Personal Blogs

I was already seated when

The specialist said

                               it’s

                                    never

Easy. So I was expecting bad

News.

A. She was running away from the mouse.

I don’t know who Larry was, or why he or a clam should be particularly happy. Numbers 3 and 4 are fairly obvious though. But what’s a sandboy? I’d never really thought but just had a vague impression of someone happily making sandcastles, “in the sun that is young once only” *.

A bit of research reveals that (like many proverbial phrases) its origins are contested, but there seems to have been people who sold sand, presumably in towns, not on the beach, for cleaning floors. A bit like sawdust perhaps.

Why the sand-sellers should be so “jolly”, as contemporary writers described them, is not very clear. You can find some interesting theories and research here

https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/22578/what-is-the-etymology-of-happy-as-a-sandboy

* Fern Hill, Dylan Thomas

Everyone had heard there was a rumour going around, without knowing exactly what it was.

One morning I woke

To find a small poem nestling in the palm of my hand

It was Spring.

I thought of taking up conjuring. But it's a tricky business.

Mum always tried to spoon feed me. But I could never keep the spoons down.

I well can see why many care, to hear of stocks and shares.

But as I listened to a blessed thrush, it sang "Who cares! Who cares!"

In my experience the Sphinx

Knows much less than it thinx.

My new device will help people who are elderly and infirm cut their lawns. It's called the Strimmer Frame.

Any big number you figure I'll figure a bigger.

Coming down to breakfast I found Sherlock Holmes already up and perusing the morning paper. “What do you make of this Watson?” he cried. “Four eminent professors of chemistry, in different parts of the country, done to death in one night. Scotland Yard admits they are baffled and have asked for my help. Look”, he went on eagerly, thrusting the paper towards me, “these are the postal districts where the victims lived. Can you see a connection, Watson?”

B5

N7

S16

W74

“It's elementary my dear Holmes” I answered.

“I shall bequeath you my piano”, said Ludwig grandly.