Flaming 1st June - Breakfast in Style at Mighty Monmouth.

Team Monmouth are really looking forward to welcoming June in style with a wonderful meeting on Friday morning. 

We have the lovely Jacqui Malpass visiting us to deliver the 4sight, as a fellow 'Damsel' I'm excited to hear what Jacqui will share with us and know her 4sights are always worth seeing. 

We have 23 already booked and 2 visitors, so please do come along and join the fun at one of the friendliest 4N meetings around. 

I can't find a good explanation of why we say 'White Rabbits' on the first of the month, but apparently a Pinch and a Punch for the first of the Month comes from times when people thought that witches existed. People thought that salt would make a witch weak, so the pinch part is pinching of the salt, and the punch part was to banish the witch. The witch would be weak from the salt so the punch was to banish her.

Anyone else got some weird sayings with explanations? 

And while you're thinking about it, get booked in HERE, or I will find you to 'pinch and punch for the 1st of the month' regardless of whether you're a witch or not... 

Not sure about other phrases, but always intrigued about 'White Rabbits', so I did some googling - and found nothing definitive, but .......

"Rabbit rabbit rabbit" is one variant of a common British superstition which states that a person should say or repeat the word "rabbit" or "rabbits", or say the phrase "white rabbits", or some combination of these elements, out loud upon waking on the first day of the month, because doing so will ensure good luck for the duration of that month. 

The exact origin of the superstition is unknown, though it was recorded in 'Notes and Queries' as being said by children in 1909 - "My two daughters are in the habit of saying 'Rabbits!' on the first day of each month. The word must be spoken aloud, and be the first word said in the month. It brings luck for that month. Other children, I find, use the same formula."

Good excuse to watch this though - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1fOZjiDaw4

I always liked bite the bullet, coming from an army background I heard it a lot.

A person who ‘bites the bullet’, without any sign of fear, acts with great courage in the face of adversity. The phrase recollects a dangerous army practice in the 1850s. Soldiers were then equipped with the British Enfield rifle. Prior to using it, they had to bite off the head of the cartridge to expose the explosive to the spark which would ignite it. The procedure was fraught with danger, particularly so in the heat of battle. It needed firmness and courage, as even the slightest deviation or hesitation would endanger the soldier.

Blimey!! #whoknew

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth" - As horses develop they grow more teeth and their existing teeth begin to change shape and project further forward. Consequently a horse's age can be determined from its teeth (albeit quite a skill).

Therefore, the advice given here is when receiving a gift be grateful for what it is; don't imply you wished for more by assessing its value

Oh - and BTW - we are now into upper 20s and this includes a couple of Visitors (with another expected - fingers crossed).  Don't miss out on Mighty Monmouth - get booked in!

My Dad was a veritable goldmine of sayings. 

"Looking black over Bill's mother's" described sky that looked like it was going to rain.

"Up the wooden hill" described climbing the stairs to bed. 

"Black as Newgate's Knocker" - filthy dirty

Many, many more - but one of my favourites....

"Better an empty house house than a bad tenant", said if one, um, 'passed wind' inappropriately...

Good News & Bad News all

Good News - it's a long, long 4DAY weekend

Good News - lots of people are using as an excuse for some 'away time'

Bad News - half of these people seemed to have originally been booked into Mighty Monmouth, given our double figure cancellations

Good News - we're STILL in the 20s for Attendees and STILL have a couple of Visitors (confirmed)

Good News - loads of space left for one of the best breakfasts at one of the best venues and THE best meet at MIGHTY MONMOUTH - get booked in for Friday - start your break at 11am on Friday!!!

Bury the hatchet: To bury the hatchet means to create peace. With hostilities at an end, the hatchet was no longer needed, and therefore could be disposed of. Now a merely figurative expression, the phrase is based on an actual practice of North American Indians. When negotiating peace, they buried all their weapons; their tomahawks, scalping knives and clubs. Apart from showing their good faith, simultaneously it made it impossible for them to go on fighting.

Phew, now that we've got that over with how about getting on down to Mighty Monmouth and starting the Jubilee weekend with a bang (not that sort).

I think they call it decommissioning now!

Still time to book in for one more meeting before the holiday people, and if you want to Mighty Monmouth is the only place to be...

And when you are sick of being off work, sick of the kids and family and want to get straight back into it Amazing Abergavenny is on next Wednesday...

In fact why not book both?

Have a great meeting all ... I will be off to Porthcawl with my bucket and spade for a day on the beach after breakfast...only joking re the bucket and spade!

Thanks Michelle - enjoy the long weekend