Tag: English language

Blog Posts, Prompts

SoCS – Making sweet music … or not!

ladygaladriel50

Linda’s Saturday challenge would have been simple if I was following US grammar and spelling, but I’m not. I just can’t. I have to use US spelling at work and that’s fine, even though it confuses the heck out of me when I’m not at work. Did I spell fibre correctly? Yes as I’m at home writing this post…. and no if I’m at work writing about optical transmission along fiber optic cables.

What has this got to do with Linda’s challenge? Everything! You see, the prompt word is practice and/or practise. Not a problem for my US friends… there’s just ‘practice’ for nouns and verbs. However, on this side of the pond we like to make things ‘interesting’!

When I was a little girl, knee-high to a grasshopper, our primary school tested our musical potential and I was given an violin! I really wanted a flute or a clarinet but my teacher thought I would do well with the violin.

In the ensuing weeks, my parents and the neighbours (note UK spelling) were treated to daily practice of said instrument. My repetitive renditions of ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ drove every sentient being nuts. I overheard my parents describing my efforts as a weasel being sawn in half! The cheek of it!

As the years progressed, I practised for exams and school concerts. By now the thin screeching had been replaced by something more melodic. In truth, I still didn’t like the violin much. I preferred to play the piano or mosh around my bedroom with my electric guitar, amplifier and headphones.

Fast-forward to the days of Cost-centres (UK spelling again) 1 and 2 (aka my kids) attending primary school and history repeats itself again. This time the dreaded stringed instrument has been replaced by a B flat cornet and a flute. I cannot begin to describe the dreadful din during practice sessions. Suffice to say lessons lasted one school term and those shiny instruments lie in their cases undisturbed. Anyone want a couple of little-used tooters?

Thanks go to Linda G Hill for hosting this weekend prompt. Pop over and say Hi, give her a follow, and join in the fun!

Blog Posts, Prompts

Interesting subject for SoCS

ladygaladriel50

So the snow-bound Linda has come up with a cracking prompt… using words containing the letters ‘etc‘, not to be confused with etc!

As with all such challenges, the first thing I do is to think up words starting with ‘ect’. The only one I came up with was ectoplasm. I’m obviously a Ghostbusters fan, the 1984 version. I well remember our local cinema went all out to join in the fun, covering every free-standing object with sheets and green slime. Ah! Those were the days. I was still at high school. I’m now giving away my age!

Having run out of words beginning with ‘ect‘ (that didn’t take long, Cath!), I shifted focus to words containing ‘ect‘.

School was a mixed bag of experiences. My senior years were the most fun. I’m still in touch with my biology teacher who taught me to respect the insect world instead of waging war on it, one bug at a time. After all, we need these little critters to take care of waste disposal and pollination (amongst other jobs)! No bees, no flowers. The prospect of a beeless world does not bear thinking about.

In contrast, I wasn’t the greatest fan of English lessons. The teacher was an absolute harridan. She used to patrol between our desks, slapping our desks (and occasionally our hands) with her ever-present ruler if we made mistakes such as mixing up the correct usage of ‘affect‘ and ‘effect‘. I can tell you this much, the longterm effect of having her as a teacher affected my view of the teaching profession for years!

I think that will do. I dare say I could come up with something witty in reference to the day Mr D went for a vasectomy, but as he’s lurking over my shoulder, wondering when I’ll be finished, I shall stop right now!

Wishing you all a wonderful Saturday.

Cath xx

Thanks go to the snowbound Linda G Hill for hosting this wonderful weekly challenge. Pop over and say ‘hi’. You may need a snow shovel!