Tuesday, 9 February 2010

Cinderella's real name is Ella

I bought a second-hand book from the Community Charity Shop for my daughter.

There is another Cinderella story among the Fairy stories. My daughter let me read it,
She was dressed in rags, and because she spent so much time in the kitchen among the cinders, they called her "Cinderella".
So, Cinderella actually was a nickname, What's Cinderella's real name? Was it Ella?

Ella is a female given name, it seems not very common, according to statistics, 1 in 990 females called Ella; and its popularity rank in the U.S. is #210.

The original story was written by the Brothers Grimm, In one very early English version, translated by Margaret Taylor (1884), explaining the origin of Cinderella's Name,
Besides this, the sisters did her every imaginable injury -- they mocked her and emptied her peas and lentils into the ashes, so that she was forced to sit and pick them out again. In the evening when she had worked till she was weary she had no bed to go to, but had to sleep by the fireside in the ashes. And as on that account she always looked dusty and dirty, they called her Cinderella.
In this version, the story was much different from modern retold versions, though. Cinderella's father still lived from the beginning of the story to the end, together with her stepmother and two cruelty sisters, he seemed as cruel and ignorant of her daughter's misery; There were no Fairy Godmother who helped Cinderella's dreams came true, instead of that, two white birds which came to live on the hazel tree by Cinderella's mother's grave; The shoe that "Prince Charming" (the King's son in the original story) used to find her true bride was not made of glass instead of golden; The two cruel sisters were punished for their " wickedness and falsehood" by the white birds, in the wedding, two white pigeon came to sit on her shoulders, her two sisters came and wanted to get into favour with Cinderella and share her good fortune,
When the betrothed couple went to church, the elder was at the right side and the younger at the left, and the pigeons pecked out one eye of each of them. Afterwards as they came back, the elder was at the left, and the younger at the right, and then the pigeons pecked out the other eye of each.
The original story itself is more darker, cruelty, even bloodier than the modern retold version, another plot was Cinderella's sister tried to fit into the golden shoe, one cut off her toe and another cut off heel, they swallowed pain, blood dripped within the shoe.

In modern version, Cinderella's father was made dead to keep him a loving baron; Glass shoes is more romantic than gold; Fairy Godmother can do magic instead of pigeon; Cruelty and bloody has been concealed, the whole story become brighter and happier.

Thursday, 28 January 2010

Valentine Disco

"Wear something red" (a rose?) to to celebrate Day of Love! Girls and boys in the nursery last year made Valentine cards for their Dads and Mums respectively, and I received my "special card" from my daughter, no card for her Mum.

There will be Valentine Disco for all school children from Reception this year. The party for Reception/ Year 1/Year 2 starts at 4.30, and last for one hour.

Tickets £1 on sale from Monday 1st February, Drinks and snacks on sale at the Disco.

Wednesday, 27 January 2010

Maundy Money

THE Queen is to visit Derby city's Cathedral on April 1st to distribute Maundy Money. This traditional ceremony, dating back to King John in 1210, will be held on Maundy Thursday – which commemorates the Last Supper – during Easter week. Maunday Thursday is followed by Good Friday. (ThisisDerbyshire.co.uk)

The name 'Maundy' is derived from the Latin word “mandatum”, meaning a commandment. Jesus Christ, at the Last Supper, commanded:

'And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.' John 15:12

The monarch of England had to wash poor's feet and kiss them, you may wonder how the England Kings could stand the poor's smelly feet, don't worry of course, the feet were first washed by Yeoman of the Laundry before the monarch had to "wash" them again. Since 1689 this tradition was replaced by giving out Maundy Money to pensioners.

Maundy coins are specially minted for the occasion are much sought after by collectors. (Festivals and Celebrations)

Cold Sores

I bought a Blistex relief cream for my cold sores. The cold sore happens under my nose, both my wife and daughter mistook it as nose bleeding. The reason of cold sore might be extreme weather conditions, but 'you are more vulnerable to developing a cold sore if you are feeling stressed and rundown.' So it is written on the cream package, sure it is for my case.

I also got persistent shoulder pain recently, there are three possible causes: spending two much time in front of the computer, or my daughter 's getting heavier,  or my pillow is too high.

Blistex Realief Cream (formerly Blisteze) is a penetrating and soothing remedy to relieve and treat occasional cold sores and cracked and chapped lips, leaving you lips feeling soft again.
When first symptons arise, gently apply every hour for rapidly relieve any discomfort. It feels good.

Sunday, 10 January 2010

More School Closures

[Gateway Newsletter, more warnings of school closures.]

School closures are extremely rare and are only undertaken if we have insufficient staff to maintain the safety of the children; or if we have a systems failure such as a gas leak or a boiler breakdown.

We will always notify parents of a school closure via both RAM FM and BBC Radio Derby. Although we inform the radio stations as soon as the decision to close is made, it can take them some time to place this on their websites and to broadcast this live.

In cases of heavy snowfall please tune in to RAM FM (102.8FM) or BBC Radio Derby (104.5FM) and continue to listen up to the time that you would normally set off for school. Their live broadcasts and website are constantly updated. Parents accessing details of school closures via the internet should refresh the page to get the latest screen, every time you view.

The web addresses of both RAM FM and Radio Derby are:

http://www.ramfm.co.uk/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/derby/

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