The Emperor's Rhyme

The King of Peru
Who was Emperor too
had a sort of rhyme
which was useful to know
if he felt very shy
when a stranger came by
or they asked him the time
when his watch didn’t go.
Or supposing he fell,
by mistake, down a well
or tumbled when skating
and sat on his hat.
Or perhaps wasn’t told
Till his porridge was cold
That his breakfast was waiting
Or something like that.

So whenever the Emperor
got into a temper or
felt himself sulky or sad,
he would murmur and murmur
until he felt firmer
this curious rhyme that he had.

“Eight eights are sixty-four
Multiply by seven.
When it’s done,
carry one
and take away eleven.
Nine nines are eighty one
Multiply by three
If it’s more
carry four
And then it’s time for tea.”

So whenever the Queen
took his armour to clean
and didn’t remember
to use any starch.
Or his birthday, in May,
was a Horrible day,
being wet as November
and windy as March.
Or when sitting in state
with the wise and the great
he happened to hiccup
when signing his name.
Or The Queen gave a cough
when his crown tumbled off
as he bent down to pick up
a pen for the same.

So whenever the Emperor
got into a temper or
felt himself awkward or shy,
he would whisper and whisper
until he felt crisper
this odd little rhyme to the sky.

“Eight eights are eighty one
Multiply by seven.
If it’s more
carry four
and take away eleven.
Nine nines are sixty-four
Multiply by three
When it’s done
carry one
and then it’s time for tea.”


A. A. Milne Now we are Six Metheum and Co, UK, 1927

Fun with Friends

This weekend we had some friends from Sydney come and stay with us with their new little baby. (We hadn't met him before)

We had a lovely time doing all the things one does with friends - chatting, drinking tea, eating too much food, and playing - and also enjoying some of the activities in Canberra (despite the rather wintery weather).

We went to the Gallery of Australian Design which is new and small and interesting if you like architecture-type things (which my friend does) and also to the National Portrait Gallery. which is not so new or small and has a slightly broader appeal.

My friend and I went to a ladies afternoon tea at our church (the men looked after the sleeping toddler).

The men went to the movies and we crafted while the little ones slept.

Alex was fascinated by Max - he kept bringing him toys, bouncing him in the bouncer, and trailed whoever had Max in their arms. By the end he actually wanted to cuddle Max and is trying desperately to cuddle him while he is on my knee. Since they left he has been very attentive to his teddy bears!