Tuesday 21 December 2010

The Shortest Day.

December 21st at last, and from now on daylight gets longer. I even dreamt about it last week.
Not a short dream either, definitely not short and sweet.
A short story for the 21st.
I was on short time, working for Short Books and I needed a holiday. I reckon I was sold short when the travel agent suggested a short break in Shortacombe in Devon. He said it was either that, or Shorthampton, my first choices Shorton and Shortlees being booked up. Now I know I've got short arms and long pockets but I won't be short changed. I ask you, not even suitable for a short arse! Nothing else on offer, They thought they'd got me by the short and curlies, but they got short shift from me. To cut a long story short, I told them the short answer was no. So I left, took a short cut and was home in next to no time. Put on my Bermuda shorts and a short sleeved top (bought on shortstuff.org.uk) and put the kettle on.
I made short work of three Starbuck style short size coffees and some shortbread, never run short and better than any short stay in Shortacombe. Only too much coffee at my age doesn't suit me. And the long and short of it was, woke up in the middle of the night and found my water bed had burst. Only I haven't got a water bed! How embarrassing to be took short at my age. Never mind, there's always a trip to town tomorrow. And I'll take a taxi, 'cos short men don't use buses, only minicabs!

Answer sheet A Christmas Quiz by Ken Stevens

1 Norway Spruce (Pice abres)
2 Hellebore
3 Ash
4 A holly tree
5 Mistletoe
6 Nine drummers drummimg
7 Prince Albert
8 a ‘Joey’
9 December 25th
10 Tom Smith (Victorian pastry cook)
11 Isiah 9 verse 6 and 7
12 Luke 2 verses 1 and 2
13 The playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir
14 And fit us for Heaven, to live with thee there.
15 Indian Ocean
16 Discovered Christmas Day
17 Workhouse
18 Christmas pudding
19 Christmas pudding again!
20 Mrs Beeton
21 4 shillings (twenty new pence)
22 Probably after alms boxes(the day after Christmas)
23 Good King Wenceslas
24 January 6th
25 Holiday Inn
26 Jimmy Boyd
27 Dora Bryan
28 Greg Lake
29 Bruce Springsteen
30 Irving Berlin
31 John Lennon
32 The Little Match Girl
33 Hans Christian Anderson
34 Louisa May Alcott
35 Little Women
36 The Wind in the Willows
37 Kenneth Grahame
38 Adrian Mole
39 Sue Towsend
40 Saint Nicholas’ faithful servant (Dutch)
41 Peter Paul Rubens (also painted Giorgione)
42 Saint Boniface (Germany)
43 Turkey farm (Bernard Mathews)
44 Samuel Pepys
45 York Minster
46 to 50 Any five from: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid,
Donner, Blitzen.

20 comments:

Valerie said...

The shortest day... and a clever compilation of short words. Brilliant. I didn't realise that today was the shortest day. Thank goodness, that means another day being housebound through snow and ice won't be as long. Bless you, Ken. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

The bike shed said...

Merry Christmas Ken. I've enjoyed the blog this year - always read yours, even if don't have time to comment.

Cheers

Mark

Mark's latest post is on moments of transcendence @

http://viewsfromthebikeshed.blogspot.com/2010/12/moments-of-transcendence.html

Sueann said...

Nothing short of a miracle!!! 'Tis the season of wonder!!
Hugs
SueAnn

the fly in the web said...

Such fun, your short post!
And thanks for the answers which I dare not look at as I haven't finished the questions!

Marry Christmas and thank you for all the pleasure your blog gives me.

Moannie said...

Short answer to the Quiz: dunno!

Loved your short story..who'se a clever boy then?

Keith said...

"Short" plays a big part in my life. I'm short of money, short of friends, short of beer, short on commonsense and short of hair!

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

I keep running out of time, I wonder if the days are too short?

I'm not short of mosquitoes though, day and night. They're free, any takers? Quick, before I run short.

Irvin Berlin! That's the name I was trying to remember, I watched a Christmas film with his music the other day.

Lane Mathias said...

In short - bravo!

Happy Christmas Ken.

An English Shepherd said...

Merry Chrismas Ken :-)

Eddie Bluelights said...

Merry Christmas Ken and a Happy New Year ~ Eddie

Grumpy Old Ken said...

Valerie
And a happy New Year!

Grumpy Old Ken said...

Mark
Thanks, I folloow your life with interest. Happy New Year.

Grumpy Old Ken said...

slommler
Glad you liked it!

Grumpy Old Ken said...

Fly in the web
Thanks and a happy new Year.

Grumpy Old Ken said...

Moannie
Not that clever though on a bad day!

Grumpy Old Ken said...

keith
very good! Follow you with interest. Keep going, we all need each other, us ode uns!

Grumpy Old Ken said...

Lane
And a Happy New Year.

Grumpy Old Ken said...

An English Shephard
And a Happy New Year!

Grumpy Old Ken said...

Eddie Bluelights
How nice to hear from you. Wonder what next year will bring us all. (Isn't this the first year you START retired?

Lwolverine said...

really good blog !


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