'World Writing Day' ✍️ 23rd June

Our theme for this week's virtual 'CST Friendship Group' s focused around 'Communication', as June 23rd marks 'World Writing Day'.

We asked when was the last time anyone wrote a letter?

What about a postcard or birthday card?

Or signing a cheque?

What do members think about sending emails and text messages?

Is it easier for quick communication?

Have they taken over from actually speaking to someone?

We moved on to ask if members had a favourite piece of writing - a book, short story or poem?

We asked members to come to the session with their favourite piece of writing to hand, so they could read some lines out should they wish (or we could read for them).

How much is a first and second class stamp these days? (First class 76p, Second class 65p)

IDIOMS

Next, we completed these phrases together, by way of a shout out ...

Talk something OVER

Touch BASE

Chinese WHISPERS

Drop someone a LINE

Hot off the PRESS

Keep someone POSTED

Stool PIGEON

Put somebody in the PICTURE

Social NetWORKING

Like talking to a BRICK WALL

Straight from the horse’s MOUTH

Take something with a pinch of SALT

Beat around the BUSH

Beside the POINT

Bite your TONGUE

Bring someone up to SPEED

Bottom LINE

Call someone’s BLUFF

Clear the AIR

Get your wires CROSSED

Out of the LOOP

Hot GOSSIP

Keep something under your HAT

Pull somebody’s LEG

Get a word in EDGEWISE

Get something off your CHEST

Speak your MIND

To put it in a nut SHELL

Put your foot in your MOUTH

Get the MESSAGE

Stay in TOUCH

MUSIC & PICTURE QUIZ

Round 1. Inventions

1. Who invented the telephone in 1876? - Alexander Graham B***

2. Who introduced the 'Box Browine' camera in 1900? - Eastmann K****

3. Who invented the long distance radio in 1901? - Guglielmo M******

4. Who invented the television in 1927? - John Logie B****

5. Who invented the ballpoint pen in the 1930s? - Laszio B***

6. Which BBC2 Controller introduced colour television on 23 July 1969? - Sir David A***********

For a bonus point, which snooker programme was the first colour TV broadcast?

7. Who invented the World Wide Web in 1989? - Tim Berners-L**

8. Who launched the social media network 'Facebook' in 2004? - Mark Z*********

9. Who launched the first iPhone in 2007? - Steve J****

Song break

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZZRAU3DeOo

10. How much is a first class stamp?

Round 2. Hanging On The Telephone

11. What number would you have called to reach the operator?

(Does anyone remember having a party line?)

12. What were the old black dialer telephones made out of?

(Did anyone have one?)

13. In a telephone box, when your money was running out, what would you hear?

14. What telephone number would you call in an emergency?

What are the four main emergency services?

15. Which UK cities have the prefix dial codes of '020'?

16. What 'book' did JR Hartley use when he was searching for his book on fly fishing?

17. Which bird helped advertise British Telecom services?

18. Which actress did the Beattie 'Ology' adverts?

19. Which TV comedy series had a giant cat climbing up the 'Post Office Tower'?

Name the three comedians in this photo?

Song break

20. SONG. 'Hanging On The Telephone', by Blondie. Link here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWhkbDMISl8

What was the name of the lead singer with Blondie?

Round 3. TV

21. Which TV sitcom saw Tom give up his job as a breakfast cereal advertiser to become self sufficient with his wife Barbara?

Name the actors in this photo?

22. Which TV sitcom was about a man disillusioned with his job as a manager in 'Sunshine Deserts'?

Which actor played him?

He always imagined his mother-in-law as what animal?

23. Which TV sitcom had Hyacinth Bucket answer the phone with the catchphrase "The Bouquet residence, the lady of the house speaking"?

Which actress played her?

24. Which character, in the TV comedy series 'Allo Allo', had the catchphrase "I shall say this only once!"?

25. Which TV quiz show did Robert Robinson present in addition to 'Call My Bluff'?

26. Which charades based quiz game featured these three personalities?

Can you name them?

