Frida Kahlo (1907-1954): Self-portrait with Thorn Necklace and HummingbirdMe, eccentric? Not a bit. I don't do surreal paintings drenched in symbolism like Frida did. I don't wear a hat in the bathtub or lounge about in men's pyjamas till noon. I have never smoked a cigar or dyed my hair pink.
Just a very normal woman, maybe a little boring!
But I must confess I have been taking piano lessons for the past three years and this morning I did the Grade 4 Trinity College London practical exam with all the littlies. I try and slink into the waiting room incognito to sit with those nail-biting moms. I do my best to pretend I am actually a piano teacher just come to listen backstage . But someone is bound to ask, " Now what time do your little ones play?" or " Is it violin or piano that you teach?"
Just a very normal woman, maybe a little boring!
But I must confess I have been taking piano lessons for the past three years and this morning I did the Grade 4 Trinity College London practical exam with all the littlies. I try and slink into the waiting room incognito to sit with those nail-biting moms. I do my best to pretend I am actually a piano teacher just come to listen backstage . But someone is bound to ask, " Now what time do your little ones play?" or " Is it violin or piano that you teach?"
And I swallow my pride and admit, "Well, actually I am a pupil too!"
So while I am in the confessional, let me fill you on my reading habits. This is thanks to Smiling Sal who has tossed me the challenge. The rules of this game (my version) are:
1 Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules.
2 Share 2 random/eccentric book facts about yourself (actually she said 'weird'; I think eccentric sounds more, well, classy!)
3 Tag and link to 7 other bookworms and give them the good news on their blogs.
My book reading habits/eccentricities are:
1 I always read the ending after I am a little way into a book. I feel more secure if I know who dies/marries/elopes etc. Then I can proceed calmly without any frenzied rush to the end.
2 I always kindly offer to tell others about the end of the plot before they have read the book. And they usually turn down my well-meant suggestion. Why?
3 My favourite children's author was Enid Blyton. Contrary to the gloomy predictions of school teachers and librarians, Enid didn't ruin me or my English. I still graduated as an English lit major with a particular penchant for the Bard.
4 As a teen, I preferred Dickens to Peyton Place and the like (told you I was boring!). On second thoughts, I think Dickens can be pretty steamy himself.
5 I love reading aloud. I read loud to my girls until they were about 13. I read aloud to the grandkids. I read aloud to myself. I read aloud to my English pupils whom I tutor. Richard also loved reading aloud, especially lengthy descriptions from Pickwick Papers amidst snorts of laughter.
6 I never read books that I don't enjoy no matter Who recommends them. Political correctness is a virtue but not one of mine.
7 I swear I never plagiarised this fact from "To kill a mockingbird"! But I really did sit on Dad's lap and read the newspaper before I started school. When I got to Sub A, I just couldn't understand why we wasted time with inanities such as "Run, Jack, Run" and "Look, Jill, Look!" But unlike Scout, I always play the system in public so I dutifully read aloud in class and Mom signed my reading card. Evenings I took my revenge - kneeling next to Mom with the Cape Argus or the Cape Times spread out in front of us on the lounge carpet and read about train crashes, wars, murders, obituaries and other interesting and relevant stuff.
Now who is next?
Claire
Dirk from Holland
My book reading habits/eccentricities are:
1 I always read the ending after I am a little way into a book. I feel more secure if I know who dies/marries/elopes etc. Then I can proceed calmly without any frenzied rush to the end.
2 I always kindly offer to tell others about the end of the plot before they have read the book. And they usually turn down my well-meant suggestion. Why?
3 My favourite children's author was Enid Blyton. Contrary to the gloomy predictions of school teachers and librarians, Enid didn't ruin me or my English. I still graduated as an English lit major with a particular penchant for the Bard.
4 As a teen, I preferred Dickens to Peyton Place and the like (told you I was boring!). On second thoughts, I think Dickens can be pretty steamy himself.
5 I love reading aloud. I read loud to my girls until they were about 13. I read aloud to the grandkids. I read aloud to myself. I read aloud to my English pupils whom I tutor. Richard also loved reading aloud, especially lengthy descriptions from Pickwick Papers amidst snorts of laughter.
6 I never read books that I don't enjoy no matter Who recommends them. Political correctness is a virtue but not one of mine.
7 I swear I never plagiarised this fact from "To kill a mockingbird"! But I really did sit on Dad's lap and read the newspaper before I started school. When I got to Sub A, I just couldn't understand why we wasted time with inanities such as "Run, Jack, Run" and "Look, Jill, Look!" But unlike Scout, I always play the system in public so I dutifully read aloud in class and Mom signed my reading card. Evenings I took my revenge - kneeling next to Mom with the Cape Argus or the Cape Times spread out in front of us on the lounge carpet and read about train crashes, wars, murders, obituaries and other interesting and relevant stuff.
Now who is next?
Claire
6 comments:
So love that painting!
And I am with you on Dickens in preference to Peyton Place! I read "Tale of Two Cities" when I was in first year of high school while others were still romping around Enid Blyton's "Wishing Chair"!
When I was a teenager, I was very quiet. Now I prefer to be called eccentric, (if I must be labelled), but I can roll with it and not feel ostracised as I did when younger!
Loved this post!
Uh-oh. I do love Frida's works, am often known to still be in my favorite men's style pajamas until noon and I have smoked a cigar, but just once! But I do love reading aloud and read everyday to my children. I love the sounds of various words and the way they sound when paired with others.
Thanks for the tag. It may be a few days before I post, since I've started the pre-Thanksgiving prep stuff at the Manor.
Eleanor, Thanks for the tag - it looks like a lot of fun. I'll be thinking of all the weird(ok, eccentric) things I do with books! :)
By the way, when I linked to my blog, I got Claire...just saying...:-)
~Love, Jean
Oh my goodness. What an intersting tag. I'll have to think about this, and go back and read through it to see if it is about reading or a tag about weird facts! Thanks for the honor! xorachel
I can identify with the "Run, Jack, Run" from primary school. I was very bored while the class was being taught to read, when I could already read the comic books my older brothers had. Oh, what a chore the teacher had to rid me of writing everything in capitals.
Hello, my dear. I was the oldest at my piano recitals a while back, too. :) But I stopped playing. Couldn't get my fingers to move as quickly as my brain would. Have a lovely week.
Hugs ~
Alexandra
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