It’s been raining. It’s been windy. It’s been awful.
It’s been one of those famous Yorkshire weather days. The type of day you think it’s wise to deploy the life rafts then you realise anything not bolted down is being propelled to continental Europe on the jet stream. Absolutely chucking it down. The rain is almost horizontal as the wind is whistling in. The thermometer is saying it’s not that cold but any skin exposed to the elements is turned blue within seconds. My Dad would call it a two jumper and waterproof socks day. The type of day he would have got the ark out and filled it with the important stuff – his prize Rhubard.
As a child I could never spell Rhubard. In Yorkshire that normally is punishable with excommunication. It’s much worse. I’m probably the only Yorkshire citizen who does not like Rhubard. Good job nobody reads this as saying that is equivalent to witchcraft here.
Who thought it was a good idea to put the H in that Yorkshire delicacy. If it’s bad for me try explaining that to someone with dyslexia.
Dad I’ve got this weeks spellings which I’ve got to learn for Fridays test. Are you sure there are no negatives for getting less than 10 out of 15.
“No the Head of Year has stopped those negatives. Why are they difficult.”
Dad your asking someone who is dyslexic…
“Sorry. Are they ridiculously hard this time”
About as hard as explaining why light bends round massive objects.
********
I thought I understood Spacetime Curvature and General Relativity until son picked my reasoning apart the other day. So those spellings must be super hard. Having now seen them they are beyond General Relativity difficulty. Actually they are on a difficulty level as trying to get a Tax Returns from a certain Donald Trump.
Anecdote
Memorable
Audience
Alliteration
Persuade
Rhetorical
Who put the H in rhetorical. Looking at our sons confused look clearly he doesn’t understand the sneaky H as well. Apparently the spellings will get increasingly harder over the coming months. Can’t wait for June. At this rate son will be trying to spell words like
Apatosaurus
Diplodocus
Xiongguanlong
Epidexipteryx
Allaeochelys
Carcharodontosaurus
Huehuecanauhtlus
Who put the 3 H’s in that Dinosaur.
Hue…… what??
LikeLiked by 1 person
Strangely my spellchecker was no use to me on that post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha. And I just saw another weird word that had that crazy “h”. Thought if you guys!
LikeLiked by 1 person
English needs a modern reboot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh boy, it has been awful here the past two days as well. And of course today they DID have soccer practice – so the girl who doesn’t wear a ton of clothes because “they don’t feel right” froze her bum off. She came to the car in a frozen position and didn’t unthaw until she found some hot water. Those words are hard – I agree, outlook is looking like the end of year words are going to be ridiculous! Hopefully they stick with it though and don’t give negatives.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Son does that when he does games at school. Tried so many warm options but still he comes back like a walking ice cube. I hope so as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Never heard of that dinosaur, but I love rhubarb 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
You can have my helpings of the Rhubard then. Because of son I now would do very well in Jurassic World.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rhubarb just makes a delicious strawberry pie taste yucky! That’s my opinion, and you know what that’ll get you.
More important than the spelling of the words, does son know the MEANING of the words and how to pronounce them? Another opinion…gets the same as the first😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
He does but they are not tested on the meaning. Government policy is to test the spelling only.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I bet Boris Johnson can’t spell those list words either.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If he gets back in then he’s going to torment a generation of kids.
LikeLiked by 1 person
From our news here it sounds like he and the Conservatives have a good chance of getting in. Not good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very good chance…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep ! On our news two hours ago. Boris in with a landslide. Corbyn does not seem to be any better.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a mess.
LikeLike
So many will just soldier on. When I lived in London for a year – 2011 – many people were complaining about all the people coming to live in the UK: taking jobs, high crime rate, squatting in houses, human trafficiking cheap labour, etc, etc. I am sure many are voting for Brexit to stop the influx. A Lithuanian taxix driver who took me to work every morning for a week when I had a bad leg injury told me that 3 million Lithuanians live in Lithuania, 3. million Lithuanians lived outside Lithuania. thee Brits I knew were really fed up about it. Hence support for Brexit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It so easy for people to blame easy targets for problems in society. The problems are largely due to changes in technology, industries becoming out dated and government failings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Still people do vote according to their perception of the situation. Hope some of you can educate your Education Ministry.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s not going to happen they have plans to make schools stricter and enforce more ‘traditional’ teaching methods on all kids.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No. And it is grim that you can not convince them of that either.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadly that is so.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would have a problem spelling a couple of those words, so god knows how bloomin harder it’s going to get. It makes you wonder as you say what the words will end up being.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If it was serving a point then ok, but it’s just a tick box exercise for the government.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It does seem pointless what your son is having to do at school.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just can’t see any relevance.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I find the H quite unnecessary in the words they put it. Spelling still my weakness so I can fully empathize.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s almost as if our language needs a reboot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree. But who is going to do it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me……. would make it interesting
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi as a soft southerner you will, I hope forgive me for agreeing about the weather it been wet cold and nasty here too . As for having a dyslexic son I can understand that one too. Though my lad is now in forties left home and has a good job we can still have fun with spelling. I am not keen on a sneaky H or C or anything really.💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m certainly a soft northerner. When I used to go to football matches I was the one on a hat and thick coat surrounded by people with no tops on. I’m so pleased he has a good job.
