Fintan, 8, is a young boy of much whimsy. He has his own particular way of expressing himself that often leads to bizarre, or comic results.
Today, I phoned home to the UK to let my children speak to my parents. Just before the phone call went through, Fintan made a remark, which the others paid particular attention to.
I asked the boys to sing my parents, the song that begins: “We wish you a Merry Xmas...”
My father answered the phone.
The boys duly began singing.
“We wish you a HAIRY Xmas, we wish you a HAIRY xmas, we wish you a HAIRY xmas and a Happy New Year!”
“Could you hear them?”, I asked my father, wondering if he really had.
“Yes. They were wishing me a Merry Xmas.”
He seemed quite pleased at their singing.
“No.”, I said, “they were singing you: “I wish you a HAIRY Xmas...””
He laughed. “Oh were they?”
He turned to my mother, to explain what they had done.
Now he seemed even more impressed.
I have no doubt it was the first time, in my father’s life, that anyone had wished him a Hairy Xmas. That was what Fintan had remarked upon, before I put the call through. He is always coming out with off the wall remarks and reinterpretations of things he sees and hears. It is refreshing to hear his thoughts.
As for me, it is certainly a Hairy Xmas, since I have a beard at this time.
Anyway, in the spirit of Fintan, I would like to wish you all a Hairy Xmas, and a Happy New Year.
Posted by Valentine Cawley
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If you would like to read any of our scientific research papers, there are links to some of them, here: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2011/02/research-papers-by-valentine-cawley-and.html
If you would like to see an online summary of my academic achievements to date, please go here: http://www.getcited.org/mbrz/11136175
To learn more of Ainan Celeste Cawley, 10, or his gifted brothers, Fintan, 7 and Tiarnan, 5, please go to: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2006/10/scientific-child-prodigy-guide.html
I also write of gifted education, child prodigy, child genius, adult genius, savant, megasavant, HELP University College, the Irish, the Malays, Singapore, Malaysia, IQ, intelligence and creativity.
There is a review of my blog, on the respected The Kindle Report here:http://thekindlereport.blogspot.com/2010/09/boy-who-knew-too-much-child-prodigy.html
Please have a read, if you would like a critic's view of this blog. Thanks.
You can get my blog on your Kindle, for easy reading, wherever you are, by going to: http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Who-Knew-Too-Much/dp/B0042P5LEE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1284603792&sr=8-1
Please let all your fellow Kindlers know about my blog availability - and if you know my blog well enough, please be so kind as to write a thoughtful review of what you like about it. Thanks.
My Internet Movie Database listing is at:http://imdb.com/name/nm3438598/
Ainan's IMDB listing is at http://imdb.com/name/nm3305973/
Syahidah's IMDB listing is at http://imdb.com/name/nm3463926/
Our editing, proofreading and copywriting company, Genghis Can, is athttp://www.genghiscan.com/
This blog is copyright Valentine Cawley. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited. Use only with permission. Thank you.)
Hairy Xmas and Hairy New Year, too!
ReplyDeleteHairy Christmas to you and your whole gifted brood!
ReplyDeleteJessica
http://www.americatoireland.com
Thank you Christine. I hope you have a Hairy season ahead!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes.
Thank you Jessica.
ReplyDeleteInteresting site you have, by the way. Have a hirsute Xmas yourself!
Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHope it'll be a wonderful year ahead for you and your family.
Just thought of sharing an article I've read recently.
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/12/what-americans-keep-ignoring-about-finlands-school-success/250564/
Happy New Year, Tearsunderstars!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your well wishes.
Yes, it is a very interesting article. However, I think that the USA would never be able to implement the type of system that Finland has - it would stick in their craws, too much.
I see an inevitable decline ahead for the USA anyway. They have done too much wrong, for too long, for that not to be. The only real question is how fast that decline is going to be. I hope it is gentle, not only for the sake of Americans, but for the sake of the world. It would be dislocating to have a suddenly useless America.
Have a great year ahead.
Hi Mr Cawley,
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I do not know much about the American education system to comment other than the fact they love competition. As I read the article, I really wish Singapore has the same ideals as Finland, but is highly unlikely Singapore will ever do. Some of the enviable characteristics of the Finn's education system which I noticed are:
"Finnish schools assign less homework and engage children in more creative play."
"The main driver of (Finnish) education policy is not competition between teachers and between schools, but cooperation."
"Finland's experience shows that it is possible to achieve excellence by focusing not on competition, but on cooperation, and not on choice, but on equity."
Why bother following the East Asian model, when Finland has a better and a lot less painful solution?
And also, just like America, the economic inequality in Singapore in becoming worse and needs to be addressed.
Regards
Thank you Tearsunderstars for your further thoughts.
ReplyDeleteSingapore will never address its economic inequalities because the system is designed to create such inequalities. Just look at the pay of government ministers for a start. They would be about ten or fifteen times lower if they were interested in equality.
I hope you have a fruitful year ahead.