Spelling

Whilst I’m on the subject of the English Language…. Am I the only person who spots incorrect spelling and grammar everywhere? From menus on boards outside restaurants to job adverts in the window of a temping agency. I don’t mean using text spelling (which is a subject for a Blog in itself!) or even American spelling, but simple English spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. The words ‘there’ and ‘their’ are constantly mixed up, (the writers need to know that a spell checker is not infallable!) and apostrophes are seldom used correctly. Even the wonderful BBC website has spelling errors.

Every book I read seems to have mistakes.- and they seem to jump out at me! Have publishers got rid of proof readers in order to save money? Is there such a profession as a Proof Reader any more? Judging from personal reading experience, I think not.

When spelling is no longer a separate subject taught in schools and phonetics is how children learn to read, it’s not surprising that young people cannot spell. A surprising number of trainee doctors I know write spinal chord in patient notes and on request forms - go check and see if you’ve got any musical notes hidden in your body!

So an ‘old biddy’ like me who had weekly spelling tests at school and can still remember being mortified at getting one word wrong (I always scored 10 out of 10 but on one occasion spelt 'usually' with a ‘y’ at the beginning - I was 8 at the time!), always finds it irritating to read incorrect English. So what? We can all laugh at literal translations from Chinese perhaps which are often hilarious. Or we can use a translation website and make a howling mistake. What does it matter if it’s wrong?

Actually not only is it irritating but it can be bad for business! Today I saw a verse on a new set of rubber stamps which had a word missing from the poem which I happened to learn at school. Again the mistake jumped out at me straight away! It made me sad to see it. It ruined a lovely set of seaside stamps and a lovely poem. Had no-one proof read their work before it went to print? The manufacturer is going to get so many e-mails from people my age pointing out their error, they will soon regret it!

And, no, I haven’t e-mailed to tell them, and I won’t be buying the stamp set either!

(See the correct verse on the photo above)

QUOTATIONS

I love the English language. I love the fact that the younger generation has a sub-language all their own (as my generation did way back when!) and new words enter the language all the time. For example many computer-related words are now a common part of the language. I even thought of becoming a Journalist when I was younger (but was never really good enough) and like everyone, I believe I have a book within me that I just need to write someday. But loving the language is not the same as being able to string words together into a sentence that reaches out and has real meaning for others who read it, so much so that those words are frequently copied and passed on for others to enjoy.

Many people have favourite lines they can remember from films, or can recite a whole poem from memory because they like it. My daughter has a ‘hoodie’ with a quote on the back from her favourite book which was made into a film. I like to remember the words of some wonderful authors and poets who have written in the English language over the years and whose use of the language is an inspiration to others. I love quotations. I collect them. I hoard them. I write them down in case I want to use them in the future.

Some people are happy creating a card with just the words ‘Thank You’ on, but me, I like to use quotes if I can instead. To replace Thank You, I might use,

‘Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.’

For a card to a friend I might use:

‘The best mirror is an old friend’ George Herbert

There are quotes on every subject you can think of. Most of them have a message that is absolutely timeless. Like this one from Mother Teresa:

‘LIFE is a challenge - meet it

LIFE is a promise - fulfil it

LIFE is a dream - realise it’

My family are so used to having a quotation on their handmade cards, they feel hard-done-by when I haven’t included one.

What sparked off this train of thought? Yet another of those hated Online Registration Forms that I was filling in the other day. The form asked me to write my favourite quotation. What?? Just ONE? How could I have one favourite above all others? Don't they realise I collect quotes? This would take some thought.

Well, my ONE quote would have to be inspiring, uplifting, and words that I or anyone else could relate to. I had to come off the website to consider my response!………….

……Eventually, I wrote,

‘What lies before us and what lies behind us are tiny matters compared to what lies within Us.’

Ralph Waldo Emerson

(you probably guessed that from the photo above)

So - what would be YOUR one favourite quotation? And don’t take all day to think about it!

Cuttlebug Christmas in July

Corny. Christmas in July.

But this time of year is when I start making my Christmas cards - along with many other crafters! These are some of the cards I made yesterday. I don't know if you can tell from the photo but I used Cosmic Shimmer paints which really sparkle in the light, along with a swiss dot embossing folder for my Cuttlebug machine.
Here's an inspirational Blog with weekly challenges using your cuttlebug: http://cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com/ 
Last year's Christmas cards were mostly blue, my favourite colour, so this year I've deliberately stepped out of that Comfort Zone! So - Green is my colour choice for this year. (If you receive one of these cards come Christmas you'll have to pretend you haven't already seen it!!)

I rarely make the same card twice (I always want to be moving on to something else!) but these were so enjoyable and easy to do that I'll be making more soon. Just until I get the number I need.

Thankfully I don't have hundreds to make like some people. If you're one of those crafters I do feel for you! Although we wouldn't have this hobby if we didn't enjoy it would we?