Ride A Cock Horse.

Greetings.  In my previous posting I announced that is was the four year anniversary of the birth of my blog.  To celebrate such a momentous occasion,  I had a contest that would include a suitably English prize for the winner.  The winner would be the first person who could answer this question : "I have lived in a place that is mentioned in a nursery rhyme.  The first person to correctly identify the nursery rhyme I am referring too, will win that suitably English prize."
I think it's been established that I didn't live in a shoe, a clock, a hill with neighbours named Jack and Jill, or lived on a wall with some dude named Humpty Dumpty.   I can also tell you I have never met Old Mother Goose,  Old Mother Hubbard, Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater, Little Boy Blue, Jack Be Nimble, Little Jack Horner, Old King Cole, Little Miss Muffet or Wee Willie Winkie.  No, in fact, 'Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary'.

Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross
To see a fine lady upon a white horse
With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes
She shall have music wherever she goes


So, there you go.  The answer is that I lived in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England, when I was eight years old.  I didn't live there that long, but I recall one memorable time.  It was the day of the 'egg and spoon' race at school.  The bigger, older chap on the same team as me, who was waiting for his turn, tapped me on the shoulder and said, 'you'd better win the race or I shall slap you!'  Charming.  Anyway, I won the egg and spoon race and my claim to fame is that I have, right up to this day, never lost an egg and spoon race.  I knew you would be impressed.  Actually and not one to self-promote, here is a posting about this awesome sport, Ever Watched An 'Egg And Spoon' Race?
And I know you might come up with some ridiculous innuendo for the poem.  Something like, 'ride a horse cock'.  


Anyway, before I forget what I'm doing and you get so bloody bored you move on to one of those really interesting, must-read blogs, I think it's time to announce the winner who was the first to correctly identify the nursery rhyme that mentioned the place I lived in.  Thus congratulations to the winner, the blogger at Raining Acorns  which is a cleverly written and varied blog.  Well worth a read, if you have not already done so.  
Very well done.  Below are the prizes.   I decided to send two.

The above is a book of some of the nearby villages, just a few miles from my home.  The Peak District is a national park.

And here is a book of the town I live in, Leek, Staffordshire, England.  I would like to add this is indeed a book of old photographs and the clothing styles have changed.  I would like to further add that I moved to Leek because I always wanted to live in a town named after an onion.


And in conclusion, I wish to thank you for your participation and your very kind, thoughtful congratulations as I reached a milestone in my blogging career.  With respect and kindness, Gary.

Now Four A Contest.

Today, February 21, 2011, marks the four year anniversary of my blog.  The following is the first ever blog I wrote, fours years ago, to the day.


Challenging The 'Inner Critic'.  


"Greetings friend,
This is my first blog. This is another positive step forward in getting on with my life. I challenge my 'inner critic.' The 'master' that dictated that I had no self-worth. The master who told me not to impose myself on society. Now I question this negative authority. I have given myself permission to be positive. I shall no longer be a recluse. The world has so much to offer.
Have you ever woken up from a dream and didn't like the way it ended? Did you ever try to go back to sleep and change the ending? Many a time, my life felt like dreams with sad conclusions. The more positive me visualises a better ending to my dreams. I focus in my mind on just how good life can be. We all have the right to a happy ending. Our dreams, our goals, our aspirations are valid. Our spirit and our empathy will encourage us to make our positive plans an exciting reality.
In my postings I shall endeavour to be transparent. I will verbalise my thoughts in an open and honest manner. I must be true to myself and I must be true to you.
I look forward, with positive anticipation, the sincere interaction that we will share. When we help each other, we help ourselves.
I thank you for your time. Warm regards klahanie."


I believe that I have maintained my ethos.  My blog has, and always will be, open, honest and transparent.  I want to clearly demonstrate that my mental health issues are only a small part of who I am.


Today, coincidentally, is the birthday of my well known Vancouver playwright, brother, Andrew Templeton. Happy birthday Andrew and here is a link relating to my brother, Andrew Templeton .


Now then, this being my fourth blogging anniversary, I've decided to have a contest, an idea inspired by a recent contest on my dear New Zealand friend's site W.M. Morrell's Musings From Down Under.  So, thanks to you Wendy.
This contest will have a suitably English prize to be posted to the winner.  And no, the prize will have nothing to do with 'toad-in-the-hole', 'bubble and squeak', or even 'spotted dick'.  I was thinking of including an autographed photo of myself, but I don't think the winner would believe their luck...
So, the first person to correctly answer the following question will win an English prize.  The winner and the prize will be announced in my next posting.  All I ask is that anyone who enters this contest is a 'follower' of this blog.

Thus, here is the question :  I have lived in a place that is mentioned in a nursery rhyme.  The first person to correctly identify the nursery rhyme I am referring too, will win that suitably English prize.

Anybody seen this dog?  Penny the outlaw dawg aka 'Penny the Sundawg Kid'.  Thanks Wendy for this photo.  Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet star, was most amused! 'Arf, arf..' :-)