27. Which man helped us safely cross the road?

28. Which emergency service did Petunia help advertise? ("Oo look, he's waving at us!")

29. What was the name of the cat in the child safety adverts?

30. What are the names of these two characters?

Song break

31. SONG. 'Please Mr Postman', by The Carpenters. Link here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQrIKOhIclo

Why were some postboxes painted gold in 2012?

Round 4. Music

32. What are the first five letters on a typewriter keyboard?

'Typewriter Song', Liberace - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANaL80AsKVM

33. What did Liberace always have on top of his piano?

34. What year (nearest guess) was the first picture postcard sent?

35. SONG. 'Return To Sender', by Elvis Presley. Link here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU5xxh5UX4U

What was the name of his ranch and who had a hit album of the same name in 1986?

36. What is the name of this more modern camera?

37. SONG. 'Flash Bang Wallop', Tommy Steele - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HptmXm956oI

What do people say when they smile for a photograph to be taken?

38. Before Digital Broadcasting Radio, what were the two frequencies?

39. SONG. 'Radio Gaga', Queen - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azdwsXLmrHE

Who was the lead singer of Queen and what was his birth name?

40. What is the name of this screen which was played in-between programmes?

What game are they playing?

41. SONG. 'Video Killed The Radio Star', The Buggles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8r-tXRLazs

What year was the last VHS video cassette recorder made in Japan?

42. True or False. When HM Queen got her first mobile and William and Harry helped set it up they left this message as her answerphone greeting - "Hey wassup! This is Liz. Sorry I'm away from the throne. For a hotline to Philip, press one. For Charles, press two. And for the corgis, press three."?

43. SONG. 'Telephone Man', by Marie Wilson. Link here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MahswYBewb0

What card do you have to put in a mobile phone to make calls?

44. What does 'BSL' stand for?

Can anyone communicate using it?

45. SONG. 'Sweet Caroline', Neil Diamond - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iN-hemcKc8

Try communicating to members using gesture. Try ...

GOODBYE, PEACE, OKAY, SHH, HIGH FIVE & COME HERE (Add the Vulcan Salute for fun!)

46. What social media network has a small blue bird as its logo?

47. SONG. 'Stop That Pigeon', Dick Dastardly & Muttley - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj6-LG5VpGk

What was the name of the car racing cartoon they also featured in?

Can anyone give their best 'Muttley' snigger?

Final songs

48. SONG. 'Convoy', by CW McCall. Link here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd5ZLJWQmss

What radio did truckers use to communicate with 'handles'?

Who is pictured here, from the 1977 film 'Smokey And The Bandit'?

49. SONG. 'Whichita Lineman', by Glen Campbell. Link here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN82RHGNLK4

Which DJ had the closing bars of this song on his show every day?

50. SONG. 'Letter From America', by The Proclaimers. Link here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy9GmieAEaQ

How would you send a letter to America?

PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES

Play a game of CHARADES

Play in pairs with a supporter if members wish.

Here’s a few ideas to start you off …

JAWS

PSYCHO

SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE

WHEN HARRY MET SALLY

SUPERMAN

REAR WINDOW

STAR WARS

GLADIATOR

SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

TITANIC

BREAKFAST AT TIFFANYS

INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE

GONE WITH THE WIND

CASTAWAY

BATMAN AND ROBIN

LAUREL AND HARDY

KING KONG

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

JURASSIC PARK

Or you could play a game of CHINESE WHISPERS (taking into account current social distancing guidelines).

Whisper one of these (or another) messages to your partner and ask them to pass it on …

"Unlucky Lavinia lost her lunch at the library last week. She was eating lamb and mint sauce."

"Nobody's favorite food is Brussels sprouts. But everyone likes pigs in blankets."

"My sexy dance moves have been described as a blend of Marilyn Monroe and Mr. Bean."

"Sally sells sushi by the seashore. She hates raw fish though, to be sure."

