Every cloud has a silver lining

As Oscar Wilde said, “No man is rich enough to buy back his past.”

Last Friday in one of my adults’ classes we were discussing our favourite proverbs. I explained the meaning of mine, “Every cloud has a silver lining,” by drawing a picture of the sun shining from behind a big black cloud and creating a silver shimmer from inside the darkness.

How often the worst things that happen to us end up bringing with them some kind of benefit. How often do you find yourself saying, “That was a terrible experience but if that hadn’t happened I never would have…” Something lost, something gained. Often a long time has to pass after a painful experience until we can finally seal the wound and say “Yes, even that cloud had a silver lining.”

After my class, I was out cycling around my local pond feeling rather blue. I was pondering something I had said that I shouldn’t have said, something I had done that I shouldn’t have done. I was battling these thoughts because I knew there was no use. What has been said or done is the past and can’t be changed. As I stared at the serene surface of the pond I felt a tear roll down my cheek. At that moment I saw the reflection of a big, black cloud in the water, the edge was ablaze with silver light from the sun’s rays from behind. It was the exact scene that I had tried to convey to my students earlier. Just as I stood motionless, open-mouthed in awe at the beautiful sight reflected in the water, the image of an early afternoon moon appeared in the water in the middle of the reflection of the cloud. At this point the tears streamed down my face.

How great to be alive, with all its joy, all its pain. And as long as we can still feel, however painful it may be, we are still alive.
| Books, events and activities (past and upcoming) | 08:26 | comments(2) | trackbacks(0) | pookmark |

Nellies Children's English Festival

I'd just like to say a quick thank you to everyone who I met at Nellies Children's Festival in Tokyo yesterday (25th January), particularly those who took the time to attend my booth presentations on developing activities using picture books.
It is so nice to get together with teachers of English and share our ideas, see some familiar faces and meet new people, as well.
As I held four booth presentations throughout the day, the only presentation I had enough time to attend was Mari Nakamura's presentation on her new text books series "Hop, Step and Jump into English". But what a wonderful presentation that was! I particularly enjoyed the drawing activity and laughing with the teachers on my table at our "interesting" pictures.



| Books, events and activities (past and upcoming) | 08:45 | comments(0) | trackbacks(0) | pookmark |

The Best Valentine's Chocolate in the World

The concept of 義理チョコ(obligatory chocolate?!) does not exist in England but I have heard about the most wonderful Valentine’s chocolate imaginable in Japan.
The top-quality chocolate is made in Hokkaido but what makes it even more special is the fact that with each pack of chocolate that you buy, the makers send a donation to buy medicines for Iraqi children with cancer. Also, each pack of chocolate is accompanied by a really cute picture hand-drawn by an Iraqi child.
You can see the image and order online here in Japanese
http://www.jim-net.net/09campaign/09campaign001.html
And here in English
http://www.jim-net.net/09campaign/09campaign001en.html
I’m definitely going to order some. Now all I have to do is find some men to give the chocolate to…and if I can’t find any then I’ll just have to eat it all by myself (and anyone who knows what a chocoholic I am will know that I will not be searching too far for 義理チョコ recipients!)

| Books, events and activities (past and upcoming) | 20:20 | comments(6) | trackbacks(0) | pookmark |

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