Posts

MAKATON LEARNING

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Hello, how are you today ?  I recently attended a Makaton workshop in my area. I am familiar with Makaton as I have virtually grown up with it. But it only in recent years through my church and using when I was undertaking a child care course, that I used it. Sadly I've gone a bit rusty so the course was as a refresher. And actually there were signs and that were new to me. Please feel free to leave a comment or suggestions below in the comments. I have tried to use the information in this blog to the best of my knowledge, any helpful comments will help how I research and create future blogs.  Makaton was first developed by a speech therapist named Margaret Walker in the 1970s. It was named using a few letters from the names of the first three Makaton teachers: Margaret Walker (MA), Katherine Johnston (KA) and Tony Cornforth (TON). Margaret Walker, founder won the Pride of Britain, Special Recognition Award , in 2019 for her dedication to and creation of Makaton.  Today o...

THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT

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We often question how long or short our poetry ought to be. To long and we risk the audience getting bored and nodding of before the end. But have you ever wondered what is the long ever poem, my brain asked me that question this morning. The answer apparently is said to be ‘The Mahabharata’, written by . Telling the tale of love and warfare between rival families It is seven times the length of The Iliad and The Odyssey combined. And would definitely exceed the word count on any social media platforms, and on here. I’ll let you find it for yourself if you desire to do so. The longest poem in English is ‘King Alfred’ by John Fitchett (1766-1838) of Liverpool, Merseyside, which is said to be 129,807 lines and took four decade’s to write. His editor, Robert Riscoe, added the concluding 2,585 lines. ‘Phew’ and I think beyond 16 lines is to big, and to when it was written there will have been no technology, no spell checker back then, possibly all written by hand and memory; is it any wond...

LADIES OF LLANGOLLEN

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Eleanor Butler (1739-1829) and Sarah Ponsonby (1755-1831) met in 1768 when Sarah was a teenager and Eleanor was in her late twenties. Both were members of wealthy families from the Irish aristocracy and both were set on not being married off, the usual fate for women of their social standing at the time. They were so committed to their freedom that 10 years later they attempted to flee the country together, disguised as men. The escape was prevented by their families . After some discussion, the two women were allowed to leave Ireland for Wales. There, they travelled around for a while before settling down and ‘retiring’ in Llangollen, in 1780 at Plas Newydd (now aged 25 and 41). Here they would live for nearly fifty years with their servant Mary Carryl and a series of dogs. When they moved in, their house was a tiny cottage with three window s and was named Pen-y-maes on the Afon Cyflymen. However, the Ladies had big plans for the place. They renamed it Plas Newydd (the New Palace in ...

EARTH DAY

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Earth day, reminds us of the importance of environment conservation. Know its date, theme, history, and more. Earth Day is an annual event observed across the globe to demonstrate support for environmental protection. This year it fell on 22 April, and I'm aware at the time this was written its drawing to the end of that day and some people will be reading this blog after 22nd April. This started out as a poetry promt from one of the poetry groups I'm linked to, I quickly realised its length and had to be a blog. But still the purpose is still the same.  "Earth this is your day, a day dedicated to you. Earth day you make us aware of the trauma we put you through; The junk we thow into the sea and earth. The earth is the Lord's and he made it good; So why do we destroy it with one hand then try saving it with the other hand. Is it to late to save this planet with it's dwindling green spaces and creatures becoming extinct. What will leave the generations beyond our o...

GOOD FRIDAY REFLECTION

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GOOD FRIDAY In all plain sight I see my saviours plight At Calvary in the daylight Until daylight turns night I turned my face away As I heard his anquish cry Mary cries 'no not my boy' For my sins Christ died today I see the sign above his head 'King of the Jews', it said From his hands 'n' feet he bled At His cross, here I am stood He said 'he'll never leave me' For this we all must believe Holding on with Faith and Hope There is a greater day to come L is for the love Jesus has for me I am the reason He died on the cross For His sacrifice we've been set free Every thankful for the sacrifice He gave. ©️Sarah Joy Holden https://youtu.be/c6gLvOHqFlo?si=sIu2gpJxSE7lCFdj

EASTER REFLECTIONS

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GOD OUR FATHER Our master has spoken, We are His children, It me He has chosen, He's our strong foundation. I'll give Him all of my devotion, Picks us up when we are broken, In our weakness, He will strengthen, He love's us without condition. He is our daily portion, Our life's daily hydration, He's our daily oxygen, Our daily destination. For us, gave His life as a token, By His wounds we're forgiven, We share in His communion, He is my life's precious reason. For us, His door is always open, Creator of all earth and ocean, He shows each of us compassion, Serving Him, is my mission. Nothing from Him is hidden, On His heart our name is graven, He is our exhalation 'n' adoration, Always available to guide 'n' listen. He holds our captivation, He is our daily mediation, In Him is our salvation, In Him the victory is won. ~ Midlife Writer  Wishing all of you a blessed Easter. Please don't forget to leave a comment below and remember clocks g...

JOYS AND PERILS

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   JOYS AND PERILS OF WORDS  I love to play with with words Words we all use in our everyday I love discovering new words Watching how they form and play I love being a prolific daily wordsmith Poetry and verse is my daily fix There isn't one subject I write about I write about things as they happen It helps us process the world around me Our world is filled with endless content Never missing an opportunity to write Fitting it in alongside our daily routines We don't have to look very far for words For they meet and greet us all day long Words that inspired greatest ever speeches Words that have defined the course of history I love to hear polite spoken words Words from all poets old and new Poets and writers like me and you Zephaniah, Keats.....to name just few Words written the rules of five or ten Poetry comes with all kinds of definitions Don't be alarmed, by rules and opinion Let creative words, flow from your hearts Words fall easily from the tongue Sometimes withou...