text-align: center;">He loves Xmas trees decorated with tinsel<br />
Mince pies, jelly, and seasonal cheer<br />
Cards, toys from Santa<br />
From AnElephantCant a<br />
Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-62609599816990100972011-12-28T07:12:00.000-08:002011-12-28T07:12:05.170-08:00Pandas in Edinburgh Zoo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3MIasH2OgeQ/TvsxUChW43I/AAAAAAAAALk/1f7cRyFi3Sc/s1600/pandas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3MIasH2OgeQ/TvsxUChW43I/AAAAAAAAALk/1f7cRyFi3Sc/s320/pandas.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
AnElephantCant pretend he’s enamoured<br />
By the pandas in Edinburgh Zoo<br />
They may look quite cute<br />
In their black and white suits<br />
But they just sit around munching bamboo</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">They must wish they were back home in China<br />
What with winter and hurricanes and sleet<br />
Can they keep themselves warm<br />
In the eye of our storm<br />
Do they need gloves for their wee hands and feet?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">AnElephant believes that they’ve been told to mate here<br />
Not that easy in conditions so Spartan<br />
They will go to great pains<br />
To produce cultural weans<br />
Monochrome with a wee hint of tartan</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">They are called Tian Tian and Yang Guang<br />
The names translate as Sweetie and Sunshine<br />
If they get it together<br />
In spite of the weather<br />
Then these big bears will really have done fine</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">They must emulate Angel Shark Annie<br />
Who has just produced nineteen shark babies<br />
Over the forth in Fife<br />
With no sign of strife<br />
So tell Tian Tian no perhapses or maybes</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">AnElephant just loves being in Scotland<br />
We treat a hurricane just like a breeze here<br />
We are knee deep in snow<br />
But whadya know<br />
We have more pandas than Tory MP’s here!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749903427325650414.post-71516657213630874602011-12-07T05:50:00.000-08:002012-01-10T04:41:08.031-08:00Ice cream<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinH61bFpkOAPe7FO9ddKGzmcS6AZCnlqImlw6nd9LUcEr1O_ZsS5Bh-IrW4Ri5GMQdDF4jaltNK-fQRvbbZOAHClL1__8XJCxgvyepjiN6oqoCIJmsX6D2HpVbKoIeHbk3Oy0UFpVei4E/s1600/DSC00306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinH61bFpkOAPe7FO9ddKGzmcS6AZCnlqImlw6nd9LUcEr1O_ZsS5Bh-IrW4Ri5GMQdDF4jaltNK-fQRvbbZOAHClL1__8XJCxgvyepjiN6oqoCIJmsX6D2HpVbKoIeHbk3Oy0UFpVei4E/s320/DSC00306.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My grandson brightens up my life<br />
A source of fun and joy<br />
We go dragon-hunting in the park<br />
He is a wild creative boy</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We track mammoth footsteps through the mud<br />
He spies their nests high in the trees<br />
He tells me - quick behind this bush<br />
With no thought for creaky knees</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But of all the things he teaches me<br />
One thing I did not dream<br />
After all these years I’m tasting<br />
Different flavours of ice cream</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I always ate vanilla<br />
That was pretty much a rule<br />
Sometimes I stuck a flake in<br />
I thought that was really cool</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But now my little droogie<br />
Makes me think again because<br />
He has chocolate ice cream with a flake<br />
All drenched in raspberry sauce</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">He eats pooh bear crunch with sprinkles<br />
Chocolate or multi-coloured<br />
He heaps them onto toffee meringue<br />
I feel like quite the dullard</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So I’m eating creamy caramel<br />
I’m becoming quite the raver<br />
I try most things he offers me<br />
But I can’t take peanut flavour</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">A carton a bowl a wafer a cone<br />
No probs I always dug it<br />
An oyster or a snowball<br />
Or my favourite double nougat</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But my ice cream was always white<br />
Never green or brown or yellow<br />
Not blue or pink <br />
I used to think<br />
I ain’t that kind of fellow</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But now I’m more adventurous<br />
He has taught me quite a lot<br />
Flavours new<br />
And bizarre hues<br />
He just laughs and says so what!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
The Queen’s Café in Vicky Road<br />
Is our emporium of choice<br />
They treat us well<br />
The ice cream is swell<br />
We are happy smiling boys<br />
<br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogobo.com/widget/0/0/3/2/140/bottom/transparent/006b9b/Tahoma|1.2em|0.04em|13px|100%25|1px|1px|c0c0c0|center|top|square|10,5,8,7|1|0" charset="utf-8"></script></div>anelephantcanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14489572524689210019noreply@blogger.com1