LikeLike
I can never understand how those guys can stand there in freezing cold with no shirts on 🥴. As for my middle lad he is a trained carpenter but his first was a green keeper (he loves golf) then a prison officer for many years now he works at Heathrow. He copes well with dislexia and loves reading 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did it once and lasted a minute.
LikeLike
A minute more than I’d attempt 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s still a good effort
LikeLike
I’d say it was 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
💓
LikeLike
🥴💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙏
LikeLike
I really cannot understand this obsession with spelling!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The government is fixated on it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are still a few words I always get wrong and have to Google the correct spelling – exaggeration and rythym being two of them. Thank goodness my phone is giving me the spellings (I think!). They don’t look right to me. 😕
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would rather have kids who have a wide vocabulary than have kids who can spell from a limited one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Does the school provide books specifically for dyslexic pupils?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadly no. Just standard text books. He did have access to a reading pen in some lessons but that has been withdrawn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s such a shame. Perhaps you could order some through the library. The librarian would be happy to recommend books for him. My daughter used to always get mixed up with b and d.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our nearest library is 20 miles away and it hasn’t got much a budget. But I am going to try it when I pass by.
LikeLiked by 1 person
exaggeration check. rhythm. rhubarb. check. check.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you rawgod. 👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
O’ ‘ell
LikeLiked by 1 person
That pesky h.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So Sir, you can see why when I write on here, I write to the “People” I use exoteric language, so nobody has to look up^ what it is I have to say here on Word Press or Medium….. ~~~~~Exo-teric…1. of the outside world; external. 2. Not limited to a select few or an inner group of disciples; suitable for the the uninitiated. 3. That can be understood by the public; Popular; Opposed to Esoteric……
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can see that. At primary school son was disappointed when he found out Exoteric was not a new dinosaur.
LikeLike
I can’t stand rhubarb either! Did once attempt to cook a rhubarb crumble for my husband as a justice of love but couldn’t go through with it. Poor guy has to go without rhubarb in his life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Justice? That was supposed to be jesture! I really need to start actually reading things before hitting “reply”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I understood. I do that with posts but thankfully everyone is very kind and just ignores it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why not make a small gesture and make a rhubarb sauce for the poor guy. Add some strawberries if you need a less bitter flavour.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Because the smell of cooking rhubarb makes me gag. I do buy him mini rhubarb tarts sometimes from the bakery.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Then you are doing okay.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not sure I would even eat a Rhubard tart. The only Rhubard I liked was Rhubard wine AND Rhubard&Custard boiled sweets.
LikeLike
I give up, Gary. There is no “d” in rhubarb, but there are 2 “b”s. Even in Yorkshire.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looking at the election. I give up full stop.
LikeLike
Yes it does have a smell.
LikeLike
Never had Rhubard sauce.
LikeLike
All it takes is cutting the rhubarb into 2″ pieces, cover with water, boil, and sweeten to taste. Five or ten minutes from start to finish. Eat straight or as a topping on ice cream, or apple pie. I love it with toast.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He should live in Yorkshire. Apparently it’s the best Rhubard in the world.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our language is so difficult when you put it like that!!
Fortunately I enjoyed spelling (she says, planning on reading through this comment before pressing reply!) but so many words don’t follow the ‘rules’ it’s ridiculous.
Hope you’re drying out today! ☔️
LikeLiked by 1 person
I sent an email into school and the teacher corrected my grammar. That was like pouring petrol onto a fire.
LikeLike
Honestly you’ve listed some honourable scrabble words.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Get a few points with them.
LikeLike
Well, this is enough to cause me stress. I’m going to see if my son can spell them when he is home this weekend. This is ridiculous.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seems like we are just interested in having people who can spell correctly
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is so sad, but it sounds like what they’re doing. I’m so. Sorry. Hugs, my friend. Smile..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your welcome.😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ick!!! On both – your weather and spelling those words 😝
Is awful here in California at the moment too. You probably have worse though. I am California “soft” lol
I definitely do not envy learning to spell or explain those crazy words …
I am a transplant in California from the east coast… “New England” area… its funny when I mention a town name from over there …
Like “Leominster” which is pronounced “Lemon-Steve” … or Gloucester … pronounced “glaw-ster” etc… these California people can not comprehend the spellings and pronunciations lol … it’s a little humorous lol
But they have their own things … like Spanish named towns. I can butcher those sometimes 🥴
Well hope you get a break from the weather and hope spelling goes well too! ✌️
LikeLike
Wait – spell check changed the pronunciation of Leominster
That was supposed to say “Lemon-ster” I did not notice it changed it to Lemon- Steve 🤨
Stupid spell check – does no good!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I looked it up on a map.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s funny we are only a smallish country but the range of different ways to say cities and towns is scary. They are often pronounced nothing like the spelling. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol we never had a spell test in school… lucky me
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t remember that many as well. Seems to be the most important thing these days.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah hmm 🤔
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like to call those silent letters “ninja” letters. You can’t see or hear them, but they’re there!
Spelling sucks for all of us, especially when we’re cold and dismal in a drab, blustery place. I hope your weather turns around soon–and the spelling tests let up!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hopefully Christmas will bring a break in both. It sounds like Wisconsin is just as crap weather wise. Sending you warming hugs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is! The weatherman this morning said we only had 10% chance for a white Christmas. Bah humbug! 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s not good.
LikeLiked by 1 person