Blog | Perfect Verse

Bee-killing pesticides

A Bee Plea I’m a little bumble bee; I’m flying with a pout, I hate those pesky pesticides – I’m scared I might die out What’s left for our children, without us lovely bees? I need to ask a favour, so today I’m saying ‘please’ Companies don’t seem to care; they’re showing no contrition So can you take the time today – to sign this ‘ere petition? It only takes a minute; so please show us that you care And if you think this verse might help – remember to hit SHARE Thank you so much. A Grateful...

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A #WOW Award from Jacqueline Gold on Twitter for an ex Ann Summers rep!

Some people decry twitter. Personally I love it….and I loved it even more last week when I was lucky enough to be retweeted by Jacqueline Gold as a #WOW winner. It’s ironic really….I used to be a rep for Ann Summers. I started when I was a secretary. My diary management was very impressive. Each week I managed to get my deliveries to arrive whilst the Finance Director was at the other side of the building…. I also remember a certain party when I started off a group of elderly ladies with a gentle quiz. “Ladies” I said “Give yourselves 10 points if you’ve ever had sex on a first date” There was indignation all round, and then one of them said “does it HAVE to be a date?” Lovely memories,...

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The importance of using humour in speeches – a visit to Hamwic Speakers

Are you self employed? Have you found your career going down paths you never thought it would? I was recently asked to speak at a Toastmasters event, and it made me realise how much my career has diversified. Dan Harrison, a regular guest at Basingstoke Comedy Club Laughter-House, and a member of Hamwic Speakers, asked me, as a poet & comedian, if I could give the group some ideas on how to bring humour into speeches. I decided the best way of doing this was to give them ten minutes of my own speech and then ‘break it down’ to show them how I made it funny. It was a lovely evening; lively and buzzy, and there were guests from other groups as well. It was so enjoyable to share techniques with them. Steve Bimpson, an attendee from Wessex...

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A Bugle Plays a Solemn Tune. A Perfect Verse for Fallen Heroes

Radio Basingstoke recently asked me to write a brief verse for a 30 second radio advertisement to promote the Fallen Heroes website. It took me a week to come up with the concept, but it’s interesting how creativity kicks in. As I began to write, I could imagine a bugle, and knew this would have to be an integral part of the piece. Perhaps you’d like to listen to A Bugle Plays by clicking on the link. Let me know what you think. The words and concept are mine, and the voice over was provided by Alan Donegan. A Bugle Plays A bugle plays A solemn tune Another soldier Gone too soon Loving husband Father, son, We honour each And every one. ©Jan Jack...

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The day Mum read my diary

Remember the days before technology took off? When a mobile phone was more ‘phone’ than mobile, and each computer was the size of a small skyscraper? When a diary was a small scruffy book with Winnie the Poo on the cover? I was musing the other day on whether technology has become far too clever for its own good. Consider the phone hacking scandal; it’s caused fisticuffs everywhere; leaving an unsettled Rebekah Brooks looking like a cocker spaniel in a wind tunnel. Would life have been simpler if we had stayed with our old fashioned phones and trusty pen and paper? I was 13 when my mother read my diary. Apparently she ‘came across it’ whilst on her knees groping under my mattress. In a fit of blind terror it magically broke its own lock, and...

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