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    • Jan 8

Blue Monday 💙 2nd Monday of January




The second Monday in January is said to be the most depressing day of the year. Festivities are over, people are back in work, budgets are tight and the weather is at its worst. So this CST activities page celebrates all things blue with optimism and fun in mind. Let's beat those blues and get ready for spring.


To begin with, ask members if they feel blue at this time of the year?

What do they do to cheer themselves up?

What ideas do members have for making things less depressing and more uplifting?


You could next use this mindfulness activity to get people in the optimistic zone ...





IDIOMS


Here are some well known phrases to complete together ...


Once in a blue MOON (rarely)


A bolt out of the BLUE (shocking)


The boys in BLUE (the police)


Until you’re blue in the FACE (say it again and again)


Blue BLOOD (royalty)


Black and BLUE (bruised)


Blue collar WORKER (office staff)


Have a blue FIT (be very upset)



And a couple of rhymes ...


Little Boy Blue come blow your horn,

The sheep’s in the meadow the cow’s in the corn.

But where’s the boy who looks after the sheep?

He’s under a haystack fast asleep.

Will you wake him? No, not I – for if I do, he’s sure to cry.



Lavender's blue, dilly, dilly

Lavender's green

When I am king, dilly, dilly

You shall be queen:

Who told you so, dilly, dilly

Who told you so?

'Twas my own heart, dilly, dilly

That told me so.

Call up your men, dilly, dilly

Set them to work

Some to the plough, dilly, dilly

Some to the fork

Some to make hay, dilly, dilly

Some to cut corn

While you and I, dilly, dilly

Keep ourselves warm.

Lavender's green, dilly, dilly

Lavender's blue

If you love me, dilly, dilly

I will love you

Let the birds sing, dilly, dilly

And the lambs play

We shall be safe, dilly, dilly

Out of harm's way

I love to dance, dilly, dilly

I love to sing

When I am queen, dilly, dilly

You'll be my king:

Who told me so, dilly, dilly

Who told me so?

I told myself, dilly, dilly

I told me so




MUSIC & PICTURE QUIZ


Next there is a music and picture quiz to get people thinking and remembering. Only positive things though, right?




Round 1. Blue Flowers




Name the blue flowers ...


The essential oil of the first one can help with sleep?

The next is great with roast potatoes and lamb?

The stems of the next one make the spice saffron?

There was a childhood sweet named after this one?










The next one is the symbol for the 'Dementia Friends'?

Next we see carpets of these in woods in the spring?

This one is blue in acidic soil?

The next one grows in fields as a weed?

And last, this one also comes in a white variety?







Before listening, what are the four herbs in the song?




Round 2. Nature




Name the blue creatures ...


The first is the largest animal on planet earth?

The second used to peck at the milk bottles?

An Indian beer is named after the next one?

This is a proud bird?

This is a species of blow fly, which can spread disease?

This is a very dangerous jelly fish?

A pretty butterfly which can be found in most UK gardens?

This bird is associated with Christmas but has blue eggs?

Long John Silver had one of these birds. It's name was Captain Flint?







What shade of blue is in a rainbow?




Round 3. General Knowledge




Name this 'Blue Planet'?

Name this blue gemstone?

How many people in the UK have blue eyes, 32%, 22% or 12%?

Name this blue berry and which alcoholic spirit does it flavour?

Name this blue cheese?

Name the two navy blue properties on a standard 'Monopoly' board?

What four items should a bride wear on her wedding day?

What gender of baby traditionally wears blue clothes?

What type of wire is blue in a standard UK plug, live, earth or neutral?





Donald Campbell broke the land speed record on Pendine Sands in September 1924 in the 'Bluebird' for reaching what speed, 106mph, 126mph or 146mph?

'Mallard' set a new world steam locomotive record in July 1938 (which it still holds) for reaching a speed of 106mph, 116mph or 126mph?






In which US state would you find 'The Blue Ridge Mountains'?




Round 4. Arts




Which two colours are mixed to make purple? Which two colours are mixed to make green?

Which artist painted 'The Blue Boy'?

Which artist painted the 'Girl In The Pearl Earring'?

Which artist had a 'Blue Period'?

Which artist painted more than 250 water lily paintings?

Who painted 'A Starry Night'?

Which mountain can be seen in the 1829 painting ( or print) 'The Great Wave Off Kanagawa' by Katsushika Hokusai?

Who composed 'The Beautiful Blue Danube'?

Who composed 'Rhapsody In Blue'?

Which country does 'Delftware' pottery come from?

Which (usually blue and white) porcelain is the most valuable in the world (this 'chicken cup' sold at auction in 2014 for $36m)?

Which religious icon is always depicted wearing blue robes?






What was his other 1972 hit single?




Round 5. Flags & Logos




Name the logo?

Name the logo?

Name the logo?

Name the flag?

Name the flag?

Name the flag?

Name the flag?

Name the flag?

Name the flag?





Name the football clubs?










Ask members to list as many shades of blue as they can ...




Round 6. TV & Movies




Which company had the slogan "Boom boom boom boom **** ****."?

Which children's TV show featured a character named 'Aqua Marina'?

Link to song (spoiler alert) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxOYqoPkdc8 

Name the character & the TV sitcom?

Name the children's TV show?

Name the children's TV show & the presenter and his dog?

Name the US cop show & what was his catchphrase?

Name the US TV sitcom & the character?

Name the TV show & the presenter?

Name the 1965 film and the actress who bathed in blue light to stay young?

Name the 1995 movie & the actor who played William Wallace?

Name the 1980 comedy movie & the two actors?

Name the highest grossing ever 1992 movie?



Round 7. Music




Which singer was the biopic 'Lady Sings The Blues' about & who starred in the 1972 movie?


Medley (spoiler alert) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxYs8f1mdpM 






Complete these song titles ...


(You could use this round as a 'Name That Tune'.)


'********* Hill', Fats Domino

'********** Blues', Eddie Cochran

'Blue ****', The Marcels

'Blue ******', Bobby Winton

'**** **** Blue', Neil Diamond

'Blue ***** *****', Elvis Presley

'******* ** **** Jeans', Neil Diamond

'* ***** ****'* *** **** **** ** The Blues', Elton John

'**** Blue', Madonna






Which crooner was known as "Ol Blue Eyes'?

Which singer-songwriter released an album in 1971 entitled 'Blue'?

Who was lead singer with the 'Moody Blues'?




Singalongs