I didn't miss Talk Like a Pirate Day altogether. I recalled around dinnertime that it was the day, and managed to alter my Facebook page accordingly. For those who use Facebook, you may enjoy knowing that (any day!) you can get into Settings, choose Language from the left column and change from English to "English (Pirate)"! Then all the little rubrics get changed. For example, "Like" becomes "Arrrr!" and the "Wow" face declares "Shiver me timbers" etc. It's a lot of fun! Try it for a day and see what you think. Yarrrrrrr!!
Bill, Swallows and Amazons and its sequel, Swallowdale by Arthur Ransom follow the adventures of the Walker children, John, Susan, Titty and Roger as they spend the summers of 1929 and 1930 on Coniston Water [click] with their mother and baby sister along with the new friends they make there. Chief among these are the Amazon pirates, Nancy and Peggy Blackett. The stories center around the children's sailboats, the Swallow and the Amazon. Swallow is wrecked near the beginning of Swallowdale, so there's a good deal more overland exploring and less sailing in that book. In both, though, Ransom vividly evokes the sights, sounds, and sometimes the smells and physical sensations of the landscape as well as the imagination and freedom of childhood at its best. I've never been to Coniston Water; yet, I can see the land and its inhabitants clearly in my mind's eye. I've never raced a sailing dinghy; yet, I feel as if I've been with Captain John, Mate Susan, Able Seaman Titty and Ship's Boy Roger as they tacked across the lake or ran before the wind. There are friendly and helpful grownups, in particular the Amazons' uncle, who is known as Capt. Flint. For the most part, though, the children manage very well exploring and encountering just enough danger and trouble to be exciting but not enough to put them in serious peril. As I say, splendid books, though I suppose someone not interested in sailing wouldn't enjoy them.
Thanks for the description. I've asked whether the zine title actually reverences this book, as it seems to. Not sure how else Amazons and Swallows would fit together.
I think I'm gonna skip the local news tonight. It's just sickening and it's not helping me corral my wild runaway insomnia or depression either. Florence! Kavanaugh! Dirty campaign lying ads from Ohio's Mike DeWine, car commercials, drug company commercials. Ugh ughity ugh ugh.
Ahoy, me hearties!
ReplyDeleteI didn't miss Talk Like a Pirate Day altogether. I recalled around dinnertime that it was the day, and managed to alter my Facebook page accordingly. For those who use Facebook, you may enjoy knowing that (any day!) you can get into Settings, choose Language from the left column and change from English to "English (Pirate)"! Then all the little rubrics get changed. For example, "Like" becomes "Arrrr!" and the "Wow" face declares "Shiver me timbers" etc. It's a lot of fun! Try it for a day and see what you think. Yarrrrrrr!!
The 2018 midterm elections have begun. [Click]
ReplyDeleteThe GOP's growing identity crisis[Click]
The Milky Way Is Still Feeling the Effects of an Ancient Encounter[Click]
The Tories used to stand for stability – now they’re the party of chaos [Click] Political similarities on the other side of the pond.
—Alan
The Astronomy article was fascinating. Thanks!
DeleteGlad you liked it!
DeleteAlan
https://other98.com/brett-kavanaughs-fellow-alumni-at-yale-law-school-are-calling-him-morally-bankrupt-in-a-scathing-letter/
ReplyDeleteI read it and read down through the list of names. Good for them!!!!
DeleteBill, Swallows and Amazons and its sequel, Swallowdale by Arthur Ransom follow the adventures of the Walker children, John, Susan, Titty and Roger as they spend the summers of 1929 and 1930 on Coniston Water [click] with their mother and baby sister along with the new friends they make there. Chief among these are the Amazon pirates, Nancy and Peggy Blackett. The stories center around the children's sailboats, the Swallow and the Amazon. Swallow is wrecked near the beginning of Swallowdale, so there's a good deal more overland exploring and less sailing in that book. In both, though, Ransom vividly evokes the sights, sounds, and sometimes the smells and physical sensations of the landscape as well as the imagination and freedom of childhood at its best. I've never been to Coniston Water; yet, I can see the land and its inhabitants clearly in my mind's eye. I've never raced a sailing dinghy; yet, I feel as if I've been with Captain John, Mate Susan, Able Seaman Titty and Ship's Boy Roger as they tacked across the lake or ran before the wind. There are friendly and helpful grownups, in particular the Amazons' uncle, who is known as Capt. Flint. For the most part, though, the children manage very well exploring and encountering just enough danger and trouble to be exciting but not enough to put them in serious peril. As I say, splendid books, though I suppose someone not interested in sailing wouldn't enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the description. I've asked whether the zine title actually reverences this book, as it seems to. Not sure how else Amazons and Swallows would fit together.
Delete81 years ago J.R.R. Tolkien published The Hobbit and the rest was Middle-earth history...
ReplyDeleteKnew it was 1937, but I didn't remember the date. Thanks, Puddle.
DeleteOf course tomorrow, the Twenty-second, is Billbo's and Frodo's birthday, celebrated by some as Hobbit Day.
DeleteAWESOME. Totally. All of it.
DeleteI think I'm gonna skip the local news tonight. It's just sickening and it's not helping me corral my wild runaway insomnia or depression either. Florence! Kavanaugh! Dirty campaign lying ads from Ohio's Mike DeWine, car commercials, drug company commercials. Ugh ughity ugh ugh.
ReplyDelete..And those are just the good bits. ;-)
Delete