What do you do to leave the house?

Did you see Micheal McIntyre's Christmas comedy roadshow?

He is so brilliant at observational comedy and I don't think there is a parent out there who can't relate to the sketch he did on leaving the house when you have small children. If you haven't seen it you must and if you have watch it again, it is still funny the 2nd, 3rd, 4th time!

Yesterday Clare told us that one time upon arriving at school, proud as punch that they'd arrived on time, she looked down at Isla's feet only to discover that she had her slippers on!!

It got us thinking what stories have you got of leaving the house?!

Do you have any fail safe ways of getting your children in the car or do you bluff like Mr McIntyre "if you don't come down the stairs we'll leave without you! we're leaving, we're leaving, goodbye, goodbye, bye, bye, bye"

We'd love to hear your stories so send us an email. The best story will be published on our blog and the winner will get one of each of our CDs 'Winter Fun' & 'Summer Fun'.  Hopefully a good bribing tool to get them out of the house and into the car for a sing a long!

A winner will be chosen 1st March so please email us your stories by 28th February. 

Robbie Burns

Today is the day that Scotland celebrates the life and poems of its national poet - Robert Burns

 

He was born in Scotland, 25th January 1759, and was best known for his poetry and lyric writing. His most famous lyric ‘Auld Lang Syne’ is often sung worldwide on New Year’s Eve.

He was the son of a farmer and had 6 younger brothers and sisters. With little money for school his father taught them all how to read and write. At 15 Robert wrote his first poem ‘O, Once I Lov’d A Bonnie Lass’. 


His work was often inspired by love! 

In 1784, after the death of his father, Robert and his brother took over the farm but struggled financially. In 1786 he had decided to immigrate to Jamaica were he could work as a bookkeeper for £30 a year. As he was penniless it was suggested to him that he publish his poems in order to pay for the passage.

By July that year he had TWO volumes of his works published and was soon known across the country. His success was immediate so plans of immigrating were dismissed and instead he choose Edinburgh as his home where he was received as an equal of the aristocracy and other literary heroes. Later that year a new edition of his poems were published bringing him £400!

He wrote many a lyric to preserve Scottish Folk music and many more of his works were published. He was very political and inspired many people until he died in 1796 aged 37. You will find statues of him all over the world from Aberdeen, Scotland to Vancouver, Canada and his works still inspire poets and musicians to this day.

Each year on 24th January people remember Robert Burns by having a ‘Burn’s supper’ of haggis, neeps and tatties, toasting the haggis and raising a glass of whisky in memory of him and his work.

This is Tara's favourite Robbie Burns poem ‘My Love Is Like A Red Red Rose’ sung by Eva Cassidy

Happy Chinese New Year!

Today (23^rd January) is the first day of the Chinese New Year. The Chinese year is 4709^. The Chinese use the Stem-Branch calendar to count the days, months and years which is why the year is different to ours.

There are 10 Stems named by the Chinese Five Elements and their Yin-Yang (male-female) eg. Yang Wood, Yin Wood etc. The 12 Branches use animal names ie Rat, Cow, Dragon and are the Chinese zodiac signs. 

The year 2012 is Male Water Dragon. 

There are many stories as to how the animals were chosen for the zodiac signs. One of them is that the rat was given the job of inviting a variety of animals to a banquet to meet the Jade Emperor, ruler of the heaven and the earth. Those animals that showed up made a place in the calendar. The cat did not make it as the rat tricked him into thinking that the banquet was the night after, thus making the cat and the rat enemies for eternity. 

I wonder why the panda didn’t make it!

The Dragon is the only mythical creature to be included in the Chinese calendar and in China is the symbol of power from heaven. It is the most auspicious animal, is the symbol of royalty and is thought to bring wealth, wisdom, courage and power. It is for this reason that many couples believe the year of the Dragon the best year to have a child. 

If you were born in a previous year of the dragon (1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000) 2012 may not be a lucky year for you, but fear not if you wear something red, given to you as a gift, you will ward off the bad luck!

‘Gung hay fat choy’ is the traditional Chinese greeting for new year meaning ‘Best wishes and congratulations. Have a prosperous and good year’

We found this funky Chinese New Year Song on YouTube. “Gung hay fat choy” to all of our readers! 

All of a Twitter

Today at our temporary London HQ we have been a hive of activity: 

We've Tweeted

We've Facebooked 

We've found Mummy's with toddlers that blog  - they're reviewing our DVD 'Snuggles in Scotland' (are you one? email us if you and your smalls would like to review us on your blog) 

We've emailed - 162 nurseries and playgroups in Wandsworth!  we don't really know why we started with Wandsworth, but, we had to start somewhere in London so it started... there! Now every nursery/playgroup in Wandsworth knows about our nursery/playgroup project. Where should we hit tomorrow?  Kew, or maybe Kensington and Chelsea, who knows.

We have navigated our day with more cups of tea than previously thought possible to be consumed and eaten more french crostini with President butter than is considered healthy.

We are sad as Old MacDonald's dog was here but has now gone back to the farm. She went with our sound engineer Matt on the bus and LOVED it! She got lots of fusses and one lovely lady suggested she model for Nicole Farhi; Matt quickly told her she was already a star!

We've had some great reviews posted up on Amazon, take a look. It is so great to read the reviews, especially when lots of them say that the adults are enjoying it too. It has cheered us up no end on this cold January day without the dog to amuse us. Amazing to hear of people listening and watching as far a field as Australia and Washington!

Amongst all this business there was a bit of silliness - we found this video. A bit mean on the poor frog we thought, but he got his vengeance!!

Nursery School/Playgroup Project

Is your nursery or playgroup wanting to raise funding for a new playground, musical equipment/toys, or just raise some money for their favourite charity?


If so we can help.........


We are running a nursery/playgroups project across the UK to help raise funding for nurseries and playgroups. We want to help and encourage children to learn through music and fun. We are also very committed to ensuring music is an intricate part of nursery children’s lives and to ensuring high quality nursery provision. 

The DVD and CDs are offered to the nursery on a sale or return basis so there is absolutely no risk to the Nursery to get involved or even better they can take orders from parents and we will deliver them straight to their door. We also provide the nurseries/plagroups with flyers that they can personalise to suit them so it couldn't be easier! 

£2 from each DVD sale and £1 from each CD sale will go directly to the nursery or playgroup. This is purely so that the nurseries can keep the monies for fundraising activities.

If you would like your nursery or playgroup to get involved please email us at tarasmusicmagic@gmail.com and we will send you all the info and tools that you need to start raising that cash! 

Old MacDonald's dog Moet is already saving her fundraising pennies in her piggy bank!