Ewan's Corner

A wonderful and amazing version of the Dr Seuss classic “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” (his final published book) recorded at Burning Man. One of my favourite bed-time stories, loved by big and small kids alike – wisdom for us all.

Created by Tedshots.

I choose to live by choice, not by chance;

to make changes, not excuses;

to be motivated, not manipulated;

to be useful, not used;

to excel, not to compete.

I choose self-esteem, not self-pity.

I choose to listen to my inner voice,

not the random opinion of others.

From the brilliant Julia Donaldson, author of several wonderful stories which I (and my kids) have memorised.

Tea in bed. Second cup.
Dislodge cats. Get up.
Son to school. Spouse to work.
Sit at desk – mustn’t shirk.
Scratch head. Dream up snail.
Maybe team her up with whale?
Chew pen. What next?
Can’t think. Feel vexed.
Feed cats. Open post.
Read it, over slice of toast.
Little boy wants to know Date of birth of Gruffalo.
Little girl wonders why Giant gave away his tie.
Out to shops. Get idea
(Big grin, ear to ear):
Brilliant climax – whale gets beached!
(Rhyme a problem . . . reached? Beseeched?
Leeched? Well never mind, just now.)
Snail then rescues whale – but how???
Back home, get stuck.
Go off snail. Consider duck.
Phone rings. Who is it?
School, requesting author visit.
Check diary . . . shocked to see
“Monday, Brookwood Library”.
That’s today! Leap in car.
Thank goodness, not far.
Tell a story, act and sing.
Kids join in with everything.
(Teacher sits there marking books,
Blind to my accusing looks.)
Answer questions. Back to house.
Joined by son, later spouse.
Open bottle. Cook salmon.
Practise piano. Play Backgammon.
Have bath – that’s when
Inspiration strikes again:
Snail could learn to write with slime!
(Quite an easy word to rhyme.)
Crawls on blackboard, leaves a trail . . .
Children run and save the whale.
Story planned! Tomorrow, start
Writing it – the easy part.

Happy third birthday my little angel, I love you.

I wish I could pause your growth sometimes, or at least slow things down for awhile – time flies by so fast these days with you and your brothers keeping us so busy, and I know I’m not appreciating you fully.

You are such a wonderful little soul – so very different from your brothers. You have a wonderful nurturing aspect to your nature, and you are always trying to help – from helping with the washing, hurrying your brothers up at bath time and helping everyone get ready for school.

You are tough and independent – one of your favourite phrases is “no! I do it self!” – and you adore music and sing along happily to any one of your many favourite tunes. You have a fiery little temper which often catches your brothers by surprise, and the ability to fall asleep almost anywhere.

It seem like only a few short months ago that you were born in the corner of our bedroom, and now you’re an independent, sweet and happy chatty little personality obsessed with Tinkerbell, music, books and your mommy.

Happy birthday Hannah Grace.

Population will mightily increase, and the earth will be a garden.
Governments will be conducted with the quietude and regularity of
club committees. The interest which is now felt in politics will
be transferred to science; the latest news from the laboratory of
the chemist, or the observatory of the astronomer, or the
experimenting room of the biologist will be eagerly discussed.
…
Men will look upon this star as their fatherland; its progress
will be their ambition; the gratitude of others their reward.
…
Disease will be extirpated; the causes of decay will be removed;
immortality will be invented. And then, the earth being small,
mankind will migrate into space, and will cross the airless Saharas
which separate planet from planet, and sun from sun. The earth will
become a Holy Land which will be visited by pilgrims from all
the quarters of the universe. Finally, men will master the
forces of Nature; they will become themselves architects of
systems, manufacturers of worlds.

–The Martyrdom of Man, Winwood Reade, 1872