April 30-Day Challenge: 28th Daily Limerick - Sunday Morning Pancakes

Sunday mornings should start with pancakes.

A few minutes is all that it takes.

At the pantry I muse

As I struggle to choose

Between chunky oat or lemony crepes.

Healthy banana bread pancakes

All Sunday mornings should be pancake mornings.  Quite possibly the easiest breakfast to whip up, and there's no one to see if I forgo cutlery and lick my fingers afterwards!

This morning I decided to go for chunky banana bread pancakes (here), but these crepes (here) are also a firm favourite, with much better finger-licking potential.

Crepe cooking in action

What's your favourite pancake recipe?

April 30-Day Challenge: 27th Daily Limerick - Harry Potter & Fan Fiction

The discovery of the website 'fanfiction'

Has become an engaging affliction.

For Harry and friends,

The fun never ends

Oh dear, I'm predicting a full blown addiction.

I've never kept it a secret that I'm a huge Harry Potter fan - I've been known to pick up one of the seven books, open any random page and just start reading, or start from the very beginning (a very good place to start) and emerge, vaguely depressed, at the end of the seventh some time later.  I'm normally a very fast reader, but I dragged out that seventh book because I didn't want to say goodbye to Harry, Ron and Hermione.  Well, now I've discovered fanfiction.net and I don't have to say goodbye any more.

For those who haven't heard of fan fiction (that was me until last week), in a nutshell it is when fans of a work (movie, book, whatever) continue, expand or rewrite the original story.  Stories always start with a disclaimer acknowledging the original author and stating that they do not own the characters etc, and the stories are published purely on the website for other fans to enjoy.

Before you write me off which adjectives such as "geek", "addict", "nerd", "weirdo", let me point out that fan fiction is believed to have started in the 17th century with an anonymously published expansion of Don Quixote, and over time fan fiction authors have included C.S. Lewis and Francis Hodgson Burnett.  Obviously the internet allowed for an explosion of fan fiction, and now fan-authored works are estimated to make up a third of all content about books online.

Debate continues over questions of copyright - some authors embrace it, some vigorously oppose it - but in the US it's considered a derivative work which means as long as the fiction contains a level of originality in it's own right, there are no legal issues.  

Currently, I'm reading the story of how Lily and James Potter (Harry's parents, for those non-Harry nuts) got together.  If you're interested, click here for the link.

Ok, I realise I'm opening myself up to a certain level of abuse here, but does anyone have any good recommendations?

April 30-Day Challenge: 26th Daily Limerick - Pirate Version of Jono's Special Request

I received a special request to translate yesterday's limerick into Pirate Language.  Here goes:

This limerick be Jono’s request

Aye, it be at his own behest.

“Arrrrrrr... do one about me,

Or I’ll feed you to the sea.”

“Aye cap’in, but the cost be your treasure chest”.

Jono - the man himself

Useful Things to know about Pirate Language

Pirate Language translator - click here to translate between English and Pirate Language.


Common Pirate Expressions - from yppedia (here):

Ahoy
Ahoy is the pirate equivalent of a greeting.
It can also be used in relation to incoming ships.

1) Pirate says: "Ahoy mates!"
2) Pirate says: "Ship ahoy!"

Aye
The pirate equivalent of "yes", aye can be used in a number is circumstances.

Captain says: "Will you bilge Pirate?"
Pirate says: "Aye, I will!"

Avast!
Literally means "stop," but it is also a piratey exclamation of surprise.

Pirate says: "Avast! It be the black ship!"

Arrr!
"Arrr" can be used by a pirate in almost any context. It can be used to express a pirate's approval, as a verbal declaration of his or her anger or sometimes as simply a way to ensure everybody around knows you are a vicious bloodthirsty pirate.

1) Pirate says: "Arrr! This be good grog!"
2) Pirate says: "Arrr! Matey!

Be
"Be" is commonly used by pirates in place of "am," "are," or "is." The past tense of "be" is "were" in singular and plural.

Hornswaggle
To cheat or defraud. Hornswaggling is a common occurrence amongst such dishonest folk as pirates.

Mate
A pirate friend, acquaintance or ally.

Pirate says: "Grab the sails there, mate!"

Me
The pirate equivalent of "my".

Captain says: "Me fleet is bigger than yers."

Landlubber
An insult aimed at non-pirates or anyone that does not frequently go to sea.

Pirate says: "Stop ye whining ye yellow bellied, lily-livered landlubber!"

Shiver me timbers!
Used to express surprise.

How do you think I went translating yesterday's limerick?  I couldn't figure out how to fit 'hornswaggle' into the limerick - any ideas? 

April 30-Day Challenge: 25th Daily Limerick - Jono's Limerick Special Request

This limerick's a special request.

It's about Jono, at his own behest.

"Pleeeease do one about me"

Came the over-lunch plea.

Well, here you go, now please let it rest.

April 30-Day Challenge: 24th Daily Limerick - A Happy Place

My balcony's where I start my day.

I always linger, wishing I could stay.

This moment of calm,

A warm tropical balm

That sends me off on my way.

April 30-Day Challenge: 23rd Daily Limerick - Hand Washing Dishes

Each night, with a full sink, I stand 

Staring, resigned, at stacked high pots and pans. 

I want the machine 

That leaves my pots sparkling clean 

And I'm not left doing the damned things by hand.

Photo by Miguel Pires da Rosa (FlickR)

April 30-Day Challenge: 22nd Daily Limerick - Mum and Dad

It started with a yank on a braid,

Then a flicked contact, and Mum had it made.

34 years - not bad!

Good on ya Mum and Dad,

A damned good innings so far you two've played.

Mum and Dad in Ho Chi Minh City