"Chinese food is made with sugar and spice, and lots of rice. Noodles are also nice."

"The only thing better than a tall, dark, and handsome man, is a short blond one carrying a pizza box."

"My favorite thing to do on a rainy afternoon is watch Lord of the Rings and party like a hobbit."

"Jokers, jesters, and jugglers jingled, jumped, and jigged for King John."

"A dog named Moose ran loose through the spruce forest chasing a goose."

GUESS WHO I AM?

Or another game which has worked well (it requires some prep time), is to write four or five facts about each person (with them) and put them in a hat. (Don’t forget to remember to note which facts are about whom!)

For example, mine could be;

1. I would generally refer to myself as being vegan. But I do love a fishfinger sandwich.

2. I was both an altar boy AND a trainspotter. But not at the same time!

3. I used to work in a Chinese restaurant full of cockroaches. And then have a free meal there after work finished.

4. Prince William shook my hand and gave me a medal. But the person’s hand I would really love to shake (or kiss) is Kate Bush.

Then go around the group, pulling a card out of the hat each in turn and guessing which fact relates to which person. (If you pull out your own card, pick another.)

This game allows for interesting, funny and sometimes moving facts to be shared, helping the group to get to know each other a little better. It also helps individual members to feel recognised and appreciated.

CREATIVE WRITING ✍️

Finally, you could ask members if they would like to write a short poem, either as individuals or as a group.

Perhaps, by way of writing a ‘Haiku’? Here’s a great ‘How To …’ talk through. But maybe relax the rules and summarise as follows.

https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Haiku-Poem

Write a three line poem (non rhyming is fine).

Line one. Theme of your ‘Haiku’ - 5 syllables or so.

Line two. Sensory or feeling focus - 7 syllables or so.

Line three. An uplifting or surprising summing up - 5 syllables or so.

Write your ‘Haiku’ in the present tense.

Use concrete images and descriptions.

Many ‘Haikus’ are based in nature.

Here’s my quick attempt …

Colour adds life to years 🌈

You can almost feel, smell and touch it 👅

Like rainbows through clouds ⛅️

Obviously, display members’ efforts and celebrate their work.

ANSWERS

1. Alexander Graham BELL

2. Eastmann KODAK

3. Guglielmo MARCONI

4. John Logi BAIRD

5. Laszio BIRO

6. Sir David ATTENBOROUGH

7. Tim Berners-LEE

8. Mark ZUCKERBERG

9. Steve JOBS

10. 85p

11. 100

12. Bakelite

13. The pips

14. 999

Police, Ambulance, Fire Service & Coastguard

15. London

16. Yellow Pages

17. Buzby

18. Maureen Lipman

19. 'The Goodies'

Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graham Garden & Bill Oddie

20. Debbie Harry

21. 'The Good Life'

Richard Briers, Felicity Kendall, Paul Eddington & Penelope Keith

22. 'The Rise And Fall Of Reginald Perrin'

Leonard Rossiter

Hippopotamus

23. 'Keeping Up Appearances'

Patricia Routledge

24. "Michelle Dubois from The Resistance"

25. 'Ask The Family'

26. 'Give Us A Clue'

Michael Parkinson, Una Stubbs & Lionel Blair

27. The Green Cross Code Man

28. HM Coastguard

29. Charlie

30. Postman Pat & Jess

31. Postboxes were painted gold in towns when Olympic Games Gold Medal Winners were from

32. QWERTY

33. Candelabra

34. 1870

35. 'Graceland' / Paul Simon

36. Polaroid Instamatic

37. Cheese

38. AM & FM

39. Freddie Mercury / Farrokh Bulsara

40. Testcard / Noughts & Crosses (Or Tic Tac Toe in America)

41. 2016

42. True

43. SIM

44. British Sign Language

45. *

46. Twitter

47. 'Wacky Races'

48. Citizen Band Radio / Burt Reynolds

49. Steve Wright

50. Air Mail / Par Avion